on September 11, 2023

Is This As Good As It Gets?

There have been hundreds of blogs about the negative side of social media but the other night, as we hung out at the kitchen table with friends, a 16-year-old shared with me how he thought social media was essentially bad for you. I thought I’d share his remarks as they speak to a failure on the part several generations. First, he admitted that social media can be fun, especially for sharing pet videos and practical jokes (that don’t cause physical harm or injury). But beyond that use, is this noted “time suck” valuable, or contributing to the betterment of humans any way? My young friend answers his own question with a resounding, “NO.” Here are his points primarily in his…Read More

young adult issues, young adult life, teen struggles, high school life, negative behaviors, wanting something more, teen life, teens, socializing, communication, social media

on August 28, 2023

Set Yourself Free

I often counsel my students and mentees that all bad decisions are made for one of two reasons—fear or greed. For most people I know, greed is rarely the culprit unless temptation is in the form of gambling or investing. The real enemy if fear.   Fear of submitting a resume and looking stupid. Fear of doing a job interview and not having the “right” answer. Fear of rejection. Fear of being alone. Fear of not being good enough. Fear of standing up to a loved one lest they walk out. Fear of speaking up and being embarrassed. Fear of losing face. Fear of being exposed. Fear of shame. Fear of losing your job. Fear of losing your spouse. Fear…Read More

young adult, following dreams, life advice, fear, young adult issues, young adult life, conquering emotions, Confidence, success

on August 14, 2023

3 Tips To Help You Succeed With Your Goals

I’m a very goal oriented person, but when one also has the goal of being a better friend, wife, daughter, etc., how you achieve those goals is sometimes in conflict with our work goals. Too late people realize that work was never the goal, right? I think this is what sends many people spinning into a mid-life crisis. So while I’m about to talk about how to achieve work goals, first and foremost make sure you are living in a way that is true to you. When you are with family, be with them one hundred percent. When you listening to your partner, listen one hundred percent. When you are playing with your child, engage one hundred percent. If you…Read More

investing in yourself, prioritizing, work-life balance, scheduling, celebrating milestones, work inspiration, goal-setting, success, self-discipline, Life, goals, career advice

on July 31, 2023

From A Conversation With Martha Stewart

I’m not sure Martha Stewart would want me to call her the Queen of Quality, but “quality” is certainly signature to her brand, and I dub her that with all due respect for an amazing career which among other things, launched the “lifestyle” industry and continues to innovate it. I had the chance to see Martha in person for an interview and she won me over easily. Martha looked great, and was funny, engaging, forthright, and inspiring. No subject was off the table and she talked about everything with candor, humor, and the wisdom that comes from living a full life—every day. Here are twelve tips I took away from the conversation, expanded on by me. All of them are…Read More

leadership, life advice, leadership tips, martha stewart, SHRM, quality work, quality, work ethic, overcoming, success, female leaders, creativity, female entrepreneurs

on July 17, 2023

Survival Tips for Teens

Let’s face it, teen years can be hard—on the parents that is. For teenagers, they get lots of new responsibilities and freedoms, and their parents are financing the fun. It really doesn’t get any better even if you have to take SATs. So teens, if your parents are decent people—you know, they don’t beat you, or lock you in the closet under the stairs—then let’s be real and give them a break. And if they’re not, this blog does not apply to you. Why you should consider being a more fun and engaging housemate… 1 – COMFORT: It just makes day-to-day life more pleasant for everyone. Be polite to them the way you would if they were a celebrity you…Read More

young adult life, home life, Being sixteen, teen life, sixteen, teens, success, life skills, relationships, high school, advice for teens, tips for teens

on July 3, 2023

Discover the Teen Stress That You Just Made Worse

Until you’ve aged a little and accomplished some awesome things, and come to a place where you know you are fierce and can kill it in any situation, “being yourself” is really stressful. Especially if you want to be a lot more than “yourself.” As a teen, I never wanted to be myself. I wanted to be the “self” that fit in and was liked for being myself. If I was actually myself, I would have never engaged in conversation, or done extra curricular activities, or been responsible with my chores. I only did those things to appear normal, to have the hope of being a better ‘self’ someday, and so that my parents would get off my back and…Read More

young adult issues, young adult life, teen life, teens, young adults, parenting, teenagers, life advice, tips for teens

on June 19, 2023

4 Steps to Help You Become a Badass Version of You

The teenage years can be some of the best or worst of your life. Or you might just survive with a few good memories and not too much humiliation. But no matter where you are on the spectrum, this is the time to start determining and designing the kind of human you want to be. Yes, it’s up to you—no one else. Becoming awesome and being a badass takes intention – and years of it. If you don’t think about it now, you’ll more easily fall and follow, because you will be reacting to the world, not acting in the world. So what can you do to make the most of the awesome years ahead? You need to vision yourself….Read More

becoming a badass, success, YA life, young adults, young adult issues, gifts, journaling, tips for teens, visioning your future, values, natural talents, imagine your future, design your future

on June 5, 2023

3 Attitudes that Hold You Back

Before I got my first publishing deal, I was attending conferences with zeal and trying to learn everything possible about the craft and business of writing. At one such conference there was a session you could sign up for, where in a small group, you would read the first ten pages of your manuscript, and an editor who acquired in your genre would give you notes. It was terrifying. I really wanted to throw up. The only comfort was that all the other writers were equally green – except for the one who went to drama school and couldn’t wait to perform her masterpiece. You know the one. We went alphabetically by title, so I was first. I read my…Read More

writing, change, work, optimism, transformation, attitude, attitude adjustment, writing inspiration, fear, success, soar in life, publishing

on May 29, 2023

Six Tips for College Students to Excel!

Your first summer internship? Feeling nervous? Not sure what to expect? Hoping you like it? Hoping you don’t mess up? Hoping people like you? Hoping you make some good connections? Try not to worry too much. All the other interns feel the same way. And all their leaders know you have a lot to learn and hopefully won’t be throwing you in to sink or swim without a little orientation as to the temperature of the water. But here’s a few tips to help you out. Enthusiasm and a good attitude go a long way! Repeat that all day long. A smile will usually get a smile. Be interested in all the opportunities to learn around you. Be comfortable asking…Read More

college life, leadership, life advice, summer internships, internships, success tips, work advice, college students, college internships

on May 22, 2023

8 Reasons to Let Go of the Past

Moving. There’s nothing that stimulates a purge as much as moving does. It can be a lot of hard work—the sorting, the selling, the recycling, the giving away, and then finding the right spot for what is left. And it seems like there is always more that can be purged. But when it’s done, the benefits are many and ongoing. My advice…don’t wait until you move to make your home, and life, right again. There are things we hold onto for good reasons—believe me, I had a good reason to hold onto everything. There was always something I was going to use again, “some day”. But, paring your life down to what you need and enjoy every day, brings a great…Read More

life advice, making room, moving, organized home, organizing, lifestyle, purge, life changes, purging, cleaning, recycling, creative home, declutter, donating