Diane Darling's Blog

I'm definitely in the Midwest! :-)

Amazing Alaska!

Wow - I'm not sure what's more amazing .... Alaska or that I actually took a vacation. One day we went to Prince William Sound and took a boat trip out to see the glaciers. Just fabulous!

How adorable ... remember when you had a crush!

A wonderful and humorous tribute to Susan Boyle

Go Jimmy! What a hoot!

Video Recaps | Full Episodes | Webisodes

Where's Diane // Monday, May 18 and more ....

Monday, May 18th - Harvard Business School Alumni Association

Friday, May 22nd - Acton Networkers

Wednesday, June 3rd - Suffolk University

June 25th - What's next in tech? at Boston University

http://whatsnext.eventbrite.com

She even made Simon smile!

If you've ever had a first impression of someone and it was a mistake, you'll smile!

Susan Boyle is a HUGE hit!

Honored to receive award from the Center for Women & Enterprise

Wow - It was quite an amazing evening last week. Here's a quick video clip.

Thank you! ~ Diane

p.s. If you have 10 minutes, please get in touch! I'd love to hear from you .... Diane@EffectiveNetworking.com. So far I've heard from ONE person. Is that the only person in Boston I can help and vice versa? :-(

Who would you rather have in your network? Stella, Bernie, or Sully & crew?

Wow - it was indeed a Miracle on the Hudson!

Having traveled millions of miles on planes, I can only begin to imagine what it was like for the passengers and crew of US Air Flight 1549.

Standing in line isn't my favorite thing to do, but doing it in water that is barely above freezing! OUCH!

There's been many accolades said about the pilot, Sully, and his crew. Indeed the emergency response workers and many a stranger was there to help out in an unimaginable situation.

This got me thinking about the impact of one person.

Captain Sullenberger was in a dilemma. Try and get back to airport with a plane that has NO power or do a water landing, hope the plane doesn't sink and get some people out alive.

We know the story has a happy ending many thanks to the impact of one person, his brave decision, and a crew of amazing responders.

Stella May Brown Weaco was a fixture around Boston. The streets were her home. Her nickname was sunshine and although I never met her from all accounts it was a perfect one. People kept vigil with her until New Years Eve when she died of cancer. 

Here's a clip from her obituary:

"Sharon Reilly, the agency's executive director, shared Stella's fondness for Southern food and, like her, is from Mississippi. In October, Reilly visited Stella at a rehabilitation center, where she was recuperating from surgery.

"As I was leaving, I asked Stella if she wanted me to get her anything," Reilly said. "She looked at me and said, 'You know, Sharon, I don't need a thing. I have enough.' "

The impact of one person!

Bernie Madoff had it all. Or so many thought! I don't need to say much more, but when I saw the photo of him wearing a bullet proof vest, I paused.

The impact of one!

Maybe the lesson for 2009 is to be sure you have a positive impact on others. And you people in your network who have a positive impact on you!

Many blessings to all who were involved with US Air 1549!

Best wishes for an amazing 2009!

I'm in Newsweek!

Wow - what fun! Amazing to be covered in Newsweek. Here's the article called "How Talking Sports Can Help Your Career."

Three cheers for www.WaterCoolerFootball.com

Many thanks to Steve Garfield for the photo taken at Boston Media Makers 120408

From billards to Broadway! Unbelievable ...

I'm not sure where to start. Today I was on Broadway! Yes - I was actually on a Broadway stage in front of 400 people giving a keynote. It was incredible.

My first talk was in a pool hall. It's so amazing to think that eight years later I'm on a Broadway stage.

The event was at the American Airlines Theater. I knew I was speaking in a theater .... I didn't realize it was a REAL Broadway theater. I was a nervous wreck.

My talk was around 1 pm, that evening Frank Langella was staring in A Man for All Seasons.

Little did he know that the movie Dave (where he played the Speaker of the House) was my escape when I was writing my first book.

As I walked out of the hotel room I made myself stop and look in the mirror. I said to myself out loud, "Mom would be so proud of you." I tossed my head back to avoid the tears and headed out.

It was an amazing day! Many thanks to all who have championed me over the years!