tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7098672925272638402024-03-21T11:01:36.901-04:00Lakeview ConsultantsLakeview Consultantshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16980939262033041377noreply@blogger.comBlogger248125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-709867292527263840.post-67747827341757762092015-07-14T11:39:00.000-04:002015-07-14T11:39:35.912-04:004 Ways to Access Your Creative Genius<span style="font-size: large;">4 Ways to Access Your Creative Genius</span><br />Creativity may be in more demand than ever. With the rapid rise of the internet economy, creatives have begun to make unique work opportunities for themselves. Online entrepreneurs are making things up as they go because the commerce and industry we experience today is still a new frontier.<br /><br />U.S. jobs and contract positions are now easily outsourced to overseas locations where the cost of living is less. The low wages paid to virtual workers edge out the chance of Westerners competing with those prices. These overseas workers are highly skilled and educated, and often don’t possess the entitled attitude that many of us do in the U.S., so they are appreciated and sought after. <br /><br />So how do you stand out from the crowd if you aren’t naturally creative?<br /><br />You practice being creative.<br /><br />Artists have been hacking the creative matrix for years. Here are some of the methods you may not expect to unstick the flow of inspiration for extraordinary breakthroughs.<br /><br /><div>
1. Do nothing.<br /><br />Literally. Nothing. Especially if you are almost always busy. Take yourself on vacation, sit at the beach or pool, and do nothing. If you can’t go on vacation, take a staycation and sequester yourself for a day or an afternoon. If your time is generally taken up by everyday projects, requirements and tasks, there isn’t much room for creative thoughts to flow because the mental space is filled up. You need to empty it.<br /><br />Get a little bored, even. Just when you start getting bored and wondering why the heck you are doing this, the ideas will pour out. Do nothing until they do.<br /></div>
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2. Write it down.<br /><br />Get in the habit of taking notes. One method might be writing three pages in a journal first thing in the morning about whatever comes to mind. Throughout the day when ideas come to you -- no matter how small or insignificant they may seem in the moment -- write them down. The note app on your phone or a simple pad and pen carried in your pocket will suffice. You can even record voice notes.<br /><br />Ideas will often come while you are involved in certain activities such as driving, showering, cooking, gardening. When the mind gets into a meditative state in these activities, the subconscious is able to do some freestyling. That’s where the juice is.<br /><br />3. Pay attention to your dreams.<br /><br />If you think your dreams are meaningless, think again. When you study your own dream patterns by keeping a journal and learning to interpret them, you may become the next Albert Einstein. The famous thinker and inventor discovered the Theory of Relativity because of a dream he had as a teenager.<br /><br />Other ideas or works of art that came out of dreams include: the sewing machine, invented by Elias Howe, James Cameron’s breakout film The Terminator, Paul McCartney’s song “Yesterday,” The Periodic Table by Dmitry Mendeleyev, DNA and the double helix discovered by James Watson and Jack Nicklaus’ winning golf swing.<br /></div>
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4. Laugh.<br /><br />Seriously, people have studied and calculated that those who have a sense of humor are more creative. Listening to something funny before taking a test is proven to raise test scores. Most people think more creatively when they are relaxed. Not to mention the endorphins released while laughing. Humorous people tend to be able to think outside the box, which is necessary in problem solving and creating. Besides that, funny people are considered more valuable on the job.<br /><br />You don’t need to be an artist or comedian to be creative, you just need to nurture the innovative side of yourself you may have left with your broken crayons in elementary school. Exercising the creative muscle will make it stronger and give you the edge you need to add value to your life and work.</div>
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By Lewis Howes</div>
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Source: <a href="http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/246080" target="_blank">Entrepreneur</a></div>
Lakeview Consultantshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16980939262033041377noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-709867292527263840.post-23684483701739101572015-01-06T12:10:00.001-05:002015-01-06T12:10:25.382-05:0010 Ways to Crush It in 2015<span style="font-size: large;">10 Ways to Crush It in 2015</span><br />At the beginning of the every new year and even a little bit before then, everyone has the same theme, or at least they think so. This theme is, “This is going to be my best year yet!” Unfortunately, once the end of the year rolls around again, they quickly realize that the past year was just like all the other years.<br /><br />Nothing was really different. The same habits, the same achievements, the same goals and the same mediocre results. Please don’t fall into this category that will rob so many people of greatness this upcoming year.<br /><br />Related: <a href="http://www.entrepreneur.com/slideshow/241219">20 High-Powered Business Leaders Share Their New Year's Resolutions</a><br /><br />Here are 10 ways to help you crush it in 2015.<br /><br /><div>
