Five Things

1. I know some people manage to live in this world without losing their minds, but I am not naturally one of them. I have to work at it.  2. As part of this, I have a paper calendar that lies flat on my desk, slightly to my left, but

Chaos—and the SOB

Every month I meet for a half day with the two people who lead the company I own. These appointments show up on my calendar as SOBs, not because my Co-CEOs are unpleasant—they are two of my favorite people in the world—but because the purpose of these meetings

(Truly) Random Acts of Kindness

My son gave his fish an electric blanket—his electric blanket to be precise, the one he counts on to stay warm in the damp cold of a Seattle spring. My son is 16, not six, and an aspiring engineer. He knew the ideal water temperature for his new fish

For Once I’m Not the One Having an Identity Crisis

Hello from the University of Washington, where I’m attending the Northwest Dispute Resolution Conference. Traditionally, attendees (mainly mediators and arbitrators) come for continuing education as “neutrals”—people whose professional codes require a certain remove in the face of conflict.  This year, however, both in formal sessions and in the

Okay That Was Embarrassing

The first time my future husband visited my apartment, I lied to him. As he took in all 300 square feet of my Hong Kong home—hardwood floors, light blue sofa, light blue bedspread—I watched his eyes settle on my “dining room” table: a white, lacquered IKEA desk. “It

A Tragic Avalanche and the Perils of Groupthink

Last month, nine backcountry skiers died in an avalanche in the mountains near Lake Tahoe. The victims included six moms in their 40s and 50s; they were part of a group of eight friends who regularly went on outdoor adventures together. The other three victims were professional guides—two leading

Three Quick Things

It takes me an absurd amount of time to write a proper post—and that time was not available to me this week.* But as reader-friend David Hirning and I discussed in the comments of last week’s post, connecting with kindred spirits—even briefly—goes a long way to

Note to Self: Go Play Outside

“Wanna climb a mountain tomorrow?”  Whenever I text this to my friend Ulla, she invariably says yes.  These outings are never easy to pull off. We’re both deep in what I call The Vortex—a seemingly endless swirl of tasks and commitments. But Ulla is half Swedish, and apparently

This Is a No-Brainer...Right?

Now that everyone has read the memo*and seen the backflips**, it’s clearer than ever that we need to move briskly towards single payer…right? That we can’t have something as vital to humans as healthcare depend on employment, if the jobs landscape is slated to go haywire?

Bad Parenting Decisions

Yesterday, I let both kids skip school to attend the Seahawks parade in downtown Seattle. I know. I barely recognize myself. We are not a football family, and typically when the kids tell us what their friends are allowed to do, we are quick to joke (or not joke): “How

One Thing Humans Do Better Than AI

…is die. Stay with me. I know that’s a strange way to start a pep talk.  The more conventional pep talk to humans these days centers on our hard-to-replicate judgement—the kind of discernment that comes from years of roving the earth in a fleshy body. The technology is

A Quick Coda to those Milan Boos

Back in the late 90s, I was a fish out of water in Wharton’s MBA program: as an undergrad, I’d studied literature not economics. I’d worked not in investment banking but in the wordy world of crisis communications. I had not yet met the wonders of Excel.

That Was Awkward — Let’s Do It Again

A few weeks ago, I used Paperless Post to create this draft invitation (above). I then downloaded the image and texted it to a bunch of fellow parents I like but rarely see. I chose not to use Paperless Post’s built-in RSVP function and email reminders, all of which

Comfort Zones Are For Normal Times

It is not in my nature to yell “Fuck you!” at strangers. In fact, I typically aim to move around the world, connecting quietly with passersby: a smile here, a lifted stroller there, a wave to say, “After you.” I love a moment of shared humanity that doesn’t require

I've Figured Out What This Is

I started writing here a year ago. At first, I called What Now a “newsletter,” because that’s what most people call missives that drop regularly into readers’ inboxes.  But I don’t write to deliver news. That critical work is done by journalists, the professional reporters who do all

Who's Writing the Plan?

This week has not lent itself to sleeping, but I cannot not write, so you are once again getting a list of thoughts that may or may not be connected: 1. Last time I did this, I slandered lists as “the lowest form of human writing,” but one of you—

Do You Know About This Place?

The fact that Trump pardoned one drug-trafficking strongman (Hernández of Honduras) one month before capturing another (Maduro of Venezuela) has been much discussed.  Also much discussed: Venezuela’s oil, Trump’s embrace of the Monroe Doctrine, Trump’s love of made-for-TV displays of dominance, and his need to distract Americans

Back!

I didn’t find a lot to laugh about in 2025, but I really enjoyed this moment on New Year’s Eve:  My son realizing that he and the gigantic pants favored by his generation would need to get through airport security—without a belt. Fortunately his film education includes

"Alexa, Set an Alarm for January 1st"

If you know me even a little bit, you won’t be surprised that my ‘holiday card’ is another Venn Diagram. (You may be surprised that it’s not laminated but, sadly, the technology isn’t there yet.)  Look, I’ve been as heartened as anyone by the MAGA infighting

This Post Is Both Early and Late

Most weeks I publish on Friday mornings, so this post is early. But coming three full days after 15 people were gunned down while celebrating the first night of Hanukkah, this post is also late.  On the subject of Israel and Gaza, I’ve always put myself on a “read

That Went Well

At the DRC (Dispute Resolution Center) where I now work, all mediations are confidential and privileged. However, we’re allowed to use anonymized anecdotes for educational purposes. In that spirit—but also because I’m still laughing (ruefully) about it—I’ll share this: in a session a few days

Who Do I Like for 2028?

A computer desktop littered with files can become more pleasing to the eye with one click: Snap to Grid. The ideas in those files might be half-baked at best, but the files themselves are suddenly tidy. It’s as though there’s a plan.  When Kamala Harris chose Tim Walz

The One Swap I'm Making This Season

When I shared in last week’s post that the past two years have been difficult—that I’ve struggled to find my lane—I got what I seek most from writing: real connection. Thank you for your comments and emails. I look forward to continuing those conversations, both here

Why I, An Amateur, Spend Time Parsing Politics

When I stepped back from running my company nearly two years ago, I had three good business reasons: risk management, talent retention, and strategic renewal. I also made one huge mistake: I had no real plan for myself. I didn’t consider myself retired. I’m an “un-exited business owner,