Katica (Kathy) Obad's Linkedin Analytics

They say Christmas is the most wonderful time of the year. And I get it. The lights. The magic. The warm fuzzy everything. But the other day, I cracked my window open... And a spring breeze floated in. My whole room changed. The light. The smell. The feeling. And I thought— Wait. This is the most wonderful time of the year. Then I remembered Halloween. And the leaves. And summer nights. And the first snowfall. And all the little moments that made me pause and say— This. Right here. This is it. So here’s my conclusion: The most wonderful time of the year? It’s right now. This second. This moment. Not the one you’re chasing. Not the one you’re stressing over. This one. Ground yourself. Don’t let the pressure of tomorrow steal the beauty of today. Don’t let stress mute the magic. Right here. Right now. It’s the most wonderful time of the year. Live it. Love it. Breathe it in. They say nothing in life is free— Clearly, they haven’t met #TheHealthHaven. Subscribe. Your Sundays will thank you. #PersonalDevelopment #Health #MentalHealth

The other day, I had breakfast with a group of university students. Bright, ambitious, ready to take on the world. But also… stuck. “How do I find my calling?” “What if I never figure out what I’m meant to do?” And someone at the table—well-meaning, of course—said the thing we’ve all heard a million times: 💬 “Do what you love, and you’ll never work a day in your life.” I get the sentiment. But let’s be real—it’s time to rewrite that statement. Because work is work. And not everyone finds their calling in a paycheck. My parents, immigrants to this country, came here with one thing on their minds: rising above poverty. They weren’t thinking about “following their passion” or “finding their calling.” They were thinking about survival. Their advice to us? Work hard in school, get an office job, and don’t work as physically hard as we did. They weren’t telling us to chase dreams—they were telling us to get stability. And we did. But now, I see the shift in my kids. They’re told to “Chase what you love.” While that’s great, it leaves them confused. Because, as I’ve learned—we don’t all find our calling through work. Let’s break it down: 📌 A Job – Pays the bills. Stability. Nothing wrong with that. 📌 A Career – Growth, learning, maybe even passion. 📌 A Calling – The thing that sets your soul on fire. Sounds great, right? Except only 13% of people actually turn their calling into their career. The rest? They find purpose elsewhere. Because we are not meant to live just to work. If life was a pie, work wouldn’t be the whole thing. It’d be a slice. Just like: 💜 Relationships – The people who love you when the job is gone. 🧠 Mind & Body – Your health, your peace, your well-being. So no—you don’t have to find your calling in your work. But you should find a job you don’t hate. One that supports the life you actually want. Because if we tell people that anything less than a calling is failure—we set them up to feel lost. Work isn’t everything. Life is. #theaccidentalsaleslady #leadership #life #personaldevelopment #business And the picture? Oh, that’s just for the algorithm. Because when you go to the mall during March Break, in a casual outfit, messy bun fully intact—and somehow match the wild decor of the wall behind you… well, you have to take the picture.

We’ve all heard it before— Nice guys finish last. But as I sat across from yet another so-called “closer,” bragging about numbers and noise, I couldn’t help but wonder… What if finishing last just means you were busy building something that actually lasts? The best leaders I’ve known didn’t bark orders or chase transactions. They built trust. They showed up. They made you feel seen in a world that’s obsessed with being heard. They weren’t in it for the applause—they were in it for the people. In business—and in life—maybe “nice” isn’t weak. Maybe it’s the secret ingredient to staying power. And maybe, just maybe, finishing last was never the point at all. #Business #TheAccidentalSalesLady #Leadership

