I think everyone has an "I.G.Y." moment when they're young and then an "End of the Innocence" moment later. My "I.G.Y." moment was when the Berlin Wall came down. My "End of the Innocence" moment was 9/11. This time of the year, as we careen into the holiday season, it's important to remember that peace is possible. So are reconciliation and reunion. These were ideals that Dag espoused and they are as important now as ever. *** Subscribe to my weekly newsletter, The Unicorn Dispat...

Does any of this "advice" sound familiar to you? Just start a business.Just freelance. Pursue self-employment.Monetize a hobby and make it full-time.If someone is unemployed, searching, and scared, this is what they often hear. Unfortunately, most small businesses fail and random visibility ≠ success, trust, new clients coming in, etc. Business gurus sell you using a familiar formula: You're doing _________ wrong. → But I know the secret. → And it's si...

Gratitude is everywhere this time of year... on journals, Instagram posts, Pinterest boards, and inspirational mugs. Everyone talks about how important it is to "practice gratitude," but what happens if that becomes toxic gratitude? Real gratitude doesn’t require you to pretend. It doesn’t demand a smile or erase your struggles or silence your truth. If you’re tired of being told you "should be grateful," or you’ve ever felt guilty for not feeling thankful enough, this episode will feel like ...

Ever walk into a job and instantly know: “Oh… I don’t belong here.” That pressure shift. That spiritual eye-roll. That full-body Nope. In this episode, we talk about the unmistakable — and often ignored — feeling of being in the wrong room in your career, your work life, or your creative path. If your job drains you at the cellular level, if you’ve spent years forcing yourself into a shape that doesn’t fit, or if you feel like you’re cosplaying as a functional adult just to ...

Even if you tried to live a bland, vanilla, unremarkable life, someone would still be offended. 🤷🏻‍♀️ So what happens when you stop apologizing for having boundaries? When you finally say “no” — and mean it? In this episode, I’ll unpack the uncomfortable truth: if you’re not a doormat, you’re going to make enemies. If you’ve ever been gaslit for having standards or sticking up for yourself — this one’s for you. Subscribe to my weekly newsletter, The Unicorn Dispatch, here: https://sara-causey...

Ever find yourself cleaning up chaos you didn’t create? Perhaps you're considering a job or a promotion that will require you to clean up someone else's mess in a department or a company. Or maybe you own your own company and you hired someone who made a royal mess and now you have to clean it up. In this episode, we'll examine: Five things to do when you're handed a disasterFive things NOT to do when you're handed a disaster Because leadership isn’t just about vision and ambition ...

Let's pull back the curtain on the “expert economy” — that shiny world where everyone is suddenly a coach, consultant, or “thought leader.” From promises of million-dollar blueprints to endless coaching-of-coaches, I'd like to ask: Who’s actually doing the work anymore? Links: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cargo_cult#As_a_metaphor Sara's award-winning biography of Dag can be found on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Decoding-Unicorn-New-Look-Hammarskj%C3%B6ld-ebook/dp/B0DSCS5PZT Her fo...

Subtitle: Choosing Your Battles in the Marketplace of Ideas We live in a world where every rumor, every hot take, and every twisted narrative can feel like a personal call to arms. But do we really need to chase down everything and everyone? Let's examine: Why not every rumor needs your responseHow Dag handled slander and misrepresentation during his lifetimeEight constructive alternatives when frustration with people or organizations flares upIf you’ve ever found yourself exhausted from tryi...

Ever wonder what happens after you walk away from the job matrix? When the title, the paycheck, and the tidy calendar disappear—and you’re left staring at the open sky thinking, “Now what?” In this episode, I'll dive into the price of nonconformity and what it’s really like to navigate the liminal space—that raw, in-between season where the old life has ended and the new one hasn’t fully taken shape. This isn’t a “five steps to instant clarity” kind of episode. It’s honest. It’s tender. And i...

Is gossip really harmless? Or is it one of the most destructive forces in how we remember—and forget—people? In this episode, I explore how gossip, even about historical figures like John F. Kennedy or Dag Hammarskjöld, is not just idle chit-chat. It corrodes truth, dehumanizes its subjects, and conveniently protects those in power. Gossip doesn’t just distort; it overwhelms. And when people get weary of sorting through contradictory stories, they fall into indifference. Drawing on El...

