I started 2020 with what felt like big plans for my personal and professional growth. When March hit, everything ground to a halt and I found most of my expectations for the year had gone out the window. Now, I’m waking up in 2021 ready to kick-start my growth and development with a simple tool.

I can't believe we are more than half-way through 2019. A new year creates space for reflection and planning, something that is harder to do in the middle of the year. I offer a simple tool that can help you imagine an inspiring rest of the year by looking back.

Balance is choice.

Balance is listening to yourself.

Balance is letting go of should.

No one enjoys performance management, even HR professionals. This year, you can start a new practice of self-appraisal. One where you push pause and reflect holistically on the year - what you are proud of, what you learned, how you grew as a person.

I'm coming to you from a ten-hour layover at Hollywood International Airport in Fort Lauderdale. Instead of dreading the long wait time (and empathizing with Tom Hanks), I did my best to use this focused time and actually got a lot done! What can you accomplish in your next epic layover?

Much has been written about the donut - the comfort zone / learning zone / terror’s edge. The best results come from spreading yourself across comfort zone and learning zone. If you're feeling stuck, identify your dissatisfier and make a mandate at the start of the year. Spark action in yourself!

Many people look forward to the winter holiday season all year. For others, the holidays can be a hard time of year and bring forth a different set of emotions. As you head into the holiday season at work - keep inclusion at the forefront with these four strategies.

I recently started traveling a lot for work. As I adjust to this new lifestyle, I find myself reflecting on the experience and what I’m learning. Reflection 1: traveling requires capital-P Patience because you are constantly at the mercy of others.

Politics is everywhere, yet it is largely off-limits at work. How can leaders address this major component of peoples' identity in the workplace? Make it easy for your team to vote, don't make assumptions about beliefs, create conversation through your own experiences.

Vulnerability has become part of the business and cultural lexicon. It is discussed as an external activity. For me, the hard part is actually being vulnerable with myself. The internal version has more barriers and thorns to navigate, and doesn’t come with the reassurance and connection of external sharing.

Transitions, even when positive, tax our minds and bodies. No amount of resilience or grit can prevent the tax, the best way through is self-compassion.

To anyone who finds themselves in endless meetings, not really paying attention –there is hope! But the solution is not as easy as you might think. The knowing-doing gap is hard to overcome. If it weren’t, we would all be hitting the gym regularly and socking away money for retirement.

Mentorship is important for career advancement. The benefits multiply when each side knows what they bring and get from the relationship.