The most expensive deal in baseball history was finalized this February in a casino. The Phillies pursued outfielder Bryce Harper for months, introducing him to some of Philadelphia’s finest, sweet talking him in the high-backed gold leather booths of the ARIA resort in Las Vegas, and ultimately offering him the most expensive deal in baseball history ($330 million over 13 … Read More

Life is compromise. If you want to work successfully in teams, at some point you will face conflict. In one instance, you may be the manager correcting a team member. In other cases, you may need to “lead up” by disagreeing with a superior. Either way, successful communication includes the ability to navigate conflict while putting people before the problem. … Read More

In a recent study published in the Journal of Consumer Research, scholars found that longer deadlines can be a detriment to workers. The study asked volunteers at a local community center to answer a short survey about retirement planning. One group was given seven days to access the online survey, while another group had 14 days to respond. Results showed … Read More

Personalized mail is a special commodity these days, especially something that looks smart or sophisticated. And everyone agrees that there’s a huge difference between a typed letter on a bland white page and one aligned smartly on a beautifully designed letterhead. While many view letterhead as an afterthought, it’s time to raise the standard! A sharp letterhead can communicate proficiency, … Read More

32-year-old Amy Alabaster had recently been named VP in her company as a successful New York sales executive. She had friends, a wonderful marriage, and many professional accomplishments. But one day, the weight of her responsibilities came roaring in as she awoke on a bench outside a West Village restaurant. Alabaster later learned that she had fainted on a flight … Read More

If you’re a small business owner, you know time is limited. Usually, your task list far outweighs your capacity for meeting your goals. When identifying social media objectives, you have to be clear on the what, why, and where you will engage. How Can Twitter be a Valuable Resource for You? Stats show that Twitter is still an effective way … Read More

Four Design Keys Every Novice Can Master Ever feel stuck in a rut when it comes to your print or graphics capabilities? “It’s impossible,” you say. “I just don’t have an eye for design.” There’s hope for even you! In today’s generation, incredible graphics, fonts, and digital capabilities are literally at our fingertips. And while design may not come naturally … Read More

Vancouver’s Whistler resort, owned by Vail Resorts, is currently the most-visited ski venue in North America. But as one of Vail’s 19 prestigious resorts, Whistler still deals with the reality of seasonal slumps. Part of Whistler’s off-season strategy includes summer activities like carnival games, ziplining, and bear-viewing. Vail has recently taken a more aggressive ticketing strategy as CEO Rob Katz … Read More

Andi Bell, the World Memory Champion of 2002, appears to have memory superpowers. He can memorize the order of several decks of cards and recall them on the spot. How does he do it? Bell uses a location-based memory strategy, like this: Bell picks a route through London and walks it repeatedly until it is fixed in his mind. As … Read More

Communication is the key to human connection. But adequately sharing information can be more difficult than you may think. George Bernard Shaw said the single biggest challenge in communication is the illusion that it has taken place! Experts estimate that 65 percent of people are visual learners, so one of the easiest ways to communicate with people is with pictures. … Read More