Have A Happy and Prosperous New Year

12 Gifts to Self in 2011

1. Set the stage health
   
2. Enjoy sunrises and sunsets
3. Go for walks in nature
4. Read a novel (or two)
   
5. Do something extra at work and tell no one about it
   
6. Try something new
7. Spend an hour or a day in silence
   
8. Create a development plan and goals that support growth and development
   
9. Be open to finding my talents
   
10. Be kinder to self
    
11. Hold myself accountable for what I control and let go of all that I don't
    
12. List 12 things that I am grateful for and send it to myself as a thank you note
    

What gifts will you give yourself this year?

New Year's Resolutions - aka - ACTS(TM)

2010 is coming to a close. Historically, at this time of year people generally start making New Year's resolutions. Popularly New Year's resolutions are regarding losing weight or to stop some other destructive behavior. The tradition is attributed to the ancient Babylonian's - the resolution - returning borrowed farm equipment.

I wonder who was more successful with resolutions, the ancient Babylonians or we in the present day?

There are four ways to make New Year's Resolutions stick.

Step 1 Assess what you would like to change.

At the end of 2009, I reviewed my journal, completed some psychometric evaluations and conducted some informal 360 degree evaluations. The results were astonishing - I needed to work on personal responsibility. (No really, that is not really a surprise, I am notorious for over extending, doing more for others and failing to accomplish my personal objectives and goals. Now, I had a starting point


Step 2 Create a purpose and vision for what you would have identified will help you the most.

I decided to allow myself to expand and innovate. I spent January reviewing my dream inventory (what I would like to accomplish in 2011). My passions came alive in quiet times of reflection and in conversations with close and trusted friends and advisers. I now clearly focused on what I needed to do to ensure personal accountability. and formalized my strategic plan in writing.

Step 3 Transform your life by setting goals and taking action.

I used the wheels of life to help me prioritize my goals physically, mentally, socially, spiritually, financially, socially, financially, and in my career to ensure ta for how I would be more accountable to my purpose with changes This really helped to break my resolution into interesting images for success and growth.Now I could set 1 goal for each area. This simplified the process it was and is easier for me to manage my time.

Step 4 Sustain your progress and success.

In the past, this has been the area where I and most people fail. No pun intended, but now we must hold ourselves accountable for our actions in order to get the results that we desire. I enhanced an approach that I used to monitor my progress weekly, monthly, quarterly and at the end of the year. I changed how I journaled daily to monitor daily when I started something new.

Now you have it, my approach to New Year's Resolutions. This year has proved to be an amazing year in all aspects in my life. I have a very long way to go with personal accountability and I am now in year two for starting ACTS(TM) all over again.

Here's a start for you with ACTS(TM)

What have you Assessed that needs to change in 2011?

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What is the new image, vision or picture that you will create for 2011?

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What goals will your set and actions will you take in 2011?

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How will you measure your progress in 2011?

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The Danger of Making Excuses

Transferring responsibility to others has become one of the greatest tricks of the last few decades. The second greatest trick is placing the blame. In either case these actions are called making excuses.

Here are some common EXCUSES:

• My boss is a jerk, that's why the company is failing.
• The government has made very bad decisions, that's why this country is failing.
• My spouse or partner doesn't listen to me, that's why our relationship is failing.
• My subordinates doesn't know how to do their job, that's why my division is failing.

I could go on for pages and yet I'd like to stop with these four.

My boss is a jerk, that's why the company is failing.

This excuse is really interesting, after all who hired you, or at least is currently keeping you in your position. The boss is far from perfect and so are we. What if we considered that our boss hired us for our strengths, our talents, our creativity, our differences from them in order to find new ways to ensure the company's success? If so, why not take the responsibility to find ways to work with the boss in order to make the company grow and flourish?

The government has made very bad decisions, that's why this country is failing.

This excuse is really popular and takes us off the hook for all the decisions make regarding our economic, social, health and educational position in the world. How much do we know about our rights and responsibilities in a democracy? What are our roles and obligations to help keep this country a world leader?

My spouse or partner doesn't listen to me, that's why our relationship is failing.

In my opinion, this is an excuse of convenience . How often are we having conversations that we reach mutual understanding and respect? What can we learn and do to help us become more honest and effective communicators and collaborators?

My subordinates doesn't know how to do their job, that's why my project, division, community, or family is failing.

This excuse is total abdication of responsibility. What have we done or are we doing to ensure that our staff, subordinates, team mates, children have all the tools and resources they need to be benefit from from influence? How can lead others to make better decisions and take action on those goals to ensure great teamwork ?

