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The To-Do List Phenomenon: Why "Busy" Is the Biggest Lie We Tell Ourselves

ToDo-ToBeList

"Beware the barrenness of a busy life." – Socrates

I work with leaders. Visionaries. People who have the potential to create ripples of positive impact far beyond what they can see today. But there’s a very human, and very dangerous, phenomenon I see repeatedly. It’s the cult of the To-Do List. We fill our days with tasks: emails, meetings, reports, and errands. Each checked box gives a fleeting hit of accomplishment. But if you step back for even a moment and ask yourself: Am I building the futu…

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Inspiring Vision: Domino Sugar Refinery

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“The future belongs to those who can honor the past while reimagining what’s possible.”

The Domino Sugar Refinery in Brooklyn is a stunning example of reinvention. It is an old industrial landmark transformed into a vibrant space for community and creativity. Once one of the world’s largest sugar factories, this iconic building has been transformed into a cultural and innovation hub, preserving its gritty character while integrating glass, greenery, and community space. It didn’t erase its histor…

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The Power Of Love In Action: How Humane Leadership Transforms Workplaces With Marcel Schwantes

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What if love was the secret to thriving workplaces? In a world often focused on bottom lines and short-term gains, acclaimed executive coach and author Marcel Schwantes invites us to explore the transformative power of humane leadership. In this episode, we dive into his insights from his book, Humane Leadership, and his popular Love In Action Podcast, exploring how cultures of care, connection, and belonging can empower companies to outperform the competition.

Marcel shares his personal "fla…

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An Inspired Poem: The Remembering

Remembering

You are not lost.
You are layered.
Each chapter is still breathing
beneath your skin.

Remember the child
who spoke to the stars,
who knew how to listen
before the world got loud.

Remember the rebel
who asked better questions
than the answers they were given.

Remember the stillness
you once called home,
before your calendar stole you away.

But also, remember who you are becoming.

The one who leads
with light in their heart,
who creates from wholeness,
not from hustle.

The one who lives in paradox
like an old friend,…

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Embrace the Chaos: What India Taught Me About Leadership, Life, and Letting Go

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Have you ever consciously chosen to step into chaos? Not because you were forced to. Not because you lost your way.
But because something inside you whispered: There’s something here I need to feel, to see, and become. Some time ago, I chose to spend a month traveling through India. On the surface, it was about adventure. But underneath, it was a deliberate act of surrender. A choice to enter a world that felt utterly upside down and see what it had to teach me.

The Land of Paradox

India is beauty …

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Inspiring Vision: Mirror Ball

Mirrorball

“The world reflects back what we choose to see.”

This stunning mirrored sculpture metaphorically represents how we shape and perceive the world around us. Just like these reflections shift depending on the viewer’s perspective, our experiences are shaped by our mindset, environment, and the people we surround ourselves with. When we cultivate curiosity, openness, and intention, we see possibilities where others see obstacles. Are you looking at the world through a lens of possibility or limitatio…

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The Beauty Of Business Artistry With Nir Hindie

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A business cannot thrive if it is solely focused on earning and profit and tosses artistic thinking to the sidelines. Only those who understand the beauty of business artistry can unlock today’s greatest opportunities. In this conversation, Tony Martignetti explores the fusion of business strategy with creativity and human connection with Nir Hindie, founder of The Artian. Together, they discuss how art is one of the key elements in making your business timeless, trustworthy, and engaging. Nir…

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Focus on the Forest and the Trees: Mastering the Zoom

Zoom-In-Out

“The art of leadership is knowing when to zoom in and when to zoom out.” – Rosabeth Moss Kanter

You have probably heard the phrase, “You can’t see the forest for the trees.” It’s often used in boardrooms and performance reviews to suggest someone is too caught in the details to grasp the bigger picture. But in reality, great leadership requires both.

You have to understand the details (the trees) without losing sight of the system (the forest). You need to be able to dive in and rise above, examin…

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Shaping the Future with Intention: Bending the Arc of What’s to Come

Shape-Future

“The future unfolds, with or without us, but that doesn’t mean we can’t bend it in a useful direction.”

Every day, the world moves forward – technology advances, industries evolve, and cultures shift. The future is not a distant, fixed destination; it’s a canvas in motion, waiting for us to leave our mark. Yet, too often, we drift through life, reacting instead of creating, hoping for the best instead of designing it.

Imagine two people standing at a crossroads. One waits for signs, letting extern…

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Self-Leadership And The Human Side Of Work With Laurie Ruettimann

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Self-leadership is more than a buzzword—it’s a radical act of reclaiming your voice, values, and well-being in a system that often asks you to check them at the door. In this episode, Tony Martignetti sits down with Laurie Ruettimann—acclaimed author, speaker, and host of the Punk Rock HR podcast—to talk about her evolution from burned-out HR executive to bold advocate for personal agency and workplace change. Laurie unpacks the myths of fixing ourselves, explores why vulnerability is a streng…

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