1. Get serious!<br /><br />To truly make this year your best year yet and absolutely crush it in 2015, you must get serious about doing just that. A majority of people will get excited for the first 30 days and then fall victim to complacency and just coast along from that point on. Get serious about your life. Get serious about your business. Get serious about your health. Get serious!<br /></div>
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2. Learn and let go of 2014.<br /><br />The whole last week of every year I spend every single day reflecting on how my previous year went and how I can grow and get better from it. I analyze my wins and losses and how I can build momentum going into the New Year. <br /><br />But once I am finished with this process, I let the previous year completely go. I erase it from my thinking and encourage you to do the same. If it was a successful year for you, great, but don’t let that define your 2015. Build new successes and reach for new heights. If it wasn’t the best of year for you, there's incredible opportunity ahead because you have a whole year to absolutely crush it and make up for lost ground in 2014. Don’t let one bad year turn into a bad life.<br /></div>
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3. Take your health and fitness to the next level.<br /><br />If you are going to take your success, income and business to the next level, then you must not forget about your health and fitness. This is one of the greatest assets that you have. Never take your health for granted. If you keep your body in unbelievable shape, you will increase your productivity levels like crazy and boost your self confidence.<br /></div>
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4. Get very clear about what you want.<br /><br />Setting a goal to lose weight, get in better shape or make more money won’t cut it. Maybe for the first month you might be motivated but over time this type of clarity won’t cut it. When you get extremely clear about what it is you want, your desire and commitment to actually make it a reality will skyrocket. Get clear about what you want.<br /></div>
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5. Take massive action.<br /><br />If people decided to actually get going on their new year goals and resolutions instead of just talking about them they would begin to see an amazing shift take place. One thing is for certain if you are going to really crush it in 2015: You must take massive action! Less talking and more doing.<br /><br />Related: <a href="http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/241214">5 Things to Do Every Day in 2015 to Be a Better Entrepreneur</a><br /></div>
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6. Let this be the year you let your mind work for you, not against you.<br /><br />As hard as it may be at times, we fully control what goes into our minds and what we think about. Instead of letting your fears get the best of you or letting self-diminishing thoughts convince you that you are not capable, really work at what goes into your mind and what you think about. Come up with a routine that nourishes your mind and builds you up. Read the book As a Man Thinketh by James Allen to help get you started.<br /></div>
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7. Hang around those who are doing better than you.<br /><br />Take the time to analyze your relationships. As I say all the time, “Association is everything.” If you constantly surround yourself with others who aren’t doing big things then guess what? You won’t do big things. The weak and mediocre get jealous when they are surrounded by others who are doing better than them. Champions, on the other hand, love being in the presence of greatness. They not only admire other peoples’ success, they let it fuel them to be great themselves.<br /></div>
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8. Create a personal growth plan.<br /><br />Make 2015 all about your growth as an individual. I am a big believer that self-education is the best kind of education. Possibly nothing else could impact your life more in 2015 than creating a personal growth plan.<br /></div>
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9. Stop the take-take mentality and operate out of the give-give mentality.<br /><br />In business and in the game of life, always try to give more than you take. Be known as someone who gives freely and is always looking to serve others.<br /></div>
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10. Create a sense of urgency!<br /><br />Nothing gets on my nerves more than someone with a lack of urgency. Life is short, so live that way! If there if something you want to do, do it. If there is someone you love, tell them. If you have a passion, follow it. What a shame it would be if you missed out on something special all because of a lack of urgency. I see it happen all the time. <br /><br />I hope this year is the year everything changes for you. I hope this year is your best year yet. I hope this year is the year you absolutely crush it and end up changing your life and business forever. Don’t settle for average. Happy New Year!</div>
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By Matt Mayberry</div>
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Source: <a href="http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/241349" target="_blank">Entrepreneur</a></div>
