Hey Reader - After decades of marriage, Broadway star Mandy Patinkin and his wife Kathryn Grody know a little something about conflict. On their podcast Don't Listen to Us, Grody complained how splashy celebrity weddings give people the impression that marriage is a series of Instagram moments. More often, the daily grind is filled with differences of opinion, hard conversations, and working to find the middle ground. And here's one more tip no one tells you: There's usually more to the...
12 days ago • 2 min read
Hey Reader - You may know Danny Trejo as a sinister villain in movies like Machete, but he's a big softie off camera. It wasn't always like that. After a rough start in life including stints in prison and solitary confinement, Trejo joined a 12-step program and embraced sobriety. Recovery wound up being the steppingstone to his acting career. After helping someone on the set of "Runaway Train," Danny was offered the chance to be on camera. Reflecting back, Danny says, "Everything good that...
19 days ago • 2 min read
Hey Reader - In an office reshuffle, I wound up sitting next to a colleague who gave me a masterclass in Zen. I'm a "fired up, ready to go" person, but her conduct showed me that every conversation isn't worth that level of heat. The interesting part is that her clients weren't the best of the best—they were real characters. They kept running game, however, she stayed frosty and took things in stride. In the February series, Relationship Threshold Questions, we’re discussing how to use soft...
26 days ago • 2 min read
Hey Reader - Artist Day Schildkret at Morning Altars hit the wall. Not on Friday, mind you. By Monday mid-day. Can you relate? In many ways, it was an ordinary day. He visited his mom in memory care and touched base with friends. Work often provided a positive distraction. But on this day, his emotional gas tank edged toward empty. So, his next step was reaching out to his “emergency people.” Interestingly, no one pushed the rise-and-grind narrative. Instead, everyone had a version of the...
about 1 month ago • 2 min read
Hey Reader - February is the month for love, but is your peopling gas tank already running on fumes? I see you! Romantic relationships, where you can pick and choose alliances, are the exception. It’s the rest of your world—from the office to family and friends to your community—that’s the luck of the draw. Try as you might, you’ll never be able to change your critical sister-in-law or someone at the office who likes to cut corners. But all the people skills you use at work—such as making...
about 1 month ago • 2 min read
Hey Reader - When you look at your 2026 Goals List, is it filled with next level intentions like financial success or a promotion? That's a fine start, but don't forget the F word: feelings. The way you'll feel when you reach those milestones is the real reason to pursue them. Don't take my word for it—if you haven't heard, "bodily maps of emotions" are a thing. Researchers discovered that feelings aren't fleeting—they can settle in different parts of the body. That's why your limbs feel...
about 2 months ago • 2 min read
Hey Reader - Hey—your Future Self just called and wants a sit-down. You know that long, ambitious Goals List that looked so good on January 1? It may be time for some cuts. Are You Making the Right Investments? Changing course is never comfortable, but it's figureoutable—that's what make-up entrepreneur Bobbi Brown discovered. She expected a tough conversation, but was blindsided by the news that her brand deal and personal contract were being restructured. At best, she would be a figurehead....
about 2 months ago • 1 min read
Hey Reader - Do you have a case of the mid-month blahs, leaving you doomscrolling? Are you looking for a quick fix so you can jump into the New Year, New Rules game? Upping your step count or adding green smoothies makes you feel productive, but they're rarely life-changing. So, if you're going to have a turnaround year, counterbalance short-term, instant-gratification goals with bigger intentions, such as increasing your people flex. If adding people skills to your Goals List gives you a...
2 months ago • 2 min read
Hey Reader - It's only January 6, but are you panicking because you haven't created The List? Scratch that. You might be right on time. You may feel your enthusiasm nose-diving for pre-dawn side hustling and workouts, but that's ok. Setting goals sounds easy, but there's plenty that gets in the way. So, in the January series, 4 Power Moves to Jumpstart Your Intentions, we'll discuss how you can overcome common blocks to success with soft skills. Block #1 is lack of motivation. But here's what...
2 months ago • 2 min read