Meet Meico
(pronounced Me-ko)
If you want the formal version of my bio, check out the “Bio and Headshot” page. If you’d rather have the casual, we’re just hanging out version and are really just interested in how we might be able to work together, here it goes…
I’m passionate about helping teams break free from the distractions getting in the way of them doing their best work and creating a positive impact in the world.
I have helped countless nonprofits, government agencies, foundations, mission-driven corporations, artists, and individual changemakers find the right balance between life, work, and technology through speaking, training, coaching, and consulting.
I want nothing more for you than to do your best work while living a full and balanced life in a changing world.
A little more about me…
I’m a former software developer and communications director.
I love salsa dance and live jazz (pre-pandemic, of course).
I make the world’s best vegan chili (I’m just saying ¯\_(ツ)_/¯).
P.S. I’m a certified mindfulness teacher and virtual presenter.
P.P.S. I’m a former triathlete and marathoner.
My Story (abridged version)
Freedom from a seemingly endless stream of emails, social media notifications, and breaking news alerts. Freedom from the distraction and anxiety that come with being tethered to your devices, the internet, and other technology. Freedom from a life defined by your work or career and having no personal life to speak of.
Or the latest batch of inane social media updates from people you don’t even know that well (or at all) clamoring for your attention. You have a deep longing to escape the never-ending cycle of bad news.
You dream of leaving work on time and leaving work at work. You hold on tightly to a misplaced hope that your real life will magically begin any minute now. You crave a real vacation free from email and other work but are afraid to take time off. After all, what will your boss, colleagues, or clients say? How will they ever survive a day or two or three or more without you as a constant presence in their life?
If it does, that means you’re out of business. No bueno. There will never be a perfect time to take time for you. When you die, your inbox won’t be empty. Your colleagues will hopefully have a lot of great things to say at your memorial service. But no one will care how many emails you answered or how much time off you did or didn’t take. You will be replaced and the emails and work will carry on like business as usual. Your clients and colleagues with move on with their lives.
I was on the brink of burnout. I was depressed, had gained a ton of weight, and wasn’t eating or sleeping right. My personal life…what personal life?
I was fed up with social media. Who are all these people anyway?! I mean I’m glad you like fine dining and taking selfies with your dog…I’m really happy for you. But why should I care? Why is this showing up in my feed? I don’t even know you!
I didn’t want to die with my music still inside of me. I had so much more of me I wanted to give to the world.
I deactivated Facebook and took a break from Twitter, Instagram…and the rest of ‘em. I started leaving work on time. I used my vacation time to take real vacations and invest in my personal development. I created a robust personal life that included training for triathlons, learning Portuguese (I’ve always wanted to travel to Brazil!), and getting more involved in my spiritual community.
I rejoined the social media world. But this time I had a plan and solid intentions for how I was going to use the tools instead of the other way around. I look a month-long work and email-free sabbatical in Brazil and eventually quit my job to work full-time for myself doing what I love: helping people like you!