Are you stuck in a job that drains you, wondering if there’s something more? ➡️ Why work isn’t the same as a calling. ➡️ If you're "job hugging," can you take some time to consider what you feel meant to do? ➡️ As Wayne Dyer always said, "Don't die with your music still inside." Sara's award-winning biography of Dag can be found on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Decoding-Unicorn-New-Look-Hammarskj%C3%B6ld-ebook/dp/B0DSCS5PZT Her forthcoming project, Simply Dag, will release globally on ...

Shortly after midnight on September 18, 1961, Dag Hammarskjöld’s plane went down near Ndola in Northern Rhodesia (today Zambia), cutting short both his life and his final mission to broker peace in the Congo. What was meant to be a daring act of shuttle diplomacy—flying directly into hostile territory to meet Moïse Tshombe—ended instead in fire, wreckage, and unanswered questions. Links: Part 1: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2451415/episodes/17810545 David Talbot's book: https://a.co/d/cQTxQl1 ...

September 1961. UN Secretary-General Dag Hammarskjöld boards a plane into one of the most dangerous conflicts on earth: the Congo Crisis. Independence had unleashed chaos—rebellion, assassination, mercenaries, foreign powers all clawing for control of a nation rich in minerals and rife with instability. In the middle stood Hammarskjöld, trying to hold the line for peace while the Cold War raged around him. This episode sets the stage for his final journey. The stakes, the players, the madness...

Do you have a dream or goal that feels too big because you can’t figure out how it will ever happen? You’re not alone. Many of us get stuck waiting for a step-by-step manual before we even start. The thing is: most great things in life don't arrive with a completed blueprint of how you'll get from Point A to Point B. Whether you’re writing a book, starting a business, or picturing the fulfillment of a personal vision, this episode will help you reconsider “how paralysis” and take the next ste...

Most people talk about fear of failure, but what about fear of success? For many, the idea of actually achieving their goals feels just as intimidating as falling short. In this episode, I'll explore five common signs that you may be holding yourself back, not because you’re afraid to fail, but because you’re afraid to succeed. Link: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jonah_complex You can find Sara's books on Amazon: https://tinyurl.com/sarasbooksonamazon. #FearOfSuccess #PersonalGrow...

Ever worked at a company that "valued feedback" and touted an "open door policy" only to discover it was all bunk? Too many managers allow their own ego to rule the show and offices are set up like Survivor dog-eat-dog competitions. But there is a better way and Dag Hammarskjöld implemented it at the United Nations. If you're tired of bosses who don't listen and act like tyrants, tune in! You can find my award-winning biography of Dag Hammarskjöld on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Decodi...

Peer pressure. Criticism. Trendiness. If you know you're doing the right thing and staying true to your code of ethics, can you hold the line even under scrutiny? Dag Hammarskjöld certainly did, and we should, too. Sara's award-winning biography of Dag can be purchased on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Decoding-Unicorn-New-Look-Hammarskj%C3%B6ld-ebook/dp/B0DSCS5PZT Her forthcoming project, Simply Dag, will be available next summer. #DagHammarskjöld #ethics #stayingtruetoyourself #...

(But it feels scary) In this episode, let's talk about willingness—not just the kind that nods politely from the sidelines, but the kind that stands up, takes a deep breath, and walks straight into the unknown. Dag Hammarskjöld wasn’t campaigning to become Secretary-General of the United Nations. In fact, his name wasn’t even in circulation—until it was. When the call came, he could’ve said no. But he agreed to the job. And with that, a man who cherished solitude, mountain air, and scholarly ...

In this special episode of Decoding the Unicorn, let's celebrate the 120th birthday of Dag Hammarskjöld, whose remarkable life and legacy continue to inspire us today. Join me as I honor Dag's birthday by sharing an exclusive passage from my next Hammarskjöld project, Simply Dag. Whether you're already acquainted with Dag Hammarskjöld or just discovering his extraordinary journey, this episode serves as a meaningful tribute, a quiet celebration of a man whose timeless words and actions conti...

There's nothing worse than a manager or an official who's incapable of saying, "I'm sorry. I screwed up." Dag Hammarskjöld offers us an excellent example. When it was time for a victory lap, he credited his entire team. If something hit the fan, however, he took responsibility openly. No blame games. If you are running a company, a department, a branch, an office, etc., you must know how to take responsibility in a way that counts. Sara's award-winning biography of Dag can be found h...