Diane Darling's Blog

Networks of trust are vulnerable

By Ronald A. Cass

Steven Spielberg. Elie Wiesel. Mort Zuckerman. Frank Lautenberg. Yeshiva University. As I read the list of people and enterprises reportedly bilked to the tune of $50 billion by Bernard Madoff, I recalled a childhood in which my father received bad news by asking first, "Was it a Jew?" My father coupled sensitivity to anti-Semitism with special sympathy for other Jews. In contrast, Mr. Madoff, it seems, targeted other Jews, drawing them in at least in some measure because of a shared faith.

Read the entire article

Networking in 10 minutes

This is a podcast that was recorded during my recent visit to Cornell.

In this podcast, Diane Darling dispels common myths about networking, and explains how students and young professionals can use networking to get ahead. She discusses what people should be doing in order to effectively network, and states why young people need to give themselves more credit for networking than they do.

Listen or download

Why we trust and the mystery behind Clark Rockefeller

I was driving down the Mass Pike when I saw the Amber Alert. I couldn't imagine the pain. Looking for a child, praying, hoping for the best. Knowing the story often doesn't have a happy ending.

For "Snooks" it did. The 7-year-old young girl was found a few days later merrily oblivious of the agony her mother experienced. She was with someone she trusted, Clark Rockefeller. Indeed she was not alone.

In this article the Boston Globe had an article that explores why we trust.

Doing good can lead to rewards you never considered

Alfred Nobel got quite a surprise as he picked up the newspaper one morning and read his own obituary. His brother had died, but the newspaper goofed.

"The merchant of death is dead," it read, "Dr. Alfred Nobel, who became rich by finding ways to kill more people faster than ever before, died yesterday."

To read the entire story, go to this link from the Boston Business Journal

Best ~ Diane

Mixed up priorities or just bad luck

This evening I went to a fascinating event at the Boston Foundation. It gathered a number of the leadership programs offered in the city. A concern is why so many young professionals are leaving Massachusetts.

Housing costs are certainly a big factor. Access to decision makers is as well. I am keen on people being involved with the community and do what I can to participate and encourage others as well. It was a very lively discussion and as often happens I was motivated to start something new.

So I created Boston Connects - a listserv for people who want to ask people for connections. I came back to the office and created a Yahoo Group. The project took a bit longer than I initially intended, but what the heck. I was having fun.

It was a spectacular evening so I enjoyed a leisurely walk to my car .... only to discover the windows had been smashed.

Was it just bad luck? Or was I being concerned about others connecting and forgetting that I probably shouldn't have left bags in the car. Curiously they were all empty, nothing was stolen, not even the Doritos! Hmmm!