News & Views

On a recent trip to Hawaii, I was driving along the Hamakua Coast, one of the most beautiful stretches of scenery on the northeast coast of the Big Island of Hawaii.How I got lost is a tale of converging factors that I hadn’t considered and some lessons learned by even this very experienced traveler.

Does it seem as though life is constantly on hold, waiting for: a response to your email, an invitation that should have arrived weeks ago, a yes or no to proceed with a project, etc.? My “waiting for responses” are often dates I have offered for meetings and social events that need to be agreed to by others . . .

When is a paper clip not just a paper clip? Good question. My thoughts this month were generated by the lowly paper clip, an item we take so much for granted that it is nearly imperceptible in our daily lives.

How often do we jump to conclusions without adequate evidence or research—or just because we’re busy and distracted? Reaching unwarranted conclusions or, in the world of psychology, “cognitive distortion” can affect decision-making big and small.

For American children of a long-ago era, school was identified by the three R’s: reading, ‘(w)riting, and ‘(a)rithmetic. (True alliteration clearly was not in vogue.) Let’s consider a different set of the three R’s, those that can be used as measuring sticks for your work life, which may also be suitable in other arenas.

When visiting the city of London, travelers on the Tube, that city’s underground train line, quickly become accustomed to the phrase, “mind the gap.” It’s a concept that can help us to actually see the value in what isn’t there and being aware that the absence has an impact. Read more . . .

Thank you—one of the loveliest word combinations in the English language—or any other—when offered with warmth, true appreciation, and specificity. As your organization sends out its thank you letters, you are not only fulfilling an obligation but you are adding another link in your relationship with the donor. But here’s what you should know . . .

A recent news story highlighted the topic of “confirmation bias,” the very human tendency to seek and interpret evidence that confirms one's existing beliefs or theories. It impacts many aspects of our personal and professional lives. Here are some tips for challenging it.

I often find myself straddling a line between what is fading from my life and what seems destined to enter it. For example, keeping track of my contacts: I have a voluminous list on my cell phone, some of which includes information such as birthdays, notes about our last meeting, or connections to others in my contact list. But I also still have an old school Rolodex for business cards, a filing system which comes in handy –well, wait a minute . . .

Lighthouses are often emblematic of what’s solid, important, and unchanging. They represent hope, security, guidance, and protection. One of my favorite stories (no doubt apocryphal) follows and is illustrative of the permanence of lighthouses . . .