Tired of meetings that go on forever? Determine the stop time when you schedule it. Begin the meeting with a reminder of this hard stop time. It may even be helpful to instruct someone to give gentle nudges as the end time draws near. By having a predetermined “stop” time, it forces attendees to stay focused … Continue reading “Before starting a meeting, decide when it will end”

I received such a thoughtful gift over the weekend! Fellow LinkedIn Learning instructor, Dean Karrel, sent me this puzzle of the New York skyline with a friendly note. He saw my post a few weeks back about my ACL reconstruction. He also knows I love visiting New York, and that family means everything to me. He used his knowledge to send … Continue reading “How a small, thoughtful action can build relationships remotely”

What is your definition of success? Some people may say your income level defines your success. I discussed my definition of success with Zach White recently on his new podcast show, The Happy Engineer. For me—while money is important—it shouldn’t be the defining factor. Success is having the ability to live the kind of life … Continue reading “Why money shouldn’t be the main definition of success”

We all have a weakness…or two. It’s not the weakness that makes you weak, though. It’s how you handle it that matters. Here’s an simple process for responding to a weakness: Decline – Say no to low value, avoidable ones. Minimize – Delegate low value, unavoidable ones. Develop – Utilize training for high value, learnable … Continue reading “Weaknesses don’t make you weak”

How can I make YOUR job a little easier? This simple question can help you become irreplaceable at work—as long as you’re genuine. How? When you make the lives of those around you easier, you raise your value. When you help them be more productive, you’re showing that you care. After you get their response, … Continue reading “How to become irreplaceable by helping your coworkers”