Recently I reconnected with a former colleague and friend who had worked for the Oprah Winfrey Show prior to joining The Walt Disney Company, where she and I worked together. For the past seven years, my friend has been President and CEO of a successful advertising agency, Madison Avenue Worldwide. Like many successful women in business, … Continue reading When a Sinking Ship is a Good Thing →

(as published in Catholic Business Journal. Podcasts also available on i-Tunes.) The idea for creating my own company was sparked one morning as I sat clutching a hot cup of coffee, shivering, in an over-air conditioned ballroom. That was the morning the need became painfully apparent. I watched, cringing, as a man I greatly admired … Continue reading One Simple Tip for Conquering Your Fear of Public Speaking →

(As first published in Catholic Business Journal.) In the summer of 2008, Russ Smyth, the new CEO of H&R Block, stepped to the podium to introduce himself to his new employees.  Hundreds were seated in the auditorium, tens of thousands watched on telecasts around the country, and Russ gave what I think was one of … Continue reading Try Flaunting Your Failures to Turbocharge Your Team →

Last week I was meeting with my banker, and I noticed that she had a prayer pinned to her bulletin board. I saw it and smiled, as it was the same prayer I mentioned in my last column, the one authored by a Catholic saint that begins “Today, let there be peace within.” I’d always … Continue reading 5 Subtle Ways to Witness at Work →

Three acquaintances of mine have recently lost their jobs in what appears to be unjust circumstances. One was a well-respected director at a Fortune 500 company. A new boss came in and fired her unceremoniously, despite the fact that a few months earlier, she had received a stellar performance review and an above-average bonus. The … Continue reading How To Find Peace in Unexpected Unemployment →

A few years ago my CEO shared this story during a company-wide meeting: his wife had been interviewing with a couple of advertising agencies, and one of the agencies had offered her a job. As she was discussing the opportunity with her father, she said that she was hesitant to take the offer because the … Continue reading Need a Little Extra Change? Try this. →

My father was a carpenter for 50 years before he retired, and he absolutely loved his job. It took me years to realize that my father was very lucky, that not everybody enjoys their job. My father built the house that I grew up in, and my parents lived for 32 years in the house … Continue reading Wish Your Job Would Go Up in Flames? You’re Not Alone →

If you are a leader in your company/organization, I’d encourage you to take a look at a 2013 study conducted by Gallup, a company that’s well-respected in the field of employee engagement and retention research. The study is titled “State of the American Workplace: Employee Engagement Insights for U.S. Business Leaders.” Here’s what Gallup’s CEO … Continue reading 5 Words that Will Reduce Turnover in any Workplace →

This is for every parent whose child has fallen face down in their textbook while mumbling, “I’m NEVER going to use this!” That was my frequent teenage refrain: “I’m NEVER going to use this!” Algebra. Geometry. And especially Calculus. These were useless, giant wastes of my precious teenage time. Sinkholes of sanity, or so I … Continue reading One Tip for Landing Your Dream Job →

I’ve been in corporate America for more than 25 years, and I’ve worked for a lot of bosses, a couple of whom I suspected might be crazy, but only one of whom did I have actual, indisputable crazy proof. Her name was Georgia, and I adored her. I liked Georgia instantly. We hit it off … Continue reading What if Your Boss Takes the Crazy Train to Work? →