Debbie Laskey's Blog

Welcome to Debbie Laskey's insights and commentary about BRANDING, MARKETING, LEADERSHIP, SOCIAL MEDIA, EMPLOYEE ENGAGEMENT, and CUSTOMER EXPERIENCES. Debbie has worked in high-tech, the Consumer Marketing Department at Disneyland Paris in France, nonprofits, and insurance. Expertise includes strategic planning, brand development, marketing plans and audits, competitive positioning, websites, communications, public relations, employee engagement, customer experiences, and social media marketing.

Wednesday, October 21, 2026

Competition versus Collaboration

Want to add a good book to your non-fiction to-be-read pile? I recently read "UNCOMPETE: Rejecting Competition to Unlock Success" by Ruchika T. Malhotra and highly recommend it.

Ruchika Malhotra, an award-winning inclusion strategist and speaker, is CEO and Founder of Candour, which works with organizations to create diverse teams and inclusive cultures. A former business journalist, she has reported from four countries and writes regularly on inclusive leadership for the Harvard Business Review. She was named to the Thinkers50 list, a global ranking described by the Financial Times as the "Oscars of Management Thinking." And she wrote two books prior to UNCOMPETE: "Inclusion on Purpose: An Intersectional Approach to Creating a Culture of Belonging at Work" and "The Diversity Advantage." Back in 2025, Ruchika graciously appeared here on my blog in a Q&A.

Here were some stand-out concepts from the book:

Ruchika explained that when we UNCOMPETE, we intentionally:

(1) CHOOSE what's best for the group and environment NOT INSTEAD OF the individual;

(2) ACT in the spirit of collaboration, curiosity, and consideration; and

(3) RESIST cultural norms that are rooted in the domination and exploitation of others, especially marginalized communities.

Ruchika further explained that "When you uncompete, you live up to the promise of a world where everyone wins. And not just you, but your community, your society, and the world...To uncompete offers an alternative where we are empowered, grounded, and forward-looking. We move from believing we have no agency to knowing we can make choices to change our lives and the lives around us. To uncompete is to invest in building a beautiful, thriving future for all."

A memorable example from the book was the reference to the medal podium at the 2024 Paris Olympics from the individual gymnastics competition. You may recall the inspiring photo of the three winners: Gold Medalist Rebecca Andrade from Brazil, Silver Medalist American Simone Biles, and Bronze Medalist American Jordan Chiles. The two Americans bowed to Andrade. This was the perfect example of the theory behind UNCOMPETE because the two Americans were "finding joy in others' joy" - they were applauding Andrade's accomplishment with tremendous respect.

Monday, October 19, 2026

FALL BACK TO READING SERIES 2026 featuring Melanie Bell

Following in the footsteps of eight previous series where thought leaders responded to questions on my blog over the last several years to discuss leadership, marketing, reading, and the Olympics, I'm thrilled to announce that it's time for my 9th series!

During the Fall season (each Monday from September 28th through December 20th), I'm welcoming a dozen thought leaders to share their insights about reading, books, personal branding, and leadership. Today, Melanie Bell is my featured expert. Melanie is the Co-Founder of Strategic Piece, a company that helps B2B businesses generate outstanding revenue growth by aligning their marketing, sales, and service teams around an information-driven customer experience. Also a passionate reader, Melanie founded Leaders Who Fiction, a virtual monthly book club where participants hone their leadership skills by reading and discussing works of fiction. (Thanks to Twitter/X, we met in November 2023, and I value my participation in the group.) Melanie earned a BA in International Development from McGill University in Montreal and an MBA from Rice University in Houston.

Before we begin, I'd like to share my two favorite reading quotes to set the stage:

"If you give a person a book, you give him the world." ~New York Times bestselling author Kristin Harmel (from her work of historical fiction, "The Paris Daughter")

"For you unlock magic that is hidden within, and opening the cover is how you begin. Oh, all the worlds and the places you'll see; when you hold a book, you hold the key." ~Caroline Derlatka

And now, let's begin.

QUESTION: What was the last book (fiction or non-fiction) you read? What stood out as memorable, and would you recommend it?

