Every year I stumble upon a new downtempo, chillout band that rocks.  This year, I found Bitter:Sweet while shopping at Fred Segal's in LA. Their 2006 classic (Mating Game) was playing in the store (and on sale for way to much money), so I went home a sampled a track via iTunes (Don't Forget To …

I think it's socially irresponsible to hire too many people during good times, only to lay them off when the business cycle goes South.  It happens all the time, I've seen it firsthand.  Today, many firms use layoffs as a way of telling Wall Street that they are being responsible – and frequently they get …

John Livesay sent me this article, posted just yesterday, <snip>:  By Lisa Lockwood “Being green and generating a profit are not mutually exclusive, competing values for businesses. They have to exist in harmony. It must be a win-win,” said Tom Cole, vice chairman of Macy’s Inc., discussing the retailer’s sustainability action plan at the Initiatives in …

This year, every gift needs to really count.  Gifts can reward, validate or challenge people.  This year, I'm recommending that we use our gifts to make a difference.   The first list I've seen so far comes from the community news feed at my knowledge networking site (SavingTheWorld).  The list covers obvious, and not so …

I speak at conferences for a living, usually in a suit and tie.  There's no excuse for a crumpled suit or shirt.  Whether I'm on a ten day, seven city jag — or driving across town — I need to look my best to impress.  Over the last few years, I've come up with three …

Larry Hardnett takes his community values to work.  He cleans cars for a living.  His small business sets up shop on corporate parking lots, serving time starved workers.  He doesn't jockey for tips, instead he asks for turkeys to help the less fortunate.   He lives in the greater West Palm Beach area, where I …

Mr. Stanley Marcus once told me, "Everybody is generous during good times, but only generous people give during hard times."   True words, indeed.  Today I gave a talk at an Easter Seals event in Palm Beach Florida.  The fundraiser was aimed at local business leaders, and my task was to connect giving with good …

I had a feature in today's New York Times!  (The Chatterer's Guide To Easing Anxiety)  The point of the essay is that purpose solves suffering, so live on purpose. When you see suffering in others as they are attempting to complete a task — ask them about their purpose.   Purpose is a cure for …

Investor's Business Daily ran a story today, featuring Saving The World at Work!  Harnessing The Power of One  It's the story of Don Ostler at Green Mountain Coffee Roasters.  The point of the story is the larger point of my book:  Anybody can change the world at work.  It's good for your company, It's good …

Here's an excerpt from my new book, Saving The World At Work: Many employees spend their entire work life under artificial lights. This situation can affect their moods as well as their performance.   A landmark 2003 study for the Environmental Protection Agency by Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute found that natural light improves an employee's vision, function, and …