There’s a saying in sales: “Sell them what they want to buy”. In other words, hang back and see what the other party is looking for, then sell that. It’s not how I want to live. Instead, as I’ve blogged before, I want to live a life of authenticity vs. being a chameleon. I’m writing
Anne C. Mitchell: The Magic of Kindness
I’ve learned a great deal from my friend and Exec. Coach, Anne C. Mitchell. She has a unique POV. Harvard College. Former VC. A past investment is XOOM, trading at a billion dollars. Her fellow board members include people from Square, Open Table, Sequoia and NEA. Also, a mother, spouse and Coach. So, I’m totally
A Visit from My Mother
Sometimes, for a moment, a few minutes, or a sequence in time, the magical happens. Things come together, and it is hard to explain later what has happened unless you too were there. That occurred to me yesterday. I lay in bed, the last one in the family to get a mean virus, too tired
Silence and Restoration
After my mother became very ill when I was young, she decided to do something dramatic to re-center herself: she didn’t talk for a week. During that time, she did a lot of self-reflection and praying. It was a self-imposed “silent retreat”. She emerged from that week transformed. Yes, she was still sick, but she
Chinese New Year and ‘The Code’
Happy Chinese New Year! Last night, many Chinese households had a family reunion dinner, at which relatives gathered and ate traditional dishes such as fish, noodles and dumplings. Houses were swept clean, new clothes were bought, and now, it’s a time to enjoy family and fellowship. Growing up, Chinese New Year was a low-key affair.
Making Decisions at Crossroads
It’s been a week filled with many meetings, but I want to share two I had this morning at my favorite coffee shop in Cambridge. I met with a current Harvard b-school student who is looking for a job. I then met with a b-school alumnus, who is on his second start-up and was wondering