Saying thank you. Why are we so reluctant to say “thank you” to someone else for their work, especially work that we paid for? Is it possible that paying for something seems to be enough, so thanks are neither needed nor…
Simple Pleasures of Life
What are your simple pleasures? I grew up in a household with an adoptive mother and a dad who were polar opposites in nearly every way. My mother was only 7 when her own mother died; she and her younger…
They Never Meant to Kill
Written July 12, 2017 << >> They never meant to kill — sounds like a book title, doesn’t it? But it happened. I am sitting at my computer, watching the news, and again, I’m struck with horror at the killing…
Lessons learned from playing cards
Here are a few lessons I learned from playing cards… In our frantic and fast-paced world – yes, even now with the virus all around us – many of us cling to the idea that we know what we did, we…
April 2020: Describe Your Life
April 2020: What words describe your life? Over the past few years, starting with this article, I’ve written a few more on using language to our benefit, trying to help us all remember that we hold many of the keys…
We All Have a Role to Play
We all have a role to play. Like many around the world, I’ve watched in horror as the Coronavirus (COVID-19) has ravaged cities and towns causing unimaginable pain to their citizens. People who are healthy one day are sometimes gone a…
Why Are We All So Frightened?
Why are we all so frightened? Why are we so scared of those who are different? Why are so many angry at others who don’t look exactly like them, who don’t speak the same language, who aren’t the same sex,…
Networking Success Tip #3
Networking Success Tip #3 Do you attend networking events in the real world? I mean, do you go to places where people are standing around, all hoping to SCORE BIG at the event by picking up a bunch of new…
Networking Success Tip #2
Networking success tip #2 is the second of So, you’re off to another networking event. You read my first article on this, and you feel empowered. You’re strong. You’re going to rock the event! When you arrive, you sign…
Are We Doing Enough Good?
Are we doing enough good for others? Could we do more? I read an excellent short post by Bruce Kasanoff (Am I Doing Enough Good?) this morning about doing enough good for others. His premise was that there are all kinds…
Seriously? I’m an Editor?
Seriously? I’m an editor? Yup, I guess so. But I still laugh to myself and probably always will … When did I become an editor? Oh, right. When a good friend – Sandra Elaine Scott – asked me to help her…
Who Are You Calling Old?
Who are you calling old? I saw a question this morning on Quora about the difference between old folks now and 70 years previously. This article sprang up full-blown, as so many seem to do. First of all, what age…
Are You Making the Most of YOUR LinkedIn Profile?
Are you making the most of YOUR LinkedIn profile? I joined LinkedIn in October 2005, and basically did NOTHING for years. I had no idea how or what to do … and didn’t know anyone to even ask. I had…
Do You Compete … or Collaborate?
Do you compete or collaborate? Just today I saw an article about not wanting our competitors to be seen on LI by anyone who would be looking for someone who has the same type of job that we do. The basic…
If You Don’t Know …
The question is simple: If you don’t know … are you willing to ask for help? Do you remember being a kid and wanting to grow up and know everything about everything, the way so many adults appeared to do?…
Keys to Success?
Have you ever heard these “keys to success”? Everyone line up quietly. Go in order. If you’re #1, you go first. If you’re #2, you always go right after #1. Start on the left and move to the right. Start…
Are You Always an Expert?
Are you always an expert, even when you’re “off duty”? Do you have trouble balancing your professional and personal roles? I saw a magazine advice column recently where a professional was wondering how to respond to those who asked for…
Rein it in, partner!
Rein it in, partner! is what I often want to say to those who come on too strong too quickly! How about you? The Internet is a wondrous place, especially for those of us who grew up long before it…
Successfully Giving Feedback
Personal Branding: A Harsh Lesson
Networking Success Tip #1
Networking Success Tip #1 is the first of four to help everyone succeed at this, whether in person or virtually. As of March 2020, in-person networking disappeared, and it may be a long time before we practice it that way…
The Long, Dark, Puffy Coat
“Some women think they can escape the long, dark, puffy coat. But many have succumbed.” That’s the online headline of a well-written story (by Beth Teitell) in the Boston Sunday Globe newspaper: In the newspaper itself, the headline is “What the puffy…
Happy Holidays — All of Them!
So, you might be asking, what’s with this “Happy Holidays — all of them” stuff! Were you expecting Merry Christmas? Well, OK. Merry Christmas! And Happy Hanukkah! And Happy Kwanzaa! And Happy Cookie Day! And Happy Laughter Day! (OK, I…
Social Media Trolls
Are you familiar with the term “social media trolls”? We’re seeing evidence of them everywhere on social media, which is a shame. As a verb, troll can mean “to post inflammatory or irrelevant material on an electronic forum to provoke responses; as…
Every Day Should be Gratiday!
