Alignment sounds nice, but translation works.

I’ve stopped believing that alignment means everyone agrees. Most of the time, it just means everyone thinks they understood the same thing. In product conversations, we love to say, “Let’s get aligned.” It sounds mature. Kinda professional as well. But what we’re really saying is, “Let’s make sure we’re not talking about completely different things.” … Continue reading Alignment sounds nice, but translation works. →

The weight of negative self talk

Negative self talk is sneaky. It slips in quietly, almost unnoticeable, until suddenly it’s running the show. You’re about to try something new and there it is, whispering: “You’re not good enough,” or “People are going to judge you.” And the thing is, it doesn’t just appear out of thin air. It’s built over years. … Continue reading The weight of negative self talk →

The trap of wanting to be liked

There’s this pattern that shows up at work for so many of us: the craving to be liked. Not just respected for the work, but really liked—seen as smart, capable, and worth celebrating. And the moment someone seems curt or doesn’t give that signal, the mind runs wild. “Do they think I’m not good enough? … Continue reading The trap of wanting to be liked →

In the absence of a center

some days i care too much.other days, not at all.i swing between urgency and numbness,between needing to be seenand wanting to disappear. i attach myselfto whatever moves,a reaction, a message,a silence that feels louder than it should.and i call it feeling.i call it being alive. but the truth is,i’m scattered.and i know it. i keep … Continue reading In the absence of a center →

On stress

I hate how the word stress is thrown around so casually these days. It's become a filler word for everything. People use it when they're impatient, angry, restless, or afraid. But stress isn't just a fleeting emotion or a surface-level reaction. It's deeper than that. And honestly, it's hard to put into words. That's the … Continue reading On stress →

Why the best feedback doesn’t feel good at first

We all love getting positive feedback. The kind that says our work matters and that we're making a difference. And let's be honest, sometimes, that's all we want. But there's another kind of feedback. The kind that shakes you up and makes you pause and think, "Wait, but I thought I was already good at … Continue reading Why the best feedback doesn’t feel good at first →

Climbing the ladder or just trying not to trip?

Lately, I’ve been thinking a lot about careers, work identities, trajectories, and all the complicated stuff in between. It’s funny how, at some point, many of us start measuring our progress in promotions and raises, as if success is just a series of checkpoints. I mean, who doesn’t like a shiny new title or a … Continue reading Climbing the ladder or just trying not to trip? →

On counting our blessings

We all have things to be grateful for, yet we often fail to remember them. That's because we don't value those things the way we value something we don't have yet. Some of us think whatever we've achieved, acquired, or been blessed with all along the way was meant to happen, so it doesn't make … Continue reading On counting our blessings →

My two cents on decision-making

When at a crossroads, we experience anxiety and feel overwhelmed about making a decision. Whether it be a small decision or a life-altering one, the way we perceive this scenario could be the same. Sometimes we fight the thought of what's morally acceptable and not. We invite many factors to determine if our decision is … Continue reading My two cents on decision-making →

Work on things you want to get better at

One standard piece of advice I've heard from many is to work on things that we are good at and would excite us. The rationale behind this advice is to double down on things we have expertise in and experience a sense of satisfaction while working on familiar tasks. This is good advice, but I could … Continue reading Work on things you want to get better at →