Ok Washingtonians, here’s a challenge contest for the holidays. Purchase my books at Fabulous Market (on Pennsylvania Ave NW between 24th and 25th Streets) until whole inventory is gone but no later than December 6th. The books are $14 each there. There are 12 books in total at Fabulous. Then, if the rack is empty on December 7th, I will donate 5 books to needy families in DC area for the holidays. And who knows, maybe visitors to DC (staying at the Melrose) will buy some too. Challenge is on. Come on. And reading is the gift that keeps on giving!!!! And kids in DC area need books for their homes. Let’s see if this do good initiative can work!!!! …see more

Looks like Target is going after Away , Arlo Skye , etc. by essentially offering similar products at lower prices. And I imagine we are going to see more monied incumbents essentially taking signals from DTC companies, duplicating their product offering, and doing so for less. Even though this isn't computer-related, the old saying of "hardware is hard" seems to apply here as well. #target #away #arloskye #luggage #dtc #retail #consumerbehavior …see more

Happy Labor Day, recognizing that for many, this is not a holiday but a work day. I just read an article on donations to colleges and universities and how they failed to vet the source of donations — namely from Jeffrey Epstein. The Higher Education Times (a UK publication) said anonymity was an approach although not fully protective. 3 thoughts: 1. How carefully ARE donations actually vetted in real life on campuses? Sure, smaller colleges can vet more, and big donations stand out everywhere as worthy of vetting. But how much money comes in from sources that, if we looked, would be deemed institutionally unacceptable? 2. Cozying up to donors is a big part of fundraising. So didn’t these institutions meet and stay in touch w/ Epstein? Harvard said it isn’t returning the $$ it got. Is that because it was received before convictions? Didn’t Harvard send updates/reports to him? Couldn’t Harvard show some grace and donate an identical amount to fund for his victims? Ok: just return it. 3. Wouldn’t it be easy to fool a college/university as to a donation’s source? Just create layers. Now ask: Is Sackler money being returned or just new $$ not bring taken by educational institutions? I’d say we need to do more thinking about donor source. Honorary Degrees too. …see more

These are strategies teachers can start using immediately to help students process the election and its aftermath. Comments welcomed (non-snarky of course).

We need meditation during the pandemic to enable us to relax into the uncertainty, to watch the fear, welcoming it for what it is—a mechanism designed to help us— and realize that, if you breathe into it, it will come and go.

You can’t will yourself to sleep, but you can give yourself a nudge toward slumber if you follow the advice in this podcast that includes washing the cares of the day away by diving between the covers into a fictional world....

Thought #Leaders in #Online #Education : Dr. Becky Takeda-Tinker #President of Colorado State University

Take a deep breath. Did your chest and shoulders rise? If so, you’re breathing in a way linked with elevated stress and anxiety. Breathwrk is a free app to guide you through daily breathing exercises that relax, energize, focus on belly breathing. …see more

Today at 3 p.m. EDT (in just one hour!), join my #strategyhacker livestream anywhere you watch video. It's a weekly livesteam focused on your business and your career. Learn more.

If you are an employer, recent data indicates you have valuable female employees who you have lost in droves as a result of Covid 19 and their caregiving duties. I can help you create a strategy to bring them back and keep them. Contact me michelle@alska.com . #womenatwork #benefits #inclusionmatters …see more

Just posted this piece. As always, comments welcomed. https://lnkd.in/eu_d5hv Appears on BBN Times too. …see more

It is World Giraffe Day in Okinawa. Reading to kids at Kadina Air Force base. Have special pass. Sharing my giraffe books and giraffe info from my books and the new twiga trackers — twiga is Swahili for giraffe. Sharing about threat of extinction. Lots of fun planned. Will send photos later. Feels wonderful to be with soldier’s children far from US soil. Wearing my giraffe ears !!! Donate to GCF or buy a book and googol for giraffe. KidbooksbyKaren …see more

Talk about speaking truth to power: brava. Most people are not in a position to share so publicly. Recently, I have been using the bully pulpit to share wrongs -- and when I reflected on this and discussed using social media in this way -- I was told: you have the platform; use it. There is a key point there: not everyone can speak up and out and deal with the aftermath too. If you can speak up and out, even with some backlash and risk, it will help others. Anita Hill taught us well: speak truth to power, even when power does not listen. So, those can, please speak. Our world will be better for it. And for those stung by truth (like the physician who acted like G-d or the airlines (American) that could not apologize in a heartfelt way or the authority who issued a ticket when one of the issuing officers was uncredentialled (Florida) or the dog breeder that lied and sued and lost claiming breach (Iowa) or the lawyers who send letters seeking settlement dollars when the cases lack merit (national): apologize. …see more

Apple says it is okay to use disinfectant wipes on your iPhone. Here's how to make sure you're doing it right.

So I wanted to share several things -- seemingly different but related. The Cookery in Shirlington (Arlington) VA is having an event June 1 starting at noon in their remarkable cooking/food store for International Children's Day. And, they will be making a donation to Save the Children. I will be doing a book reading and signing at this event -- with two of my newest children's books. There will be food, fun and activities. One of the goals is to enable children to appreciate the fun that can come from engaged reading and the books are meant to achieve that. Also, given the starvation and deaths of children across the globe, it is worth pausing and reflecting on what we can do to improve the lives of the next generation -- near and far. There is homelessness and food scarcity in many areas -- hidden and not so hidden poverty and a deep inequality for children in education too. That gets me to my next point: I will be at Molly Stark School in VT (which is I believe close to 100% free and reduced lunch) on June 3 to read and work with children. I will be sharing one of the new books and helping kids appreciate the value of words and reading. And, it is key to curb summer melt causing low income kids to fall behind while their wealthier peers progress ahead. Come join us. …see more

Am looking forward to my discussion with Reince Priebus on Thursday at 1pm. Please register to join!

Now that the dust has settled and everyone has published their "Who won Super Bowl advertising?" lists, just a simple reminder whenever you evaluate ads, it is important to remember that you may not be the target audience. I'm not saying you don't get an opinion but when it comes to evaluating advertising, effectiveness at communicating to the target audience is paramount. #marketing #advertising #superbowl …see more

Thinking about quitting to work on your startup? Lots of Bootstrapping with a Paycheck examples here

Here’s an informative 9-minute video summary of the book Joy at Work that will help you declutter your work space.

Malala’s advice to young people: you don’t have to wait to be an adult to be a leader. Her advice for the rest of us? It’s not too late to change.