Try a lavender diffuser “I recently began to learn about essential oils. Each one has unique properties, but lavender in particular is said to reduce blood pressure, lower heart rate,…
“A few weeks into quarantine, I created a vision board with the theme of ‘strength and resilience.’ When a moment of panic hits, I stand in front of it for…
There’s a saying about law school—”the first year they scare you to death, the second year they work you to death and the third year they bore you to death.”…
It’s not always easy to get on your bike, lace up your running shoes or step onto your yoga mat. Life sometimes conspires to prevent it but, more often, your…
My husband and I used to have a weekend ritual of making a cappuccino at home. During the week, we didn’t have time for it. Now, we start each day…
I had a dream last night about coronavirus. A group of friends were leaving a restaurant (remember those?) and I looked back at the table where we had just been…
I had a dream last night about coronavirus. A group of friends were leaving a restaurant (remember those?) and I looked back at the table where we had just been…
Every January, a group of lawyers I used work with went on a “diet.” It’s in quotes because, as one partner explained, the diet was an excuse to prove to…
Every January, a group of lawyers I used work with went on a “diet.” It’s in quotes because, as one partner explained, the diet was an excuse to prove to…
What do we mean when we talk about work-life balance? Usually a feeling that things are off-kilter between career and the other domains in life, particularly family time. Many of…
Back when I was practicing law, I had the privilege of arguing before the Pennsylvania Supreme Court. The court was six hours away, and my boss directed me to leave two…
If I told you that I have a product that will give you more energy, help maintain a healthy weight and improve your mood and performance at work, would you…
When I was a young lawyer, I mentioned a hobby of mine in front of my boss, something I did in my free time. My boss, the managing partner of…
In the early days of 2019, you may be asking yourself, with respect to the previous year, what just happened? What kind of year was it for me? How do…
I reconnected with an early mentor recently when an old piece of business brought us back together again. At the time we worked together, I appreciated his guidance—he showed me…
In many ways, the gym is a microcosm of work, family and life. The way you interact while working out can have a big impact on your personal and professional…
October is pro bono month and the Pennsylvania Bar Association will observe the National Celebration of Pro Bono Week from Oct. 21-27. The Rules of Professional Conduct encourage, but do…
Did you ever stop to think that our daily actions are a simply a collection of habits formed at various stages of our lives and rarely, if ever, re-examined to…
Recently, I was on the phone with a fellow coach who asked about my personality type from an assessment taken in the past. I didn’t recall, so while still on…
Networking has been defined as “a supportive system of sharing information and services among individuals and groups having a common interest.” That doesn’t sound so bad, does it? Support? Sharing?…
You know the feeling—you just got a new job, client or case and you’re all charged up. Ignited by the challenge, you are optimistic, goal oriented, focused and excited. During…
Adding options increases expectations people have about how good they will be and, Schwartz says, that produces less satisfaction with the results, even when they are good. I recently needed…
If you want to get more information, better intelligence and clarity, consider allowing silence to play a supporting role in your communication style. It can be used to great effect.…
On the field of life, leadership and team work look a lot like they do on the field of sports. It’s all about creating a culture where diverse opinions are…
Are you looking for ways to simplify decision-making for your business or your life? Instead of agonizing endlessly, would you prefer having standards that automatically and organically eliminate some options…
The first time I heard the word “grit” was in the title of a 1969 movie, “True Grit,” the story of 14-year-old Mattie Ross, who hires Rooster Cogburn, a tough,…
The other day, I began typing the word “coping” into a Google search and before I could even finish, Google began to populate search results which included coping with Hurricane…
When clients reach a career crossroad, I often suggest informational interviewing to scope out a prospective new role, firm, industry or career path. That suggestion is almost always met with…
Every year, new books on leadership come out and the business world hungrily buys, reads and digests them. Book summary companies provide compressed descriptions for busy executives, professional service providers…
Back in February, I wrote about the importance of personality assessments to make good career decisions. It featured an interview with Dr. Robert Hogan, co-founder of Hogan Assessment Systems and…
If you are reading this, you are probably an investigator. It may not be your job title, but if you are a lawyer, auditor, doctor, HR business partner, manager, executive,…
How do you decide what to pay attention to in a world where an onslaught of images and messages is constantly delivered by way of a myriad of devices along…
A judge once told me that a successful settlement occurs when the plaintiff thinks he did not get enough and the defendant that he gave away too much. This viewpoint…
In “The Confidence Code,” authors Katty Kay and Claire Shipman attempt to glean the mysteries of self-confidence. The subtitle, “The Science and Art of Self-Assurance—What Women Should Know” nails more…
I have often said that I didn’t begin to know myself until I was in my 30’s and by then was already a litigator. An unhappy one. I chose to…
Lately, the concept of patience has been on my mind as my clients and I embark on new goals, dreams and endeavors. Change is a process rather than event, and…
Last year, I read a post on LinkedIn titled, “Why Don’t Law Schools Teach the #1 Factor for Success?” It was authored by Cole Silver, director of client relations at…
I am not a big fan of New Year resolutions. Turning the calendar page from December to January does not make one eager or ready to change long-standing habits and…
More people are telecommuting than ever before. According to a 2015 Gallup poll, 37 percent of U.S. workers have telecommuted, four times greater than the 9 percent found in 1995.…
What’s next on your bucket list professionally? Do you ever think of starting your own business or joining a startup? Working for a new enterprise can be exhilarating, especially when…
I distinctly recall the first time I heard the word multitasking. It was in the late 1990s and I was in a colleague’s office for a meeting. She was sitting…
