Author: Rachel Hanson

Research shows that people are willing to work harder and for longer hours IF they are given opportunities to take initiative. In other words they don’t want to work harder for the boss’s aims, they want to work harder for THEIRS. We work hard on stuff that lights us up. If nothing lights us up then … Continue reading Initiative

Direct is not the same thing as demanding. Direct means knowing what you believe and stating it clearly. It means fearless in speaking the truth that needs to be said. It does not, in and of itself, carry any expectations of the other. Demanding carries an implication that my way is right and you’ll follow … Continue reading Be direct

"You only ever get to feel certain about the future once it's already turned into the past." - Oliver Burkeman In other words, worry less. This doesn't necessarily mean plan less. It does mean that no amount of planning can create certainty that the future will unfold the way you want it to. Plan for … Continue reading Worry less

Is largely about saying no to the correct things. We will never get all the things done. To do lists don't magically disappear - there's always more to fill them. What are you NOT doing, and why? Are you NOT doing the things that don't actually matter? The things that delay and destroy results? The … Continue reading Time Management

I've got a newer client who's an athlete. Played some ball at a high level. During a practice they mentioned that pulling out a core statement from their writing still feels clunky and foreign...and that they're good with that and excited to get better at it. One of the things I love about building into … Continue reading Skill building

Edward Deci, in his research on intrinsic motivation in team settings, found three aspects that must be present. Sense of autonomy, sense of competency, and a sense of connectedness. That last one is easily missed. It's the inverse of research showing that people are far more likely to quit their job because of a bad … Continue reading Connectedness and motivation

"Self-esteem is a cultural creation not a human universal." Certainly the notion that its externally built, is...I believe. The amount of praise heaped on small children in our culture is absolutely bonkers. It's a river that my wife and I are constantly trying to fight against and wade upstream. We love our son deeply and … Continue reading Drowning in a cultural river of praise

Make peace with the inescapable reality of problems. Life is simply a series of them that we put our energy toward. Don't labor under the delusion that if you work fast and hard enough they'll all disappear. Problems are part of what makes life magnificent, I believe. From another lens, life IS problems - a … Continue reading Peace with problems