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“Creating Successful Leaders”

Category Archives: Goals

April 8, 2026 Finding Personal Peace

There is only so much within our personal sphere of control. We can’t manipulate the weather, or predict the future, or control global politics. We can, however, take small actions (see my past blog post on this topic) that can potentially contribute to big differences. And we can also find and protect our personal peace.

When things are tumultuous—whether at home, work, or on a national or global scale—it is easy to get swept up in the chaos. We may feel the weight of the world on our shoulders, or we might feel anxious, downtrodden, or frustrated. These are natural emotions when life, and the future, are uncertain, or when there is discord around us. And if you’re like many people I know, you have a big heart and care about others—so much so that you take on their suffering and fear as if it were your own. In other words, you may feel off-kilter for any number of reasons, all of which are real and valid.

When you’re caught in an emotional storm, how can you resist being pulled down by the undertow? How can you use your personal tools to fight back?

Creating a Space for Serenity

Although it may go against your instincts, you need to take care of yourself and protect your personal peace. You can’t help anyone (including yourself) if you’re utterly exhausted. If you want to make positive changes in your home, your workplace, your community, or on an even larger scale, you must equip yourself with a clear mind and fortitude. These things can be found by allowing yourself the time and space to rest, tune out, and be present with your thoughts for a while.

Here are a few ideas for creating that space:

Log Out

Stanford Law School reports that, “The widespread use of social networking sites has been identified as a contributing factor to the growing mental health crisis” and it has been associated with “an increased risk of depression, anxiety, and psychological distress.” If you often find yourself doomscrolling, I encourage you to log off and limit your use. One way to do that is to set daily social media limits, which can be done using an app such as Opal, One Sec, or StayFocusd.

Set Aside Quiet Time

In today’s world, it’s increasingly rare to find quiet spaces. That’s why it’s a good idea to intentionally set aside quiet time every day, even if it’s only for 15 minutes. Block off your calendar, put your phone in airplane mode, and escape. You might go on a walk, take a bath, or read a book—whatever makes you feel lighter and gives you a greater sense of peace.

Meditate

The health benefits of meditation are manifold—lower blood pressure, better concentration, etc. And meditation does not necessarily involve sitting cross-legged and humming a mantra (although it could!). You might try walking meditation, or meditating with intention. To get started, download an app such as Calm or Headspace and commit to your practice for the week. Then, commit for one more week. Then another. Soon, it will become an integral part of your day.

Seek Positive Presences

In times of hardship, a good friend is worth more than gold, especially if that friend is a good listener. You don’t have to go through this alone. Instead, text a friend, talk to your spouse, or contact a therapist. Talking things out can be enormously beneficial and can help put things in perspective.

Be Kind to Yourself

During times of turmoil, it’s easy to be hard on yourself, blaming yourself, perhaps, for not doing more or being better. But being hard on yourself won’t get you far. Instead, think about treating yourself with the same tenderness and care that you would a five-year-old version of YOU. Give yourself a virtual hug, be patient, and stop blaming yourself for every little thing. Instead, show yourself grace and understanding.

Focus on preserving your inner peace, and lifting yourself up instead of tearing yourself down. That is the only way to build your fortitude and gain the clarity and strength to keep going, despite the storm.

MARGARET SMITH IS A CAREER COACH, AUTHOR, INSIGHTS® DISCOVERY (AND DEEPER DISCOVERY) LICENSED PRACTITIONER, AND FOUNDER OF UXL. SHE HOSTS WORKSHOPS FOR PEOPLE WHO NEED CAREER OR PERSONAL GUIDANCE.

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December 3, 2025 Thoughts on Retirement and Transitions

I have already retired once. In 2009, I officially left my position as a Business Director in 3M. But that wasn’t the end of my career. I knew I wasn’t yet done with teaching others, imparting leadership lessons, and providing guidance, so I set up UXL, an organization dedicated to helping people navigate transitions, improve leadership, and capitalize on opportunities. 

After over 16 years of running UXL, I have made the difficult decision to ease into retirement. I’m considering these next few months my “off ramp” and will be getting all my ducks in a row for stepping away from my career. It’s time to enjoy some travel, spend time with my kids and grandkids, and stay engaged in community activities and organizations. 

With this in mind, I put together a few thoughts about retirement (in general) and my plan going forward:

The word retirement carries many different emotions: fear, anxiety, excitement, enthusiasm, relief, and joy. Joy because you worked hard to be at this point and you are well-prepared, fear because of the wonderful relationships, support, friendships, and business associates that have been such an important part of your life, and the thought of not engaging with them on a regular basis is sad.

I wrestled with the whole idea and the right timing. But, like so many other life decisions, there is no perfect time. I just had to set a date and work toward it, keeping a positive attitude and looking for opportunities that exist in the next chapter of life. This whole transition is made more difficult by the fact that I love what I do and genuinely like the clients I work with. But every transition carries a whole series of emotions and thoughts.

