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mandeewoodard




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The Intersection of Passion and Ikigai

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  In life and in business, the relentless pursuit of success often leads to a profound question: What truly drives us? Is it passion alone, or is there something deeper? As a seasoned leader in industry , I have come to appreciate the nuances of this journey and the importance of finding true purpose in our work. In recent discussions, thought leaders like Dan Cable and Paul Graham have highlighted the importance of "following your blisters" and "following your curiosity." These phrases encapsulate the idea that our most fulfilling endeavors often emerge from the challenges we willingly tackle, even when they test our limits. But this is merely one side of the coin. To reach a state of fulfillment, we must consider the Japanese concept of ikigai , which elegantly marries what we love, what we’re good at, what the world needs, and what we can be compensated for. It’s in this intersection that we find genuine purpose—a place where passion alone isn’t enough, and where...
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Tsunamis, UFC, and Billion-Dollar Balance Sheets: How a Solo Female CEO Navigates Chaos Like a Champion

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  There was a tsunami watch this morning. And oddly, it had very little to do with water. When you’re a woman commanding the helm of a billion-dollar multinational enterprise, you wake up to global tremors—some economic, some geopolitical, and others entirely unpredictable. I’ve learned that leadership at this level doesn’t come with calm seas; it comes with an expectation that you’ll surf the waves—or drown under them. And if you’re 42, single, and in full control of your own life and empire like me, you learn to enjoy the ride. Tis morning’s alerts—yes, I track trending topics like a hawk—told me everything I needed to know about how culture is shifting, and how brands (including mine) must pivot with precision. Let’s break it down, because in this noise is a signal every C-suite executive should hear. The Tsunami Watch is More Than a Warning—It’s a Metaphor In business, a tsunami isn’t always natural. It’s the viral backlash when a deodorant is recalled unexpectedly (yes, that’s...
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So I wrote a poem for the first time in years

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 "To hear never-heard sounds, To see never-seen colors and shapes, To try to understand the imperceptible Power pervading the world; To fly and find pure ethereal substances That are not of matter But of that invisible soul pervading reality. To hear another soul and to whisper to another soul; To be a #lantern in the darkness Or an umbrella in a stormy day; To feel much more than know. To be the eyes of an eagle, slope of a mountain; To be a wave understanding the influence of the moon; To be a tree and read the memory of the leaves; To be an insignificant pedestrian on the streets Of crazy cities watching, watching, and watching. To be a smile on the face of a woman And #shine in her memory As a moment saved without planning."
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