Business Cents

A few years ago, I called up a friend I’d known since grade school and asked her if she would go shopping with me. As the mother-of-the-groom, I needed a dress that would not embarrass my son and would fit with the colors and style of his large, formal wedding. Turns out, my friend, Claire, needed a dress for her sister’s wedding, which was in another state amongst people she had not seen in ages – or ever. Neither of us had shopped for a monumental-life-event dress in years and all I could … [Read more...] about Invest in Yourself: Practice Your Craft, Buy the Dress

The teddy bear cholla sure sounds cuddly, but don’t let it fool you. The spines on these prolific desert plants are often barbed, like a little fishhook. The cactus itself grows in a collection of smaller pieces. The pieces easily disconnect from the main stem and their needles are designed to catch and hold onto anything that comes near them, like you. It’s not unusual to find them hitching a ride on your shoe, ankle, backpack or bike tire. Once they grab on, you really don’t want to use your … [Read more...] about Letters We Will Never Send

When comedic writer/actor Carl Reiner died at the age of 98 on June 29, I imagine those of us who were raised on his wit couldn’t help but to crack a smile in quiet remembrance and appreciation. Reiner joined American families in their living rooms in the 1960s as the creator of “The Dick Van Dyke Show,” and also as Dick’s difficult and terse boss, Alan Brady, host of the “Alan Brady Show” for which Van Dyke’s character, Dick Petrie, wrote jokes. But that’s not all he did. Reiner was a … [Read more...] about Staying Hungry, Laughing Loudly, Being Too Busy to Die

Knowledge is power. And knowing yourself, your strengths and weaknesses, is critical when embarking on a career path, climbing a mountain, choosing a friend and needing a go-to answer in an interview process in which that annoying question about your strengths and weaknesses is still asked. What you know and believe about yourself likely will impact every important decision you make in every aspect of your life. In his book, “Self Matters: Creating Your Life from the Inside Out,” Dr. Phil … [Read more...] about Know Yourself: Honor Your Heritage, Embrace Your Environment

My mom once told me, “Nature’s laws are God’s laws, and they must be followed.” In her wisdom, she recognized the need to respect and adhere to the forces that aren’t going to change one iota – like gravity. One of my favorites is balance. This Law of Nature is demonstrated everywhere in the Universe: day and night, hills and valleys, good and evil, push and pull, plain and peanut. If there’s a depression, like a wash in the desert, at some point, it will fill with water. That’s just how it … [Read more...] about When Bad People Happen to Good Jobs

Walking through a building of scientists one day, I noticed a sign taped to a door that reminded me of a handmade “Keep Out” message hanging from a child’s treehouse. The words said something about “Writing Time” and “Please Do Not Disturb.” At first glance, the sign felt harsh and almost rude, but then I realized the archaeologists behind the closed door were trying to set boundaries and carve out some uninterrupted space where they could think and document their research. I noticed I was … [Read more...] about Are You Hiding in the Conference Room with Noise-Canceling Headphones?

Jessica Watkins is a 31-year-old, unassuming, small-framed geologist with an easy smile and former member of a Division I national champion rugby team. She is many things, including an astronaut-in-training, but she’s not a pilot…yet. When NASA selected her from a field of 1,800 applicants to be one of 13 individuals being trained for possible space travel to destinations like the Moon and Mars, how well she could handle a jet did not top the list of preferred competencies. She was chosen for … [Read more...] about Over the Moon with Soft Skills