I am learning to appreciate that I only have control over me. Which means that I need to own my roles as a follower, a community member, a partner and a leader. I then need to develop those skills and talents that will help me to become a positive influence on others. Making excuses is dangerous, leaving damage, destruction and disappointment in its wake. Consider contributing, rather than making excuses and imagine how amazing the world and our lives would be.

The Choices We Make

Shakespeare once wrote, "The choices we make, dictate the life that we lead."

For today, I intend to make choices that will lead my life...

• in service to others without sacrificing myself
• in commitment to accomplishing my vision to promote health by being and acting in a healthy manner
• in appreciation for all the amazing gifts that I am given all year not just in this Christmas season
• in awe of the magic of the universe
• in excitement for the mysteries that always show up
• in respect for the roles that we are assume in life
• in understanding that sometimes the cards we are dealt are not always fair
• in total trust that there will always be guidance to make the best choice
  

Yes, Virginia, There is a Santa Claus

By Francis P. Church, first published in The New York Sun in 1897. [See The People’s Almanac, pp. 1358–9.]

We take pleasure in answering thus prominently the communication below, expressing at the same time our great gratification that its faithful author is numbered among the friends of The Sun:

Dear Editor—

I am 8 years old. Some of my little friends say there is no Santa Claus. Papa says, “If you see it in The Sun, it’s so.” Please tell me the truth, is there a Santa Claus?

Virginia O’Hanlon

Virginia, your little friends are wrong. They have been affected by the skepticism of a skeptical age. They do not believe except they see. They think that nothing can be which is not comprehensible by their little minds. All minds, Virginia, whether they be men’s or children’s, are little. In this great universe of ours, man is a mere insect, an ant, in his intellect as compared with the boundless world about him, as measured by the intelligence capable of grasping the whole of truth and knowledge.

Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus. He exists as certainly as love and generosity and devotion exist, and you know that they abound and give to your life its highest beauty and joy. Alas! how dreary would be the world if there were no Santa Claus! It would be as dreary as if there were no Virginias. There would be no childlike faith then, no poetry, no romance to make tolerable this existence. We should have no enjoyment, except in sense and sight. The eternal light with which childhood fills the world would be extinguished.

Not believe in Santa Claus! You might as well not believe in fairies. You might get your papa to hire men to watch in all the chimneys on Christmas eve to catch Santa Claus, but even if you did not see Santa Claus coming down, what would that prove? Nobody sees Santa Claus, but that is no sign that there is no Santa Claus. The most real things in the world are those that neither children nor men can see. Did you ever see fairies dancing on the lawn? Of course not, but that’s no proof that they are not there. Nobody can conceive or imagine all the wonders there are unseen and unseeable in the world.

You tear apart the baby’s rattle and see what makes the noise inside, but there is a veil covering the unseen world which not the strongest man, nor even the united strength of all the strongest men that ever lived could tear apart. Only faith, poetry, love, romance, can push aside that curtain and view and picture the supernal beauty and glory beyond. Is it all real? Ah, Virginia, in all this world there is nothing else real and abiding.

No Santa Claus! Thank God! he lives and lives forever. A thousand years from now, Virginia, nay 10 times 10,000 years from now, he will continue to make glad the heart of childhood.

Three Elements to Enhance Net Worth

Net worth is simply described as total assets minus total liabilities. It may seem obvious that companies and individual want to have a positive net worth, but all too often, we fall into a trap that causes our liabilities to far outweigh our assets. To ensure that we tip the scales to the positive in side, it now becomes essential to build three elements - Beliefs, Attitudes and Actions.

Beliefs

"Limitations live only in our minds. But if we use our imaginations,
our possibilities can become limitless."

Jamie Paolinetti

Last night I attended a function that was to be the last celebration for a hospital that had been in existence for more than 100 years. The occasion was bittersweet. Conversations were more subdued. There was a pervasive feeling of sorrow and loss.

In his farewell speeches, the CEO shared his impressions of his time with the organization. The most comment that made the most impact on me was, "although this organization will cease to exist, the value that the people have contributed to the community will continue. We have created a firm foundation for health and general well being. "

This totally changed my belief that the community had lost, then I realized how much the community had gained, as had every individual in that room. One of the strongest assets for enhancing net worth is total belief that we have been enrolled in a job, a relationship, an endeavor that had extraordinary worth. We can walk away with our heads high, believing we had contributed to a worth while cause.