MELANIE BELL: I've been DNF-ing (did not finish) a lot of books recently. The last one I finished reading was "My Friends" by Fredrik Backman, which was the July selection for Leaders Who Fiction. I absolutely adored the opening paragraph: "Louisa is a teenager, the best kind of human. The evidence for this is very simple: little children think teenagers are the best humans, and teenagers think teenagers are the best humans, the only people who don't think that teenagers are the best humans are adults. Which is obviously because adults are the worst kind of humans." Backman is a strong writer, and I so appreciated how he flips generally agreed upon sentiments (like teenagers are so hard!).

QUESTION: Which book (fiction or non-fiction) is on the top of your to-be-read pile (or first in your digital reader), and why?

MELANIE BELL: I'm currently reading "Land" by Maggie O’Farrell, who I love. Any new book of hers will be high on my TBR list. After that, I think "Lady Tremaine" just hopped to the top. I've been dancing around reading it for a while, but there was a long wait time for it at the local library when it first came out, and then I forgot about it. I keep hearing good things, and as a stepmom, I'm intrigued to hear Cinderella from the perspective of the "evil stepmother."

QUESTION: With all the streaming services available, many works of fiction are now adapted into films or TV series. During the last year, have you watched a film or TV show and been impressed and/or inspired by the adaptation? (If you haven't watched any adaptations, are you looking forward to any currently in the planning or production phases?)

MELANIE BELL: I know the adaptation of "Remarkably Bright Creatures" was not everyone's cup of tea, but I enjoyed it, in part because I'm a fan of Sally Field. I try to let a lot of time go by between reading a book and watching the adaptation to consider the movie or show on its own merit rather than comparing it closely to its origin. Plus, the scenery was stunning! Clearly, I need to make a trip back to British Columbia. (But I still do think the book was better!)

QUESTION: If you're a fan of the TED LASSO series on Apple TV, have you watched the new season (that returned on August 5th)? If yes, what stands out about Ted's leadership lessons or leadership style from the new season? Alternatively, if you're not a fan of the show or have not yet watched it, is there another CURRENT TV show that showcases inspiring leadership?

MELANIE BELL: I am a fan of Ted Lasso but I haven't watched the new season yet. And this gives me a chance to shout out my favorite show of the year: "Widow's Bay." It is spooky—I couldn't watch it close to bedtime—but it's also so funny, and the acting is brilliant. Matthew Rhys plays a mayor of a struggling and cursed town on an island off the coast of New England. He desperately wants the town to be the next Martha's Vineyard despite locals warning him against bringing tourists to the island. There are lots of great leadership lessons in each episode as well. Highly recommend if you don't mind something scary every once in a while!

QUESTION: Which author (either from history or currently writing) would you choose to have dinner with, and what would you discuss?

MELANIE BELL: The first author who popped into my head was Ann Patchett. I could listen to her talk about writing forever. But the author I thought of next would also be AMAZING to meet: Elena Ferrante. Nobody knows who she actually is (I assume a woman, but Ferrante could be a man since this is a pen name).

This is a quote from Ferrante about writing: "I employ all the strategies I know to capture the reader's attention, stimulate curiosity, make the page as dense as possible and as easy as possible to turn. But once I have the reader's attention I feel it is my right to pull it in whichever direction I choose. I don't think the reader should be indulged as a consumer, because he isn't one. Literature that indulges the tastes of the reader is a degraded literature. My goal is to disappoint the usual expectations and inspire new ones."

And, of course, there would be Italian food. Actually, could we make this a dinner party?!

Sunday, October 18, 2026

Does Your Brand Thank Fans, Brand Ambassadors, and Competitors?

The World Series is a few days away, and if you're a Los Angeles Dodgers fan like me, then you're disappointed that a three-peat won't happen. However, since only two teams get to participate in the World Series, the question for all the other teams is, have you thanked your fans, partners, sponsors, advertisers, and all other supporters?

This question made me think, how do other types of businesses thank customers, fans, brand ambassadors, and other stakeholders? Discounts, coupons, VIP shopping days, strategic partnerships, or something else? And does your brand thank competitors?

