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Time by Design

Are you juggling multiple non-negotiable roles (parent, founder, exec, caretaker, all the above)? Trying to "balance" and feel like you’re failing at everything? Ready to break the patterns that are keeping you stuck? Subscribe for head-led, heart-centered strategies to step out of survival mode and embrace a new Operating System for Intentional Living.​ Actionable strategies drop Sunday mornings. What to try. Why it Works. For When it Matters.

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Featured Post

4 Ways to Make Your Calendar Credible

There is no simpler way to be intentional with your time than to be strategic with your calendar. Your calendar isn’t just a planning tool, it’s a promise. A promise from your current self to your future self about how you’ll spend your time, energy, and attention. But if that promise is flaky, over-committed or constantly shifting, you’ll stop trusting it and you’ll override it. Think about it, would you rely on a friend like that — a friend who always says yes, then flakes, double-books...

Abstract pink peaks and valleys.

When most people hear “accountability,” they think of performance reviews, consequences and trackers. But real accountability, accountability by design, isn’t about micromanagement. It’s about setting the stage for faster progress, clearer expectations and a culture where ownership isn’t assigned, it’s assumed. When accountability is missing, here’s what happens: A team lead asks for input by Wednesday. It’s now Friday, no updates, no explanation. The project stalls while she politely pings…...

Beautiful aurora borealis dances across a starry night sky.

Awe isn’t just a feeling. It’s a force. A few years ago, I made the decision to cultivate awe as a personal mission. It began when I first watched The Greatest Showman. There’s a scene in which Hugh Jackman’s character is watching Jenny Lind sing Never Enough. The song itself is stunning, but it’s his reaction that gets me. Watching her perform from offstage, he is visibly moved, jaw-dropped, mesmerized, completely undone. I’ve watched that clip more times than I can count, and each time I am...

Red, yellow, and blue stripes create a patterned design.

One of the best ways to say no without saying “no” is to say “yes” and let someone else do it. This week, we’re diving deep on one of my favorite 6D strategies: Do Delete Defer DELEGATE Downgrade Design This is not the kind of delegation where you half-heartedly hand something off and then hover like a nervous parent on the first day of school. It’s the kind that buys back your time, builds others’ capability and increases your impact. Let's start with some real talk... why does delegation...

Colorful diamond-shaped tiles form an artistic pattern.

Let’s be honest: If you’re a high-performer trying to build a life and a business (or career) you actually feel fulfilled by, your biggest challenge isn’t managing your time, it’s managing your energy. Time management gets all the headlines, but in reality it’s energy management that makes or breaks us. How do I know this? I was the cautionary tale before I was the guide. I tried to lead a team with brutally tight deadlines while being a mom to my then-4yo and 6yo. I believed I could “just...

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We’ve talked about how the human brain processes only a tiny sliver of reality 40 bits per second out of 20 million. To deal with that massive gap, the brain creates shortcuts. These shortcuts help us keep moving through life without burning out, BUT, they can distort reality in ways that can really mess us up. Enter: Thought Holes. They’re the potholes of perception — mental distortions that shape how we interpret the world and how we show up in it. And they’re crafty. You may not even know...

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There comes a point in every high-performer’s career when she realizes that her ability to drive results isn’t just about what she can do, it’s about what she can get others to do. It happens when you’re leading a project across teams with no direct reports, when you’re expected to push an initiative forward but can’t force compliance or when you’re stepping up as a leader in a new role but facing resistance to change. Formal authority is neat and straightforward — title, hierarchy, decision...

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We love a good story of individual resilience. The lone hero, against all odds, pushing through adversity with nothing but sheer willpower. It’s the stuff of movies… literally. Batman broods alone in his cave, convinced that no one but him can bear the weight of Gotham’s survival. Beatrix Kiddo fights her way through Kill Bill on pure grit, vengeance and years of solitary training. Rocky runs up the steps alone, punches meat in a freezer and faces his toughest battles without a support system...

Title: Kompositsioon lillade joontega Creator: Mihkelsoo, Artur (autor) Date: Providing institution: Tartu Art Museum Aggregator: Estonian e-Repository and Conservation of Collections Providing Country: Estonia CC0 Kompositsioon lillade joontega by Mihkel

Somewhere along the way, many of us picked up the idea that if something is worth doing, it’s worth doing perfectly. But let’s be honest, perfection is a moving target and, in most cases, a monster of our own making. More often than not, the pursuit of perfect isn’t making our work better it’s making everything harder. And letting go of perfectionism doesn’t mean letting go of excellence. It means you’re not getting yourself stuck in an endless loop of over-polishing, overthinking &...

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If you’re a high performer, you likely take pride in your ability to deliver, exceed expectations, and be the person others can count on. It’s part of your identity. But what happens when high-performance crosses the threshold into over-performance? The shift is subtle but the consequences are severe: exhaustion, frustration and burnout. Many high-performers don’t recognize this shift in real-time. They believe they’re just “doing a little more,” when in reality, they’ve entered a cycle of...