Bill Gates with Matthew Bishop:

The Business of Giving

In a rare special appearance at 92Y, Bill Gates discusses his extraordinary career in business and philanthropy with Matthew Bishop of The Economist as part of his “The Business of Giving” series.

Save 25% on tickets with code EM25.

www.92Y.org/BillGates

(If this sounds like something you’d enjoy, you’ll LOVE this: http://www.lifebeyondcelebrity.com/giving-why-to-make-it-public/ ~Rebecca )

Michael Jackson’s memorial service ended a few minutes ago and besides the tears and the laughter that I am grateful to have been able to share with everyone else who was watching it on TV or present in the Staples Center in LA, I was reminded, in such a poignant way, why I do what I do for a living… Read the rest of this entry »

www.GetOverThatBreakUp.com

Check it out this Memorial Day and receive THREE very special BONUSES!

Enjoy!

Rebecca

When was the last time you took time off? Even just a day or two?

For many of us, we don’t even remember what a day off is-since we mix our work and home lives together so much that to have a 24 hour period (even a 12 hour period!) where we spend time just relaxing and not working is a rarity.

I took a few days off last week. I visited one of my best friends for her birthday and had the benefit of actual DAYS OFF while I was there. What did I do during that time? Well, we did some shopping, went out to eat a couple of times, sat on the couch, watched TV, talked, and played with her puppy. THAT’S IT.

But what was most significant about what I did during that time wasn’t the activities-it was my ATTITUDE about the activities. Read the rest of this entry »

When people consider an exciting, travel-filled life, one of the things we don’t often think about is the effect that travel will have on those we love.

I have many clients who routinely travel for work-whether it’s constant touring, brief media appearances, movie & TV shoots, or even vacations to get away for awhile, traveling, though it can be exciting, can have severe repercussions on our families and friends.

Usually, when I write a post on something like this, I’m traveling myself, or have just returned home after some trip. This time, however, I’m on the other end of it. Read the rest of this entry »

As most of you know, I’m not a George W. Bush supporter. But last night, I was thinking about him in a way that elicited more compassion and concern for him than I’ve ever felt in my life. Why? Because I was thinking, “What must it be like to have to publicly HAND OVER the reins to the presidency while your successor (the brand new darling) is creating such a stir that the general public has mentally ousted you from office before your term is even finished?”

To go from being the head of everything—with the world leaning on your every word and thought, to being the guy shoved out the back door for the new guy that’s just eclipsed you and ushered in “A Brand New Age”? That’s gotta hurt! Read the rest of this entry »

Charitable giving must be in the air. Last night, a colleague and I were talking about one of the main benefits of earning lots and lots of money was how fun it would be to give a whole lot of it away. Then, this morning, I received an article about an award a friend received for her extensive charitable giving in the town where she lives. Read the rest of this entry »

Climbing the mountain of success and reaching our goals can be a heady experience. Though, reaching the ‘top’ of the mountain offers an, often, unseen danger: the choice, conscious or not, to feel contented and satisfied, or instantly craving MORE.

There are SO many ways that fame can provide this opportunity for choice: rave reviews, accolades, media coups, winning awards-heck, even that elixir of love-like energy; applause.

In any of those situations, it’s our job to decide what success means when we get it-and that will inform whether we are satisfied with that success, or immediately starving for the next one.

A deeper question to ask ourselves, to find this out, is, often, “Am I trying to meet a need with this goal I have?” Read the rest of this entry »

Most people cringe when they realize their day in the sun is over—or, more kindly stated, when their day in the sun has turned into an evening in the twilight. I know it seriously pained my ego the first time I was called “ma’am” and the person who said it really meant it. Or when I realized those gray hairs really were here to stay.

Though, from what I hear from my clients, being called ma’am or admitting we’re getting (ouch!) old is nothing compared to being labled a “has-been.”

This is one of those very common points in the arc of fame. Almost every “Somebody” does become a “Nobody” or worse, a “Who? I don’t remember you!” It’s ridiculously common, yet can be so painful that nobody likes to talk about it. Perhaps because ‘fame’ in this country is so present moment that to admit the moment ends kind of messes with the whole illusion and tarnishes the American Dream… Read the rest of this entry »