Why Vertical Development Often Feels So Uncomfortable — and Why That’s a Good Sign
If you’ve ever tried to introduce vertical development—or what I call Being Side work—to a team or organization, you’ve likely encountered resistance. Maybe people shut down. Maybe they got defensive. Or maybe they just smiled politely and quickly moved on. At first glance, that kind of reaction might feel like failure. But if we understand […]
The Hidden Epidemic of Stagnation (And Why So Few Know What to Do About It)
What if the biggest obstacle to your growth isn’t external—but internal—and hiding in plain sight? Over the last several months, I’ve been diving deep into the topic of personal stagnation—what it is, why it happens, and how it silently takes root in even the most driven and capable professionals. And the more I study it, […]
Discover What’s Holding You Back: Take the Personal Stagnation Assessment
At some point, we all hit a wall. Maybe you’ve lost your spark at work. Maybe your personal growth feels like it’s on pause. Maybe, despite doing all the “right things,” you’re just not moving forward. That heavy, hard-to-name feeling? It’s called stagnation—and it might be trying to teach you something important. What Is Stagnation—and […]
Feeling Stuck? Here’s What Stagnation Is Trying to Teach You
We all hit walls. It might show up in our work, our relationships, our health, or our sense of purpose. Things slow down. Energy dips. Progress stalls. That’s stagnation — and while it can feel discouraging, it may be one of the most important signals in your personal development journey. What Is Stagnation? Stagnation occurs […]
Stagnation: The Silent Killer That You May Be Facing
Most people, teams, and organizations are operating in some form of stagnation. On the surface, it looks like stability or comfort. But beneath the surface, it’s the silent killer of growth. The primary feeling that comes with stagnation? Frustration. You feel like you’re working hard, but not moving forward. You feel like things aren’t clicking […]
Leaders, What If ADHD Is the Invisible Barrier You’ve Been Battling?
You’re sharp. Capable. Driven. People rely on you. And yet… You constantly feel behind. You miss appointments, forget names, lose track of tasks you swore you’d remember. You rewrite the same to-do list every morning because yesterday’s priorities evaporated the moment you opened your inbox. You bounce between hyper-focus and brain fog. Some days, you’re […]
The Leadership Ceiling: Why 85% of Leaders Plateau at Level 4
In leadership development, there’s an invisible but stubborn ceiling — one that stops the majority of leaders from ever reaching their full potential. In my work with executives, I find that fewer than 10 percent ever make it to the highest rung of leadership maturity (i.e., Level 5). The rest? They plateau at Level 4. […]
Inflection Points: The First Step Toward True Leadership Transformation
Most people aren’t intentionally resisting growth. But they’re not actively pursuing it either. They’re simply moving with “the flow”—navigating the rhythms of life and leadership without ever questioning where that current is taking them. And here’s the hard truth: “the flow” rarely leads us to the best version of ourselves. If anything, it often steers […]
Does Your Trauma Show Up at Work: How Our Past Shapes Performance, Leadership, and Growth
In a recent article titled “When the Past Walks Into the Office”, Susan Schmitt Winchester and Dave Ulrich explores a topic that many leaders and professionals overlook but almost all experience: the invisible ways childhood trauma manifests in the workplace. He outlines nine symptoms that stem from dysfunctional early-life experiences—symptoms that, at first glance, may […]
Self-Awakening: Are You Someone Who Has “Awakened?”
Last week I wrapped up the latest cohort of “The Climb,” a 10-person vertical-development intensive that culminates in summiting a 14,000-foot peak. Actually—make that two peaks: Mount Belford and Mount Oxford, connected by a saddle of loose rock that feels designed to test both quads and character. Three days in the Rockies gave us more […]
