Stop Buying Forgettable “Gifts” and Give This

Nearly all of us have kids on our holiday shopping lists. After all, they’re the ones that make holiday gatherings so special. We set out to find the biggest toy, the hottest clothes or the most popular new gadgets, depending on the age of the kids we’re shopping for.

As the kids tear through the wrapping paper, their eyes light up when they see the treasures we’ve bestowed upon them. Then the inevitable happens.

The gift that made them temporarily ecstatic is soon lost in a pile of similar gifts from similarly overzealous gift givers who were trying to give “the gift” – that one special gift that would never be put down.

Are You Creating Unrealistic Expectations?

If you provide some type of professional service, does it seem like some of the people who hire you expect that service to be completed at the drop of a hat just because they’re not doing it themselves?

It’s totally unrealistic right? So ask yourself this. Are you placing the same unrealistic expectations on the people who you hire?

The Annoying Reality of Being Forced to Wait

Could you even ballpark how much time you spend waiting every day? Every week? Every year? Before you break out your calculator, consider how many things you do each day that require you to wait.

We wait in line at the deli counter and then at checkout at the grocery store. That’s why the candy companies and tabloids will never go out of business!

How to Stay Productive During the Dog Days of Summer

It can be difficult to get things done during the summer when people are going on vacation, playing hookey to go to the beach or play golf, and checking out by lunch time on Friday. We juggle schedules like circus clowns and meetings get cancelled left and right.

But can’t we all agree that we get dragged into too many productivity-killing meetings anyway? Why not take the extra time during the summer to do a few of the things we normally don’t have time to do?

The dog days of summer have kicked in.

Slimming Down for Summer: A Lesson in Preparation

As spring approached summer, I realized that I wasn’t happy with what had been hiding under my winter and early-spring clothes. Let’s just say there was a little more of me to love and I wasn’t exactly loving it.

I’m not one to fall for the latest gimmick diet, but I did find one that seemed sensible. The reason why I knew it would work for me is

Why You Need to Plan a Vacation Now

It’s bad enough that the United States has been called the “no vacation nation” because we have fewer vacation days than most of the world’s developed countries. The crazy thing is that most Americans don’t seem to care!

According to a study commissioned by Hotwire.com, Americans finished 2012 with an average of 9.2 unused vacation days, up from 6.2 days in 2011. That’s almost two full weeks!

Work-life Balance: Define It, Then Live It

The work-life balance debate has come to the forefront, and it probably isn’t going anywhere. Yahoo! CEO Marissa Mayer laid down the law with her policy of no telecommuting, and recently offered expanded maternity leave benefits. Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg’s book Lean In talks about how women should stop holding themselves back from reaching their full potential.

Read this post in its entirety on the Huffington Post Website!

What We All Can Learn From My 2am Epiphany

I had spent the day running errands for my clients as I usually do. After grabbing a quick bite to eat, I went to a networking event and met some great people. After the event, I came home, sent emails to people who I met earlier in the evening, and began to do the work that’s necessary to actually run my business.

As I was scheduling social media posts, I looked up at the clock and realized it was 2 am.

Why Phrases Like “Licensed and Insured” Are More Than Disclaimers

You wouldn’t drive a car without a license and insurance, right? It’s way too risky. If you get pulled over, you may get off with a warning if you have your license and insurance. If you don’t, the ticket you get may be the least of your worries. And if you get into an accident with no license and insurance, you’ll be paying a hefty price whether it’s your fault or not.

Your Spring Party Planning Checklist

Anyone who dreads the end of the year because the holiday season is so hectic must really go nuts when May arrives. I apologize in advance if this list of upcoming events and occasions sends you into mild panic mode. Once you get over the initial shock, you may actually be relieved that I didn’t wait another month or so to share it.