At  Christmas time, I blogged about calling your clients to wish them a happy holiday instead of pushing against the emotions of the season and trying to meet with clients who are not inclined to do so at that time of year. 

Let’s take this a step further. In your business, do you send Christmas cards and birthday cards to all your clients?  Or even to your clients’ children? I remember every single year when I was a kid I received a birthday card from my parents’ insurance agent. I had never met the guy and wouldn’t know him on the street. I thought this was stupid then and I still do.

There are people in this industry and maybe in others too, who still follow this old tradition and send, or probably have their assistant send, birthday and holiday cards to all their clients. I truly think this is largely ineffective and a waste of time. (read more…)

Popularity: 9%

As I tweeted yesterday, “We see and often judge others by their behavior while we know nothing about the motivation behind that behavior”.

When you go about your business without communicating with the people around you, whether it’s your boss, co-workers or family, what are some of the assumptions they might make about you? (read more…)

Popularity: 11%

Someone made the comment today that “trust is earned“.  I guess to some people this is an unquestionable belief. If they don’t know you, how would they know if you are worthy of their trust?

Trust is earned. You mean you have a relationship with a friend or lover and you don’t trust this person? How long does it take for he or she to earn your trust? (read more…)

Popularity: 22%

Tuesday, April 8th, 2009, the Vermont legislature overrode by one vote Governor Jim Douglas’ veto and approved same sex marriage.

I am proud to be a Vermonter. I believe in love. I believe in tolerance. I believe in acceptance. I believe in appreciating our differences. I believe in equal rights. I believe in treating others as I would have them treat me. I believe in change. I believe in the power of the people.

I truly do not understand another opponents’ position.

What is so threatening about gay couples having the right to marry?

What makes gays undeserving of the same rights you enjoy?

What effect will their right to marry have on you personally?

What evidence do you have that children will be harmed by being raised with two parents of the same sex?

What if your own child was gay? Would you support a prejudiced world then?

What values do you want to instill in your children?

How would this world be different if we practiced tolerance and acceptance of others no matter their differences or beliefs?

What would acceptance feel like?

Will you try it?

Popularity: 61%

Have you ever been hurt, disappointed or let-down in some way by a someone you care about? Okay, dumb question, we all have been at some point in our lives. It happens all the time. One of the things that’s really bugging me lately is people thinking, “I didn’t mean to” is a valid defense.

Somehow, many people believe that if they didn’t intentionally set out to hurt another person, then they did nothing wrong. I disagree. Ever heard the word “negligence“? (read more…)

Popularity: 87%

Is this a good time? Do you have a few minutes? Am I interrupting anything? All very polite intros when you are calling someone to discuss a particular matter, to lament or just to chat. So why do so many people not bother to ask? (read more…)

Popularity: 66%

Most people try to teach kids to say they’re sorry when it’s appropriate. Little Johnny steals Connor’s toy and won’t give it back. We patiently explain to Johnny that it is wrong to take things that don’t belong to us. We tell him he should apologize. Half the time I think kids say they are sorry just because they’ve been told to not because they understand that what they did was wrong and definitely not because they feel remorse. So how can you get kids to understand what an apology is really all about and how to deliver one appropriately?

Apologize to them. Have you? Do you? (read more…)

Popularity: 77%