I had a wonderful opportunity today to speak to the Society of Human Resource Management group in Medina today. Â Tomorrow I will be speaking to a group from the Akron Chamber on LinkedIn. Â Last week I did a session with the Young Entrepreneurs Academy. Â In each session, you could clearly see who came for a reason and who came because they had to do so. Â And it got me thinking…. When you go to a meeting, why are you there? Â Do you know? Â Can you answer? Â I’m on the programming committee for the Medina Chamber and we plan speakers for meetings. Â There are those who believe the speaker topic is the reason people come out. Â One person told me attendance is largely driven by the weather and in bad weather people stay home. Â So does that mean a truly compelling topic would motivate them to […] Continue reading
Can’t Remember Your Name
I had a fascinating discussion at a meeting last week. I am part of an organization that has been around for over 20 years. Â In the past they had a printed directory but in recent years had stopped printing it. Â I was in favor of continuing in only electronic form but was out-voted so it will once again be printed. Â Talking to another member, she was quick to tell me I would learn to love the printed copy. Â When I asked why, she said she carries hers everywhere and when she runs into someone she should know, she can quickly scan the pictures and find them. That way, they never know she didn’t remember their name. I have to say – this has never been a problem for me. Â No, I’m not some genius at names, but there are so many better ways to get […] Continue reading
Be Available But Not Too Available
I love looking at food I don’t recognize and learn about other  cultures through food.  It is fascinating stuff I promise!  The challenge is, unless you are really adventurous, it is tough to know what to buy. Yesterday I got to go to one of my favorite places in the world – the West Side Market.  This year marks the 100th anniversary of the market opening so you can imagine how many people have been through it.  There is a neat little store within the market in the back corner and it is usually completely jammed. You have to know what you want to venture in.  Yesterday, we hit at exactly the right time because it was empty. First, I got an opportunity to really look through the store and see what they had.  That in and of itself was fun.  Then, ordering cheese, I […] Continue reading