I recently interviewed Ishita Gupta, founder of the digital magazine, fear.less, for the insurance publication I write. fear.less features stories of people from all walks of life – artists, musicians, photographers, CEOs, entrepreneurs, authors, physicians, spiritual advisers – and how they face and overcome their fears professionally and personally. It’s a...

Over Valentine’s Day, I went shopping for a gift. I ended up in Coach and purchased a pair of sunglasses for me, and a wallet for my boyfriend. I had mentioned to the saleswoman that he really wanted something else but it was boring (like a wallet is exciting!). Anyway, we chatted for a bit and I made my way out sporting my new shades … and the gift in hand. A...

In his latest book, Poke the Box, marketer and bestselling author Seth Godin, basically explains that many of us have either lost our mojo or because of years of conformity, fear of failure, insecurities, and other reasons (excuses) we just don’t innovate, initiate. The companies and individuals who do create, inspire, and continually “poke the box” are those...

When did “I’m really busy” become an excuse for not getting something done, not coming through, not returning a phone call, shooting an email, doing a sloppy job, not paying attention to details? Not creating, innovating? On accepting less than? You get it. It’s a catch-all phrase that excuses a lot of behavior, or lack thereof. I thought about this after...

I just ran this in a daily news service I do each morning for the insurance industry… and I thought I would share it here as well. The power of the Internet and what it can inspire and create cannot be underestimated or understated. Last night, I watched an interview on CNN with Wael Ghonim, head of marketing for Google in the Middle East and North America,...

Ten years ago when I was living in Barcelona, Spain, I met Gloria Davies, mother to two of my dearest friends, Greg and Paul and sister Gabriella. Gloria lives in England and she was visiting Greg and his son in Spain when I first met her. Gloria and I took to each other immediately – she’s a vivacious, take charge, fearless, caring, nurturing, insightful, and...

I just returned from a conference called Peak Performance. It’s for the insurance industry and brings together everyone from insurance company execs, wholesalers, and large brokerages to retail agents who work directly with consumers. It’s annual event that my client, Neilson Marketing Services and ProgramBusiness.com, put on every January at one of our...