Monday Morning Mojo

I was at Politics and Prose, one of my favorite DC bookstores, when I came across this wall in the basement, the results of their 2026 bookmark contest me. From a distance it’s a wonderful explosion of color and creativity. Hundreds of bookmarks, all gathered together into one exuberant piece of art. However, each bookmark […]

This summer I’ve been learning something completely new: Mahjong. Once a week I join a neighborhood group around a kitchen table. I’m the only man, surrounded by a wonderful group of women who have welcomed me with patience, laughter, and more than a little good-natured teasing. Mahjong has reminded me that every beginner looks awkward,

This weekend Devi had two classrooms. The first was the woods on the shore of the mighty Potmac, close to where I live.. There, she began learning one of the fundamentals she will need for her first extended overnight in the back country coming up later in August: how to lead on the trail. Stay

The word competition comes from the Latin competere, “to strive together.” Originally, it wasn’t about defeating someone else. It was about bringing out the best in one another. Watching our two dogs race through our backyard reminded me of that older meaning. They chase, feint, sprint, and change direction in an instant. One pulls ahead,

8-month old Devi has begun her training for the backpacking journeys ahead with an empty pack, just getting used to it. Her next lessons will be: leading on the trail, and learning that campsite is home. There’s something deeply satisfying about the beginning, when every experience is new and every small success feels like discovery.

Thirty-two years ago, Laura and I stood facing each other at Strong Mansion on Sugarloaf Mountain, and promised to build a life together. We’ve raised two remarkable children, traveled the world, weathered losses, celebrated victories, and continued discovering new dimensions in each other. Laura has never stopped inspiring me with her courage, musical creativity, inner

Sarah White is one of only two people I’ve stayed close to since college. She’s also an extraordinary editor, writing coach, and expert at helping people discover and craft the stories that define their lives. She helped me shape my first book, which became a business bestseller, and has guided me through several others. Today

A few weeks ago, we said goodbye to Kaya. Her loss left a deep emptiness in our home, and coming to peace with her passing is its own journey, one that will take time and unfold in its own way. A little while later, we welcomed Devi into our lives. She is not a replacement

One of the most common mistakes in leadership and change is treating the plan as the work. Plans, timelines, and project management matter, but they are support processes. Engagement is the skeleton key that opens the door to change. I have watched teams spend weeks refining milestones, dependencies, status reports, and implementation schedules while giving

Last night Laura, Gabe and I squeezed into Riv38, a tiny Paris jazz club tucked into a vaulted 13th century cellar. Sitting shoulder to shoulder with strangers while musicians, Ludovic Ernault & Simon Martineau, improvised just a few feet away. I found myself slowing down enough to savor the music. Some of the most meaningful moments