Men Make Terrible Sorcerers

The cauldron is boiling on the coals of the fire. In a camping boiler on a halt, mulled wine with lemon and spices is cooked.

I sat at a table full of women, aged 15 to 70, and they all unanimously agreed:

Men don’t listen.

What a thing to hear!

50% of the population is missing out. (I’ll let you decide which 50 I’m talking about.)

This is apparently such a prevalent problem that the next … Read more...

The Un-Coach

Group of people raise their hands on stadium

Say it with me.

No, I don’t want to 10X my business. I don’t want 30-40 more client leads than I already have. I don’t want to create an “effortless passive revenue stream” so I can parasail on the Galapagos Islands or eat the rarest of birds.

I don… Read more...

Detail

black car side mirror during daytime

My dad suggested I get my car detailed. Trust me, he said, it’ll be like new.

He was right.

I swear it drives like new. My wife thinks so too.

That’s some strange psychology.

If I wash my keyboard, will it click faster? If I make my bed, will I sleep better?

Appearance can … Read more...

How To Tell a Failure Story

Photo of golden cogwheel on black background

Being a career coach in Silicon Valley, I hear a lot of stories of failure from entrepreneurs.

Indeed, anyone who has taken a shot at a startup has a ‘failure story’ to tell.

As a resume writer, I’ve figured out the way to tell ‘failure story’ honestly… Read more...

Confront with Compassion

Lower Antelope Canyon

Dear People of Color and Woke White Allies,

I appreciate what you’re doing, but you can confront with compassion, you know.

You don’t have to be a dick.

Shaming people is like sending them to the corner. Canceling them is like sealing them behind a brick wall. (I thought… Read more...

Done with Oppression

silhouette of woman standing on beach during sunset

I’m done with stories of oppression — Twelve Years of a Slave, The Piano, The Handmaid’s Tale…

I need no more evidence of our ugliness. I know it’s there. It’s so there.

And I don’t need what comes after that either: vengeful violence of a … Read more...

Changing People’s Minds

Person standing in boat

When we challenge someone’s core beliefs — their religion, their politics (which are often one and the same) — we threaten their worldview.

Our comments cut the line to their anchor.

And, somehow, we expect them to thank us for this.

No one wants to drift into the … Read more...