Attitude

"I discovered I always have choices and
sometimes it's only a choice of attitude."

Judith M. Knowlton

Carl Jung described attitude as "the readiness of the psych to act or react." It's not what we know that is important, but what we do with what we learn. A close friend's mother is experiencing serious medical problems - the diagnosis is grim. The entire family started to move into a mode (an attitude) of grief. The mother said to her family, "I am going to live the rest of my life, not die. I need you to support me with my living, if you can't, you need to visit me less."

She identified her options and has decided to enjoy every moment. I for one, love being with this remarkable woman.

Actions

"A man is the sum of his actions, of what he has done, of what he can do, nothing else."
Mahatma Gandhi

Beliefs and attitudes are not really visible. What becomes apparent are the behaviors - the actions that show our true net worth.

I remember a story of a a woman whose company was downsizing. She was given an hour to clear her desk. In that final hour, telephoned her clients for most of the hour to share with them that a new person would be handling their account, service would continue as usual and the company wanted them to be in the loop with the change. She never told them she was leaving. When her clients realized that she had been let go, her phone started ringing with job offers. Even the company that let her go, called her back.

With the right beliefs, attitudes and actions, our net worth becomes priceless.

Leadership is About Responding with Ability

In a recent interview, an executive was discussing, although it sounded suspiciously like complaining to me, how disastrous the business had become.

When questioned if he had read a 1000 page reform that would have massive impacts on his business and the industry at large, he responded, "I didn't have time to read the document."

Next, he asked the interviewer what were the three to four major issues that reform was addressing. Fortunately, she knew the answer (she had read the reform in preparation for the meeting) It was clearly apparent that she was much more prepared as an outsider to deal with his industry change than he was as the so-called expert.

The interview continue along the same vein, for each question, he didn't know and then he would asked her a question. Great technique if you hold to the philosophy that you only asked questions if you already know the answer. Clearly, he didn't have a clue regarding what his responsibilities were as the leader.

Close to the end of the interview, you could actually see the light bulb come on in this guy's brain. "I know. I'll tell the board that I am forming a committee to address this change and that the committee will be meeting weekly to discuss. What do you think?" he asked of the interviewer.

She looked totally astonished and quickly ended the interview.

Great lesson from this interview, be aware of owning the role, being able to respond with ability and come across as the leader who is truly in command.

There's More to Life and Business Than Ego

A powerful strategist and leader, Napoleon Bonaparte could have been a truly extraordinary leader, instead he used superficial motivation and intimidation to get the job done. Unfortunately, he ultimately failed because he forgot to forge a purpose and his ego got in the way.

3 Signs of Ego

Dangling superficial incentives in front of people.

Napoleon once said, "Men will die for ribbons." As a result, thousands of soldiers marched to their death. Bonaparte was banking on his men to honored with short term recognition. As a result, he won battles at enormous cost and finally lost the war.

Suggestion: Find methods of recognition that are more lasting and meaningful. One suggestion is giving a person a project and allowing them to plan and manage with appropriate supervision (keep in mind, I am not saying lack of supervision). I, for one, thrive in this type of environment.

Any suggestions for incentivizing people?

Using position as entitlement

Known as a small man, Napoleon often tried to intimidate others with his dress, thrown and his title. He was often described as a megalomaniac and as a result had very few true supports. Followers are not the same as supporters, they are often doing a mediocre job because it is easier to stroke someone's ego than to stand up and do the right job in the right manner

Suggestion: Keep in mind that a position of leadership is a privilege. A title does not give a person power, even if they have the authority. A truly great leader will continually earn the respect of their team. One sure way to lose people is to say "I'm the boss and this is the way it has to be."

Any suggestions for how to effectively have authority and power?

Lacking integrity and honor

Napoleon didn't care how he achieved his desired ends. He lied to other heads of state, religious leaders and pretty much one to get what he wanted. He hired criminals and bribed officials to ensure results.

Suggestion: Keep in mind that at the end of the day, all we leave with is our character. I would much rather it be said of me that I am a person of my word, than to have someone say "I can't trust Laura.

Today, healthy business leaders let go of their ego and provide an environment of appropriate acknowledgment and rewards, lead from a positive position and act with honor and integrity. When this happens, employees will always excel and support the company's vision.

Review - A Year End Transaction

2010 is coming to a close, quickly I might add. This is the time to review, reflect and prepare to reframe.

In reviewing the past year here are some thoughts and questions.

“Being unwanted, unloved, uncared for, forgotten by everybody,
I think that is a much greater hunger,
a much greater poverty than the person who has nothing to eat.”