Has your brand ever placed an ad to recognize your biggest competitor? Remember back in 2017 after the LA Dodgers ended their season with a loss to the Houston Astros in the World Series? The Dodgers placed a full-page ad in the Houston Chronicle on November 5, 2017, offering their congratulations on the Astros' victory. That was a class act!

So, as the 122nd World Series gets underway, this baseball fan hopes that the 2027 season happens without the intervention of a strike.

In the meantime, what take-away gratitude lessons can your brand learn from your favorite baseball team? Chime in and share.

Friday, October 16, 2026

Happy National Dictionary Day!

Do you consider yourself a lexicophile? Derived from the Greek language, a lexicophile is a fan of words and dictionaries. If that description fits you, then today is a special day.

Celebrated annually on October 16th, National Dictionary Day celebrates the birth of Noah Webster, an American writer who was born in 1758. Webster is best-known for publishing the first dictionary in 1806, which he continued to expand over the next 27 years. Though this bestselling dictionary defined 37,000 words, he was unsatisfied and spent the next 22 years of his life dedicated to adding new words. In 1828, at the age of 70, he published his new dictionary with over 65,000 words.

While many of us are familiar with the spelling differences between British and American English words (such as colour and flavour spelled in American English as color and flavor), those changes can be attributed to Webster. In his first edition of the American English dictionary in 1806, he changed the spellings to American English.

After Webster died in 1843 as an American hero who pioneered the dictionary and supported both the abolition of slavery and universal education, G & C Merriam, Co. purchased the rights to his "An American Dictionary of the English Language." Brothers George and Charles Merriam continued to refine Webster's dictionary, eventually creating the Merriam-Webster dictionary that's revered today. And you can also find its resources online at www.Merriam-Webster.com.

On a personal note, in June 1977, I received my first dictionary, the Webster's New Collegiate Dictionary (the big red volume), as a graduation present from elementary school from my grandparents. I was thrilled and knew it would be a lifelong friend! It still sits prominently on my bookcase. In the book's preface, the editor wrote, "Webster's New Collegiate Dictionary is a completely new volume in the Merriam-Webster series of dictionaries. It is a general dictionary edited for use in school or college, in the office, and in the home - in short, wherever information about English words is likely to be sought."

While Merriam-Webster is a well-known dictionary brand, there are others. Let's pivot from history to marketing and check out some other well-known dictionary brands.

OXFORD ENGLISH DICTIONARY

The Oxford English Dictionary (OED) began in 1857 when members of the Philological Society in London decided that existing English dictionaries were incomplete and inaccurate. The first edition of the OED was finally completed seventy years later in 1928. It is widely accepted as the principal historical dictionary of the English language, published by Oxford University Press, a University of Oxford publishing house. The first electronic versions appeared on CD-ROMs, leading to the launch of the OED Online database in 2000; and a complete rewrite for a digital-first Third Edition is currently underway.

OED is top-ranked because:

(1) It traces the complete history, etymology (origin), and evolution of over half a million words from the Anglo-Saxon period to the present day.

(2) It contains millions of quotation citations showing how words have been used over centuries.

(3) It functions as a comprehensive research record rather than just a quick guide for everyday spelling.

CAMBRIDGE DICTIONARY

Cambridge University Press has been publishing dictionaries for learners of the English language since 1995. Cambridge Dictionaries Online began offering these dictionaries completely free of charge in 1999 — and today, Cambridge Dictionary is still growing. The Cambridge Dictionary is owned by Cambridge University Press & Assessment, a non-teaching department of the University of Cambridge in England.

COLLINS DICTIONARY

In 1819 in Glasgow, Scotland, William Collins began his business printing sermons and hymn books but soon moved into dictionaries and atlases as well as printing the bible. While the company is currently part of the multi-national Harper Collins group, the dictionary is still compiled in Scotland - in an office in the Glasgow suburb of Bishopbriggs. In 2011, the dictionary launched CollinsDictionary.com. And according to Elaine Higgleton, Publishing Director, Collins English Dictionaries, "There are certain people such as crossword puzzlers and scrabble players who like to have a physical copy of the dictionary as well as new markets emerging in places such as India where Internet coverage is not keeping up with demand to learn English."

