How are you doing?

…

…

Did you think that was a rhetorical question?

I’m actually asking.

I know we’re not conversing right now, so in truth I won’t know your answer in real time, but would you please use my question as an opportunity to check in with yourself? How are you today? Are you taking care of yourself? Are you spending a little bit of time each day, regardless of circumstances, to fuel your body, mind, and soul? Believe me, I know that can be challenging at times–maybe a lot of the time depending on your life right now, but let’s do this:

1. Relax your shoulders, let your tongue drop from the roof of your mouth. Take a deep breath on the count of 8; hold for the count of 6; exhale on the count of 4. Do this 3 times in total.
2. Now take just 5 minutes to close your eyes and go to the place between the thoughts. As thoughts come, let them float by—don’t push them away, don’t engage with them, just let them pass.
3. Then come back to me.

I hope that pause was helpful. The types and amount of stress we are feeling, individually and collectively, is like nothing experienced in the history of our species—everything everywhere all at once.

We all need to step back, acknowledge that reality, and then be sure to give ourselves what we need to adjust to it all. Just soldiering on is not the answer to these times. The answer lies in accepting, evaluating, and redirecting your energy.

And now, onto the news and info I want to share with you to help keep yourself focused and strong:

• Do you feel like a cruise might be a good option, but you haven’t cruised before or you had a less than ideal experience and are hesitant to try again? Cosmopolitan Magazine does a great job overviewing 10 different types of cruises from foodie to exclusive to sporty and more.

• Had an interesting conversation on Friday evening at a neighborhood get together with an exec whose bosses are insisting on 3 days a week back in the office. Employees—many of whom were hired during Covid—are super productive working from home. She’s aligned with the employees but being pressured by her management. Our convo was top of mind when I read this from The Wall Street Journal about over-the-top, back-to-the-office perks. Company-sponsored happy hour is just not cutting it.

  I find it indicative of much of what’s wrong with the current world of work. The employers who told employees “we’re all in this together” when Covid hit and asked those employees to disrupt their lives to work from home so business could keep going (I agree with keeping business going, keep reading) now are punishing those very same employees if they can’t or won’t come back to the office.Some employees prefer to work in the office—their employers have done something right to make that work for them, and that’s wonderful.

  Other employees prefer to work from home and have proven themselves—wonderful.

  Why can business not more readily adapt to be adaptive to employees’ needs?

  We need to get rid of the outdated models: work is war, the clock is the master, I need to see you working to believe you’re working—and align job responsibilities, productivity measures, and compensation. It’s almost 2024, yet, we work like it’s 1900.

Do Good Spotlight
🌟 Philadelphia Museum of Art 🌟

With over 200 galleries, The Philadelphia Museum of Art is supporting the sharing and preservation of world-renown art. The galleries contain pieces from artists ranging from Claude Monet to Vincent Van Gogh to Andy Warhol. Discover how you can support the museum here: The Philadelphia Museum of Art.

• Where does the time go? Depends on your marital status and which role you’re playing. Stats, stats, and stats. Insights for you and for the people you lead with compassion.

• Are CEOs and CMOs besties? Probably not, and here’s why via Entrepreneur Magazine.

• Does this situation sound familiar? Someone on your team is a great contributor but frequently questions the work of others (in which they have no involvement) and, by extension, your decisions? I wandered into the path of this on Inc. and thought, hey, maybe this could help my audience. You’re welcome.

Was this issue helpful? You know I love hearing from you, so please let me know what you think. And if you have a not for profit for me to feature in the Do Good Spotlight and/or an innovative company you want to see in the Noteworthy section, please let me know. In the meantime, stay focused, kind, strong, and resilient—for you and the people counting on you.

Niki