Yes, of course I made the word up, because I believe that every day should be gratiday! But it occurred to me over the past week that we really need to be grateful for what we have more than one…
Communication Can Be Tough!
As I’ve aged, I’ve realized how many times communication can be tough, even when we try our best. Have you ever considered how little you or any one of us knows about so many things? I learned something today about…
Giving Thanks (thanktitude)
While thanktitude isn’t a real word, it fits the fill for me as it really means giving thanks. In the U.S., this weekend marks the beginning of our year-end holiday season (for most, anyway). It starts with Thanksgiving, and goes…
What Are the Odds?
Do you ever wonder “what are the odds” that something will or won’t happen? I think we all saw the amazing result of the FanDuel Sportsbook’s error in posting the odds on a bet a few weeks ago — and…
Careless Commenting
With all the opportunities on social media to be seen — writing our own stuff and/or commenting on others’ articles — there’s no lack of ways to showcase our abilities, right? But what kind of impact are we making?…
Lessons Learned
Do you ever think back to some lessons learned from unexpected sources? Have you ever reread a book you’ve had on your bookshelf for some time–a business book that was once “HOT!” but is now seen by many as passé?…
The Power of Talking with Others
Have you ever noticed how the power of talking with others can help to solve a problem we’re focused on that we can’t seem to solve? We go back and forth, wondering how to make the problem go away, disappear.…
Laughter Really IS the Best Medicine!
I think most of us have heard that laughter really is the best medicine, right? There’s something wonderfully contagious about it, and it sure can smooth out a tough moment or two. And even though we’re busy business professionals, we’re…
Girl Scouts of America: Changing the Narrative
Raise your hand if you’ve never heard of the Girl Scouts of America. I’m looking all around and I don’t see any hands. No surprise there, right? We all know about Girl Scouts – their badges, their projects, their COOKIES.…
The Shoe That Grows: Changing the Narrative
The shoe that grows? Are you kidding, Susan? Nope. Read on. You’ll see. It’ll be worth it. Since I started this “Changing the Narrative” series a few weeks ago, I’ve been looking for intriguing stories of individuals or small nonprofits…
Finding Positive Stories in a Negative World: Changing the Narrative
Lately, I have been almost obsessed with finding positive stories in a negative world. In the past year or more, it seems as though the U.S. press has been showing us news that is almost always about the negative events…
A Backpack is Enough
A backpack is enough … for what? Reading Karthik Rajan’s recent personal story on limitations reminded me of a story I wrote several years ago about when my version of the American Dream changed irrevocably. Like many here, I grew…
Happy New Year 2018!
Aaack! It’s almost time to say Happy New Year 2018! 2017 is nearly gone, and I’m sure I won’t be the only one looking back at the year, thinking about the ups and downs it held, or what the new…
Thankful for …
What am I thankful for right now? Back in 2014, some friends mentioned that blogging was becoming popular on LinkedIn and told me I should consider writing a blog (I hadn’t even known what a blog was!). They nagged me…
Kindness
I’m sure I’m not the only human on the planet to be fearful lately; many of our leaders are stomping around, saying stupid things, going back and forth on fundamental ideas of love and kindness, and generally keeping many of…
The Curse of the Announcer
The curse of the announcer seems to be everywhere! Part of sports talk. Part of our inner conversations. Everywhere! I love watching sports — even some sports that some sports fans don’t think are actually sports. I love watching pro…
Bugging Me, Bugging You
Bugging me, bugging you: Is there something we can do? Yes, there are things that “bug” me, some so-called “cosmic questions” that simply make me nuts, and I thought I’d see if anyone has answers, has thought of these things…
My Happy Place
A short list to describe my happy place. I just read a marvelous post by Mandy Chew on Medium that got my full attention. Both the writing and the ideas were excellent, and I enjoyed it a lot. She hit my head (great…
Can Words Really Hurt Us?
Years ago, I realized that words can really hurt us. Like many, I had grown up hearing the old adage: “sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me!” Then I realized how untrue that saying…
Jordan Spieth: Happy 24th Birthday!
Have you heard of Jordan Spieth? Do you admire grit? Determination? Do you celebrate excellence? I found myself thinking those thoughts again as I watched almost-24-year-old Jordan Spieth seemingly rise from the ashes — Phoenix-like — to a thrilling win…
“They Never Intended to Kill Anyone”
I am sitting at my computer, watching the news, and again, I’m struck with horror at the killing of an American student named Bakari Henderson in Greece by an angry mob a few days ago. It appears that the student…
3 Ways to Almost Guarantee Your Writing Will Make a Bad First Impression
I’m a copyeditor, meaning I read and edit others’ words to help them look and sound as smart as they are. Over the last 25 years, I have seen many ways of succeeding and, sadly, a few things that almost…