Welcome to Misti's Insights
Snow, Ice and Sliding
Cars don’t slide into ditches or crash into each other because of a few flakes of snow. But once snow and ice have accumulated, the conditions can quite literally cause a 15-car pileup. Words of encouragement work the same way. Some people have heard positive words of...
Strategies for Dealing with the Energy Crisis in the American Workplace: An Interview With Ari Weinzweig of Zingerman’s
The first time I met Ari was through his book, Zingerman's Guide to Good Leading, Part 2; A Lapsed Anarchist's Approach to Being a Better Leader. After underlining, circling, and writing all over the inside of his book, I couldn’t help but reach out and personally...
5 Practical Steps to Protecting Your Energy
Ever find yourself exhausted, but in need of energy? You know you’ve already been to your favorite coffee shop— twice, but you think just one more espresso will do the trick. I know I’ve been there! So, how do you protect your energy? Even more importantly, how to...
The Most Important Gifts of 2015
What’s the first gift you remember opening? Was it the toy you’d been dreaming about, the socks you didn’t think needed to be wrapped, or the bike you could hardly wait to master? While I don’t remember the first gift I opened, I do remember the way I opened it. My...
Avoid Uber-Syndrome or Being Uber-ized: An Interview With Richard Sheridan, Co-Founder, Menlo Innovations
From kid programmer in 1971 to Forbes cover story in 2003, Richard Sheridan, author of Joy, Inc., has gone beyond creating a joyful company culture to teaching leaders around the globe how to do it. While it’s easy to think such valuable company environments are...
How To Make Sure This Is Your Best Year Yet
Nearly everyone wants to achieve greatness—results they care deeply about. Few do. Why? There is no simple answer to that question, but there is a simple 4-step formula that is certain to set you up for the best year of your life. Here are the top 4 elements I discuss...
Should You Fire Them?
Should you fire talented employees who frequently turn work in late and call in sick? If you could just get them to start working on projects sooner, they wouldn’t have to overexert themselves, wind up sick, and miss another deadline. How about the ones who hoard...
Stop Throwing Monkey Wrenches at Yourself
Moments after I hung up the phone, my mind started racing, my stomach tightened, and I had to go for a walk. “You just threw that opportunity away, Misti! And—it was perfect,” the voice inside my head screamed. One week earlier, I had received a phone call from Bill,...
Brilliant Blunders: An Interview with Dr. Mario Livio
I had the rare chance to listen to Dr. Mario Livio speak at TEDx Midatlantic. His message was inspiring and interesting – check it out here. After his speech, I met him in the hallway, grabbed coffee with Mario and his wonderful wife, and learned that he lives right...
The Real Significance of Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday of the year. Of course, that’s not because of the story of the Pilgrims and Indians. In fact, I’m embarrassed to tell you that I didn’t know what a Pilgrim was until roughly ten years ago. “Misti, I slept through most...
7 Simple Ways To Say “Thank You” To Your Team
The following are 7 simple ways to say Thank You to your team this year, and all throughout 2016: Pause, and write your list of the specific qualities you’re authentically grateful for in each team member. Are they excellent with excel, public speaking, or maybe...
How to Find Great Mentors in 2016
Walking down the streets of Bethesda more than a decade ago, hearing the loud beeps of impatient drivers, and seeing a pedestrian nearly get run over, I thought to myself, “I’ve gotta get out of here. I don’t want to be like these people.” I had quit my job a week...
Why Dieting Destroys Self-Confidence in the Workplace and Beyond: An Interview with Dr. Michelle May
Dr. Michelle May was one of the highlights of my trip to the National Speakers Association’s Annual Convention this year. Her passion—born out of her own struggle with yo-yo dieting—is infectious. Through this interview, Michelle shares the most critical element of...
3 Critical Steps To Reaching Important Goals
The hardest part about going after anything that’s meaningful is the conversation that goes on inside your head. What do you tell yourself when you set an important goal, and then start to work toward it? Listen in – what do you hear? You will know how important your...
Overcoming Self-Doubt
You’re more talented than you know. The key to reaching greatness lies in focusing on improving your PR (personal record). Personal: You. Record: Marker of success. PR: Your current marker for success. One of the greatest killers of greatness lies in comparison. It’s...
The #1 Habit That Makes Greatness Opportunities Happen: An Interview With Lynn Rose
When Lynn Rose opened up for the National Speakers Association’s National Conference this year, all my worries disappeared and I felt more present than I had in months. She was remarkable! The next morning I had a chance to thank Lynn when she told me, “And to think I...
The #1 Reason You Should Provoke Your Employees
Many people have accidentally provoked greatness, but most leaders want to know what it takes to get others to live into their potential, on purpose. “Misti, if I could take a wire, insert it into your mouth, travel it down your arms to your finger tips, we’d have a...
3 Simple Ways To Increase Employee Loyalty
Ever met an impatient employee, who wants to “do meaningful work?” Or, “Work they enjoy doing?” What did you do with them? The CEO at the first company I worked for responded to my pleas with, “Misti, what did your parents do to deal with you? It’s clear you have...