Ever hear the phrase, “It’s a worthy goal”? What exactly is a worthy goal? Is it worthy to us or to others who tell us it is an admirable feat? What exactly is a goal, anyway? And what if we do not accomplish all of our little projects? Does that mean…
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) was once pitched as the business world’s moral compass — a way to create workplaces that were fair, respectful, and representative of society at large. In theory, few would argue against the ideals. I've written about them in previous articles. In…
Five years ago, remote work was a stopgap—a temporary fix to an urgent problem. Today, it’s a fixture of the modern workplace. Around 22% of the workforce now works remotely, a statistic that surprises many. For countless employees, the office has become a tool rather than a default.
From my perspective as a corporate trainer, thriving…
Remember when “Personnel” sounded like someone who actually knew your name? I do — I worked in the Tennessee Department of Personnel in the 1990s, back when the role still felt personal. When did employees stop being people and start becoming “resources” or worse, commodities? Are these departments still people-centric?
A century ago, the personnel department…
Manipulation doesn’t always wear a villain’s cape. At work, it often shows up as subtle pressure, passive-aggressive comments, or convenient “misunderstandings.” But make no mistake: manipulation is about influence without consent. It’s control disguised as collaboration. And once you know the pattern, you’ll see it everywhere.
In my forthcoming book, The Communication Key, I lay out…
In the competitive and ever-changing world of real estate, some brokers are making bold promises to sellers: “If I can’t sell your house, I’ll buy it!” On the surface, this kind of “guaranteed sale” may seem like a confident, risk-free offer to homeowners. But to those of us who actually understand how markets—and ethics—work, it…
If you are a small business owner in Murfreesboro and don’t know the name Amanda Howell, you soon will. This woman has a business hustle unlike any I have never seen before. I have long appreciated the skill of dropping into a new town and creating a business out of nothing. And that is exactly…
Previously, my books were on business topics. One on leadership, “The 8 Managerial Challenges”, and one on team building, “The Individual Team: How Fairness Wrecked the Workplace”. My current work is on interpersonal communications. That is to say how to speak to others to inform, get what you want or be understood.
But…
As human beings, we may from time-to-time, fall into certain situations not of our own design but due to happenstance. Accidents occur and whether a “happy” accident or not, we must deal with the new situation. Yet rarely do we ever fall into a planned action. We don’t just wake up in the shower nor…
I love that old maxim, “The only thing constant is change”. It’s a funny quip, but also extremely true. So, why do so many of us resist change? The short answer is, we hate to admit we are ever out of control. But we are out of control far more than we are ever in…
Some are drawn to entrepreneurship, others have to discover it for themselves. Either way, it is never easy to start your own business. For Lance Chandler, it was the rediscovery of an old desire to work for himself.
As a teenager, he became a DJ for events and parties. Too young to drive, his mother would…
Since the pandemic, there has been a lot of buzz in the business world about remote working. The fact is, working from a distance is nothing new. As a Realtor, I remember helping a home buyer locate a residence that would have good internet access because he worked from a home office. That was over…
A few years ago, I met a man with who I had mutual friends at a social gathering. So, of course, I asked him what he did for a living. He said he was newly promoted to a management position within his corporation. He seemed exuberant and told me he looked forward to what he…
It is said, buying a house is the biggest financial investment for most families. Tim Hicks, the owner of Clear Inspections, knows houses as well as the importance of having that investment evaluated. He grew up in the construction business as his dad was a building contractor. From new…
One of the first things a good Realtor will tell his or her seller clients is to "de-clutter". This is not necessarily saying the house is a mess or dirty, but does imply it's time to put away all those personal tchotchkes and souvenirs collected through the years. The intent is to allow potential buyers…