Jun 18, 2021Member-onlyWaiting for Life to StartWhat to do when what you’re doing isn’t working A former student sits back down in front of her webcam, having found the tissues she was looking for. She wipes her eyes and laughs and points out there are tears on the lenses of her glasses. She pauses for a…Self4 min readSelf4 min read
Jun 16, 2021Member-onlyHow to Remember Your LifeThe Ingredients of Memorable Moments — I’ve been staring at a poster for a bullfight for more than ten minutes whispering John Prine lyrics to myself. The streets are cold and smell like diesel. Even with your eyes closed, you’d know you’re in Europe. I’ve long lost the hope for any place to open up early…Self4 min readSelf4 min read
Aug 24, 2020Member-onlyHow do you answer the question: “What do you do?”Creating authentic connections despite lame networking questions — You know the moment…you’re out with a friend and y’all bump into someone they know from high school — so everyone gets introduced. Shortly after the small talk dissipates, the person you just met looks at you and says: “So…what do you do?” And you freeze. Maybe your face flushes. …Work2 min readWork2 min read
Aug 17, 2020Member-onlyYou’re Living on Borrowed TimeHow will you spend it? — I talked to a mentor of mine recently — he’s getting pretty old. He said something that’s stuck with me the past few days. When I asked how he was holding up he said, “Grateful. …Self2 min readSelf2 min read
Published in The Startup·Jun 12, 2020Member-onlyBig Growth is a Collection of Small DecisionsWe achieve our goals when we build habits to reach them — [A brief and uncomfortable update: 2020 is halfway over.] My girlfriend and I spent a few hours recently crafting our vision for the next several years; during this process it hit me how quickly time is passing. Each morning I sit on my front porch and watch our dog wade…Self4 min readSelf4 min read
May 29, 2020Member-onlyIn Spite Of vs. In The Midst OfWe cannot control pain, but we can dance with it — My cab slows to a stop and I’m already 20 minutes late for a four-day personal development retreat in Chicago, and I’m feeling stressed. I don’t like to be late. I step in a puddle while crossing the intersection toward the nondescript building I’ve been instructed to find, wheeling my…Self5 min readSelf5 min read
Published in The Startup·May 29, 2020Member-onlyA Simple Life Enables Complicated WorkWe become who we practice being — A few months ago, I was on a walk with a good friend and mentor at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center. …Self3 min readSelf3 min read
May 22, 2020Member-onlyThe Art of Asking for What You NeedNo one can know what we need until we tell them — We have peace lilies in the corner of our breakfast nook. They are my favorite plant in the house, blooming with white flowers every week. What I’ve come to admire about this plant is its ability to communicate; it slumps every seven days to let us know it needs to…Self6 min readSelf6 min read
May 13, 2020Member-onlyReplace Insecurity with CuriosityHow to foster healthier and more productive collaboration — The day after Thanksgiving a semi-truck rolls in to Austin, Texas with over 500 Christmas items — including about 50 trees ranging in height from 5 to 13 feet. And I’ve got a problem. We need to get all of this greenery organized before our pop-up shop opens in 36…Self5 min readSelf5 min read
Apr 24, 2020Member-onlyNothing Gets Easier & There is No Rescue PartyWe must fall in love with the process of growth, not the idea — A few years ago I decided to prove to myself I could keep up with high performing athletes. As I’ve written before, I’ve never been secure in my athleticism — but I needed to do this. I began by finding one of those gyms where former marines work out and…Self4 min readSelf4 min read
