Whether your desk is in your dining room or on the 7th floor of a downtown office building, have you ever had one of those days where you’re looking at a stack of something (papers, laundry, unanswered emails and text messages) and you know that’s what you need to focus on, but you’d rather do […]
Knee-Jerk Reaction
I was in one of those big box stores on Saturday. As I rounded the corner with my cart, a woman was conferring with her two school-age children. Her cart was behind them, blocking the entire aisle. When I got close enough, I said a polite excuse me. As the three of them hugged the […]
Practice Being Right
See! I told you it would rain. She was almost smug as we stood together looking out onto her beautiful deck – where we had planned to have dinner. Puddles were forming where the place settings were. Our meal would now be inside. Cozy, yes. Still with my friend, yes. Dry, absolutely. A little disappointed, […]
Ah, flattery.
Mae West was on to something when she first said Flattery will get you everywhere. Flattery. Compliments. Encouragement. Empowerment. These words are all on the same continuum with flattery (excessive and insincere praise) on one end and empowerment (to give power to) on the other. I don’t necessarily need to be flattered, but some honest […]
Real or Imagined?
A couple months ago, I attended a fundraiser to raise money for a local charity. As with most fundraisers, it included a silent auction where we were encouraged to bid on donated items. The highest bid would win the item. The value of the item and a suggested opening bid were listed on the corresponding […]