In 1997, I founded National New Friends, Old Friends Week to celebrate the new friends in our life, but to still cherish our old friends. A few years later, I renamed it International New Friends, Old Friends Week to mark the way that friendship has become more global, especially since social media has made it easier, and more common, to have friends around the world.
International New Friends, Old Friends Week starts annually in May on the Sunday after Mother’s Day (in the U.S.). I purposely chose that time because, for so many, once their mothers have passed, especially if they are childless, friends become their family.
Continue reading International New Friends, Old Friends Week: 7 Days of Friendship Celebrations
There used to be a theory that a messy desk was a sign of genius. Now we see a messy desk as a sign of someone who’s disorganized.
I recently conducted a workshop on “Self Management in a 24/7 World” and asked attendees to think about their job and what they really should be focused on as their priority concern. I then asked them to assess, honestly, how much time they spent each day on that priority task. One woman raised her hand enthusiastically and said the most important use of her time is to be prospecting for new customers. But when I asked how much time did she spend each day on that she said “Zero.” That’s right. The most important thing she should be doing was taking up none of her time. Sound incredulous? (She obviously hadn’t yet read my new book Work Less, Do More). 
For this blog, I am reprinting the Friendship Oath I created that was initially published in my book about work relationships including friendships at work, Who’s That Sitting at my Desk? The oath evolved after I was asked a simple question about what should you expect in a friendship by an interviewer for the CBS morning show that we were taping. That question led me to create the Friendship Oath. We already have an oath for marriage that states what our expectations are for that key connection. Why not have one for friendship? 
For most authors, unless a book is a huge bestseller, it is challenging to make a living from book sales alone. We authors often supplement our income by giving speeches on subjects we’ve become expert in, or getting hired as consultants and coaches. But why stop there? The idea of better monetizing our skills also doesn’t have to end with the written or spoken words, or service providers, such as coaches and consultants, especially if you have other artistic talents, such as painting or music.
Techniques for overcoming your procrastination about finishing your book.