“The ultimate goal in life is not to be successful or loved, but to become the truest expression of ourselves, to live into authentic selfhood, to honor our birthright gifts and callings, and be of service to humanity and our world... life is seen as a journey of personal and collective unfolding toward our true nature.”
Frederic Laloux | Reinventing Organizations
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"Coming of age" doesn't only happen to the young. You might find that years of familiar tactics seldom prepare you for life's surprises. Even the most established leaders face inflection points where they’re pushed to set new boundaries, embrace technological change, and rethink long-held beliefs. Yet it feels like nobody talks about what it’s like to come of age again well into adulthood.
Growth is not a one-time event or a milestone to pass. As organizational researcher Laloux suggests, growth is an ongoing journey—one where you let go of what once worked and try different ways of leading, of being. Even at the peak of your career, you’re called to expand your comfort zone, reimagine how you show up in the world, and meet uncertainty with creativity and courage.
This month's resources are for those moments when life asks you to level up.
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💜 The Heart
Tools to support your conscious leadership practice.
🎨 “This is precisely the time when artists go to work” [Essay]
How do you keep working when the world feels uncertain? Toni Morrison’s timeless answer to this question comes from her friend’s advice: adversity is a catalyst for creativity and it’s exactly when leaders and change-makers find their voices. Don’t wait for perfect conditions; show up now.
📘 The mid-career crossroads nobody talks about. [Book]
We often picture "finding your purpose" as a young person’s game. But Levoy argues that defining moments come when you’re most established and most resistant. This book shares stories of leaders who dared to question their success. If you’re feeling an inconvenient nudge to shift direction, this is your permission to listen to it.
💘 It's never too late for love. [TV Show]
Who gave romance an expiration date? I don’t usually get hooked on TV, especially not reality shows, but The Later Daters captivated me with its premise: rediscovering yourself at any age. Executive produced by Michelle Obama, this Netflix series looks at love through the lens of life experience. I got a kick out of watching the contestants' adult children react to their parents' dating adventures.
🧠 The Matter
Leadership trends that caught my attention.
💪 Lessons from mold-breaking women. [Podcast]
“Don’t call me sweetheart,” 28-year-old Gina McCarthy shot back when a citizen tried to diminish her at the first public hearing she chaired. In Wiser Than Me, Julia Louis-Dreyfus hears stories like these from older women who've shaped our world. This conversation with the former EPA head speaks to the nuances of leadership: raising kids during a rising career, staying composed in hostile environments, and maneuvering around every roadblock.
🎥 Creativity didn’t die, it moved. [Video]
If you want the next breakthrough idea, don’t follow the crowd. Algorithms push us toward identical content, strategies, and solutions. But this New York Times Opinion piece argues that innovation thrives beneath the mainstream, in spaces untouched by AI-driven formulas. You’re not stuck in the Groundhog Day scrolling loop if you don’t want to be.
❗️What happens when success means admitting what you don't know? [Article]
A former engineer-turned-CEO brings an engineer's mindset to leadership. He argues that survival in today's business world demands the willingness to tackle problems step by step, just like solving a complex problem. Stay methodical, embrace discomfort, and approach each challenge with fresh curiosity.
Growth demands you speak up, even when—especially when—it's uncomfortable. Take a moment with these pieces to reflect: What truth is calling you to voice it? What boundary is ready to be drawn? What version of leadership awaits on the other side?
Sending love and light,
Ginny Clarke