When I was four, my family moved from Venezuela – where we were all born – to Boston, Massachusetts. My mom, Iginia Alamo, was ecstatic to live in a latitude where she could pursue a long-held dream: to alpine ski. She promptly packed all five…
Author: Bea Boccalandro
The Splendor of the Small: A Lesson from Tia Lila
Every week for over 30 years, my aunt in Caracas, Venezuela, “Tia Lila,” has sent a collective email to me and her other far-flung family members. These dispatches typically start with national news, such as the injustices committed by Venezuela’s dictator du jour, followed by…
The Sagebrush Oracle on a Fulfilling Life
I looked it up. The Sagebrush Oracle appears to be right! The probability of a full-time worker being fulfilled in life if they’re unfulfilled at work is 2%, according to research (Aaron Hurst and Nicole Resch, “2019 Workforce Purpose Index: Pathways to Fulfillment at Work,”…
A hopeful message from today's Equinox
Does the news leave you feeling like darkness is overtaking the world? If so, here’s a lesson from an unlikely source: astronomy (and, no, I don’t mean astrology). Today’s Equinox might have a message for us. The word Equinox originates from the Latin “aequus” meaning…
The mistake we make living our values
My grandmother, Iginia Alamo, once befriended a woman intent on ousting my grandfather, Antonio Alamo, from the Venezuelan government. My grandfather didn’t object to the friendship. In fact, he instigated it. The family foe and friend, Maria Josefa Aristeguieta, had recently co-led a nearly successful…
Whether you're afflicted by loneliness or not, you're affected by it
The United States is entering 2024 under a pall of loneliness. Many citizens feel that no one cares enough about them to properly see who they are. While the percentage of Americans suffering from loneliness has dropped since the lockdown-era spike, the long-term trend is…
Racial justice will prevail despite current events
A summary of America’s 2023 racial-justice developments might read like this: – Hate crime increased. – Topics related to racism were censored out of K-12 and college classrooms. – Politicians attacked corporate diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives. – Federal courts and state governments struck down or crippled long-time programs…
Your business is unlikely to suffer the fate of Anheuser-Busch
You’re likely aware that U.S. boycotts recently depressed Anheuser-Busch’s US sales by an estimated 14% and Target’s by about 5%. If you’re a business leader, whether for a small or large company, this might alarm you. After all, the boycott-inciting offense is so commonplace that your…
Are you slipping into calloused obstructionism?
Two sales representatives, Lynn and Jane, go out to lunch. Jane remarks that the young server’s scowl is frightening and customer service is poor. Lynn suggests that maybe he’s exhausted from working several jobs, afflicted by back pain or grieving the death of a pet.…
Five meaning-making New Year’s resolutions
If like most workers you pine for more purpose in your job, consider the five New Year’s resolutions that follow. Don’t be fooled by how simple they seem. We humans are so sensitized to meaningful acts that even small acts of contribution ignite a sense of purpose…
