One of the things we like to say in my family is “Everything is a metaphor for everything else.” We started saying this a couple of summers ago, when we were getting ready for a big backpacking trip to Yosemite. My husband is an avid hiker and camper, and we had planned this trip to … Read more
I’m taking a sabbatical from writing new blog posts. You’ll be seeing some re-runs and old favorites for the next little while. You can always write me back with suggestions or ideas just by responding to this email! I’ve been listening to a fascinating podcast called “Cautionary Tales,” recorded by an economist by Tim Harford. … Read more
Years ago when I first lived in New York, a beloved older friend counseled me, “The winters are tough here, and it’s windy. Walk on the sunny side of the street.” It’s great practical advice, of course. But I think it’s pretty good metaphorical advice, too. Miss you, SK.
When do you default to your old habits? I’m thinking about this today as I recommit to budgeting, and meal planning, and generally being more intentional. All the tools I need to be good at this stuff are literally at my fingertips—apps, information, lots of ways to monitor and measure. But the driver of all … Read more
I’ve been a fan of the reality cooking show “Top Chef” for a long time. I just happened to hear the head judge, Tom Colicchio, being interviewed on a podcast, and he was fascinating. One question he was asked was, “What separates a good home cook from a chef?” As I expected, Colicchio had great … Read more
My husband Charlie and I have many of the same cultural interests. We like the same kinds of plays and movies, for example. But when left to our own (literal) devices, we often choose to watch different things. Recently Charlie said that he wanted to show me a video of this guy, Matt, whose YouTube … Read more
Peanut butter is a delicious and filling snack. Peanut butter is sticky. Peanut butter eaten ten minutes before you’re recording an interview is…not a great idea. Maybe have some apple slices instead. (My son Cameron read this blog post and said, “I don’t get it. Is there a metaphor here?” Nope. No metaphor. Straight talk … Read more
Can you tell a story? Can you tell one about yourself? About what’s important to you? About your values or your challenges? Storytelling is an important business skill (and if you don’t believe me, check out a few of the 44 million Google results from “storytelling business communication.”) What do I mean by “storytelling”? The … Read more
A colleague of mine recently shared a terrific idea I wanted to pass along to you all. It involves the audio-only social site Clubhouse (read more here, if you don’t know what I’m talking about!) https://www.pcmag.com/how-to/what-is-clubhouse-app Clubhouse is kind of like dropping in on a bunch of conversations that are taking place, and you can pop your … Read more
It’s January 1, 2021. I’m at the beach, and though it’s an overcast, chilly day, I took a walk by the ocean. As I started on the walk, I wanted to think about a word for the year, a guiding mantra I can use to make decisions. I let my mind wander as I walked. … Read more