If you’ve listened to pop radio lately, you’ve heard Pink Pony Club by Chappell Roan. What you might not know is that she wrote the song six years ago. She loved it. She believed in it. Her record label? Not so much. They told her it didn’t fit her image. They held it back. She kept pushing. A year later, they finally released it. And… nothing. It didn’t take off. It didn’t chart. It didn’t make waves. They dropped her. She could have given up. Many would have. But she didn’t. She kept performing. Kept creating. Kept believing in herself. And now? Pink Pony Club is a massive hit. #1 in the UK. Climbing the Billboard charts. Millions of streams. The world wasn’t ready for her then. But she was ready for the world. And that’s the lesson. Sometimes, people won’t see your vision. They’ll doubt you. Dismiss you. Maybe even shut the door on you. But if you believe in what you have—your talent, your work, your dreams—you must keep going. The world might not be ready for you today. But that doesn’t mean you stop showing up. It just means you’re ahead of your time. Keep going. 👊🏼 Photo credit: Getty Images

We’ve been lied to. "You can’t have your cake and eat it too." Since when? In this week’s Health Haven, I’m calling out the myth of deprivation and showing you how to enjoy dessert without the crash, the guilt, or the fake stuff. From honey-sweetened treats to avocado-rich chocolate mousse (yes, really), this edition is packed with clever, feel-good dessert hacks that prove you can have your cake—and eat it too. You just need to know what to reach for. 🍫✨ #TheHealthHaven #YouCanHaveYourCake #SmartSweets #RealIngredientsOnly #FoodFeatureOfTheWeek La Siembra - Camino Robert Rathke

They told us, “If you snooze, you lose.” And for a while, we believed them. So we caffeinated. Hustled. Stayed late. Got up early. Answered emails at midnight. All in the name of getting ahead. But here’s the plot twist: Burnout doesn’t come with a warning label. It sneaks in quietly. Through the skipped lunches. The back-to-back meetings. The “just one more thing before bed.” But rest? Rest is strategy. Rest is stamina. Rest is the real flex. You don’t lose when you snooze. You heal. You recharge. You show up stronger the next day—with ideas that hit harder because your brain isn’t running on fumes. So if you needed a sign to take a breath, this is it. Put your phone down. Take the nap. Close the laptop. Pour into you. Because no success is worth more than your peace. Not following #TheHealthHaven yet? Might be time. We talk about stuff like this. A lot. #MentalHealth #Leadership #PersonalDevelopment

“Must be nice to have all that time,” they said, side-eyeing my paintings. As if joy needs a permission slip. As if creativity only counts if it pays. Here’s what I know: It is nice to have that time. It’s also hard to MAKE that time. But I DO. Because I need it. Painting calms my nervous system. Cooking connects me to my roots. Walking clears the fog. Writing heals what I can’t explain. These aren’t hobbies. They’re the soul’s way of staying in the game. And no, they don’t need to make money. They don’t need to be productive. They just need to make sense to me. So the next time someone questions how you spend your time— Ask yourself this: Does it bring you back to you? Does it make you feel ALIVE? If the answer is yes— Keep doing it. Loudly. Softly. Messily. Daily. “Must be nice!” If it’s between making sense to them and making peace with myself— I’ll choose ME, every damn time. 👊🏼 #TheHealthHaven #MentalHealth #PersonalDevelopment

