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, aging, alcoholic U.S. Marshal to track down her father’s murderer and goes with him on the quest. Set in Arkansas circa 1873, they journey to…
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 with an ongoing scan of in-person threats, opportunities and attractions our brains must prioritize every second? How do you maneuver around the minutiae of everyday life…
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 disillusionment often follows. But there is a year-end tradition that is both reflective and proactive—taking inventory of your world with an eye toward what is…
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 said at the 2012 Pennsylvania Conference for Women that “if anybody here thinks that maybe they are too small to be effective, all I have…
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 19th century, a college degree was not required for bar admission and 68 percent of Philadelphia lawyers were college graduates at that time, according to…
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 self-management. Now, I turn to “The Sound of Music” for an assist in addressing another competency of emotional intelligence: self-confidence. In the movie, young novice…
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 areas of innate ability. Whether you are a student, young professional or someone who mentors, teaches or coaches, pay attention to essential inclinations. They tell…
“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 to Animals was formed. In 1947, Jackie Robinson became the first African-American in Major League baseball and in 1955, Dr. Jonas Salk successfully tested the…
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 with questions, the answers some women found, and steps others began to take toward finding their own. Financial wizard Sallie Krawcheck lost her job in…