What Garlic Taught Me About the Life I Was Told to Want

by maren | Aug 3, 2026 | Business, Emotional Intelligence, Mindset, Skill Development, Transitions - Beyond Achievement

I didn’t plant anything. I stood in my garden this morning, staring at the bare patch where I’d just harvested the garlic, and for the first time in years, I hesitated. A second crop of beans? Cucumbers? Some late annuals for the bees? I had a dozen good options...

Overwhelmed and Checked Out?

by maren | Jul 6, 2026 | Business, Emotional Intelligence, Leadership Development, Mindset, Skill Development, Transitions - Beyond Achievement

What is your drug of choice? Achievement, busyness, the next deal, the next PR? You might be thinking – those aren’t drugs or avoidance tactics, they’re virtues – Right? It depends. One of the most normalized things in our culture right now is numbing...

The 3 a.m. Wake-Up Call You Keep Ignoring (And Why It Won’t Stop)

by maren | Jun 23, 2026 | Business, Mindset, Skill Development, Transitions - Beyond Achievement

It’s 3 a.m. and you’re staring at the ceiling again. You hit the number. Closed the round. Made partner. Won the thing. And you’re still awake, wondering why it doesn’t feel like you thought it would. The inevitable questions show up uninvited,...

Fixing Yourself Is Keeping You Stuck

by maren | May 13, 2026 | Business, Mindset, Skill Development, Transitions - Beyond Achievement

You’re a high achiever. You excel at solving problems.  You optimize, strategize, and figure your way through any challenge. You research the best approach, find the right tools, hire the right people, and execute with precision. It’s honestly impressive.  And...

Is Being Results Driven Actually Costing You?

by maren | Apr 3, 2026 | Business, Leadership Development, Mindset, Skill Development

A few years ago, someone I respected made a decision that broke my heart a little. One of his team members made a mistake. Not a catastrophic one — the kind that happens when a human being is learning, stretching, figuring things out. When my colleague brought it up...

Holding It All Together (While Struggling Inside)

by maren | Feb 17, 2026 | Business, Mindset, Skill Development

Have you ever felt like you’re trying to hold it all together while feeling secretly brittle inside? You’re not alone. And although the ‘brittle-ness’ seems self contained, it’s not. It’s what’s getting in the way of your success, in both life and business. Let’s dive...