Reading Time: 4 minutesA five-star Theo of Golden review, with no spoilers. Jessica, my oldest daughter, has a track record with me. She’s an educator and avid reader, and over the years she’s handed me several books that turned out to be exactly what I needed. When she told me to read Theo of Golden by Allen Levi,
The Stranger Who Saw the Nobility in Golden Read More »
Reading Time: 6 minutesWhat I gave up to do the work I wanted In February 2001, I applied for a job with a lower title than the one I already held. I was a product support manager at the time. The posting was for a communications coordinator. My leadership supported the move because I explained the why behind
I Applied for a Demotion Read More »
Reading Time: 7 minutesThe Exercise That Started It More than twenty years ago, I was drifting. On the surface, everything looked fine. Career moving forward, hitting my targets, earning praise for my work. Inside, I felt a growing frustration. Work kept pulling me in directions that didn’t feel right, and I couldn’t figure out why. Vicki Flier
When “Values” Became V-AL-UES Read More »
Reading Time: 4 minutesRecognition reveals more than it rewards. What you see when you look in that mirror says a lot about why you started. A few years ago, I launched alviller.com with no audience, no budget, and no agenda beyond one quiet conviction: the world needs more purpose-driven communication, and I felt I had something worth
Passion Project Earns Industry Recognition Read More »
Reading Time: 6 minutesI recently finished The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt. And I’ll be honest; it’s been on my mind since I put it down. If you have young kids growing up in a digital world, or you’re leading a team full of early-career professionals, this one will hit close to home. Let me tell you why
The Anxious Generation: A Conversation Worth Having Read More »
Reading Time: 10 minutesSpecial Note: This isn’t my usual post on alviller.com. Most days, I write about leadership, communication, and how to turn values that hang on the wall into virtue-driven action that walks down the hall. This story lives in a different setting. A second-grade classroom and an operating room. Yet, the theme is the same. I’m
The Teacher, the Husband, and the Surgeon Read More »
Reading Time: 7 minutesA year ago, I stepped off the corporate hamster wheel. I wasn’t tired of running or weary of what I was doing. In fact, I had an idea and helped create a role that would fill a gap at work and was both excited and energized by the new challenge. The Backstory But things
My Year on Sabbatical Read More »
Reading Time: 5 minutesEach year, I choose one word to guide the next twelve months. Not a resolution or a rigid plan. Just a single word that helps me stay grounded when the year gets noisy and life gets messy in the middle. In 2025, that word was Evolve. As 2025 closes, I can honestly say it delivered.
My Word for 2026 — REFIRE Read More »
Reading Time: 5 minutesA funny thing happened after I started my sabbatical… My To-Do list grew longer! Without full-time work or corporate deadlines, I somehow filled my task app with more to-dos than when I was working full time. Most are self-imposed. Many are things I want to do: creative projects, home improvements, workouts, or learning goals. But
When Your To-Do List Overwhelms Your Life Read More »
