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Written by Marilyn Iturri (Article in PULSE, publication of the Southern California Veterinary Medical Association, in December 2022) View full article → “Where is Susie? I love her so much,” she announced. “I need to give her a hug! She was so kind when we talked on the phone.” The compliment would be welcome in…

“If your job is to eat a frog, it’s best to do it first thing in the morning. And if your job is to eat two frogs, it’s best to eat the biggest one first.” This classic quote, attributed to Mark Twain, is one of the best tips to get things done. It’s a way…

Whether it’s constant or hopefully temporary, we all feel overwhelmed. We feel like we’re drowning in to-dos, projects and “emergencies.” In his recent book, “Do Hard Things,” Steve Magness* offers a simple template to go from overwhelmed to serenity. We’ve improved the formula a bit so each step starts with an R. 1. Reframe The…

“Using a picture increases your chances of convincing someone.” Such is one of the conclusions of two university professors, who authored a rather esoteric article on persuasion*. They studied a touchy topic where people are rather resistant to facts: politics. Their test subjects were presented with information that completely contradicted their political beliefs. The question…

Jessie wanted to stop a bad, decade-long habit: she wanted to stop snacking after 8 pm. She tried willpower, brushing her teeth right after dinner, going to bed earlier – all of which failed. Until a friend suggested using the Jerry Seinfeld technique, aka “Don’t break the chain.” According to a rumor, Seinfeld told a…

After calling dozens of practices and talking to hundreds of receptionists over the years, I committed the ultimate sin. I confess. I kept a list of the most inappropriate, intriguing, or bizarre words and expressions I have heard when someone answered my call. Take a deep breath and enjoy… . Hello? . Yellow! . ABC…

What is your time management style? Less than 10% of executives are “very satisfied” with how they spend their time at work. Said otherwise, over 90% of executives are unhappy with how they spend their time! Many of them admit to chronic procrastination and wasting time. That’s the pathetic result of a worldwide analysis of…

Should you delegate more? Delegation is so hard… We all know we should delegate more… yet we often hesitate, and convince ourselves that we can do the job better and faster. Dave Lakhani, business consultant and author of The Power of an Hour (Wiley, 2006), suggests 5 simple questions to help you delegate more. 1.…

Why some to-dos are not crossed off your list You have to clean your office, the garage or the basement. You wanted to repaint the reception, redecorate the waiting room or reorganize the cabinets in the treatment room. Why hasn’t it happened yet? Why are they still on your to-do list? Is it because you’re…