first impression

by Karen Friedman on February 22, 2018 Leave a Comment

Lessons from Chance Encounters

I had just touched down in Tampa when I glanced at my nails. Peeling, fading polish glared back at me. With back-to-back speaking engagements in the next few days, I knew I needed a manicure.

A quick check at my hotel revealed the normally ten to fifteen-dollar cosmetic luxury would cost thirty dollars at the pricey hotel beauty shop. Not feeling that extravagant, I walked to the closest mall in search of a nail salon. That’s when I found De-Ja-Vu. They offered basic manicures for twelve dollars. Sold!

by Karen Friedman on January 20, 2018 Leave a Comment

Quick Tip #74: How to be Likeable

Likeable people get far in business and in life. Studies suggest likeability traits outweigh intelligence. So, how can you become likeable?

by Karen Friedman on December 9, 2016 Leave a Comment

Make it easy to do business with you

It was in the crunch of early morning emails when I realized the internet wasn’t working. I immediately started trouble shooting. I rebooted my computer, turned the internet router off and then back on, and pushed a few unnamed blinking buttons on the box. Nothing worked, so I took the next measure. I texted my husband who was away on a business trip.

Me: The internet isn’t working and I don’t know why.

Husband: Turn the power strip off, wait a minute and turn it back on.

Me: What about the button that says WPS?

Husband: Don’t touch it.

Me: Oops, I already did, now what?

Husband: I don’t know, call Xfinity.

by Karen Friedman on April 12, 2016 Leave a Comment

Email Sends Wrong Signal

The training program went so well that one of the participants e-mailed me gushing about how much she learned. So much that she wanted to get together for lunch to “pick my brain”. I wasn’t sure what that meant, but said sure, give me a call.

I’m not a big let’s have lunch person. Due to the nature of our business, I’m often not in the office and when I am, I need the time to prepare for upcoming engagements. After accounting for traveling there, lunch time and traveling back, lunch frequently means taking a half day off. However, I didn’t want to turn her down and send the wrong message. She was respectful and told me she valued my time and because she was located an hour from me, she would pick a restaurant close to my office.