Once a month, I curate the best links on how to find work that you love, be excellent at what you do, and unlock any door that stands in your way. Mostly, I gather articles and podcasts that capture my attention because they make me think or laugh. Here is the link round-up for May 2018!

• The legacies our moms leave us: a touching story about a woman who could not stop baking bread after her mother died.

• We all know about gap years for high school or college students. But what about a gap year for the modern elder? Check out Chip Conley’s new project and book, Wisdom at Work: The Making of the Modern Elder.

• Do you have something to say about the years beyond midlife? Apply to the Encore Public Voices Fellowship to amplify your voice and thoughts.

• Clearly aging is a topic front and center on our minds. Here are Brene Brown’s thoughts on midlife.

• And while we are taking about aging gracefully, read this  great interview with Jane Fonda, She is an inspiration.

• More women than ever are joining Japan’s work force, which now has a higher female labor force participation rate than the United States. But construction industry efforts to hire women shows how difficult it will be to integrate women more broadly into the economy. They will have to do better than their tone-deaf campaign that includes pastel colored websites and pink toilets.

• The ceiling is low, the heat is high, the bathroom is missing. But serious cooks are at work here. What’s in a food truck?

• Remembering the grocery list, coordinating with the babysitter, making food for the potluck, scheduling a get-together with the in-laws: These are some of the invisible tasks that (most) women exclusively do in their romantic relationships — and the list goes on and on. Dear Sugars on the Invisible Work (Most) Women Do.

• An amazing story in a month of not so great news. Together Rising: The non profit started by Glennon Doyle, Brene Brown, Elizabeth Gilbert and Marie Forleo raised one million dollars in 24 hours to provide legal counsel to the children and parents that have been separated by the United States’ horrific immigration policy (well, not exactly a policy — just heartless actions). This is what happens when we all raise our voices together. Let’s keep it up!

Happy reading and listening,

Photo: Willie Franklin.

Once a month, I curate the best links on how to find work that you love, be excellent at what you do, and unlock any door that stands in your way. Mostly, I gather articles and podcasts that capture my attention because they make me think or laugh. Here is the link round-up for November 2017!

• Fun Fact: The psychic services industry (which includes astrology, aura reading, mediumship, tarot card reading and palmistry) is now worth $2 billion annually. In these tumultuous times, the 18-30 demographic is reaching for the stars. Here’s why Millennials are ditching religion for witchcraft and astrology.

• Actually, fascination with mystical places and things has been happening for thousands of years. Think Avalon and Tintagel and the Knights of the Round Table. Interested in this weird, mystical pull? Visit Southwest England and see the stuff of epic, romantic myth and mystery.

• While you are in the travel mode, pay a visit to the great hiking trails of the world: 80 trails, 75,000 miles, 38 countries and 6 continents. This will keep you busy and in great shape for years to come! Check it out here.

• There is not a lot to celebrate when we think of politics in this country. However, the rise of amazing grassroots organizations that have sprung up is certainly something to give us cheer. The Freya Project is one of them. The Freya Project is a fundraising reading series started in the wake of the 2016 election as a way to try to unify women in our fractured country. Each month, five women share personal essays on topics universal to the modern female’s experience. All proceeds from ticket sales go directly to small non-profit organizations.

• The New York Times Modern Love column is something I look forward to each weekend. In the past 13 years, more than 80,000 submissions have poured in. Modern Love is a forum that explores love in all of its messy permutations — romantic love, friendship and family. Long may it continue!

• Fashion, which was once a world defined by exclusivity has, in recent years, undergone a democratic revolution. Clothing designers are answering a growing need for garments that address the disabled and the displaced.

• If you had the ability to speed learn anything, what would you choose? Max Deutsch chose chess. He went through a month of training before he traveled across the ocean, sat down in a regal hotel suite at the appointed hour and waited for the arrival of the world’s greatest chess player, Magnus Carlsen. Here is the story of the game they played.

• Swiping is taking on new frontiers. Bumble, known for its Sadie Hawkins style dating app, has recently launched Bizz, designed for professional networking and mentoring. The feature enables users to swipe and match for on-demand networking with potential connections and mentors in its 20 million user base.

• For only the second time in the last century, the number of farmers under 35 years old is increasing. A growing movement of highly educated, ex-urban, first-time farmers are capitalizing on booming consumer demand for local and sustainable foods, and are leaving desk jobs and turning to farming. Read more about this fascinating growing trend.

• From Liz Dennery of SheBrand: stories of courage, kindness and grace. So many good people fighting to make a difference.

• Playlist: 6 TED talks: In celebration of being alone, but not lonely.

• And my all-time favorite for this month, the BEST job posting that received 9,000 applications. I can’t wait to see who they pick!

Happy reading and listening,

Photo: Willie Franklin.

Once a month, I curate the best links on how to find work that you love, be excellent at what you do, and unlock any door that stands in your way. Mostly, I gather articles and podcasts that capture my attention because they make me think or laugh. Here is the link round-up for October 2017!

