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Lauren Coggins
Lauren Coggins

151 Followers

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About Me — And Top Stories For You

You’re So Venn — When I graduated high school, my Dad gave me an art book and wrote the above lines inside. It took me years to realize how true they are. Looking back, I’ve been struggling to discover since at least 1997. But not always effectively. I hustled on the corporate ladder for…

2 min read

2 min read


Published in The Shortform

·16 hours ago

The Masculine Monopoly In Curated Content

No balance, no bravery — I like men. I like being around men, and married one. I’m raising one. Men are fun! But book lists of all bros are no bueno. There is a masculine monopoly in curated content: in habits and advice, life lessons and leadership. …

Advice

1 min read

The Masculine Monopoly In Curated Content
The Masculine Monopoly In Curated Content
Advice

1 min read


Published in ILLUMINATION

·22 hours ago

Give Back Power With These 4 Tips on the Autonomy Bias

Fear is powerlessness in disguise — Confession from an eighties kid: I loved He-Man. I also loved Thundercats — mostly for the opening music — and while I never had any G.I. Joes, I loved them for their articulated arms and legs. But He-Man had the best catchphrase: “I have the power!” Yesterday, I learned something…

Communication

6 min read

Give Back Power With These 4 Tips on the Autonomy Bias
Give Back Power With These 4 Tips on the Autonomy Bias
Communication

6 min read


2 days ago

A Lesson on Creating From Circa 1700: Pachelbel’s Greatest Hit

Don’t fret the niche — become more and more yourself — You’ve heard Pachelbel’s Canon in D. It’s been extensively sampled in pop music during the last few decades, which is remarkable for a composition that fell out of favor for its first 250 years. While most of his other works disappeared, you’ve heard Pachelbel’s Canon sampled, you’ve heard it at…

Inspiration

5 min read

A Lesson on Creating From Circa 1700: Pachelbel’s Greatest Hit
A Lesson on Creating From Circa 1700: Pachelbel’s Greatest Hit
Inspiration

5 min read


3 days ago

“Para” Means “Next To”

Lessons from adaptive sport — We’ve all made assumptions. We don’t realize we’ve done it — we assume we haven’t assumed. And if you’ve seen the classic movie “The Bad News Bears,” you remember Walter Matthau’s character, Morris Buttermaker, and his cautionary message about assumptions. (for the young ‘uns out there: when you assume, you…

Self Improvement

4 min read

“Para” Means “Next To”
“Para” Means “Next To”
Self Improvement

4 min read


Published in ILLUMINATION

·4 days ago

I Went Caving 25 Years Ago, and Still Give Myself This Simple Advice

It’s not every day you descend into the earth — The first thing they teach you is this: don’t panic. If you can get in, you can get back out. It’s un-reassuringly reassuring. It suggests there might be a reason to panic, and so of course it does wonders for my mild claustrophobia (the truly claustrophobic people don’t sign up…

Advice

4 min read

I Went Caving 25 Years Ago, and Still Give Myself This Simple Advice
I Went Caving 25 Years Ago, and Still Give Myself This Simple Advice
Advice

4 min read


5 days ago

You’re Doing Empathy All Wrong: Stop Using “I” and Apologies

Sometimes an apology is the least effective thing you can offer — There’s a classic scene in “Monty Python and the Holy Grail” that goes like this: Sir Lancelot receives a message about a princess in distress, and he sets off to rescue her. And, since this is a very silly place, chaos ensues when he stumbles into a wedding party along…

Communication Skills

4 min read

You’re Doing Empathy All Wrong: Stop Using “I” and Apologies
You’re Doing Empathy All Wrong: Stop Using “I” and Apologies
Communication Skills

4 min read


Published in New Writers Welcome

·6 days ago

I Wrote a Mt. Everest in 33 Days on Medium: Here’s What I Learned

Say “no” to vanity metrics — Twenty-five thousand three hundred seventy-four. That’s my published word count on Medium in my first 33 days. If each word were a foot, then counting unpublished drafts I stacked up a Mount Everest of words from February to March. …

Writing

4 min read

I Wrote a Mt. Everest in 33 Days on Medium: Here’s What I Learned
I Wrote a Mt. Everest in 33 Days on Medium: Here’s What I Learned
Writing

4 min read


Published in ILLUMINATION’S MIRROR

·Mar 21

I Attempted Bonsai During COVID. It Taught Me One Surprising Thing.

In the end, it was about more than trees — In year two of COVID, I attempted bonsai. And by attempted, I mean that I mail-ordered a tiny azalea and a cypress and enjoyed them for eight months until they slowly died. One from aphids, the other of thirst. I wasn’t alone: bonsai was one of many things people used…

Inspiration

4 min read

I Attempted Bonsai During COVID. It Taught Me One Surprising Thing.
I Attempted Bonsai During COVID. It Taught Me One Surprising Thing.
Inspiration

4 min read


Published in The Shortform

·Mar 21

5 Easy Ways to Channel Your Inner Beginner and Make Learning Easier

Start with “Oh, well” — Beginners have it easy — the rest of us make learning too hard. Want to get back to low-stress learning? Channel your inner beginner. Say “Oh well” You might try something and be awful. Oh, well. Keep going and growing — you’re only here once. You’re a “no should” zone Nein “should,” y’all. “Should” ignores what is and…

Advice

1 min read

5 Easy Ways to Channel Your Inner Beginner and Make Learning Easier
5 Easy Ways to Channel Your Inner Beginner and Make Learning Easier
Advice

1 min read

Lauren Coggins

Lauren Coggins

151 Followers

Writer on a mission to make midlife your sweet spot. You're So Venn: the middle is where it's at. https://youresovenn.carrd.co/

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