I’m pretty psyched about Leap Day on Saturday. I’ve decided to start a new tradition where we treat it as a bonus day: no chores, no to-do list, just fun.   If the weather holds out, we are going to hike a trail we’ve started twice before, but had to abandon due to lack of time. We plan on spending all-day to go the 5 miles, so we can leisurely stop for lunch, play wherever it looks interesting, and make it through the full loop.  What would you do if you were given an extr

Last week, I had to make a last-minute trip out to SF for an accelerator interview. I booked my flights, rearranged a bunch of meetings, and was psyched.  Then I saw a note in Rowan’s backpack: “Just a reminder that you are the mystery reader for the class on Wednesday.” I have no idea how this fell off my calendar. Guilt rushed in. I had been looking forward to this for months.  I took a deep breath and sent a simple email to his teacher explaining the last-minute trip and

Loving this quote this week. It seems like good advice for us moms, too. Wishing you a magically ordinary week! “Do not ask your children to strive for extraordinary lives. Such striving may seem admirable, but it is the way of foolishness. Help them instead to find the wonder and the marvel of an ordinary life. Show them the joy of tasting tomatoes, apples and pears. Show them how to cry when pets and people die. Show them the infinite pleasure in the touch of a hand. And ma

So often we notice the headwinds in our life—what is making things harder for us. Raising money is harder as a woman. Mommy bias is the most prominent bias in the workforce. When was the last time you noticed what is pushing you forward? Studies show that we are far more likely to notice your headwinds than your tailwinds. Today, make a list of all the things that you have in your favor. Here are a few of mine: Joe and my in-laws are insanely helpful. I have a true tribe lovi

Over the weekend, I went through and shared my favorite memories for 2019 on my Instagram stories. I just went through my photos and shared whichever sparked joy. Do this. First, it helped me realize what sparks joy for me. (Family traditions, planning kid parties, mini-adventures with each kid solo, and lots of time in nature.) Second, this process sparked a lot of joy. 2019 was tough. Starting a company is taxing. But, there were so many happy memories, cuddles, and love. I

As I mentioned yesterday, each week (and sometimes each day), I write down why I will remember that week. Whenever I’m feeling a bit down, one of my favorite activities is flipping through those lines: Fire pits at the shore house Going to the world series Korean spa day in dC Photoshoot for Washington Life So much happens in a year, but often we are moving so fast to even notice. It feels so good to slow down. #slowingdown #self-awareness #gratitude #beingpresent

This year, my kids and I created a new tradition. Leaving a bag of toys under the tree for Santa to give to other kids. Over the weekend, they went through their current toys and gathered up all the ones they didn’t want anymore. My house is decluttered and better yet, my kids are starting to associate the holiday with giving, not just their lists. If you don’t celebrate Christmas, a similar practice can be integrated into birthdays or other holidays. What simple ways do you

You know me. I love traditions. So, enter a new one for Uplift—Weekly Wins Wednesday. Each week (either here or on our Instagram), we’ll celebrate all of our wins. Call out the little (or big) things in our life that are going well. So often, it’s easy to focus on the negative versus everything going right. So for me: All of our pilots at companies are converting to bigger deals! Joe and I have had some really great recent dates (both at home and out) I’ve been slipping in a

Recently, I had a conversation with one of our coaches that choked me up. I had just shared all of our content with her, and she was like, "Wow, there has been a ridiculous amount of work done." In my go-go-go mindset, I hadn't stopped to appreciate all that I had accomplished. I just moved on to the next thing on my to-do list. That simple comment made me stop and appreciate myself (and my rocking team.) So today's tip: slow down. Look at how much you have accomplishe

I work out of an incubator in Georgetown that supports social entrepreneurs, Halcyon. Every morning I walk by their gratitude board, a white board where people can visually thank people that have helped them that week. I love seeing this grow over the week. On my hardest days, it reminds me that the world is full of people who want to help. The board serves as a physical reminder to be both thankful and helpful. What value do you want to instill in your team or family?

Who loves Fridays? Hell, yes. Studies show that we enjoy Friday (and the anticipation of the weekend) more than any other day of the week, including the weekend itself. So today, just take a moment to savor the day thoroughly: What amazing things did you accomplish this week? What are you looking forward to this weekend? What can you do for yourself today? Because the awesomeness of Friday only comes once a week. T.G.I.F. #gratitude #mindset

None of us can do this alone. In fact, the most successful people I've spoken to have incredible support systems. Today, let's celebrate yours. Looking back at your 2018, who were the people that most positively impacted your life? Then do three steps: Thank them. Brighten their day and make sure they know how much they matter in your life. Spend more time with them, if you can. Who you are around is one of your biggest influences. Pay it forward. Think about which of their

The 5-minute favor was coined by Adam Rifkin, who supposedly has more connections on LinkedIn to the most influential people in the world than anyone else. The concept is simple. You should be willing to do something that will take 5 minutes or less for anybody. Givers get good karma. It also just feels great. So, I'm putting it out there to you. What 5-minute favors do you need? I'll try to help! #career #gratitude #habits

One of the smartest entrepreneurs I know, Amelia Friedman (co-founder of Hatch Apps, which allows you to build native apps without coding) gave me the simplest tip. If someones goes above and beyond in helping you develop your business, send flowers. She personally claims to be putting Urban Stems in business. I love this. It's simple, not that expensive, and pays dividends down the line. Everyone loves feeling appreciated. So go ahead, make someone's day. #gratitude #relatio

I love Gretchen Rubin's recent suggestion to practice reverse gossiping, saying something complimentary about someone behind their back. The practice increases positivity in the world. The phenomenon of Trait Transfer means that people associate you with the traits that you talk about. So, if you say other people are smart and creative, they believe you are, too. Your thoughts affect your perception of the world. When you notice the positive, you start feeling more positive a

At Google, I ran a daily team meeting tackling the onslaught of issues arising during a critical pre-launch period.  It was depressing. We all ended the meeting looking like we’d been hit by a bus. I knew I needed to change it, so added a standing intro agenda item — “F*ck Yeahs!”  We went around the horn and shared all the great things that had happened in the past 24 hours. Everything from signing a new partner to our favorite cheese being restocked in the micro-kitchens.  

A huge refrain for Uplift is gratitude, which seems particularly fitting for this week. It is so powerful. First off, your perspective drastically affects your reality.  Only 10% of your external situations predicts your happiness. The other 90% is how your brain processes the world. Spend time focusing on what is going right in your life, not what is going wrong. Secondly, gratitude can improve your relationships and support system. Tell your partner how grateful you are for