Stop "Being Authentic" Already!

After having a temper tantrum, my nearly three-year-old grandson Wyatt looked up and said, “I just had a fit!”I must admit: hearing about “authenticity” gives me one.It’s a trick of my brain. Say “authenticity” to me, and I hear “synergy.” Or “core competency.” Or...

Are You Using "Weasel Words"?

We have a saying at our house: “You can always tell a Franklin. But you can’t tell them much.”When we use words to obscure our meanings, it tells people more about us than our subject – and usually not what we’d like …You Can Always Tell a EuphemismOver the weekend,...

Greeks, Shakespeare, a German and Stories

As you can tell, I’m on a business storytelling binge lately. Here’s the next useful idea for you.Bless the people who do research and then share what they discover, so we can use it in a practical way!This week’s shout-out goes to Gustav Freytag, a German poet and...

What If We Stopped Hiding Out?

A friend told me a job search horror story. My initial reaction was “How dare they treat her that way!” Then I started thinking about how I can make similar choices that not only diminish others but me. So I realized it’s time to deal with my own awareness issues. My...

The Terror of Answering "What Do YOU Do?"

They’re wrong when they say public speaking is the #1 fear of business people. I know it’s going to a networking event and hearing someone ask, “What do you do?”Oh the blather and drivel that comes out of our mouths! Here’s what to do about it.Of course you know what...