This episode of Business as UNusual delves into the unexpected benefits of chaos in business and personal organization. Explore why structure and disruption go hand-in-hand, and learn innovative strategies to manage the unpredictable. Discover how cr...

This episode of Business as UNusual dives into the insidious nature of hyperindividualism and its impact on the modern business landscape. Explore why the celebrated “do it yourself” mentality isn’t just unrealistic. It may be harmful. Discover how i...

In this episode of Business as UNusual, we explore the unexpected value of small talk in building authentic connections in our ever-evolving business landscape. The conversation dives into the psychology behind casual interactions, why we crave share...

In this episode of Business as UNusual, Aicila explores the unconventional "play to lose" strategy as a powerful tool for overcoming fear of failure in business and creative problem-solving. Drawing inspiration from childhood cribbage games, Aicila s...

Stay Ready to Get ReadyA few years ago I was talking to a new friend, sharing memories, and I realized I had accidentally climbed a mountain. The second highest mountain in Washington state, Mount Adams. After our chat, I looked it up and learned tha...

The Opposite May Also Be TrueI really like being right about things. In some ways it feels like a shield. If I can predict things and know things, then I have value — to my clients, my employers, my own sense of self worth. It’s conditioning from chi...

Playing to LoseI loved playing cards with my grandmother — nothing more than cribbage. I didn’t love that I always lost. Finally, after losing several games in a row, nine-year-old me suggested we “play to lose.” My grandmother asked what I meant and...

Same Week, Different StoryWhen I was in 7th grade, our drama teacher was absent one day and our principal, Stephen Heinz, was our substitute teacher. He asked how we were doing and one of the kids said, Life sucks. Dr. Heinz got curious, what sucks e...

The Compentence CostumeThe mythology we inherit — especially in the US — is almost entirely built around the lone genius. But the story has a shadow side as well: the way it quietly teaches us that needing other people is a liability. What would you...