Culture: A treasure trove of opportunity
In Japan, where cherry blossoms are widely celebrated, families and friends enjoy picnics and festivals under cherry trees. The cherry blossom represents the arrival of spring and the renewal of life. Chinese New Year, also known as the Spring Festival is the most important festival for Chinese people. Activities include colourful festivals, dragon dances, fireworks, reunions and making…
Boost your small business
You made a bold move and started your own small business. You put everything into it. You’re passionate about it and, like any small business owner, you want to see it thrive. There are a number of small business strategies you can employ. Here are a few to get you started. Small business strategies to…
Communication faux pas to avoid
Think back to times when you gave up on a conversation or felt that you just weren’t getting through to a colleague, a friend or even a family member. It can be frustrating and discouraging. Whether it’s in a relationship, the workplace or business interactions, effective communication is important. If you want to express yourself…
The magic of reading
As we wrap up Spring break and there are now more warm days than cold ones, my mind starts to think about the summer. I look forward to those warm quiet days when I can grab a book or magazine and spend quiet time relaxing at the beach or in a park and get lost…
Set your goals and go after them!
Goal setting helps us achieve our aspirations and make progress in various aspects of life. A goal is a place you want to get to. It’s a level you want to achieve or a result you want to experience. But it doesn’t come without work. Goals can be short-term or long-term, and they provide a…
Five reasons to write a book
How many people have you encountered who have said they want to write a book? Maybe they’ve already started or maybe it’s on their bucket list. As a communication professional, I have a circle of colleagues and friends who write. Some write for work and some for the pure love of writing. And, surprise! Most…
Customer service is a table stake
Who likes sitting on hold with a service provider? Not me! I wanted information about my home insurance, so I gave my provider a call. I navigated through the series of automated choices carefully choosing the purpose for my call and remembering long-forgotten PIN numbers. Then I waited. And waited. Despite the warnings that I…
Break it down, step by step
The other day I baked apple squares. I used a recipe that required only a few steps and seemed simple enough. Full confession, I am not a baker. I followed the steps and despite my pan being slightly larger than the recipe called for, I think the squares turned out pretty good. This got me…
Connect!
We’re not all cut from the same cloth. For some of us, making a connection with another human comes naturally. For others, not so much. Although we might be presented with natural opportunities along the way such as childhood friends, school, sports or work, life changes and people move on. We’re then forced to make…
Words that flow
My walk home today was a steeplechase. The temperatures were above zero and there were puddles from the melted snow at every turn. The walk got me thinking about metaphors. Not only are they fun, but they’re powerful tools in writing that can help readers understand complex ideas and emotions. They help paint a picture…
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This article is a practical resource that provides actionable advice. Thank you for the helpful tips!
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Thank you for following Pen and Patience. I appreciate the support. I like your Blog Site and wish you much success with your endeavors. If you haven’t already, I invite you to stop by http://www.writeradvice.com and read my writing journey under the heading, “You can’t make this stuff up.” It’s titled, “Late Bloomin’ Writer.” It’s never too late to begin writing.
Frances
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Thank you. I will will check it out!
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