Project Speak Life

BE MORE! So Kermit is a hit with this new tea slogan, "Be More Tea!" I love it because it expresses a particular sentiment that we skirt around in our daily professional journey. What is that? Well, the phrase "Be More" is a dead giveaway. There are glaring insufficiencies within policies and people within a work setting. Until someone decides to take the brave steps towards instituting change and providing true leadership, the deficit will remain. But with the right attitude and approach, you can create a culture within your unit or company that promotes the idea of becoming more or becoming better. How often have you seen a particular practice that goes directly against company policy tolerated for the sake of "keeping the peace"? Never mind the fact that it is causing a rift between the employees or creating more work for someone else. "But that's none of my business!" says Kermit, echoing the voices of those who just have to si

TOO  MUCH TOO SOON? I sat there in the interview with a dear associate whose impression upon my life had been nothing but positive. She had no idea of my level of admiration for her professional demeanor, her kindness and honorable care for those whom she worked with, or her strong parenting which I had had the opportunity to admire from interactions that we had had as our youngest had both attended the same preschool institution. Yes, I was there to interview for a administrative position directly under her. It would have been the greatest position for me to be. Well, it still might be. Yeah... this is fresh. But I am agonizing because my level of comfort in a professional setting may have been too much, too soon. Let me share my shame in hopes that you won't make the same faux paux. I had been brought in for a second interview and was feeling VERY good (not overly confident, but strong) about being able to speak with other staff members who echoed everything that I

"I see little reason to delay giving when so much good can be achieved through supporting worthwhile causes today." -- Chuck Feeney, visionary philanthropist and founder of The Atlantic Philanthropies. Billionaire philanthropist Chuck Feeney has no interest in "taking it with him." By 2016, his foundation will have donated more than $7 billion to worthy causes around the world. Is he the most generous man on the planet? Early Entrepreneurship Chuck Feeney was an entrepreneur from an early age – selling Christmas cards door-to-door and teaming with a friend to shovel sidewalks during snowstorms. After high school, Chuck enlisted in the U.S. Air Force, serving in Signals Intelligence in Japan during the Korean War. He took advantage of the GI Bill to attend Cornell University, becoming the first member of his family to go to college. Upon graduation, Chuck started a business selling goods to American troops stationed in Europe that eventually became Duty