Finding Clarity Amid the Chaos

Earlier this year I made the decision to throw my usual caution to the wind and take a leap. Little did I know I’d be taking a leap into a truly vast unknown. 

Over the last year or so I've been wanting to do more, think bigger, and make more of an impact on the people around me and the world I live in. 

This started several years ago with an exploration of my mental and physical health. After two decades of high stress, travel, and just plain ol’ life, I knew I needed to address the physical ailments that were plaguing me. I also wanted to dig deeper into my mental health — which was taking a toll due to my perceived need to save and help everyone around me. I realized that I spent my career running up and down the aisles of the plane putting oxygen masks on everyone else and ignoring the very first thing they tell you to do when you sit down on the plane... put that mask on yourself first! But what I learned and at my core know, is that I genuinely love helping others. And I deeply care. Yet I knew something had to change. I had to reshuffle my priorities and take a long, hard look at myself. 

So after many months of self-reflection, I made the decision to leave my job. My last day would be mid-April. Did I know it would be in the middle of a pandemic? No. Did I anticipate that our industry and our world would be in the middle of a deep crisis? No. But today, I feel like I’m forging a future where I know I will be healthier, happier and more helpful to those brands, companies, and people who genuinely need me. 

In the spirit of putting my own oxygen mask on first, I’ve started writing a book about my own health and wellness journey while maintaining a high-profile position working with some of the best known and innovative brands in the world. Spoiler Alert: there is no silver bullet. If someone told me to walk around backwards, only wear orange, and sing all my words and I’d feel amazing — I would have done it. But, like everything in life — it’s a process. I couldn't be more excited to share this with all of you… What a journey it’s been. 

While writing this book, I’ll also be returning to the world of consulting. I started my last company in the fall of 2008, so it feels fitting that I would venture off on my own again right now. I am focusing on senior level thought-leadership, brand purpose and story mining, as well as marketing and communications re-org (one of my favorite things to do!). I'll be working with a variety of companies, agencies, and some high-profile individuals on what the future of their brand looks like, and developing the framework on how to get there. I'm also working with an incredible group of senior advisors in everything from media and content creation to D&I and comms specialists, who will all bring their strengths to the table as well. 

I also plan on facilitating as many #IamRemarkable workshops I can. Please reach out to me if this is something I can do for you and your company. Nothing has brought me more joy than leading these workshops over the last few months.

Thank you to everyone who has been there alongside me throughout my career. There are so many milestones I wouldn't have reached without your mentorship, guidance, humanity, kindness, belief, trust, and creativity. 

(Special thanks to Matt Jarvis, Glenn Cole, John Boiler, Briony McCarthy, Erica Boeke, Alex Gardner, Julie Haddon, Karine Shahar, Kelly Schoeffel, Patricia Rothenberg, Helen O'Neill, Rebecca Groff, Justine Armour, Keith Cartwright, Lora Schulson, Greg Sales, Jim Moriarty, Christena Pyle, Lisen Stromberg, Sedef Onar, Doug Zanger, Jennifer Houston, Sarah Musgrove, and many, many others who have helped advise and support this exciting next chapter.)

I couldn’t be more optimistic about the future. I know it’s hard to see it now, but this feeling of hope is what’s fueling my fire and I can’t wait to see what’s next… both on my journey and for all of us. I truly believe that incredible clarity will come from this chaos.