Adapting Great Ideas

I characterize myself as a lifelong learner, I love a plan, and technology (mostly) provokes my curiosity rather than my fear. I'm constantly learning about systems, habits, best practices, innovative concepts, and tried-and-true ways of doing things. It's one of the ways in which my job makes me very happy: I love this stuff, and I get paid to spend time immersed in it!

Even as a professional, I can get derailed. I've learned that all these ideas need to be

• Aligned with my needs and preferences
• Scaled to the size (and desired size) of Resolute
• Sustainable given my resources

This informs all the services in my practice - training, consulting, and coaching. Yes, I'll share collated and curated wisdom, and offer recommendations, but it's you who has to decide! While understanding alignment, scalability, and sustainability is often part of the work we do with our clients, I also love sharing resources for you to go it alone.

The spirit of sharing and selecting is what informs this edition of Resolute's "officially occasional" newsletter. We're approaching September, with its fresh-start energy: new routines, renewed focus, and a cultural return to learning. This year, we're honoring that temporal landmark with resources and workshops that offer great ideas. From any of the sources we share, whether as links or in person, take what serves you and leave the rest behind. Challenge your comfort zone (seek your growth edges), but don't get caught up in other people's "shoulds".

2026 is proving to be a year of "align, scale, sustain" behind the scenes of Resolute. If you're noticing a difference (positive or negative), please let us know. It's a work in progress - always! - but we're enjoying the ride.

Best,

Joanna Kozlowski | Founder | Resolute Consulting

Practices and systems I love (and have aligned, scaled and - mostly - sustained)

Perhaps you'll love them, too? Or find the best bits that serve you!

#1 Bullet Journaling. While Bujo, as devotees know it, has become an engine of the office-supply-industrial-complex, the original Bullet Journal Method, designed by Ryder Carroll, is not about cute pens and whimsical stencils. Rather, it's a rigorous system of documentation for professional and personal life, combining elements of #2 and #3 below. I loved the concept but got very overwhelmed with the complexity, so I spent time figuring out what worked for me, kept that, and sloughed off my shame at the compromises.

Consider: Curate a structure that creates clarity; discard the parts that create friction.

#2 Time Awareness. Laura Vanderkam changed my life! For all that I often wonder where the time goes (don't we all?), her work has helped me build linkages between time and priority. The radical idea that time can be abundant when used intentionally is so danged optimistic, it encourages me to be planful at many different scales.

Consider: Use time tracking for deliberate choices, not judgment (of self or others).

#3 A regular reflective practice. Life often feels rather chaotic, but what keeps the wheels on the bus for me is a systematic look back/look forward practice. There's both a practical side to this, bridging with #2 above, and an introspective, emotional, spiritual side.

The weekly look ahead has been part of my (and my family's) Sunday for decades. I brought my now-adult son into this when he was still in grade school, and I like to think it's contributed to the remarkable planning skills he has personally and professionally in his 20s. Hilariously, this time last year, one of my most-popular LinkedIn posts was on this topic.

I've been inspired by a range of sources as this practice has evolved, including The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron, the Ignatian Examen, the free downloads available from Passion Planner, and so many of the books on my overcrowded shelves have added seasoning to the mix.

Consider: Build a repeatable pause that connects experience to action.

If you dip into any of these, I'd love to hear your thoughts - drop me a line.

If you would rather explore great ideas with others than alone...

...we're offering two free, in-person workshops in Washington, DC.

If you've been to our workshops in the past, you'll know it's a way we show appreciation for our community, clients, and advocates. There's no catch, and it isn't a pitch!

• August 11, 2026 | Conflict skills. We'll engage in a practical exploration of the high-stakes conversations we often avoid, analyze how to intentionally align different conflict styles with specific situations, and share tools to manage the stress that comes with conflict. There will be an optional pre-assessment and tabletop scenarios.
• August 13, 2026 | Stress resilience skills. We'll share tips and tricks for both efficiency and effectiveness, focusing on adaptable tools, not a one-size-fits-none prescriptive approach. Content will include radical honesty with ourselves (you don't have to share!) and intentional choices around time and energy, as well as pre-building a personal stress management toolbox for when things get overwhelming.

Come to one, come to both, share as you would like. These are designed to be smaller groups so you'll have time to engage deeply.

The hyperlinks will take you to Google Forms to sign up, but you can also message Joanna with questions.

Who we are and what we do

In case you're new here, or can't remember when you signed up for this "officially occasional" newsletter, I am Joanna Kozlowski. I operate at the intersection of strategy, learning, and execution to tackle my clients' goals with intention, clarity, and focus.

I'm the founder of Resolute Consulting. We help companies set clear strategies, make wise choices, and develop their people in ways that actually change how work gets done.

Resolute provides clarity, accountability, and a trusted thinking partnership for both leadership teams and individuals.

For professional associations and academic institutions, Resolute delivers high-quality, human-centered leadership development and career advisory services that respect adults, volunteers, and real-world constraints, while still providing depth, rigor, and impact.

We are currently scheduling 2027 projects. If you or your team are facing a strategic, leadership, or execution challenge, get in touch.