Applied Leadership Teams LLC

01/09/2026

New Year’s resolutions—how’s it going?
If it feels harder than you expected, you’re not alone.

Happy Quitters Day! Today is the day a large percentage of people give up on their New Year’s resolutions.

My take? Don’t quit. Adjust.

Most resolutions are made in the glow of a slower holiday season at work. Then January hits, life speeds up, and suddenly the plan doesn’t fit the reality.

You probably started like a rocket ship—full energy, big intentions—without realizing how much change you were asking of yourself. That doesn’t mean you failed. It just means it’s time to recalibrate.

02/06/2025

My daughter doesn’t quite grasp the sunk cost fallacy when it comes to wrapping paper.

Side note: I have a newfound respect for parents who homeschooled during COVID—two snow days have already been quite a challenge!

01/30/2025

Just wrapped up our EDI retreat with the incredible team at One Step At A Time Consulting

Since much of my work is virtual, I truly value the opportunity to connect in person—not just for myself, but also for my co-facilitators and our client. These moments of face-to-face collaboration make a real difference!

01/28/2025

Heading to Washington, DC, to facilitate an Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion retreat.

It’s always an honor to contribute to creating more inclusive and equitable spaces.

This morning, leaving was a little tougher—my daughter woke up early, too sad to go back to bed. Thankfully, Momma stepped in with a game of checkers to brighten her day. (Grateful for my amazing family!)

01/27/2025

Compassion fatigue is something many face, and I can only imagine the toll it takes on first responders. I keep up my Wilderness First Responder certifications, where I hear not just the stories shared in training but also the deeper stories behind them. The technical skills we learn are invaluable, but it's the human experiences that leave the strongest impact. Grateful to see this resource being offered:

Mental health and substance use calls have become a large portion of fire departments’ work, but firefighters don't always receive training.

01/24/2025

This quote in the ScalingUp Newsletter caught my eye because at first, it made me thank about embracing a change, but it also made me reflect: What are the leaks, and do I have the power to fix them?

Where does you mind go when you read it?

In a chronically leaking boat, energy devoted to changing vessels is more productive than energy devoted to patching leaks.
– Warren Buffett

01/22/2025

The start of this year has certainly come with its challenges, many of which trace back to last year. I began mailing out my Applied Leadership Personality Cards, only to encounter a cascade of setbacks—starting with issues on a cloud drive that corrupted files. While that’s now 90% resolved, and other challenges addressed, today, as I picked back up on the mailing, another challenge surfaced: a printer jam!

It’s been a year full of hurdles, and there are likely more—both big and small—ahead. Through it all, I’m grateful for my community, finding joy and laughter even in the tough times. Moving forward, I’ve decided to share more of these experiences—the challenges I face and the solutions I discover along the way.

My hope is that through both my struggles and successes, you find laughter, inspiration, maybe even a bit of resolve and communion.

05/21/2024

I’m looking for alternatives to Quantum Fiber - for a home business in Seattle.

Our internet has been out since Saturday. First tech made an appointment for Monday then cancelled. Their recourse is to send a technician out Thursday. When most of my business is teaching and facilitating meeting from my home office this is just too much.

04/25/2024

Rectifying my . Part of it is for gems like this

03/21/2024

74 % less stress
106 % more energy at work
50 % higher productivity
13 % fewer sick days
76 % more engagement
29 % more satisfaction with their lives
40 % less burnout

This is The Trust Advantage https://buff.ly/49YO7lD

Source: Harvard Business Review

Managers have tried various strategies and perks to boost employee engagement—all with little impact on long-term retention and performance. But now, neuroscience offers some answers. Through his research on the brain chemical oxytocin—shown to facilitate collaboration and teamwork—Zak has dev...