To butcher Tolstoy, all families are dysfunctional in their own way — especially around the holidays, when stress and expectations are sky high. Being a communicator by profession, I naturally believe most problems can be solved with communication (and that poor communication is the root of most problems). Not that I always practice what I preach — … Read more
Tomorrow morning I embark on a 36-hour marathon of travel and speaking and it couldn’t have come at a better time, as I believe I’m coming down with yet another Teddy-related virus. I can handle minor illness with a bit of Tylenol Cold and adrenalin, but a scratchy throat could prove to be a real … Read more
Have you ever met anyone who admits they’re a bad listener? I haven’t. Most people seem to think they’re great listeners. But I haven’t found that to be true. And I should know — I’ve long been a bad listener. But I’m getting better at it, and I believe anyone can learn how to be a better … Read more
In a camera-phone world, there is still a time and place for a professionally shot and edited video. But on occasion, a DIY approach is good enough — and even preferable. I’ve done it for professional purposes once — and, as with so many things, that makes me feel qualified to advise others. So here’s what I learned … Read more
Election day always comes with a weird mix of emotions for me. It makes it hard to focus on work and the everyday concerns when something so momentous is happening. And it gets me thinking about elections past … Shock, Dismay and Sadness The morning after the presidential election of 1988, I sat, stunned, on a park … Read more
Everybody’s into email marketing these days, from big businesses to entrepreneurs, from musicians to writers. It’s no wonder—it’s one of the most effective marketing tactics there is. And with tools like Constant Contact and Mail Chimp, anyone can do it. And that’s the trouble—many people aren’t doing it right. Are You a Spammer? In fact, … Read more
Are you feeling lost or directionless in your career? Like you’re on the wrong track or you’re wasting your time? I can assure you you’re not alone. Practically everyone has felt that way at some point in his or her life. I can also assure you that it’s going to be okay. Take it From … Read more
Companies update their privacy policies all the time. Sometimes the changes are innocuous, and sometimes they’re downright alarming. So it’s a good idea to pay attention to them, even if they’re written in a way that seems to deliberately obstruct understanding by a typical consumer. This weekend I received email notices from two companies announcing … Read more
If you buy just one business book this year, make it mine. If you buy two business books, then I strongly recommend Spin Sucks: Communication and Reputation Management in the Digital Age. It’s a new book authored by Gini Dietrich, CEO of marketing and communications firm Arment Dietrich. For years Dietrich has run one of … Read more
Who says a shareholders meeting has to be boring? While most companies seek to minimize risk at these events, Apple CEO Tim Cook showed last week what can happen when a leader acts like an actual human. Or, “feisty, funny and fiery,” in the words of the Los Angeles Times headline. Other CEOs can take … Read more