Over nearly two decades of working with nonprofit organizations and their boards, I’ve come to realize that there’s nothing very new under the sun. Now, I’m not one for going with “well, that’s just the way it is” or “this is the way we do it because that’s the way…

Bruce Feiler, one of my favorite authors, wrote a wonderful book called Life Is in the Transitions: Mastering Change at Any Age. His main point was that our lives are defined by how we navigate transitions, noting that they are rarely predictable or smooth. He illustrates this through stories ranging…

When I was reminded by Facebook that it was my Dad’s birthday, a number of thoughts came up for me. First off, I felt guilty that it wasn’t at the very top of mind like it was last year. At that point, dealing with his loss was a daily struggle…

Stop stopping yourself. This was what I typed (and thought) to myself as I started and killed yet another article. I was feeling stuck in an unproductive zone. …

As I was wrapping up my training for the Pittsburgh Marathon, I was reading a wonderful book called Reinventing Yourself by Steve Chandler. While the overarching theme is of course reinventing yourself, there is another biggie: Owner vs. Victim. This distinction is all about choosing between Ownership where you truly…

Last night, as I often do when I’m struggling with sleep, I asked myself “What would a quiet mind sound like?” Perhaps an odd question as it’s asking the paradoxical question of what silence sounds like. Yet asking myself this question often works and quiets my mind from the tape…

As someone who coaches leaders in the nonprofit sector, I get to see the incredible abundance of idealism, optimism, and support from friends and family. But as helpful as those things can seem, they can actually prove to be debilitating to the long term prospects for success when creating a…

When I was eight years old, my father took me to see my first James Bond movie, Live and Let Die. I loved the movie and from that day forward became a lifelong fan. Whenever possible, I’ve found opportunities to have those fictional stories play out in my real life…

A friend and client of mine was just about to get started in a new Executive Director role. I’m grateful and flattered that she frequently reads my posts so with her upcoming role, she suggested the post you’re now reading. The title is self-explanatory so off we go…. Don’t bring…