Long lines at the airport last week gave me a timely reminder of a leadership problem I see everywhere at work. Leaders sometimes fix what’s visible instead of what’s broken. The result is just better optics, not better outcomes. There’s a reason this topic is hitting a nerve. Asana reports that knowledge workers spend 60% of their time on “work about work,” and Microsoft reports that employees are interrupted every two minutes by meetings, emails, or pings. That is not a time-management...
9 days ago • 1 min read
You don't need another meeting. You need a message that lands without stealing an hour of focus. Why it matters: • Short async vidoes force clarity and speed decisions. • A single swap can return 26 hours per person per year. What you’ll learn: • When Loom beats a meeting • The five‑part structure that keeps it under five minutes • Weekly swaps to test now • Metrics to track in 30 days Tactics: • Lead with one line: “I am recommending X by Friday because Y.” • Use Loom for tone, visuals, and...
16 days ago • 1 min read
Lately, my life looks like presentations, practical ahas, meaningful client moments, and weekend plans centered around books, coffee, and a very happy inner child. I’ve presented three times in the last two weeks—twice for CPA Academy on Work Well Remotely and Break Free From Busy, and yesterday for a local Vistage Peer Advisory Group on Reclaim Your Workday. One of the exercises included making a list of tasks you’ll do Now, Not Now (1–3 months), or Not Ever. I’m set to write a book, but Not...
20 days ago • 3 min read
Our Reclaim Your Workday Action Club started off with a bang! Twenty people have committed to changing habits—for themselves, their team, or their whole company. This week covered Chapter One: Focus and Attention…plus a hot seat question that felt painfully relatable: how do you break the habit of switchtasking when you work in a culture that expects you to respond immediately? Club commitments included: Create a virtual office hour on Mon/Wed/Fri Put chat in DND w/ a status message during...
about 1 month ago • 3 min read
What an incredible time at Annie Franceschi’s Make More Magic retreat at Disney World. Not only did I get to speak on Decide, Design, and Deliver Better With Your Not-Now List, but I also conjured two “pixie-dust pluses” that I'll be gifting to members of the Reclaim Your Workday Action Club (one valued at $99!). If we can’t bring a little magic back in our carry-on, what are we even doing? See Amber's wonderful work and services! Visiting the Magic Kingdom with the Queen of Disney (Annie)...
about 2 months ago • 3 min read
Mother Nature forgot Raleigh's in the South. We had real snow, and I went five straight days without stepping outside. That meant a lot of comedy watched, a few podcasts recorded, and a couple of books finished. I also chopped my hair off and felt instantly lighter. Long hair isn’t me - too fussy, too much work. Back to my low-maintenance self, and loving it. I spent an evening with the NC State Park Scholars - one of my favorite groups every year - on Breaking Free From Busy. We talked about...
2 months ago • 2 min read
Did your resolution already drift off your radar? You're not alone. Resolutions can work, but priorities work better. Why it matters: • Planning without prioritizing is a lack of clarity, contributing to rework and burnout. • Three priorities align decisions and attention. • Guardrails beat willpower. What you will learn: • The Altitude Method to prioritize • The Rule of Three at every level • How and where to document your priorities LISTEN (19 min) READ THE SUMMARY P.S. Enrollment opens...
2 months ago • 1 min read
It's been a rough(ish) couple of weeks. Scene 1: San Juan. I flew in to keynote for PrimeGlobal and felt a cold creeping in. I left the networking event early, slept, and still woke up scratchy on Tuesday, keynote day. I powered through, lost most of my voice a few hours later, but still walked Old San Juan with my friend Wendy (I didn't feel terrible, and I wasn't going to miss seeing the city). Highlight: a coquito iced latte in a tiny café. Not-a-highlight: realizing my $10.18 drink was ~5...
3 months ago • 2 min read
Have you stopped to reflect on 2025? Why it matters: • Reflection turns activity into progress • Capturing quarterly reduces rework • Sharing reflections multiplies ideas In this episode, you'll learn: • The exact annual prompts I use • A smartest decision that turned training into speaking • How to use a couple's reflection template. Tactics: • Cap each category at three items • Track wins, lessons, and decisions quarterly • Do a walkie-talkie review with a peer • Use the couples template to...
3 months ago • 1 min read