Lakeview Consultantshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16980939262033041377noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-709867292527263840.post-78503355392269264912014-12-15T09:41:00.002-05:002014-12-15T09:41:19.110-05:005 Radical Things You Can to Do to Motivate Employees<br /><span style="font-size: large;">5 Radical Things You Can to Do to Motivate Employees</span><br />Here are a few ideas on how to motivate employees beyond the typical promises and vague assumptions.<br /><br />Motivation isn't always something that comes from within. Sometimes, it has to come from the boss. These techniques are a bit more radical than just handing out tokens to use at the company gift shop. They focus in on the core motivations of your employees.<br /><br /><div>
1. Pick someone on your staff and send them on a mini vacation<br /><br />One of the best rewards you can give an employee in your office is to send them on a quick vacation. Maybe it's just a weekend at a resort across town or something fairly inexpensive. But by sending one person on your team, you are motivating everyone, because it could be another person's turn to go next time. You're creating an atmosphere of rewards.<br /><br /><div>
2. Remove yourself from a project<br /><br />The de-motivating factor on a project could be your own presence. Maybe no one is very motivated because they know you will pick up the slack and finish everything. If you aren't around and the project depends entirely on their efforts, the team might suddenly become much more motivated--especially if they know you're not going to bail them out.<br /><br /><div>
3. Turn the doldrums upside down<br /><br />A good motivator for people is when some activity that seems fairly routine suddenly turns fun. I remember having to do a business trip that involved a boring drive from L.A. to Las Vegas. I decided to rent a Ford Mustang with a couple of team members. Suddenly, the trip became more inspiring and fun, and the business trip became more about building the relationships. It also hit home the point that other boring tasks could be fun.<br /><br /><div>
4. Promise what you can deliver<br /><br />Nothing kills motivation like a promise that isn't fulfilled. Yet, you can easily motivate someone by promising exactly what you can deliver. If the sales rep needs a boost and you know you can add a 5 percent bonus if he or she completes a certain objective, go ahead and offer that motivation. Take it a step further and get really specific about what the end result will be if the employee does what you are asking. The more specific you get, the more you can motivate. Don't just say there will be a bonus, say when, how much, and how often.<br /><br /><div>
5. Give someone more leadership responsibility<br /><br />Everyone likes being in charge--well, most people, anyway. One good motivator is to give more management responsibility to someone on your team. It's a reward that motivates because it shows you are aware of that person and their potential to lead. It helps an employee see that there is a bright future that could involve a promotion at some point. This is a radical move when it involves someone who might not be quite ready for the added responsibility. Just be ready to pick up the slack if the idea goes awry.</div>
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By John Brandon</div>
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Source: <a href="http://www.inc.com/john-brandon/5-radical-things-you-can-to-do-to-motivate-employees.html" target="_blank">Inc.</a></div>
Lakeview Consultantshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16980939262033041377noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-709867292527263840.post-3539553916891604522014-12-03T13:44:00.000-05:002014-12-03T13:45:28.066-05:003 Reasons Smart People Make Sure to Do What They Love<span style="font-size: large;">3 Reasons Smart People Make Sure to Do What They Love</span><br />
Loving what you do is not a luxury.<br />
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When you get to your office in the morning, are you happy to be there? Do you dive into the day's tasks with <a href="http://www.inc.com/peter-gasca/lead-with-enthusiasm-four-tips.html">enthusiasm</a>? Or are you counting the minutes until you get to leave?<br />
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If you don't <a href="http://www.inc.com/jeff-haden/15-revealing-signs-you-genuinely-love-what-you-do.html">love what you do</a>, no matter how successful you are, and no matter how much money you're making, you should probably consider doing something else. Many people seem to believe that loving what you do is a luxury. They plan their careers on the principle that making a decent living is necessary and that having work that you enjoy, and--more important--find meaningful, is a nice add-on, if you can swing it.<br />
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I think that's dead wrong. Making a living is essential, but so is having work that you enjoy and care about, and that you believe has <a href="http://www.inc.com/minda-zetlin/how-to-find-and-remember-your-company-purpose.html">real value</a>. If your work is missing any of these features, and you don't see a good prospect for things to get better, it's time to consider doing something else. Here's why:<br />
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1. Work takes up a very big chunk of your life.<br />
