Essays on relationships, trust and expectations.
Trust, expectations, envy, support and community. Notes on the people who make ambitious work worthwhile, and on how I try to be a better colleague, partner and friend.
Start with these
Cheering for people you don’t likeI compete only against my best self, so anyone else's win costs me nothing.RelationshipsStop having expectations of other peopleNobody is in this world to live up to your standards — state your wishes instead of assuming.CommunicationA transformational leadership experienceAn inclusive environment is what turns a diverse group's potential into actual learning.RelationshipsEnvy – how to deal with itExamine the desire, ask if you would pay the price, then go get it or accept it.Relationships
More on relationships
How to better say noPostpone the decision, sandwich the refusal between two yeses, keep reasons short, and repeat yourself.CommunicationAsking for help - how to get what you wantAlways ask for help — but the more concrete and personalized the request, the better.Goal AchievementReliability matters — how to become more reliableI missed a meeting I cared about — reliability is respect for other people's time.Goal AchievementI learned the hard way what it means to not have the trust of othersTrust splits into practical and emotional — met expectations, empathy, sound logic, and authenticity build both.CommunicationToday a new chapter has begunMoving in with my girlfriend taught me to ask instead of assume — and to prefer solutions over being right.CommunicationMaster the skill of prioritizationTime, energy, and attention are scarce — value comes from choosing and communicating what matters most.Goal AchievementHow to better manage expectationsNever assume, over-communicate, and under-promise — most disappointment starts with expectations nobody spoke out loud.RelationshipsThe limits of self-improvementI aspire to never be satisfied, but time and energy are finite — the why behind improvement matters.Goal AchievementNever give unsolicited advice & what to do insteadPeople want to be heard, not fixed — ask what would help before offering solutions.CommunicationWant to really support your loved ones? Just do itOffered help almost never gets accepted — real support means doing the favor without waiting to be asked.Goal AchievementUtilize the power of communityPeople genuinely love helping — asking for support and giving without keeping score multiplies what you can achieve.RelationshipsInterdependence in Relationships – a Success FactorThe strongest couples are two self-sufficient people who choose each other, not two halves filling holes.RelationshipsWhy relationships are so importantI ditched a packed to-do list for a friend's weekend — success means nothing without people to share it.RelationshipsExercise leadership whenever you canWhen a group drifts toward the usual option, someone has to suggest a better plan, and it can be you.Communication