Jessica's Friday Five

Hi Reader, Earlier this week, we took our cats to the vet for what we thought would be a pretty straightforward and simple appointment. Friends, it was not. Multiple thousands of dollars later and 8 new prescriptions (!!), we are now the kind of people who have a clipboard to track pet medication schedules for the next week or so. What in the world. I have always thought pet insurance wasn't a good investment for cats, but perhaps I was wrong. Send me your tips on this front, please! Let's...

Hi Reader, It's been a rollercoaster of a week around here - from really fun experiences with friends and my kids to exciting work projects to really stressful moments (reflecting back, all the stress was related to technology not working as expected - ugh). But it's now Friday, and I'm excited to see so many of you tomorrow at the Weekly Family Meetings workshop! If you haven’t signed up for the workshop yet, get your ticket here. Let's get to your Friday Five: Essential Calendar for fall: I...

Hi Reader, Every Saturday afternoon, my husband and I sit down (coffee for him, diet Mt. Dew or tea for me), with a legal pad on a clipboard, for about 20 minutes. The kids get screen time (they love it), and we get quiet, focused time together before the week's chaos hits. We go through the calendar, the meals, the money, the house projects. This stuff that used to turn our couple time into logistics check-ins instead of actual conversation and fun. I want to teach you how to build this for...

Hi Reader, I haven't showered since Monday. You're right, it's not great. I am in the midst of a 5-day allergy test where they put big stickers with 36 common allergens on your back, and you can't sweat or shower while it's happening. Later this afternoon I get the final results read and can get back to my normal life of Pilates and hygiene. Hooray! Oh - mark your calendar - next Tuesday (8/4) is National Chocolate Chip Cookie Day if you're in the US. Might be some free cookies near you (I...

Hi Reader, I hope your Thursday is going okay over there. Let’s get right into your Monthly Management Memo - as always, with something bold, something new, something borrowed, and something to pursue. 🔥Something Bold - Share This Quote with Your TeamI lead a lot of workshops on project management (it's my most-taught topic in 2026). Here's an idea that came up recently in one: "A lack of communication is a lack of performance." That's a quote from CEO Sam Corcos, and I agree 200%. Let your...

Hi Reader, Next week, it's the first day of school here in my community. I love the "shorter summer" approach our school district does, where summer break for kids is just 7 weeks and the "extra time" is built in as a double-length spring break + a 2-week fall break every October. My wish, though? That the back-to-school vibes were paired with some fall weather. That is probably a few months out for us, sadly. Let's get to your Friday Five, shall we? Little things that make a big difference:...

Hi Reader, This week, I got some pretty gnarly scratches across my chest from a certain kitten that got into an unfortunate situation due to an...odd choice from one of my children and needed to be rescued but wasn't happy about it. So I've been grateful to have a few first aid items on hand that I didn't have on my radar a year ago - first, a roll of hydrocolloid bandage, and also hypochlorous acid spray. Hydrocolloid bandages are the material pimple patches are made of - but they're way...

Hi Reader, A special shout-out to everyone who joined yesterday for the Team Communication Expectations workshop! Really impressed by the progress everyone made in just an hour. On a separate topic, I have found myself in the role of co-president of my youngest's school PTA(ish) organization this coming year - anyone else here helping out in a leadership role in a parents club/PTO/PTA org at your kids' school? Let me know. Maybe we can share some tips with each other! Let's get to your Friday...

Hi Reader, Many of you reading this are Americans like me - if so, Happy 4th of July Weekend. The American experiment is ongoing - inspiring often, tragic often, embarrassing at times, and our collective responsibility to shape. Here's a quick watch I enjoyed on this topic. Separately, I’ve updated my workshops page with some additional topics I've been enjoying leading with teams these days. I'm currently booking fall workshops if your company could use professional development - just hit...