It’s been… two plus years? Huh…
Welp - here’s the two year update then: while my Brand & Culture Agency MTO is scaling our EQ @Work program including a landmark culture research project, I’ve been also fulfilling my lifelong dream of living on a serene horse ranch. Kenshō Stables is nestled in the Texas Hill Country in the adorable, quaint town of Wimberley. This year we were featured as one of the Top 5 Animal Activities to do in Texas this summer by Austin Monthly Magazine for our well-being centered horse experiences.
Most amazingly, after an eight year journey to have a baby, my tiny dinosaur was born nine months ago now. Motherhood has been an absolute delight and I have embodied the process of trying to learn from my baby as much as I teach him. It’s been profound so far.
Profound ideas and conversations have always sparked my sense of joy. After almost thirty years of personal, professional, spiritual, healing and wisdom work, I find myself at this very cool intersection marrying my career with my purpose and pleasure. I’m writing a book about it … slowly… I have a defunct podcast about the topic; who has time to create so much content?
Mostly I spend my writing time sharing the five very easy-to-learn emotional intelligence skills (known as social-emotional learning to parents) that radically improve people and organizational cultures. Helping people develop the skills to thrive and helping organizations be sources of thriving cultures are my current obsessions. We spend so much time at work, why can’t it be emotionally-healthy for us? It can be.
But I find myself, yet again in my career, swimming against the tide… Just last week a CEO told me his company of 600 people does not have any culture issues (even though all employees everywhere are living in a very stressful external environment and 77% of people don’t really love their job) and then he added “if anything, they just need to work harder”. Gasp! In the last week, I also heard about a Board of Directors saying “we don’t care how toxic the CEO is, she’s profitable”. Gasp! Gasp!
Of course, the idea is not new — I’ve been steeped and simmered in countless toxic cultures over the years as a silicon valley tech and hollywood entertainment executive. I’m just still really lost about how after so much research proving the effectiveness of preventative, supportive evidence-base programs (Carroll, 2007; Fixsen, Blasé, Horner, Sims, & Sugai, 2013; Goleman & Senge, 2014; Kahane, 2010; Kegan & Lahey, 2009; Schein, 2011; Senge, 1990; Senge, Scharmer, Jaworksi, & Flowers, 2004; Wagner et al., 2006; Wheatley, 2005) are not yet deeply entrenched in the requirements of businesses in America.
Thriving people are better for business. Period. Alas, I can provide all the statistics in the world and still, “leaders” who want to run people into the ground for short term profit will not change their mind. It reminds me of the political dogma fight between our two-party system in this big election season.
On that front, I will always vote against any party who wants to take away my rights to my own body. I would have died if the hospital would have not provided emergency surgery during my ectopic pregnancy (trigger warning: loss of pregnancy) if it would have had to go to this Texas hospital today.
After twenty-two years on the West Coast and now living in Texas again, I find myself having conversations with Republicans who I like and love. People who are kind and generous and want to be ‘good people’ like I do. Sometimes it makes me wonder — how on earth did we get to this vitriolic state? And then, this movie explained it. It’s weird to look back on George Bush fondly but here we are…
I decided awhile back, I can not live in the news and media cycle craziness, giving my energy to those who make money off of polarizing us. When I became a new mom, I needed to protect my own sense of well-being. Or else, I’m really no good to anyone… I can’t control a lot of things but what I can do — is focus on always making sure I’m finding and aiming to deliver my highest value.
Operating with a high emotional capacity is my superpower. I can produce a lot, I can manage a lot. And I do. After all the countless hours I have invested into gaining self-awareness, empathy, deep listening, communication and coaching skills, my highest contribution is providing the much needed emotional support most of us are missing — at scale.
To reach the most people, today, I decided to offer individual bite-size workshops from our bigger program, starting with a Capacity Management Workshop in two weeks. It’s a very good way for people who are curious about the work to get a sample experience at an affordable rate. Join me?
That’s where you can find me, unless you can travel along dirt roads, walk through the trails underneath the Oaks where I will be swinging.
I think that’s my 2024 update... Oh, and I got a big puppy, and a new horse Miss Sally :) Let’s catch up again soon. Or sooner, anyway…
