A few weeks ago, I signed up for a painting class. I thought it would be a great bonding activity with my child—a way to glimpse into his world. I expected we would start with techniques and structure, learning the fundamentals before putting brush to canvas. But to my
This weekend, I learned something about leadership from an unexpected place: a dog bath. Every weekend, I take my pup to the dog park and give him a bath afterward. It’s part of our routine, a moment of bonding. And every weekend, my mother insists on helping me bathe
Like many leaders, I used to resist rest. I felt the need to fill every moment with purpose, to do the most good, to keep moving. Rest felt like a delay, an indulgence, an obstacle to progress. But over time, my relationship with rest evolved. I came to understand that
A lemon, a microplane, and a moment of insight. Who knew these could hold the key to operations excellence? Small changes—whether in the kitchen or in an organization—can lead to big results. In my kitchen, where meal prep often doubles as bonding time with my tween child, this
It was a cold morning, and I arrived at my Barre class only to find I was the sole attendee. What might have been a canceled session instead turned into an unexpected private lesson. The routine itself was familiar, but what stood out was the precision of the experience. With
This morning, we woke up to a ground frosted white. My child, peering outside, remarked that if he hadn’t seen snow before, he might have thought it was snow. His observation lingered with me, a quiet reminder of how easily we can mistake one thing for another when we
This reflection was inspired by a post from Milly Tamati, who beautifully highlighted the historical roots of January 1st as the start of the year. While it has become a cultural norm, for many, the weight of unfinished goals or the residual fatigue of the previous year can make it
Today, I returned to the dojo after a 15-day holiday break. The energy in the room was palpable, but something was off. Forms were loose, stances needed correction, and reminders of focus and discipline were in order. As I coached the kids, it struck me: this wasn’t just about
As a child, one of my favorite activities was watching clouds with my parents. Those fluffy shapes could transform into anything—dragons, gummy bears, or some cartoon character—if I let my imagination take over. Now, I share this joy with my son, continuing a tradition that bridges generations. It’
Frost clings to branches. Morning light ignites the sky. Fire warms frozen ground. Haikus capture life’s essence in three short lines, distilling a moment into 17 syllables. They’re a celebration of simplicity, presence, and clarity—and they hold surprising lessons for leadership. I’ve always been fascinated by
Too often, they’re forgotten—or worse, they drag your team down. But ignoring last year’s OKRs could set your team up for failure this year. Reflection and recalibration are the keys to turning last year’s goals into stepping stones for the future. This reminds me of a
Growing up, my father introduced me to the North Star, a guiding light that always appeared in the night sky, no matter how dark or uncertain the world felt. It became my anchor during moments of fear and confusion. Years later, the concept of a North Star returned to me—