When Walter “Fritz” Mondale lost to Ronald Reagan in 1984, he is said to have asked George McGovern, who lost to Richard Nixon in 1972, “Tell me, George, when does it stop hurting?” To which McGovern answered, “When it happens, Fritz, I’ll let you know.” Watching Mitt Romney’s concession speech…
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Last week, my husband and I had to cut down our favorite tree. The tree was a Chinese elm that shaded our backyard. It was at least 80 feet tall. When we first bought the house, the tree guy told us it was dying and recommended that we cut it…
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Last week, I fell out of my office chair onto the floor. The resulting “thud” was so loud that my brother, Russell, who occupies the office below me, immediately phoned to see if I was okay and laugh at me (to his credit, in that order). Other people from down…
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I am inspired by people who are masters of their craft. My toddler is an expert in the art of mastery. Yesterday I watched him unlock the door to his dad's truck, open the door, climb in, sit in the driver's seat, start the engine, stop the engine, climb out…
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This weekend, I attended the 2012 State Bar Labor and Employment Law Institute CLE. I got to meet Mike Maslanka, a lawyer whom I have admired from a distance for several years. I love hearing Mike talk. He always inspires me and makes me laugh. His talk about professionalism and ethics…
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My mother taught me never to talk about sex, politics, or religion in a social setting. You might ask: where’s the fun in that? But for employers, training employees to avoid these topics in the workplace is not only more fun than getting sued for discrimination or harassment, it is…
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What does it mean to be intentional? How can employers be more intentional about their corporate culture? In 2011, NPR published an article called “Heroes of the Taj Hotel: Why They Risked Their Lives.” The article tells the remarkable story of employees of the Taj Majal Palace Hotel in Mumbai,…
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As I reflect on the New Year, I am reminded of the words of Albert Einstein: "Strange is our situation here on earth. Each of us comes for a short visit, not knowing why, yet sometimes seeming to divine purpose. From the standpoint of daily life, however, there is one…
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Since 1952, the International Association of Administrative Professionals (IAAP) has honored office workers by sponsoring Administrative Professionals Week. This year, the IAAP is veering away from the traditional celebration, which has centered on administrative professionals. In light of the recession and resulting downsizing by many employers, the IAAP is encouraging…
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