Networking events are a game of masks—everyone putting on their best face, trying to impress, to connect, to be remembered. For me, it’s a chance to mentor, to find the talent hidden behind the bravado. But every so often, someone reminds you how far we still have to go. This event was no different. As …
Justice
Working retail teaches you a lot about people. You meet the kind ones who thank you for your help, the indifferent ones who barely glance up from their phones, and then there are the ones who seem to think you exist solely to ruin their day. Those are the ones that stay with you. I’d …
In a startup, no task is too small. That’s what I learned on my first day, watching people in suits assemble their own desks and engineers pitch in to move furniture. The unspoken rule was simple: roll up your sleeves, no matter your title. Not everyone saw it that way. One intern stood out—not for …
Vacations were a luxury I rarely thought about. For years, I’d worked without complaint, putting in extra hours and handling crises with the kind of dedication you don’t see often anymore. But when my sister announced her wedding date, I decided it was time. Just a few days off—that’s all I wanted. I didn’t expect …
Flying is supposed to be simple: find your seat, settle in, and try to get through the hours with as little discomfort as possible. Some people, though, think those rules don’t apply to them. And their complete lack of self awareness (or consideration to others) is revolting. Fortunately, Karma has a way of evening the …
Parenting is an exercise in balance—juggling routines, emotions, and a constant undercurrent of unsolicited advice. And when family dynamics come into play, that balance teeters on the edge of collapse. I discovered this the week my mother-in-law, Judy, came to stay. Judy is a force of nature: warm, opinionated, and absolutely convinced her way is …
There’s a fine line between confidence and arrogance, and my neighbor, Owen, seemed to think it didn’t exist. He was the kind of guy who could turn fixing a squeaky door into a lecture on self-reliance, and he made sure everyone around him knew he didn’t need help for anything—or anyone. I’ve been a handyman …
There’s nothing quite like buying your first home. It’s supposed to be the start of something new—a fresh chapter filled with promise. But for me, it was a nightmare wrapped in a fresh coat of paint and sealed with lies. At the heart of it all was Trevor, the real estate agent who sold me …
Gyms can be strange places. Some people go to build strength, others to clear their minds. And then there are those who come to make the space their personal stage. I was just there to feel good about myself, to prove that I could stick to something hard and grow from it. But one self-obsessed …
The thing about cities is that they’re unpredictable. Just when you think you’ve found your rhythm, something—or someone—throws it all off balance. It might be a missed crosswalk signal, a rogue delivery truck, or, in today’s case, a person who seemed determined to exist outside the rules of common courtesy. I wasn’t looking for a …