“Smart” can take many different forms. A high IQ doesn’t necessarily mean you have street smarts, but it probably doesn’t hurt. You might be intelligent in many areas of your life, but struggle in others. For our purposes, “smart” means behaving in a way that is aligned with your values and goals. Successful people usually…
A recent study by a psychologist at the University of Arizona found that people who spend more of their day having deep, heart felt discussions and who spend less time engaging in small talk seem to be happier. Or, simply put, the folks who choose idle banter over in-depth conversations are found to be less…
“I know that you believe that you understood what you think I said, but I am not sure you realize that what you heard is not what I meant.” – Robert McCloskey, US State Department spokesman Being understood by your customer may be the most important aspect of selling. If they don’t get what you…
A common phrase used today in marketing circles is “sustainable competitive advantage” (often abbreviated as SCA). Michael Porter, lauded Professor of Harvard University, coined the term in the eighties and it lives on as an iconic business term. In fact, it has become a cliche, since its usage often is mangled and misapplied. SCA is…
Often in life we get something from someone that makes our life better. It could be words of encouragement, a gift of money, or a good push that gets us going again. At the time we think to ourselves that we need to pay them back someday. Often we do nothing since we don’t realize…
Answer this question: what will your life be like in 10 years? Go ahead and take a guess. The truth is most of us are unable to accurately predict our future selves. The challenges in making this prediction include context and time. You know what your past life has been and you know what your…
Creativity is a concept that’s tricky to pin down. While it may be somewhat difficult to define, yet we know it when we see it. Is it an innate biological trait or something we can pick up as we go? How can we nurture creativity in ourselves and in others? Let’s explore. Steve Jobs once…
Don’t Worry. Be Happy. The quest for happiness dogs many of us. We read books and blogs, take pills, do yoga, and drink alcohol, all in an attempt to reach that elusive state of contentment that we label as “happiness”. But happiness is fleeting, and you can’t force yourself to be happy. Is it futile…
A social media audit is an essential component of a smart social media strategy. It means researching all your different social media accounts and honestly taking a look at how you’re doing. Are you reaching the people you want to reach? Are they engaged with your content? Are you meeting your social media goals? If…
Nobody’s perfect. In the age of lightning-fast social media, mistakes can happen fast. Even if you delete them or apologize, the effects can linger. Some social media mistakes are obvious, but there are other, more subtle social media blunders you may be making. Here are some social media faux pas you want to avoid: Common…