Some leaders believe that increasing pay improves employee motivation. While money is a factor, long-term team motivation comes from much more than pay.

Over the last 25 years, we've helped thousands of families and hundreds of businesses improve their work culture. The healthiest companies and fam...

In my work with leaders, teams, couples, and families, I’ve seen that some questions don’t create clarity at all. They create confusion. Some questions don’t move us forward—they keep us stuck. And some questions quietly protect our comfort, our ego, or our fear, while pretending to be curiosity. 

In fifth grade, I had a tough experience that stuck with me. In front of a packed lunchroom, my school principal, Sister Katherine, scolded and intentionally embarrassed me, accusing me of causing chaos—including dancing on a table. None of it was true.

She then pulled me into her office, where she...

Stress and anxiety are at an all-time high, while happiness feels harder to reach. But the research is clear: happy people have different habits than those who struggle.

Happiness isn’t accidental—it’s built through consistent, healthy actions. Make time for your mental wellness now, or life will e...

Last Christmas, we took a pottery class together as a family, and it turned out to be a great experience. There was some hesitation—and even a bit of anxiety, myself included—but by the end, everyone was glad they gave it a try. We also made struffoli, an Italian cookie, and a family favorite. 

You m...

I'm a middle child from a loud and emotionally expressive Italian family. Growing up, everyone expressed feelings - except me.

I decided at a young age to hide my emotions and live inside my head. Not a strategy I would recommend.

Between 16 and 22, I coped with stress and emotion in unhealthy wa...

On my toughest days, focusing on gratitude has been a lifeline. It shifts my attention from what’s wrong to what’s right.

Gratitude gives me energy and courage. It anchors me in what I have instead of what I lack, helps me see my potential, and keeps me moving forward when things get hard.

When I ...

In seventh grade, on the last day of school, a classmate kept shoving me from behind during a school assembly. I asked him to stop—more than once—but he didn’t. Finally, I told myself, If he does it one more time, I’ll take action. When he shoved me again, I followed through.

Walking out of that ...

Making choices between potentially good options can be one of the biggest challenges in life. Getting stuck in indecision leads to lost opportunities, leadership failure, damaged relationships, and tremendous anxiety.

Few things bring as much relief as getting decisions made. With practice, you c...

For the past three years, I’ve met monthly with my business coach, Dan Kries. His company, Circle Consulting, has played a significant role in my growth and success.

Recently, during The Q—a coaching group for business owners that Dan leads—he posed a powerful question for all of us to consider.

"...

Life is too short to settle at work. Staying in an unhealthy environment drains your energy and steals your joy. While some workplaces won't change, most can with the right effort. Sometimes the first step is recognizing where you might be unintentionally holding your employees back.

Through helpin...

I’m capable of courage—and excuses. When I recall how I've grown after facing and engaging with intimidating situations, I’m more motivated to lean in rather than avoid.

Growth has never come from playing it safe; it comes from stepping into what feels uncomfortable and discovering I can handle it....