In the heart of the Palmer House Hilton, I discovered the complex dance of loyalty and insecurity that shapes leadership. This workplace was a crucible where power dynamics revealed themselves under pressure. It taught me the crucial balance between collaboration and competition, paving the way for my own growth.
Tag Archives: mental-health
The Promises We Keep, and the Cycles We Break
If you’ve ever set a goal, moved a boundary, and blamed yourself when it didn’t stick, this reflection will feel uncomfortably familiar.
Rewriting the Finish Line: Entering 2026 With Clarity, Compassion, and Alignment
Every year asks something new of us.Not louder effort, not tighter pressure, but honest reflection. The kind that invites us to examine who we have become, not just what we have accomplished. We enter January with big goals, bold lists, and fresh ambition. And somewhere between spring and fall, real life steps in, unexpected, demanding,Continue reading “Rewriting the Finish Line: Entering 2026 With Clarity, Compassion, and Alignment”
Not All Superpowers Require Capes, Some Just Manage Time, Emotions, and Chaos
Which executive superpower drives you, and which one’s holding you back?Sharpen what empowers. Soften what constrains. The six executive functions behind every leadership move. The Final Chapter of Our Executive Buzzword Series This is the last article in our three-part Executive Buzzword Series, a leadership reset disguised as a vocabulary lesson. We started with ExecutiveContinue reading “Not All Superpowers Require Capes, Some Just Manage Time, Emotions, and Chaos”
The Masked Brag
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”
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”
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”
“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””
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