In this edition:

• BLACK FRIDAY DISCOUNT AT THE BOTTOM!!

• Visiting a college campus

• New Year Reset and Vision Board workshops

• 2026 Team Workshop discounts!

Finally Went Back to College

This week I had the opportunity to present at the Carlson School of Management at the University of Minnesota. I don’t often get a chance to talk meaningfully in front of the yutes, so it was nice to be able to connect and hear what’s important to this group. I heard a lot of excitement and curiosity about entering the world of corporate work - and a good amount of hope that some of the outdated ways of working will evolve by the time they get there (<cough> RTO for a reason, please <cough>).

In one of the conversations we talked about the importance of learning how to establish goals. Honestly you can’t learn this one young enough. Practice the ability to establish a goal in your mind, articulate it, and then set a plan to go achieve it.

Coincidentally, I saw this with experienced leaders as well. As part of the 6 Capacities of Leadership signature coaching experience, we dig into your next Wicked Challenge in order to apply the model. I was surprised how many times leaders shared with me that they simply hadn’t had the opportunity to think about their goal.

Here’s a simple way I think through a goal in a pinch:

• Grab a blank piece of paper and rotate so it’s in landscape

• Draw a line that swoops up to the right

• Draw a sad stick figure at the starting point, and a glad stick figure at the end.

• Write out what that Glad Guy has: What do you want to be true in order to reach the part where you’re jumping for joy? (see section 1 in the diagram below). Establish a date you’d like this by.

• Set a couple of deadlines: Pick a couple of days between now and the time you want to reach the goal. Write out what should be done by then in order to keep you on track. (section 2 below).

• What are you working with? At the bottom, list out your challenges, your resources and supports, and any other important dates in the mix (section 3 below)

By taking the thinking out of your head and onto paper, you have already increased the chances you’ll reach that goal. To increase your chances even further, take 10 minutes now and put blocks of time in your calendar dedicated to this goal. If you can get specific in your calendar holds (ie, for my plan I will set 30 minutes on Monday to find a full day I can work on this, plus start to think through the actions I need to take when I do work on it).

To increase your chances EVEN FURTHER, share your plan. Send a photo of your plan to someone that will hold you accountable: your BFF, your partner, your manager, your coach - anyone that will ask you about how it’s going.

Set Your Goals with Me (and a small group)

If you are starting to think about your goals for the first half of the year, the New Year Reset gives you dedicated time and structure to sort things out. The New Year Reset offers a guided half day with support, focus, and a small community of people doing the same kind of work. Join us at an upcoming session 12/29, 1/02, and 1/09. Learn more and register here.

New Year Vision Board

If you want a creative way to set direction for the year, I’ll be leading a vision board workshop at ModernWell in Wayzata on January 14, 2026. We’ll use simple prompts, conversation, and collage to help you shape a clear picture of what you want to build in the months ahead. All supplies are provided. You bring your ideas and a bit of curiosity. Fun way to check out this new coworking space, too! Registration information here.

25% off all team workshops for 2026

I’m offering 25% off all team workshops for 2026 when booked and contracted by 12/31/2025. You can use it for anything your team needs, whether that’s a short tune-up session, a full-day reset, or a multi-part experience. Strengths, values, leadership, team development, strategy, ways of working — it all counts. Let’s find a way to invest in your team and spend down your remaining budget. Reply to this email or set up time with me to discuss what we can do.

Black Friday Sale(s)!

Everything in all three of my shops is 30% off through Sunday at midnight with code BLACKFRIDAY.

• Creative Change has the full Six Capacities of Leadership collection and all the tools for leading in complex times.

• The Getaway gift shop has home decor, posters, journals, planners, cozy tea, mugs, blankets, and plenty of things that make great gifts.

• Let’s Summerize has visual thinking tools, picture cards for workshops, and the brand-new Team Talk conversation cards I’m excited to share.

Done is Better Than Perfect

I literally started writing this email 45 minutes ago and here we are about to send it out. My son has been waiting for me to go join him in a squeegee painting project. I also need my second cup of coffee. Byyyyeeeeeeee