Protecting Our Right To Make Our Own Healthcare Decisions

It’s been a tough week. As many in my community have been sharing, I’m experiencing SO MANY FEELINGS in response to the leak of the draft opinion that will most likely overturn Roe v Wade.

Anger: When I hear our government in 2022 wants to remain purist and true to a document that was written by all white men and considered slavery, rape and women’s full on subservience to men as law.

Hopelessness: When I stand alongside women leaders in powerful organizations, helping them find their voices and confidence–knowing that at the most primal level–they will never have power and influence when a minority contingent in our country controls their healthcare choices and decisions about their bodies.

Fear: When I think about all of the individuals who will not be able to receive the care they need. Who cannot afford to travel to states where abortion will be legal. Who will be forced to give birth against their will - even under the worst of circumstances, even when it is to their own detriment.

Shame: When I think about how I have taken this right to make my own healthcare choices for granted. I know, it sounds like it should be the baseline of what is available to all humans. 50 years of precedent gave me a false sense of safety that this issue was settled. I haven't done enough and I understand that now.

What I am doing next is still evolving and yet I wanted to share a few things with you as the plan comes together.

Personally…

• I’m giving myself a little extra space. Saying no to things that I feel I can’t be present for right now. Extra time to write and feel my feelings.

• I’m being honest with my people about where I’m at and not pretending everything is ok. It’s not.

• I’m showing up for my daughters and the feelings that they’re having. I’m modeling that it’s ok to cry and to be afraid and to be really fucking angry.

Professionally…

• I’m holding space for my clients who are figuring out how to be there for their teams in an authentic and human way.

• I’m tapping into communities of powerful organizers and leaders who are building ways forward. I’m so grateful to be a part of Chief in this moment and to be connected with many female leaders of influence and power so I can learn how I can use my skills to be most effective.

• I’m seeking pro bono clients: those who are running for local office who want to work on messaging, public speaking and navigating impostor syndrome. I worked with several candidates in the 2018 midterms and I’m currently working with an impressive and energized candidate running for state house in Texas.

So, my asks…

1. If you know of candidates running for local office looking for support, send them my way.

2. If you are part of working groups, protests, campaigns or other actions to impact state legislation to maintain access to safe abortions–please let me know. We can discuss ways I can use my platform to support your efforts.

I appreciate you and your being a part of this community. Let’s be here for each other. Let’s do good work together. Let’s protect our rights to be in charge of our own bodies and healthcare decisions.

These choices directly impact the kinds of lives, careers and influence we’re able to have–and I’m here to advocate for you to have a life and a career–ON YOUR TERMS.

Is the "safe" path serving you?

I'm noticing a trend among the women in my orbit - the "safe" path isn't cutting it anymore.

After years, sometimes decades, of playing it safe in their careers, I'm witnessing my coaching clients take risks - from army crawling their way through the ranks at unforgiving companies to courageously leaping into the unknowns of a career transition - these women are forces to be reckoned with.

The pandemic has given us all a renewed sense of urgency, because nothing is promised - even the "safe" path could slip out from under us, so why not be bold?

Is it time to find clarity on your terms, your priorities, and freedom from the shame that comes from feeling stuck or lost in your career?

Are you seeking alignment between your gifts and the impact you want to have on the world?

What I know is this...

Our careers can hold a deep invitation for richer fulfillment - where we can grow and expand into our truest versions, where we feel accomplished and satisfied by our contributions, acknowledged for our gifts, where we get to play, experiment, and shine.

Whether you’re getting that nudge for something new, you’re already exploring something new, OR you're deep into the nuts and bolts of a job search that’s not yet clicking, our work together can guide you through the change in front of you.

For a limited time, I'm opening my calendar up for Single Coaching Sessions - typically only available to prior clients, this virtual 60-minute one-time session is for you to get a quick hit of individualized support and motivation to find the confidence to focus on what’s important to YOU.

You can reserve your Single Coaching Session HERE.

Reach out today and let's take the next step on your path together.

What's your expansion plan?

You may remember, in the new year I announced my word for 2022 was RECONNECT. While that seemed ridiculous in the height of dark Omicron January, I stuck with it.

Rewind to 2021, I focused on my own programs and groups. I launched Career Command and continued to put new four-week group options into the world. The work was energizing and my clients were seeing tremendous growth. Yet, towards the end of the year, I was hungry for partnerships, collaborations and most importantly…community.

The 2022 theme of RECONNECT prompted a shift into a new phase for my business and my life. I began my reintegration into the world with the pandemic moving toward the background.

I’ve been calling it, The 2022 Expansion Plan.

I keep asking myself…

What can I do within my business and with collaborations to expand my impact?

How can I expand my own professional growth?

How can I expand my relationships with talented women who are creating the change I want to see in organizations and in the world?

And the answers, the changes, keep showing up.

One of the most exciting of these shifts has been partnering with Chief, a private network built to drive more women into positions of power and keep them there.

I’m thrilled to share that I’m now a Chief Core Guide, facilitating groups that enable Chief members to build powerful connections that serve as their own personal and professional board of advisors. The groups are specifically designed for senior women leaders to strengthen their leadership journey, cross-pollinate ideas across industries, and affect change from the top-down.

Yes, I know. This is my wheelhouse, my mission and I’m so energized to be part of this movement.

In addition to my work with Chief and stepping back into delivering in-person leadership workshops and programs, I will continue to see clients 1:1 and move forward with this newest cohort of Career Command Four-Month Shift.

With all this expansion going on, I’ve decided this will be my last cohort of Career Command for 2022. I’ve spoken to some women who were interested in a fall group so I want to give you a heads up that I won’t be running that group given all the exciting activities of The 2022 Expansion Plan.

For this reason, I have kept registration for Career Command: Four-Month Shift open through the end of today, so if this changes your plans at all and you decide you’d like to join us, there’s still time!

You can either sign up HERE by 10pm ET this evening or feel free to reach out to me with any questions

100 Things that Bring You Joy

Last week, my ten year old daughter, Roxanne, came home from school with an assignment that honored the 100th Day of School. I know, how did we get here so fast?

The assignment: Make a list of 100 things that bring you joy.

While we’re usually pretty hands-off when it comes to homework, the whole family jumped in and made this our evening activity.

Especially our older daughter, Jane, who has always been driven by her sense of wonder.

This exercise lit a fire in her that tapped into her innate joie de vivre.

For the next hour, she shared a steady stream of hundreds of things, moments, and ideas that brought her joy.

“Taking long walks in the park.

Jasmine rice

Getting presents.

Giving presents!

Using your parents’ logic against them.

When someone has the reaction you were hoping for.

Boggle! And not just because I always win.

When someone smiles at you.”

Then, with perfect comedic timing, Roxanne added: “Making a list of 100 things that bring you joy!”

It made our evening and our week.

It reminded us how much joy we can find in our lives in the smallest of moments. If we’re present. If we’re open. If we allow ourselves to savor life’s Boggle-sized gems.

I encourage you to make this list. With a partner, your family, with friends, or on your own.

Keep it handy. Read it when you remember. Add things to it often. And feel the joy again.