As children, we learn every day how to do life, from the basics of how to eat, get dressed, tie our shoes to more complex educational and societal lessons. Children…
“In order to practice, you must be present in your mind,” said the yoga teacher at the beginning of a recent class. So it goes with any practice whether it…
I am not a sports fan – just want to state that up front. Nothing against it, but I don’t follow professional athletics or root for any teams. What does…
Trump, like all of us, can change and actually become more effective a leader. But transformation doesn’t magically happen without awareness. They want to like him, they really, really do.…
What do you do when you need a little inspiration? A nudge to get you going? Reassurance that you can make it work? Affirmation that you are enough? Arianna Huffington…
It feels like 1994 all over again as the world revisits the O.J. Simpson criminal trial in the television series “The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story.” The often…
In a recent episode of the television show “Better Call Saul,” the titular lawyer who has scrambled and struggled to earn a living decides to call it quits with the…
Do you dread and procrastinate initiating discussions when you think others will respond negatively to what you have to say? Are you hesitant to voice an opinion because you presume…
When I think of a brand new year, I envision a beautiful, tranquil lake, so still that it mirrors everything surrounding it. Nothing has happened yet to disturb or disrupt…
During this country’s infancy, lawyers were educated and trained for the profession not by attending law school, but through an apprenticeship with a practicing attorney. At the start of the…
“It’s not hard to make decisions when you know what your values are,” Roy Disney said. Identifying core values helps individuals and companies make decisions that chart the course for…
On Sept. 8, sisters Serena and Venus Williams squared off during the U.S. Open in a match that could have had historical significance for Serena Williams, who was closing in…
Last month, I wrote about the rising recognition of emotional intelligence as a key factor in successful leadership using the new movie “Inside Out” to illustrate points about anger and…
The new animated movie “Inside Out” takes the audience inside the brain of an 11-year-old girl named Riley, where her responses to situations are governed by five emotions personified. They…
Are you a natural optimist? When adversity strikes, do you tell yourself it’s temporary and not your fault and consider all of the things in your life that are going…
For the last few months, I have been writing about the importance of building a network and marketing. Regardless of whether you are in public service or the private sector,…
For some people who are finishing up school or are in the early stages of a career, the M-word they fear most is marriage. For many, though, that word is…
I have a confession to make. The “before” picture you see above (left) is not a stock image found on the internet by searching “clutter.” It is a room in…
Relationships have always been important to me. My natural inclination is to maintain them. It follows that I am still in touch with people from grade school on, professors I…
As Joseph Campbell said, “The privilege of a lifetime is being who you are.” It is never too early or late to discern preferences, natural talent and hone in on…
When we think about what we want to accomplish in the coming year, we generally focus on how we want to change ourselves, what we didn’t like about our behavior…
“You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose. You’re on your own. And you know what you know.…
We live in a world where the expectation is that we’ll know what we want to do at 18, select an appropriate major, graduate from college and be headed toward…
“Happiness doesn’t result from what we get, but from what we give.” – Ben Carson Pennsylvania Pro Bono Week is scheduled from Oct. 19-25, during which the Pennsylvania Bar Association…
Brenda was 57 years old when she was suddenly laid off from a major Philadelphia law firm in 2011 after 20 years. This is the story of how she learned…
When you look back on last year, are there things you did or did not do that you wish you could change for the new year? Rosh Hashanah marks the…
When you make a decision to boost your career, heighten your profile, improve your life, stop putting off important goals and be your best, one of the first steps is…
In the daily life of a lawyer, events are scheduled that require varying degrees of preparation. Going to court, conducting a negotiation or mediation, interviewing a prospect, meeting with a…
A fortune cookie reminded me recently of a topic I have been wanting to cover in this column. It said: “You can’t expect to be a lucky dog if you’re…
If you want to attract new clients, start a business, or get more done, you will be well served by evaluating the extent to which physical clutter is impacting your…
Niche marketing describes a firm narrowing down its focus to stand out from a marketing perspective. There are many advantages to carving out a niche legal practice. Marketing to a…
“It always seems impossible until it’s done.” Nelson Mandela April 10 is a big day for historical accomplishments. On this day in 1866, The American Society for Prevention of Cruelty…
A common refrain from clients is that it’s too late to alter the direction of their lives, as though our course is set and deviation simply not possible. This is…
A common issue with long-term goal-setting is the lack of short-term payoff. When faced with instant gratification against future gains, the temptation to cave in to the “now” can be…
Global law firm Clifford Chance was in the news recently because of a memo it circulated called “Presentation Tips for Women,” which contained 163 nuggets of practical advice for its…
A recent headline captured my attention: “Sting Compromised by Affair.” I thought, “Sting had an affair??” For me, Sting is a rock star. In reality, the story was about a…
On Friday, November 1, 2013, 7,000 women poured into the Pennsylvania Convention Center to explore the “power of possibilities” at the 10th annual Pennsylvania Conference for Women. The day undulated…
Using skills identified through the ICF Core Competencies, coaches employ a variety of techniques to motivate our clients to excel and, in turn, find our own inspiration in art, literature,…
Coaches are often asked what the difference is between coaching and therapy. Illustrations can illuminate ideas more readily than explanations, and examples are readily found in popular culture. The new…
Q: I am starting to interview for jobs after just graduating from college. Can you give me a quick list of essential do’s and don’ts when interviewing? Dear Client, Congratulations…
The intersection of a dual career – coaching and practicing law -was experienced dramatically when I argued a case before the Commonwealth’s highest court; the Pennsylvania Supreme Court. Lawyers train…