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Coupon Cops: How Employees Can Tarnish Your Reputation

I walked into a high-end women’s store that was having a 30 percent off sale. In addition to the already slashed prices, I had an additional 15 percent off coupon that said extra savings; use any time. The fine print specified no restrictions whatsoever. Good deal!

So I bought a dress. When I went to pay for it, I gave the saleswoman my coupon, which she said didn’t apply. Why, I inquired? She informed me that coupons didn’t apply to sale items. I pointed out what my coupon said, which led to a thorough eye examination of it on her part. Tick tock. Is there a problem, I asked? [Read more…] about Coupon Cops: How Employees Can Tarnish Your Reputation

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South African church scam artists pray for your faith

The email came from Phil Dooley; lead Pastor of the Hillsong Church in Cape Town, South Africa. He was inviting me to be the motivational keynote speaker at the church’s January 2014 international leadership conference to be attended by over 1,000 people.

At first I was skeptical so I checked it out. The church was indeed real; founded in 1983 and now has branches in Europe, Africa and the United States that welcomes about 30,000 worshippers weekly. [Read more…] about South African church scam artists pray for your faith

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The modern art of apologizing

Everyone’s doing it. Lance Armstrong told Oprah he was sorry for doping during all of his seven Tour de France victories. Failed New York mayoral candidate Anthony Weiner apologized for letting a lot of people down when he let his pants down. Former New York governor Eliot Spitzer resigned amid a prostitution scandal but wants you to trust him again so he ran for city comptroller. Philadelphia Eagles receiver Riley Cooper apologized for screaming a racial slur that was caught on video and went viral. And let’s not forget former South Carolina governor Mark Sanford who said he was hiking the Appalachian Trail when he was actually with a lover in another country. Oops.

There are real apologies and self-serving apologies. And in today’s spin-cycle of trying to right wrongs, it’s increasingly difficult to tell the difference. Take Armstrong for example. He looked serious as he confessed to wanting to control everything and admitted he could not have won without the drugs. But then he said he didn’t feel bad about cheating. If so, then why did he go to so much trouble to conceal it? [Read more…] about The modern art of apologizing

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Your call is very important to us

The Amtrak train from New York’s Penn Station to 30th Street Philadelphia burped and lurched and suddenly screeched to a stop in Newark. As passengers wondered what happened, the conductor instructed everyone headed to Philadelphia to get off. He said the train had mechanical problems and we were to wait on the platform for the next train to Philadelphia.

Given it was evening rush hour, when the next train arrived; it was packed without a seat to be found. So like others, I stood for the following one and a half hours. Only, I was wearing high heels that quickly became uncomfortable as I was sandwiched in-between two bouncy rail cars standing shoulder to shoulder with two male strangers whose 24-hour deodorant was apparently on its 25th hour on this muggy summer evening. So, a little unsteady on my feet and staring to feel queasy, I held on hoping for the best. [Read more…] about Your call is very important to us

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