Mother Teresa, Missionary to India

What goals did I achieve?
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What relationships have I forged?
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What contributions have I made at work?
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What contributions have I made at home?
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What contributions have I made n my personal and professional growth and development?
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Set aside a block of time to review this past year is a great investment of time.

Any suggestions for others to review at the end of this year would be greatly appreciated.

Four Pillars of Accountablity

Accountability is an interesting word. A simple definition is the ability to account for one's actions. With some further research I found these five synonyms consistently showing up: responsibility, answerability, trustworthiness, liability.


Responsibility - "a duty that binds to the course of action." Simply stated, we are responsible to demonstrate responsibility by being proactive and fully understanding our purpose, our vision, our mission, our values, our role, our values. To be responsible, we will have done our homework before we dive into relationships, jobs, endeavors and ask what is expected of us when we are not clear.

Answerability - "being called to account." This follows responsibility in that when ask what we are providing or delivering is of the best quality, the best price and the absolute best value. To be answerable, when questioned, that how we are behaving personally and professionally supports what we are telling others we do or charging for in terms of products or services.

Trustworthiness - "a trait of being worthy of trust and confidence." Trust is something that is earned. Our behaviors can build or destroy trust. Honesty and integrity are the linchpins that hold relationships, companies and communities together.

Liability - "being legally bound to a debt or obligation." This is the price we must pay for violating our honor and our word. Repaying a debt with dollars is often a small price to pay, if we can maintain our character and sense of self.

These four pillars create a strong platform for work and life. What pillars would you add to create a firm foundation for accountability?

Focus, Faith, and Fervor

When embarking on a new endeavor or relationship, we often fail to appreciate what it will take to ensure success. In fact, quite honestly, I had not nearly often enough considered the long term effects of those quick, easy and sometimes even thoughtless decisions I have made in jobs, relationships, and life in general. Then it struck me that there are three essentials that can and will ensure the degree of our success. Focus - Faith - Fervor

Focus is the starting point

"What you choose to focus your mind on is critical because you will become what you think about most of the time..." Noel Peebles

Finding the focus, that central theme or purpose for our actions and existence, sets the stage for a healthier, more productive and definitely more satisfied existence.

Some Focus Finding Questions:

• What impacts me?

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• What interests me?

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• What inspires me?

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Faith is the second point.

"A small body of determined spirits fired by an unquenchable faith in their mission can alter the course of history." Mahatma Gandhi

Finding our faith, that unshakable belief that we have the strength, resourcefulness and talent to live and work in a manner that always, always contributes. This is the midpoint for fulfillment and satisfaction.

Some Faith Finding Questions:

• How do I totally support myself in my focus?

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• How do I tap into that universal source of strength that holds me unshakable to my focus?

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• Who can help to restore my faith in my focus?

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Fervor is the is the third essential component.

Even the knowledge of my own fallibility cannot keep me from making mistakes. Only when I fall do I get up again.

Vincent van Gogh

Some Fervor Finding Questions:

• How do I get motivated?

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• How do I get back on track once derailed from my focus?

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• What would ignite that candle of passion when there is no fuel left?

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It's within our power to change lives, companies, communities and the world with focus, faith and fervor.

Overcoming Presenteeism - An Unacknowledged Contributor to An Under Performing Workforce

In 2004, Cornell University Institute for Health and Productivity Studies (IHPS) conducted a study that “estimate that companies' on-the-job productivity losses from presenteeism are possibly as high as 60 percent of the total cost of worker illness -- exceeding the costs of absenteeism and medical and disability benefits. “

The term presenteeism was coined by Cary Cooper, a professor of organizational psychology and health at Manchester University, UK, Dr. Cooper describes presenteeism as “an overwhelming need to put in more hours or, at the very least, appear to be working very long hours, is another dangerous symptom of the explosive degree of pressure in the workplace.”

What does all this mean to your company?

The impact of presenteeism gone unchecked results in:

• exorbitant costs,
• ineffective work team , and
• inability to attain key business objectives.

How can you as employers staunch outflow of dollars and productivity lost as a result of presenteeism?

1. Analyze the workplace environment

2. Identify the greatest area of concern

3. Prioritize and select one area to address

4. Create a plan of action to assist employees in managing their ability to cope with physical, mental and psychological challenges

Taking measures to increase awareness to presenteeism and it’s impacts on business results is key. Taking proactive steps to assist employees to deal with work and life challenges is the essential to business success. Ultimately, overcoming presenteeism will help you to build a high performing workforce that benefits both you and your employees.

