May 21, 2025
When everything feels like shifting sand, where do you find solid ground? Five perspectives on creating stability in uncertain times.
read moreDear Clients, Partners, Collaborators, and Friends,
A client recently described their environment as “shifting sands”—and it stuck with me. Today’s challenges aren’t just new—they’re layered, fast-moving, and interconnected. But as we’ve seen time and again, it’s not the uncertainty itself that determines outcomes—it’s how we respond.
At Penrose, we believe the most enduring advantage isn’t found in predictions or perfect plans—it’s in the ability to stay grounded in what matters most while adapting to what’s changing. That balance, between identity and agility, is the essence of resilient leadership.
This quarter, each of us at Penrose took a moment to reflect on what stability means in a world that feels anything but stable. We answered three questions:
1. In your work world, where do you notice that things feel different than they used to?
2. In what ways do you feel the impact of uncertainty in your day-to-day life?
3. How are you finding balance, joy, or focus amidst ongoing change?
We’re sharing these short reflections not because we have all the answers—but because staying centered often starts by being real about what’s shifting underfoot.
We’d love to hear from you: What’s shifting underfoot, and how are you staying centered? Whether you need an hour of thought partnership or an org transformation, we’re here—playing in our shifting sandbox, ready to support.
Best from all of us,
Danny + Team Penrose
In your work world, where do you notice that things feel different than they used to?
I’m seeing clients and business leaders hit pause—reassessing priorities, sharpening focus, and driving near-term wins to keep teams motivated. It feels like a temporary reset, and I’m curious what will emerge on the other side. This HBR article about leading through uncertain times still resonates a few years later!
In what ways do you feel the impact of uncertainty in your day-to-day life?
In uncertain times, I tend to lean into my strength of transforming ambiguity into clear, actionable plans. I can’t lie, I like order. I thrive on creating structure where it’s needed most—uncertainty is my playground for building clarity. Here’s the ‘Cultivate What Matters’ planner I use to keep it all together!
How are you finding balance, joy, or focus amidst ongoing change?
Leaning on my community, taking aimless walks to reset my thinking, and unplugging to be fully present with my daughter. Change brings focus. It’s a powerful reminder to prioritize what matters most. On my walks I love listening to Liz Moody Podcasts.
In your work world, where do you notice that things feel different than they used to?
It feels like two ends of a spectrum: on one end, I am spending a lot of time learning how to best collaborate with our newest team member (LLMs—shout out to our friend at Midwest Quality Consulting for all the tips!) and on the other, I am trying to focus my energy and attention on the most fundamentally human aspects of what we do (how the work feels!).
In what ways do you feel the impact of uncertainty in your day-to-day life?
I’ve been listening to The Telepathy Tapes, and keep thinking about how social media has created a poor proxy for being telepathic: we can all know what everyone is thinking all the time! While I am fascinated by the idea of shared consciousness and non-material ways of knowing, I am too easily overwhelmed by the deluge of news and opinions and declarations. So, mostly, I am just trying to filter out the noise.
How are you finding balance, joy, or focus amidst ongoing change?
Balance: The Eyes & The Impossible by Dave Eggars - our current “family read aloud” book exploring equilibrium from the perspective of urban animals
Joy: Alphabird by Hilary Pfeifer - the most extra children’s book—rhyming, alliterative, handmade, and with a disco quail. Need I say more?
Focus: The Facilitator's Toolkit - our latest LinkedIn series offering principles to help all leaders facilitate clarity for their teams in uncertain times
In your work world, where do you notice that things feel different than they used to?
As someone who’s had a number of different careers, I’m used to reimagining what I do—but that usually meant changing industries or professions. Now, with the shift to mostly virtual interactions and the deluge of AI tools and corresponding promises, I find myself at an inflection point, questioning the fundamentals of how my work gets done—in conjunction with the most existential questions about human nature: what makes us, us? I love the philosophical, but it's hard to bridge articulating the value of humans with the day-to-day reality of learning to query LLMs. I’m not gonna lie, part of this is scary too: what new world are we invoking? Where will I fit? But I also feel invited to listen, learn, reflect and inevitably grow—in community with so many people experiencing similar things.
In what ways do you feel the impact of uncertainty in your day-to-day life?
Does all the ways count as an answer? It’s definitely compounded by my ten month old! When I feel uncertain, it’s probably not surprising that my impulse is to reach for people and start asking questions. I’m spending a lot of time with friends and having a lot of conversations—hearing about how others are experiencing this moment and learning from the strategies and approaches they are applying to their lives. I’ve noticed that many people are trying to listen more deeply to each other and themselves, which I find hopeful.
How are you finding balance, joy, or focus amidst ongoing change?