MACQUARIE DICTIONARY

While initially proposed during the 1960s, the Macquarie Dictionary was published in September 1981 as the first comprehensive record of Australian English. The dictionary moved online in 2003 and has continued updating through subsequent editions, including the ninth edition in 2023.

Here's a fun fact: Did you know that, at the end of each year, many dictionaries share their favorite words or terms from the entire year? I've included links at the end of this post featuring recaps of words and terms that told the stories of 2022, 2023, 2024, and 2025 from the perspective of dictionary brands.

Gregory Barlow, President of Merriam-Webster, has said, "The one constant of a vibrant living language is change. We continuously encounter new ways of describing the world around us, and the dictionary is a record of those changes." And also during 2025, Merriam-Webster added over 5,000 words to its Collegiate Dictionary, the first major print revision in 22 years, showing a commitment to keeping the dictionary current with language changes.

Wednesday, October 14, 2026

Lessons in Customer Experience Marketing from Furniture

Over the years, I've shared many stories about disappointing customer experiences. Here's the latest.

Recently, I saw some beautiful chairs on a furniture website, and since they were advertised "on sale," I purchased a pair.

Once the chairs arrived - and I convinced my husband to assemble them - we emptied the two boxes and carried all parts into the room where the chairs would go. My husband quickly assembled the chairs, and when finished, broke down the boxes and placed them into our blue recycling garbage pail.

As the days went by, I kept looking at the two chairs while scratching my head. The colors on the chairs looked different than the advertised chairs. I looked back at the chairs online, and lo and behold, the pink wasn't the same bright shade of pink, the blue wasn't the same bright shade of blue, and the floral designs weren't in the same places on both the front and back sides of the chairs when comparing MY chairs to the advertised chairs.

Wow, talk about bait and switch!

So, I immediately sent an email to the furniture company's customer service department - the company was located in California. I received an email with the following message:

"Please send us the codes that appear on the boxes so we can make sure the correct chairs were sent to you."

I responded that the boxes had already been broken down and taken away by our recycling garbage truck.

I then received a second email with the following message:

"Please send photos of the tags underneath the two chairs so we can make sure the correct chairs were sent to you."

I did as requested (as well as included photos of my chairs) and then received the third and final message:

"After comparing your images to our product catalog, we can confirm that you received the correct items. The fabric is an exact match. Please note that indoor lighting can alter how fabric colors appear in a room compared to professional studio photography."

What a crazy response! Who mentioned anything about photography? Anyone comparing the advertised chairs with the ones I received would know IMMEDIATELY that the fabrics used for the chairs were different.

It was obvious that the company had no interest in providing any resolution, had never heard the saying "walk a mile in your customer's shoes," nor understood the concept of customer experience marketing - as noted below:

(1) I was not offered the option to return one or both chairs.

(2) I was not offered a full or partial refund.

(3) No member of the customer service team contacted me by phone to discuss the matter further.

So, my only solution to remedy my dissatisfaction with the ugly chairs is to find a local upholstery shop, choose a new fabric, and have the chairs reupholstered. You can be sure I won't be recommending this company!

Tuesday, October 13, 2026

Let's Celebrate M&M'S Day!

Due to its yummy chocolate taste and timeless tagline since 1954, "It melts in your mouth, not in your hands," everyone's favorite candy might just be M&M'S.

Do you have a favorite flavor of M&M'S? Milk chocolate, caramel, peanut butter, dark chocolate, almond, or pretzel? Do you have a favorite color? Have you ever been to a M&M'S World store? They're located in New York City (Times Square), Mall of America (Minnesota), Disney Springs (Florida), Las Vegas (Nevada), Berlin (Germany), London (United Kingdom), and two in China (Shanghai and Disneytown Shanghai). And do you have any M&M'S memorabilia, such as apparel, mugs, or figurines?

Let's take a walk back through M&M'S colorful history:

1941: Forrest E. Mars, Sr., established M&M'S Limited in Newark, New Jersey, and M&M'S Plain Chocolate Candies were introduced. During World War II, M&M'S were exclusively sold to the U.S. military.

