Growing up in Memphis, Tamera Malone, instructional coach at Gestalt Public Schools, was excited for a fresh start at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. She was making great strides in her pursuit of a degree in political science, which would soon propel her into law school, or so she thought. Then she took a role as an assistant for a college class that would dramatically alter her perspective and plans for the future.

October in Memphis: a high of 92 and sweat. October in Boston: 65, partly sunny and how I imagine autumn should feel.

Ray’s Take: Everyone loves to set big goals. I’m going to lose 30 pounds and get in shape in a month. I’m going to travel around the world. I’m going to retire at 50. And the list could go on and on. While goal setting is important and helps shape our dreams, goals like these are virtually unattainable and when they aren’t met can leave us feeling like a failure.

Homeownership, the American dream. Where the heart is. We really do love homes. Talking about them, thinking about them, constantly surveying the residential real estate landscape even though we have no plans of moving.

Have you ever had someone tell you that it’s a good idea to get your foot in the door at a company? The theory is that if you get your foot in the door, you can work your way up over time. I understand the reasoning. It’s a career outlook that has been around for a long time. But, in today’s career environment, this approach can backfire.

We all have relationships. When it comes to fundraising – especially major gift fundraising – the question is this: Do you – or those you know – have relationships with individuals who can make or influence major gifts?

Google’s latest two algorithm updates, Medic and Birthday, each had a significant impact on where affected websites found themselves ranking within the search engine results pages (SERPs).

Most businesses would be ecstatic if their revenue increased more than 100 percent in less than two years. Scammers are business people too, scams are their products, and the FBI reports that their revenue from one scam increased 136 percent between December 2016 and May 2018.

When doing both strategic planning and innovation work, the biggest hurdles are your own experiences, worldviews, and knowledge of the market and players in it.

There’s an old African saying to “run towards the roar.” For those unfamiliar, it means to run toward what scares you instead of away from it, for the greatest reward often comes from the greatest risk. Jeffrey Veale Jr., school director at Leadership Preparatory Charter School, “ran towards the roar” when he decided to enter the field of education.

There is much value in having a last will and testament, generally referred to as a “will.” However, as with most things, a will’s value is relative; it largely depends on your unique circumstances.

Ray’s Take: Here’s the bottom line. We all make mistakes. And when you find yourself in the midst of a huge financial blunder, stay calm and don’t panic. 

“Anytime you can move the needle on home ownership in Binghamton, it’s a good day. And today is a good day.”  

With October being cybersecurity month, I wanted to share the story of NotPetya, the most devastating cyberattack in history.

You know, I love tech companies. With a computer engineering undergrad, I’ve spent my entire career working in the world of technology in one way or another.

Editor’s note: Part four of a four-part series. We were recently asked to speak to the Memphis Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP). We share these remarks here as we believe they are important to all of us who care about Memphis.

According to a report by Content Marketing Institute, 72 percent of content marketers credit strategy as a major contributor to their increased level of success. If your company is enjoying mind-blowing metrics from the content-marketing strategies you have in place, good for you! If you’re struggling with less than favorable metrics and are thinking of throwing in the content towel, think again.

Ray's Take: Do you have a credit card or bank account that your spouse does not know about? Have you ever told a little white lie to your significant other about how much something costs?

My favorite way to experience a city is by foot, and New York tops the list. It doesn’t matter the neighborhood, there’s always something unique to experience by foot.

According to the FTC, businesses that proclaim “satisfaction guaranteed” or “money-back guarantee” must be willing to give full refunds for any reason. Any limitations on the guarantee must be clearly stated. The BBB’s Code of Advertising contains similar guidance.

Dear Hiring Manager,

We often hear about big company data breaches like eBay and Equifax. In fact, just last week, both Macy’s and Bloomingdale’s warned their customers of a potential online hack.

Editor's note: Part Three of a four part series.

Sales professionals who understand they are in the emotional transportation business win the day. Harvard Professor Gerald Zaltman explains that 95 percent of purchasing decisions are subconscious and largely based on emotion versus logic. Once that emotional decision has been made, the brain seeks out logical input to support it.

The title of my column today may sound a bit confusing. It comes from one of my own mentors. Years ago, when I was finishing graduate school in California, I spent a significant amount of time searching for the right job. I would go to job fairs and networking events as if it were my full-time job. I would interview for anything and everything.