You bought the planner, signed up for a task manager and met with a life coach. Still, you don’t feel like you’ve made any progress. How can you move forward in a way that lets you design your life how you want to? That’s where a Personal Development Plan (PDP) comes in. A PDP isn’t … Read more
For weeks now, wildfires have been ravaging Southern California, devastating neighborhoods and forcing tens of thousands of people to flee their homes. It’s not difficult to see the external consequences of these disasters, but the internal effects natural disasters have on the people experiencing them can also be debilitating. Natural disasters have always been part … Read more
Do I need to forgive my abusive mother to let go of the past? This is the question I found myself grappling with when I started to recover from the pain of childhood neglect. For most of my childhood, I did not have access to a consistent adult who valued me. As a result, I … Read more
Debt management can be an overwhelming and isolating experience for many. The emotional burden of making ends meet coupled with shame can feel heavy. Being bombarded by calls from debt collectors day and night only makes it worse. The average American credit card balance rose to $7,236 in 2024. Chances are you fall among this … Read more
Your fashionable neighbor’s new shoes. Your fit friend’s favorite yogurt. Your dad pitching you his alma mater. Influence has long been the match that lit the fuse to compel someone to make a purchase or develop certain beliefs. But thanks to social media, modern-day influencers now have a forum far beyond their immediate circle to … Read more
“Living with chronic illness isn’t a life half-lived; it’s an opportunity to redefine what it means to be truly alive, resilient, and whole.” ~Christopher Reynolds I have spent the past eleven years of my life in chronic pain. While this journey has been long, excruciatingly difficult, and deeply lonely, I am beginning to come to peace … Read more
Having a high IQ looks impressive on paper, but when it comes to interacting with staff one-on-one and navigating healthy work dynamics, without high emotional intelligence, many leaders can fall short. In contrast to IQ, emotional intelligence (also called emotional quotient or EQ) is determined by emotions and how you manage them. Assets like social … Read more
Every pizza has a story. Most people think it’s all about the ingredients, but the success of a restaurant relies on so much more than sauce and crust. Those making the pizza have stories, too. Some, like Katie Lee, have a novel unlike any you’ve ever read before. If you visited any of her three … Read more
When leadership crosses paths with personal branding, magic happens. Suddenly, a leader isn’t just the person behind the title—they’re a living, breathing force that commands trust and sparks inspiration. It’s the difference between a boss who sends out memos and a visionary who ignites a movement. The art of merging who you are with how … Read more
Before I officially met Miranda Rae Mayo, I watched her on a variety of screens. On my phone, she sings Alicia Keys’ “Fallin’” on TikTok. On my TV, she’s with her Chicago P.D. and Chicago Med colleagues on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, talking about how she’s been a cast member on Chicago Fire … Read more