Do you like being told what you’re doing wrong. I don’t. Not really. However, what I think I dislike even more are the politics of being kind to me to my face, and then operating in the shadows by criticizing me. But here in North Carolina, isn’t that the southern way? The solution in the workplace is most likely creating a culture of accountability is about the THING that might need to be addressed, and not that YOU need to be addressed as a human. I think if we separate act

Enter eye roll here. We all get the meeting request for the 3-hour strategic planning session. Maybe for some of us, a 3-hour session is considered a short meeting! And solid bonus points for those of you that have an outside consultant coming in to facilitate this session. Ok, let’s be positive. Maybe these sessions will be fantastic and give you and your team focus! However (see how I didn’t say “but”), yes, however, more often than not, this outside consultant comes in and

What was your major in college? And if you are a recent grad, did you find a job in your field? For those of you on your second jobs, is that second job in the same field? And if you are about 10 years into your career…what career are you in now? I think it is more common than ever for the workforce to change careers, for marketing majors to go into sales, and for pre-med students to shift to engineering. Take note, hiring managers! When you are looking for a new team member,

Why do we hate failure? Probably because we think no one else around us is failing. Trust me, everyone around you has failed, whether it is privately or publicly or perhaps both. Failing fast is what matters. Failing means you are trying. Trying means you are taking risks. Taking risks means you aren’t afraid to change. Take courage, because if you aren’t afraid to change you are already setting yourself apart from the rest of the work world. It might be now and it might be l

Have you been here before? You lost your job. You were laid off. The company restructured after COVID. You opened a brick and mortar business only to realize that the overhead was far reaching beyond the industry average of making a profit after year three. The comeback might be after that corporate job. The comeback might also be after than corporate job followed by that passion project and then on to the next thing that is way outside of your comfort zone and expertise. I h

I always wonder…”Why do I love true crime so much?” I think it’s the idea that everything is going just fine - until it’s not. You know how in Dateline, Keith Morrisson says “It was a quiet night in suburban Illinois, the neighborhood where kids rode their bikes and families got to know their neighbors, until a phone call to 911 came in at 9:30 pm…” Like my dad always says: “Nothing good happens after 9 pm!” The lesson learned…go to bed! And the second lesson learned: anyone

I talked a bit about this in my last post. Hey managers…what are you using for performance metrics? This subject matter, to me, is similar to the strengths finders and personality tests that flood the market. What are the results of your Myers-Briggs or DiSC StrengthsFinder? Ugh. What color am I? What shape? How about animals? I like to think…if the zombie apocalypse came to us, would I stay in fight? Would I run away? Would I hide? That might tell me more than if I am a D o

Liz Simpers posts about annual review pitfalls.

Get pumped! You got the job. You navigated the two maybe six interviews (and yes, I have heard of such a thing…) and they sent you that email or called that call! So now what? Did you truly represent yourself in an honest and open way? Were you honest about your skillset? When they asked you about your weaknesses, did you tell them that you had some but you now have none? Or even worse…that your weaknesses are actually that you care too much and you work too much and you exce

“What are some of your strengths?”Oh, we LOVE this question! For most of us, this is our favorite topic, and an easy one we practice when preparing for interviews. We know the answer to this. We have rehearsed it because, we want this job. We came this far, got a face-to-face, and now we are here to IMPRESS! “What are some of your weaknesses?” Oof. Ok, what do we come up with here? We also have rehearsed this one. We want to be honest. But not THAT honest. We want to show we

I'm kind of embarrassed to admit this… because Apple TV has a smaller footprint than other streaming services their amazing shows go unnoticed. My family has discovered For All Mankind years later than we should have. If you ever loved shows like Lost or Mad Men or Breaking Bad or any other character driven, beautifully shot, and deeply significant shows this one is for you. Why does this belong in a LinkedIn or Substack blog? Because story matters. And, to be honest, interwo

And here is how to prevent that from happening to you... It's the excitement of getting started! For most of our small business friends, there is a level of excitement in the first few months of starting a business. You have filed your LLC. You have gotten your website through GoDaddy. You have figured out how to build your basic website through wix.com. Heck you might even have paid your local Chamber of Commerce for a ribbon cutting event, even if you don't have a brick and

A friend once told me that when someone tells you how busy they are, what they're actually telling you is how important they are. There is a standard response when people ask how you're doing ; “Ugh! I'm just so busy!” That phrase is such a frustration! Aren't we all busy? Aren't we all important? The other question that I have is this: do we spend time doing the things that matter the most to us? So if I care so much about horses I will spend all of my time at the stables. I

I have had so many speakers at events in which I have told them how to use a microphone. They simply go blank once they get on stage in front of people. it might be 15 people, it might be 1500 people. They just lose all memory of how to actually hold a microphone. When someone holds a microphone far away from their face it makes the sound team's job so difficult. They crank up the volume and here comes the feedback. How many times have you been in an event where there is feed

In today's rapidly changing business landscape, small business coaching has become a vital resource for entrepreneurs seeking to navigate challenges and seize opportunities. With a diverse workforce spanning multiple generations, effective coaching must adapt to meet the unique needs of each group. This blog post explores strategies for small business coaching that resonate across generations, ensuring that every entrepreneur can thrive. Understanding Generational Differences

In today's fast-paced world, effective communication is the backbone of any successful organization. Whether you're in healthcare, technology, education, or retail, the ability to convey ideas clearly and efficiently can make or break your business. This blog post will explore how you can transform your business communication across various industries, providing practical tips and examples to enhance your interactions. Understanding the Importance of Effective Communication E

Small businesses often face unique challenges that can hinder their growth and success. From limited resources to fierce competition, navigating the business landscape can feel overwhelming. However, one powerful tool that can help small business owners thrive is coaching. By implementing effective coaching strategies, entrepreneurs can unlock their potential, enhance their skills, and ultimately drive their businesses toward success. Understanding the Importance of Coaching