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The average American spends <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/on-leadership/wp/2014/09/02/the-average-work-week-is-now-47-hours/">47 hours</a> out of every week working. That means that during your working life, you'll be spending over 40 percent of your waking time at work. Or maybe much more. If you're running your own business, or working in management or in any of today's high-pressure, long hours professions, you likely are working <a href="http://www.inc.com/minda-zetlin/10-reasons-you-have-to-stop-working-so-hard.html">even more</a> than those 47 hours.<br />
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There's no getting away from it: Work takes up a huge proportion of our lives. None of us know how long or short these lives will be. But we do know that people who are dying often list the amount of time they spent working as one of their top regrets. Working takes you away from <a href="http://www.inc.com/minda-zetlin/9-ways-you-should-thank-your-partner-for-enabling-your-career.html">your family</a> and from other activities you love. If you don't enjoy it or believe it serves a valuable purpose, then work isn't worth that investment of your time.</div>
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2. If you don't love your work, sooner or later you'll start sucking at it.<br />
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Oh sure, you might be good at the mechanics of something you don't particularly enjoy. But only for a while. Every industry is rapidly changing, and to stay good at something you have to keep up with the changes, which means constantly paying attention and constantly learning.<br />
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For most people, that means paying attention, reading, attending events, taking courses, and generally spending a lot of time outside of traditional work hours getting and staying up to date. It's going to be tough to get yourself to put in those extra hours if work is just what you do to pay the mortgage. And if you don't put that extra time in, you will fall behind.</div>
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3. You can't fake passion.<br />
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Even if you yourself can do a good job at something you don't like, you're going to run into trouble when you take on a <a href="http://www.inc.com/minda-zetlin/what-leaders-can-learn-from-narcissists-manipulators-and-psychopaths.html">leadership</a> or <a href="http://www.inc.com/minda-zetlin/how-to-make-killer-sales-calls-even-if-you-dread-them.html">sales</a> role. You'll have a hard time inspiring deep caring in others for whatever it is you do if you don't feel it yourself. That will become a real stumbling block whenever you make a sales presentation, give guidance to an employee, or ask for money from a bank or investor. Unless you have superb acting skills, you won't be able to create passion in others that you yourself lack.<br />
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So why try? Most of us have a variety of career paths or professions that fit both our values and desires. Over your lifetime, you're likely to spend about <a href="http://om.viralnova.com/spend-our-days/">99,000 hours</a>making a living. If you don't want those hours to seem never-ending, better spend them doing something you love as well.<br />
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By: Minda Zetlin<br />
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Source: <a href="http://www.inc.com/minda-zetlin/3-reasons-smart-people-make-sure-to-do-what-they-love.html">Inc.</a></div>
Lakeview Consultantshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16980939262033041377noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-709867292527263840.post-37668728155133913212014-11-18T15:38:00.003-05:002014-11-18T15:38:49.246-05:003 Powerful Ways to End 2014 on a High Note<span style="font-size: large;">3 Powerful Ways to End 2014 on a High Note</span><br />Have no fear: you'll have a pleasant Thanksgiving dinner. You'll enjoy the holidays. You'll make your year-end goal. But you don't need to think about it all at once.<br /><br />Lately I've been noticing the tremendous churn happening within businesses today. New business models, big transformations, high expectations and turnover are all keeping businesspeople hopping. Keeping up with fast-paced change makes it hard to find or make time to reflect, and it's hard to get anything done. How do you find focus, and, more importantly, be able to maintain it, in an environment of constant change?<br /><br /><u>Define your goal</u>. It sounds simple enough, but many entrepreneurs skip this step. Decide whether it's a big goal for the year of 2015, like doubling your revenue, or whether it's more specific goal, like winning a proposal you're writing today. It may be a professional goal for a work project, or even a personal goal regarding the upcoming holidays. Defining your goal will help to clear the excess noise and make it go away. Take a brief statement of what your goal or vision is, then choose a set of 3-5 priorities that can get you there. This short list will become your area of focus.<br /><br /><u>Clear space</u>. People feel scattered and have trouble focusing because there's a lot going on all at once. On top of ongoing changes that your business is undergoing naturally, those day-to-day interruptions just won't go away. Your phone and your computer are next to you, biding for your attention, not to mention your clients, customers, coworkers, and family. Take control and make space. How much time do you need to finish a project? When can you make that time? What will that look like? How will you put that in the calendar? Asking yourself these questions allows you to clear out space to tackle your goal, and is crucial to clearing out the noise.