I went into the bookstore of a major chain the other day. As I was checking out, the clerk asked, “Are you a member of our loyalty rewards program?” “No…” I smiled, wondering if she would persist. “Would you like to become one?” “Not really.” Then, of course, I got curious. “How many people say [...]
Going, going…
July 20, 2010 By 1 Comment
Gone! A grand slam! My son’s first baseball game was more exciting than expected. After spending the first four innings watching a back-and-forth struggle, one of his favorite players hit a grand slam – the giant home run that changes the outcome of a game. Not surprisingly, the media coverage that evening focused almost exclusively [...]
Less is More
February 18, 2010 By Leave a Comment
Thanks to the Internet, the world has gotten smaller. It’s now possible to connect with people all over the world in a meaningful way. While I agree that it matters who you know, that doesn’t mean the goal should be to have thousands of online friends. Quantity alone doesn’t mean that you’re truly connected. Here’s [...]
Naive and Positive
August 5, 2009 By Leave a Comment
Entrepreneurs regularly approach me with business ideas. Too often their plans, while filled with energy and enthusiasm, have little substance. Wishful thinking without a map. Like most entrepreneurs, I believe in thinking big. But there is a difference between a naïve entrepreneur and one that is relentlessly positive for the right reasons. Positive has a [...]
Paul vs. Brad
July 30, 2009 By Leave a Comment
Paul Giamatti is one of the great leading men in Hollywood. And while he doesn’t look like the person we generally think of as a movie star, that doesn’t change the fact that he is one. Brad Pitt, on the other hand, looks like a leading man. Every budding star wants to be just like [...]
Foolproof
July 28, 2009 By Leave a Comment
Everyone wants the foolproof formula. Something that’s been done before. Proven to work. That’s ridiculous. Great success stories usually begin with “no one thought it would work.” They never start with “they copied something that’s been done before.” If that were true, weekend karaoke singers who could carry a tune would make it big. It’s [...]
The Right Choice
July 25, 2009 By Leave a Comment
I’ve been thinking about the job market a lot lately. No surprise there – in this economy, that’s unavoidable. But something else has been troubling me. The employment trends will eventually improve. That much I’m sure about. But I’m not as certain that the expectations of employees will change as well. From what I’ve seen [...]
