Sixty years ago today, Nancy Caldwell gave birth to her second child and only daughter, Tara Lynne. This was not, shall we say, planned. Nancy was not a drinker. She loved her Tab and Pall Malls, but she rarely put a cocktail to her lips. That said, after four long...

“Be careful what you wish for. You’re about to see how horrible the world is.” Those are the words Jill Biden said to Doug Emhoff last summer, just after his wife accepted the nomination as the Democratic candidate for president.It’s not just a Jill Biden view. We...

As I zipped across town to make a meeting, I turned on Audible to consume a few scrumptious chapters of Trees, by Percival Everett. His writing flows like a spirited stream that promises the occasional spray of water into your overheated face. I mean it’s a work of...

The distinction between standing out and sticking out first came to mind when my sales manager, Skip, was visiting. After a day in the field, he said to me, “Let’s face it, Tara, you’re kind of awkward.” Skip was the stereotypical sales manager—navy slacks, gray...

It was July fourth when I sat in a lawn chair under a clear blue sky, surrounded by my daughter, husband, and some friends. From the Fifth Street bridge, we watched the sunset over the river and chatted about families, dreams, and the comical events that decorate our...

I have this fear. I call it my narci-phobia. When I write, speak, and even teach workshops, the thought of appearing self-centered makes me grip my thong. Well, I don't really wear those anymore, but you get the message.  And so, when people began to suggest that I...

I won’t ever forget the first time I heard the term compliment sandwich. My associate sales rep had just finished a competitive presentation and we were driving back across the territory toward home. He waited for my feedback until I broke the silence with some kind...

I was reminded last week, right in the middle of the workshop I was conducting. It wasn't planned; it just came spewing from my gut, across my tongue, and into the microphone.   To a single participant named Jasmine I said, “Oh, I want to hug you. Can I give you a...