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Mind Sparks
Short reflections, key reading notes, and spontaneous thoughts—capturing sparks of clarity, curiosity, and connection that illuminate the way forward.


2026: Building Quietly, Creating Consistently
I’m not aiming for a perfect year, or a dramatic reinvention. In 2026, I’m choosing steady growth, thoughtful creation, and influence built quietly, over time.
Jan 11 min read


Mind Spark #34: The Wonders We Already Carry
What we seek, clarity, courage, and creativity, is often already within us.
Dec 29, 20251 min read


Mind Spark #33: Managing Conflict with Presence
Managing conflict is a challenge for every manager. This post shares insights from Deepak Chopra on conscious communication, presence, and intention, along with a simple framework to turn disagreements into opportunities for collaboration and creativity.
Dec 24, 20252 min read


A New Space for Reflections and Learning
I’ve launched a new Substack newsletter to share regular reflections and Thought Sparks. While this website will continue to host longer articles and other content, most of my updates and insights will now appear on Substack. Subscribe to @cultivatedinsight
to stay connected and explore more insights.
Dec 6, 20251 min read


Mind Spark #32 - Reflections on an Unexpected Win: A Lesson in Self-Belief
A simple gym challenge turned into a powerful lesson on self-doubt and perseverance. I learned that strength isn’t just physical—it’s the belief to keep holding on when doubt whispers you can’t. Sometimes, the real victory is discovering you’re stronger than you think.
Nov 8, 20253 min read


Mind Spark # 31 - We Don’t Act Rationally; We Rationalize
Learn how recognizing emotional reasoning in human behavior can help leaders motivate their teams and communicate with greater impact.
Nov 5, 20253 min read


Mind Spark #30 - Remember the Underdog
Inspired by a line under Tiny Thoughts Section of Brain Food : “When people feel like you deserve more than you have, they'll go out of their way to help you. But the minute you forget you were once the underdog, they'll root against you.” It made me think about how success changes both how others see us and how we see ourselves. When we are still working our way up, people often want to help. They notice our determination, our hard work, and sometimes see their own struggle
Oct 26, 20252 min read


Mind Spark #29 - Lifelong Learning: A Spark from an Unexpected Book
Inspired by a book found unexpectedly on my children’s bookshelf. The other evening, while reading with my four-year-old daughter, I came across something unexpected. When she went to get a drink, I started browsing through the bookshelf filled with my children’s books. Among the colorful covers, one title caught my eye: Success: The Psychology of Achievement by Deborah Olson, published by DK. At first, I thought it was a children’s book because of its clean design, thick pa
Oct 24, 20252 min read


Mind Spark #28 - The First 20 Words Matter: Unlocking Secrets to a Powerful Introduction
Inspired by Rebecca Okamoto’s TEDx Talk “ How to introduce yourself—and get hired ” Have you ever frozen up when someone asks during an interview or a social event, "Tell me about yourself?" It's okay to feel nervous and ramble. Even people with lots of experience can find this question hard. Rebecca Okamoto, a communication expert, found that how you introduce yourself can matter even more than your resume. Okamoto shares that early in her career, she tried to impress interv
Oct 14, 20253 min read


Mind Spark #26 - The Underlined Life: From Highlights to Habits
Many of us highlight, underline, or bookmark passages while reading books, but how often do we really put those words into practice? Most...
Sep 28, 20252 min read


Mind Spark # 25 - 3 Shifts to Boost Your Spontaneous Speaking
Have you ever been caught off guard in a meeting, during a Q&A session, or even in a casual conversation, unsure of what to say? Speaking on the spot is something we all face, yet few of us actively practice. I recently tuned into Matt Abrahams’ Think Faster, Talk Smarter podcast (Episode #229: Rethinks—How to Speak Successfully When You’re Put on the Spot ). It got me thinking about how small mindset shifts can make a big difference when we’re under pressure to respond. Her
Sep 24, 20252 min read


Mind Spark #24 - Small Stuff Is Where the Magic Happens
Inspired by a LinkedIn post by Steven Bartlett after being interviewed by Jimmy Fallon. Here is what Steven said: "You absolutely...
Sep 17, 20252 min read


Mind Spark #22 - Think Fast, Talk Smart: A Podcast for Better Communication
Effective communication is essential in every aspect of life, whether at work or at home. Being able to convey our message effectively,...
Aug 30, 20252 min read


Mind Spark #21 - Breaking Barriers by Lifting Others
Inspired by a recent Career Firechat webinar on Breaking the Bamboo Ceiling. Last Saturday evening, I attended a webinar titled “Career...
Aug 24, 20252 min read


Mind Spark #20 - Letting Go Is Not Giving Up: A Personal Reflection on the Heart Sutra
Have you ever held onto something so tightly, a goal, an idea, a relationship, or an outcome, that when things didn’t turn out the way...
Aug 4, 20252 min read


Mind Spark #19 - For Those Still Dreaming: Don't Stop
Today, I want to share a story that made me pause and reflect more deeply. One of my former colleagues, Matt West , recently shared an...
Jul 29, 20253 min read


Mind Spark #18 - Why One Day-End Note from 2008 Still Matters Today
Last night, I found a small piece of paper tucked inside an old notebook while searching for a document. It was a brief journal entry I...
Jul 16, 20252 min read


Mind Spark #17 - Live in the Moment: Extraordinary in the Ordinary
This morning, I went to church with my older daughter Emma. The message was about Extraordinary Moments . The pastor shared something...
Jul 13, 20252 min read


Mind Spark #16 - Practice in Public: Why Cringe Is the Price of Growth
Reflecting on a LinkedIn post from Steven Bartlett. I came across a LinkedIn post ( link ) from Steven Bartlett the other day, and he...
Jul 12, 20252 min read


Mind Spark #15 - Redefining Mentorship in the Digital Age
Reflecting on a speaker’s powerful mentorship journey " Not all mentors have faces or titles; some guide us quietly through their words...
Jun 8, 20252 min read
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