Meltdown Management
When your tiny stakeholder is losing it and you're one spilled cup away from joining them. These tips won't stop the meltdowns, but they might help you understand why the brontosaurus looked "sad."
Your Job Isn't Happiness
Alisa Cohn: Your job isn't to make employees happy, it's to drive results. Same for parentingâyou're not here for 24/7 happiness.
Inspired by Alisa Cohn
Run Towards the Fear
Ben Horowitz's 'run towards the fire' principle works for leadership and for toddler meltdownsâavoidance just makes it worse.
Inspired by Ben Horowitz
Say the Scary Thing
Carole Robin's "say the thing you think you cannot say" principle works just as well with tantrums as boardrooms.
Inspired by Carole Robin
Ask Why They Spilled the Milk
Crystal W: Insights require the 'why' not just the 'what.' Your kid spilled milk. That's the what. Why did they do it? That's the insight.
Inspired by Crystal W
Being Vulnerable Gets You Truth
Jen Abel on early-stage sales: admit you're learning, you'll get honest feedback. Works with toddlers who smell fake confidence.
Inspired by Jen Abel
Remember What the Summit Feels Like
Andy Johns' four-step transformation from burnout applies equally to exhausted parents grinding through the valley.
Inspired by Andy Johns
The Struggling Moment
Bob Moesta: people don't want products, they want progress. Kids don't want bedtime routines - they want to feel safe and cozy first.
Inspired by Bob Moesta
Lazy, Vain, and Selfish
Anuj Rathi designs for reality: users are lazy, vain, selfish. Toddlers are even more so, and they're not hiding it.
Inspired by Anuj Rathi
Follow What Energizes You
Sustainable parenting comes from following what energizes you, not forcing yourself into someone else's Instagram-worthy best practice.
Inspired by Gergely Orosz
Curiosity over Credentials
Chip Conley joined Airbnb at 52 when the average age was 26. His secret? Being wise AND curious. Turns out that works with toddlers too.
Inspired by Chip ConleyHope Changes Everything
Alisa Cohn's advice on difficult conversations: end with hope for the future, not just the hard truth.
Inspired by Alisa Cohn
The Unbearable Six Seconds
Kim Scott taught herself to wait six full seconds after asking a question. It's excruciating. It works. Try it when your kid says 'I don't know.'
Inspired by Kim Scott
Stop Trying to Win Arguments
Rachel Lockett: goal of difficult conversations isn't convincing someone they're wrong - it's creating mutual understanding. Try with kids.
Inspired by Rachel Lockett
Practice When Stakes Are Low
Shishir Mehrotra's 'practice when stakes are low' lesson is why you test new discipline tactics on Tuesday, not during a public meltdown.
Inspired by Shishir Mehrotra
Name the Shift from Old to New Game
Andy Raskin's 'name the shift' framework works for product stories and for explaining to your toddler why the old rules changed.
Inspired by Andy Raskin