leadership dots

The first time I taught a college class, it was as a replacement for a teacher who suddenly was out on medical leave. The school used a learning management system, and they assigned me tech support to get the course ready since it was all so last-minute. I distinctly remember her saying that she would set up the gradebook rather than teach me how to do it since it was “just f...

The cartoon character Yogi Bear popularized the saying “smarter than the average bear.” I’ve been thinking about that concept lately and reflecting on what I spend money or time on that is more or less than “the average bear.”

For me, I certainly spend more on office supplies/paper products/stamps, and, as a result, spend more time handwriting writing letters. I sp...

Today marks the start of the 15th year of leadership dots. Almost 5,000 entries. Over 1 million words. When I started this as a going-away gift for a colleague, I never thought I would still be doing it a decade and a half later.

Atomic Habits author James Clear wrote: “Writing is the superpower of humankind. It is our truest form of magic. Writing allows y...

A nearby town has recently acquired three troll sculptures as a tourist draw and nod to the city’s history as a lumber mill. They are massive and impressive, and a unique way to highlight the town’s story. One of the local trolls is housed inside an old train depot, and the entire building is filled with branches, creating a cave effect before you arrive at the troll itself.<...

Instead of just providing the temperature and forecast, my weather app has started adding commentary along with the numbers. Examples include: “It’s a perfect day to be outside,” or “The sky can’t make up its mind. Honestly, that’s perfectly fine.”

I wonder whose job it is to write these cute little quips and why someone thought they were necessary. It seems like a ...