I am no stranger to the experience of shame. I bet you aren't either. Shame may not be the most universal of all human emotions, but it's common enough that Brene Brown’s Ted Talk on the subject has had over 5 million views, leading to a full-length documentary. There must be whole lotta folks experiencing a whole lotta shame out there and Brene Brown has made an entire career out of speaking and writing about it.

Why are so many people so interested in the topic of shame?...

Have you ever heard of the website YNAB? The acronym stands for You Need a Budget. When I first heard of it, I was torn between two thoughts- "what a quick, clever and memorable name!" and "a budget, who, me?" Needless to say, I'd much rather keep on thinking Thought #1, but only paying attention to what is interesting to me, at least for the moment, has left me falling short in some really critical areas, including, you guessed it - money. Budgeting, financial planning, saving, investing,...

I used to be pretty impulsive. Bought stuff that was trendy without considering whether it would work on me. Quitting a job and taking another just because I was flattered to be recruited. Changing my hairstyle and color as often as most people change their sheets. It was all very exciting, but after a while, I got pretty sick of answering all the questions that went along the lines of 'what were you thinking?' The honest answer would have been 'Obviously, I wasn't, fuckwad.' You just can't...

One of the concepts I teach my coaching clients is entrepreneurial inertia. I use this term to explain two of the most common tendencies that entrepreneurs have that make us a mystery ( or completely annoying) to others. I made up the expression, but the inertia part is actually a physics phenomenon you are probably aware of. Inertia is a force that has two opposites. If I was a middle school science teacher, I would explain it like this: a body at rest remains at rest until an outside force...

Even though I am fascinated by the internet and its impact on culture, I am deeply grateful that I grew up before this digital age. It was hard enough navigating adolescent angst, sexual exploration and trying to figure out who the hell you were and what you wanted, all before senior ditch day for my generation. It seems infinitely more complicated today. As I observe the pressures experienced by Gen Y youth through the eyes of my nieces and younger clients, it's not the least bit surprising...

Have you ever noticed that most people have a real problem with the truth? Now, I do realize that 'the truth' is totally subjective, and each of us has our own reality, our own personal experience of whatever is happening to us and around us. We also have different perspectives and values, so what we pay attention to also differs from person to person. I've always found it funny that you're having a heart-to-heart, semi-serious conversation with someone and then all of a sudden, they lower...

Even though your spouse or partner may have recognized your entrepreneurial traits when you met or you were already up to your eyelashes in your first (or fifth venture)  they might not ever truly understand or accept it. We truly are a different breed. If you happen to be smart, self-aware or just plain lucky enough to find someone who finds your intensity, passion, risk taking, distractibility, creativity, perfectionism and chronic tardiness endearing, you are beyond...

I freaking love technology, even though I'm a bit slow to learn most of it. I love how technology enables me to shop for stuff I need at any time of the day or night, with hat hair and a rosacea breakout, no makeup and wearing my favorite pair of baggy sweatpants. Companies that have free shipping both ways, in addition to my favorite goods and services, will have my business indefinitely, or at least until someone even better comes along. Technology has enabled me to meet, communicate with...

Have you ever wanted to do something, something big, something hard, something that would take a long time to finish? Maybe it was earning a college degree, building a business, learning to speak a foreign language or mastering a musical instrument or athletic skill. Many of the things that we desire in life require a sustained effort over a long period of time and for those of us with a not-so-lengthy attention span, this can be daunting. In fact, I am willing to bet, without even knowing...

The dictionary definition of a buffer is something that lessens the impact of something else, such as a chemical buffer that reduces the effect of one solution on another. A buffer can also refer to a person that prevents incompatible or antagonistic people from coming into contact with or irritating each other. I am immediately reminded of my family, full of strong personalities that don’t always get along well on their own, but when other, less confrontational personalities in...