Welcome to Misti's Insights

Washington Post Question: In the pursuit of success, what are the advantages and disadvantages of being an established power vs. a hungry upstart? In this Sunday`s Super Bowl, would you give an edge to Indianapolis Colts quarterback Peyton Manning, who has won a Super...

Washington Post Question: How often do achievements like that of the newly elected Republican senator from Massachusetts seem to materialize out of thin air? Do you believe in the concept of overnight success? The idea that achievements like Scott Brown`s...

One of my readers recently e-mailed me: “My sister received some pictures of a friend’s wedding. The bride and bridesmaids all wore long, formal dresses. The groom and groomsmen wore khakis; short-sleeved, casual, ‘out over the belt’ shirts;...

Washington Post Question: Should we admire Haitian singer Wyclef Jean for his charitable work even if it turns out that some of the money raised by his foundation, Yele Haiti, has been spent in questionable ways? How often do successful, high-profile people disappoint...

Washington Post Question: Is it possible to be successful in a job that you don`t like? A business group called the Conference Board got lots of publicity Jan. 5 by claiming worker satisfaction had fallen to its lowest level ever. Their numbers and methodology were...

“You have no idea how much age discrimination is happening right now in the workforce, Misti,” said Mike, a 50-something who’s been job searching for months. “They’re not hiring me because I’m too old and, therefore, too expensive....

Washington Post Question: Why do most people abandon their New Year`s resolutions so quickly? How much of a role does goal-setting play in achieving success? What are the most effective resolutions you have made? Several years in a row, my New Year`s resolution was to...

Date: ___________________ Name: ____________________________ 2010 **Goal-Setting Effectiveness:  5% When unwritten  ::  54% When recorded digitally (typed)  ::  92% When handwritten on paper   I am, I have, I do Activities Supporting Me...

You’re no Scrooge. You know your team needs to deck the halls right now – to have some fun and celebrate together. But what if it’s just not in the budget – the leaner, meaner one that’s keeping your company alive during tough times? With...

While traveling all over the United States, speaking to hundreds of thousands of sailors in the Navy, I met an incredible woman, Captain KC. Just before meeting Captain KC, she received honors for being the first Latina woman to make her rank within the Navy. Excited...

Washington Post Question: Is the culture of celebrity and reality TV eroding our understanding of what constitutes success? What should we tell our children about people such as Tareq and Michaele Salahi who apparently crashed a White House state dinner in pursuit of...

Sure, we’ve all lamented that our bosses don’t understand all the intricacies and hard work involved in our complex jobs. But it’s definitely a problem when your manager doesn’t even know what you do. Jill, an executive with a large gaming...

Q: Why has Oprah Winfrey been so successful as a TV talk-show host? Does it make sense for her to end her syndicated talk show in 2011 when she`s still dominating the daytime ratings? Can you imagine anyone replicating the following she`s been able to build? I will...

Answer to Washington Posts question: Q: Do financially successful people have an obligation to help those in need? Are Bill and Melinda Gates, who have given away hundreds of millions of dollars through their foundation, encouraging others to step up to the plate? How...

Speak your truth – then modify your expression over time. Too many people worry about what/how they say something and often never say anything because they are afraid of how they may come across. We’ve all heard it – “There is no such thing as...

A question posed by the Washington Post: Q: How much does achieving success rely on luck vs. skill? This week a Western Maryland lumberjack named Darvin Moon won $5 million in the World Series of Poker. He insists he is no more skilled at cards than any recreational...

Too often people of all generations wait around for someone to notice them, help them articulate their gifts, tell everyone how amazing they are and provide opportunities for them to shine. Well, they might just end up waiting around forever. And that’s a shame,...

By Misti Burmeister© November 9, 2009It‘s Fall, and as I watch the trees in D.C. evolve from deep green, to a beautiful shade of yellow, to a vibrant red (some moving more quickly through this process than others) leaving a sea of reds, yellows, greens and...