Growing up in Cambridge, Massachusetts, surrounded by a liberal progressive zeitgeist, my heroes as a kid were social change revolutionaries like Gandhi, Martha Berry, Black Elk, and Rosa Parks. This hero-worship was only reiterated by my Quaker school education and anthropologist parents, who emphasized more untold heroes or “people without history.” In this way, quietly […]

Not sure if your client relationship is on the skids. Here are six signs that it may be time to part ways. Though all client/agency relationships will have highs and lows, it is important to maintain a mutual respect and understanding during the good times and bad. This is typically accomplished through good communication, clearly […]

Here’s how a veteran entrepreneur keeps from going bonkers when absolutely everything seems to go wrong. I could write a book about everything that’s gone wrong lately: We moved locations, and the new building forgot to include us in a memo informing all tenants that the air conditioning was being replaced the day we were […]

It depends on your Cost of Goods Sold. Here’s how to calculate it. Dear Norm, You helped me before, and I’m hoping you can help me again with a problem I have in the branding and package-design company I own with my husband. We need to bring on a new designer to take over some […]

Captain Mark Kelly, pilot of four space missions, talks about his decision to pilot the Endeavour during the recovery of his wife, Congresswoman Gabby Giffords. Captain Mark Kelly is more than a world traveler; he’s traveled the universe. Since joining NASA in 1996, Kelly has piloted or commanded four different space missions. Then, in January […]

You never know when you might make a huge difference in another person’s life–so always assume you can. Often the smallest moments made the biggest difference in our lives. In college I needed a history course to meet general studies requirements, so I closed my eyes and chose a European history class. The professor was […]

You and your co-founder need to be ‘business soulmates.’ Here’s how to make sure you’re in sync. The most important employee decision you will ever make as an entrepreneur is your first one: choosing your co-founder. Together, you will create the foundation upon which your company will be built; how well you two work together […]

We mostly hear about what great businesses do well. But there are lessons to be learned from the traits that keep many businesses from reaching their potential. Plenty has been written about the characteristics of highly successful businesses. We think it is worthwhile to understand the traits of unsuccessful companies. If you identify the factors […]