Ever find yourself cleaning up chaos you didn’t create? Perhaps you're considering a job or a promotion that will require you to clean up someone else's mess in a department or a company. Or maybe you own your own company and you hired someone who made a royal mess and now you have to clean it up. In this episode, we'll examine: Five things to do when you're handed a disasterFive things NOT to do when you're handed a disaster Because leadership isn’t just about vision and ambition ...

Let's pull back the curtain on the “expert economy” — that shiny world where everyone is suddenly a coach, consultant, or “thought leader.” From promises of million-dollar blueprints to endless coaching-of-coaches, I'd like to ask: Who’s actually doing the work anymore? Links: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cargo_cult#As_a_metaphor Sara's award-winning biography of Dag can be found on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Decoding-Unicorn-New-Look-Hammarskj%C3%B6ld-ebook/dp/B0DSCS5PZT Her fo...

Subtitle: Choosing Your Battles in the Marketplace of Ideas We live in a world where every rumor, every hot take, and every twisted narrative can feel like a personal call to arms. But do we really need to chase down everything and everyone? Let's examine: Why not every rumor needs your responseHow Dag handled slander and misrepresentation during his lifetimeEight constructive alternatives when frustration with people or organizations flares upIf you’ve ever found yourself exhausted from tryi...

Ever wonder what happens after you walk away from the job matrix? When the title, the paycheck, and the tidy calendar disappear—and you’re left staring at the open sky thinking, “Now what?” In this episode, I'll dive into the price of nonconformity and what it’s really like to navigate the liminal space—that raw, in-between season where the old life has ended and the new one hasn’t fully taken shape. This isn’t a “five steps to instant clarity” kind of episode. It’s honest. It’s tender. And i...

Is gossip really harmless? Or is it one of the most destructive forces in how we remember—and forget—people? In this episode, I explore how gossip, even about historical figures like John F. Kennedy or Dag Hammarskjöld, is not just idle chit-chat. It corrodes truth, dehumanizes its subjects, and conveniently protects those in power. Gossip doesn’t just distort; it overwhelms. And when people get weary of sorting through contradictory stories, they fall into indifference. Drawing on El...

Are you stuck in a job that drains you, wondering if there’s something more? ➡️ Why work isn’t the same as a calling. ➡️ If you're "job hugging," can you take some time to consider what you feel meant to do? ➡️ As Wayne Dyer always said, "Don't die with your music still inside." Sara's award-winning biography of Dag can be found on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Decoding-Unicorn-New-Look-Hammarskj%C3%B6ld-ebook/dp/B0DSCS5PZT Her forthcoming project, Simply Dag, will release globally on ...

Shortly after midnight on September 18, 1961, Dag Hammarskjöld’s plane went down near Ndola in Northern Rhodesia (today Zambia), cutting short both his life and his final mission to broker peace in the Congo. What was meant to be a daring act of shuttle diplomacy—flying directly into hostile territory to meet Moïse Tshombe—ended instead in fire, wreckage, and unanswered questions. Links: Part 1: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2451415/episodes/17810545 David Talbot's book: https://a.co/d/cQTxQl1 ...

September 1961. UN Secretary-General Dag Hammarskjöld boards a plane into one of the most dangerous conflicts on earth: the Congo Crisis. Independence had unleashed chaos—rebellion, assassination, mercenaries, foreign powers all clawing for control of a nation rich in minerals and rife with instability. In the middle stood Hammarskjöld, trying to hold the line for peace while the Cold War raged around him. This episode sets the stage for his final journey. The stakes, the players, the madness...

Do you have a dream or goal that feels too big because you can’t figure out how it will ever happen? You’re not alone. Many of us get stuck waiting for a step-by-step manual before we even start. The thing is: most great things in life don't arrive with a completed blueprint of how you'll get from Point A to Point B. Whether you’re writing a book, starting a business, or picturing the fulfillment of a personal vision, this episode will help you reconsider “how paralysis” and take the next ste...

Most people talk about fear of failure, but what about fear of success? For many, the idea of actually achieving their goals feels just as intimidating as falling short. In this episode, I'll explore five common signs that you may be holding yourself back, not because you’re afraid to fail, but because you’re afraid to succeed. Link: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jonah_complex You can find Sara's books on Amazon: https://tinyurl.com/sarasbooksonamazon. #FearOfSuccess #PersonalGrow...

