I had an appointment a few towns over recently, so I fired up the navigation in my car. It estimated I'd arrive with more than five minutes to spare. Perfect! But then... construction detours. Three of them, to be exact. Welcome to northern NJ! Here's what happened... and what I learned.

Because here's the thing. Ending emails -- or any communication -- with "Does that make sense?" actually never really makes sense.

Seriously, is "should" a four-letter word? I know, I know -- it has six letters. But what I mean is, do we need to wash this word out of our mouths with soap as if we used an expletive? I'm more offended by the self-harm this word inflicts than use of a real swear word.

My preschooler calls him "Grumbler," but I call him "Success Redefined." He's far from perfect; in fact, he's perfectly imperfect. Perfect doesn't exist, and that's what makes Grumbler a triumph. Grumbly reminds me of what's important in life. He reminds me how we get to define and decide what success is -- in each season of our lives.

I've said it before and I'll say it again: I never know when, where, and how inspiration will strike for my weekly newsletter. The only thing that surprised me this week is that it took me this long to write about Target. So here goes.

If you would have asked me when Hamilton debuted, I would have guessed years before 2015 because what I do remember is my attitude. It's a perspective I no longer have, so it feels like ages and ages ago. I remember I was skeptical about whether I'd like the show because it was "different." I've loved Broadway since I was eight years old. I also love hip hop. But, I wasn't sure I'd like them on the same stage.

Consider it a public service announcement or a gentle reminder. Heck, file it under a wellness tip: "No" is a complete sentence. It's ok to say no -- and it's ok to say no without any explanation. Ugh, I know! We often "feel bad" or don't want to "sound rude." I get it. I'm a perfectionist, which is also code for "people pleaser." I know it's easy to fall into the trap of feeling guilty or overexplaining.

If you've been following me here or on social media for a bit, you know I'm a positive person. What you don't know is that I wasn't always that way. I called myself a realist, but I was really a pessimist. I saw the glass half empty instead of half full. I was down on my luck. If you showed me any of the upbeat, positive quotes I share now, I'd wave them off and say they weren't for me. I never made lemonade out of any lemons.

I was getting frustrated. It was after 10 p.m. ET and the plane was stuck in a holding pattern over Dulles airport in Washington, D.C. thanks to torrential rain in the metro NYC area, our final destination. The captain had just announced that we had enough fuel to circle "for a bit longer" and if not, we'd have to "come up with a new plan." <Sigh.>

Last year, I was lucky enough to secure speaking engagements from contacts who follow me on LinkedIn. They'd email me through my website or message me on LinkedIn and the rest is history. The thing is, I never had a clue that any of those people followed me on social media. They didn't like my posts or comment on them. It was a bit of a learning lesson for me: you really never know who's watching!

I'll come right out and say it: I watched the kids' movie Sing 2 three times this weekend. Each time, I couldn't get over how much the main message is something that adults need to hear and take to heart, perhaps even more than kids. So let me set the scene for the uninitiated (spoiler alert!).

On January 30, 2020, I hovered my mouse over the "Post" button on LinkedIn. I was about to announce JMT Speaks to the world. I knew there was no going back because once it was out there, it was out there. For the umpteenth time, I worried what "they" would think and if "they" would laugh. Then I got comfortable being uncomfortable, took a deep breath, and pressed "Post." JMT Speaks was "live"!

Dear iPhone, it’s not you, it’s me. I’m just not my best self when you’re around.

I'll come right out and say it: I don't make New Years' resolutions. But this year, I’m doing something different. I’m picking a “word” for my year. It’s not immediately obvious or sexy, but it works.

We made it! The third and final week of our annual review.* Our three questions are also on my blog if you'd like to refresh your recollection.

On to week 2 of our annual review! What did you think of week 1? What went well for you this year? I hope you surprised yourself because I know I did. As promised, though, week 2 is going to be a bit harder. The question is: What didn't go so well? Once again, I'm answering as an entrepreneur and letting my gut do the talking.

Back in September, I was super excited to host my first ever JMT Speaks giveaway and select a random subscriber to win one of my favorite books of 2021 (and all time), Atomic Habits by James Clear. I'm circling back to that bestseller so I can draw from the author's Annual Review that he performs each December (see page 245!).

The “bare minimum” is “15 pieces of flair,” not 37 — and there’s nothing wrong with doing the bare minimum!

I was lucky enough to accompany two preschoolers on a trip of "firsts" recently. Their first train ride, subway ride, and Broadway show. What a day! To watch them encounter those new experiences was kind of like looking up "joy" in the dictionary and seeing it defined by a picture worth a thousand words. The look on their faces was priceless.

I was nonchalantly walking down the street in town when I spotted it: yet another abandoned mask on the sidewalk. As I drew closer, I thought, "How funny, that's the same signature blue color of my JMT Speaks mask." Then I realized: it was my JMT Speaks mask! <GASP!>