My Summer Vacation

My Summer Vacation

I’ve spent eighteen summers in the Hamptons, none of them vacations! Why? Because this has been my year-round home, my workplace, my everyday community.  What a privilege to conduct life’s ordinary, ho-hum business in such splendid surroundings.  But even the most...
Summer is Here! GOT CHECKLISTS?

Summer is Here! GOT CHECKLISTS?

Decades spent in private service have only reinforced my slavish devotion to checklists. They function so beautifully, on so many levels, that I must take this moment to sing their praises. Thanks to a little thing called Systemic complexity, scientists tell us we...
The Paradox of Choice

The Paradox of Choice

The Paradox of Choice When a client is ready to hire a new staff member, the possibilities often seem limitless. If they begin with a candid conversation with their recruiter detailing the kind of household, the scope of work, and the type of person they envision,...
Dear Candidates, Please Be Wonderful!

Dear Candidates, Please Be Wonderful!

Picture this: Mrs. Smith has engaged a recruiter – me! – to find her a great housekeeper. I will now devote my time to finding a promising candidate and getting to know them.  I am creating a profile to send to the client because I am painting a picture for her – a...