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Rethinking Retirement
“You’re going to spend a third of your life working. Make sure you’re doing something you love.” – Harry Dietrich. I’ve learned a lot from my father, and that quote was one of the most impactful pieces of wisdom he shared early and often in my childhood. It shaped my decision to be a software…
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An Abundance of Gratitude
As we approach the Thanksgiving holiday in the US, I’m thankful for the opportunity to remind everyone about the importance of practicing gratitude. With a short week ahead of us, I’ll offer a short post. Gratitude Journals Many studies document the positive benefits of maintaining a gratitude journal. In my own experience, I’ve found a…
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Strengthening Strategic
I spent last week at a conference with higher education CIOs. One common theme was the desire to elevate the view of the CIO and Information Technology from operational to strategic. Here are some of the ideas we discussed throughout the week. You Are Strategic My first observation draws on my own experience, and I…
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A Historic Week
I will keep today’s post short – I would rather my US readers spend their time getting to the ballot box than reading a lengthy post from me. Regardless of the outcome of tomorrow’s election, it is reasonable to assume half of our country will be upset with the result. This is undoubtedly the most…
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A Story of Presence
I have often written about the power of presence. We create a powerful relational field when we can remove distractions, quiet our minds, and be fully present with another person. Presence is an essential element of an effective leader and an evolved human. When we embrace presence, we create a space where intuition can flourish.…
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The Unwinding of an Athlete
Earlier this year, I wrote about neuroplasticity—our brain’s ability to form new neural connections throughout life, enabling us to create new habits and shed old ones. I’d like to share my running journey as an example. I encourage you to consider what parallels in your life are illuminated by this story. Perhaps it will inspire…
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By Request
When I coach leaders, we discuss a wide range of topics, such as strengthening relationships, moving from mentoring to coaching, or improving personal productivity. Of all the topics, one stands out as the most prevalent. Nearly every leader I have ever worked with has wanted to improve their ability to delegate effectively. One challenge is…
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Celebrating Three Years
Three years ago, I formally launched Arete Pursuits and began my executive coaching career. Since increased fulfillment was the primary motivation for the change, I’ve used a life account to track my level of fulfillment. It’s been a solid 5 out of 5 every quarter. Today, I want to share a few updates on how…
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Two Ears. One Mouth. One Brain.
You’ve probably heard the adage that we have two ears and one mouth for a reason. We should listen twice as much as we speak. I will add that we have one brain. When you are “listening,” what is your brain doing? During my leadership career, I was trained on active listening so many times…
