Lady Gaga got it right: “You’re on the right track baby, you were born this way.”

She has raised integrity branding to an art form—by being exquisitely attuned to who she is, the music and costumes she wants to create, how her big idea serves the world and the “little monsters” who are drawn to her.

Ready to channel yourself some Gaga?

Start with this: what lights you up? Not necessarily what clients demand of you or what has made you gobs of dough, but what gets you so jazzed you can’t wait to get to work.

“You know that what you need to do is possible to do, even though difficult, and sense of time disappears. You forget yourself. You feel part of something larger.” Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi on the concept of flow

Flow: that perfect intersection of heightened focus, creativity and happiness.

What if you could tap into flow more often? What might be possible?

Original illustration by Sara Franklin*

You say tomato, I say tom-ah-toe...

Differences make the world go round.

Because many of us work across cultures, geographies and industries, how we use language matters.

But it’s more than adjusting for an accent.

It’s rather like traveling to a foreign country. Happy, successful travelers don’t expect locals to behave in the same way as their home countrymen. They go in expecting to adapt. They observe, ask questions and learn to appreciate the local culture.

Last week at a pre-Oscar party, I had a delightful treat: a chat with Jack Carter, comedian extraordinaire.

After listening to what he’s been up to lately (and, I admit it, being completely charmed), it struck me that he embodies the definition of an enduring brand.

Jack remains relevant. He turns 89 this year and kept up a lively conversation on his current projects—The Ren and Stimpy Show and The Family Guy. When travel to do live shows became a bit much, he found himself a new TV audience—from Parks and Recreation to Desperate Housewives to Nickelodeon’s iCarly. He has a nose (and probably a very good agent) for what’s current and fits his brand.

It's the week of (American) Thanksgiving. Soon we'll be eating turkey, watching football and arguing politics with our nearest and dearest. And hopefully we'll stop and give thanks for all that we have.

I'd like to suggest a special addition this year: a few moments to remember our best teachers.

There are the official teachers. The ones who helped us grasp algebra, introduced us to the wonders of poetry and gave us the courage to submit our work for public scrutiny (thank you Mrs. Gradowski, Mrs. Carlson, Ms. Zaccarro).