No Lights on this Plane!

There were buttons to turn on the overhead lights, but when I pushed them, nothing happened. I turned on my phone flashlight and felt around for hidden buttons. Finally, I gave up, called the flight attendant and asked how to turn on the lights. She pushed the...

The Power of Empathy

I teach empathy and empathetic language, and I’ve taught it for a very long time. And I realized recently that when it came to using empathy, I was a dismal failure. Let me explain. I have a relative I don’t know very well. We’ve been thrown together recently due...

How to Ensure We’re Visionaries and Possibility Thinkers

Way back in high school one of my best friends and I entered a state-wide writing contest. I won, andshe went on to become a very successful TV writer. She imagined writing sitcoms, left her teaching job to move to LA and pursue her dream, and made itbig. Among other...

A Real Gift for the Holidays!

Have you ever noticed how many people seem to unpack memories of past mistakes and missed opportunities this time of year? In a recent issue of Maria Shriver’s Sunday Paper there was an article on biggest regrets. “One of the hardest lessons I’ve ever...

The Power of Play!

I was really excited at the possibility of teaching presentational skills to every employee at a prestigious Manhattan bank. At the time Dun & Bradstreet had a training division and I had worked with them creating a similar program on how to be a persuasive...

People Skills in Puppy School?

Merlin, my six-month-old cocker spaniel, graduated from puppy school recently. He didn’t learn much, but every puppy got a diploma. Since he’s apparently a slow learner, I was contemplating what I learned and what I still needed to do, and I started thinking...