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Tag: agency

I’m Done Playing Plinko With My Life

Six months ago, I had 143 ways to be reached. Today, I have four. As I turn 49, here’s why redesigning access—and reclaiming attention—matters for caregivers.

October 17, 2026
I Am Bringing Everything With Me

You do not need to prove the entire body of your work before you enter the room. Be present. Tell the truth. Bring what you know—and bring yourself with it.

October 7, 2026
You Shouldn’t Have to Leave Yourself at the Door

Maybe you love your work—and somewhere along the way you learn which people you can tell. A reflection on career identity, friendship, trust, crisis management, and choosing what gets access to you next.

September 29, 2026
My Medical Chart Has a Noncompete Clause

Two appointments. Three years ago. Apparently, we’re exclusive. A patient’s account of healthcare bureaucracy, invisible paperwork, and a care team that actually picks up a paddle.

September 29, 2026
The Space Between

When your mind is still moving at crisis speed, quiet can feel unfamiliar. A personal reflection on the space between surviving and thriving—and the practical support, stillness, and small choices that help you find your way.

September 24, 2026
All That Comes Next

A deliberate step forward into speaking, storytelling, and human flourishing—with freedom within a framework and respect for the life that brought me here.

September 17, 2026
Little Miss First Name Basis

On my first day in manufacturing, I was scolded for using the name the CEO had offered. Workplace culture was already teaching—before the tour was over.

September 10, 2026
Do One Thing

Gridlock can make it feel as though nothing is moving. Begin with the current state, notice what is already happening, and do one meaningful thing.

September 6, 2026
When You Recognize the Pattern in Your Own Life

When behavioral patterns you understand professionally show up inside your own life, diagnosis is not the first task. Observation, investigation, boundaries, and agency are.

August 31, 2026
A Mug, A Dog, and a Sentence About the Mind: Civilization, Distilled

A mug, a sleeping dog, and a sentence about the mind reveal what leadership often forgets: safety, agency, and humane systems are built in ordinary moments, not grand gestures.

February 18, 2026
Top 3 English words and phrases I’ve embraced:

Language is not decoration; it is operating equipment. Words like “brilliant,” “give it a go,” and “actually” quietly shape psychological safety, accuracy, and shared agency. Leadership lives in these micro-moments—and…

February 16, 2026
Freedom Within a Framework | Cardinal Chronicles

A reflective essay on freedom as an entry condition, grace as a chosen paradigm, and virtue as the force that governs action. Part of the Cardinal Chronicles series, exploring self-leadership, authorship, and meaning…

January 26, 2026

Slingshot Designs, LLC

Human-centered. Process-driven. Crafted with intention.

Artisan work, leadership development, and meaning-driven design rooted in Michigan’s Lower Peninsula.

The Cardinal Rule™ • VoicePrint™ • Mitten Carving & Design™

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