If you had told younger me that 𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐜𝐨𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐢𝐬 𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐮𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐠𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐲𝐨𝐮, I would have lost my mind. But guess what? 𝐈𝐓 𝐈𝐒. Not the sugar-loaded, artificial-stuff kind—but pure, real 𝐜𝐨𝐜𝐨𝐚. And here’s where it gets even better…. 👉 𝐂𝐨𝐜𝐨𝐚 𝐢𝐬 𝐚 𝐬𝐮𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐟𝐨𝐨𝐝. YES, GOOD PEOPLE, YOU HEARD THAT RIGHT. It’s loaded with 𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐱𝐢𝐝𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐬, 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐛𝐢𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐬, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐥𝐬 —meaning it’s not just a treat, it’s a full-on 𝒉𝒆𝒂𝒍𝒕𝒉 𝒖𝒑𝒈𝒓𝒂𝒅𝒆. ✔ 𝐅𝐥𝐚𝐯𝐨𝐧𝐨𝐢𝐝𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐡 (so it loves you back). ✔ 𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐛𝐢𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐠𝐮𝐭 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐡 (yes, chocolate and digestion go together). ✔ 𝐌𝐚𝐠𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐮𝐦 & 𝐢𝐫𝐨𝐧 for brain power and energy. ✔ 𝑴𝒐𝒐𝒅-𝒃𝒐𝒐𝒔𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒎𝒂𝒈𝒊𝒄 (because chocolate feels good for a reason). Now, not all cocoa is created equal—so 𝐛𝐮𝐲𝐞𝐫 𝐛𝐞𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐞. ⚡ 𝐇𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐥𝐲 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐜𝐨𝐜𝐨𝐚? Stripped of nutrients and loaded with junk. ⚡ 𝐏𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐜𝐨𝐚 (𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐂𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐨’𝐬)? No sugar, no synthetics—just the good stuff. 𝐖𝐡𝐢𝐜𝐡 𝐛𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 𝐦𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐦𝐲 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬… I started adding a scoop to my coffee—just to try it. And then I took a sip. 𝐇𝐨𝐥𝐝 𝐨𝐧. Why is this so good? It was rich. Smooth. And suddenly, my morning cup wasn’t just coffee anymore—it was an experience. I expected chocolate. What 𝘐 𝘥𝘪𝘥𝘯’𝘵 expect? ✔ My gut thanking me for the prebiotics. ✔ A brain boost that made me feel on. ✔ The satisfaction of knowing it’s 𝐟𝐚𝐢𝐫-𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐝𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐨𝐫𝐠𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐜 (because if I’m having it daily, it better be good inside and out). And now? There’s no going back. My 𝐜𝐨𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐞, 𝐬𝐦𝐨𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐞𝐬, 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧, 𝐦𝐲 𝐨𝐚𝐭𝐦𝐞𝐚𝐥 —all got a serious glow-up. In the comments, I’ll drop a list of easy ways to sneak this into your day (because let’s be real, if something makes us healthier 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐞𝐟𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐭, we’re all in). You deserve good things. Start with this. #TheHealthHaven #HealthyLiving #GutHealth #Superfood #FairTrade

During the pandemic, we shut down local gyms, cafés, and small businesses—but liquor stores? They stayed open. Deemed essential. And yet now, there’s a shift. A quiet, powerful movement. They call it being sober curious—not forever, not all-or-nothing… just asking the question: do I really need this tonight? This week in The Health Haven, we’re diving into the rising trend of mindful drinking, the surprising benefits of cutting back, and the growing list of booze-free bars and beverages that are changing the game. Let’s sip on that, shall we? #TheHealthHaven #SoberCarpenter #CleverMocktails

It’s easy to say you’ll eat healthier tomorrow—when you’re already full today. It’s easy to promise you’ll make 300 cold calls tomorrow—when you’re skipping out early today. It’s easy to set goals, make plans, and believe this time will be different. Until tomorrow comes. And suddenly, the excuses creep in. The comfort wins. The commitment fades. But here’s the truth: The battle isn’t against time, talent, or luck—it’s against yourself. ⭐ Discipline isn’t about feeling like it—it’s about doing it anyway. ⭐ Success doesn’t wait for motivation—it rewards consistency. ⭐ You don’t need a new plan—you need a new level of commitment. Want to win? Make it non-negotiable. Show up when it’s inconvenient. Keep your word when no one is watching. Build habits so strong they become your identity. Because discipline isn’t a punishment—it’s the foundation of freedom. And the moment you master it? Nothing can stop you. Tomorrow’s a new week—be the person you know you’re capable of becoming. No excuses, no regrets. Let’s go. #Theaccidentalsaleslady, #thehealthHaven #leadership #personaldevelopment

