A supervisor of new staff always feels the tension between answering questions that the staff member should be able to figure out on their own and giving them the specifics they seek. It’s the same tug that occurs when deciding whether to say something and course correct or let minor things go. Both require a judgment call to determine if it’s the dreaded micromanaging or a n...

When a project or event ends, it’s tempting to ruminate over all the things you could have/should have done differently. Depending on your focus, this can be helpful or self-defeating.

If the focus of your thinking is on the past, you may find yourself losing confidence in your abilities as you tick off all the ways you could have done better. This self-flagellation...

If you need proof that little things can add up to make a big impact, look no further than the US Postal Service’s semipostal stamps. Four designs carry a 12-cent surcharge, with the additional revenue dedicated to the causes the stamps support. Since their inception in 1998, the stamps have raised $112 million for research and preservation.

Semipostal stamps includ...

Pet retailers have capitalized on the trend of treating dogs as family members, and almost all of them offer special branded or birthday-cake-favored treats to celebrate the dog’s big day. Of course, the pooches themselves have no sense of their birthday; this is strictly a marketing ploy to get their humans to spend more. And, I’d venture to say, it works.

My Zoe w...

When I listen to hit songs, I’m often struck by how repetitive they are. The secret sauce seems to be singing the same chorus over and over. Pay attention the next time you’re listening to music!

We need to take lessons from these catchy tunes and repeat our messages multiple times. Too often, people think “I TOLD her how to do X,” “I SHOWED h...