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Today, I randomly logged into my podcast provider account after a few months of not paying attention. I was surprised to see hundreds of listeners from all over the world delving into past episodes this week. For some reason, it reminded me of all the topics I've wanted to share over the past 14 months that I haven't recorded. So, I darted across the room, found my microphone, plugged it into the laptop, and started talking. Yes, "darted" across the room. No plan. Just deciding to get started again. And so it goes. I've kept a running list of topics on my mind, and I'll start sharing again. I hope it reminds at least one person that it is okay to restart, even after a long hiatus. Even if you think no one cares or no one will listen. Or, even if you think it's too late. You are still here on this planet. So, do the thing you need to do. And you might just have to tell me about it so that I can share it with my friends, too. Unscripted, as always, and recorded on a whim today. That's how restarts go sometimes.

Happy Mother's Day. Happy Women's Day! I am the oldest living child of 10 children. My parents had twins before me who passed away during childbirth. They are buried in Pensacola, Florida. So, I have seven living siblings. For most of my life, I've been a daughter, sister, and aunt to a few dozen nieces and nephews who live across the United States. I've also been a wife and, more recently, a mother, which is something that I have always wanted to experience. I'm grateful to be a woman. For the four years I've had this podcast, I've wanted to talk about being a woman. But each time I've recorded an episode, I've felt like there is more to learn. Conversations with friends and family confirmed those thoughts. Of course, there is more to learn! This week, I decided to share a few thoughts during the Mother's Day season, even though I'm still learning and growing. My DNA is filled with the history of amazing women. My sisters (including sisters-in-law), mother, grandmothers, great-grandmothers, and beyond were driven by faith, adventure, hard work, pushing boundaries (and handcarts), and not judging themselves by cultural and media expectations. In many ways, I feel like I'm not living up to the heritage of women in my family tree. However, one thing is for sure: we are all moving, growing, and seeking to fully embrace the possibilities of life. Setting aside the DNA, I have a lot of thoughts about being a woman in the world today. I change my mind frequently while still holding on to certain standards despite the outside influences that impact some women more than others. Friends and family continue to help me learn more about being a modern woman, femininity, feminism, and everything else. I'm sure there are more thoughts to share, but I shut down my work computer today and just started to record. Reach out if you want to talk and offer more thoughts. I'm open to exploring this topic more. Correction: I am the oldest living child of 10 children (not 8 stated in the episode). We are 8 living children. Available through all major podcasts through https://pod.co/move-your-desk #podcast #mothersday #pioneers #pioneerwomen #lauraingalls #karana #islandofthebluedolphins #barbie #mediainfluenceonwomen #women #womensfashion

Working virtually means that some days have very few interactions. However, I can count on one interaction each morning and afternoon regardless of the absence of human interaction. The bus stop. I had to drive pretty far to a bus stop each morning and afternoon during the first couple of years of school. But now it's a walk up the street. Showing up at the bus stop takes effort. It takes effort to stay focused on yourself and your phone. Or, interact with others sharing the journey. You decide. I share a few thoughts today about my current experience. And I'll probably talk about this again as I add in the layers from prior years at bus stops. I wrote a reflection last night and decided to read it on this episode today. Perhaps there is a little book in here somewhere, at least that is what a friend has nudged me to do with the learnings. I may take her up on it, after I finish another couple of books in process. If you see the podcast thumbnail associated with this episode, I'm wearing the jean shirt that the Chinese grandmother gave me. And she's the woman holding my arm. Listen to find out why she is so special.

In this episode, I share what it means to live as an Edge Walker—someone who keeps moving forward without guarantees. I talk about the moments when certainty runs out and all you have is faith, and how I’ve learned to trust my inner compass, even when the map disappears. Through my own stories and reflections, I hope to encourage you if you’re standing at your own edge. You’re not alone—I’m walking this path too, right alongside you and so many others.

Your presence matters. Sometimes you are leading from the front. Sometimes you are guiding from the side. Sometimes you are protecting quietly. Sometimes you are creating a safe space for someone to take the next step. And, sometimes you are recognizing that someone is doing this for you in moments of your own personal challenges or weaknesses. I share a few moments from my life with you in an attempt to nudge you to take a moment to think about those who have been a guardian for you, and for you to think about stepping up to being that for others going forward. It's within you to take on this role, and to thank those that serve in this capacity for you. Available through all major podcast services (https://pod.co/move-your-desk) and YouTube - https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1c0TSanTzDfZYN0_BGNmYFyQXpQxIBIb

Your desk matters. The environment where you put your desk matters. You can work anywhere and get really creative with how you make a space work for you. But, pay attention to where you consistently make trade-offs to make do with your desk, your notebook, your room, and whatever else is in the environment where you work. It matters. You are great at figuring out how to do good work wherever you are and with whatever the tools are at your disposal. You'll do your best work if you figure out what environment and tools are best for you and bring out your highest contribution.

