427 Shares The only foolish question is the one that was never asked! When you begin any project, are trying to make a change in your life, or are faced with a difficult undertaking, the best way to improve your result is to ask the important questions first. If you are working as part of a team, some questions may need to be asked of others. When working towards an individual goal, you will be the one giving the answers. Ask, ask, ask — until you’re confident that you have a firm understanding. Don’t... More »
230 Shares Living and working in a state of burnout has become the norm in our society. Sadly it’s so common that we fail to recognize the signs. We barely even notice anything is wrong. Stress and exhaustion are now a way of life. Yet, we are making a serious mistake than can have severe consequences. What does it mean to be “burned out?” Burnout is a state of overwhelming exhaustion; mental, emotional and physical. It can be caused by work pressures, lifestyle factors, even certain personality traits. It’s more than everyday stress. Burnout... More »
206 Shares Communication is an integral part of any work or life situation. Learning to be an effective communicator is a valuable productivity tool, one that is unfortunately commonly overlooked. The consequences of poor communication can be disastrous; wasted time, hurt feelings, misunderstandings, unproductive meetings, ineffective teamwork, and lack of progress towards goals. In order to be successful communicators we need to keep in mind some basic guidelines that are applicable in most instances of work, social or home environments. Thank you first Before you delve into the substance of your intended communication, express... More »
162 Shares You’ve decided this is the year you’re going to get out of debt once and for all. You’re committed, you’re determined, now the only thing you need is a plan. There are many plans for debt reduction, but they all generally include the same elements. Debt accumulates over time for a variety of reasons. So, it is expected that time will be required to reduce that debt as well. Be patient and take it one step at a time…you’ll see results. Get a clear picture You have to understand the reality of... More »
153 Shares We make commitments to others and ourselves all the time. The question is: Do we keep them? When we fail to keep a promise, it communicates to the other person that we don’t value him or her. We have elected to place something else ahead of our commitment. This can result in an erosion of trust in our relationships. More importantly, we are telling ourselves that we don’t value our own word. Not keeping a promise to yourself is the same as disrespecting yourself. Eventually, it can harm our self-esteem, confidence, and... More »
203 Shares We continuously push ourselves to get more done and work faster, yet it doesn’t seem to work. What if it’s not that we’re not working fast enough or hard enough, instead it’s just that we fall prey to the numerous productivity traps that eat away at our days. The simplest way to improve our productivity is to avoid the most common productivity traps and put better processes into place. Interruptions Right at the moment when you get in the zone of some really productive work is when co-workers show up, the phone... More »
11 Shares Working with a coach has become quite the norm in our modern work world. From professional athletes to successful business professionals, from mid-life moms to college graduates, the reasons for working with a coach are as varied as the individuals. Coaching can take many forms, from individual sessions to group workshops, in person, on the phone or over the internet. Why would you want to work with a coach? We can’t list them all, but here are 35 of the most common reasons I here from people. Professional Success I want to... More »
535 Shares Life balance seems to be the topic on everyone’s mind of late. We have discovered that maintaining a healthy life balance is not only essential for happiness and well-being; it can be a tremendous boost to your productivity and career or business success as well. A well-balanced person has a far greater ability to focus their attention and energy on attaining their goals, taking productive actions and moving forward in a meaningful way. The big question is…What does life balance really mean? What would a balanced life look like to us? And most importantly,... More »
150 Shares To many of us the terms “self-help” and “personal growth” are interchangeable. But while they may give the external appearance of having twin meanings, in the external perception they are more akin to those tiny figures that we would see perched on the shoulders of a character on television. If you can, visualize the angel on one shoulder and the devil on the other and you’ll get my meaning. One is a near obsession with fixing some innate flaws, either real or imagined, which are a blemish on our existence. We just... More »
155 Shares The holiday season is perhaps the most difficult time of year to stay focused and get anything done. While summer can be challenging due to vacations and the demands of children off from school, the holiday season can be a killer because of the extra load of activities, tasks and calendar overload. But you don’t have to throw up your hands in defeat. There are some very simple steps you can take to keep moving forward while in the midst of holiday chaos. Be reasonable about your expectations Accept that your time may... More »
5.7K Shares As I recently celebrated another year of life and am entering a new phase of mid-life (whatever that is) I began to contemplate the lessons that I would pass on to my younger self. Whether you are young or young at heart, it is never too late to change — or incorporate some new (and better) practices into your daily life. Here are 10 wise lessons that I wish I knew when I was younger: 1. Don’t worry about what other people think of you. I used to worry too much what... More »
143 Shares Ebb and flow. Contraction and expansion. Highs and lows. It’s all about the cycles of life. The entire course of our life follows this up and down pattern of more and then less. Our days flow this way, each following a pattern of more energy, then less energy, more creativity and periods of greater focus bookended by moments of low energy when we cringe at the thought of one more meeting, one more call, one more sentence. The key is in understanding how to use the cycles of ebb and flow to... More »
