Detail

black car side mirror during daytime

My dad suggested I get my car detailed. Trust me, he said, it’ll be like new.

He was right.

I swear it drives like new. My wife thinks so too.

That’s some strange psychology.

If I wash my keyboard, will it click faster? If I make my bed, will I sleep better?

Appearance can … Read more...

How To Tell a Failure Story

Photo of golden cogwheel on black background

Being a career coach in Silicon Valley, I hear a lot of stories of failure from entrepreneurs.

Indeed, anyone who has taken a shot at a startup has a ‘failure story’ to tell.

As a resume writer, I’ve figured out the way to tell ‘failure story’ honestly… Read more...

Changing People’s Minds

Person standing in boat

When we challenge someone’s core beliefs — their religion, their politics (which are often one and the same) — we threaten their worldview.

Our comments cut the line to their anchor.

And, somehow, we expect them to thank us for this.

No one wants to drift into the … Read more...

The Machine Gun

When I’m excited about something, I make machine-gun noises with my mouth. If I’m really stoked, I’ll cup my hands to my mouth to make the noise louder, and then move my head from side to side in a sweeping motion as if I’m spraying the room with machine-g… Read more...

The Gift of Work

We all can pay homage to work.

Work is most often where we find the flow. Doesn’t matter if you’re stuffing envelopes or running a department. When it hits, you don’t want to be anywhere else. And hopefully, there are some people around to share that good feeling… Read more...

Our Algorithms Are Failing Us

Our echo chambers are only getting louder.

I appreciate recommendation engines and suggested posts as much as anyone but they only feed me more of the same. The machines, they claim to know me, to have me pegged by what I do and say online or in a store or to a speaker sitting on … Read more...

The Helping Bug

To give you an idea as to how much I think about helping people find their way…

As I was reading a self-help book written in the nineties, I found myself putting aside my own growth to counsel the previous owner of the book who had carefully underlined significant passages a… Read more...

The Return Key

(1 min read)

We humans are adaptable creatures.

I have an ancient keyboard that I keep around because I love the clickety-click springiness of the keys. That said, it’s old, so the return key sticks. And when I say sticks, I mean at least 4-5 times per day when I hit the ret… Read more...