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The cat's in the bag
Plus, start with the good stuff
Emily Sheen
August 12, 2026
Hi everyone,
Think “strategy” is one of those words that’s lost all meaning? I was in agreement until I read this week’s article. Oh, and can someone please let the cat out of the bag?
Enjoy!
Emily
Try
Small shifts to help you live bigger
Start with the Good Stuff
Lots of us thrive on fixing problems and want to start there the second we get the team in the room, but it can have the opposite effect.
Start with what’s working instead.
When you start with problems, the energy in the room drops immediately. People get defensive. They brace for blame.
But when you start by naming what’s going well, the tone shifts.
People arrive at the “what’s stuck” conversation from a position of competence, not crisis.
Hear
Serendipitous life advice
Let yourself get so bored that your mind has nothing better to do than tell itself a story.
Read
Fresh perspectives on life and work
How to Get Good at Strategy
Strategy might be the most overused word in the corporate dictionary. This article restored my faith in its meaning, and shared helpful tips on how make it an action, not a meaningless thought.
Smile
A little something to lift your mood.
This one’s called “The cat is in the bag”
Thanks for reading!
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