Diane Danielson's Comments

Communicate Like a Pro Using E-mail by Adrienne Moch

Mar 3, 2009 | comments: 3

Diane Danielson Mar 5, 2009, 5:19pm EST

I especially like the last point about changing the subject lines. It really helps when you go back searching through emails.

Growing up in the Eighties by Diane Danielson

Jan 21, 2008 | comments: 5

Diane Danielson Jan 22, 2008, 11:47pm EST

Hi Eric - Funny those high school memories, that stick with us. I've been stretching myself a bit thin these days (and immersed in learning more about the power of Facebook ... may have to write another book one of these days!). So, Gather fell off the radar screen for a bit. Hope all is well.

Diane

Networking: Morning or Evening? by Dani Nordin

Jan 17, 2008 | comments: 5

Diane Danielson Jan 21, 2008, 1:10pm EST

Hi Dani -

I used to be a morning meeting person, but then I had a kid and if I ever made it to a meeting, I would be late, disheveled, and grumpy as I likely hadn't had time for a cup of coffee. I realized that this was not how I wanted potential networking contacts to view me, so I no longer do morning events (although as my child gets older, I'll likely go back to morning meetings). These days, I've actually found my best networking is over coffee because it's intimate, time-efficient and can fit into my busy schedule. Another thing people should consider is if you're an introvert, you should pick events where there is a speaker or facilitator so that the pressure is off you.

Jane Austen would have been a blogger by Diane Danielson

Sep 22, 2007 | comments: 12

Diane Danielson Sep 25, 2007, 9:24pm EDT

No doubt Jane would have been appalled by a lot of things about modern society. But, I think she might find blogging somewhat amusing (especially since she was forced to self-publish). However, I confess to being a fan and not a scholar. We mention Jane in our book because we believe she would agree that even when networking online, we should all have good manners.

When size matters. by Diane Danielson

Mar 30, 2007 | comments: 9

Diane Danielson Sep 25, 2007, 11:08am EDT

I'm lucky to have a boy. I can't imagine what all these images of real-life barbie dolls are doing to young girls' pysche these days. Although there is a great book out there on that called Perfect Girls, Starving Daughters.

Jane Austen would have been a blogger by Diane Danielson

Sep 22, 2007 | comments: 12

Diane Danielson Sep 25, 2007, 9:38am EDT

Agreed. Too bad the poor gal got little respect during her own lifetime.

Jane Austen would have been a blogger by Diane Danielson

Sep 22, 2007 | comments: 12

Diane Danielson Sep 22, 2007, 6:01pm EDT

Wish I could take credit for knowing that Jane Austen would be at her most popular when we came up with writing a business book about technology with a "Jane Austen" theme. But, as Jane would say (in Emma): "Silly things do cease to be silly if they are done by sensible people in an impudent way."

The Far Side of Perfect: Facing Forty by Diane Danielson

May 4, 2007 | comments: 6

Diane Danielson Aug 1, 2007, 11:16pm EDT

Well, I had my actually b-day this weekend and I learned to sail, read a Nelson DeMille book from start to finish and ended up at a Police concert at Fenway. I didnt exercise or work and refused to feel guilty about it. So, I'd have to say it was a pretty spectacular b-day. Although, I have to confess I definitely should've worn the tiara! Maybe on my 50th.

When size matters. by Diane Danielson

Mar 30, 2007 | comments: 9

Diane Danielson Jun 13, 2007, 5:09pm EDT

But, isn't a "dollar and a dream", the new American Dream? Getting big rewards for no work? Heck, CEO's get big payoffs for being fired, people buy real estate thinking they can flip it for more money (although this is rapidly backfiring); others are founding companies with other people's money and a goal of selling it off to Google (this too is backfiring for most). And then there are the role models like the aristocretin twins, Paris Hilton and Nicole Ritchie, who obtain wealth and fame for going to nightclubs, wearing skimpy clothes and driving drunk. Add to that, the fact that much of America's youth is banking their career goals on winning American Idol or riding the Reality TV wave to fame and fortune, and I'm sure our forefathers are turning over in their graves.

The Far Side of Perfect: Facing Forty by Diane Danielson

May 4, 2007 | comments: 6

Diane Danielson Jun 3, 2007, 11:57am EDT

It's funny, this column ran in my local paper, and I was surprised to hear that it was the men who were the most stressed about the age thing (as I learned on the soccer and baseball sidelines last weekend). Yet, as you pointed out in your comment on my Life is a Circus article, you all are really just little boys at heart! I'm actually working on an article about things I learned from my 7 year old. i.e., that it's possible to "arm fart" the alphabet ...

When size matters. by Diane Danielson

Mar 30, 2007 | comments: 9

Diane Danielson Jun 3, 2007, 11:54am EDT

Good point, Eric. But, I think it makes it all worse that we elected a "bully" for president. Unfortunately, the casino's are taking the money of the people who need it the most.

Bad Dates, Babysitters & Boardrooms: Role-Playing Beyond the Oscars by Diane Danielson

Mar 2, 2007 | comments: 7

Diane Danielson Apr 1, 2007, 4:02pm EDT

Hi Ray - congrats to your son (and daughter!). And thanks for the support. I think we all need dreams to keep us going through the hard times. Although an award once in a while doesn't hurt either!

Another Reason to Feel Guilty by Erin K.

