Problem solving is what you would expect on any given day in business. But some problems are outrageous and require an equally outrageous response. And that’s why I love the memory of Gilbert Gottfried. When my public relations business was starting out and I was young and enthusiastic and didn’t think about things like dangerous weather events, I was hired to plan a holiday celebration in which major donors of a non-profit organization would be invited to a field transformed to look and feel … [Read more...] about ‘Keep Laughing as Loud as Possible’
business cents
Are You Slipping Back into Caveman Brain?
When Governor Doug Ducey addressed more than 500 businesspeople in Northern Arizona last month, the audience heard him talk about progress being made in expanding broadband connectivity along I-40 from Flagstaff to the California border. That’s good news, right? “This critical infrastructure will give more homes fast internet, improve public safety, increase access to education and help more Arizonans get the care they need through telemedicine,” stated the governor. But, we seem to have … [Read more...] about Are You Slipping Back into Caveman Brain?
Living in Gratitude at Altitudes
On a typical “bluebird” winter day on Arizona’s highest mountain, expert skiers like Lynda Fleischer greet the crystal clear bluest-of-blue sky with a huge smile to the heavens after a night of fresh-fallen snow. “This is where I belong,” she said. “The mountain is part of who I am. It makes me who I am. It makes me better. It makes me powerful and in control. It makes me feel alive.” Fleischer found the majestic San Francisco Peaks when she arrived at Northern Arizona University, where she … [Read more...] about Living in Gratitude at Altitudes
Navigating with Purpose
Lava Falls Rapid is white-water fierce. It is, by far, the most famous and daunting rapid on the mighty Colorado River in the Grand Canyon. It comes up after a nice calm stretch of laid-back, almost complacent, floating. Most wouldn’t even notice the distant spray and subtle splashing up ahead. But Christa Sadler does. With oars thrusting forward, she remains on high alert, reading the river. Within about half a mile of the falls, the passengers in Christa’s raft also will be on high alert as … [Read more...] about Navigating with Purpose
Five Pounds to Perfect
Do you ever hear yourself starting sentences with, “If only,” or “When I,” or “After I?” They sound like this: “If only I had a doctoral degree, I could get the job I really want,” or “After I make my first million, I can travel to exotic lands,” or “When I lose five pounds, I’ll reward myself with a beach vacation!” These sentence starters sort of sound like goal setters, but don’t be fooled. They can really be tricky little non-starters. Five pounds may as well be 500 pounds, because, in … [Read more...] about Five Pounds to Perfect
Hissing is Never a Good Sound
I once had dinner with a rattlesnake. It was an uninvited guest, but nonetheless, it showed up at suppertime while I was grilling. I did what any courageous Arizonan should do who doesn’t have a long-handled shovel or a pair of snake tongs. I called the fire department – which I’ve heard is the No. 1 reason people make emergency calls to Scottsdale firefighters. I’ve also heard it’s the No. 1 call they hate. Knowing this, I called anyway. The dispatcher explained that this particular evening … [Read more...] about Hissing is Never a Good Sound
We are Better When We Move
Turns out the Sundance Kid had it right. “I’m better when I move,” he explained, during a job interview to be a payroll guard, when asked if could shoot. And the truth is, so are we. Except now there’s a whole lot of research backing Sundance up, much like Butch Cassidy’s Hole in the Wall Gang when they were robbing trains (which is a physical activity). Banner Health applauds physical activity. In an article published in 2020, the medical non-profit giant and largest employer in Arizona … [Read more...] about We are Better When We Move
Reflecting the Glow of a Lucky Starfish
There’s a popular story told by many a motivational speaker that describes a person walking along a beach who was picking up starfish on the shore and tossing them back into the ocean. An observer told the starfish thrower that his efforts were basically pointless because there were so many starfish on that stretch of sand, so he couldn’t possibly save them all and what he was doing was not going to make a difference. Unphased by the discouraging comments, the starfish thrower kept walking … [Read more...] about Reflecting the Glow of a Lucky Starfish
Mental Toughness Finds a Way Out of the Jungle
If Maui were a woman, she would look like Amanda Eller. At a lean 5-foot-7 and donning a long, breezy, tangerine-colored dress, Amanda seemed to float, not walk, down the main street of Makawao. Her delicate golden leaf earrings dangled and shimmered against her long smooth, shiny, dark brown hair. Tan, fit and self-assured, Amanda is a calm, poised vision of tropical health. If there is such a thing as an old soul, that would be Amanda, wise, yet youthful. From my perspective, she is the human … [Read more...] about Mental Toughness Finds a Way Out of the Jungle
Be Camera Ready, Like James Bond
The thing about Opportunity is she doesn’t necessarily arrive after you’ve lost five pounds, gotten out of your sweatpants, whitened your teeth and brushed your hair. Opportunity is quite stubborn about being on her own schedule. She’s kind of a brat that way. She shows up when she feels like it, whether it’s convenient for you or not. That’s why you have to be sneakier than Opportunity. I’ve found the best way to outwit Opportunity is to make a habit of being Camera Ready. Being Camera Ready … [Read more...] about Be Camera Ready, Like James Bond
