Sheryl has contributed to the December 2009 "Chicken Soup for the Soul" anthology, "True Love." Her story "The Value of a Good Husband" can be found on pp. 215-217. The "True Love" volume's foreword was written by figure skating star Kristi Yamaguchi and includes over 70 authors.

BOOK SIGNING! Are you in the Tampa, Florida area? Come meet Sheryl at her book signing for "What Every Christian Should Know about the Jewish People" (subtitled): Improving the Church's Relationship with God's Original Chosen Nation.

When? Saturday, Dec. 12, 2009
What Time? 1:00 - 3:00 pm
Where? Oasis Christian Store, 10919 N. 56th St., Temple Terrace (between Fowler and Whiteway in Sherwood Forest Center).

Who's joining Sourceables? Experts, authors, and sources of all kinds. Business authors, personal finance experts, architects, researchers, legal experts, parenting pros, and more. Join now and share your expertise!

Today's economy is tough on all working individuals. More than ever the relationship with one's boss is critical to success. This article talks about some ways employees can work more collaboratively with their boss. Subject is related to information from my new book, Tangling with Tyrants: Managing the Balance of Power at Work.

Everyone's talking about that terrific cover story in "The Atlantic" this month about health care reform. But its analysis of the underpinnings of health insurance versus car insurance is only part of what makes the piece noteworthy. This discussion also proves why we need "dead tree" media (in addition to Websites like Sourceables, of course!): Could you imagine such a long, in-depth analysis on the Web?

I launched A Cause for Hope back in August and followed that up with an online ad campaign through Facebook. While the efforts did raise awareness and there are now 48 people listed as fans of the page, I have not yet received emails regarding donations. In the end, it cost $8.00.

I did realize that my initial attempts perhaps did not speak to the benefit to the donor. I am crafting a new message that will demonstrate the visibility donating may provide. Its important to remember that at the base of all of these efforts is the need to build relationships.

5 Ways To Be A Rock Star In The Workplace:
1- Do your best with you are and what you have!
2- Be Nice! Smile, be friendly, say please and thank you, answer the phone with a smile, send out cards to those you rely on- who do great things for you, let people know you are on their team and are rooting for their success.
3- Stop Complaining!
4- Stop blaming others and the market!
5- Keep your sense of humor!

Get Attitude Digest for your workplace for more great tips. Also, check out the other shop attitude products!
email ashley@attitudedigest.com for discounts and rates.

The cigarette companies are raising the sticky issue of free speech in arguing that the new federal tobacco law (which lets the FDA more tightly regulate cigarette ads) is unconstitutional. Congress could have avoided that whole mess if it had had the guts to simply outlaw cigarettes as a safety hazard. If I'd had to buy black-market cigarettes on sleazy street corners for $100 a pack when I smoked, I would have quit on the spot.

The following website covers the situation of libraries in Michigan.
http://milibrariesforthefuture.com/

You may have heard on the news, Accent Reduction is the latest trend in global communication. Even Americans with strong accents such as Ebonics, or a sharp Boston or Southern accent are learning to tone it down to speak to global audiences. People who speak English as a second language are perfecting their accents in English. The New York Times recently wrote an article that America is ready for an accent, as long as it is not too strong. Lisa Jeffery, MBA, MA, accent reduction expert, has coached and trained thousands of people from New York to South America to reduce their accents. She works with television personalities and Fortune 500 executives to help them speak better, powerful, more articulate International English.

The "town hall" discussions of health reform that members of Congress have tried to hold during their recess have clearly been sabotaged, making rational discussion impossible. Some of them have turned downright dangerous, as angry constituents showed up with loaded guns! So here's my modest proposal: End the congressional recess now. Not only would that avoid all the heat and anger of the town hall meetings, but then Congress would also have more time to work on climate-change legislation, the budget, and other bills, as well as health reform.

The State of Michigan, by Executive Order, is slated to dissolve the Library of Michigan to a large degree in the next fiscal year. Librarians throughout the state are garnering support to save the flagship library to secure continued service and avoid irreparable damage to the strength of libraries in Lansing. Genealogy resources, the Federal Depository, the Law library, and public service would all cease to be at the Library of Michigan in Lansing.

If you are tired and frustrated by the status quo and the inability of your organization, your team, your people to work together to create innovation and change, use appreciative inquiry as a tool to positively develop the capacity of your organization to achieve peak success. Visit www.NoblePaths.com for more information

My challenge is this - how do I compel someone with no direct connection to this cause to invest their time and effort and to support this project? A Cause for Hope is a deeply personal project and has become my 'job after my job'. This project supports a strong foundation recognized for their contributions to clinical research. I can leverage the existing MPD Foundation site as the organization publicizes fundraising efforts that operate on their behalf. Beyond that exposure, my initial efforts have evolved around Facebook and LinkedIn - I will need to do more to continue to foster and grow this project. Some efforts will succeed and others will fail, but I am hopeful that this project will advance the mission of the MPD Foundation.

The recent economic downturn is improving the quality of home design, despite the reduction in quantity of homes being designed. Those who have the money to spend are tending to do project that build or customize their environment based on their own needs, desires, and values; rather than building what they perceive the market will want for future resale.