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Mike Tannenbaum

Better systems, operations, and experiences

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Essays from over the years

Published on May 12, 2020

Agencies have a freelancer problem—here’s how to solve it

Most organizations waste money by forcing freelancers to find their own footing. Don’t be most organizations. Here’s how you can improve agency operations right now.

Published on May 11, 2020

This is the catalyst for the workplace revolution

Right now is the moment when remote-capable workforces become a must, and employees break free from their tethers as people around the world realize that when you have modern, adaptive, and resilient systems in place, you can weather most any storm.

Published on March 17, 2020

On habits, and hating books about habits

There are some things in life that I’ve always avoided because I’m scared of them. Specifically, goals and habits.

Published on February 25, 2020

What does having enough time feel like?

I’m excited to share that Just Stop, my new book written alongside my friend Dain Saint, is now available—FOR FREE—to blowup your perception of spacetime!

Published on May 22, 2019

The importance of stepping away

When was the last time you stopped to really take care of yourself?

Published on April 18, 2019

Now Available: The Clear Path Forward Course!

If you could make improvements to the way your workday goes, what would you change? Actually, where would you start? More importantly, what’s kept you from already making those changes? I know, I know — time is of the essence and there’s just not enough hours in the day, right? You’ve got other things to […]

Published on April 17, 2019

How to leave things better than you found them

When it comes to creating change, being prescriptive doesn’t work in complex environments. Here’s what does.

Published on January 11, 2019

Blowing up my world and seeking out new adventure

“In my mind, I just put in my resignation letter to the leadership team at the company I’ve contributed to for the past three years.” In January 2016 I was preparing to leave my job and set out to forge my own path. Here’s what I wrote to myself just before setting out.

Published on December 21, 2018

2018 Year In Review

Taking an honest, holistic look at my year as it was, and extracting what lessons, experiences, and memories I can.

Published on December 21, 2018

The Future of Work is Independent

Some thoughts about what work may look like in the future, as I come up on my three-year mark as an independent professional.

Published on December 11, 2018

Digital cleansing and making space for creativity

Lately I’ve had a burning desire to reduce everything down to its simplest form so I have space to make and create, but things have been getting in my way.

Published on August 27, 2018

It’s worth mastering this one essential life skill

Solve any problem, at any time, with this one skill. As a person, a team, or an organization, here’s what it takes to flourish.

Published on June 4, 2018

Living in a Digital Age: Your attention is leaking

Your attention is your most valuable resource, and everyone is vying for it. How will you resist temptation?

Published on April 24, 2018

On Instagram, depression, and anxiety

Regardless of what my Instagram feed looks like, life is not all infinity pools and explorations through Asian cities and exotic markets. This is me exploring my thoughts on the intersection of Instagram, depression, and anxiety.

Published on March 8, 2018

Design thinking is a way of being

Things I don’t ever want to hear again: “Let’s do some design thinking.”

Published on December 1, 2017

Working without distraction

It’s time to be thoughtful about how we work, both by ourselves and in collaboration with others.

Published on December 1, 2017

The Human Workplace

The organizations leading the way are the ones that are embracing the messiness of life and work, and learning to use our humanity as a strength, instead of a weakness. Here’s how.

Published on June 23, 2017

Workplace experience as a foundation for customer experience

The experience that a customer has with an organization’s products, services, and people, will be an embodiment of the organization’s workplace experience, and will reflect back the principles, values, and beliefs of that specific organization. (I think.)

Published on May 9, 2017

Here Comes The Human Era of Work

It’s time to redesign life at work, and the role of work within life.

Published on May 5, 2017

Mental consequences of endless connectivity

Sometimes, I just want to be me.

Published on April 16, 2017

Living with uncertainty

It’s tough to embrace fear and uncertainty, but they’re necessary forces in life that we cannot escape, so we might as well learn to live with them. Right?

Published on February 2, 2017

How Being Human Can Help You Thrive In Today’s Complex World

We as humans have lost our way, amid the world of connectivity and complexity. Luckily, our humanity can bring us back to life.

Published on January 13, 2017

Making work more human in 2017

From workplace experiences to habitual interactions, here are a few ways we can each individually improve ourselves and our organizations.

Published on January 4, 2017

Asking for help in 2017

As I move forward along my journey of self-employment, I’m tapping into my vulnerability and doing something I don’t typically like to do: I’m asking for help!

Published on October 29, 2016

On being comfortable with ourselves

Some words on insecurities, anxieties, and fear. Oh—and awesomeness!

Published on October 22, 2016

Making space amid chaos

Some quick thoughts on dealing with the stress and chaos of life

Published on September 9, 2016

Doing the thing

Do good work, with good people, and the rest will take care of itself.

Published on September 6, 2016

Making up stories that get in our way

Sometimes it can be hard to notice what’s right in front of us. To see things as they really are, and not as our biased brain wants us to perceive them.

Published on September 2, 2016

Chasing life

Life is about the people you share experiences with, and the memories you create.

Published on June 22, 2016

Why It’s Important To Make Workplaces More Human

It’s becoming crystal clear that more human workplaces lead to more successful organizations, and it’s time for leaders everywhere to focus on making work more human.

Published on June 21, 2016

Creativity — Why Gap Time Is So Important

In this always-connected environment we live in, it’s more important than ever for us to set intentions and make sure we’re making space for our brains to disconnect, unwind, wander, and connect dots.

