Writing & conversations

People know who they have the potential to be. The challenge is seeing that process through. Self-development is an art. It takes time. It requires patience. It asks you to step outside your comfort zone. It is challenging — and…

“Compounding is the greatest mathematical discovery of all time.” — Albert Einstein The quest to become a better version of yourself often feels like a roller coaster ride. It’s hard. And it’s usually so uneven. You can end in…

Four years ago my sister got me something that would dramatically alter the direction of my life. In fact, it was probably the most influential gift I’ve ever received. It would help me find my true calling, become a writer at…

There’s a paradox with self-improvement and it is this: the ultimate goal of all self-improvement is to reach the point where you no longer feel the need to improve yourself. Think about it: The whole goal of improving your…

There’s a quandary I hear people talk about a lot in the self-improvement world which goes something like this: “Should I keep trying to change, or should I just learn to love myself?” The people posing this question almost…

One of my favorite pieces of ancient wisdom comes from the Stoic philosopher Epictetus: We have two ears and one mouth so that we can listen twice as much as we speak. Sure, that may not be the real reason we have two ears and…

Several recent articles and studies tells us that successful leaders are confident and selfless (see list at the end of this blog). I grew up in Finland, a country with a culture that values humility and expertise. Being…

Anki has called New York City and Broadway her home for over 25 years. If you are lucky you might catch her on the enormous Nasdaq screen high above Broadway living the song her father sang for her as a child: Hey mister taxi…

Love as the epicenter of humanity and as the unifying human need is the great motivator. While the movie Wall Street in 1987 popularized the Greed is Good creed I am challenging it is with Love is Good. Indeed, greed is an…

We seldom speak about the importance of health and wellbeing of the leader for organizational performance and inspiring leadership. However, if your leadership team crumbles under stress or your manager “checks out” from…

As we are celebrating International Coaching Week, I decided to share my path to coaching and why I coach… here is my story: It’s a sunny, humid and warm June afternoon in New York City many years ago. I am sitting on a bench…

Most people experience times in their careers when they question their choices, wonder about opportunities lost, or roads not taken. Sometimes this is prompted by changes in one’s personal life; aging, becoming a parent, losing a…