Embracing “And” Instead of “Or” in a Standardized Pricing Discussion
Jim Collins devotes a small chapter in Built to Last to the idea of embracing “and” rather than “or.” (You can see the book summarized in Collins’ article “Building Companies to Last” here.) Collins refers to “the tyranny…
Don’t be a Loser: Say What you Really Want for the Win-Win
Why We’re Afraid to ask for What we Want We’ve all been brought up hearing “no.” Don’t touch that; don’t do that; no, you can’t have that. Likewise, we’ve been taught that wanting things is bad. Plato writes…
Write Down Your Goals if you Really Want to Reach Them
I don’t remember which book I read it in, though (typical of the way my memory works) I remember the couch I was sitting on when I read it. I read that the largest difference…
Lessons from a Wine Tour: Know What Makes you Different
I recently had the opportunity to go on a wine tour when I was in Seattle. After doing a little internet research, I found two companies that would pick me up in Seattle, take me…
Closing Doors: Why you Should Focus if you Want to be Good at Anything at All
Months ago I read Predictably Irrational by Dan Ariely. The book was full of awesome tidbits of information regarding people’s buying habits and attitudes towards money among other things–but one idea stuck with me more than any…
My Evolution into a Health-Conscious (Paleo) Foodie
My obsession with food started as a teenager. I had busy parents who were never home and who would regularly tell my brother and me to “fend for ourselves” if we were hungry. I happily…
Lessons from a Festival Ticket Booth: Ask for the Money
I spent my weekend volunteering at the ticket booth for Elderberry Festival in Hartsburg, Missouri. Festivals aren’t really my thing–but this is a family business, and family is definitely my thing. On Thursday morning I dutifully rose…
Networking is for Go-Getters
Tonight’s post will be short and sweet. I’m a member of the NC Council for Economic Development and try to take advantage of their awesome events as frequently as possible. Just last week I went to their…
Call with a Current MBA Candidate: Are you Good Enough?
I made my second call to someone in my alumni network. The young lady I spoke with is a first year student in one of my dream programs—and the way that she described the school confirmed…
Tapping my Alumni Network: Step One
You hear people talk about choosing to go to a certain school because of their amazing alumni networks. My school, for one, boasts the likes of Steve Jobs, Emilio Pucci, James Beard, Gary Snyder, Larry…