I Will Make You A Deal

This blogging thing can be a head game. I have a tendency to want to write something profound, important, BIG. Big ideas. Big inspiration. The Bible in one page. Real success is probably something smaller. People want to feel that they are are not alone. That their fears are shared. That they are understood. That [...]

By |2018-08-22T06:12:43-04:00August 22nd, 2018|Future, Gratitude, Habit, Personal Development|Comments Off on I Will Make You A Deal

Small Things Count. A Lot.

Marketing is pretty obvious if you sell consumer products like Procter & Gamble. The color of the Tide Detergent package, the fonts used, the material selected and the "feel" of the container in your hand are all functions of marketing. As is Tide's  Loads of Hope Community Program, which brings brightly-colored tractor trailers of washing [...]

By |2018-08-18T06:48:50-04:00August 18th, 2018|Generosity, Gratitude, Marketing|Comments Off on Small Things Count. A Lot.

Stark Raving Fans

It is not enough to service your clients, or even to service them well. Whenever possible, go above and beyond. Make suggestions, deliver something extra, spend time, empathise, care. Put the proverbial bow on the box or the cherry on top of the sundae. Someone might be offended, but it is worth the risk. You may [...]

By |2018-07-14T07:18:54-04:00July 14th, 2018|Creativity, Customers, Future, Gratitude, Small Business, Success|Comments Off on Stark Raving Fans

A Little Time Off

Miss Karen and I are taking a little well-deserved R and R to visit some friends who recently bought a second home in Florida. My goal: enjoy it. Enjoy the quiet, enjoy the company, enjoy the scenery. The joke in the appraisal profession is that there is either not enough work (so we are up nights [...]

By |2018-02-22T14:28:26-05:00February 22nd, 2018|Gratitude, Productivity, Stress, Travel|Comments Off on A Little Time Off

In Praise of the Garden State

Wow, a lot of people grouse about New Jersey. Constantly. It's too congested. The taxes are too high. Everything is so expensive. All of these statements are true. But there is one distinct advantage to living in New Jersey: we are dead center in the Northeast megalopolis. That giant, connected city that runs from Boston to [...]

By |2018-02-16T10:12:48-05:00February 16th, 2018|Art, Business, Capital, Criticism, Economics, Education, Gratitude, History, Service, Social Networking, Success, Taxation, Wealth|Comments Off on In Praise of the Garden State

There Is Nothing Like the Classics

Today they call it anxiety. They used to call it worry. It is the same thing, running a problem through your mind over and over, with no solution or resolution. I suffer from worry occasionally, and when I catch myself (I have no idea why it takes so long), I re-read Dale Carnegie's How to [...]

By |2017-07-15T09:08:27-04:00July 15th, 2017|Books, Business, Gratitude, Personal Development, Small Business, Stress|Comments Off on There Is Nothing Like the Classics

Embracing Criticism

At my worst I get peevish and snappy and I lash out at the critic. Why? Sometimes it is just a bad day. Under other pressures I lose patience. Sometimes I just feel like the critic does not understand what I am trying to do. Sometimes I feel like the critic is embracing a bureaucratic [...]

By |2017-07-14T07:28:05-04:00July 14th, 2017|Criticism, Gratitude, Humility, Personal Development, Professional Development, Professional Growth, Skills|Comments Off on Embracing Criticism

Semi-Random Thoughts on Success and Happiness

Want success and happiness? Do these things: Smile. Say thank you. Be responsive. Be friendly. Take a personal interest in your coworkers and clients. Stick to your knitting. Not all work is right for you. Develop a list of professionals you trust and refer, refer, refer. The client you refer will be impressed with your [...]

By |2015-05-07T10:08:45-04:00May 7th, 2015|Business, Customers, Gratitude, Health & Wellness, Hobby, Humor, Marketing, News, Personal Development, Professional Development, Professional Growth, Profitability, Service, Skills, Small Business, Success, Wealth|Comments Off on Semi-Random Thoughts on Success and Happiness

Look at the Big Picture

I was fussing and fuming. Things weren't going my way. I was even having stress dreams. Frustrated, I was ready to declare myself a loser. With a capital L. But then I sat back and thought about it. I don't have control over this thing. There isn't a single concrete action I could take to [...]

1 Percent Better

The Consultant's Consultant, Alan Weiss, often remarks, "If you are one percent better each day, you will be twice as good in 72 days." Besides his obvious facility with compound interest, Dr. Weiss gives us some food for thought. What does 1% better every day look like? Get up five minutes earlier Stay an extra [...]

By |2015-01-22T10:14:13-05:00January 22nd, 2015|Gratitude, Health & Wellness, Personal Development, Service, The Human Condition|Comments Off on 1 Percent Better

Gratitude II

With Thanksgiving fast approaching, I thought it would be appropriate to make a  gratitude list. I am grateful for my wife and children. I am grateful for my mother, father and stepmother. I am grateful for my siblings, their spouses and their children. I am grateful for my extended family - aunts, uncles, cousins, in-laws, [...]

By |2014-11-20T12:55:35-05:00November 20th, 2014|Art, Freedom, Gratitude, Health & Wellness|Comments Off on Gratitude II
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