Dorian Hartwood

Writing is more than words—it’s about impact. I specialize in leadership, self-help, human progress, and sustainability writing, creating content that inspires, informs, and drives meaningful conversations. Whether it's a deep dive into personal development, an exploration of effective leadership, or a discussion on sustainable solutions, my goal is to craft narratives that resonate.

My Recent Work

The Silent Script •

The Dirty Truth About “Fake It till You Make It” (And When You Need to Stop Lying to Yourself)

When Faking It Becomes Fucking Dangerous

You ever fake a smile so long, you forget what a real one feels like?

That’s where this starts.

Not with some corporate buzzword or motivational fluff — but with a quiet, soul-numbing lie: “I’m fine.”

This is for the ones who’ve been faking it so long, you’re not even sure who’s under the mask anymore.

And this isn’t just another “be yourself” pep talk. This is the dirty truth about faking it — and the moment it stops being a survival skill… and starts becoming...
The Silent Script •

I Took a Gummy, Some Tequila, and Walked into History: What Graduating from SDSU Really Meant

The Parking Lot Was Quiet — Except for My Heartbeat

The tequila burned going down, even at 7:30 a.m.

The gummy? That hit a little later — right around the time my gown started sticking to my back in the early San Diego sun and the butterflies in my stomach started punching their way out.

I remember sitting in the car, staring at my reflection in the rearview mirror, thinking, You fucking did it.

Not in the “social media highlight reel” kind of way. Not in the “I’m a perfect student who always believe...
The Silent Script •

The Unspoken Weapon: Why the Way You Speak Can Make or Break Your Leadership

Picture this: It’s your first week at a new job. You walk into the break room, coffee in hand, heart racing. You don’t know anyone yet. You’re nervous, unsure, scanning faces for a safe smile. And then — someone looks up, says, “Hey, welcome. Grab a seat.” Six simple words.

But they hit differently. Not because of what was said — but because of how it was said.

The voice was calm, warm. Eye contact was steady. No ego, no script. Just presence.

That right there? Leadership in motion.

We’ve been...
Medium •

Build Habits, Build Legacy: The 4-Step Loop That Transforms Teams

Let me tell you about my first team. It was a shitshow.

Everyone was on edge. Deadlines slipped. Accountability was a myth. I remember showing up that first Monday full of ideas and adrenaline, thinking, I’m gonna be the leader that turns this place around.

By Friday? I was burned out and silently judging everyone while reheating stale coffee.

But then something happened.

It wasn’t a workshop. It wasn’t a team retreat with trust falls and laminated mission statements.

It was one habit.
The Silent Script •

The Raw Power of Need: How Desperation Reveals the Best and Worst in Us

At the Edge of “Enough”: Where Humanity Really Shows Up

It doesn’t hit all at once.

Desperation creeps in quietly — one unpaid bill, one empty pantry, one silent response to a job application at a time. And then suddenly, it’s loud. All-consuming. Visceral.

That moment where your needs outweigh your options? That’s where the rawest parts of being human bleed through. It’s also where you meet yourself — the real you. And whether you fall into grace or crumble into survival mode, one thing is for dam...
Medium •

The Soundtrack of Us: Why Music Is the One Thing This World Can’t Lose

When the World Feels Like Too Much, Music Says, “I Got You”

There are days when the world feels like it’s on fire — literally and figuratively. Politics is a circus, the climate is gasping, and the human race sometimes feels like it’s spiraling out of control. And yet, through all of that, there’s one thing that keeps so many of us grounded, sane, and — dare I say — human.

Music.

Not money. Not religion. Not some self-help Instagram mantra.

Music.

Strip away every damn thing — your job, your car, the...
Medium •

The Ocean Knows: What Waves Teach Us About Life, Leadership, and Letting Go

A Perfectly Messy Beginning

Sitting here, watching the ocean, breathing in air so fresh it almost tastes like salt and time, I realize something — this vast, unruly body of water makes more sense than most things in my life. It’s chaotic and calm, soft and savage. It holds contradictions the way we hold regrets — quietly, deeply, always just beneath the surface.

