Every successful marketing campaign and “viral” video exhibits one or more of the six principles outlined in Stanford School of Business graduate and professor at the Wharton School of Business, Jonah Berger’s Contagious: Why Things Catch On. In Contagious, Berger provides the mnemonic STEPPS which stands for Social Currency, Triggers, Emotion, Public, Practical Value, and…

The buzzing of Lego NXTs servos. Dozens of nervously excited kids hovering around the robot arena with their robot creation moving Lego models, flipping intricate switches, and sometimes just ramming through everything. This Saturday, I volunteered as a judge for the a state robotics competition for K-12 hosted in Farristown Middle School in Berea, Ky.…

I have never considered communication to be my strong suit. In fact, it’s been quite the opposite. I grew up as an only child in rural/backwoods North Carolina. I didn’t speak much with my parents about day to day things. I attended a small private school after 2 years of homeschooling. I had only three…

An interview with Claude Steele, a researcher well known for his work on stereotype threat. Question What does this notion of stereotype threat make you think about in your own experience? Is it something that resonates with your schooling experience before you came to college? At college? Within your area of study? How do you…

Kathryn Schultz’ TED talk, “On Being Wrong” has been very popular on TED.com, totaling nearly 3,000,000 views. On a site about “ideas worth spreading” this gem seems to have been well worth it indeed. Kathryn Schultz shows us the value that being wrong has. “I’ve spent the last five years thinking about being wrong. “,…

“Has there ever been a time when “the voices in your head” have kicked in and worked against you, even when you know you’re more than capable/able?” I’ve proven to be the kind of person who lunges head first into things I’m not ready for. I pick up what I can and take note of…