If life is like a box of chocolates, growing into leadership is closer to the life of a hermit crab.

The humble hermit crab provides nature's perfect lesson for personal growth.

Every hermit crab starts life exposed and vulnerable, drifting through ocean currents. Their survival depends on finding that first shell, their initial safe space. But here is what’s interesting—that protective shell, perfect as it may seem at first, eventually becomes their biggest limitation.

I've seen this same pattern play out countless times in professional life.

We build our careers like that first shell - crafting our reputation, collecting achievements, and developing a comfortable way of working that feels safe and reliable. But just like the hermit crab, we start feeling that squeeze.

Maybe you're experiencing it now - that nagging sense that something needs to shift. Perhaps you're still doing the hands-on work that got you noticed, even though your role demands...

This week, I learned a new phrase: self-directed ageism. It is a form of internalized prejudice in which older adults adopt negative stereotypes and beliefs about aging and apply them to themselves—and then we use them against each other.

It shouldn't be a surprise; everything is changing—our bodies, vision, flexibility, hair, sleep patterns, and lifestyle—it can be a lot at once. On top of that, by age 40, 90% of workers have experienced ageism in the workplace (Source: ASE Online). If it starts in your 40s, imagine what it must feel like in your 60s after 20 years of experiencing it.

It's time we reframe AGING, and not doing it puts your health at risk.

While you can't control the outside world, you are YOUR first line of defense. The brain believes what you tell it, so you must mind the stories you are telling yourself.

Consider these examples I have heard from clients:

I am too old to start over.

They don't want to hear it from me.

I don't move as fast as I...

You've decided you need a coach. Congratulations! This is a major step in taking control of your career and charting a new course for success. But now comes the hard part: how do you choose the right coach? With so many options out there, it can be tough to know where to start.

Here's a helpful guide to finding the coach who's right for you. Look for someone who is competent (credentials and experience), compatible (chemistry), and committed (to your success and to helping you make lasting changes). These are the three C's of choosing a coach.

1. Credentials and Experience
The first thing you'll want to look for in a coach is credentials and experience. What kind of training and experience does this person have? Do they have any relevant certifications? What is their coaching philosophy?

2. Chemistry
It's also important to find a coach with whom you have good chemistry. This is someone you'll be working with closely, so it's important that you feel comfortable with them and that you...