In my situation, I have the luxury of being able to step away from UXL slowly. Over the next several months, I will wrap up contracts and stop taking on new clients and projects. As you may know, one of the cornerstones of my business is the Insights Discovery program. To ease out of this practice, I have helped Stephanie Elliston of The Steady Elevation (stephanie@thesteadyelevation.com) take over my work. She is a wonderfully skilled and savvy individual, and I know she will thrive as a Licensed Practitioner of Insights Discovery.

My other work on leadership development and career coaching will go to a variety of people that best fit the needs of particular individuals and organizations. I would be glad to give referrals if you need some help identifying the right person.

I will also be continuing my blog posts and newsletter for a few more months, since I believe I still have some wisdom to impart. So, stay tuned!

What will I be doing?

Spending time with family: With a son and his family living on the west coast and another son and his family living a few houses away from us, I am looking forward to having a relationship with my grandchildren that I have dreamed of. I spent a lot of time with my grandmothers and always envisioned the same for me. Now I get that chance.

Traveling: Not only will I be traveling to the west coast to visit my son and his family, I will also periodically visit the rest of my family, who lives on the east coast. So, I may not know what time zone I am in for a while! I am looking forward to reconnecting with my siblings and their families. Additionally, I plan to travel abroad from time to time, but that’s all TBD! 

Volunteering in my Community: There is so much to do to help make a community, and I plan on getting more involved with the Chamber, my church, and the causes that are important to me. When you work full-time there is not as much time or energy to give, but now I can. Watch out Stillwater!! I love bringing people together, as my neighbors can attest! Together, we have built a wonderful little section of town that cares for each other, celebrates, and knows how to have fun.

Have you thought about your retirement, or perhaps a “rewiring” or rejuvenation, if it is not yet time to fully retire? Who would you like to reconnect with, where are your strengths needed (many nonprofits need professional help), and what brings you joy?

Although I will no longer be officially coaching others, I always enjoy hearing about people’s plans and intentions. If you’d like to share yours, feel free to send me a note.

MARGARET SMITH IS A CAREER COACH, AUTHOR, INSIGHTS® DISCOVERY (AND DEEPER DISCOVERY) LICENSED PRACTITIONER, AND FOUNDER OF UXL. SHE HOSTS WORKSHOPS FOR PEOPLE WHO NEED CAREER OR PERSONAL GUIDANCE.

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November 5, 2025 Stop Waiting for Permission

Photo by Ugur Arpaci on Unsplash

Are you waiting for a “sign” to take that next big step or shift your life in a new direction? Have you been hoping your boss will give you a promotion? Or the go-ahead to pursue an exciting new project? Or maybe you’re waiting for circumstances to be “just right” before acting.

Unfortunately, you might be waiting a very long time for “that thing” to materialize. Instead, I encourage you to stop waiting for permission and just go for it. Take the leap.

Trained to Wait

Many of us have grown accustomed to waiting for permission. As school kids, we had to ask permission for everything—from going to the bathroom to using craft supplies during break. In the office, we might need to ask permission for a budget increase, implementing a new marketing strategy, or focusing on an out-of-the-box area. Many initiatives need multiple people to give their stamps of approval before they can go forward.

We have become used to waiting and hoping things will move forward.

But if we apply this mentality to ourselves, we might simply stall out or become stagnant. The promotion might never come, the dream project might pass us by, we might remain stuck on a path that isn’t quite right for us. Sometimes, we have to be the ones to power our own engines and light our own paths. We can’t count on someone else to do it for us.

Taking a Leap

Just “going for it” can sometimes be scary. As a career coach, I’ve talked with many people who wanted to pursue an entirely different career path, but they were frozen with fear. What if they failed? What if they didn’t end up liking the new path? Or had to take a temporary pay cut? With so many doubts, their inclination was often to wait “until the time was right.” But, guess what? The time was never “right.” They could always point to some obstacle or inconvenience that held them back.

Rather than change their circumstances, they mainly had to change their perspectives. They had to realize that no one was going to come to them and say, “You now have permission to switch career paths.” They had to be the ones taking the initiative and, eventually, taking the leap.

That didn’t mean they couldn’t prepare for the leap. Just the opposite, in fact. Once they decided they would, indeed, make the change they had been waiting to make, they could take steps to facilitate it. That might mean saving extra money, taking classes, or learning a new skill. They were actively working toward making the change, rather than waiting for permission to do so.

Going For It

What are you waiting on in your life? Are you hoping to introduce an exciting initiative to your company? Do you want to shift your responsibilities at work? Learn how to paint? Travel to a new country? Change careers? Hike the Camino trail in Spain? Get a raise or a title change?

No matter your ambitions, it’s important to realize that opportunities rarely land in one’s lap. Instead of waiting for someone to give you permission, ACT. Instead of hoping change will happen, FACILITATE that change. Believe that your future is in your hands, and go for it. The timing will never be perfect, so why not start now?

MARGARET SMITH IS A CAREER COACH, AUTHOR, INSIGHTS® DISCOVERY (AND DEEPER DISCOVERY) LICENSED PRACTITIONER, AND FOUNDER OF UXL. SHE HOSTS WORKSHOPS FOR PEOPLE WHO NEED CAREER OR PERSONAL GUIDANCE. 

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