Mar 29, 2007 | comments: 8

Diane Danielson Mar 30, 2007, 9:02pm EDT

I grimaced before reading yet another story about how I ruined my kid by putting him in daycare. But no matter how you skew the results to make headlines, I don't think we as a country can continue hiding our heads in the sand when:

1. It's not realistic to be middle class on a single income.
2. Corporate America is continuing to increase the workday (when did 9 to 5 start sounding like a part-time job?), but not the available childcare options.
3. Daycare salaries haven't matched rising costs of living which leads to increased turnover, which the NYTimes article mentions may have been an immeasurable factor affecting the outcome.
4. Most schools don't match hours with the workweek, which means that many daycare kids are also in after school programs (the study didn't seem to mention if that was a factor).

So, we can keep blaming the moms (although the article admirably tried to keep it gender neutral), many of whom don't have much choice in the matter (as it's clear the "opting out" stories are a myth as that's an option for a very small percentage of the population). Or, we can explore the effects government subsidies would have on retaining daycare employees, or encouraging companies to have flexible work options. Personally, I prefer the proactive approach rather than sitting around placing blame.

Bad Dates, Babysitters & Boardrooms: Role-Playing Beyond the Oscars by Diane Danielson

Mar 2, 2007 | comments: 7

Diane Danielson Mar 18, 2007, 12:35pm EDT

Hi Eric - Thanks for the compliments (although usually I have to sport my "librarian" glasses to get the intelligent comment on looks; which I've been known to do in business meetings). And, yes, I'm enjoying my sons adoration at the moment, as we're only a few years away from the pre-teen and teen years, when he'll go from "mom, you know everything" to "mom, you know nothing." That's when I'm going to go out and get myself a dog.

Bad Dates, Babysitters & Boardrooms: Role-Playing Beyond the Oscars by Diane Danielson

Mar 2, 2007 | comments: 7

Diane Danielson Mar 3, 2007, 9:48am EST

Hi Dani - Pretending IS such hard work. Exhausting really. Actually, I didn't include my latest role: Urban single gal moves to small town suburbs. Surprisingly, I love it. Who would have thought that I could take our club motto literally: Downtown Women: it's an attitude, not a location. ;-)

TV Ads should have ratings by Diane Danielson

Jan 27, 2007 | comments: 9

Diane Danielson Feb 16, 2007, 11:11am EST

I did notice that during the Superbowl, there were no CSI ads. And, while we had to suffer through lame godaddy ads, my son found the rocks paper scissors one quite amusing. Even I had to laugh at that one. It's the whole "unexpected" thing that Dan and Chip Heath talk about in my new favorite biz book: Made to Stick.

Generationally speaking: Women in the workplace survey by Diane Danielson

Feb 2, 2007 | comments: 3

Diane Danielson Feb 16, 2007, 10:59am EST

Hi Andy - This time I'm writing just about the businesswomen. I do want to write about Gen Y men in the future, as I hear that they are leading the work/life battle in corporate America. But, this time I was asked just to write about the ladies!

TV Ads should have ratings by Diane Danielson

Jan 27, 2007 | comments: 9

Diane Danielson Jan 27, 2007, 4:23pm EST

Hey, maybe the Europeans have the right mix? After all, I don't mind most of the sexy ads on TV, especially the amusing ones. Often, they are not nearly as racy (or funny) as the European (or even Asian) ones, and most of them go over my kid's head anyhow.

And as a bleeding heart liberal, I thought long and hard over whether or not I wanted to broach a censorship issue. But, as Eric said - it's common sense. If a kid is still young enough to believe Santa Claus really exists, then he's probably not ready to handle CSI (or any ads for it), and it's reasonable to ask the networks to not show them during their own self-proclaimed "family hour".

TV Ads should have ratings by Diane Danielson

Jan 27, 2007 | comments: 9

Diane Danielson Jan 27, 2007, 3:42pm EST

Hi Eric - Thanks for the vote for common sense. That's all I'm asking. And why can't the very same people who came down hard on the networks and Janet Jackson a few years ago for that superbowl performance aren't focused on something much more disturbing and harmful like gratuitous violence. But, then again, they are probably CSI fans! (We seem to be the only two people who don't watch it.)

TV Ads should have ratings by Diane Danielson

Jan 27, 2007 | comments: 9

Diane Danielson Jan 27, 2007, 2:57pm EST

Sorry True American, but don't confuse me with Tipper Gore. I'm not for censorship or for "mollycoddling" kids, like not keeping score at sports, or giving them all trophies just for showing up. I've seen the results of the latter play out terribly in the workplace. But, that's completely different than exposing them to graphic life-like violence when they are too young to know the difference between the nightly news and a CSI-type show.

And in fact, my parents do live in Europe and my child and I watch TV over there all the time and while there's lots of risqué entertainment and nudity, they don't have anything like the gratuitous violence that appears on American television.

Can I also reiterate that my child pointed it out to me, and not vice versa, and asked me why would people want to watch something like that. As a non-CSI watcher, I gave him a true answer – "I don't know why they would, but that a lot of people do." I then explained that while we should never dictate what people watch, or what the networks show, it's fair to request that they run ads for these types of shows later on in the evenings.

Michael W, thanks for the V-Chip idea, but we are actually TiVo'ing things and fast-forwarding through commercials. However, one can't do that with an important AFC game. And I have let my connections as CBS know that this was a bit inappropriate, and that they should consider pushing the time slots for these commercials back a bit.