Philadelphia Business Journal

The taxi driver who took me to the airport was retired, perhaps pushing 80. So when he told me he had three jobs and I inquired why, he said: “Purpose.” He said “I love to work.” Every day I wake up with a purpose, he explained. For him, that’s driving to the airport or helping with luggage at the airport carousels. Purpose.

Each and every one of us has a purpose. Perhaps it’s caring for an aging parent, a child or a spouse. Perhaps it’s the work we do. Maybe it’s a charity we support. For a friend of mine who was laid off, it actually took breast cancer to bring purpose back to her life.

Thought breast cancer is hardly a coveted purpose, after being laid off years earlier, my friend lost energy and self-esteem. She checked out of many daily activities and struggled to get out of bed every day. She had no purpose. [Read more…] about What’s your purpose? You may not know it, but you have one

When I was a little girl, I had a best friend who lived next door. Her name was Felicia and we were born four days apart. She’s older, if you must know. When we were first sounding out words, I called her Thwee-Thwah and she called me Kaka. We were inseparable. Different, but we loved each other just the same.

Like an old married couple, we enjoyed spending time together but we also butted heads from time to time. I remember after a rainstorm we found worms all over her driveway. I rode my bike over them to see if they’d split in half and she was so angry at my insensitivity toward living creatures that she didn’t talk to me for days. [Read more…] about Co-workers: Do you have their backs?

I take nothing for granted. When I left my 20-plus-year career as a broadcaster, I was scared. Not about the future, but about losing perspective. As a reporter, I spent my fair share of hours with people born into less fortunate circumstances than myself.

I learned so much from them. Humility. Honesty. Tenacity. Survival.

So when I chose to leave broadcasting and forge a new path nearly 18 years ago, I feared that not spending time in not-so-nice neighborhoods with people who experienced the world differently from me might turn me into someone who doesn’t appreciate what they have as much as they should. [Read more…] about Advice to a younger self

A few years ago, one of our coaches went to help a group of high-powered executives put together what they called “a do or die presentation.” The coach is great. Smart. Thoughtful. Insightful. But due to traffic and some miscommunication on the part of the client, she arrived nearly an hour late.

Though not her fault, the group leader admonished her in front of everyone. Not a great way to start the day or make a good impression. She was flustered and unfortunately she showed it.

When she told me what happened, I couldn’t help but think about the Barefoot Contessa otherwise known as Chef Ina Garten. I’m a huge fan of her cookbooks. In her Barefoot Contessa party book, she has a section called “Stay Cool.” She says when having a party your guests must believe that you’ve whipped the party up just before you got dressed; not that you’ve been slaving for weeks, are exhausted and nervous that it might not go well. [Read more…] about A recipe for keeping your cool