Welcome to Misti's Insights
What If Fear Isn’t the Enemy?
Fear has a way of showing up when you least expect it — like standing on the edge of a five-mile swim in five-foot swells. The water churned beneath me, cold and uninviting. I had only learned to swim a year before. Standing there in my wetsuit, I remember thinking:...
Redefining Hope: A Journey Toward Truth and Connection
What is hope, if not the possibility of a resentment? I’ve been thinking about this a lot lately—how hope can lift us, yes, but also how it can betray us when it’s pinned to outcomes we cannot control. When we place it outside ourselves. When it depends on someone...
Caught Between Expectations and Reality: A Leadership Insight
One of the most profound lessons I've learned as a leader is that tension often arises not from what people do, but from what we expect them to do. This gap between expectations and reality can create frustration, miscommunication, and missed opportunities—not because...
How to Make the Most Out of Your Performance Review
Performance reviews can often feel like formalities or, worse, dreaded evaluations we simply have to endure. But what if you could flip the script and turn your review into a golden opportunity for growth and clarity? One of my clients, Theresa, recently did just...
Living Your Greatness: A Journey of Courage, Clarity, and Small Steps
What does it mean to live your greatness? It’s a question I’ve been asking myself, not as a lofty idea, but as a real, tangible challenge. Over the past few weeks, I’ve been reflecting on what it takes to align with your gifts, face fears, and take meaningful steps...
Forcing Solutions: Letting Go of the Urge to Control
Yesterday, I was watching an NFL documentary when something Kirk Cousins said stopped me in my tracks. Reflecting on a challenging season, he shared: “When I try to make things happen, it doesn’t work.” It struck me — not because I’ve ever played professional football...
The Power of Relatedness in Leadership Communication
Over the past few weeks, I’ve been revisiting notes and reflections from years of therapy. These notes are filled with lessons that have shaped how I communicate, lead, and connect with others. They capture countless pearls of wisdom that have influenced my approach...
I Used to Be Somebody
I woke up at 2:30 in the morning with an ache I couldn’t quite name. A quiet, persistent whisper: “I used to be somebody.” Not in the fame or title sense—but in the deep, internal knowing. A groundedness. A certainty that my presence meant something, simply because I...
The Sting of Public Shame: A Lesson in Communication
Have you ever been publicly called out or shamed, leaving you feeling defensive and unsure of how to respond? It’s a jarring experience, one that can linger far longer than the interaction itself. For many, it highlights a core tension in human interaction—how we ask...
Confronting Self-Doubt: A Lesson on Comparison and Creativity
Yesterday, I had a conversation with someone whose precision and clarity left me inspired—but also wrestling with a nagging wave of self-doubt. His name is Vinny, and I had hoped our talk would uncover fresh opportunities or even spark a collaboration. Instead, what I...
“I Tried, But It Didn’t Work” — When Listening Becomes Manipulation
A client of mine recently came to me feeling deeply frustrated. “My employees just aren’t making the adjustments necessary for success.” What she meant was that—due to major shifts in budgeting—her team needed to change how they did their work. Processes, priorities,...
When the 18th Doctor Walks In: A Lesson in Leadership, Patience, and Letting Go
This week I had an experience that caught me off guard—not just because of what happened, but because of how I responded to it. It was a doctor’s visit. Doctor #18, to be exact. I’ve seen seventeen other medical professionals over the past few years, trying to get...
The Miracle of Perspective
This morning at the pool, I met someone remarkable. Her name is Wendy. She’s in her late 70s, with a smile that could light up the cloudiest day and an energy so warm, you can feel it from across the water. What struck me most wasn’t just her vibrant presence—it was...
What Does It Mean to Lead Without a Title? A Personal Story
Recently, a thoughtful reader responded to one of my blog prompts with this: “Biggest challenge: making sure to lean into opportunities for being a leader while having a role that is primarily a solo contributor. Wish more people were talking about a definition of...
Trust Is Earned: 9 Practical Ways to Strengthen Trust Within Your Team
Trust is the foundation of every successful team. Without it, collaboration falters, communication breaks down, and morale plummets. But trust isn’t automatic. It’s something you earn through your actions every single day. “Trust is earned… If you want your team to...
Day 29 of 100 Days of Trust: Trusting in Time Itself
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cev93XiChGc For the past 29 days, I’ve been walking through a personal experiment I’m calling 100 Days of Trust. Each day, I challenge myself to soften my grip on control and lean into trust—trust in people, in life, in myself,...
Your Voice Matters: What Inspires You Most?
To my cherished readers, Some of you have been following my journey for more than two decades, while others have just joined this community. No matter when you came on board, I’m so grateful to have you here. I’m reaching out in a way I haven’t before, and I’m...
What the Fourth of July Taught Me About Freedom
It’s July 8, and I’m still thinking about the fireworks. Not just the kind that light up the sky, but the kind that spark something deeper within—the kind that remind me of life’s challenges, choices, and the lessons they bring. On the morning of the Fourth, I found...