Ask the Experts

Hi Deb! Your new TBBW feature is cool and, as long as my name is not used, I would LOVE my question to get answered. Here it is – What do you do when a manager is rude or dismissing someone else, in a meeting and the person doesn’t report to you. I want to

The month of May signifies many things to many people, depending upon your point of view and frame of reference. It’s the peak of springtime (and the precursor of hot, humid months), Cinco de Mayo, the Kentucky Derby, high school and college graduations, Memorial Day and the Indianapolis 500, to name a few. But we

Aril is the fourth month of the year and the month when Administrative Appreciation Day is celebrated. This year, National Administrative Professionals’ Day falls on April 24, 2024. That’s a whole lot of fours.   This made me think about the meaning of the number four. Here’s what Google says: the number four is related

Dear Jim,  How many follow-ups are too many follow-ups, too many? I’m under pressure to get answers from prospects before moving on, but sometimes I can feel the irritation in the responses I get. I want to follow through without making a bad impression. When do you know to stop trying?  Sincerely,  Am I too

The demographic landscape is undergoing a seismic shift as baby boomers reach retirement age—often called the “Silver Tsunami.” As of the 2020 census, one in six people in the United States was 65 or older.  The aging population grew from 2010 to 2020 at the fastest rate in over 100 years, nearly five times faster

You probably remember hearing all about the Titanic in great detail during history class. You might remember how this ship was described as the epitome of luxury and had been deemed unsinkable by its creators. You know the latter very clearly turned out not to be the case. But even as the massive ship was

Despite most TV pundits loudly proclaiming over the last few years that the US economy is strong, inflation is just transitory, and capital is plentiful, they’ve finally started to admit what the average American already knew years ago—our economy is in a disastrous position. The fact of the matter is that our economy is not

Underdogs are highly regarded, and celebrated, throughout history and sports. Think JK Rowling, Robin Hood and King Arthur. The “Cinderella team”— Miracle on Ice.  Underdogs are legendary because they defy the odds, and the naysayers, and are, generally, quite unassuming. Something grips them in the moment, where they are faced with either success or failure,

Dear Debbie,  Can you help with some Out of Office (OOO) coaching? I recently took some time off from work, but I always try to be available for urgent matters that need my attention. I explain that while I’m on vacation, for anything that needs immediate attention, I can be reached on my cell phone.

In case you haven’t noticed, a shift in the profession of selling is underway. This shift – the digital empowerment of buyers – has been rumbling for a while but, thanks to developments in artificial intelligence, it has really hit hard over the past year. To help you prepare for a selling landscape where buyers

By now, you should have already completed your sales forecasting for 2024 and be well on your way to laying the groundwork for a wildly successful year. Sometimes I find, however, that many companies still struggle with gathering the pertinent information they need to accurately gauge the effectiveness of their selling and business development efforts.

Have you ever found yourself pondering, “Do I need a strategic partner or is my executive assistant ready to level up and become the MVP in strategic moves?” Let’s ditch the formality, grab a virtual pinky promise and dive into what sets a strategic partner apart from a traditional executive assistant.  In my experience, a