We are now in the “Season of Giving”. For some that means getting Christmas or Hannukah and other celebratory gifts purchased, wrapped, and sent. We plan gatherings for exchanging gifts and find many excuses to party!For others it’s giving back in lots of ways, like showing appreciation, donating time, volunteering, or monitarily supporting our favorite nonprofit(s), which are all meaningful and often lasting gifts for those who benefit. “Giving Tuesday” is annually the Tuesday after Thanksgiving. It’s a global movement to be generous in giving back to our communities. Founded in 2012 by United Nations Foundation, there is an organization and website...

PROCRASTINATION! If you are like me, your long “to do” list keeps getting moved from one day to the next without a single dent in it! Sure, I rise on time to head out for some exercise. I certainly don’t forget to eat, (and eat, and eat), sit down in front of the TV, watch the news (and the talk show, and whatever comes on next), check my e-mail, social media, “like” a few posts, pop out a few birthday greetings, look at articles (many of which aren’t 100% truth based), maybe turn on my desk top computer, then walk away...

AI (artificial intelligence) is all the rage. In my networking meetings and social media posts, folks are asking “How do you use AI to streamline your business?”. Surveys are being conducted through web platforms. Market research studies ask about our uses of AI. Companies who sell subscriptions to such services, and product developers want to know. How can AI make life easier? AI has been incorporated with technology for many everyday uses.  For instance, telephone solicitation, voice menus to access any customer service entity by phone, social media, financial and accounting services. We’re so used to it. We may not notice...

Spring cleaning!   Out with the old, in with the new!   Feels good to declutter our surroundings, right? Wondering what to do with all the stuff you find during your "Spring Cleaning"?  This article, initially written as a guest blog for Activate Good, will help you take your efforts to new (and creative) levels!    Activate Good, a Raleigh NC nonprofit, connects volunteers with opportunities to serve, educates folks on community issues, assists companies to fulfill their corporate social responsibility, empowers youth to lead and serve, and so much more.  If you aren't in the Raleigh NC area, there are likely organizations in your...

A Singing Telegram?  Isn't that when someone dresses up in a silly costume, runs up to a designated person, sings "Happy Birthday" (or something else), and does something embarrassing for the fun of it? Do they still do that? Singing telegrams have been around since 1933. Per Wikipedia, they were first delivered by Western Union, as an attempt to make telegrams more popular and fun than the standard topics of urgent news: (like "Your uncle died. Stop. Funeral in 2 weeks. Stop...." - you get the idea). Telegrams were delivered in person. When telephones became a standard household service in the 1960s, in...