Learn the Language when in another country

I'm learning French.  Why?  Because I'll be going to Montreal for a conference and when in another "country," you have mastery/leverage/caché when you learn their language. By July, I'll be fluent and in a more powerful position to do business and make French friends and influence people.

You can be far away and take care of business

I was in Scottsdale, AZ last week during the flood in Chicago.  From my phone, I was able to access a plumber, schedule him and handle that.  Then, another tenants' wall buckled and that was handled.  Then, an official died and I had to generate a press release.  Thank goodness for the latest technology. I was able to attend to everything and no one knew I was on holiday.

Know when to hold...know when to fold

After over 20 years of owning a rental property in Harvey, Illinois, I let it go.  I've had good tenants and really horrible tenants.  The last group was in a category all to themselves.  That house has been robbed, completely stripped by thugs and the taxes are astronomical for a crime-infested city.  The leaders have no concern about the City and if you go in and complain, they're defensive.  Plus, the Mayor and all his relatives are in key positions.  A few weeks ago, the tenants left the place in such an infested state that my handyman threw up.  Orange juice was splattered on the walls...weeks old meat was rotting in the fridge. Junk and garbage were piling up.  I almost cried.  At that point, I decided to let it go and told my handyman.  He said he'd like the house and I practically gave it to him.  He is so deserving and he needed a place.  All of it will work out next year come tax time because I took a hit.  But, it was an ah ha moment that told me it was time to fold.  You've got to when to let it go because the stress is not worth it.  I folded but in the process helped someone else.

Thank EVERYBODY -- in writing.

I recently conducted a PR workshop in Memphis for Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority.  From the time I got off the plane, I was treated like a queen and all of my needs were accommodated.  They were willing to extend themselves -- and did.  When I ran out of stockings, they took me to get some.  When I wanted to get a photo of me at the Lorraine Motel, they drove me there and took the photo.  All totaled, 11 members touched me.  Today, I'm writing 11 THANK YOU NOTES to all of them.  Not an e-mail but a genuine note on stationery.  It is the right way to express appreciation.

A death too soon

I'm always speechless and numb when I learn that someone died before their promise was realized.  Such is the case of Marco McMillian.  I can't say I knew him well but I met him and was struck by his leadership demeanor.  And now he's gone...and brutally taken away from us.  Let's extend a prayer to Marco, Ben Wilson, Hadiyah Pendleton, Blair Holt and the thousands who died too soon -- and at the hands of another black person.  When will it end?

Build on success

Just completed a successful event with A Philip Randolph Pullman Porter Museum.  Now that it is over, it is time to build on success.  I've thanked all of the media that attended and then followed through on post requests. Since the Museum is having an event in August, it is important to keep the contacts close so that in trying to get media for that event, you don't have to re-establish connections.  It's all about building relationships.

Save on phone bill

When traveling abroad, use Magic Jack instead of any other service.  For 2 cents a minute on Magic Jack, I was able to call back to the office at my heart's content. The same call on the cell would have been about $2 a minute.  Do the math.  For only $99 a year, it's worth it.  While in Senegal, Nassau and St. Maarten, I have taken advantage of the low price to stay close to the office and to any messages.