Published on June 13, 2016

On doing, trying, and making ideas happen

As we move about our days, we spend a lot of time and energy trying. Trying to do something. Trying to be someone. Trying to achieve. Trying to create. We put such an emphasis on “trying” that we pull ourselves away from “doing.”

Published on June 13, 2016

Mindset — Grow Your Potential With Positive Perspectives

This piece will explore how our mindsets can be key to creating our best work, and offer up a practice you can explore that may help shift your thinking and get out of those ruts.

Published on June 7, 2016

Vision — What It Takes To Be Where You Want To Be

By bringing new perspectives, mindsets, and practices into our daily routines, we unlock our incredible potential and empower ourselves to approach life in new ways so we can create the changes we want to see in our world.

Published on June 7, 2016

Why We Must Reconnect With Ourselves, In Our Always-Connected Environment

If we can envision our futures to be more enjoyable, enlightened, fulfilling, and intentional, we can begin to transform ourselves, our working habits, and our lifestyles. Instead of letting technology overrun our days, our workflows, our habits and our livelihoods, we can get ahead of the tech and make sure we use it all with intention; with purpose.

Published on June 6, 2016

An Introduction To My Essay Series On Mindful Working

We’re getting in our own way by operating based on institutions, organizations, and structures of a world that once was. It’s time to create changes that usher in and fully support the new, modern, 21st-century workforce.

Published on May 31, 2016

On being kind to ourselves

Too often we beat ourselves up over the little things. We compare ourselves to others and experience judgments, fears, anxieties and more, often forgetting these are all part of human nature.

Published on May 23, 2016

On gratitude, change, and fresh perspectives

Each of us has something to be grateful for in our lives, regardless of the noise we’re dealing with during our daily operations. It may be hard to find, and it may take a bit of searching, but I know it’s there, and I want you to know it too.

Published on May 15, 2016

Are You Creating Forward Motion or Stop Energy?

Ideas are halted. Creativity has nowhere to go. It’s almost as if a wet towel has been thrown on a spark that’s about to turn into a flame. So what will you do?

Published on May 9, 2016

Sometimes we need to get lost in order to find ourselves

Everyone goes on their journey and has that moment where they ask themselves “what’s next?” and “where do I go from here?”. And that’s perfectly OK—and probably “normal.”

Published on April 13, 2016

Life Is For The Living

We don’t know how much time we have on this earth, but we damn sure know we’re not here to grind our days away working jobs we don’t like for companies we don’t believe in with people we don’t particularly enjoy.

Published on March 28, 2016

To reinvent our organizations we must first reinvent ourselves

People are not connected with their work because they’re not able to truly focus on their work. With all the distractions, interruptions, and complications of getting stuff done, so many people feel as though they’re not having an impact — no wonder we’re all disengaged!

Published on March 14, 2016

Global Love and Human Connection — Envisioning a More Inclusive World

We’re currently in a period of major transition, thanks to the advent of the internet and global connectivity. It’s up to you to go out there and be a beautiful human being.

Published on November 9, 2015

A Manifesto for Emerging Leaders

My thoughts on what it takes to be a leader.

Published on September 20, 2015

Mindful in a Digital Age

Connected technologies are amazing innovastions that open up a world of possibilities, but must be used carefully in ways that improve our lives yet don’t pull us too far away from living in the physical world that surrounds us.

Published on January 27, 2015

Fighting the pull of connectivity

We resist as strongly as we can, telling ourselves we’ll be better off. But resistance is futile and eventually we’ll give in and check. We must know. Something happened, somewhere, and we long for insight and updates.

Published on December 27, 2014

Digital Distraction and the Future of Connectedness

In the midst of writing about distraction I got distracted and forgot my train of thought. How fucked up is that?!

Published on October 13, 2014

Always Wired In – The Culture of Modern Devices

We’re so connected to connection that we always focus on filling our mental capacity and stimulating sensors in our brains that we’re detached from what it actually feels like to have real world feelings and interactions.

Published on September 3, 2014

The Paralysis of The Internet

Bombardment of information; never ending messaging with friends; constant onslaught of attention-stealing notifications. These are a few of the time sinks of the modern world.

Published on July 9, 2014

Connected Culture

Our connected culture has effects on people, relationships and societies that we haven’t begun to fully understand yet, and it’s the most awesome and most scary revolution the world has ever seen.

Published on August 15, 2013

It’s Ok If You Don’t Know Where You’re Going

One man’s (extended) thoughts on why we should slow down, take life one day at a time, and become comfortable perpetually exploring our identities, passions and lifestyles. Told through a life story and personal journey, so buckle up!

Published on June 27, 2013

How Do You Spend Your Days?

I’m sick of people asking the mundane, “so what do you do?” immediately upon meeting someone new. Here’s how a 92 year-old man I barely knew shifted my perspective and gave me a great conversation starter.

Published on June 10, 2013

Life Isn’t About Working

There’s no path of least resistance. There’s not even a path. We’ve been placed in the middle of a giant forest, with very few tools for navigating, and told to survive.

Published on March 19, 2013

Creativity & Community in Philadelphia

As I spend my time exploring Philadelphia I’ve noticed our city has a vibe unlike anything I’ve felt in the past. As such, I’ve recently identified a personal mission: Make cool shit while helping construct a better world.

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