Do you have personal boundaries? Yes. As humans, we have personal boundaries. It's just that sometimes we aren't even aware that we have a boundary until that moment of breach. And, most of us know when that happens. We get angry, we think the other person has wronged us, and we react in a variety of ways. Some inwardly angry and others just plain lash out. If you want to show up in the best possible way in your work and world, it pays to become aware of your boundaries. Create some rules for yourself so that when the boundary breach comes, you are prepared to respond...in the best possible way. This framework gives you a simple approach to figuring out your boundaries. Not to control or manipulate others, but to decide ahead of time what you will do if something happens. Next time you experience a boundary breach, use the experience to increase personal awareness and make a plan. Learn how in this episode. #personalboundaries #boundarybreach #boundariesframework #personalmanagement #mindset #mindframework https://pod.co/move-your-desk

How often have you been told that failure is part of the growth process? That mistakes are worth it? It is worth it. It's part of the inspiration and innovation process that gets big ideas out there and turned into something of value. Still, we often hesitate to take the steps needed to uplevel ourselves and our work because we typically go through a series of failures to get where we want to go. And, it can feel painful to go through this process. I like to call this failing forward process... experimenting. If everything is an experiment, you must go through the process to figure out what works, what doesn't, and how to keep moving forward with information that comes out of each trial run. Sometimes what you do works the first time. Most of the time, however, you will go through a series of trials and errors before figuring it all out. It pays to get addicted to the process of changing, challenging yourself, and seeking new solutions. It pays to become an experiment junkie.

The reminder nudges to constantly pay attention to your own mind can come from unexpected places, like preschool songs. This song is simple: Who's a good watcher, watcher, watcher. Who's a good watcher, show me now. Are you a good watcher of your own thinking? Are you a good watcher of other's thinking? Sometimes we are a doer. Sometimes we notice, increase awareness, and ask questions. Keep doing the things, but make sure that as you do them that you are also a watcher.

Did you spend a lot of time trying not to feel? You may not even recognize yourself doing it. If you are indulging in something at the expense of something that would better serve you and those you serve, you may be trying not to feel. It often shows up in the form of addiction - food, drink, work, shopping, games, and even over-achieving. Why not allow yourself to feel all the emotions? Not taking them out on others, but sitting with the emotion and letting it work through you. You can even give yourself a timeframe to feel all the anger, sadness, betrayal, and hurt. Give it a try. It may not be as bad as you anticipated or last as long as you thought.

Have you been wronged today? It can happen a lot in your work. The client that doesn't pay. The hiring manager promises a higher salary, but it doesn't materialize. The commissions that go unpaid. And, this is just the money wrongs. The list goes on when you take a look at what goes on in the workplace around promotions, opportunities, personal favors, and who is overworked and who gets to coast along. How you deal with the wrong matters in your work. Responses to these moments tend to become habits, and habits are a large part of who you are and what you become. Sometimes you will fight a battle to right the wrong. Sometimes you won't. Your job is to weigh the trade offs and make a decision on how to respond. And, your responses may vary. There will always be these moments in life and work. Pay attention to your responses.

Sometimes our life and work don't go as planned. We think of the possibilities. We desire to make more money. We want a promotion. We work to move forward. But, sometimes we get delayed. Life happens. Routines get interrupted. And, we see someone else move forward with our big idea. The delays aren't just from external circumstances. Delays can happen in our mind because we are fearful, embarrassed, worried, or unsure of ourselves. Beating yourself up for being "behind schedule" on life and career isn't the best way to propel yourself forward. Use these time periods that feel like delays to learn about yourself and keep taking the next step. Then, when your time comes... you won't delay.

The value you create in the work you do today both starts today, and is the result of efforts you made in years past to start learning something new. All of the skills, the experiences, the pain, the frustration, the failures, and mistakes are part of who you are and what you offer. None of it needs to be wasted. It's all for your good and for those you serve. So, keep offering up your best work and ...keep planting the seeds that will become a tree in your future.

In this episode I reflect on some thoughts surrounding this quote from Brene Brown - "When we spend a lifetime trying to distance ourselves from the parts of our lives that don’t fit with who we think we’re supposed to be, we stand outside of our story and hustle for our worthiness..." Are you hustling for your self-worth? It's pretty common amongst high achieving workers and learners like you. It's time, perhaps, to notice. Hustling for self-worth is tiring. Hustling to offer up your best work could be different.

Have you heard the "push the rock" story? Apparently, there are multiple stories with this title. One came to mind recently and it propelled me forward in my work. The other, a Greek myth that I just stumbled across, is just as compelling to me. Both stories hold lessons about the importance of just taking the next step. Of course, I can't help myself and I talk about a few other stories that have helped me keep pressing forward on the journey to find and offer up my best work.