• Rocking preemie babies. I think I have died and gone to heaven.

• Meet the legendary cake ladies of Andalusia, Alabama! Their bakery smells like your grandmother’s kitchen!

• ROAM is a co-living and co-working community that tests the boundaries between work, travel and life!

• Most high school students are tired, stressed and bored. Enter Project Wayfinder. Through a series of exercises and worksheets, Project Wayfinder inspires the next generation to find purpose and become engaged in their own lives and empowered to contribute to the world around them.

• Meet Moshe Trager, the Bay Area’s only full time mohel!

• Want to be your own boss? Start your own business? Create a brand and products, open a store, and make money? You can! Check out Bossygrl!

• I spend at least 1-2 hours a day reading articles about Trump, his administration and this new world order we find ourselves in. This article by Ta-Nehisi Coates is one of the best I read this month. It’s not an easy read but well worth it.

• FIRSTS features amazing women doing amazing things.

• More than ever, we need resilience to get through our lives. Here’s how to boost your ability to be resilient, regardless of your age.

• I don’t think I have ever met anyone who did not get nervous speaking in front of people. It’s especially tough for introverts. From Alexandra Franzen: public speaking tips for introverts.

• More and more, no matter your age, we go through big career changes. Here’s how to prepare.

• It’s a well known fact that honeybees are dying off and that their deaths are causing an ecological emergency. Thanks to ABeeWellProduction, there are more than 50 bee sanctuary hives on rooftops throughout San Francisco. It’s such a cool and important project.

Happy reading and listening,

Photo: Willie Franklin.

Once a month, I curate the best links on how to find work that you love, be excellent at what you do, and unlock any door that stands in your way. Mostly, I gather articles and podcasts that capture my attention because they make me think or laugh. Here is the link round-up for August 2017!

• These are troubled times. Think how our world would transform if each of us put kindness front and center in our lives? The digital platform,  kindness.org is designed to reach across oceans and time zones to inspire small ripples of everyday compassion that ultimately create massive waves of change.

• Life works in funny ways. As a society, we venerate youth, rather than the honor the wisdom and experience of our elders. The older you get, the more invisible you feel. Here is a website that is a veritable treasure trove of content from the 50+ tribe. Ageist is made up of  a collective of researchers, thinkers and creatives dedicated to promoting a better understanding of later life styles. Each week, I look forward to their newsletter that is always filled with interviews, articles and great photos.

• I use LYFT all the time. They are a life saver for a city dweller and are in my top 10 of best and convenient inventions. Since most drivers are doing the job to make money while they pursue their passions, I tend to get into great career conversations with my Lyft drivers. They all have such great stories. I often fantasize about doing an interview series spotlighting my drivers called Lyft Your Career. I would ride around… ask the drivers about their career aspirations… give career advice  (LYFT, are you listening??). Here is someone that did the opposite — he became an Uber driver and started a podcast interviewing his passengers. Just goes to show, if you have an idea, run (or rather drive!) with it!

• It’s no secret that I’m always curious to hear the “behind-the-scenes story” of how people found their careers or artistic pursuits. Here and here are the stories of 26 amazing people to keep your eyes on.

• I never thought that I would go nuts over kitchen appliances. And yet, I can’t help but crave these Dolce and Gabbana mixers, blenders, toasters and coffee pots. I’d say they are almost worth a whole kitchen re-do!

• Are you a solo entrepreneur who is feeling isolated and in need of external stimulation? Remote Year is a brilliant marriage of international travel and co-working. 50-80 participants travel together for a year and live and work in a different city each month. It takes working in the corner coffee shop to a whole new level.

• Summer is always a slow time for great indie movie releases (though I did see the movie Maudie a few weeks ago and loved it!) While we wait for Fall’s meatier selections, here is a list of some all time great indie rom coms to keep you busy.

• We are reading a lot about side hustles these days. They help you make more money and get started on your passion projects. But where does one get started? And how do you find the time? Girlboss lists 21 low-hustle side hustle ideas that are worth considering no matter your skill-set. All you need is a little motivation and WiFi to get started.

• There’s a new online dating site that lets the women do the choosing. It’s called Coffee Meets Bagel. It also has a great tagline: Meet Your Everything Bagel today. Okay, maybe a little too cutesy, but I do like the attempt to make meeting people online feel like less of a meat market.

• You know how every day someone asks “How are you?” And even if you’re totally dying inside, you just say “Fine,” so everyone can go about their day? This podcast- Terrible, (Thanks for Asking) is the opposite of that. Recommended by my friend Alexandra Franzen (who always seems to find the best stuff), this show is about talking honestly about our pain, our awkwardness, and our humanness. No surprise, it’s sort of addicting.

• And finally, some tips from life coach Martha Beck on how to lower your stress level. Tip number one should be turn off the news (it’s not). These are actually pretty good. Check them out!

Happy reading and listening,

Photo: Willie Franklin.