Fighting Words
Another day, another sermon to the choir from proponents of positive dog training. If you are not in the dog world, the furious dialogue is probably unfamiliar to you: dog trainers who apply Pavlovian and Skinnerian theory to their craft have harsh criticisms for trainers who rely upon (and teach to their clients) training and handling methods based on pack theory. Let me be clear: I get that pack theory has been debunked as an explanation of domestic dog behavior. So, why has it won mind share? And what can positive dog trainers do to counter it? A recent article from the Association of Pet...
read moreUnscrambling Your Small Business
Talk to anyone about starting a business and you’ll hear one, if not all, of the following three warnings. You’ll even hear them from small business owners. #1 – Having clients is like having multiple bosses. #2 – Being self-employed means working 24/7. #3 – Business owners are always scrambling for work. Truth? If these conditions exist in an established business, you’re doing something wrong. A very specific thing: your business lacks a cohesive structure. Ultimately, you must define what you do and how you do it – and redefine it periodically...
read moreWomen of Google+
There’s a lot of speculation but no good answers for why men are overrepresented on Google+ Please join me there, whatever your...
read moreIs Resume Speak Killing Your Business Prose?
Many years ago, I hired a personal trainer who operated his own practice within my health club. I had seen him working with his clients, liked his style, and observed that the people he trained got results. After our three trial sessions, he sat me down to discuss the possibility that we’d continue working together. (I was already sold.) He handed me his brochure, which spent 4 of its six pages describing features and benefits of his business and sharing testimonials. The other 2 pages contained a long list not only of certifications but of all of the continuing education course...
read moreHappy Birthday, Lucy! Built to Last
I don’t have time for the eloquent Lucy tribute piece I hoped to write. So, I’ll share this tidbit. I have spent years of my life watching Lucy. I’m watching the Hallmark Channel’s I Love Lucy marathon right now as I work. The image of her that sticks with me is one I only read. The day she filmed the first episode of the television series, Lucille Ball was on the cusp of 40 with a dying film career, a fragile marriage, a high-risk pregnancy, and hostile business associates at the network. She made a long-shot gamble in an unknown territory and snatched glory from the...
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