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Hi Reader, Welcome to Your Dose of Mana — a quick, weekly note with: If your biggest business challenges are actually people challenges, you’re in the right place. 1 Real Story When I first started writing a newsletter is was monthly on LinkedIn. And honestly, that felt daunting. One meaningful newsletter a month? At the time, I genuinely wasn’t sure I could do it. Then, after 5 editions, I created Your Dose of Mana, it was weekly. Which felt mildly insane. Surely I was going to run out of ideas. Instead, the exact opposite happened. I now find ideas everywhere. → A guy getting onto the Metro carrying absolutely nothing. → A coaching client jokingly telling me “I hate you” after a hard question. → Airline upgrades. → Giraffes are my spirit animal. That last one feels like a sentence that deserves an explanation, and yet makes complete sense to me and those who know me well. More importantly, somewhere along the way, the process itself changed me. Or maybe more accurately, it changed what I notice. I digest the world differently now. More attuned to the patterns, friction, communication dynamics, and subtle chains of cause and effect that shape relationships, teams, and organizations. Oddly enough, it reminds me a lot of meditation. When I first started meditating, I didn’t really enjoy it. It was hard. I was restless. It was work. Now? I look forward to it. Even when it is hard. If I don’t do it, I feel unsettled, slightly off. I started small. Writing this newsletter, on reflection, has been surprisingly similar. And after 52 weeks, one thing has become very clear to me: The themes keep repeating. Not because I’m out of ideas. Because human struggles are remarkably consistent. People want to feel valued. Round and round we go. 1 Leadership Insight Looking back, I realize that over this past year, the leadership themes are consistent. Not because leadership is simple. It’s because most organizations never actually teach the fundamentals in the first place. People get promoted into leadership roles because they were excellent individual contributors. They were great at the technical work. Then suddenly they’re responsible for:
And often nobody teaches them how to do any of it. Sometimes they’re not even asked whether they want the role in the first place. They’re just promoted and expected to figure it out. Then organizations act surprised when leadership problems emerge. So yes, I talk about the same themes repeatedly. Clarity. These are not “advanced leadership concepts.” They are foundational human skills that directly impact whether teams thrive or struggle. And repetition is not failure. Sometimes repetition is how people finally learn what should have been taught years ago. And sometimes things are worth repeating. 1 Practical Takeaway Think about your own leadership experience for a moment. What were you formally taught? Where are you currently leading from instinct, habit, avoidance, or survival mode instead of actual training and support? And separately: What practices in your life have quietly changed how you move through the world? Meditation? Growth often happens so gradually we only recognize it when we stop and look backward. 52 weeks ago, I was worried I’d run out of things to say. Ok, for those that really know me, please stop laughing now. Fine, I was worried I’d run out of things to write about. Better? Now I realize how much wisdom hides inside ordinary moments. If you’ve been with me from the start, what a year! Wherever you joined along the way, I’m grateful you are here. Thank you all! ♥️ 1 Dose of Art A little whimsy. A little joy. A little doodle.
Doodle by Gary Schechner, May 25, 2026 Even though this is technically a “mass email,” I genuinely love hearing from people. Reply, book a Zoom, pick up the phone. I’d love to catch up. If these pieces ever make you think, “I know someone who needs this,” I’m always grateful for thoughtful introductions and shares. Thanks for letting me show up in your inbox. More joy. Less friction. Always. |