Work & Purpose

I believe people do their best work when they feel known. Whether we're building a school, joining a new team, or leading an organization, trust doesn't happen by accident. It grows through relationships, shared purpose, and intentional practice.

This page gathers together the essays, conversations, practical tools, and research that continue to shape how I think about teamwork, belonging, and meaningful work.

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Every idea begins with a story.

Start with a few essays, or explore the full collection.

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Not Yet
Becoming, Work & Purpose
Not Yet
Becoming, Work & Purpose

How do we know the difference between "not ready" and "not allowed"?

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Becoming, Work & Purpose
Bring Back the Gottmans
Better Conversations, Work & Purpose
Bring Back the Gottmans
Better Conversations, Work & Purpose

I literally have a degree in Marriage and Family Studies.

So why was one podcast making me question everything I knew?

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Better Conversations, Work & Purpose
Too Early
Work & Purpose, Becoming
Too Early
Work & Purpose, Becoming

AI told me to use SPSS.

The machine was telling me the machine was the better way.

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Work & Purpose, Becoming

Listen

conversations shape these ideas

From military service and teacher preparation to leadership, teamwork, and trust, these conversations explore the stories behind meaningful work.

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Our Rough Draft
The Courage to Be Read
The Courage to Be Read

What would it take to put your story into the world? Fresh home from a writers' retreat, Denise and Tim reflect on creativity, career transitions, and the courage to share work that matters—even when perfection is impossible.

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When Work Breaks Your Heart
When Work Breaks Your Heart

Sometimes the hardest part of work isn't the work itself. Denise and Tim reflect on burnout, difficult leadership, military transition, and the workplaces that shaped not only their careers, but their understanding of what it means to care for people well.

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Practice

Ideas become meaningful when we put them into practice

Whether you're leading a team, teaching a class, or simply reflecting on your own work, these tools are designed to help you move from insight to action.

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Before We Begin
Before We Begin
$0.00

The strongest teams don't begin with norms. They begin with relationships.

Before writing norms or setting expectations, take time to understand the people in the room. This one-page reflection helps teams explore strengths, communication styles, recognition, feedback, and current capacity before deciding how they'll work together.

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