1950: M&M'S had become so popular that an ingenious solution for consumers to distinguish the real M&M'S from inferior imitators was to stamp each candy with the now famous "m."

1954: M&M'S Peanut Chocolate Candies were introduced, and the color used to print the "m" on M&M'S Plain and Peanut Chocolate Candies was changed from black to white.

1981: Mars became the first candy in space when M&M'S Chocolate Candies were chosen by the first space shuttle astronauts to be included in their food supply.

1984: M&M'S Plain and Peanut Chocolate Candies became the "Official Snack Foods of the Olympic Games" in Los Angeles.

During the 1980's: M&M'S Candies went global, expanding into Asia Pacific, Australia, Europe, and Russia.

2000: M&M'S Chocolate Candies became "The Official Candy of the New Millennium" because MM was the Roman numeral for 2000.

2004: M&M'S Chocolate launched "My M&M'S," the new online service for consumers to design their own customized message on M&M'S Chocolate Candies.

2008: M&M'S Chocolate launched "Faces" so customers could upload personal images to their personalized candies.

2022: M&M'S launched SPOKESCANDIES and announced a new global brand platform celebrating the power of fun.

2022: The M&M'S crew got even more colorful with the launch of the first new character in over a decade, Purple. "With keen self-awareness, authenticity, and confidence, Purple reminds us to celebrate what makes us unique and to embrace our authentic selves."

Do you know all the colors? Here's a list of the colors with quotes from their website:

RED: "I instinctively know I have great instincts."

YELLOW: "My favorite thing about today is everything."

ORANGE: "I find your lack of concern extremely concerning."

PURPLE: "Flawless? How about flaw more!"

GREEN: "I'm too busy shining to throw shade."

BROWN: "Not bossy. Just the boss."

BLUE: "I woke up like this."

SHARE: Even though a plural is never formed with an apostrophe in English, in this case, the makers of M&M'S decided to trademark the name with an 'S. #FunFact #MMSday #Spokescandies #MMSsuperfan #DebbieLaskeysBlog

Monday, October 12, 2026

FALL BACK TO READING SERIES 2026 featuring Allan Pratt

During the Fall season (each Monday from September 28th through December 20th), I'm welcoming a dozen thought leaders to share their insights about reading, books, personal branding, and leadership. Today, Allan Pratt is my featured expert. Allan is an infosecurity strategist and represents the intersection of management and technology. He has an MBA Degree and six CompTIA certifications in computers, cloud computing, networks, servers, security, and mobility; and formerly worked in various roles in the tech sector. He has also been a contributor to several technology blogs and been quoted in industry publications. For the past 15 years, he has taught numerous CompTIA certification courses at Los Angeles City College (online since the covid pandemic began resulting in larger classes than when they were held in-person). His most notable accomplishment was the creation of the Cybersecurity Certificate and A.S. program for LA City College, the first program of its kind within the Los Angeles Community College District.

Before we begin, I'd like to share my two favorite reading quotes to set the stage:

"If you give a person a book, you give him the world." ~New York Times bestselling author Kristin Harmel (from her work of historical fiction, "The Paris Daughter")

"For you unlock magic that is hidden within, and opening the cover is how you begin. Oh, all the worlds and the places you'll see; when you hold a book, you hold the key." ~Caroline Derlatka

And now, let's begin.

QUESTION: What was the last book (fiction or non-fiction) you read? What stood out as memorable, and would you recommend it?

ALLAN PRATT: My favorite genre is geopolitical thrillers featuring international politics, military strategy, espionage, high-pressure situations, and more. Recently, I discovered R.J. Patterson's 21-book series featuring former Navy SEAL Brady Hawk and just finished reading book number 17, "Code Red." The novel featured a United States President, a terrorist cell, and an election - no more details to avoid a spoiler. Check out the series if you enjoy this genre.

I enjoy detailed character development over time and different situations that can only happen when there are many books in a series, and I also like the connection that results between the main character and the reader. Other examples are Lee Child's Jack Reacher, James Patterson's Alex Cross, and Stephen King's Roland Deschain.

QUESTION: Which book (fiction or non-fiction) is on the top of your to-be-read pile (or first in your digital reader), and why?

