Ten Compelling Reasons to be a "B" Student in Work or Life

by Mary C Schaefer        

I was involved in a minor car accident early this year.  Weeks later I was still surprised at how much the experience slowed me down, even though I don’t have any obvious physical injuries.

For instance, I wasn’t keeping up with my to-do list like I wanted.  At one point I was two days late with my weekly post/email distribution. 

Late according to who?  Me.  It may not mean a lot to my regular readers when my articles get posted, but I like to meet my commitments, particularly to myself.  I also think that acknowledgment that I didn’t do what I said I was going to do is important, though it may be subtle, for my readers to trust in me. 

What impact does the media have on role models and your career?

by Regina Barr

More than you might think. Once again I was reminded of how important the media and role models are to women in business after viewing a short film by Jennifer Siebel Newsom put out by MissRepresentation.org. (Watch the Trailer.)

The film Miss Representation exposes how American youth are being sold the concept that women and girls’ value lies in their youth, beauty and sexuality. MissRepresentation.org seeks to break the cycle of mistruths.

Why is this important to you?

(Find Out Why Here)

Reader Pick  

Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me?

by Mindy Kaling
 

Mindy Kaling has lived many lives: the obedient child of immigrant professionals, a timid chubster afraid of her own bike, a Ben Affleck–impersonating Off-Broadway performer and playwright, and, finally, a comedy writer and actress prone to starting fights with her friends and coworkers with the sentence “Can I just say one last thing about this, and then I swear I’ll shut up about it?”
  
In Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me?, Mindy invites readers on a tour of her life and her unscientific observations on romance, friendship, and Hollywood, with several conveniently placed stopping points for you to run errands and make phone calls. Mindy Kaling really is just a Girl Next Door—not so much literally anywhere in the continental United States, but definitely if you live in India or Sri Lanka.

Permission Granted
 
by Ellen Lubin-Sherman

I just spent a hilarious and whirlwind weekend with my most beloved friend of 34 years.  We haven’t lived in the same city for 24 years but it doesn’t seem to matter.  If she gave up cheese or stopped eating protein after 2 p.m., I would know.  Our conversations are always free-flowing and filled with seemingly unimportant chitchat which is precisely what keeps the friendship so fresh and vibrant.

On the way back from driving her to the airport I thought about the two of us. I  think when we’re together, she’s free to be herself.  She can be silly, giddy, frustrated, exhausted, honest, serious and euphoric.  She can buy zany shoes that probably won’t be a hit in her home town of Atlanta but she’s with me so she can do it. She can pile on the junk jewelry, buy a dress that’s sleeveless, she can eat and not count calories — she says she’s feels “safe” with me and she is. Maybe I’m just giving her permission to be “the one” which she is.

The Zone - TFW™ Fall Issue

In this Issue:

 
Clearing your head of uninspired thoughts, bad juju and trapped behaviors can be achieved with peaceful focus.  Developing creative and determined focus can bring you the peace and fulfillment you have been struggling to achieve.  Each of us has the ability to put ourselves squarely in the zone to bring about this positive transformation.  TFW contributors share their life experiences to inspire you to find your zone.
  
 
  

The Seven Moods of Employee Engagement

by Jennifer Miller

On this morning’s walk I saw a typical sight: kids waiting at a school bus stop. There were six elementary-aged kids, all lined up, hoods drawn up around their heads to ward off the chill in the Michigan air. Their body language telegraphed various attitudes: duty, sleepiness, and watchfulness. Six kids waiting for their day to begin.

And then, there was the seventh kid; probably someone’s little brother. He was about three years old and he also sported the hood drawn up around his ears. But he wasn’t standing in line. Oh no, he was having fun. As the others stood mutely more or less in a row, Little Brother danced around all of them, chanting in a sing-song, “Catch me if you can . . .catch me if you can. . .”

Did You Learn Your Lesson?

by Kevin Eickenberry

Flashback to my kidhood  . . .  I’ve just made some error or mistake, and I am being made aware of that error by one of my parents.  At the end of the conversation, they ask me . . . Did you learn your lesson?

I’m guessing that my flashback is your flashback too – that someone in your life has asked you that question once or perhaps on many occasions – Did you learn your lesson?

Questions are a powerful tool, and when others have asked you this question, I’m guessing their intention was to help you learn something (a noble intention), even if took the intention as a bit less noble.