I was two minutes into this interview when I knew it had completely gone off the rails. I want to introduce you to Steve Pratt. Steve’s response to my opening question, “what makes you weird,” was so good that I basically scrapped the rest of my questions and just enjoyed the ride. From producing offbeat kids’ shows to co-founding Pacific … Read More
Every Impossibly Effective leader does this
I was on the verge of a long night of peaceful sleep when this realization yanked me from my slumber and refused to let go of me. Every Major League Baseball player works on the fundamentals of baseball every day. They hit, they throw, and they catch. Before every single game. They are the best of the best. The top … Read More
The Freedom of Not Sweating the Small Stuff with Meadow Riedel
This conversation is so full of leadership gold. You wouldn’t believe how much didn’t make it into the final cut. Today I’m joined by Meadow Riedel, External Affairs Manager for Kinross Alaska, whose 25+ year communications career has intersected with some of Alaska’s most vital industries. From leading crisis response during the 2018 Anchorage earthquake to fostering trust-based partnerships in … Read More
These words are leadership magic
“You’re the first person to say ‘please’ today.” It was after 6PM and the guy behind the meat counter at my local grocery store hadn’t heard the word “please” yet during his nearly completed shift. “That’s a rough streak,” I replied. “I mean, I can’t say ‘no’ if they don’t say ‘please’, but, you know…” I translated his incomplete sentence … Read More
Helping Students Find Their Path with Amanda Langhorst
Amanda Langhorst didn’t just find her career. She built a career around helping others find theirs. In this conversation, I talk with Amanda Langhorst, Program Director of the Applied Management program and Instructor at the University of Alaska Fairbanks College of Business and Security Management. We talk about the power of self-advocacy, why listening is the most underrated management skill, … Read More
Enjoy the rain!
What she said was so backwards. And yet I couldn’t believe I had never heard it before. I was walking through Costco on a particularly rainy Saturday morning when I heard a worker conclude an interaction with a customer by saying, “enjoy the rain!” The person was being wholly genuine and my attention was immediately captured because I don’t think … Read More
HR Should Be a Partner, Not the Police with Nicole Welch
When Nicole Welch first began her career in HR, she never imagined she’d one day be representing healthcare before legislators, leading in an organization with nearly 2,000 employees, or serving as Chief Human Resources Officer of Foundation Health Partners, an independent health system that didn’t yet exist. In this conversation, Nicole – who also happens to be my wife – opens … Read More
Why do I feel like somebody is watching me?
I was at an event recently and ran into a former leadership student I hadn’t seen in ages. I was really excited to cross paths and I asked them how they were doing after all this time. They laughed, told me they were well, and said they feel like they “see me” all the time because they get these messages. … Read More
Why Simple Beats Complicated in Fitness with Caleb Whittle
These eleven words stopped me in my tracks: “If fitness isn’t in your top three priorities, it won’t happen.” When Caleb Whittle left the CMO chair for the weight room, he had no idea he was about to reshape how high performers think about fitness. Caleb now helps executives and leaders cut through the noise—ditching fad diets and overcomplicated routines—in … Read More
There is no such thing as balance
You’ve been lied to. For years you’ve been fed a message suggesting that the ideal relationship between your work life and your personal life is one of balance. An implied 1:1 ratio. This ratio is not only generally impossible, but it completely betrays your own preferred mix. I’ve talked to so many people who feel a strong sense of tension … Read More
Comfortable Being Uncomfortable with Mark Oldmixon
When Mark Oldmixon first stepped into the Alaskan outdoors, he had no idea it would shape two decades of his life—and the lives of countless others. As Director of Nanook Recreation at the University of Alaska Fairbanks, Mark has spent nearly 20 years helping students and community members stretch their comfort zones through rock climbing, rafting, ice climbing, and other … Read More
The Litmus Test for Clarity
I’m going to get plenty of hate in the comments, but here’s my take: Clarity is the most powerful lever leaders have to influence the success of their team. Ensuring your people have complete clarity about the desired outcome, their role in the work ahead, the timeline, and how their work interrelates to the work others are doing is the … Read More
The Minutes Matter with Amber Zins
When a COO admits she hates flying but plans the next trip before the wheels touch down, you know you’re in for a candid conversation. In this episode, I sit down with Amber Zins, Chief Operating Officer at Northrim Bank, to talk about building leaders by growing your own, setting clear guardrails, and giving people runway. Amber traces her path … Read More
I Know What’s Slowing You Down
I didn’t mean to eavesdrop. I really didn’t. But I just couldn’t help myself. On a recent camper trip, Nicole and I found ourselves across the path from a pair of couples with tents. On the morning of their departure it was fascinating to watch both couples go about dismantling their tents to pack everything into a pair of Jeep … Read More
Leaving Your Ego at The Door with Heather Handyside
Today’s episode features Heather Handyside, President and COO of Thompson & Co. Public Relations, who joins me to talk about leadership, culture, and making big career transitions. Heather’s career spans high-profile roles in government, corporate communications, and now agency leadership, and she brings a wealth of perspective on building strong teams and maintaining high standards while fostering genuine support for … Read More
Are you assuring your own failure?
A friend of mine* has recently been waking around 4AM and struggling to fall back asleep. I’m no sleep expert, but we chatted about how he responded to this nocturnal frustration and something struck me. Every time he woke up unexpectedly, he grabbed his phone and scrolled social media in an attempt to settle his mind and return to sleep. … Read More