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Hubris in Action
This New York Times article about how a former Apple exec crashed and burned as the CEO of J.C. Penney is fascinating. Clearly his enemies are dishing, but he really gave them a lot to dish about. He does come across as incredibly arrogant: “Mr. Johnson liked to tell employees that there were two kinds…
Read MoreCoincidence that a Site for Stepmoms is Writing on Perfectionism?
I think not. Step-parents are under so much pressure. The Stepmom’s Toolbox has a great mix of articles. I would check it out.
Read MoreGrumpy Katz Cats Need a Katz Bagel
Two Katzes I like… Katz’s Bagels in Chelsea, MA, which are amazing
Read MoreWhat to Do if You’re Procrastinating on Your Taxes (Or Another Crucial Deadline)
Like money, time can be used for either investments or expenses. As you probably know, investments are activities that bring a return. The major time investments include: planning and management, relationships, self-care, health and fitness, education, a spiritual or meditative practice, community work, and what I call “replenishing recreation” (e.g., socializing or a passionate hobby).…
Read MoreThis is National Donate Life Month!
Donating a kidney was one of the best things I ever did, and I would do it again in a flash. Here’s the story of how I did it. If you ever think you might want to donate, email me and I’ll do my best to support you.
Read MoreHow to Read The New York Times
Every time I check out a substantive New York Times article, I do this: 1) skim the article 2) go to the comments and sort them so that the ones most recommended *by readers* (not the paper’s editorial staff) come first. 3) read the most popular comments carefully, and learn from them how to interpret…
Read MoreWhere Veal Comes From
I hope none of my friends eats veal, but if you do, here’s where it’s from. A tiny, newborn calf separated from its mother and raised in terrible isolation. This should be (but alas isn’t) a scene from a horror movie. These are all unwanted male calves from dairy cows, so please try dairy alternatives.…
Read MoreNew Study Shows “Tiger Mom” Wrong
Last year, I wrote about Amy “Tiger Mom” Chua, who wrote a book celebrating her abusive parenting practices, which she said were both typically Chinese American, and yielded a better outcome than supposedly permissive mainstream American ones. (“Better outcome,” of course, defined narrowly as a compliant child who excels in school and work). After widespread…
Read MoreIsolation and Invisibility as Key Tactics *and* Goals of Procrastination
From Chapter 6 of The 7 Secrets of the Prolific Procrastination makes you invisible and isolated. If you never finish your novel, you won’t be seen by agents, editors or your audience. If you never finish your thesis, you won’t be seen by your committee, colleagues and prospective hirers. Invisibility and isolation are, in fact,…
Read MoreShortsightedness as a Barrier to Weight Loss, Writing Productivity and Other Goals
Shortsightedness is a hallmark of addictive behavior: the classic image of an addict is someone who can’t see past her immediate need for a fix, and who will sacrifice anyone or anything to get it. One of the primary aims of my weight loss efforts was to learn to defuse the urgency I often felt…
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