Practicing Uber-Care

October 20th, 2021 by Kelly Kienzle

I don’t like the phrase, “self-care.”  Self-care sounds indulgent, pampered, lazy, and literally selfish.  The phrase “self-care” makes me think of a privileged life and pedicures. And yet that is not at all how I regard the ways in which I take care of myself.  I

Working Part-time… from the Heart

April 27th, 2021 by Kelly Kienzle

This month’s article is not about how we could work part-time at the office.  Instead, I will talk about our inner work sometimes needing a part-time schedule.  Specifically, how I want to shift to part-time work on myself and demand less of myself, when I need it.

True Refuge

October 31st, 2015 by Kelly Kienzle

Buddhists believe that false refuge is where we go when we feel terrible and hope to feel better. We think we will find refuge there, but then we don’t actually feel better afterwards. In fact, we may even feel worse. Blowing up an afternoon by eating

Make Victory Inevitable

May 6th, 2014 by Kelly Kienzle

Small superhero

“Design and launch a meaningful marketing initiative for 2014.” I wrote that 4 months ago in January. Since then I haven’t done anything meaningful in tackling that goal. It is critically important, requires huge mental energy, and has many moving parts and multiple steps. All of

Setting Goals from a Mindset of Success, not Deficiency

February 4th, 2014 by Kelly Kienzle

Today is February 4 and if you’re already a bit disillusioned and uninspired by your resolutions, here’s a new perspective: Look at all that you do have. Consider your strengths. What are your successes? What do you want to do more of? (Caveat: This does not

Thank You Fridays

November 8th, 2013 by Kelly Kienzle

Don’t you wish that you could feel just a little calmer?  What is that elusive “thing” that would help you feel more engaged and at peace?  How do you put just a little more joy in your work life? Try “Thank You Fridays.”  “Thank you Fridays”

What’s Macro-Issue Feedforward?

October 7th, 2013 by Kelly Kienzle

The next time you have the urge to give someone feedback on what they did, here’s an alternative: Re-focus to the macro issue and think forward. Macro-Issue Feedforward is my spin on Marshall Goldsmith’s excellent Feedforward tool.  I added the “Macro-Issue” part.  Here’s how my (and

Do You Judge Behaviors or Intentions?

August 1st, 2013 by Kelly Kienzle

  We tend to judge ourselves based on our intentions and we judge others based on their behaviors.  Similarly, others judge themselves based on their intentions and they judge us based on our behaviors. Here’s how that plays out at work:  A colleague did not get

Leadership and Kite-flying

July 3rd, 2013 by Kelly Kienzle

“If everything depends on context, how can you still have principles?” This is a question asked of Sonia Sotomayor, as described in her autobiography, “My Beloved World”.  This question is asked of her in high school, when she is accused of arguing from multiple viewpoints, always

Helpful Envy

April 30th, 2013 by Kelly Kienzle

Green with envy.  We often think of envy as a prickly thing that can only hurt us.  So, let me explain how someone recently used envy in a helpful way. Consider what sort of person you always wish you were.  What characteristics of your friends or