At 5 am I was lying in bed, awake, thinking. Actually, thinking is too generous a word for what I was doing. I was perseverating. I was about to buy a new bicycle, and I couldn't decide on the color. I tried to visualize the bike and imagine how I … [Read more...]
Do People Really Want You to Be Honest?
January 10, 2012 By 4 Comments
My wife Eleanor and I were walking up a mountain road, enjoying a rare moment of being alone together. As we rounded a bend, we saw a friend, Nancy,* not too far ahead. When we caught up with her she suggested we walk together. I've known Nancy … [Read more...]
The Power of Workplace Do-It-Yourself
December 20, 2011 By 1 Comment
Plural Investments*, a hedge fund started several years ago, had a problem. They needed art on the walls of their New York City offices. It was a small problem of no strategic importance, one that could be solved quickly and effortlessly by simply … [Read more...]
How to Get a Raise When Budgets Are Tight
December 16, 2011 By 1 Comment
My friend Dave* mentioned to me that he just received the results from a medical exam and was surprised and disappointed by his numbers. His cholesterol was high. Especially, he told me, given how he eats. "Dave," I said, "you can't be serious. … [Read more...]
When Nothing Works
December 5, 2011 By 5 Comments
I'd had tendinitis in my elbow for over a year. Even something as gentle as twisting a doorknob made me wince in pain. I went to see my brother, Bertie, who also happens to be my doctor. As Bertie examined my elbow, I reminded him of everything I … [Read more...]
One Thing I’ve Learned From The Wall Street Protests
November 1, 2011 By 4 Comments
During a bleak, cold winter in New York City, a park is occupied by thousands who stand there day and night for weeks. Nobody knows precisely what these occupiers represent, but people are mesmerized by them. Not just the city, but the country and … [Read more...]
What’s Your One Big Theme?
October 13, 2011 By 1 Comment
Rosh Hashanah is the Jewish new year, the time when we think about our past year and plan for our next. What do I want to repeat? What do I want to do differently? I usually start with everything I want to do differently. And the list is … [Read more...]
The #1 Killer of Meetings (And What You Can Do About It)
April 14, 2011 By
"That was dreadful. Not only was I bored, everyone else was bored too. Disengaged. I'm terrible at facilitating these kinds of meetings. But they're so important. I've got to get better at it. I need to find a better way." I wrote that in … [Read more...]
