My post today on Inc.com, “How to Build the Best Relationships With Both Leaders and Superiors,” begins: Misunderstanding how we like helping others holds many back from building relationships with leaders and superiors. Getting their help can advance you. You get that meeting with that decision-maker/founder/CEO/titan/guru/expert who can make your project happen. You’ve dreamed of this chance for years. How do you interact with this person? If you’re like most[…] Keep reading →

My post today on Inc.com, “Why You Should Never Let Anyone Call You ‘Smart’ in Business” begins: Intelligence is good so entrepreneurs should like being called smart, right? Wrong. People call you smart when you have nothing they care about more. Look at who doesn’t care if you’re smart in business: Customers value products and services that solve their problems. Employees want to pay their rent and enjoy their jobs.[…] Keep reading →

Jack Welch said that most of his work was keeping his company entrepreneurial, preventing it from ossifying with red tape and other bureaucracy. He was very successful, in his workplace as much as outside it. I call that stuff garbage. The waste we produce as side effects of what we want. I guarantee your work life has garbage you haven’t been able to get rid of. Same with your personal[…] Keep reading →

Did this clause of the Constitution confuse you when you first learned it, in particular that part about treaties: This Constitution, and the laws of the United States which shall be made in pursuance thereof; and all treaties made, or which shall be made, under the authority of the US., shall be the supreme law of the land The part about treaties puzzled me when I first learned it. We’re[…] Keep reading →

Politicians tell you America is “losing ground” to other countries all the time. A search on “America is losing ground to China India” returns tons of results, many fear-mongering. This language comes from a misguided belief that business and trade are zero-sum competitions, that if someone elsewhere gets a deal then you lost it. If you want votes and don’t mind sowing fear, anxiety, and xenophobia, great. But people succeeding[…] Keep reading →

A reader asked: Have you written about ‘people caring or worrying about what others think of them’? Years ago I used to very arrogantly assert that I didn’t care what others thought of me but then I realized that it did matter to me. Half my anxiety comes from it. And a lot of satisfaction too when I learn they think highly of me. So I don’t outrightly make that[…] Keep reading →

The Media Center is “a new kind of collaborative workspace dedicated to supporting and connecting the next generation of media and tech entrepreneurs, innovators and artists by providing industry resources, events, mentorship and educational opportunities,” created by the City of New York’s Made In NY program and the Independent Filmmaker Project (IFP). It’s a vibrant space with an active community in an exciting area of Brooklyn. On January 26th I’ll[…] Keep reading →

Just back from an all-day networking event not just to meet people but for improving how you meet people I realized something new. Do you try to meet new people to improve your network? If you want to meet people who match with you more than people you already know, you have to free time from the people you know. In other words, you have to spend less time with[…] Keep reading →

I’m excited participate in ConnectorCon next Saturday, December 12 which you can read more about here. The conference is focused on bringing connectors and thoughtful givers together for a day focused on developing relationships, building partnerships, and learning about everything from psychology to new technology around connecting. I speak from personal experience that nearly every connection the founder has made for me has worked for me. Some people like connecting others.[…] Keep reading →