Alan Weiss’s Word of the Week™ – 12/18/19
Today's word: sessile.
Proposals
A business proposal from a consultant to a prospective client is not an exploration or a negotiation. It is a summation of conceptual agreement reached in person and recorded in the proposal. If you don't have that prior agreement with
The Mysterious Case of the Non-Hospitable Hostess
I'm at the St. Regis, one of the high-end hotels in New York City. I went for breakfast, and there were six tables occupied, the hostess showing me to mine. Yet there was only a single waiter on duty, apparently,
Looking Up Every So Often
This was reported in today’s Wall Street Journal by Johan Norberg from The Cato Institute. During this past decade: Extreme poverty fell from 18.2% to 8.6% (source: World Bank) Malaria in Africa declined by 60% and HIV by more than
Small Talk
I'm waiting in a dentist's office and two other patients, who are both in the construction business, are talking about customers of theirs whom I happen to know, and the comments weren't very positive. I've heard people on trains screaming
Alan Weiss’s Monday Morning Memo® – 12/16/2019
The managers of the restaurant where we are the best customers secretly loaded (so others wouldn't see and expect it) a huge gift basket of Italian goodies into the trunk of my car parked out front last night. A non-profit director
Typo
Let me be very clear about this: When someone unsolicitedly points out a typo in your work (especially a published book, but even a column or an article) without also commenting on the content of the work, it's merely passive/aggressive
Want to Play A Little Game?
It's absolutely depressing to listen to people who bemoan what they can't do any more. They were athletes in school, but can run as fast and jump as high now. Their kids were home and being raised, and now they're
The Holiday Spirit
Generosity and charity can be two different things. Charity consists of "giving" something tangible, usually money. It's often writing a check, which is easy for many of us. Of course, "charity" can also be kindness and tolerance toward others, but
Yeah, Well, Try Doing It Better
Here's the deal: If someone tells me they need help, and I give them advice that I know works and will work for them, and they are still unsuccessful and tell me, "I'm already doing what you told me to do