<br /><br /><u>Make your calendar a part of your daily plan</u>. In terms of maintaining your focus, you can gain traction by following those same two steps--defining your goal and clearing space--more consciously and in bigger ways, more and more often.<br /><br />For example, consider the reality of a busy entrepreneur struggling to make it successfully through the end of the year. One such business owner I recently coached on this topic is a woman we'll call Kim. Kim's business has been thriving; she's listed in the Inc 500 and wants this year to be her best year yet. But Kim is also a woman who travels for work, has two small children and is hosting her family holiday reunion this year. Pile on top of that her commitment to make sure Santa Claus comes for her kids and to book a family getaway for New Years. You may be wondering, is it even possible to get all that done? It is, and if anyone can do it, it's Kim. But, in order to pull it off (and to also enjoy the ride--it is, after all, the holiday season), she will need to get focused. On a daily basis she will need to get out her calendar and organize tasks, not just at work, but for all the family events and the holiday chaos. She'll have to ask herself: Where does shopping and Thanksgiving dinner come in? When do I book the vacation? How will I be sure my business gets the big finish I have in mind? She will need to get those tasks out of her mind into her planner. That is, she will have to clearly define her goal and make space to focus on achieving what she wants to achieve, and leading the live she wants to live.<br /><br />You can do the same. Have no fear: you'll have a pleasant Thanksgiving dinner. You'll enjoy the holidays. You'll make your year-end goal. But you don't need to think about it all at once.<br /><br />Take a moment now to define your present goal. What's the goal you want to focus on right now? How can you clear space to devote your attention to that goal right now? Where else can you clear some space to work toward it and meet your goal? Repeat the questions at different times and for different goals, and you will find that scattered, unfocused feeling goes away. You'll be left feeling clear and confident about your ability to enjoy--and meet your goals--throughout the end of the year.<br /><br />By Joelle Jay<br />Source: <a href="http://www.inc.com/joelle-k-jay/3-tricks-for-finding-your-focus-and-maintaining-it-before-the-holidays.html">Inc.</a>Lakeview Consultantshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16980939262033041377noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-709867292527263840.post-65005055120406440642014-10-21T12:17:00.000-04:002014-10-21T12:17:11.218-04:0012 Habits of Extraordinarily Motivated People<span style="font-size: large;">12 Habits of Extraordinarily Motivated People</span><div>
Highly successful people are extremely motivated to succeed. Learn their secrets and put them to work for you<br /><br /><a href="http://www.inc.com/lou-adler/guide-to-hiring-motivated-achievers.html">Extraordinarily motivated people</a> are driven to go above and beyond; they are trusted by others, focused and have great confidence in their own abilities. They dream of endless possibilities, and tend to be extremely satisfied with their lives. They are more likely to receive a raise or a dream project, maintain longer relationships, and get promoted or recruited more than their unmotivated peers.<br /><br />"The will to win, the desire to succeed, the urge to reach your full potential... These are the keys that will unlock the door to personal excellence." --<a href="http://www.inc.com/dave-kerpen/7-tips-for-entrepreneurs-ready-to-launch-a-business.html">Confucius</a><br /><br />Seeking and achieving your dreams means you are really living your life. Ready to get motivated and become all you can be? Try some or all of these habits of extraordinarily motivated people and perhaps you too will find the courage to live a life of fulfilled dreams.<br /><br /><div>
1. They're internally motivated.<br /><br />It is their intrinsic desire to be their best selves and succeed that drives their motivation. They are internally driven--not pushed--toward new adventures, the unfolding journey, and the possible outcomes--they relish challenging themselves, learning, and exploring.<br /><br />2. They don't waste time judging.<br /><br />They objectively observe the successes and mistakes of others and learn from them instead of judging or comparing themselves. They don't waste their time with judgmental, gossipy people either.<br /></div>
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3. They are humble.<br /><br />They are willing to admit they made a mistake and apologize. They encourage feedback from others and use it to take steps in the right direction.<br /></div>
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4. They look at the upside.<br /><br />Instead of focusing on what's not working and bad experiences--which so many of us tend to do--they instead focus on what is working and their successes. If they find themselves overthinking a miscalculation, they automatically flip a switch and think about those things they did do right.<br /></div>
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5. They are authentic.<br /><br />They are true to themselves despite what others think--they don't live their lives solely to please others.<br /></div>
