Do you know the Korean concept of “nunchi” and how it can help transform a good negotiator to a great negotiator? I didn’t – until I read the New York Times article “The Korean Secret to Happiness and Success” by author Euny Hong. Nunchi, according to Hong, is...
My wife sometimes reminds me to avoid shaking hands with people I meet if they exhibit signs of being sick, like sniffling or coughing. But this is tough for me, as it’s just an ingrained habit I’ve had for 40 years. It turns out that this habit can actually...
Our kids tend to be rule-followers, which is perhaps not surprising as my wife and I tend to be more rule-breakers. Not big ones, but I do have a lead foot. I was reminded of this recently when I rewatched the classic movie To Kill a Mockingbird with Gregory Peck,...
My son starts college at Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois next week. Time flies! As the son of an author, he recently bought a book for my wife and me entitled “The Naked Roommate [For Parents Only]: A Parent’s Guide to the New College Experience.” I...
“Usury” is defined by Merriam-Webster as “the lending of money at exorbitant interest rates” and can also be used “in a moral sense,” according to Wikipedia, as “condemning taking advantage of others’ misfortunes.” We as a society have even passed laws prohibiting...
Our AC unit recently went on the blink with the temperature in Scottsdale around 115. Yikes! We needed to get it fixed or replaced ASAP. Talk about weak leverage! Fortunately, we found an AC guy willing to come out within a day and fix it. I’ve never been happier to...
Here’s my annual list of lessons learned and a reminder to put these strategies into practice in 2023. You won’t get better results if you don’t implement them. Each also has a link to my column with more detail. Negotiating with the elderly requires specialized...
I wrote a column in 2011 entitled “In Person Talks Often Best Option” for The Arizona Republic. Given the timeliness of this subject as many CFOs and others contemplate the money saved with employees Zooming from home and staying away from airports, I thought I would...
My Dad is 91 years old and my Mom is 84. Both are in generally good health, and the years have been pretty kind to them. But their mental and physical conditions have inevitably changed. One significant change – especially as we become more elderly and/or infirm...
