Kelly Holding

This time of year has a very specific energy, a mix of twinkle lights, to-do lists, and the collective silent chant of “just make it to the finish line.” What do they call it… the holiday hustle? And the mental agility this time of year requires is impressive. Popeye-the-Sailor impressive (does this reference date me?). … Read more

Maybe it was a sports coach, a teacher, or a well-meaning relative… but I have this faint memory of being little, wanting to give up, and someone saying, “Suck it up, Sally.” And lately I’ve been thinking about how wild it is that a line like that, tossed out in a single moment, can stick … Read more

LEADERSHIP Have you ever walked into a meeting already annoyed, not because of what’s happening, but because you already know what’s going to happen? Maybe it’s the person who always derails the agenda or the topic that’s been revisited ten too many times. You can practically feel your shoulders tighten before you even open your … Read more

Some weeks remind us that life moves us forward, even as parts of us glance back. This week held some of the happiest moments and a few touched with sadness, always reminding me that we can be two things at once. These moments stir up a mix of feelings and a little nostalgia. And in … Read more

Sometimes getting better is equal parts trying something new and equal parts showing up unbothered, because not every emotion deserves a front-row seat. This week offered me a little bit of both. From stretching myself in a storytelling workshop to rolling with a few life curveballs, it was a reminder that progress doesn’t always look … Read more

Maybe it’s because Halloween is just days away, or because my son asked to go to a haunted house that cost thirty bucks (is that the going rate these days? Facepalm.), but I’ve been thinking about what’s real, what’s imaginary, and how our brains can play tricks on us. Leadership: The Real vs. Imaginary Threat … Read more

This week I’ve been thinking about how often growth shows up in unexpected ways—especially when we’re uncomfortable. Sometimes it’s the big milestones, but more often, it’s the small pivots, the discomforts, and the willingness to adjust that actually move us forward. LEADERSHIP Discomfort isn’t always a signal to pull back—it’s often the signpost that growth … Read more

Wildfires…wildfires…wildfires… Sometimes leadership lessons show up in the smallest of places—like the square inch of a post-it note, the blocked-off hour on a calendar, or the mindset shift when plans suddenly change and you have to pivot. Simple tools, yes—but used with intention, they can be game changers for how we lead, work, and live. … Read more

“The greatest skill you can learn is the ability to figure it out.” In both life and leadership, the ability to figure it out…to think critically, adapt in the moment, and move forward when the playbook runs out…is one of the most valuable skills we can build. Here are a few ways to build that … Read more

A friend and I were debating the idea of clarity… how to find it, communicate it, and lead with it. And I’ll admit something a little controversial: I don’t actually think clarity is real. When someone says, “I just need to get clear,” it sounds like a destination, a place we finally arrive, where everything … Read more