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6. They push beyond their comfort zone.<br /><br />Extraordinarily motivated people face discomfort head on--they never choose the easy route--to get what they want. They push themselves out of their comfort zone and get rid of those annoying internal voices that say, "You are limited in what you can do." They trust their abilities and know they will come out on top.<br /></div>
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7. They continue to learn.<br /><br />They read a lot and are brilliant observers--they are always watching and searching for new, more efficient, and faster ways to achieve. They understand that in order to grow as a person, they must always continue to learn.<br /></div>
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8. They know what they want.<br /><br />They have a clear vision of what they want their lives to look like and who they want to be. Their clarity comes with the wisdom to know what things to harness and what things to avoid. Their mottos are, "Never say never" and "Anything is possible."<br /></div>
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9. They don't give up.<br /><br />When they stumble over that proverbial bump in the road, they problem solve, come up with a plan, take action, and get past it. They understand that a sure way to lose a battle is to quit--which is not a </div>
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10. They don't blame others.<br /><br />They never blame others for their failures. They understand that ultimately they alone are in charge of their actions and choices and no other.<br /></div>
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11. They take time for themselves.<br /><br />They know that in order to stay motivated and on top of their game, they have to carve out time for themselves. Rewards of time away from it all and taking care of themselves are more important to them than material possessions.<br /></div>
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12. They surround themselves with motivators.<br /><br />Their friends are those who are trustworthy, positive, supportive, and bring out the best in them unconditionally. Their friends help them take on the world side by side and, when needed, help them get back on their feet again.</div>
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By Peter Economy</div>
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Source: <a href="http://www.inc.com/peter-economy/12-habits-of-extraordinarily-motivated-people.html" target="_blank">Inc.</a></div>
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Lakeview Consultantshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16980939262033041377noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-709867292527263840.post-22303542973504551512014-10-15T10:18:00.000-04:002014-10-15T10:18:17.965-04:005 Tricks to Maximize Your Time in the Office<span style="font-size: large;">5 Tricks to Maximize Your Time in the Office</span><br />Every entrepreneur knows what it’s like to have too much to do in too little time.<br /><br />During the startup phase of my business, this was my story as well. However, after experimenting with various techniques to manage myself and my work, I implemented the concepts below and ever since, I’ve been able to accomplish my most important work with minimal stress -- both in and out of the office.<br /><br />Related: <a href="http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/238022">4 Ways to Max Out the 40-Hour Workweek</a><br /><br /><div>
1. Understand your priorities.<br /><br />The first step in maximizing your time is knowing what you need to do. One way to do this is to come up with a job description and project list, both in priority order. A job description clearly lists the major responsibilities you have on a recurring basis. A project list records the projects you’re currently working on. (Try never to have more than four projects going at once.) Together, the job description and project list should cover between 80 and 90 percent of what you should be doing on a daily basis, save for the random things and busy work that inevitably come up. With this in hand, you’ll be able to decide what’s most important for you to focus on in the limited time you have.<br /></div>
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2. Plan ahead.<br /><br />Set aside a time once a week to plan for the upcoming week. Based on your job description and your projects, as well as your long-term goals take time, preferably at the end of every week, to plan the upcoming week. Start by asking what are the most critical items you have to get done to move your projects along, and what are the most critical functions of your job. Prioritize this list so that the most important items are at the top. Tool recommendations are any.do (web and app) or Asana (web and app).<br /><br />Related: <a href="http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/238025">With a Little Focus You Can Turn Workplace Distractions to Your Advantage</a><br /></div>
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3. Schedule dates with yourself.<br /><br />Once you know what you need to do for the next week, block off time for each major task you’ve planned. Keep in mind: Things almost always take longer than expected. Just face the fact the week before, go back to your job description and project list, and prioritize ruthlessly. When I’m doing this for myself or with my clients, I advise not to plan more than three or four critical items for any one day, or more than twenty critical tasks for a week. Tool recommendations: Google Calendar and Outlook.<br /></div>