How Networked Are You?

To find out how networked you are, please answer the following questions.

Do you have a clear idea of what you need from a network? __

Have you thought about what your have to offer others in terms of skills, knowledge or information? _____

Do your colleagues contact you frequently for advice or support? _____

Do you make an effort to get together with colleagues regularly on an informal basis? _____

Do you volunteer to participate in task forces or ad hoc committees to get to know others from other areas or groups? _____

Have you established a good working relationship with at least one key member of each function or area? _____

Do you periodically attend different types of functions or conferences that expand your contacts? _____

Are you an active member in at least one work related committee or organization? _____

Do you regularly attend company social events? _____

If you have answered "yes" to most of these questions, you are well on your way to being networked.

The Key of Power

"He who controls others may be powerful,
but he who has mastered himself is mightier still."
Lao Tzu

Power has many definitions. Sociologists define power as "the ability to impose one's will on others, even those who resist in some way." Some dictionary definitions "a measure of an entity's ability to control their environment, including the behavior of other entities" "or the ability to do or act; capability of doing or accomplishing something."

Some ways to find the Key of Power:

• Understand the vision, the mission, the company or the relationship for which we are about to embark upon.
• Decide that we are in agreement and actually want to be part of that objective.
• Identify roles and talents that best support that purpose.
• Communicate our concerns and our contributions.
• Listen and receive feedback assertively.
• Walk away when someone attempts to take total control of our power.

Power comes from within. We all decide how much we are affected by outside influences. The key of power will open any door if and when we fully appreciate what we own and what we allow to affect us and the results adversely.

Go within to find the Key of Power.

Five Keys for The Keeper of Momentum

Entering into a contract, new relationship or role, we often start off with motivation, interest and enthusiasm. As time goes on, however, this level of intensity seems to drop. So how can we become a keeper of momentum?



Purpose. Discovering one's purpose and contribution to the work is the first key to success. "When we know our Why, our How constantly shows up."

Passion. Igniting one's passion for involvement certainly starts a relationship or engagement off on the right foot. Keeping that passion burning after the initial excitement passes is the second key.

Principles. In order to have sustainable success, we must be clear on our fundamental core values. The core values become the foundation that will support all of our actions and thoughts. This key is the midpoint for momentum.

Positive. There is a saying that "people are hired for the ability, they are fired for their attitude." Keeping a positive point of view, appreciating that there is always a better way, a lesson to be learn, a silver lining in each situation is the key that unlocks any obstacle that is thrown our way.

Power. Finally, momentum is maintained even when doors are closed, windows are covered and the lights are turned off, we use the final key of power.

These five keys are available to all, we just need to seek, capture and then put into play.

Focus on the Ability to Respond - Be Self Actualizing

Focusing on the potential in ourselves and in every situation can totally change how one may respond in any given situation. James Allen, a nineteenth century philosopher and author of nineteen books, one being As a Man Thinketh, wrote "Circumstances don't make a man, they reveal him."

In the twentieth century, Dr. Abraham Maslow was a pioneer in transformational psychology and defined 'self-actualizing' individuals as "people who seek the frontiers of creativity and strive to reach higher levels of consciousness and wisdom. "

A 23 year old woman was critically injured in a hit and run accident. Paralyzed from mid-chest to her toes, married she now has two young children (both born after the accident), drives, manages her home, drives, gardens. Extremely social, when this young woman attends a party she lights up the room. No one notices the wheel chair or her frail body - all they see is her.

William Shakespeare -

"The choices we make, dictate the life that we lead."

Life keeps throwing us different circumstances big and small. Sometimes, little things seem really big and if we constantly react as if something is happening to us or around us as if we have little or no control then we a revealing our inability to respond. If on the other hand, we behave in a manner that is responsive and thoughtful, appreciating that we have the potential to handle any circumstances that come our way - then we become fully actualized.

"Quiet Desperation" or Contribution, Courage and Committment

If we listen to the news, conversations, or even that little voice in our heads, we may think and even believe that there is not much to hope for. As a result, we often times move into living our lives, as Thoreau would say, in "quiet desperation."

"Quiet desperation" is showing up in work or life in a constant state of panic or apathy. A "what's the use" attitude permeates all the we think and feel and as a result, we barely function. Conversations become superficial. Work and life have no value or purpose. Productivity and effectiveness suffer.

With three small shifts, we can regain control of our lives, our work and our joy and move past this "quiet desperation."

