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After two and a half years of writing and rewriting, editing and re-editing, revising and re-revising, I finally have an official release date for my book about my journey across America! With a Good Heart: A Walk From LA to Brooklyn is taking flight on Saturday 12/5. Additionally, a companion book of poetry is also being released on the same day. Imagine the Sea: One Hundred Poems … Continue reading Book Release 12/5!
Hello there. Right now I am in the midst of a 2 week vacation. And though it feels like I’ve barely started, I’m already 5 days into it. I’m doing my best to prolong the time off—waking up earlier than usual and trying to fill every hour with projects and chores needing attention. So far I’ve made zero progress on the main items on my … Continue reading What’s Important? You.
Ten years ago I took a leave of absence from my 9-5. I was tired of the factory hours and exhausting office drama. I was tired of feeling like my life, my happiness, was inextricably weaved into my j-o-b. I needed to put my energies elsewhere for a while and see what happened. For 5 months I focused full-time on all the things I’d otherwise … Continue reading Little Secret Love Art
When I said yes to an employment opportunity in Spokane, I wasn’t seeking a reason to move or close my consulting agency. I adored where I lived and my business was doing just fine. Better still, I was happy. I was making money doing what I truly loved to do—training teams, developing people, and brainstorming innovative futures. But after a long-term on-site gig with a … Continue reading Behind My Mask
What did you do today that matters? Did you spend time listening? Maybe offer up a complimentary comment to a stranger? Did you remind someone how much you appreciate them? Love them? Did you take a deep breath and feel your lungs inflate, then allow your shoulders to relax as you exhaled? What did you do? If you didn’t do anything yet, there’s still time. … Continue reading Your Story
This year I drove to The Running Event (TRE) in Austin, Texas. Amounted to just over 2500 total round trip miles from my home in central North Carolina. Part of the route followed the same stretch I walked earlier this year. And though that was a nostalgic highlight, it’s not what I came here to write about. TRE, per usual, was a giant reunion. I … Continue reading Trust and Authenticity
Every retailer wants to know how to hire good people. But not just good people, good people who can also do high-quality work. Too often we hire candidates only to find they have one of these traits or the other, rather than the ideal combination of both. Often they are great people with ho-hum selling skills, or they are somewhat impersonal but can sell the … Continue reading 10 Ways to Find the Right Staffer
Last week at The Running Event, the keynote speaker uttered words every single business owner needs to hear—He said, “Love and business…there’s plenty of room to cultivate both.” Love and business. Two terms that typically don’t get much playing time. Not together, anyhow. But this guy insisted that any business’s future relevance depends on both working as one. The speaker was Walter Robb, former CEO … Continue reading Love and Business
Specialty retail is a performance, and there’s a giant difference between a ho-hum experience and one that earns rave reviews from the harshest critic. Your people wear metaphorical “makeup” so folks can see them from the back row. They exaggerate their movements and animate gestures to make a solid impact on the entire audience. Hopefully they don’t overdo it. Maybe your show’s been running for … Continue reading Unforgettable Retail Performance
