The Delicate But Necessary Task of Opening Pandora’s Box

Pandora's Box - Michael MamasEntrepreneur.com just published one my latest articles. It begins:

As head of an organization, this happens all the time. Somebody comes up to me really upset and says so-and-so said such-and-such. I respond by saying, “That’s terrible. How could they say such a thing! What did you tell them? What did you say?” The response is always the same: “Oh, I didn’t say anything.”

“You didn’t say anything?” I exclaim. “How could you just let that pass? Why didn’t you say something?” Again the response is standard: “Oh, I just didn’t know what to say. I didn’t know how to say it. And besides, I was afraid they’d get mad. I didn’t want to rock the boat. Who knows where it could have led?”

Time to open Pandora’s Box!…

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“A Delicate But Necessary Task of Opening Pandora’s Box”

How to Gain Respect Instead of Making an Enemy

Gain Respect - Michael MamasEntrepreneur.com just published one of my latest articles. It begins:

“Most people have a role model in one form or another. For me, it was my great uncle on my father’s side. Born in Greece, he came to America at the age of 14, unable to speak a word of English. He was not formally educated. But by reading a lot, he was quite knowledgeable, refined and, above all else, very wise. When I was a child, he told me, “Any fool can make an enemy. It takes a wise person to make a friend.” It’s a simple notion, yet one very few master”…

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“Here’s How to Gain Respect Instead of Making an Enemy”

How to Transform Conflict and Gain Respect

Transforming Conflict - Michael MamasEntrepreneur.com just published my article about dealing with conflict. It begins:

“Wouldn’t it be a different world if everybody behaved in a way that is to your liking? Unfortunately, people’s responses can often be anger, resentment, dissent or sarcasm. That can feel like a slap in the face, with your first response being to retaliate. At first glance, the very idea of simply “turning the other cheek” can seem weak, pathetic and ineffective, not to mention unnatural. But if you take a more insightful look, turning the other cheek can offer a powerful, effective and masterful response”…

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“How to Transform Conflict and Gain Respect”

How to Transform Anger into Constructive Action

Transform Anger - Michael MamasEntrepreneur.com just published my latest article. It begins:

“Yesterday, I had a conference call with business partners scheduled for 2:30 p.m. At 2:45, I received a call saying we had to wait because one of the partners hadn’t called in yet. Calls like that kept coming in for the next two hours, leaving me more and more frustrated. It wouldn’t have been so upsetting, except this same partner has done this time and time again. As it turned out, he did call on time, but someone missed his call.

“While sitting by the phone waiting, I reflected upon what I should say and how I should say it. I knew it would be detrimental to speak of it in anger. But I knew it would also be detrimental to say nothing”…

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“How to Transform Anger Into Constructive Action”

Stop Looking for the Perfect Partner and Try This Instead

The Perfect Partner, Michael MamasThe Huffington Post just published another of my latest articles. It begins:

“Don’t we all long for the perfect life partner? Don’t we all hold, deep within ourselves, an idealized notion of what the person would be like and how wonderful it would be to spend our lives together? Yet, it has been said that people spend the first part of their life looking for the ideal mate. And after they find their mate, they spend the rest of their life trying to change them. So, in our society with a 40-50% divorce rate, we would do well to take a step back and reevaluate what an ideal relationship really looks like”…

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“Stop Looking For The Perfect Partner And Try This Instead”

Dear Kids: Here’s Why Your Parents Can’t Keep Up

Kids PlayingI just posted a new article on Medium.com. It begins:

“Your poor parents. They can’t help but be a little clueless. Though they may be peddling as fast as they can, it’s hard for them to keep up with you.

“When I was a kid, childhood seemed to last forever. Summers went on for what now seems like years. So naturally when my kids were growing up, I felt like I had forever to enjoy their childhood. I passed up on opportunities to do this or that with them, thinking there was always next week, next month, next year. Suddenly, so much of it passed me by. I couldn’t keep up with how fast they were growing”…

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“Dear Kids: Here’s Why Your Parents Can’t Keep Up”