Sometimes the gods conspire against you. Today was one of those days. I was looking forward to the annual LMR lunch, celebrating my classmate Tyrone Nelson as a great servant leader – good vegetarian food at The Jefferson and networking with great friends and colleagues. I pulled up just at 11:30 and found a free 2-hour [...]

Twice in one week I blew it. I had chances to shine in the spotlight but instead I hid my candle under a bushel.

If you read my blue lobster blog you know I have a love affair with MVY Radio – and I’m starting to believe the feeling is mutual. Yesterday afternoon I sat down at my desk to get some serious work done, and heard my name coming out of the computer speakers! MVY found my blog and PJ Finn was telling listeners to go to our website to read the blog. Very cool. But, our site hasn’t been updated in way too long — and if this was MBM’s 5 Minutes of Fame, then we were not prepared at all! How embarrassing, and more importantly, what kinds of new business opportunities did we miss?

I have been a big fan of MVY Radio for years — it broadcasts out of Martha’s Vineyard so I get to hear weather reports and ferry wait times along with a great mix from Bruce to Neil Young to Gillian Welch and The Head & The Heart. I’ve discovered Joe Bonamassa, Adele, Mumford and Sons and others through listening online at work. The DJs don’t talk a lot, but when they do they’re knowledgeable, funny and personable. And I feel like I know them.

I had lunch today at Can Can Brasserie in Carytown (here in Richmond). I had a coffee meeting there on Monday. And I’m likely

I have 4 fabulous tickets to The Lion King which will be making its Richmond debut next week. That’s the good news. The bad news is

My 7 year old nephew told me this weekend that I am “weirdly spectacular.” Now, I take that as a compliment – the weird part,

Jack is the epitome of great customer service. And to look at him, or hear what business he’s in, you might not expect that. First off, he’s

I can’t take my eyes off the photos from the Costa Concordia tragedy. And although it may or may not be accurate, the blame for this situation

I have never been a big video game player. Sure, I spent a little time at a Pac-Man table back in the day, but usually

For the past few months my days have been filled with marketing to-dos, and my nights equally filled with wedding prep.So after all the push for excess wedding pomp, it occurred to me – I know what I want and what I need. I just need help from people that are willing to see things my way and don’t have their own agenda. It makes sense to me that this is not only the mantra of smart brides but also the genius of smart marketing.

Well I feel like a techno-buffoon. There I was at Kroger, thinking I’m all smart doing my Christmas dinner shopping today because it’s Tuesday (which means senior discount!) which I get because

I’ve been in two very uncomfortable situations recently. And although they both have worked out in the end, there were very difficult and tense moments in the middle – tempers were stretched, tears threatened, and there were moments of tottering on the fine line irreversible harm. Both could situations could have been avoided, if only

Today is my husband Richard’s birthday. Always a special day, but particularly interesting this year. First off, he’s a twin. But his twin brother’s birthday was yesterday.

Nothing makes me happier than coming across unexpected art – it’s out of place, quirky, defiant and treasured. I have to fight the urge

Steve Jobs genuinely wanted to make people’s lives simpler and better, not just sell toys. In the end, isn’t that what it’s all about?

My mother is spending the week with me. She’s 78 going on 92, bless her heart (as we say in the South). She moves slowly, eats slowly, and talks slowly (but a lot). Her visit has required

Richmond is gearing up as we speak for a weekend of non-stop festival merriment.

You probably know this already if you’re one who gravitates toward the Fashion/Pop Culture pages of the newspaper before getting down to the nitty gritty: Last week was 2011′s New York Fashion Week.

Last week I went into a large home furnishings retailer left me thinking about what makes a company’s customer service approach great, not just good.

We were pleased, and proud, to receive an email from our friends and long-term clients at the National Capital Bank of Washington. The email contained a link to