Hi Friend, On a recent Sunday, I felt depleted. Emotionally drained. Energetically desiccated. So, in an effort to nourish my spirit, I decided to take a break in the back yard with my husband Sal. We sat together in silence, watching birds dart from tree to tree. I could feel my spirit reanimating. I could feel my authentic self rising up from the ashes of my hustling and bustling. All of a sudden, Sal says to me, “Did Maddy remember to get that gift for whatshername? You guys have to leave in 30 minutes …” His words were like an electric shock to my system. My heart rate doubled and my impulse was to launch myself out of that chair, huff my way to the staircase where I would scream at my child asking if she’d handled her gift getting business.

Hi Friend, I recently gave my Show Stopping Storytelling Skills workshop to a team in San Francisco. Good storytelling requires a storytelling mindset — one that allows us to believe that even our most mundane days are full of stories. The guy that you flipped off on the freeway? Story. The way your teenager sneered at your advice for going viral on TikTok? Story. That moment you remembered to truly listen and not just offer advice? Story.

Hi Friend, If you’ve been riding along with me for a while, you’ll know that I haven’t been taking on new coaching clients in quite some time. Not because I don’t love working one-on-one, but because when I start working with someone new, it is often a multi-session (even multi-month) long project, and I can only accommodate a few coaching clients at a time. But … that restriction is about to change. I’m launching … drum roll, please …

Every December, I have a little planning ritual. I ask myself one very simple question: What kinds of experiences am I interested in having with my family and friends this season? I let myself get audacious and creative. Once I feel satisfied, I trim it down to the most delicious essentials—the people, places, and activities that truly fill my tank.