Are there really only ten?  I found this list, written by Bill Lampton, PhD, at Best Management Articles. I had to chuckle as I read them because I have heard them or – GASP – said them at one time or another.  As employees we don’t always listen to ourselves and how our statements may [...]

What do you think when you hear the word “empathy?” Webster’s defines it as “the capacity for participation in another’s feelings or ideas.” The Synonym Finder by J.I. Rodales lists similar words to “empathize” as: respond react understand be in tune be hip to be into be turned on to imagine project vicariously put oneself [...]

  I’m so excited to be part of this incredible book.  This past spring I learned that Drew McLellan was putting together a sequel to the first successful volume Age of Conversation – this one with a subtitle “Why Don’t They Get It?”    I quickly responded that I wanted to participate and throughout the [...]

I called for information about my son’s college fund yesterday.  In light of the current economic climate and the fact that my son leaves for college in less than eleven months – I had a few questions. I can’t imagine being in the financial world right now.  As people work to stamp down their panic [...]

I was attending a meeting today when the facilitator received a text message.  The meeting format is a casual breakfast round table and so it was appropriate for her to quickly view the message while the rest of us continued our discussion. I noticed that she did a little thumb dance over the keys and [...]

I love to have a massage.  There is something so wonderful about being pampered and so I treat myself a couple times a year to a relaxation massage. About 18 months ago I was giving my Earning Customer Loyalty speech – talking about the little things you can do to set yourself apart from the competition and [...]

Continuing with the theme of first impressions my 12 year old had this to say: “A smile is your prettiest accessory.” My daughter is a fashion diva and shopping aficionado and for her to offer something that is free as the most valuable accessory says a whole lot. Remember – a smile provides a connection [...]

Do you put your best foot forward? A couple of years ago, Norma Rist and I gave a presentation for the Women’s Network entitled Presenting Yourself for Success.  Norma exhibited the “right” way and I…well, I didn’t.  It was all in fun, but it was to represent a point – people make judgments about your ability [...]

I have two lovely children, Emily is 12 and Ben is 17 and a senior.  They are my reason for breathing.  They are my greatest joy.  They are my Excedrin Headache number 16, 43 and 91.  I love them dearly. In other words, I am your typical parent. Well, perhaps not typical.  When Ben was [...]

Liz Strauss has offered up a challenge to express your idea of connections in exactly 25 words.  She is compiling all that submit their ideas.  Here is her idea from the original post:   When I know life is a story, I’ll carry no pain. I’ll meet you wide open like sunset gives its heart [...]