I’ve said many times: I’ve learned more from my failures than from my successes…and I’ve made some whoppers. Goof-ups, missteps, slip-ups and embarrassments are no reason to ring one’s hands and hang one’s head. In fact, our mistakes can be the most powerful teachers we have. The lessons we learn often stick with us for …

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= The Congressional Hearing on OPM’s Proposed Changes to CFC which was originally scheduled for June 26, 2013 has been postponed. The hearing is tentatively being rescheduled for July 10, 2013 Watch This Space for Updates. =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) received more than 800 comments about the proposed changes to the CFC …

Even if you love your work, you can get overwhelmed if it gets out of control. Many of my executive coaching clients set boundaries to help them be more effective in their professional and personal lives. Boundaries are the lines we draw that help define our roles and interactions. Here are some tips for setting …

A great sales letter or sales email has the potential to transform your direct marketing campaign and grow sales if the messaging and target audience are aligned.

I received a comment on one of my blog articles in which I think the reader totally misunderstood me, and I certainly bear some responsibility for not being clear. A case of bad communication certainly. I should begin by telling you he agreed with something I knew I didn’t say and I couldn’t leave it …

All managers and organizations have their philosophies about how to motivate employees and manage their teams. Some seek to create cooperation and loyalty. Others rely more on the competitive spirit to get things done. And the truth is different approaches can work, but it’s important to understand what kind of work environment you’re creating with …

In May I helped you write your direct mail bequest letter. This month, tips on what to do with your letter. If your budget won’t allow direct mail, don’t worry. There are plenty of other bequest promotion channels and I’ll get to them. These ideas will improve your direct mail bequest letter: Personalize. Use full …

Sam didn’t know what a great business presentation looked like. He had joined his organization right after leaving school, and when he presented, he was alone with his clients. Other than all-hands meetings, he just hadn’t been exposed to many presentations, so it was hard for him to evaluate his own presentation skills. Some of …

As the strategy leader, you have seven activities to which I recommend you pay close attention to build a strong strategy that has full buy-in and commitment. Let’s examine each of these activities.

In the process of applying for a government grant proposal, we often talk about the need to address the specific agency’s hot buttons and issues in our proposals. But how many of us address the way in which reviewers of our proposals make decisions? Over the past twenty years, there has been a great deal …