1. Contribution. Appreciate our skills and abilities is absolutely essential. Reviewing our experiences, talents and attributes will help us to evaluate what tools and assets we have in our tools kits. These capabilities are uniquely special for each of us and we have an obligation and an opportunity to share them each and every day. Anthony Robbins has a wonderful quote that says it all “It is not what we get, but who we become, what we contribute, that gives meaning to our lives.”

2. Courage. Owning our abilities and strengths now becomes a responsibility. Stepping out and stepping up can take a tremendous amount of effort and energy and yet if we do not, we have lost total control. As Susan Jeffers says it so eloquently in her book by the same title, Feel the Fear and Do it Anyway.

3. Commitment. Being committed to sharing are personal best is the turning point. There is a line from Og Mandino's wonderful book called the Twelfth Angel, "Every day, in every way, I am getting better and better." If and when we agree to face each, moment, each day, each event with this thought, I believe we can live our lives to the fullest.

"Quiet desperation" or contribute, courage and commitment, it's a choice.

5 Steps to Success

"1. Optimize potential
2. Facilitate empowerment.
3. Implement visioning.
4. Strategize priorities
5. Augment core structures."
Connie Willis

One would generally ascribe the above list to a corporate executive. Connie Willis is a science fiction writer, a leader in her field. Often, we fail to expand outside of our profession or field of interest. Just doing a little research, can net amazing nuggets of wisdom.

Thank you Ms. Willis for 5 profoundly simple steps to success and life.

Healthy Growth Practices

Growth in self may be subtle almost unperceivable but the overall effects of that change can have a lasting healthy impact. Below are some Healthy Growth Practices

• Receiving criticism and treating it as feed back.

• Moving from the front of the room and being the teacher, to sitting in one of the seats as a student again.

• Walking into a meeting and taking a different seat.

• Taking a new route to work.

• Sitting down rather than standing up.
  

• Asking questions rather than providing the answers.

• Asking for help.

• Going on informational interviews.

• Finding a mentor and/or trusted advisor.

• Taking a day off in the middle of a work week to play.

Now it’s your turn, what are some growth practices that you can suggest for me?

Eliminate FAT

One of the biggest contributors to disease is we take on too much FAT. Now, I am not talking about the fat you find in foods, although that certainly is one causal factor. I am referring to FAT we find in work on life - Fear – Anger – Trouble

Consider replacing Fear with Courage, Anger with Understanding and Trouble with Opportunities. Simple shift, really simple, just not easy. Go forth and be Courageous, Understanding and find Opportunities. Eliminating FAT will add years to your life, energy in your work and joy in your play.

Make SPACE

Life keeps getting more and more cluttered; more stuff, more information, more competition, more challenges, more, more, more… What happens with all this accumulation and there is no room left - fatigue, dissatisfaction, and disillusionment.

How can we make more room in our lives for increased health, family, productivity, contributions? We can make space.

Select what is important. In Wayne Dyer’s The Awakened Life, he mentioned that when we identify that we as human beings really have one business – the people business. Now I realize that that is my business, so all the other clutter that shows up really moves lower on the responsibility ladder.

In family, social and business, understanding and interacting within relationships can become slightly challenging unless one keeps in mind that serving others doesn’t mean sacrificing self. It does mean to serve others and self in a respectful and healthy manner. This already takes some pressure off.

Prioritize our goals. It’s great to have goals. It’s not so great to have copious, competing goals. Come on, you know exactly what I mean. The job, the family, the interests, the wants and needs certainly can stack up and become almost too distracting. Collect all the goals in one area, make a list and establish what is really important. The rest, cross off the list or move to a “someday” list for future reference.

Assess our resources. Having a focus and then reviewing goals is a great start for making space. Next, let’s identify our resources. What tools do we have in our tool kit – skills, knowledge and talents? Who are the people we know that can help us personally and professionally. What about our experiences and community.

Collaborate with others. Last week, in the United States we celebrated Thanksgiving. I heard on the radio that people were cutting back on how many people they were inviting – too much cost and work. Now I really appreciate how much work a large dinner can be, I have even put together one or two on occasion myself, however this can really clutter life and physical space. Whether it’s a family, community or work setting, we can really make space for more enjoyment, more team work if we learn to collaborate. People want to be included and help. Just ask and one is wonderfully surprised with the results.

Enjoy life. When we know what is important, prioritize our goals, assess our resources and collaborate with others, we can really find joy. If we just choose to make SPACE.

