Category: General
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Wanderlust as a Career Catalyst: How Traveling Can Redefine Your Professional Journey
In the relentless pursuit of career success, I’ve found myself all too often trapped in a cycle of expectations – corporate ladders to climb, societal pressures to conform, and predefined paths that can slowly suffocate my true potential. But as an avid traveler, I’ve discovered that the key to unlocking my most authentic professional self…
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The Sabbatical Less Traveled: From Google Director to Buddhist Student
As I shared in my previous post about leaving Google, many people approached me eager to hear more about my sabbatical year. Today, I want to share the transformative experience of learning and practicing Buddhism at Kopan Monastery in Nepal. A Dream Fulfilled While I’d taken Buddhist courses and weekend retreats before, this was my…
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Why I Left My Director Role at Google: A Case for Intentional Career Breaks
The Difficult Decision My path to this sabbatical wasn’t conventional. As a Director at Google with a passion for coaching and helping people grow, I found myself at a critical crossroads. My current workplace didn’t offer a sabbatical option, which meant making the bold decision to resign and design a year of intentional personal and…
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Navigating Career Pivots: The Jungle Gym Approach
As career coaches, we often work with clients who are contemplating a major career move. One client, in particular, was considering a shift into a new field she was deeply passionate about. However, she was unsure if this move would necessarily advance her career in the direction she ultimately wanted to go. Through our discussions,…
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A Coaching Journey Guided by Buddhist Wisdom
As I’ve deepened my meditation practice over the past few years, I’ve found myself increasingly drawn to the wisdom of Buddhist teachings. The insights I’ve gained through regular contemplation have profoundly shaped how I approach my life and work. This growing interest in Buddhism led me to recently enroll in advanced courses on the subject.…
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The Power of Purpose
I’ll admit it – I was a skeptic. Sitting in my first coaching certification course, I inwardly cringed when the instructor started talking about “life purpose.” As a seasoned tech executive, I wanted concrete tools and measurable outcomes, not what seemed like abstract philosophical concepts. But my journey as a coach has completely transformed my…
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The Guitar’s Leadership Lessons
Starting My Musical Journey as an Adult It sat in our basement, a gleaming acoustic guitar, both beckoning and mocking. “Aren’t you a bit old for this?” the voice in my head whispered. “Shouldn’t you have started this journey decades ago?”. The same voice had haunted my leadership aspirations early in my career – that…
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Discovering a New Path
My Journey into Coaching In my 30+ years in the tech industry, I’ve worn many hats – software engineer, startup founder, VP of Engineering, and now Director at Google. But perhaps the most transformative role I’ve stepped into wasn’t about climbing the corporate ladder. It was about learning to climb down and meet people where…
Mor Schlesinger 