Above the old city walls - Dubrovnik, Croatia You know those moments when you’re in the middle on a conversation and something big, something important, suddenly hits you? That happened to me earlier this year. We’re all different, we know that. The world would be boring if we were all the same, right? But think of it [...]
This piece of art hangs on our living room wall over the sofa in Budapest I’m usually less than excited to receive any kind of marketing email in my Inbox. But one day, the subject “Seeing through Confusion” grabbed my attention. It might have had something to do with the fact that I actually was [...]
Have you ever stopped to think about what makes someone an expert? Being in the PR world, I’m constantly thinking about this. So when a member of our PitchRate community emailed me this week, I thought now’s a great time to discuss the topic. Here’s Kate’s exact question: “What makes an expert, exactly? Everyone at [...]
It’s been years since I got an email from a client that was upsetting. The kind that accuses my team for not following through on what was requested. The kind that tells me the ship is sinking and it’s our fault entirely. I received one recently. In my client’s world, we were the only plausible [...]
“We go in there to sign the papers and exchange the money,” Andrea, our interpreter, said. What? Where? In a bar? I was confused. We’d parked across the street from the municipality building in Bačka Topola, the capital for the region where we were buying our Serbian farmhouse (or as the previous owners called it, [...]
It’s official – I’m Hungarian! Well, I’m a resident of Hungary. And to say it was a roller coaster ride getting here is an understatement. But, taking the ride reminded me of a very powerful business and life lesson that I’d forgotten. When we bought our apartment in Budapest I really didn't think about having to obtain a visa. [...]
This statue of George Washington (three blocks from our apartment) was erected by US citizens from Hungary in 1906 - City Park, Budapest I've had some unexpected surprises living in Eastern Europe. One of the most unexpected is my renewed love of America. You know the old saying “the grass is always greener on the other [...]
I was on a call with a potential client recently, a therapist committed to making a big difference by providing a way for patients who can’t afford her services to get the help they need. She was considering writing a book. Writing a book is a noble feat and having just written one, I know [...]
Have you ever had an out-of-body experience? A moment where you’re watching an overly-dramatic movie and YOU are the lead character? I had one of those recently, in a Tommy's supermarket parking lot in Dubrovnik, Croatia. Looking back, there really wasn't anything to be upset about. I’m living in paradise. But still, there I was, watching the [...]
In my last post, I talked about how my degree in chemical engineering relates to me as an entrepreneur. So, how do you design a process for success? This might seem obvious, but, believe or not, people try to skip over the “make it or break it” piece. (I’m sure it’s none of you… just [...]
catwalker / Shutterstock.com Believe it or not, I have a degree in chemical engineering. I know, right? What was I thinking? Good question. No offense to all you engineers out there, but I think even my professors knew chemistry wasn't “it” for me. It was like that Sesame Street song about shapes. They show 4 shapes; 3 [...]
One of my favorite movies is Under the Tuscan Sun. I just watched it again for the countless time. If you haven’t seen it, rent it! On the surface, the film is your typical chick flick (which I happen to be a big fan of). But if you look deeper, there are some very profound [...]
