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“But if you wear a nametag all the time, doesn’t that mean you have to be nice to everyone?” That’s the point. Wearing a nametag paints me into an accountable corner. And that it makes it very difficult to be disrespectful to people. Especially strangers. I’m reminded of a nightmare I had about seven years ago. In the dream, I had murdered someone. I was on the run from…

“Love is never having to say you’re sorry.” This phrase originated in the movie Love Story, but has since been modified, satirized, patronized and reorganized through dozens of movies, songs, television shows and other popular art forms. I wonder if there are other things we never have to do? In business, in life and in love, maybe there’s an entire line of thinking based on this idea. From my…

I once met a cowboy on the Dallas airport shuttle. He asked if I knew I was still wearing a nametag, and said I wore it all the time. “I’d hate to wear a nametag all the time,” he smirked, “because then I’d have to be good.” That was the moment I learned a lifelong lesson:Anonymity is the death of civility. In person. Online. Over the phone. In the…

Not everything was built to be bigger. Some things are best left unscaled. Otherwise you end up with a bloated, unapproachable brand that people ignore. BUT THAT’S THE PROBLEM: Organizations are treating scaling like fetish. Computer networks, I understand. You have to expand to cope with increased use. But when it comes to the human side of business, when it comes to treating people like people, keeping things small…

St. Louis, Missouri (PRWEB) August 30, 2011 — After a fateful meeting on Match.com one year ago, followed by a blissful year of dancing, singing and cooking, local lovers Brittany Barton and Scott Ginsberg have decided to their take talents to New York City to pursue their dreams. “I am certain of two things,” said Barton, 26, “That our relationship is the foundation of our lives; and that New…

Few ideas in history have been more widely repeated, debated and dissected than the following three words: Cogito ergo sum. This was the philosophy of Rene Descartes. I think therefore I am. THE GOOD NEWS IS: I am not going to attempt to debate this philosophy. Instead, I’ve adopted Rene Descartes’ formula and developed a few rationalist philosophies of my own: (read part one here!) 1. I teach therefore…

You’ve chosen an uncertain path. You’ve adopted an inconvenient lifestyle. You’ve embarked upon an unconventional journey. You’ve felt the voice inside you growing more urgent. You’ve committed yourself enough so you can’t turn back. IN SHORT: You’ve decided to play for keeps. This is the critical crossroads – the emotional turning point – in the life of every young artist. I’ve been there myself, and here’s a list of…

You can’t just sit in a corner and perfect yourself. The only way you get better is by contributing to your fellow humans. As author Ben Sweetland once remarked, “You cannot hold a torch to light another’s path without brightening your own.” THE QUESTION IS: Whose path are you holding a torch to? Today we’re going to explore a collection of practices to help your flame grow brighter:1. Witness…

Caring is not an emotion – it’s an intersection. It’s the loving collision between your attention and someone else’s need. HOWEVER: Caring can’t be bastardized into a technique. The secret is to develop a keener eye for those moments in which care is needed. Here’s how:1. Look past when a bend is needed. Most policies are prepared excuses. And organizations use them to create insurance, stay in control, enable…

When you substitute, you rob the customer. When you substitute, you shoot yourself in the foot. When you substitute, you demonstrate a lack of commitment. Today we’re going to explore five substitutions that don’t work, along with what you can execute instead:1. Copy is not a substitute for care. Just because your marketing department whipped up a clever statement about security and smeared it all over your collateral materials…