After decades in the C-suite, most executives underestimate their most valuable retirement resource: their accumulated expertise. While financial planners focus on portfolio management, the real question isn’t how to manage your money; it’s how to transform your knowledge into lasting impact. There’s a natural evolution that happens when executives leave corporate life, a shift from building resume More…
I remember a project early in my consulting career. I poured my heart and soul into it, working late nights and weekends to deliver something truly exceptional for the client. The results were fantastic, far beyond what they expected. But when I sent the final invoice, based on my hourly rate, it felt… hollow. The number on the page More…
I remember the moment like it was yesterday. I worked for IBM in its consulting division. Like clockwork, I would jump on a plane on Sunday afternoon for my next project. Every week it was another destination where I would work with a client, then fly home on Friday night. It was the first time I became a member More…
My recent health challenges have me thinking about legacy. And no, I don’t mean the touchy-feely kind or getting a library named after you. I’m talking about the real part. The one that keeps you staring at the ceiling at 3 AM, asking, “Will any of this matter in ten years?” After I left my corporate role, I thought More…
Leaving your long-term corporate career can be a double-edged sword. While the newfound freedom is liberating, it can also leave a void. The built-in purpose provided by company missions and team goals disappears, often leading to feelings of restlessness and a lack of direction. This is where finding your “Why” becomes not just a luxury, but a necessity More…
After being laid off, I thought my experience would land me a new job quickly. I was dead wrong. After a few months of rejections I lost confidence and struggled. Here’s what I realized during that difficult period. Your career is more than a job title. After years in the corporate world, you possess a wealth of experience. To thrive in More…
For decades, you wore a corporate mask. The version that got you promoted and led teams. That mask wasn’t fake. Just incomplete. You suppressed parts of yourself to succeed. The creative side. The emotional side. The curious side. After 20 or 30 years, you forget where the mask ended and the real you began. The person you’re looking for has been there all along. Look More…
The other day I challenged you to tell a compelling story in one sentence. In our Mastermind Book Club meeting, David Garfinkel told us the Hero’s Journey doesn’t work in copywriting. Create precision strikes, not epic sagas. This hit me hard. I’ve been writing copy for 20 years, and I’ve always thought longer, more elaborate stories were better. More emotional. More More…
Yesterday we had an incredible mastermind book club session with David Garfinkel, Bond Halbert, Kim Krause Schwalm, and several other book club members. We were discussing David’s book, The Persuasion Story Code, and the conversation was so engaging that we talked for an hour and 42 minutes (when our bladders said “Uncle”) I’ve been writing copy for More…
At first, we thought it was just a bus or semi truck rumbling by. We were finishing the final inspection on our soon-to-be home with a contractor and two realtors. Everything looked great and we were ready to close escrow. I headed home to pick up my daughter Alicia at daycare then watch the World Series. The San Francisco More…