Dear Class of 2026
As a leader, the best thing I can offer the next generation isn’t advice on how to succeed. It’s honesty about what actually shapes you. So I wrote this letter to the Class of 2026 about regret, freedom, and gratitude — and what each one means when life gets hard.
The Difference Between Positivity and Optimism
Positivity is circumstantial. Optimism is a choice. In a moment when both feel hard to come by, I’ve been thinking about the difference — and why one matters more right now than the other.
Clarity Beats Noise
Before you send that email, one question worth asking: is this moving the work forward? Or am I just adding another opinion to the pile? Short post this week on communication clarity.
The Hardest Thing to Hand Off
I like visiting our partners in Europe. I like building those relationships. And that’s exactly why I handed the next trip off to someone else. Here’s what I’ve been learning about delegation, leadership, and the highest and best use of my time.
RE POST: Hope Springs Eternal
As we celebrate Easter, I offer this for your consideration: In a world that lacks hope — in a world full of ridicule, alienation, and mocking — perhaps it is time to reconsider the Hope of the World?
Dear Grandpa
Some years remind you what matters. 2025 was one of those years — full of grief, growth, and unexpected grace. I found myself thinking often about my grandfather, wondering what he’d make of the challenges we faced. His leadership modeled something I’m still learning: show up in the hard moments. Put people first. Build something that outlasts you. Here’s my annual letter to my grandpa, the man who founded a company and modeled the kind of leadership that lasts a lifetime.
Practicing Encouragement
Sometimes the hardest feedback is the truest. Before Christmas, an employee told me I’d stopped being an encouraging leader. They were right. Here’s what I’m doing about it—and why your team may need to hear encouraging words from you this week.
Don’t Confuse Quiet with Better
There’s an issue at work that is getting a lot of attention. But over time, things quiet down. That means the situation got resolved, right? Not necessarily. Just because things get quiet doesn’t mean they’re fixed. As a leader, it’s up to you to peek beneath the silence and solve the real problem.
Leadership Themes for 2026
Following up on my 2026 leadership themes, I want to share the ‘why’ and ‘how’ behind them. This isn’t just about productivity; it’s a shift from managing a workload to embracing a calling of stewardship. It’s about bringing order to the mess — which leads me to ask: How are YOU creating clarity against the chaos this year?
Leadership Themes for 2026Â
Every year, I create a handful of “themes” that help guide my leadership practices for the next 12 months. Here’s the list that I created for 2026 — including a few updates to 2025 themes where I fell a little short. What does your list look like for 2026?