|
Hi Reader, Welcome to Your Dose of Mana — a quick, weekly note with: I missed you! 1 Real Story And while I could point to travel, timing, or workload, that wouldn’t be the full story. It’s true I was in Seattle, present with my boyfriend and my daughter. It’s also true that I was grieving the loss of a close friend of 25 years, wrestling with how I showed up for her before she died — and how to show up after. That part is still unfinished for me. And then there was another death. A high school friend’s mother was declining. He reached out for coffee, for a break from the hospital, for a bit of steady ground — but I wasn’t in DC. During her decline, he leaned on me. I helped him think through caregivers and decisions no one is ever prepared to make. The day I arrived home, he emailed to say she had died peacefully. He shared the funeral details and acknowledged that it might be hard for me to attend. I went anyway. When I walked in, he was visibly moved that I was there. He pulled me into the family room and held on longer than expected. We hadn’t seen each other regularly in years. Life had done what life does. But in that moment, none of that mattered. Showing up mattered. All of this unfolded while I was also beginning a consequential project for a Global 500 company. The kind of work that could meaningfully shape 2026 for me. I was holding grief, responsibility, credibility, and presence all at once. Somewhere in that reality, a newsletter didn’t go out. And yes — that bites. 1 Leadership Insight But there’s another side that doesn’t get enough airtime: Funerals don’t move. Presence is not a soft skill. And values decisions almost always come with trade-offs. The leaders I trust most aren’t the ones who never miss a beat. 1 Practical Takeaway If right now you are balancing:
Before you call it failure, ask: I would. Because showing up — really showing up — is never wasted. I’m back now. And that’s leadership I can stand behind. 1 Dose of Art A little whimsy. A little joy. A little doodle.
Doodle by Gary Schechner, August 31, 2025 Even though this is a “mass email” I mean it when I say—let me know what you are up to. Reply, book a Zoom, pick up the phone. I’d love to catch up. And if leadership, culture, or people challenges are taking up too much brain space lately— Thanks for letting me show up in your inbox. More joy. Less friction. Always. |