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4. Block time for recurring tasks.<br /><br />The first time you plan like this, you’ll want to block out repeating times for recurring tasks -- including responding to email, paying bills and prospecting -- that you know you have to do. If you get a lot of email, schedule a block of time every day, preferably at the same time each day, to deal with your inbox. If you’re in sales and have to reach out to five new prospects a day, set up a recurring time in your calendar for it. It’s easy to forget to plan time for these types of recurring daily tasks, but it’s just as important to account for them as it is for project work.<br /></div>
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5. Leave empty space.<br /><br />Once you get adept at planning in this way, you’ll be tempted to take it too far by scheduling every minute of every day. Don’t do that. It’s a really bad idea, as things always come up. Maybe an important prospect comes by unannounced to chat. Maybe your kid gets sick and you have to stay home. Maybe you just have a slow day and are not able to get through everything you planned. Whatever the case, no week ever turns out exactly as planned, so leave some extra space so one unexpected event doesn’t throw off your entire week.<br /><br />If you implement the above strategies, your to-dos will be aligned with your major business priorities. You’ll have ample time to get things done and enough time to allow for unexpected things to come up. </div>
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By Jay Bacrania</div>
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Source: <a href="http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/238406" target="_blank">Entrepreneur</a></div>
Lakeview Consultantshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16980939262033041377noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-709867292527263840.post-70980313222527462532014-10-03T13:36:00.000-04:002014-10-03T13:36:14.541-04:00The Mindy Kaling Guide to Entrepreneurial Domination<span style="font-size: large;">The Mindy Kaling Guide to Entrepreneurial Domination</span><br />By her own admission, Mindy Kaling is an unlikely celebrity.<br /><br />She’s even more of an unlikely leader. The daughter of first-generation Indian immigrants with an Ivy-league education in (gasp) playwriting, Mindy is the antithesis of just about every Hollywood stereotype there is.<br /><br />Still, the creator, producer, writer and star of FOX’s <a href="http://www.fox.com/the-mindy-project/">The Mindy Project</a>doesn’t shy away from the responsibility her entrepreneurial fame entails.<br /><br />Related: <a href="http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/236773">Success Lessons From 2 Innovators Who Came Out Swinging</a><br /><br />What can the world-dominating success of an unlikely entrepreneur teach us?<div>
<br />1. Be passionate<br /><br />As trite as it might sound, nothing trumps passion. Carmine Gallo, in his insightful book <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Talk-Like-TED-Public-Speaking-Secrets/dp/1250041120">Talk Like TED,</a> lays it out plain:<br /><br />"In any language, on any continent, in every country, those speakers who genuinely express their passion and enthusiasm for the topic are the ones who stand apart as inspiring leaders."<br /><br />Gallo’s point is that while mastery of a particular skill gives people a “platform,” it’s the passion that undergirds that mastery that makes them “connect.” Why? Because passion is contagious. People love it.<br /><br />So, what inspires Mindy? The answer (as unlikely as it sounds) is tragedy.<br /><br />Related: <a href="http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/237362">9 Traits That Will Lead You to Success</a><br /><br />Two years ago, on the very day The Mindy Project was green lit by FOX, Mindy’s mother -- an obstetrician -- passed away from pancreatic cancer.<br /><br />However, far from undoing her, her mother’s death became fuel for the fire. As Mindy explained, “My dream is to be able to become so famous that I can actually make a difference in pancreatic cancer research.”<br /><br />In other words, rarely will our skills be coterminous with our passion. Mindy is a master at comedy. And yet it’s what lies behind her mastery -- the dream to make a difference -- that really set her apart.<br /><br />What’s yours?<div>
<br />2. Be everywhere<br /><br />You’ve heard the old adage: “Jack of all trades. Master of none.”<br /><br />Now, I’m not one to buck tradition, but in Mindy’s case, the proof’s in the pudding.<br /><br />In a recent <a href="http://www.elle.com/pop-culture/celebrities/mindy-kaling-profile-women-in-tv-2014">Elle Magazine</a> cover story, Bela Bajaria, executive vice president of Universal Television, described the staggering extent of Mindy’s on and off-set omnipresence:<br /><br />"She’s in the writer’s room, she’s on set, she’s in postproduction, she’s e-mailing studio and network executives at two in the morning. … She’s so creative, but she has an appreciation and understanding of the business part, too."<br /><br />Getting your hands dirty lies at the core of all genuine success, especially entrepreneurial successful. Such ethos is risky because it means going “out there” into the real world -- into the lives, workplaces, and trenches of the people you work with and for.<br /><br />The classic example of getting out there was Richard Anderson’s miraculous turnaround of Delta Airlines. Anderson, who took over as CEO in 2007 just two years after Delta filed for bankruptcy, credits a major portion of his success to his monthly cockpit rides with Delta’s pilots and a single two-day event in which he solicited suggestions from over 2,000 employees.<br /><br />Related: <a href="http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/237494">How to Think, Train and Thrive Like a Champion</a><br /><br />Sure being everywhere is scary. But don’t let that fear hold you back.<div>
