a better monday

Do you ever look at your person and think... “”Wow, I really nailed it!”” 😄

Choosing Lizzie is the best decision I have ever made. And one of my favorite things about her? She has a bathroom dance that comes out when she is brushing her teeth. She’s not really a dancer, but in the bathroom? Another story!

It is the most endearing, ridiculous, wonderful little thing.

After long days of building a business together, these are the moments that bring it all back to center. The silliness and the laughter. I get to let loose with my favorite person.

This is self-care. This is the joy. This is what life together looks like, and I wouldn’t trade it for the world.

What’s a silly little thing you or your partner does that makes you smile? Tell us in the comments. 👇

I always say we can learn a lot from kids when it comes to work and leadership. So I put that to the test and sat down with my niece Lexi.

She already knows what good leadership feels like — who explains things until they click, who holds a room to a standard, who believes in you enough to say you belong here. She’s been watching... they all are.

Lexi reminded me that kids are sharp. They know when an adult is really in their corner, and they know when someone is just going through the motions. They carry those experiences forward. And if Lexi is any indication of what this next generation is bringing — the curiosity, the openness, the self-awareness — the future is in good hands.

Show Lexi some love in the comments. She doesn’t have social media, but I’ll make sure she sees every single one.

Replies to the most ridiculous emails women get at work. Part 1.

A coworker shared your idea with leadership without you. And you get this in your inbox:

“Hey — wanted to give you a heads up that I shared your idea from last week’s brainstorm with leadership. I reframed it a little so it landed better for that audience. Got great feedback! Happy to loop you in on next steps if you want to stay involved.”

Here’s what you can say back:

“Hey, thanks for the heads up. Since this was my idea, I’m going to take it from here and follow up with leadership directly so they have the full context. Glad it landed well!”

No over-explaining or an apology, just a clean, calm redirect that puts the credit exactly where it belongs.

Drop the most unhinged email you’ve ever received at work in the comments. Change the names, keep it confidential, and we’ll pick some and write the replies.

Content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal, HR, or mental health advice. Coaching services are not therapy or mental health treatment.

Them: “Nobody wants to work anymore.”

Me: “How do you know that’s true?”

What we actually watched happen is people disengage. People who were once going above and beyond stop doing that — slowly, quietly. And then we skipped curiosity and went straight to a verdict. We called it lazy. We called it a personal failure. We never stopped to ask what was actually going on.

The last six, seven years have been extremely hard on people. And when things are hard, humans with limited time and energy make calculations. They stop performing enthusiasm that isn’t real. They stop giving extra to jobs that won’t do the same for them.

Watching someone protect their energy is not the same as watching someone quit.

The question that would have actually told us something: What would make this worth it for you? What are your biggest challenges — and what could we do together to address those?

Most people have never been asked that. Not once.

So if you manage people: start there. One honest, curious question. Not accusatory. Open. That gets you further than any blame game.

And if you’re the one who had to take a step back to keep going — you can ask for that conversation too.

Save this for the next time you need it, or send it to someone who’s been told they don’t want to work anymore.

Content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal, HR, or mental health advice. Coaching services are not therapy or mental health treatment.

KnowYourWorth