Problem solving in groups is one of my favorite things to do. I’d like to think I’m good at it and, usually, people like the things they are good at.

When I read about crime in Little Rock, I am baffled; it peeks my problem-solving interest. Why does it continue to get worse rather than better? It makes me want to ask questions.

I consider myself lucky that I no longer have to travel on holiday weekends. When my kids were young, vacations had to be planned around their school breaks, which always coincided with a holiday. But since then, I’ve avoided those crowded travel times. This is twofold; I’m graciously giving space to families with school time constraints and selfishly circumventing my own stress level brought on from overcrowded airports and delayed flights.

Sometimes I feel like I am shouting (my metaphor for writing) into the wind. Therefore, when I get a reply of any kind on my blog, I like it. It is nice to know people are reading my weekly posts, even if the knowing is sometimes coming from a not-so-nice comment or an unsubscribe.

Though I did not vote for her, I am trying to like Arkansas’s new Governor, Ms. Sara Huckabee Sanders, but sometimes it is hard to understand her decisions. Stay with me as I explain myself.

Last week, I wrote about how buying myself a Tesla was, in some small way, investing in my grandchildren’s future.…

Salespeople are a lot of help. I know they are often stereotyped as a nuisance, as robocalls are (which aren’t real people), but a good salesperson is more like a secretary to their client. And, over the next ten years, both salespersons and secretaries alike could become an endangered species as they are replaced by chat bots, electronic calendars, and online tutorials.

Have you been wondering what ever happened to the restauranteur Rodney Ely, founder of Satellite Coffee and Rodney’s Chicago Dogs that used to be in Little Rock, Arkansas?
Well, I found him in Ft Lauderdale, FL. And, as per usual, he’s serving up the best quality, delicious food and creating inviting dining environments. 

Prior to emails and the internet changing our lives, English teachers worried that writing was going to become a lost artform. Ma Bell had turned all of us into voice communicators, making lawyers the only letter writers left. In this school of thought, typing classes were dropped from many high school curriculums. But alas, the power of the pen is back, big time, along with keyboarding. It’s time to dust off the old grammar books and learn some new tricks on how to write a good email.

As the election grows nearer, like everyone, I worry.
People often think election years are good for the flag business but, in truth, most retailers (except media ad men) post low sales during the third quarter of these fate-filled years.

In past years, voting day has been akin to a neighborhood block party. Everybody knows everybody. As we all stand in line chit-chatting, we talk about dog-walking, the weather, and who’s renovating the house on the corner.

I can’t say I have always agreed with our local newspaper, The Arkansas Democrat Gazette. During Little Rock’s famous newspaper war of the ‘80s, I was impressed by the Democrat, a conservative afternoon newspaper, and their tenacity in fighting the Gazette, the Gannett-owned corporate giant.

So often I think of the Royals as fodder for the tabloids. But after learning about Queen Elizabeth II, her job description, and watching the ceremonial funeral and pageantry on Monday, September 19, 2022, I realize how much more they are. On that day, the people of Great Britain were united, gracious, and courteous as thousands of peaceful onlookers fell silent in respect and reverence for their Queen and their country. I heard one Brit say, “Today I am proud to be British.”

As the smell of Fall fills the morning air and the end of another year approaches, I begin to let my mind wander. One of my weirder thoughts is, “What’s going to be this year’s Word of the Year (WotY)?”

What a week. School started, traffic increased, my baby had a baby, my kitchen remodel culminated in my house, we had sweeping staff changes at FAB, my husband got mad at me, I interviewed a nun, and I had another spot of skin cancer removed.

You know how, when you go to parties, the ice breaker between strangers is either sports talk or what-show-are-you-binging? It seems we are all looking for tips on something new to watch, and finding something that both you and your spouse enjoy can be challenging. There is no way my husband is going to watch Bridgerton; and I’m not watching Ozark.

I am so tired of the “F” word being overused. I feel like it has been stolen from me. It used to be one of my favorite words; the flair in which I used it was an artform, or so I thought. Like the younger me, this unmentionable word was rebellious, even against the law in public. But, now, it is repeated over and over …

Everyone laments about all the negative news these days, but you can’t really blame the media. They are only serving up what we humans like to hear. I must admit, when CBS’s Nora O‘Donald starts her feel-good segment at the end of all her Evening News, I get up and leave the room to start dinner.

I’m old enough to remember life before birth control, when abortions were illegal, and when women died from breast cancer. We have come a long way in women’s healthcare and lifestyle choices, since then.

Not to be part of the sheeple, but if everybody else is, I guess I, too, must weigh in on the Smith/Rock altercation at the Oscars.

Whether you’re running a small company in America, starting a war in Ukraine, or defending your property, the requirements for success are the same.
To project the power needed to attract talent, motivate people, and promote good-will, you need three things: economic strength, technology sophistication, and a compelling story.