Stopped by the Grammar Police

As a writer, grammar is a subject near and dear to my heart. And my heart breaks every time I log onto Facebook and see the blatant destruction of the English language. This pain intensifies when I see egregious grammar mistakes in professional emails. How we write is a reflection of who we are. But who can remember all those pesky grammar rules we learned in school? For some of us, that was quite a while ago. Never fear – this article contains a grammar cheat sheet with everything from the basics (their, there, and they’re) to the more difficult (lay and lie). There’s also a fun cartoon to illustrate why the Oxford comma is important (and although the author declares herself “team OC,” she fails to use the OC anywhere in her article…tsk tsk).

Beyond You’re vs. Your: A Grammar Cheat Sheet Even the Pros Can Use – Uberflip

All These Meetings…

People spend a lot of their time in meetings. While it would be nice if these meetings were planned weeks in advance, with time to prepare, that’s not always the case. When spontaneous meetings erupt, this article can help keep you on track and ensure everyone gets what they need out of last-minute meetings. Some suggestions include setting a goal, keeping the meeting on point, and keeping it short.

7 Ways to Get the Most Out of Last-Minute Meetings – Business Insider

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No jerks allowed.

Do you have an unreasonable boss? I certainly don’t! (Thanks for reading, John.) Are tough, aggressive bosses going by the wayside in an era when companies like Netflix have a “no-jerk rule”? Or does it still take sharp elbows and a demanding nature to push employees? There are so many ways to effectively manage employees without resorting to intimidation and anger, which I think makes that approach obsolete. Does that sound soft? There’s a difference between being stern and a bully.

Is the Hard-Nosed Boss Obsolete? – Wall Street Journal

“If you want to change the world, start off by making your bed.”

I’m not a fan of commencement addresses. I detest the usual Pollyanna messaging and “you are the country’s future” appeal. Continue reading →

Good days ahead for Leggett & Platt?

This article shares the state of manufacturing in America right now, and there’s reason to be optimistic. After a decades-long decrease in jobs, 600,000 have been added over the past four years. Part of the reason is increased wages in China and other emerging countries, leading many companies to bring jobs back to the U.S. Here are a couple interesting numbers: the average annual pay and benefits for U.S. manufacturing workers in 2012 was $77,505, whereas the number for all U.S. workers is $62,063; and 80% of manufacturing jobs require at least an associate’s degree or 12 months of training. Incidental note: one of my favorite words, “sanguine,” is used late in the article.

Why U.S. Manufacturing Is Poised for a Comeback (Maybe) – Wall Street Journal

What can a twentysomething teach a company executive?

This isn’t the first article about “reverse mentoring” that I’ve linked to, and that’s because I think it’s an important subject. I understand how reluctant an “older” employee would be Continue reading →

Sometimes thinking is a bad idea.

It turns out that “Just Do It” is more than a marketing slogan. Read this piece to hear about how “unthinking” is “the ability to apply years of learning at the crucial moment by removing your thinking self from the equation.” Everyone is familiar with the concept of overthinking things, whether it’s golf or writing a simple email or maybe even creating something in your kitchen. I heard a lot about “muscle memory” as a baseball player. If you practice something enough, you won’t have to think about the step-by-step process when it matters most. Evidently, there’s a lot to that.

NON COGITO, ERGO SUM – The Economist

Am I adorkable for loving words?

The internet has been creating words – have you noticed? Continue reading →