Tag Archive

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

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

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

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

The other night I had this dream in which I realized I was married to Kelly Clarkson. There was a legitimate feeling of increased status and cachet in having such a direct connection to a rich, famous, superstar. Except there was one big problem. In addition to the fact that Dream Geoff had no recollection of ever having met Kelly, … Read More

I can fall down a rabbit hole from time to time watching videos about music production. I love hearing about how a certain song uses a sample from a James Bond movie, but they reversed it and chopped it up and turned it into a hook that most people would never know wasn’t wholly original. And it’s wild to me … Read More

Once upon a time there was a couple named John and Jane and their marriage was in big trouble. They wanted to fix things, so they went to see a marriage counselor. The marriage counselor listened to their problems and advised them to wait 6-months until Valentine’s Day, go have a spectacular date – really pull out all the stops, … Read More

Luke Skywalker wouldn’t have saved a galaxy far, far away without Obi Wan Kenobi. Or Yoda. Neo wouldn’t have escaped the Matrix (and did whatever the hell he did in the second and third movies) without Morpheus. Do we really think Katniss and Peeta survive the Hunger Games without Haymitch – flawed as he was – as their guide? To … Read More

At the beginning of June I spent a week on a cruise ship, intentionally cut off from the internet. Before I left, I diligently tied up loose ends and set up my out of office email so that I wouldn’t leave anyone hanging. It was a blissful week of sun, sand, and sea. And naps. And then I came home … Read More

I can now get a Mountain Dew at Subway. The sandwiches are the same as they’ve always been, but now I can get a delicious, ice cold Mountain Dew to accompany the meal. That changes my calculus when choosing a spot to grab a quick bite to eat. In a similar way, your leadership can be the frosty Mountain Dew … Read More

I recently saw a video of a guy learning to surf. He was clearly very new to the sport and spent the majority of the video in the ocean instead of on his surfboard. Every attempt to stand was a battle between his body, his board, and a massive uncaring ocean. Stiff arms and wobbly knees, fighting for balance and … Read More

On a recent camper adventure, Nicole and I were talking about what we enjoyed most about camping. My answer: having the explicit license to not be productive. I am often so compelled to be working on something that spending AN ENTIRE WEEKEND without a project is a rarity. It’s not that I can’t find a way to kill a rainy … Read More

In a recent 10 day span I attended 4 graduations.  From a 3-hour marathon, to a crisp 60-minute sprint, I saw four people I love graduate from four different schools with one common denominator: everything. I’m sure this is going to sound a little cynical and act as the perfect reminder that I am aging rapidly, but when you hear … Read More

Some of you will think I’m crazy, but focusing your effort on creating an environment in which mistakes never happen is impractical. It’s like trying to go for a swim without getting wet. Here’s a better alternative: create an environment in which no mistakes are wasted. Mistakes are inevitable. Growth is optional. The worst kind of mistake is one that … Read More

When I was growing up – back in the dark ages before you could skip commercials – there were a series of ads on TV encouraging people to become foster parents. The message was simple: you don’t have to be a perfect parent to become a foster parent, you just have to care. It seems that a major impediment to … Read More

You’re going to think I’m crazy for saying this, but helping your people grow doesn’t take a lot of time. Sure, it takes discipline and intentionality to show up when you don’t feel like it, but it doesn’t take as much time as you are afraid it will. You’re likely worried you need to make massive investments to make a … Read More