ALLAN PRATT: Due to my enjoyment of geopolitical thrillers, I'm also a fan of Brad Thor's 25-book series featuring protagonist Scot Horvath. His latest novel is next on my reading pile, "Choke Point." Here's a teaser from his website, "A devastating series of bombings tears through Bangkok. Scores of American citizens are dead. The attacks send shock waves around the world. As global assistance pours into Thailand including the FBI's famed Evidence Response Team, the President of the United States quietly prepares a plan B: Scot Harvath, America's top spy, trained to operate outside the law and probe the dark corners others can't...or won't. But the bomber Harvath is pursuing isn't a terrorist. He's something far more dangerous — one of ours. Meanwhile, in Washington, a former United States Marine is being hunted — and he has no idea why. Desperate for answers, he turns to the one person he still trusts — his ex-fiancée, a rising star in the White House. The problem is, she isn't sure she can trust him. As Harvath closes in on the bomber, a devastating truth begins to emerge. China has quietly deployed its most elite intelligence unit to Thailand. Their objective: to ignite chaos, trigger a military coup, and seize control of a narrow but critical piece of land, one that could give Beijing a decisive advantage. If the plan succeeds, Beijing will secure a key gateway between two oceans, eroding American naval dominance and tipping the balance in any war between the world's great powers. China will control the ultimate geopolitical choke point."

And on a side note for those who enjoy television and/or movie adaptations, Netflix announced in January 2026 that it's developing a feature adaptation of "Cold Zero" co-written by Brad Thor with Ward Larsen. The story was described as follows, "A vanished plane. An earth-shattering secret. A countdown to World War III. Hemisphere Airlines Flight 777 — the most advanced jetliner ever built — disappears without a trace over the North Pole. Crippled by sabotage, it crash-lands on the ice, stranding the surviving passengers in a wasteland of frigid cold and chaos. The real storm, however, is still coming. Hidden inside the wreckage is the prototype for a revolutionary piece of technology that could upend the balance of world power. Now Washington, Moscow, and Beijing are racing to be the first on scene to retrieve it — at any cost. Trapped in the middle of the world’s most dangerous flash point are CIA operative Kasey Sheridan and former fighter pilot turned first officer, Brett Sharpe. Hunted by enemy forces, they must spirit both the device and its creator across the ice to safety — before rival superpowers turn the Arctic into a war zone. With the clock ticking and the temperature dropping, the fate of the free world is about to be decided at the top of the globe." I guess that book is also in my to-be-read pile!

ALLAN PRATT: I would be remiss not to return to Lee Child's series about Jack Reacher, or just "Reacher," as the character tells people when they refer to him as "Mr. Reacher." He's a former U.S. military police officer who travels by bus, train, or by hitch-hiking without a destination, and as a result, gets mixed up in crazy adventures with bad people by being in the wrong place at the wrong time.

I've read the entire series, and when I heard that a new version would be made for television (on Amazon Prime Video), I hoped Tom Cruise would not be cast again in the lead role. He portrayed Reacher in two films ("Reacher" in 2012 and "Jack Reacher: Never Go Back" in 2016), and he was the wrong choice.

By contrast, Adam Ritchson (in the TV version) is exactly how I pictured the character while reading the books. He has the stature, the confidence, the dry sense of humor, the personality, and the overall attitude as Lee Child described him in the series. In fact, Ritchson is such an embodiment of the character that he was injured performing stunts during the filming of the third season. The fourth season showcased much of the same action, character development, and storytelling that viewers like me have come to expect as well as Reacher's concern for a stranger that he runs into and has to help, just because that's the type of person he is. Prime Video already renewed the show for a fifth season set to debut in 2027.

According to The Times (of London), "In a world of often over-hyped publishing numbers, the most intimidating statistic of all is the fact that a Jack Reacher novel is purchased somewhere around the globe every four seconds. Reacher novels had been sold in 95 countries and in 40 languages."

Here's a fun fact: Lee Child says he came up with the character's name because an old woman remarked on his own physique while asking him to reach for a can of pears in a supermarket. (Child is 6 feet 4 inches tall.)

