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Tag Archives: Margaret Smith Minneapolis career coach

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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October 8, 2025 Why to Promote Positive Gossip

woman in teal t-shirt sitting beside woman in suit jacket
Photo by Amy Hirschi on Unsplash

Office gossip can be a problem. If people are constantly belittling or criticizing others behind their backs, that can lead to a toxic and unwelcoming environment. No one wants to feel as if they have to constantly be on guard around their co-workers, lest they become the next subject of the workplace rumor mill. As a leader, your first inclination might be to shut down office gossip entirely. But what if I told you that might not be the best approach?

It’s Tough to Battle Human Nature

Human beings are naturally social creatures, and it’s exceedingly difficult to fully shut down the gossip pipeline. Our tendency to talk about others is part of what makes us human. We like to be kept in the loop, hear the latest news, and be part of the circle that’s “in the know.”

This can be especially true for those who are more social and extroverted. Their dynamics with other people are part of their core identity, and it’s important to be part of the office “connective tissue.” Looking at this through an Insights® Discovery lens, these individuals may lead with yellow or red energy. These two personality types are defined by extroversion, overt communication, and relationships with others (often more collaborative for “yellow energy” folks and more hierarchal for “red energy” folks).

For many offices, with their wide array of personalities and tendencies, stopping gossip and chitchat is like trying to dam a roaring river with only a few sticks. Rather than fight human nature, it is a good idea to try a different approach.

Promoting Positive Gossip

Rather than prohibit gossip, full stop, it’s possible to approach gossip differently. If people are going to talk about each other no matter what, why not put a positive spin on it? Encourage the good kind of gossip—the kind that compliments and uplifts others, and praises their actions.

The easiest and most natural way to promote this type of gossip is to model it. When you encounter a team member in the hallway or are having a one-on-one conversation on Zoom, throw in a compliment or two about other teammates:

“It’s a good thing Marissa is so on top of deadlines. That’s really helping us reach our client goals this quarter.”

“Ari is so creative. Did you hear his ideas in the last brainstorming session?”

“Juana is working so hard lately, even though I know she’s juggling work with childcare.”

When you bring up these types of compliments, make sure they naturally fit the flow of the conversation and come across as sincere. Make them part of your everyday discussions, and soon they will become second nature.

The other part of this effort is flipping negative gossip into positive statements. If, for example, someone complains about Juana missing the last deadline, you might say, “That is frustrating. However, I’ve talked with her and I know she’s juggling childcare with work. Because of that, she is working harder than ever lately, which is pretty admirable.” It’s possible to turn an office that engages in negative gossip into one that emphasizes the positive. Take it one conversation at a time, making sure you’re modeling the type of behavior you want your team to embody. After all, the river of gossip may want to keep flowing, but you can direct it into more positive territory, rather than attempting to stop it completely.

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. 
CHECK OUT MARGARET’S ONLINE LEADERSHIP COURSE. 

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