Of course, a new year prompts reflection from 2025 and intentions for 2026 (not a fan of the word “resolutions”). The reflection that’s my big take-away from 2025 is to proudly confess that “I don’t have all the answers.”
I’m just a nerd when it comes to understanding how the sausage is made in our government. One thing I particularly enjoy is connecting the dots between policy and politics (two completely different things, in my opinion) in state government so that clients can develop the knowledge, messaging or advocacy plans that best suit their…
Read MoreMy summer reading challenge continues with another book about writing. But this one doesn’t include a single tip, hint or rule to make my writing better. What “The Irish Goodbye” by Beth Ann Fennelly does include is 127 pages of 40+ short essays that the author describes as “micro-memoirs.” Each essay taught me by example…
Read MoreI’ve never met an Anne Lamott book I didn’t love. Most I’ve read multiple times. Anne’s writing is saucy, insightful, sometimes a little edgy, and downright helpful. She is both a teller of great stories and an imparter of excellent writing and life advice (make sure you’ve read Anne’s primer on life and writing, “Bird…
Read MoreI like to mix fiction with “good for you” nonfiction on my summer reading list. My first nonfiction pick is Say It Well by Terry Szuplat, a former speechwriter for President Obama. I first heard about the book during a podcast interview hosted by my old friend Mike Fernandez on “The Crux.” This book is…
Read MoreWhen people hear the phrase “leadership presence,” the image of a charismatic CEO delivering a keynote speech or a politician commanding a debate stage may come to mind. Many assume leadership presence is something you’re born with. Others may assume it means being the loudest voice in the room. Neither are true. Recently, I had…
Read MoreIf it’s summer, that means I’m back to my annual effort to get off the screens and back to the page by reading more. In recent years, I’ve found my love of reading eclipsed by other things that pick away at my time and attention. Podcasts have been a real culprit digging into my audiobook…
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