problem solving
“Ugh … ugh … ugh, Monday morning,” a sentiment radiated across the universe on Sunday by many workers. What’s so bad about Mondays? Lindsey Buckingham of Fleetwood Mac, the rocker who penned the spritely lyrics for Monday Morning, sure liked them. Most people, however, feel the gloom described in blues legend T-Bone Walker’s tune “Call It Stormy Monday (But Tuesday Is Just as Bad).” (At times, count me in that latter group.) The weekend offers many...
March 2023
Hurry Up With That Pie
I enjoy listening to National Public Radio (NPR), including broadcasts from Boston affiliate WBUR. My husband and I are supporters of the station, sometimes donning our matching WBUR T-shirts that attest to our loyalty. I believe NPR offers factual news and engaging cultural coverage in a world of misinformation. Public radio has sometimes been the butt of jokes … and now I understand why. The other week I listened to a mid-afternoon story by a reporter diving...
March 2023
Let’s Chat About ChatGPT
Two months ago, when ChatGPT quickly ascended the hype cycle, I considered incorporating a trick now regarded as trite. I’d let the large language model technology draft this blog post. I’m glad I didn’t give in to gimmick. Instead, I asked ChatGPT to craft 1,500 words on the global nursing shortage. I’d just written a 1,500-word white paper on the same topic for a client and wanted to compare results. What I got back made...
January 2023
Outcomes of Kindness
After my mother died in 2016, I wrote a homage from her perspective focused on how she lived her life. “Through all my years, you saw my beauty and felt my kindness—as if it were a silken drape that I laid over you.” With great ease, my mother viewed all that surrounded her as worthy, regardless of imperfections. One of her innate abilities was her kindness, which I witnessed required no advance thought or ulterior...
January 2023
3 Easy Ways to Work Through a Creative Block
Ever suffer from a creative block? ‘Course you have. We all hit mental blockades and stall creatively, especially if we don’t allow enough time (or give too much) for an idea or approach to gestate. As a seasoned writer, there have been plenty of times where I’ve been unable to see the light through the trees. When that happens, I typically incorporate these three ways to power through a rut. 1. Get More Creative by...
Creatives, rejoice. Based on the recent U.S. Census Bureau’s Annual Business Survey, Uncle Sam has acknowledged your talents as paramount in the workplace. Tasked with completing these surveys, I am familiar with the typical “sections” of questions like company information, owner characteristics, research activities, goods, services, and business processes and technology. But wait, there it was, Section F (for finally). SECTION F: DESIGN AND INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY The following questions ask about the role that design plays in...
The chase was on. Prey drive was engaged. The only thing between my Boston Terrier and the frantic fly on the window was the pale-colored linen couch I had just painstakingly cleaned. Beans missed his target but left behind his signature muddy paw prints. Before this mishap, I had allocated two hours to refurbish the second-hand couch. I researched how to care for the fabric and wooden legs, gathered the materials needed, carved out time,...
June 2022
Never Lose Sight of Your End Goal
There are times when I find solace tinkering with design and copy details in my role as a creative director. I find that precision sows a mindful state. While paying great attention to details is essential, there is something equally practical to consider during every phase of a project: the end goal. Author and marketer Seth Godin aptly offered an example of moving beyond project details in a recent blog post by stating: “I’m pretty...
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