A Best Practice - Showing Gratitude

Do you want to see absolute leaps in performance and relationships in business and life? Build practices where people think and feel they are appreciated and acknowledged.

So, how can we show and share gratitude? Let me give you a few techniques that have worked for me and then perhaps some of you would like to share how you are measuring gratitude.

Write Thank You notes to employees.

One practice I adopted years ago was to acknowledge employees thanks from customers. I would make a copy of the thank you note or write the thank you that a satisfied client shared and then give the original thank you note to the employee and kept a copy for my file. At the end of the year, I often had more than you notes than dings for performance appraisals. Employees enjoyed their performance appraisals because now they had been appreciated and well as supported in their areas for improvement. A much more productive experience for all.

Write Thank You notes to customers.

I once received a wonderful thank you note from a company that provide me with extraordinary service. The note shared how they enjoyed working with me and valued my desire to honor them with my business. I still do business with that same company and still enjoy opening the thank you notes.

Write Thank You notes to family and friends.

This one seems obvious, but honestly, I started this practice last. Often times, I am ashamed to say that I was not as forthcoming in writing Thank You notes to my closest family and friends. I still remember a phone call I received from my mother after I had sent her a thank you note for being there in a particularly tough time. Acknowledging tangible gifts of money, etc. is easy. Saying thank you for the really meaningful gifts of time and thoughtfulness certainly meant a great deal more to her.

Send Thanksgiving Cards.

I had a wonderful executive mentor who always sent Thanksgiving cards, a practice that I have adopted over the past few years. I love sending these cards to family and friends. My list keeps growing. Each year I am receiving more and more Thanksgiving Cards. Warms my heart and certainly helps me to stay in touch with clients, contacts, family and friends that I don’t see often enough.

Do you see any value in building more consistent practices that promote genuine appreciation? Any other suggestions for what and how we might build best gratitude practices? I’m looking forward to hearing your thoughts.

Thanksgiving a Habit Not Just a Holiday

The great news about Thanksgiving is that it doesn’t have to just the second Monday of every October in Canada or the fourth Thursday of every November in the U.S. Thanksgiving can actually become a habit.

One might ask, “Why make Thanksgiving a habit?”

The reasons are infinite and personal. Appreciating that, I will share with you three of my reasons for creating a habit around thanksgiving.

It’s necessary. For me, taking the time to write or say thank you is a wonderful way to let others know that I was aware of their contribution.

It’s sincere. Saying and showing thank you in a genuine and heartfelt manner. Expressing and acting in gratitude that let’s the person know that it really added value to myself and others.

It’s positive and inclusive. The one person that I have had to become more conscious of thanking was me. Saying and writing a thank you note is something that I do at least once a month. Some months are tougher than others, I’m not always thankful for acting like a jerk or putting my foot in my mouth. Then I may only be writing that I am thankful finding a need to change.

Sound like a good habit to create. Please share with me what might be motivating you to make thanksgiving a habit and not just a holiday.

7 ELEMENTS THAT LEAD TO A POSITIVE, HEALTHY CULTURE

Culture is defined as “the attitudes and behavior that are characteristic of a particular social group or organization.” (Source: www.wordnetweb.princeton.edu)

1. Communicate - "Good, the more communicated, the more abundant grows." John Milton

2. Understand - "Seek first to understand, then to be understood." Stephen Covey

3. Leadership - "Leadership is practiced not so much in words as in attitudes and actions." Harold Geneen

4. Teach - "We cannot teach people anything; we can only help them discover within themselves." Galileo Galilei

5. Unite - "Words divide us, actions unite us." Tupamoros

6. Respect - "Respect a man (a person), and will do all the more." John Woode

7. Empower - "The beauty of empowering others is that your own power is not diminished in the process." Barbara Colorose

Making the transition to health

We all realize changing habits is hard to do. Too many times we jump into something without proper preparation, knowledge, and planning of the task at hand. We fail, give up and think of ourselves as someone who will never change. Making the transition is sometimes the hardest part.
Here are some ideas to help you in your transition.

First: Understand what you want to change. Is it diet, exercise, a relationship, or a behavior you don't like.

Second: Journal. If you are not in the habit of journaling, now is a good time to start. It's a great way to discover yourself.

Third; Stop judging yourself. Turn off that voice in your head that critiques your every move.

Fourth: Stay the course. Sometimes the changes we make go against the "norm". It's not what everyone else is doing. It's hard to be different. Stay true to your heart and listen to yourself.

