top of page
All Posts


The Helper — The Heartbeat of the Team (Who are you on the Team 02)
They straighten chairs, fix problems, and steady the team. The Helper isn’t loud—but they’re the heartbeat that keeps work alive.

Melanie
Oct 20, 20252 min read


Who Are You on the Team? — A Most-Revealing Interview Question
The question “Who are you on the team?” reveals far more than skill—it uncovers identity, contribution, and culture fit.

Melanie Troxell
Oct 17, 20253 min read


Mirrors and Your Inner Circle — Choosing Who Gets to Define You 52
You can’t see yourself clearly. That’s why your inner circle matters. Surround yourself with mirrors that tell you the truth.

Melanie
Oct 16, 20253 min read


Embracing a Growth Mindset for Long-Term Leadership Success
Great leaders never stop learning, and leadership growth begins with mindset. Adopting a growth mindset transforms mistakes into lessons, builds resilience, turns challenges into growth opportunities, and feedback as fertilizer for future success.
Cultivate your leadership garden, because success isn’t about the destination, it’s about what you are becoming along the way.
#LeadershipDevelopment #GrowthMindset #PersonalGrowth #ContinuousLearning #TransformationalLeadership
Michael Troxell
Oct 14, 20252 min read


Big, Hairy, and Unexpected: Leading Through Life’s Interruptions
What blocks your flow might reveal what matters most. Even if it’s a 17-pound cat flopped across your keyboard.
Michael Troxell
Oct 13, 20252 min read


Values Drive Goals and Goals Expose Values
Our goals always tell on us. What gets prioritized, funded, or tolerated reveals what we truly value, and who we really are.
Michael Troxell
Oct 13, 20253 min read


The Learner’s Edge — Turning Uncertainty into Leadership Strength
Sometimes being the least experienced in the room is the best training for leadership—it teaches curiosity, humility, and change management.

Melanie
Oct 13, 20253 min read


Hippos and Leadership Part 3 — Knowing When to Leave
When the river turns toxic, you don’t owe it your decay. You owe yourself your next beginning. Leaders must know when to move on.

Melanie Troxell
Oct 8, 20252 min read


Hippos and Leadership, Part II — Surviving the Drought
Even in the drought, the wise don’t panic. They protect their depth, wait for the rain, and outlast what the drought can’t.

Melanie
Oct 7, 20253 min read


When the River Dries Up — What Hippos Teach Us About Leadership and Toxic Environments
Even the mightiest leaders, like hippos, die when the water runs dry. Power fades not from weakness, but from lack of renewal.

Melanie
Oct 6, 20252 min read


Permission Won’t Come — Lead Anyway
Stop waiting for permission. Leadership means stepping up, asking the hard questions, and realizing the answers are often waiting in the risk.
mommygurl
Oct 2, 20253 min read


Onions, Chemistry, and a Happy Anniversary to Mike
25 years, countless layers. Love is like an onion 😂 —deep, rich, sometimes pungent, always indispensable.

Melanie
Oct 1, 20253 min read


You Are My Sunshine
After 25 years, she still makes me laugh harder than anyone and pulls me out of every storm with joy, dance, and love. This is a tribute to my wife—my Sunshine, my greatest gift, and the reason I keep falling in love year after year.
Michael Troxell
Oct 1, 20252 min read


Heart Failure and Duolingo — The Power of Consistency (41)
Consistency isn’t glamorous. From Duolingo streaks to heart failure recovery, tiny stubborn steps create lasting growth and strength.

Melanie
Sep 29, 20253 min read


Leadership KPIs You’ll Never See
Leadership feels like failing most days. But hidden wins—the ones that never hit the dashboard—are the ones that matter most.

Melanie
Sep 26, 20253 min read


How to Answer the Hardest Interview Question — Turning Weakness Into Wisdom
Interviewers don’t want perfect answers. They want honesty, humility, and self-awareness. Here’s how to flip your weakness into wisdom.

Melanie Troxell
Sep 22, 20252 min read


Joy in the Journey — Slow Down
Joy isn’t just at the finish line—it’s found in the steps, pauses, and people along the way. Slow down and savor the journey.

Melanie
Sep 17, 20253 min read


The Kintsugi Principle — Restoring Culture with Clarity and Care
The strongest teams aren’t the ones that never broke. They’re the ones that learned how to mend—with clarity, care, and connection.

Melanie
Sep 15, 20252 min read


Face to Face and Side by Side — Two Languages of Trust
Women listen for trust. Men work for it. Real connection comes when we master both languages of trust.

Melanie Troxell
Sep 13, 20253 min read


Rhino Skin: Resilience in a Culture of Offense
In a culture quick to cancel and slow to listen, resilience is no longer a soft skill—it’s essential for leadership, relationships, and mental health. This blog explores the need for "rhino skin" in a fragile world, the consequences of eroding free speech, and how leaders can remain ethical, civil, and courageous amid chaos. Featuring reflections on workplace accountability and a sobering response to the tragic shooting of Charlie Kirk.
Michael Troxell
Sep 11, 20254 min read
bottom of page





