"Here's my problem with email," Jane*, a lawyer friend of mine told me recently, "I open Outlook expecting to quickly check my email, but then I read an email with a link in it, I follow the link, and then I'm lost on the internet for hours." "My … [Read more...]
The Challenge: Do One Emotionally Difficult Thing Every Day
May 4, 2012 By Leave a Comment
The email was compelling--a personal note from Jared*, a man I like and respect. He had taken over from me as president of the board of an organization and was asking me to attend their annual dinner and give money as a sponsor. When I was on the … [Read more...]
Coping with Email Overload
April 26, 2012 By 1 Comment
A few weeks ago, I returned from a week-long technology-free vacation with my family. No computer, no phone, no email. When I got to the office and checked my computer, I had hundreds of email messages waiting for me. I took a deep breath and … [Read more...]
How to Respond to Emotional Outbursts
April 19, 2012 By Leave a Comment
"Please, Daddy, please? Can we open our presents from you now?" It was the third night of Hanukkah and my wife Eleanor, our three young children, and I had just come home from a holiday party. "Didn't you guys get enough presents at the party?" … [Read more...]
Do You Need a Checkup?
April 4, 2012 By Leave a Comment
I had been feeling a little odd; a number of minor physical discomforts were leading me to feel anxious about my health in general. And that anxiety was subtly getting in the way of my performance. I was a little less focused. A little more … [Read more...]
How to Attend a Conference as Yourself
March 26, 2012 By 10 Comments
I often feel awkward when I go to a conference. Reluctant to sidle up to a stranger and introduce myself, I roam, like I did at college parties, self-conscious, seltzer water in hand, not fitting in. In the midst of a sea of people chatting away … [Read more...]
The Problem with High Expectations
February 23, 2012 By 10 Comments
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...]
How to Start the Big Project You’ve Been Putting Off
February 13, 2012 By 2 Comments
I want to write a screenplay. I wanted to write one last year, but other work took more time than I expected, and I kept pushing "write screenplay" off my to-do list. I know I'm not alone in struggling to make incremental progress on long-term … [Read more...]
The Biggest Myth in Time Management
January 24, 2012 By 3 Comments
Brad* is as hard a worker as anyone I know. He's not just busy, he's keenly focused on getting the right things done. And it pays off — he is the largest single revenue generator at his well-known professional services firm. A few days before … [Read more...]
