Weekly Badass Mail

The worst thing broken systems do isn't deny you fairness. It's convince you that fighting back is pointless. Earlier this week, I posted about how your job description should match your performance review. And if it doesn't, you need to advocate to update the JD and negotiate compensation that aligns with what you're actually doing. I got a few comments that just didn't hit me right. Both comments are right. The system IS busted. Workplaces usually AREN'T fair. I'm not arguing otherwise. But...

Corey Andrew Powell hasn't been to an Applebee's since 1994. All because of one soggy grilled cheese sandwich. That's it. One mediocre meal thirty years ago, and he still remembers it in vivid detail. He's never gone back. When he told me this story on the podcast, I laughed. Then he said: So that is what I want people to think about when it comes to personal branding. Like you might not have another chance to redeem yourself. Ouch. Your personal brand isn't built in the big moments. It's...

So last week I posted something that kind of took off. Just five slides. Corporate predictions for 2026. Using a shot of some Trader Joe's flowers in the background. 170,000+ views later, my comments and DMs are still full. Honestly, I didn't say anything revolutionary. I just named the thing people are already feeling but haven't quite put words to yet. Here's what I'm seeing: People-first culture language is about to die. The phrase got so overused and so underdelivered that it has lost all...

You can't get a job you don't apply for. I don't mean that as a motivational quote or to have it land as annoying advice when you're already trying your best. I mean it literally. A lot of capable, thoughtful folks aren't stuck because they're unqualified. They're stuck because they've parked in the saving phase. They have folders full of job postings. Roles they're interested in. Roles they could realistically do. Roles they keep revisiting. Saving jobs feels productive. It feels like you're...

If you can't articulate your value, other people will define it for you. Most people can rattle off their job title, their department, and the tasks they're responsible for... but very few can clearly explain the actual value they bring as a leader. And when you don't know how to describe your value, everyone else fills in the blanks with what they need, what they assume, or what they think you're good at based on the last crisis you solved. Suddenly, your job becomes "whatever keeps the...

Coaching can feel like this mysterious thing people talk about online but never really explain. So I want to let you in on something today... because a lot of you follow my work but don't really know how I coach. Sure, you know how I talk about burnout and boundaries and leadership, but not what it actually feels like to work with me. So let me walk you through how it works when we're sitting on Zoom together and digging into your life, your goals, and what you actually want. I use two main...

You can't rebuild your energy if your foundation is cracked. Most people jump straight to fixing their mindset or making big career decisions while running on fumes. But baseline well-being is what everything else rests on. And if your body and brain are still in survival mode, nothing sustainable sticks. Here's where I have every client start — the five pillars of foundational well-being. Hydration Dehydration messes with everything... mood, focus, and energy. Even being a little low can...

Leaving the job doesn’t end the burnout. You finally did it. You left the job that drained you. Everyone congratulated you. You expected to feel lighter, maybe even free. But instead, you’re sitting in your new role feeling… uneasy. The pace is slower. The people seem kind. The work isn’t crushing you. But somehow, your shoulders are still tense, your sleep is restless, and your mind keeps scanning for what could go wrong. That’s your nervous system doing what it was trained to do. When you...

This one's from the heart. This past weekend, I learned that one of my former students passed away unexpectedly. He was one of those rare people who could light up a room just by walking in. He cared deeply about people, always found a reason to laugh, and made everyone around him feel seen and valued. Losing him has been hard. It's had me thinking a lot about the legacy we leave behind and what really matters when all is said and done. I've spend most of my life helping people grow. First as...