Fifth: Seek out resources and support. Be knowledgeable about what you are trying to accomplish. Seek professional help if you feel that it's needed.

Journal Exercise: This is a great way to raise your level of awareness about yourself.
Pick an area of your life you want to work on. Let's take physical health for example. Write a letter to yourself and describe everything about your physical health. Write it as if you were writing to a friend or stranger and had to describe yourself to them. You may be surprised at what you learn. I know I was.

Judy Rienzi

Waste or Invest Time

Which is a more productive way to spend time, worrying or problem solving. Well if we like to waste time, worry often becomes our choice. However, if we make problem solving our answer than perhaps that can invest our time wisely. I found a very interesting approach in the book The Essence of Success written by Earl Nightingale - Brainstorming.

Here's Nightingale's 11 step Brainstorming Approach:

1. Define the problem (be specific)
   
2. Write everything that you know about the problem (no editing here please)
   
3. Decide who to see (identify who can help you or is involved in the problem)
   
4. Make a note of everything that is germane to the problem (again no editing or elimiting)
5. Conduct a personal brainstorming (make a list of what can you can to do overcome the problem)
6. Consider a brainstorming group (get others together that can help you solve the problem)
   
7. Rate your ideas for effectiveness and facility (disregard cost or speed at this time)
8. Rate your ideas for time and money (now think about dollars and time)
   
9. Evaluate your ideas and take action on them (what steps can you take on those ideas - still not really in any order)
10. Create an action plan (now put together a workable plan of action)
    
11. Give yourself a deadline to putting your plan in action. (target dates help your accountability)

Brainstorming is fun and work, frustrating and rewarding. At least it worth a try, let me know your ideas and issues for brainstorming.

An BIG Impact on Performance and Productivity

Productivity and profits are plummeting, at least it seems that way. The more the focus is on the crises, drama and time wasters,the less thought and time there is for high degrees of productivity and performance.

To turn around that drain on financial, talent and natural resources, the focus needs to shift to the potential. A few years ago I was asked to work with a large critical care department that had 6 different directors in half as many years. In the staff interviews, one common theme kept cropping up - leadership. The lack of leadership, the autocratic leadership, the punitive leadership, the disappointed leadership. Not once, not once did the staff mention anything positive, all were beaten down, but not broken. They had tremendous spirit they wanted to be asked. They had ideas to share, the courage, talent and conviction to do the job - but no one would listen.

After the interviews, I met with the Chief Nursing Officer to discuss the finding. I asked her who she believed were the leaders in the staff. Again, never did she mention anything positive. She launched into what a poor group of performers were in that department. She knew that without someone from the outside coming in to turn them around, they would never be effective and able to provide quality care.

Next, I asked, "Who has the potential to be the leader?"

She stopped briefly and then replied reluctantly, "Well certainly they all have the potential." She proceeded to tell me all the reasons why that would never happen. After all she'd been there for years and had continued to see disinterest and disruptive behavior. She needed some one to turn them around. Then she asked me, "What can you do to enhance productivity and performance?"

I knew that she wouldn't like my suggestion, but I knew it was the only answer, "Focus on their potential."

We both agreed that they needed a strong, positive leader to help accomplish significant change. She decided to continue to search outside and we said our good-byes.

Less than six months later, that same CNO contacted me and asked me if I could refer her, she was looking for a new job. No one helped her focus on her potential and the productivity and performance continued to decline.

Sad story, and unfortunately true all too often. When we fail to focus on the Potential, the performance and productivity will always fall. What are your thoughts?

Whole Sense

We've all used common sense, that sound practical judgment the often engages all of our physical senses. I'd like to suggest expanding to Whole sense, an approach to understanding and interpreting data to get to know the total person. Linda Martin, founder of Resource Associates Corporations said it best,

"Your growth as a person
depends greatly on your ability
to examine the parts of your life
to see if they add up
to the total person that you want to be."

Identifying at least one goal in each of the key elements of “WHOLE SENSE” and taking purposeful, planned action can change your life forever.

FINANCE (Increase income, reduce debt)

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CAREER (promotion, change career, change approach)

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FAMILY (improve relationship, family vacation, family project)

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SOCIAL (join a club/organization, attend a function/event, learn something new about your own community)

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MENTAL ( take a class, teach and mentor)

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ETHICS/BELIEFS (AKA VALUES) (List your 5 most important values, identify the values your company)

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PHYSICAL (lose or gain weight, improve nutrition, create a workable exercise plan)

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Whole sense, makes sense if we just use our common sense and focus on the total person that we want to become