Why Fake Humility Turns People Off I was reading another brilliant piece by Travis Bradberry, the author of Emotional Intelligence, titled 10 Things You Do That Make You Less Likable. One of the behaviors he highlighted was what he called the humble brag. As I read it, I was transported back to an experience IContinue reading “The Masked Brag”
Category Archives: Leadership Coaching
Missing the Boat: How We Overlook Life’s Biggest Clues
“Waiting for the Sign” and What Happens When You Miss It You’ve probably heard the story. There’s a man stranded on a rooftop during a flood. He prays, “God, please save me.” Soon, a neighbor offers him a ride in a rowboat. He declines. “No thanks, God’s going to save me.” A rescue team comesContinue reading “Missing the Boat: How We Overlook Life’s Biggest Clues”
Our Differences Make Us Stronger: Embracing What We Often Avoid
When we surround ourselves only with people who think like us, we shrink. True leadership and personal growth require us to get uncomfortable, challenge our assumptions, and welcome difference. Here’s how to know when you’re unconsciously shutting out the very thing that could elevate your next breakthrough. The Discomfort of Difference Let’s be honest withContinue reading “Our Differences Make Us Stronger: Embracing What We Often Avoid”
Strokaversary
I Survived. Then I Rewired. And Now, I Thrive. In 2015, I had a stroke. It hit the left side of my brain , the side responsible for language, logic, reasoning, numbers, planning, sequencing, and executive functioning. In an instant, the entire right side of my body went silent. I lost my rhythm, my words,Continue reading “Strokaversary”
Judgment or Opinion? Words Matter. (Yes, I’m Saying It Again.)
Yesterday we were enjoying a Father’s Day meal, sitting around the table with good people and good energy. The kind of conversation that flows from life updates to pop culture to the joys (and frustrations) of adulting. Somehow, IKEA came up.Now, if you know me, you know I don’t love IKEA. So I shared: “YouContinue reading “Judgment or Opinion? Words Matter. (Yes, I’m Saying It Again.)”
When the Brain Takes the Wheel: Coaching Through a Leadership Trigger
By Jewel Quackenbush | Quackenbush Coaching LLC She was brilliant, respected, highly analytical—and a neurologist. After a high-stakes meeting where everything spiraled, she pulled me aside and said, “I went in clear. I came out shaking. I don’t even know what happened.” She studies the brain for a living. But in that moment, it wasn’tContinue reading “When the Brain Takes the Wheel: Coaching Through a Leadership Trigger”
Suspicion
Have you ever found yourself being suspicious of everything and everyone? It starts with a raised eyebrow, a tightened gut, a voice that whispers, “Don’t trust it.” And for many of us, it doesn’t stop there. It becomes a pattern that is subtle at first, then constant. But here’s the real question: Is it suspicion,Continue reading “Suspicion”
“Not Every Villain Is a Narcissist: Reclaiming the Meaning of Words We’ve Watered Down”
By Jewel Quackenbush, MCC | Quackenbush Coaching There’s a strange thing happening in today’s conversations. Psychological buzzwords like “narcissist” and “gaslighting” are being tossed around with little regard for what they actually mean. They’re showing up in arguments, captions, and TikTok diagnoses like confetti. But here’s the problem—when we misuse powerful language, we strip itContinue reading ““Not Every Villain Is a Narcissist: Reclaiming the Meaning of Words We’ve Watered Down””
“The Motherhood Manual Never Came But We Wrote It Anyway”
By Jewel Quackenbush Twenty-seven years ago, I became a mother. I didn’t know it then, but in that single, holy moment, my heart permanently relocated to someone else’s body. I was young, ambitious, unsure. I was still trying to figure out how to care for myself let alone a whole new life that would oneContinue reading ““The Motherhood Manual Never Came But We Wrote It Anyway””
Passed Up for That Promotion?
Here’s What to Do Next By Jewel Quackenbush | Quackenbush Coaching You put in the work. You showed up early, stayed late, and raised your hand when no one else would. You built relationships, solved problems, and became someone your team could count on. Then, the opportunity you were waiting for the promotion you deservedContinue reading “Passed Up for That Promotion? “
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