LinkedIn just introduced a new feature!!! But before I get into that… A quick story. (Trust me, it’ll hit better with context.) I like to write. Always have. It’s how I sort through thoughts I didn’t even know I had. And every day, inspiration hits. In a sentence, a memory, even in my coffee. I’ve written thousands of posts— Most haven’t seen the light of day. Why? Because when I go to pick one, I end up writing a new one instead. Fresh inspiration always wins. People ask why I don’t just post them all. Well… I’ve got a rule. No new post until I’ve replied to all the comments on the last one. I don’t always nail it. I miss things. But I try. Because this platform isn’t just about posting. It’s about CONNECTING. Behind every comment is a person who took time to engage, share, reflect. That means more to me than the most polished paragraph ever could. So thank you—for showing up, for being here, for connecting. I see you. I value this. I appreciate you. And now… the new feature: LinkedIn now lets you see the impressions your comments get. Yes, even the ones you leave on other people’s posts. Why does this matter? Because your presence matters. Not just your posts. Your comments, your insights, your perspective—they travel. Sometimes, a single comment reaches more people than your best post. Now you’ll know which ones did. Time to see which whispers in the crowd actually echoed. 💕 Connections matter!! #LinkedIn #LinkedInFamily #Thankyou #Leadership

Do you remember playing with dominoes as a kid? I do. You’d spend forever lining them up—one by one—carefully spaced, slightly hunched over, holding your breath. And then… One tiny tap. Everything moved. Everything shifted. All because of one small action. And life? It’s not so different. Every day, we’re faced with choices—some so small they feel like they couldn’t possibly matter. But they do. They all do. One choice brings us closer to the life we want. Another pulls us away from it. Not in dramatic, instant ways—but slowly, quietly. No one gets sick from one bad meal. And no one gets healthy from one good one either. It’s the sum of our choices that shapes us. The consistency. The quiet habits. The way we show up when no one’s watching. That’s the setup. So if today feels slow, or your effort feels unseen— Keep going. You’re not stuck. You’re not small. You’re just setting the dominoes. And trust me—when they fall, they’ll move mountains. Oh—and while you’re out there figuring it all out… are you subscribed to the free Health Haven newsletter? It’s light. It’s honest. It’s all heart. #TheHealthHaven

When my gastro mentioned 𝐅𝐎𝐃𝐌𝐀𝐏, I thought he was giving me a new GPS app. Turns out, it wasn’t about directions—it was about my gut finally getting on the right track. And suddenly— 𝐟𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐡𝐛𝐚𝐜𝐤𝐬. My European father—where garlic wasn’t just an ingredient, it was a way of life. Not just in the food—but in the air, in his pores, probably in his DNA. Garlic is a superfood? Absolutely. Hard to digest? No argument there. But it’s not just garlic. Onions, tomatoes, certain sauces, dairy—foods we love, but not all of them love us back. For years, I thought I had two choices: 🔹 Suffer through it. 🔹 Or give up the foods I actually enjoy. 𝐓𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐬 𝐨𝐮𝐭, 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐚 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐫𝐝 𝐨𝐩𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧: Fody Food Co. ✅ Oils, salsas, sauces, bars—everything I thought was off-limits, made gut-friendly. ✅ No gluten, no dairy, no FODMAP triggers. ✅ All the taste, none of the stomach drama. 𝐁𝐞𝐜𝐚𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐲𝐨𝐮, 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐚𝐠𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮. Who else is ready to eat without the trade-offs? 👇👇 Fody Food Co. #TheHealthHaven #Health #wellness #FoodFeatureOfTheWeek Robert Rathke

When I was a kid, I swore I’d marry someone who owned a chip factory. Not for fame. Not for fortune. But for an endless supply of salty snacks. My mother, bless her, believed in moderation. I, however, believed in the power of crunch. It became my signature line: “One day, I’ll marry the potato chip man.” (I actually posted about this very thing a multitude of times.) But life, as it does, evolved. So did I. I realized I didn’t need to marry anyone for potato chips. I could focus on a good work ethic and make my own money. Then I hit another brick wall. Somewhere between growing up and earning my own income, health showed up on my radar—things like saturated fat, sodium, and those sneaky additives that come with most chip bags. So, I assumed my childhood dreams of endlessly snacking had quietly died… right alongside the tooth fairy. But every once in a while, something comes along that changes the game. Enter: Popchips. Favourite flavour? Sea Salt & Vinegar. Crunchy, tangy, and—gasp—actually good for you. 50% less fat than regular chips No risky additives Low in saturated fat Some protein and fiber Sure, it’s still a bit caloric. But so is champagne— and we still pop bottles when it matters. So no, I didn’t marry a man with a chip factory. I became the woman who reads labels, loves her snacks, and makes empowered choices. And maybe, just maybe… you can have your chips and eat them too. Because let’s face it—you probably can’t eat just one. But if you do… you’re totally OK. This is the part where I casually mention my free newsletter, #TheHealthHaven Think of it as your weekly dose of wellness—minus the preachy vibes. Thanks for visiting my #FoodFeatureOfTheWeek #PersonalDevelopment Robert Rathke popchips

