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Hi Reader, Welcome to Your Dose of Mana — a quick, weekly note with: Exploring love, leadership, & unpacking issues along the way. 1 Real Story Well, we are now about nine months in. We’ve shifted from “exploring” the relationship (his initial word) to “settling into” the relationship. We are committed, connected, and strong. Coast-to-coast strong. Not without bumps, but strong. In the past, I’ve had whirlwind romances — the “love-bombing” kind. He’s not that guy. He’s lived in the same house for 30 years. Meanwhile, I’ve moved 15 times in 20 years and changed jobs almost as often. So being with someone who moves slowly has been… challenging. It’s forced me to unpack my baggage —not a steamer trunk, just carry on, thank you very much. For the last ~130 days, I’ve meditated daily. That’s a record for me (well, except maybe for sugar consumption — but that’s another story, for another day). I’ve realized the things that used to spin me up — fear, uncertainty, lack of control — don’t have quite the same effect anymore. Because I’m with someone I know, without question, is a good man.
And he shows me it’s true. It’s helped me relax. Feel connected even when we’re apart. (A lot of the time, anyway — I’m still working on changing decades-old patterns here, people.) Be confident even in uncertainty. I do change exceedingly well, ambiguity – not so much. 1 Leadership Insight It turns out, love and leadership aren’t that different. Both test our ability to trust, adapt, and grow. In my career, I’ve never been in the same industry twice — and that’s been my superpower. It’s enabled me to have that all-important outside perspective, question assumptions, and challenge the “we’ve always done it this way” mentality. This relationship is teaching me that growth isn’t always about motion. Sometimes it’s about rhythm — knowing when to pause, to hold a note just a little longer, so the next one lands with more power and meaning. It’s the same lesson I often share about leadership and work/life balance: it’s like running a mixing board. You can’t push every lever up at once. Some days, you dial back the tempo, soften one channel, let another lead. The music — the result — is richer when you give space between the sounds. Leadership — like music, like love — is about knowing when to push, when to pause, and when to simply play. 1 Practical Takeaway Every leader has a mix. What’s yours look like? This week, ask yourself: → What needs turning up? → What needs dialing back? → Where do you need to simply play? Every leader’s mix sounds different. If you’re not sure which levers to adjust — let’s explore that together. → Book a complimentary 30-minute strategy session. 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. |