Howdy from a dad, husband, and a Happiness Engineer at Automattic. I enjoy making order out of chaos, continuous learning, photography, exciting experiences.
The Hard Work of Being Human
In “Is People Pleasing Your Leadership Blind Spot?” by Eric Kaufmann in Real Leaders Magazine, a 2022 YouGov poll found that 49% of adults see themselves as people pleasers, and 92% say they act in people-pleasing ways. When I read about common people-pleasing habits, these stood out to me: These habits have been a challenge…
Click to read in fullIce, Ice, Baby
Recently, two of my colleagues visited Iceland for the fifth time. We chatted about our travels, and I asked about their favorite country. They turned the question back to me but I couldn’t answer. The best I came up with was, “the one I haven’t visited yet.” I’ve been to 38 countries, and my wanderlust…
Click to read in fullReflections from Jerry Colonna’s Q&A
I recently watched the recording of Jerry Colonna’s Q&A session with Automattic. Just like the first one, it was full of great questions. A few really resonated with me. If you were to envision the values as a voice, what do your values tell you? What’s important for me is to have the discernment to…
Click to read in fullBetween the Panels: The Art of Blogging by Seth Godin and Tim Ferriss
Discovering the recent podcast episode featuring Seth Godin and Tim Ferriss was a delightful experience for me. Their combined wisdom created a synergy that far exceeded the sum of its parts. As I listened, I found myself uncovering one good insight after another. Here are a few quotes that resonated with me: Comics work because…
Click to read in fullStealing Wisdom, Connecting Dots
I have recently finished reading “Steal Like An Artist” by Austin Kleon. The book was gifted to me in 2023 by my then teammate at Automattic. It’s been one of the fastest reads for me, but full of thought-provoking highlights. It’s one of my theories that when people give you advice, they’re really just talking…
Click to read in fullConnection — the unseen force that drives your life
I enjoyed the recent mini-series of emails by Art of Accomplishment about connection. My first course taken with them was called the Connection Course. And these emails were great reminders of the importance of connection in our lives. Hence I saved a few quotes and stories. Connection and wonder Two young fish are swimming along…
Click to read in fullInsights from a Conversation with Jerry Colonna
I just have to share how grateful I am for what Automattic did! They set up a video call with Jerry Colonna, CEO and co-founder of Reboot and a coach highly praised by Matt Mullenweg. Let me tell you, it was packed with wisdom! How have I been complicit in creating the conditions I say…
Click to read in fullMuch gratitude
Today was the last group session of the Great Decisions course. I am very very grateful to: Being alive is fucking awesome!
Click to read in fullNavigating Vulnerability: Bits from “Daring Greatly” by Brené Brown
My workplace recently rolled out a new perk—a premium subscription to Blinkist, a platform offering key insights from nonfiction books in bite-sized formats via 15-minute audio and text. The first book I explored through Blinkist was “Daring Greatly” by Brené Brown. The main topic of the book is vulnerability—something I’ve been navigating lately. I highlighted…
Click to read in fullWhat emotions are you trying not to feel?
In the second week of the Great Decision Course, I was faced with a fascinating practice. It was based on the golden algorithm (as Joe Hudson defines it) — we invite the thing we are avoiding in the exact way that we are avoiding it. The homework began with exploring the ways to find the…
Click to read in fullThe Dance of Emotions in Decision Making
The initial week of the Great Decisions Course overflowed with content and lively interactions through video calls. I had lots of homework—listen to podcast episodes and review material for 1:1 partner session and small group session. What truly caught my attention were the quotes from the podcast episodes. Before diving into those, I’d like to…
Click to read in fullThe Art of Decision-Making: Insights from Joe Hudson
In the lead-up to the Great Decisions Course by Art of Accomplishment, I took the time to absorb the wisdom shared in their mini-series of emails. It wasn’t just a casual read; it felt like having a conversation with a mentor. How often do we seek discipline and logic to break bad habits, unaware that…
Click to read in fullThe Freedom of Reading for Pleasure
In anticipation of the Great Decisions Course by Art of Accomplishment, the team has been sharing insightful emails on the art of decision-making. A particular quote sparked a moment of reflection: Every decision you make is an opportunity to align more closely with your true self. It’s a chance to listen not just to the…
Click to read in fullHello, world!
Here I am, typing away with the awareness that these words will endure long after this moment—a prospect that both excites and terrifies me. There’s a certain comfort in knowing I could easily refrain from publishing or tweak and delete my words at will. However, I’m choosing to do neither. Very soon, I’ll be diving…
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