Three words: people, cooking, and yarn. I’m hosting weekly and, enjoying creating meals centered around the bounty of spring (goodbye squash) and have developed a parasocial relationship with the women who work at the knitting shop down the street from me. My newest hobby, I started last year and am ‘hooked’—so in addition to insights, I can also make hats! I’m also paying attention to and inspired by people who are living into alternative futures, like those at the Next Economy Now and people who are Living Near Friends.
In your work world, where do you notice that things feel different than they used to?
Client mindsets have shifted from “let’s go to the moon” to “let’s make sure this ladder’s steady.” 🪜 They still want to climb, but only with confidence, purpose, and a rung-by-rung audit. The question we hear most now: “What’s truly non-negotiable for our org?” It signals recalibration toward fundamentals, not flash. Leaders are focused on trust, margins, and whether their people actually like working together.
In what ways do you feel the impact of uncertainty in your day-to-day life?
Uncertainty has turned my brain into a nonstop “What if we reimagined everything?” workshop—even my coffee order gets a SWOT analysis. At Penrose, we fight that spin by making shit—because we believe “momentum creates momentum.” Lately, that means building new tools (AI, meet Company DNA), stripping fluff from our strategy, and asking: “What is it Penrose does that only a human can do?”
Also: we’ve traded “status updates” for “what’s giving you joy?” check-ins. And I’m having refreshingly honest chats with competitors to swap survival tips—turns out, a polycrisis has a way of bringing people together.
How are you finding balance, joy, or focus amidst ongoing change?
My kids both deliver and dissolve chaos: my 10-year-old recently called me “devoted” (unclear if it was a compliment), and my 13-year-old said, “I think we’d be friends even if we weren’t related.” Tiny, joyful moments.
My partner and I escape into pop culture to connect and disconnect—like our “two-person book club” where we’re reading Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow (a collaboration epic), Educated (nothing says romance like a tale of home-school dread), and James (a stunning retelling of Huck Finn). We binge The Rehearsal (Nathan Fielder, take an awkward bow), Andor (did Disney make Star Wars better?), and Hundreds of Beavers (yes, 100s), Music? I’m looping Saya Gray’s “Lie Down,” Little Simz’s “Flood,” and Vulfmon’s “Got to Be Mine.”
Finally, my mind will always operate like a chef. Currently, I’m pulling umami from veggies, chasing perfect sourdough (still), and crafting sugarless desserts that actually feel like dessert. Constraints spark my creativity. If the kitchen (and 2025) has taught me anything, it’s that limitation invites innovation.
In your work world, where do you notice that things feel different than they used to?
I’m feeling the weight of the broader industry swirl more heavily right now. Fortune 500 clients are reassessing priorities amid unpredictability, friends are navigating waves of layoffs, and even the wine businesses in my local sphere (say hi if you’re ever in Healdsburg, CA!) are struggling as consumption habits shift.
In what ways do you feel the impact of uncertainty in your day-to-day life?
Uncertainty has me doubling down on what I do best—making things. I find myself experimenting with new AI tools to visualize customer journeys, synthesize research, and workshop writing—but I still haven't figured out how to get AI to make decks quite like mine...yet. ;) The pace of change creates tension between embracing new possibilities and staying grounded in fundamentals. It’s a delicate balance: optimizing without sacrificing quality, innovating while honoring what works, and creating room for exploration while delivering results. Ironically, my clearest thinking happens away from screens—a reminder that some forms of understanding can't be rushed.
How are you finding balance, joy, or focus amidst ongoing change?
When anxiety starts to climb, I find comfort in organized spaces, human connection, and creative expression.
☕ Coffee Porch Pop-ups—a neighbor started hosting early morning gatherings on her porch. It’s a chance to caffeinate, chat with friends, and share a laugh before the workday rush.
🎵 Music at Little Saint—there’ve been some incredible shows, but War & Treaty last year was something special.
📖 Demon Copperhead (a recommendation from my dad) has been my latest read—evocative storytelling with a message of resilience that resonates.
🎬 The Studio on Apple TV+—Seth Rogen's sharp satire of the filmmaking biz. Expect iconic LA scenes, cinematic framing, long continuous shots, and nods to classic Hollywood—all wrapped in clever storytelling.
🎨 I’ve rediscovered the joy of making things with my hands. I recently painted a watercolor for a friend who lost her beloved pup. Seeing her open it brought tears to my eyes and reminded me why I love creating.
🐈⬛ And then there’s Reba, my cat. A few snuggles with her make any day a little more purrrrfect (unless, of course, she’s being naughty).
What challenges are you navigating right now? Tell us about the biggest questions on your mind, and let’s see how we might tackle them together.
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