From chaos to creation: why the mess matters
I was electric with excitement. I could see the potential so vividly: a course that would help mid-career professionals shake off the “stuck” feeling and transition into their dream jobs. The Career Shift would transform a program I used to run live for a small group, and the thought of …
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Detours aren’t distractions, they’re the real journey
I got my first job at 14. It wasn’t impressive. It wasn’t something that would make a resume shine. But it was a start. And that was all that mattered at the time. That first job led to another, and another, each one an odd puzzle piece that didn’t seem …
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From steel to style
Steel has been essential to modern life. It’s the backbone of our skyscrapers, cars, and bridges. But for all its benefits, it comes with a hefty price: steel production is one of the largest sources of carbon emissions globally. For centuries, those emissions have been an unavoidable byproduct of progress. …
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A dream about triggers, stories, and transformation
The other night, I had a dream that stuck with me—a vivid one that felt more like a message than just random images stitched together by sleep. In the dream, I was performing brain surgery. There I was, holding tweezers, carefully extracting these tiny, white pills from someone’s brain. One …
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Wealth, Power, and the Illusion of Scarcity
Wealth is like sea-water; the more we drink, the thirstier we become. — Arthur Schopenhauer In the final days of the Roman Empire the elite dined in excess, feasting on delicacies while the streets outside filled with the hungry and desperate. The empire was crumbling, but within the palace walls …
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When fear becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy
I’m acquainted with a very famous person. We’ve known each other for many years. We’ve rung in multiple New Year’s Eves together, renting a secluded house in the mountains with a small group of friends. We’ve shared long dinners, deep conversations, and the kind of moments that usually lead to …
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Innovating with Mother Nature as a mentor
Let’s travel back to the early 90’s, where a North Dakota farmer named Gabe Brown was on the verge of bankruptcy. Years of drought, pest infestations, and soil degradation had taken their toll on his land. Out of desperation, Gabe tried something radical—he adopted regenerative agriculture practices. Abandoning conventional farming …
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Anxiety vs intuition. What are you anchoring into?
Driving to dinner, I found myself stuck in a loop of anxious thoughts. My dog had just undergone foot surgery, and I’d tied a bandana around his bandage before we left to protect it from getting wet. My mind began to spiral. What if I tied the bandana too tight? …
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Closing a Chapter: Reflecting on the Purpose and Profit podcast
After four years and 100 episodes, it’s time to bring Purpose and Profit with Kathy Varol to a close. This podcast has been a space to celebrate visionary leaders who are proving that business can be a force for good—leaders who bring heart, humanity, and accountability into every corner of …
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The next era of recycling
Imagine standing outside a factory, watching plumes of smoke curl into the air. It’s a sight that has long symbolized industrial progress, but now we know that all of that progress is also one of the biggest contributors to climate change. So imagine if that smoke, filled with harmful carbon …
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