In January 2022, Carrie Fox set out on a blog series called Finding the Words because she had something to say. By the end of the year, you were doing more than listening. You were deeply in this work with her. And because of you, we’re keeping this series going, every week through 2023 and beyond. Our promise: Carrie will keep delivering these essays each Wednesday morning to further support your work as a communicator for change. Your promise: keep telling us how these insights are impacting and influencing your work.

Here are some of the most regularly shared columns. If you like what you see, then subscribe here.

Keep The Music Playing.


This was almost the end of a true story until a thoughtful group of veterans came together with a local nonprofit and CBS News to make good on America’s promise. They rented a venue right here in Maryland and covered the costs of plane tickets and travel to bring all musicians and interviewees to one place, giving dozens of hardworking, talented student musicians a chance to play the music they had been promised.

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The Practice We Keep.

If you can—and I think you can—see through your promises and your practices. We can't change what others do or choose not to do in their leadership practices, but we can control our daily actions and practices.

Get the practice in. Do the reps. Do the work. Seeing your practice through may be that simple reminder someone needs today to believe in their practice, too.

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Leading Through Uncertainty.

We may not be able to predict the future or reduce the uncertainty of what’s ahead, but we can remain grounded in the certainty of what’s right in front of us, taking stock of what we know, showing appreciation for who we have, and taking positive action at this moment. You may find that your actions calm someone else’s sense of uncertainty.

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On Words and Onwards.

Mitch Albom has a way with words. As the author of some of the most beloved and bestselling books of our time, his tales about love, life, and faith help us see better versions of ourselves and our shared humanity. Albom is brilliant at telling stories that let us get lost in words only to find deeper meaning at the end of each story he writes.

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Have Mercy.

Though President Trump was Bishop Mariann's primary audience, was she actually addressing all of us? Was her message a simple reminder—in moments big and small—that grace, compassion, and empathy for one another should guide how we treat one another?

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The Urgency of Now.

You can choose to lead in this way, regardless of other circumstances. It's about what we choose to do with what we have. Rather than asking, "What does this change mean for us?" consider asking, "What can my leadership in this changing time mean to others?" and then, be that change.

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Good Change.

Change is hard, and rightfully so, feels hard when we’re experiencing it. If we can remember to embrace the possibility of what that change can bring, and take that fork in the road, you might find some good in the process, too.

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What To Say.

On a morning like this, it is easy to feel either frozen by the news or fried by the arduous election process. Choose carefully what you say today and, in the days to follow. There is no going back and today, you can choose to move forward.
 

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Bridging The Divide.

The late civil rights leader Vincent Harding posed and lived a question, “Is America possible?” He wondered whether America's noble experiment in creating a multiracial democracy could work. Before he died in 2014, he was asked if he thought it was still possible to create a democracy that worked for all of us. He answered, “Yes, but only as we make it possible.” I believe we can, and the people joining us today in conversation are proving it.

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Set Change.

As I’ve learned, there’s always more than one happy ending, regardless of what we’ve been told in fairy tales.  So, as you think about the stories you tell, the ones you’ll pass down, and the ones you share in your work, ask yourself if you’re creating the conditions to tell the whole story—  not just the story you think people want to hear.  

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"Calm and Not Chaos"

From her body language to her focus and strategic use of story, Kamala Harris took the stage last night to connect with voters. She conveyed calmness under pressure and experience over ego, and she showed the power of communication when used as a force for good.

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Crisis Response.

As if the scorching summer temperatures weren't enough, American politics have also heated up to a rolling boil this summer, with this past weekend's assassination attempt on one of our presidential candidates being considered by many a critical tipping point. Parties and politics aside, leaders at every level are being called to comment, weigh in, and do something.

So, what are you to do? What role do these weekend’s events have on you, your organization, and your community? If you think none, I suggest you think again.

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LOOKING FOR MORE?

Read the first year of Finding the Words articles.