The waves don’t apologize for crashing too hard or receding too fast. They just are. They roll in, they break, they disappear, and then...
Medium •

What I Wish I Knew Before Becoming a Leader (And Why It’s Okay If It’s Not for You)

The Truth Doesn’t Come With the Title

Let me tell you something most leadership books won’t: the day you get that promotion, that corner office, that email with your new title in bold letters… nothing magical happens. You don’t suddenly wake up wiser or more prepared. You wake up the same, but with more responsibility — and a lot more people expecting you to have your shit together.

I remember my first time leading a team. I was pumped. I thought, Finally, I get to call the shots. What I didn’t se...
Medium •

Unmasking the Agenda: Challenging the Assault on Our Voting Rights

Prologue: “We the People” Wasn’t a Whisper — It Was a Battle Cry

Imagine this. It's the night before Election Day. You’ve stood in line for hours to cast your vote. You did everything right — you registered on time, brought your ID, even double-checked the polling location. But you’re told your provisional ballot won’t count because it arrived one day too late.Or maybe — you never even got that far. A new requirement demanded a passport to prove your citizenship, but you were born in a rural hospi...
Medium •

The Tragic Stranding of 157 Whales: A Wake-Up Call for Humanity

A Heart-Wrenching Scene on Tasmania’s Shores

Imagine walking along the serene beaches of Tasmania’s northwest coast, the salty breeze in your hair, the rhythmic sound of waves crashing against the shore. But instead of the usual tranquility, you’re met with a devastating sight: 157 false killer whales stranded on the sand, their massive bodies heaving, eyes reflecting confusion and pain. This isn’t a dystopian scene from a movie; it happened in February 2025 near Arthur River. [i]The Grim Reality...
Medium •

Unstoppable Together: How We Can Change the Status Quo

The Illusion of Power vs. The Reality of Influence

They want us to believe we’re powerless. That real change is decided in boardrooms and behind closed doors. That the top 5% — the billionaires, the policymakers, the gatekeepers — call the shots while the rest of us just go along for the ride. But here’s the thing: they’re wrong. And if you’ve been paying attention, you already know it. Let’s talk about Elon Musk. A man who once symbolized the future — electric cars, space exploration, the dream...
Medium •

The Power of One Small Habit: Why Realistic Change Sticks

Stop Trying to Overhaul Your Life Overnight

Let’s be real — most of us suck at making change stick. We get fired up, declare we’re cutting sugar, quitting drinking, waking up at 5 AM to meditate, and working out like we’re training for the Olympics. Then, two weeks later, we’re exhausted, frustrated, and knee-deep in a pint of ice cream, wondering where it all went wrong. Sound familiar? The problem isn’t that we lack discipline. It’s that we expect ourselves to flip a switch and become a brand-new...
Medium •

Envisioning a Thriving, Sustainable Future: A World in Harmony with Nature

The Crossroads We Face

Imagine standing at the edge of a lush, thriving forest, the air crisp with the scent of blooming wildflowers. The sound of birds fills the sky, rivers run clear, and communities flourish in self-sustaining harmony. This isn’t a utopian fantasy — it’s a future within our reach. Yet, right now, we stand at a crossroads. The choices we make today will determine whether we continue down a path of environmental destruction or move toward a world where humanity and nature exist...
Medium •

I Am Awake: Complacency is a Danger in Our Current Times

Democracy is not a given. It is not a birthright that stays intact without effort. It is a living, breathing system that requires participation, vigilance, and, most importantly, action. We are at a crossroads where complacency is the greatest threat to our freedoms. If we do nothing, democracy does not just fade — it is taken. History’s Lesson: Complacency Breeds Consequences History has repeatedly shown us that when people fail to exercise their rights, democracy crumbles. Consider Germany in...