JCV Higher Reach

Helping leaders grow with clarity and purpose.

recent posts

Why I Don’t Believe in New Year’s Resolutions — And What I Believe InsteadJanuary 3, 2026
Every January, we’re encouraged to make New Year’s resolutions: lose weight, get organized, save money, stop a bad habit, start a better one. The underlying message—subtle but powerful—is that there is something wrong with us that needs fixing. That if we can just change this one thing, we’ll finally arrive at the version of ourselves… Read more: Why I Don’t Believe in New Year’s Resolutions — And What I Believe Instead
Dancing with your ManagerDecember 1, 2025
And other thoughts on how to create a positive and productive working relationship with your boss. Most of the time—though it may not always feel that way—your manager is on your side. Still, managing people is often harder than doing the work yourself. When we’re the doer, we control the what, how, how fast, and… Read more: Dancing with your Manager
When Change Comes CallingOctober 15, 2025
Change rarely arrives with a neatly wrapped invitation. More often, it shows up unannounced—disrupting routines, unsettling roles, and asking questions we weren’t planning to answer. It’s tempting to resist, to hold tightly to what was, especially when the reason for the change feels short-sighted. I’ve found myself at such a crossroads recently. And while I… Read more: When Change Comes Calling
Navigating Your Career Journey with Confidence: The Career StartUp ApproachAugust 11, 2025
Imagine setting out on a cross-country road trip. You’ve packed your bags, fueled up, and hit the road with excitement—only to find yourself lost a few miles in, facing a closed road and no clear detour. You know your destination, but without a map, the journey becomes frustrating and uncertain. That’s exactly how many early-career… Read more: Navigating Your Career Journey with Confidence: The Career StartUp Approach
The Heart of Leadership: Influence, Vision, and GrowthJune 1, 2025
Leadership isn’t about titles or authority—it’s about influence, vision, and the ability to inspire growth in others. At its core, effective leadership is a practice of service, clarity, and continuous learning. Ken Blanchard, coauthor of The One Minute Manager, emphasizes the power of servant leadership, where the leader’s role is to empower and uplift their… Read more: The Heart of Leadership: Influence, Vision, and Growth

When Change Comes Calling

October 15, 2025

Change rarely arrives with a neatly wrapped invitation. More often, it shows up unannounced—disrupting routines, unsettling roles, and asking questions we weren’t planning to answer. It’s tempting to resist, to hold tightly to what was, especially when the reason for the change feels short-sighted.

I’ve found myself at such a crossroads recently. And while I could respond with frustration or disappointment, I’ve chosen something else: curiosity.

William Bridges, a leading voice in change and transition theory, reminds us that change is external, but transition is internal. It’s the psychological process we go through to let go of the old and embrace the new. Robert Quinn, author of Deep Change, challenges us to move beyond incremental adjustments and instead commit to transformational shifts—ones that require courage, introspection, and a willingness to step into the unknown.

This moment has invited me to reflect not only on what’s ending, but on what’s beginning. I could focus on what’s being paused or lost. Instead, I’m choosing to focus on what’s possible.

I call this response-ability—the ability to respond with intention, integrity, and openness. It’s not just about reacting to change; it’s about owning our response. And in doing so, we reclaim agency.

For me, this means exploring new interests, learning new things, and gaining new perspectives. It means asking: What do I want to create next? What conversations do I want to be part of? What impact do I still want to make?

Too often, when change arrives, we default to preservation. But what if we chose imagination instead?

Transitions are not just endings. They are invitations—to reimagine, to reinvent, and to respond.