The Networker

  I once wrote a column with the prophetic title, “Someday When I’m Quarantined.” In it, I vowed that if I were ever unable to leave my home for a few months, I’d finally do all of the things I don’t normally have time to do. I’d put my old photos into albums,...

Let’s say your child’s teacher calls and asks if you’ll present a talk about your work to her class. Or your boss wants you to present at an event she can’t attend. In a moment of enthusiasm, or maybe because you can’t think of a good excuse not to, you agree....

I never believed the notion that people fear public speaking more than death. Given the choice, speak or die, I think most people would speak and you wouldn’t be able to shut them up. A career that involves a lot of public speaking has taught me that speaking is...

Happy 2020! I hope you saw in the New Year at a raucous gathering with lots of friends and loud music. Unless you’re like me. Then I hope you didn’t. Then I hope you had a quiet evening with a few loved ones and fell asleep early despite the racket next door.My...

Aah, the perfect gift. You’re loved one will cherish it for years to come. They’ll tell everyone they know about it. And they’ll think of you fondly every time they use it, which you hope will make up for the way they think of you the rest of the time. But if you wait...

I type in my name, address, credit card number, discount code, mother’s maiden name, model of first car and nickname of second-grade teacher’s oldest child and ta-dah! The online form locks up.    I close out, go back in and do the whole thing once more and…it locks...