I recently was reminded by a friend who serves on the board of a cherished non-profit to donate to the cause. I’d intended to donate months ago, but never got around to it. My neglect wasn’t a matter of lack of motivation. I love this organization and the important work it does for children. I […]
A childhood memory haunts me like the Ghost of Christmas Past. I was maybe 5 years old, snuggled into bed on Christmas eve and — of course — wide awake. I recall with clarity a loud thump on the roof just above my upstairs bedroom. It sounded like a heavy object landed there. A sleigh […]
Take a moment to recall the last time you enjoyed an exceptional customer service experience from a company with which you chose to do business. Remember how pleasant the experience was, how satisfied you were, how good you felt and how the experience affected you and your day in a positive way? I’d venture to […]
The month of December can seem like a hole in the workplace calendar. Standing meetings are canceled and colleagues are out of the office. Unless you’re in the retail or restaurant business, productivity is likely to take a dip. But those same challenges of absenteeism and diminished productivity also could be indicators of loneliness and […]
If you don’t mind a personal question, tell me: What time do you wake up? Are you early to rise, eager to get more done before 9 a.m. than most people do all day? Or do you prefer to ease into mornings, repeatedly whacking the snooze button as if you were chopping wood? Personally speaking, […]
Many employers offer retirement benefits, including 401k defined contribution plans. It’s important employers know their fiduciary duties and the implications that can occur if a plan isn’t properly administered. If a plan isn’t administered according to Division of Labor and Internal Revenue Service guidelines or internal plan documents, your plan could be at risk. Employers […]
When a highly charged, intense exchange occurs, many recoil and try to avoid conflict. Some get their hackles up. Still others go along to get along. Research identifies three mechanisms that are frequently deployed in conflict: flight, fight or give in. Isn’t there a better way to deal with conflict and polarization when it arises? […]
There are so many ways to learn about fitness. From Facebook to gaming systems and fitness videos to personal trainers, new information becomes available on a daily basis. It’s difficult for consumers to know where to turn for the information that’s most beneficial to them given their lifestyles, health, technological skills and fitness goals. The […]
Real estate professionals, accountants and financial planners are often asked about holding real estate as a portion of investor assets. As an asset class, real estate has performed well over the past 90 years. But stocks and bonds have retained the edge in retirement holdings primarily because a ready market exists for the quick disposition […]
Not that long ago, Americans visited locally owned small retailers to purchase holiday gifts. Business owners decorated their shops with lights and ornaments or created elaborate window displays to grab the imagination of passersby and entice them to come inside. It was a magical time of year, and many of us hold on to those […]