And here's an interesting reversal of a book's adaptation into a TV show or film: a character from the "Reacher" series and TV show, U.S. Army Master Sergeant Frances Neagley, became so popular during the TV show that a spin-off premiered on Prime Video on September 16th (the same night as the final show of series four of "Reacher"). And more exciting news for "Reacher" fans, a NEAGLEY novel by Lee Child and Yasmin Angoe entitled "Zero Margin" will be published in March 2027.

ALLAN PRATT: As season four began, Ted realized that he was in a rut. Due to the job offer from soccer/football team owner Rebecca to return to England to coach a girls team, Ted decided to move his family and return to England. As a leader, one has to know when they're stuck in place, treading water, and when to move on. This is critical because employees know when their leaders are unable to inspire them due to their own negative mindsets.

As season four continued, feminism became a major theme because Rebecca hired a man (Ted) to coach a girls soccer team. At the first press conference, Ted was asked about the men's team, not the women's team - and he didn't know the status of the team nor the players. The assistant coach for the girls team was a woman (Alice), and she had wanted the head coaching job, but Rebecca explained that she had not even considered Alice, instead, she had hired Ted. But then, Rebecca asked herself why she had ignored the opportunity that had been in front of her all along: hiring a woman to lead the girls team.

While the entire season has not yet unfolded, the concept of equal opportunities in the workplace became front and center. As a leader, do you hire people based on ability or how they look or speak? Do you promote people based on ability or how they look or speak? Do you lead with blinders on?

Ted showed his support of Alice by asking her to remain as his assistant coach (she had resigned in the second episode of the season), and hopefully, we'll be inspired by Ted's other leadership lessons as the season continues.

QUESTION: Which author (either from history or currently writing) would you choose to have dinner with, and what would you discuss?

ALLAN PRATT: I would like to dine with Stephen King. I would pick his brain as to how he creates his plots and characters. We would also discuss "The Dark Tower" series, since those books are my favorites.

He also wrote a book about writing entitled, "On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft," and explained, "The situation comes first. The characters — always flat and unfeatured, to begin with — come next. Once these things are fixed in my mind, I begin to narrate. I often have an idea of what the outcome may be, but I have never demanded a set of characters that they do things my way. On the contrary, I want them to do things their way. In some instances, the outcome is what I visualized. In most, however, it's something I never expected."

Debbie Laskey's Blog

Wednesday, October 21, 2026

Competition versus Collaboration

Here were some stand-out concepts from the book:

SHARE THIS: When we uncompete, we thrive. Each and every one of us. ~Ruchika T. Malhotra in UNCOMPETE #bookreview #DebbieLaskeysBlog

SHARE THIS: If you have some power, then your job is to empower somebody else. ~Toni Morrison shared by Ruchika T. Malhotra in UNCOMPETE #bookreview #DebbieLaskeysBlog

Monday, October 19, 2026

FALL BACK TO READING SERIES 2026 featuring Melanie Bell

SHARE THIS: I don't think the reader should be indulged as a consumer, because he isn't one...My goal is to disappoint the usual expectations and inspire new ones. ~Elena Ferrante (with thanks to Melanie Bell) #FallBacktoReadingSeries2026 #ReadingInspires #DebbieLaskeysBlog

SHARE THIS: If you give a person a book, you give him the world. ~@KristinHarmel #ReadingOpensMinds #FallBacktoReadingSeries2026 #DebbieLaskeysBlog

SHARE THIS: A bibliophile is a lover of books, while a lectiophile is a lover of reading. The distinction is due to the object versus the activity. #FunFact #ReadingIsMySuperPower #FallBacktoReadingSeries2026 #DebbieLaskeysBlog

Sunday, October 18, 2026

Does Your Brand Thank Fans, Brand Ambassadors, and Competitors?

SHARE THIS: A baseball game is simply a nervous breakdown divided into nine innings. ~Earl Wilson #WorldSeries #BrandStorytelling #DebbieLaskeysBlog

SHARE THIS: There are only two seasons: winter and baseball. ~Bill Veeck #WorldSeries #BrandStorytelling #DebbieLaskeysBlog