Recently I’ve been spending a lot of time looking at “The Hero’s Journey,” for a writing course I’m teaching. The Hero’s Journey is a common framework for analyzing stories told throughout history. There are a number of variations of the model, but the most widely known model was developed by Joseph Campbell, in his 1949 book TheContinue reading “Who or What are Your Threshold Guardians?”
Category Archives: Culture
Stop, Collaborate And Listen
On July 4th, ’90s rapper Vanilla Ice was scheduled to play a concert in Austin, Texas. Billed as being a “carefree return to the pre-coronavirus ’90s”, he was promoting the show as late as July 2nd, before quickly reversing course just four hours later, saying “I listened to my fans… I didn’t know the numbersContinue reading “Stop, Collaborate And Listen”
Poison Ivy And Privilege
In New England, where I live now, poison ivy is commonplace. But in the UK, where I grew up, there is none. So unlike many New Englanders, I didn’t grow up with regular exposure to poison ivy; nor did I grow up looking out for it, or being able to identify it with a “leavesContinue reading “Poison Ivy And Privilege”
Engage: How the George Floyd Protests Connect with Your Workplace
This past weekend brought protests across the United States and elsewhere in the world, following George Floyd’s death in police custody in Minneapolis and the systemic racism and white supremacy that his death symbolized – just the latest in a long line of countless examples. While in some locations the police stood in solidarity with theContinue reading “Engage: How the George Floyd Protests Connect with Your Workplace”
Seek Out A Different Perspective
“I heard that we are all in the same boat, but it’s not like that. We are in the same storm, but not in the same boat. Your ship could be shipwrecked, and mine might not be.” You may have seen a version of this quote floating around on social media over the last several weeks.Continue reading “Seek Out A Different Perspective”
How Starting A Book Club At Work Can Help Your Organization
In these unusual times, have you been reading more than usual? Have you gravitated more towards non-fiction, to learn more about our world, its history and its people through the perspective of others? Or towards fiction, to either escape or to learn something about yourself from the narrative of someone in a world that’s notContinue reading “How Starting A Book Club At Work Can Help Your Organization”
Alleviating Zoom Fatigue
Zoom fatigue is real. Articles are popping up all over the place about this, because many of us are feeling it on a daily basis. If you’re exhausted after sitting through a string of work calls and hangouts with friends and family, there are valid reasons for this. Between the focus needed to pay attention, the awareness of being lookedContinue reading “Alleviating Zoom Fatigue”
Celebrate Your “Some Good News”
Mr. Rogers is often quoted as saying, “When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, ‘look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.’” If you’re one of the millions of people who’ve tuned into actor/comedian John Krasinski’s new feelgoodContinue reading “Celebrate Your “Some Good News””
Be Kind to Yourself
We are all working to pull ourselves – and others – through this strange time in the world, and if you find that you are more tired than usual, you’re not alone. Our mental and emotional workload is greater, even as some of the other pieces of our normal routine have lessened. Whatever our ‘normal’ workContinue reading “Be Kind to Yourself”
Try Something That Shouldn’t Work On Zoom
One consequence of the COVID-19 outbreak around the world and our resulting change of routines is that we’ve all been forced to become more creative in how we rise to face challenges. From creating face masks out of bandanas and hair ties to holding your wedding on Zoom, or finding creative ways to exercise or cook, we’re all finding new ways toContinue reading “Try Something That Shouldn’t Work On Zoom”
Building Bridges Leadership 