Who’s Your Marlon Brando?
Recently on Turner Classic Movies, I watched a documentary simply titled “Brando.” There was a moment in it that sliced through my heart. It didn’t come from the legendary movie actor himself, though.
READ MOREMake Life Easier: Find One Thing You Have in Common With Your Foes
We all have “enemies” — unpleasant individuals we can’t avoid because of work or social obligations. As a general rule, we deal with them by staying away as much as possible. When we must interact, we speak as little as we can. Just the facts and goodbye. However, there’s a…
READ MOREWho Do You Work For?
As a development manager for a real-estate project I consult with, SB takes direction from three people: a profit-center manager, a project manager, and me. Most of the time, our advice and recommendations work together. Sometimes, however, we disagree. And when we do, it throws SB into a frenzy. SB…
READ MOREWhere Do I Find a Mentor?
ETR reader Kendra Pearsall is eager to find a mentor and/or business partner. But she works at home, alone. “How do I find someone to work with?” she asks. Kendra, there are plenty of ways to do it. The most important thing to know is this: Don’t look for a…
READ MORENow or Later?
When you have an unpleasant job to do, do it right away. The natural tendency is to put it off and hope it disappears. And there are situations for which this kind of head-in-the-sand approach works best. Dealing with conflicts between subordinates, for example. My partner almost always ignores such…
READ MOREThe Best Way to Rise to the Top of Any Business
What’s the best way to surpass your peers and outdo your competitors? Work harder than they do. If that sounds daunting, consider this: Most people don’t work very hard. Some spend their workdays doing as little as they possibly can. Lots more stay busy, but achieve very little. They write…
READ MOREKeep It to Yourself
You know those parents who say they want to be their children’s “best friends”? You know the ones I’m talking about. Those obnoxious moms and pops with six-pack abs and designer jeans who have fun smoking pot with their kids and passing them candy-flavored condoms.
READ MOREUncle Al’s Rules: How To Become Your Company’s Most Valuable Employee
Today, I’d like to give you a simple, three-part formula that, when followed, will make any ordinary employee into a superstar. If you are working for somebody else now, you can use it to become your company’s most valuable employee. And within six months, here’s what you can expect: Your…
READ MOREBeware of Melting Butter
When yet another politician bit the dust not long ago, I couldn’t help but think of Henry Kissinger’s all-too-true observation that “power is the ultimate aphrodisiac.” I don’t have a lot to say about Governor Mark Sanford’s situation, except that I think the whole thing is very sad. I don’t…
READ MOREThe Simple Secret of… Complexity?
Usually, the writer’s mantra is “K.I.S.S.” (Keep It Simple Stupid.) And most of the time, this rule works just fine. Yet, we also know that writing – especially the kind of writing we do in sales letters and editorially – is more and more about building relationships. And aren’t relationships…
READ MOREWhat Inspires YOU to Be a Better You?
Michael Masterson has mentioned that the good and decent acts of friends, family, associates, and strangers have inspired him to make it one of his New Year’s resolutions – every year – to become a better person….
READ MOREHow Long Can You Concentrate?
Imagine this: You’re sitting in front of your computer, working on a project. Perhaps it’s a book, an e-mail, or an article. Or you’re doing research.
READ MORE