We spend so much of our precious time and energy on our work. Forty hours per week (often many more), plus late nights checking our emails and early morning conference calls. We respond to Teams messages during our toddlers’ bath time, sneak a peak at our emails during our teenagers’ basketball games, and scroll throughContinue reading “Theme Song Thursdays: December Again!”
Who says you can’t fight city hall? An update on the chicken fans of Mansfield, Ohio
You might remember that a couple months ago I posted about a conversation I overheard in a coffee shop. It was a “small but passionate cohort of chicken fans” and they were trying to get the city to allow chickens in urban yards. And you might have thought, I was crazy for even suggesting thatContinue reading “Who says you can’t fight city hall? An update on the chicken fans of Mansfield, Ohio”
Today’s Lesson from the Coffee Shop
First posted on LinkedIn in October 2025. So I am in a coffee shop again today doing some work. And the group next to me is discussing chickens. I can’t really overhear the whole conversation, and even if I could I would not share it in this public forum (or anywhere, actually), but what I’veContinue reading “Today’s Lesson from the Coffee Shop”
Why your risk & compliance plan isn’t working
“When … management doesn’t model values, ethics becomes theoretical. Trust erodes. And once trust is gone, compliance can easily follow.” One of the many companies I’ve worked with over the years experienced a big, public, regulatory violation. And it was amazing to observe how fast the company culture collapsed under that pressure. A once stronglyContinue reading “Why your risk & compliance plan isn’t working”
Theme Song 𝖳̶𝗁̶𝗎̶𝗋̶𝗌̶𝖽̶𝖺̶𝗒̶𝗌̶ Tuesdays: Somewhere over the Rainbow
It’s a rainy Tuesday before Thanksgiving here in Ohio. And all around us, people are struggling. Many are laid off, unemployed for a year or more, while everything from groceries to gasoline to housing and health insurance is becoming more and more expensive. Still others are feeling lonely, isolated, and dejected as real human interactionContinue reading “Theme Song 𝖳̶𝗁̶𝗎̶𝗋̶𝗌̶𝖽̶𝖺̶𝗒̶𝗌̶ Tuesdays: Somewhere over the Rainbow”
Another lesson from the grocery store coffee shop
I’m back at the local grocery store coffee shop tonight. This time I’m waiting for my daughter at gymnastics. As I’m typing away, two greying gentleman dressed in button-down shirts walk in carrying a tray nearly overflowing with deli foods. One, in particular, was super chatty. He made eye contact upon entering and greeted meContinue reading “Another lesson from the grocery store coffee shop”
Nicole-isms # 63: The issue is rarely with the people. It’s almost always with the system.
It’s that time of year again. The last quarter, holiday season, whatever you call it, it’s when things get crazy at work. We’re all scrambling to meet end-of-year quotas, spend the last of our budgets, and turn in good numbers before the holiday bonuses are calculated. It’s a frantic, sometimes even chaotic time. Especially ifContinue reading “Nicole-isms # 63: The issue is rarely with the people. It’s almost always with the system.”
Theme Song Thursdays: No Such Thing!
These days, its seems like the harder we try, the less we get. All our lives we were told, over and over (and over) again that if we just did things the right way, in the right order, success and happiness would follow. Welcome to the real worldShe said to me condescendinglyTake a seat, takeContinue reading “Theme Song Thursdays: No Such Thing!”
Nicole-ism # 42: If you’re using a (software) tool to avoid a conversation, you’re probably doing it wrong.
I get a lot of questions in my line of work about tools to automate workflows and processes. I’m asked what I think of a particular tool, which one I like best, which one a company or department should purchase, how to best set the tool up, and so on. I’m asked about tools forContinue reading “Nicole-ism # 42: If you’re using a (software) tool to avoid a conversation, you’re probably doing it wrong.”
Profit and Purpose – Kim’s Startup Story
“I really had no intention of doing this,” Kim Gokce tells me shortly after we log on to a virtual meeting together. He is in his home office in the Atlanta area. I am in mine in Ohio. I had noticed a recent post of his on LinkedIn celebrating his new line of employment andContinue reading “Profit and Purpose – Kim’s Startup Story”
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