Real talk this week? I’m tired. I’m a chef, chauffeur, bedtime negotiator, AND a full-time powerhouse. That’s a lot of hats for just one person. Throw in the chaotic noise of a dog that always is whining and you are one minor inconvenience away from an unscheduled blow-up. Just know you’re not alone, and no — you’re not failing. You’re just human. This week I wanted to explore better ways of reframing all of the negatives that I like to give. While it is Thursday already that means I just have a jump start on implementing things for next week. So all in all here are five ways I am going to tackle the shift of perspective to hopefully turn this week around. 

As a career woman juggling meetings, a doctorate, and sippy cups, I often feel like I’m performing a high-wire act with no safety net. Add in my competitive streak and the fact that my husband’s job as a helicopter pilot is the undisputed “coolest” in our kid’s eyes, and it’s a recipe for overwhelm. How do I compete with a guy who flies helicopters? I don’t. Instead, I’ve learned to celebrate my little wins, show my son that my desk job has its own kind of magic, and turn our everyday moments into opportunities for us both to grow. Here’s my story of navigating the chaos, redirecting mom guilt, and making my career shine for my kiddo, all while teaching him life skills that will set him up for success.

You’ve officially made it halfway through the year—congratulations! That’s no small feat. Now’s the perfect time to pause, reflect, and reset those goals you set back in January. Whether your goals were professional, personal, or a mix of both, midyear is a natural checkpoint to realign and re-evaluate.

In today’s fast-paced work environment, fostering employee engagement is more critical than ever. Disengaged employees can lead to decreased productivity, higher turnover, and a lackluster company culture. While traditional perks like pizza parties have their place, they often fall short of creating sustained motivation. Enter workplace gamification—a strategy that leverages game-like elements to inspire participation, boost morale, and align teams with organizational goals. By incorporating fun challenges, meaningful incentives, and well-designed Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), companies can transform routine tasks into engaging experiences that employees are excited to tackle.

As the Fourth of July approaches, the air fills with the scent of barbecues, the sparkle of fireworks, and the chaos of parenting a toddler through it all. For moms like me—juggling a 3-year-old, a career in program management, and a passion for strategic planning—it’s a time to celebrate freedom, family, and the hustle that keeps us going. Here’s how I weave the spirit of Independence Day into my dual roles as a mom and a business strategist, with tips to help you do the same.

Parenthood is a wild ride, and nothing sums it up better than the viral message I stumbled across recently: “Parenthood turns you into a morning person the same way being chased by a bear makes you a runner.” I laughed so hard I snorted my coffee—then I cried a little because it’s true. Mornings and I have never been friends.

Forget manifestation—what gets things done is raw determination, sometimes fueled by spite. While I also love to be delusional from time to time and manifest what is coming I have also seen it backfire. Manifesting a bigger paycheck does not always come with a balanced company too. Manifesting a happy family does not mean that family is all together. So you know what screw manifesting lets just be petty and get it done. All this drive a lot of people accuse me of mostly is straight pettiness.

Cheers to the Man I occasionally disappoint but only because I strive to make him proud!

Ever start your Monday morning with a panic attack? Yelp review would be zero out of five stars. It sets the week off for an uphill climb. When life gets chaotic there is a need to break out the spreadsheets to categorize and evaluate what needs to get done. So when life gives you anxiety - turn it into a spreadsheet.

While co-location offers benefits, excessive mandatory interactions, like forced team-building events or unnecessary meetings, can lead to burnout. The post criticizes "mandatory fun" and meetings without clear agendas, noting their inefficiency and cost. Building a true team comes from natural connections, not forced ones. Strategies, like designated work-from-home or "deep work" days, can help employees focus on tasks without constant interruptions, reducing task saturation and burnout. Trusting employees to manage their work while maintaining their personal lives is crucial. The post acknowledges issues like disengagement or "quiet quitting" but suggests addressing underperformance individually through documentation rather than punishing the entire team. True workplace connection should energize, not exhaust, employees by respecting boundaries and fostering authentic relationships. True connection nurtures—not drains—your team’s energy.

Have you ever had the sense that you are somewhere that you don’t belong? Not like I am a city girl but somehow have ended up in the woods kind of moment - but like how did I pitch a business concept to someone I had no business pitching? For the longest time I have been a firm believer in fake it till you make it but at what point is that becoming detrimental? Enter Imposter Syndrome Now every moment is something that is overshadowed by Was that me? Or was that just circumstance? 

Healing and growing as a person has been portrayed as somewhat of an easy-liner journey that comes from cute Instagramable spa day posts. What is not cute is the meltdowns that randomly happen due to the minor inconveniences that come from the overwhelming need to stuff down your feelings and keep winning. Picture this you are carrying it all from working full-time to trying to be an awesome mom and trying to be a good spouse.

In honor of it being Military Appreciation Month, I wanted to reach out to my fellow spouse and post about “Why I’ll Never be that Girl”, more specifically that spouse. Also, guess what THAT'S OKAY! There are tons of military spouses out there who constantly chase to be that perfect wife or be that most important Key Spouse. Guess what - you can just be you. Ultimately I realized early on that I was on a different journey than a lot of other military spouses. I did not get married for the benefits, paycheck, or whatever normal reason there was to get hitched at 21. At 21 I was out there girl bossing and hustling my husband is just a fun compliment to my life.

In honor of Mother’s Day I am dropping an extra post! Picture this: new mom, stationed far from home, figuring it out with a weird village built up of besties and long-distance phone calls. While the journey to motherhood was hard, nothing would have prepared me for actually being a mom. When that test turned positive, I definitely panicked. I knew we could do this but how am I supposed to be this amazing mom - the best mom already exists and duh it my mom. 

Ever submitted a paper at 11:58 p.m., then clocked into work at 6 a.m. like a caffeinated superhero? If so, welcome to the club of full-time hustlers earning degrees on the side—where sleep is scarce, but the dreams are big. In honor of it being graduation weekend I want to share some tips on how I survived and balanced full-time work, school and mom life all while showing up for my family. Just know that while I may have aced my classes and seemed successful at work – there was plenty of times where I felt like I failed at “momming” and wife duties. Through it all though I had a support system that made sure none of these plates dropped. While the plates may have wobbled nothing was dropped. The following seven tips would be my advice.

If you had told the college verison of me that I would be where I am today based all on a fluke internship that occurred with a major contracting company, I would be extremely proud. Through navigating how to balance courses, sorority life, and a full-time job with a top defense contracting company I had a lot on my plate. Ultimately this taught me valuable lessons early such as keeping my head up even when things get hard. Document, document, document anything and everything. Most importantly time hacks everything because schedule can drive deadlines and that’s the most important thing.

Hey there! My name is Dr. Mariah Strange. I’m a later 20-something defense contractor, a military spouse, a mom—and somehow, I just earned my doctorate. Most days I’m toggling between secure systems and sippy cups, briefings, and bedtime stories. And while I’ve found my way into rooms that once felt off-limits, I still ask myself: Do I belong here? Can I show up fully as all of me—professional, parent, partner, and woman?