Ever worked at a company that "valued feedback" and touted an "open door policy" only to discover it was all bunk? Too many managers allow their own ego to rule the show and offices are set up like Survivor dog-eat-dog competitions. But there is a better way and Dag Hammarskjöld implemented it at the United Nations. If you're tired of bosses who don't listen and act like tyrants, tune in! You can find my award-winning biography of Dag Hammarskjöld on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Decodi...

Peer pressure. Criticism. Trendiness. If you know you're doing the right thing and staying true to your code of ethics, can you hold the line even under scrutiny? Dag Hammarskjöld certainly did, and we should, too. Sara's award-winning biography of Dag can be purchased on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Decoding-Unicorn-New-Look-Hammarskj%C3%B6ld-ebook/dp/B0DSCS5PZT Her forthcoming project, Simply Dag, will be available next summer. #DagHammarskjöld #ethics #stayingtruetoyourself #...

(But it feels scary) In this episode, let's talk about willingness—not just the kind that nods politely from the sidelines, but the kind that stands up, takes a deep breath, and walks straight into the unknown. Dag Hammarskjöld wasn’t campaigning to become Secretary-General of the United Nations. In fact, his name wasn’t even in circulation—until it was. When the call came, he could’ve said no. But he agreed to the job. And with that, a man who cherished solitude, mountain air, and scholarly ...

In this special episode of Decoding the Unicorn, let's celebrate the 120th birthday of Dag Hammarskjöld, whose remarkable life and legacy continue to inspire us today. Join me as I honor Dag's birthday by sharing an exclusive passage from my next Hammarskjöld project, Simply Dag. Whether you're already acquainted with Dag Hammarskjöld or just discovering his extraordinary journey, this episode serves as a meaningful tribute, a quiet celebration of a man whose timeless words and actions conti...

There's nothing worse than a manager or an official who's incapable of saying, "I'm sorry. I screwed up." Dag Hammarskjöld offers us an excellent example. When it was time for a victory lap, he credited his entire team. If something hit the fan, however, he took responsibility openly. No blame games. If you are running a company, a department, a branch, an office, etc., you must know how to take responsibility in a way that counts. Sara's award-winning biography of Dag can be found h...

What happens when people feel seen and understood? In this episode of Decoding the Unicorn: The Podcast, I'll discuss something deceptively simple: belonging. Whether you’re managing a corporate team, collaborating on a creative project, or just trying to make it through day-to-day life, the need to feel valued is universal. #DagHammarskjöld #DecodingTheUnicorn #Belonging #Appreciation #CorporateCulture #QuietLeadership #EmpathyAtWork #EmotionalIntelligence #HumanFirst #Leadership #TheArtis...

In a world obsessed with hustle, noise, and nonstop stimulation, what happens when we choose silence? In this episode, I'll explore the transformative power of quiet and stillness, particularly in politics, diplomacy, and the corporate world. Whether you’re an introvert who craves calm or a busy creative who struggles to slow down, this conversation invites you to reimagine stillness not as absence, but as presence. And yes, my attempts at quiet while recording this episode were foiled by ...

What kind of leader runs toward the fire? In this episode, I'll explore the often-overlooked truth of Dag Hammarskjöld’s role as Secretary-General of the United Nations: it was not just diplomatic, but dangerous. When others fled war zones, Dag stepped into them. Any trip could have been his last, but he saddled up anyway. Where is this kind of courage in modernity? Sara's award-winning book, Decoding the Unicorn: A New Look at Dag Hammarskjöld, is available on Amazon: https://a.co/d/dYsnc...

People are tired of the seemingly permanent state of warfare. Where is diplomacy? Where is that person like Dag Hammarskjöld who will advocate for finding common ground rather than rushing to hit the war button?? #DagHammarskjöld #DecodingTheUnicorn #PermaWarFatigue #PeaceIsPower #NoMoreEndlessWars #diplomacy #diplomacymatters

In this episode of Decoding the Unicorn: The Podcast, I'll discuss what a lot of creators are too afraid to say out loud: what happens when you put your heart into a project and it goes absolutely nowhere. This episode is about giving yourself permission: to try something new to have a "box office flop" to walk away without shame or hustle-fueled martyrdom Whether you’ve launched something that fizzled or you’re quietly holding on to a project that no longer fits, this episode offers you a...