I remember a project early in my consulting career. I poured my heart and soul into it, working late nights and weekends to deliver something truly exceptional for the client. The results were fantastic, far beyond their expectations. But when I sent the final invoice, based on my hourly rate, it felt… hollow. The number on the page didn’t come close to the value I had delivered. It was a tough lesson: just doing great work isn’t enough. My clients frequently share a similar story with me....
4 days ago • 1 min read
I remember the moment like it was yesterday. I worked for IBM in its consulting division. Like clockwork, I would jump on a plane on Sunday afternoon for my next project. Every week it was another destination where I would work with a client then fly home on Friday night. It was the first time I became a member of United's 1K club, meaning I flew over 100,000 miles in a year. In my mid-40s, I was a road warrior living on planes and in hotels racking up frequent flyer miles and hotel points. I...
7 days ago • 2 min read
My recent health challenges have me thinking about legacy. And no, I don't mean the touchy-feely kind or getting a library named after you. I'm talking about the real part. The one that keeps you staring at the ceiling at 3 AM, asking, "Will any of this matter in ten years?" After I left my corporate role, I thought my legacy was set in stone. I led big projects and built strong teams. But I soon realized those corporate wins were resume virtues. They get you ahead, but they aren't what...
8 days ago • 1 min read
Leaving your long-term corporate career can be a double-edged sword. While the newfound freedom is liberating, it can also leave a void. The built-in purpose provided by company missions and team goals disappears, often leading to feelings of restlessness and a lack of direction. This is where finding your "Why" becomes not just a luxury, but a necessity for a fulfilling next chapter. Now stay with me here. I know finding your "Why" is too touchy-feely for some of you. Research has shown a...
11 days ago • 1 min read
After being laid off, I thought my experience would land me a new job quickly. I was dead wrong. After a few months of rejections, I lost confidence and struggled. Here's what I realized during that difficult period. Your career is more than a job title. After years in the corporate world, you possess a wealth of experience. To thrive in your next chapter, you must look beyond your former role. Your value is not in a title, but in the skills you have honed. It is time to reskill, reposition,...
14 days ago • 2 min read
For decades, you wore a corporate mask. The version that got you promoted and led teams. That mask wasn't fake. Just incomplete. You suppressed parts of yourself to succeed. The creative side. The emotional side. The curious side. After 20 or 30 years, you forgot where the mask ended and the real you began. The person you're looking for has been there all along. Look Backward to Move Forward Want to know who you are without the title? Look at who you were before you had one. What did you love...
16 days ago • 1 min read
The other day I challenged you to tell a compelling story in one sentence. In our Mastermind Book Club meeting, David Garfinkel told us the Hero's Journey doesn't work in copywriting. Create precision strikes, not epic sagas. This hit me hard. I've been writing copy for 20 years, and I've always thought longer, more elaborate stories were better. More emotional. More persuasive. Boy was I wrong. David explained that short persuasion stories, sometimes just 1-2 sentences, outperform elaborate...
22 days ago • 1 min read
Yesterday we had an incredible mastermind book club session with David Garfinkel, Bond Halbert, Kim Krause Schwalm, and several other book club members. We were discussing David's book, The Persuasion Story Code, and the conversation was so engaging that we talked for an hour and 42 minutes (when our bladders said "Uncle!") I've been writing copy for over 20 years and this discussion completely changed how I think about writing persuasive copy. The Power of Short Stories Here's something that...
23 days ago • 3 min read
You've got the credentials. The track record. Thirty years in the industry, multiple certifications, and a client list that would impress anyone in your field. So why does the 35-year-old across the table seem more compelling in five minutes than you do in thirty years? The answer lies in something I read in David Garfinkel's The Persuasion Story Code:. Your experience is only as powerful as the story you wrap it in. The Problem with the Resume Approach For years, we've been taught that...
25 days ago • 2 min read