JUST BECAUSE THEY'RE LOUD, DOESN'T MEAN THEY'RE RIGHT. It’s the first Monday back after March Break. You could feel the tension in the air. Rushed drop-offs. Short tempers. Honking horns. Someone laid on their horn behind me. Aggressively. I did nothing wrong. But my daughter? She shrank into her seat. “Are they honking at you?” she asked, as if I had messed up. And I realized—how often do we do this? How often do we second-guess ourselves just because someone else is loud? How often do we shrink because someone else is angry? How often do we let noise dictate our worth? I turned to her and said: "Just because someone makes a scene doesn’t mean they deserve to be the main character." If someone has a bad temperament, that’s their burden to carry, not yours. If someone honks at you in life—keep driving. Chin up. Keep moving. Stay in your lane. The world is full of people trying to project their frustration onto others. But their volume is not your truth. Their reaction is not your responsibility. So next time someone honks at you— Wave. Smile. And keep going. Because the loudest voice isn’t always the wisest one.

Women don’t ask for power. They take it. Not because they want to rule, but because they refuse to be ruled. They build. They lead. They heal. They fight. They rise. Not just in history books—but in real life. Every single day. 💜 The mother who raises a child alone while chasing a dream. 💜 The CEO who walks into boardrooms still full of men. 💜 The activist who stands against injustice, knowing the cost. 💜 The sister, the friend, the stranger—lifting others as she climbs. Strength isn’t loud. It doesn’t need permission. It’s in every woman who has ever been told she’s too much—or not enough— And still chose to be exactly who she is. This year’s theme is “Accelerate Action.” 🚀 Because progress doesn’t wait. Because equality isn’t given—it’s taken. Because the time for change isn’t someday. It’s now. Today, we don’t just celebrate women. We stand with them. 💪 For the women before us, who fought for rights we now hold. 💪 For the women beside us, still breaking barriers. 💪 For the women after us, who deserve better than what we had. This isn’t just a women’s fight. It’s a human fight. And together—we rise. 🔥 Happy International Women’s Day. 🔥 #IWD2024 #AccelerateAction #WeRise #HerStoryIsNow

When my mom was pregnant, she was making dinner—stirring the sauce—when she started to feel dizzy. She looked at my dad and said, “I’m not feeling well. I’m really dizzy.” And in his most well-meaning, completely useless way, he replied: “Sweetheart, just turn off the stove, sit down, rest… and when you feel better, come back and finish making dinner.” Spoiler: That was not the response she was hoping for. We teased him about it for years! “Why didn’t you just make the dinner yourself?!” 😂 But in his mind, he was being supportive. He wasn’t trying to be unhelpful—he just didn’t know what she needed. And honestly? She never really told him. Sometimes, people aren’t ignoring your needs. They just don’t know what they are. In life and in business—communication is everything. Say what you mean. Paint the picture. Don’t hint. Don’t assume. Don’t expect people to read between the lines. Because “I feel dizzy” might earn sympathy… But clarity gets you the help.

When my son was little, he had this race car. Not a fancy remote-controlled one—just a simple pull-back car. You’d drag it backward, building up the tension, and the moment you let go—boom. It would launch forward at full speed. I’ve been thinking about that a lot lately. Because sometimes, life pulls us back. Not to break us. Not to stop us. But to prepare us. To give us the perspective we need. To realign. To recalibrate. To see the full track ahead before we take off. So if you’re feeling stuck, held back, or slowed down—maybe this isn’t the end. Maybe it’s the launch. #Personaldevelopment #mentalhealth #TheHealthHaven