Why Do Good Deeds?

August 15, 2018
A few weeks ago, I was having coffee with a friend, and she said to me, “I sure hope all these good deeds I am doing come back to me in good karma in the future.” I was kind of puzzled by that comment because I think it’s important to be authentic when you do good deeds, not because you hope you will get something for doing them. That is the essence of being authentic: Doing good because it’s the right thing to do. Have you ever done that? You see someone who would benefit from your help, whether it is helping them unload their grocery cart at the checkout (because that giant bottle of water looks a bit too heavy for them to lift themselves), or giving some money or food to a homeless person. Have you helped a fellow businessperson Continue Reading →

Ask for What You Want

July 2, 2018

Ask for what you want: That’s one of my favorite pieces of business advice. In fact, I use it often when I give speeches or mentor people. It actually applies to your business life and to your personal life. Just last week, I was on the phone with a colleague who works at a local university. We were brainstorming ideas to get younger alumnae involved in the dean’s advisory council. So I suggested that we ask for what we want. In the quarterly university magazine, why not run an ad? … Continue reading →

Is Sleep the Answer to Alzheimer’s?

June 20, 2018

I think we all know that when we pull an all-nighter or don’t get sufficient sleep (fewer than five hours), our performance and decision making the next day are not up to par. Some of us walk around feeling tired pretty much all the time, while saying, “I can sleep when I’m dead.” Well, lack of sleep is more harmful to your health than the day-to-day results. Three years ago, I learned about the link between getting enough sleep and the onset of Alzheimer’s disease during a meeting at the … Continue reading →

Public Speaking 101

June 14, 2018

I attend a lot of events each year. Big events. Small events. Events in an auditorium. Events in a classroom setting. Events with a keynote during a meal. And I’ve seen a lot of masters of ceremonies, moderators, panelists, and speakers. All with different speaking styles and public-speaking skills. Nothing drives me crazier than speakers who are ill-prepared. And I don’t mean just scrambling to get their speech together at the last minute. I’m talking about people who know they have to give a speech and yet do not put … Continue reading →

Who Needs Business Cards?

June 8, 2018

So, the first question is: Who needs business cards? The second is: When should you carry your business cards with you? The answers are: everyone and everywhere. Two groups of people look at me cross-eyed when I say this—students and the recently retired. So I have a few recommendations for both. Students: If you are looking for a job or an internship, how is your potential employer going to get your contact information so they can offer you a job if you don’t have a business card? They are not … Continue reading →