The tattoo on my arm says, find comfort in the uncomfortable. It is my constant reminder that growth happens when you push yourself into the uncomfortable. You probably don’t need to run headfirst into it like I do, but you have to put yourself out there. Oh, and there is a REALLY good chance it’s […]
I was watching CBS Sunday Morning, as I do every weekend, and there was a story about how hard the job market is for new grads. I was only half-listening due to a headache from too many margaritas the night before, but I did perk up when an economist they interviewed explained that AI was […]
2025 was a year of reckoning for me both personally and professionally. I got to experience the joy that is perimenopause, continue navigating my ADHD, and I got to witness women standing up to weaponized incompetence at home and systemic bias at work. My Top 5 from 2025 are the themes I couldn’t stop thinking […]
I am the most unathletic person you will ever meet. If you don’t believe me, watch the video of me rollerblading—it’s on my Instagram. I’m not giving you the link, you gotta work for it. Ironically, or not ironically, I am ridiculously competitive, which directly challenges my athleticism, often with disastrous consequences. Case in point: […]
(If I hear this one more time, I’m gonna throat punch someone.) If I had a dollar for every time a technical or contracting company said, “We don’t do marketing*,” I could fund my own tradeshow booth next to Lockheed Martin at AUSA. With lighting. And carpet padding (and actual comfy chairs). Every time, I […]
It was standing room only. Business owners packed into a room to talk about something most of us avoid like the plague: ourselves. Not our services.Not our logos.Not our team’s credentials or the client list we’re proud of. Us. Because here’s the truth: people don’t buy from logos—they buy from people. And if you’re not […]
I am not a fan of the phrase “thought leadership,” but I have yet to come up with a better term, so here we are. It’s why I titled this blog “I’m Kind of a Big Deal,” it gives off some serious narcissistic vibes. Basically, it means a person has a unique perspective and insight […]
I had a great conversation this past week with good friend of mine, who is in an influential and important role in Grand Rapids. She was looking to amplify her brand, meaning raise her profile in the community. Although she is very involved in the community, which is a huge part of her job, not […]
Is gratitude lost in todays society, never to be found again? Am I jaded in thinking that younger professionals want things handed to them without first working for it? It would seem the self-worth of millennials is much higher than others perceive it to be. Is this anyone else’s experience? I want to share a […]
Negotiation is a part of every aspect of our life. In your personal life it could be trying to get your spouse to do a chore or run an errand. In your professional life it might involve a raise, increase in a client’s budget or a lease on new office space. Negotiation is a bit […]