<br />3. Be a gangster<br /><br />This wonderful nugget comes from B. J. Novak, Mindy’s one-time squeeze and current co-collaborator. “She’s a gangster,” Novak explains, “This is not a girl who waits by the phone. This is a girl who picks up the phone and calls whoever she wants.”<br /><br />Case in point, when Mindy wanted long-time friend James Franco to guest star but his schedule wouldn’t allow it, no wasn't an option.<a href="http://www.elle.com/pop-culture/celebrities/mindy-kaling-profile-women-in-tv-2014">According to Franco</a>, “She just made it happen.”<br /><br />In other words, to be successful you gotta know what you want and gotta go after it.<br /><br />It’s absolutely insane how few people can actually articulate what they want. And yet, having a clear, impassioned vision for where you want to go is the very first step in getting there. In fact, as author and consultant Warren Bennis famously wrote, “<a href="http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Warren_Bennis">Leadership is the capacity to translate vision into reality</a>.” Without vision, the people perish.<br /><br />But being a gangster means more than just knowing what you want. It also mean getting it.</div>
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<br />4. Be voracious<br /><br />Alongside her aforementioned omnipresence, Mindy is also a voracious learner.<br /><br />Related: <a href="http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/237479">The 4 Habits You Need to Be Successful</a><br /><br />As <a href="http://www.elle.com/pop-culture/celebrities/mindy-kaling-profile-women-in-tv-2014">Novak tells Elle</a>, “She has a big me-too-ism in her. She always wants to know what everyone else is doing and if that’s more fun.”<br /><br />The discipline of lifelong learning is a constant refrain among the world’s most successful people. Steve Jobs’ famous two-part takeaway from his 2005 Stanford Commencement Address captured this principle perfectly: “<a href="http://news.stanford.edu/news/2005/june15/jobs-061505.html">Stay hungry. Stay foolish</a>.”<br /><br />The problem with being successful is just that: “being.”<br /><br />As soon as you get full or get smart -- as soon as you arrive -- you’ve lost it. The key is to cultivate your hunger … and your foolishness. Always be willing to learn, to grow, to make mistakes, to admit limitations, to embrace other people’s ideas, to do what’s new and uncomfortable and to pursue humility as an end in itself.</div>
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<br />5. Be noble<br /><br />A lot can be said about Mindy’s nobility. In fact, a lot is said.<br /><br />There was her <a href="http://www.today.com/entertainment/mindy-kaling-gives-harvard-law-grads-more-laughs-advice-speech-2D79731399">epic commencement speech at Harvard Law School</a>earlier this year: “Please, just try to be the kind of people that give advice to celebrities, not the other way around.”<br /><br />There was the controversy surrounding the Elle magazine cover story: “<a href="http://www.eonline.com/news/498136/mindy-kaling-talks-elle-cover-controversy-implied-why-can-t-we-look-at-her-beautiful-fat-body">What, Elle, you can't put her big, fat body on the magazine</a>?”<br /><br />But, perhaps the best example came a few days ago when she stopped by <a href="http://live.huffingtonpost.com/r/segment/mindy-kaling-the-mindy-project-season-three/53da2a48fe3444816f0002be?ncid=edlinkushpmg00000060">HuffPost Live</a> and revealed that her character’s on-screen love interest Danny and her wouldn’t be splitting up for the sake of ratings. As Mindy explained:<br /><br />"A lot of shows I think break characters up for no reason because the show has to last for seven or eight years. We thought, no. People can still be interesting when they are together."<br /><br />While it might not seem like a big deal -- certainly not as big a deal as beauty and body image -- Mindy’s bravery to stick to her guns, to be an “artist” (even when her art is a weekly sitcom) speaks volumes about what it takes to succeed as an entrepreneur.<br /><br />As Mindy told Lena Dunham in a <a href="http://www.rollingstone.com/movies/news/lena-dunham-hilariously-candidly-interviews-mindy-kaling-20131111">Rolling Stone</a> interview:<br /><br />"I love women who are bosses and who don't constantly worry about what their employees think of them. I love women who don't ask, “Is that OK?” after everything they say. I love when women are courageous in the face of unthinkable circumstances."<br /><br />Call it credibility. Call it courage. Call it ethics. Call it a backbone. Heck call it whatever you want ...Success by any other name -- unlikely or not -- would certainly smell as sweet.<div>
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By Aaron Orendorff</div>
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Source: <a href="http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/238012" target="_blank">Entrepreneur</a></div>
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Lakeview Consultantshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16980939262033041377noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-709867292527263840.post-16188131939047343772014-09-23T12:29:00.000-04:002014-09-23T12:29:26.240-04:00Why You Should Never Wear Orange To An Interview<span style="font-size: large;">Why You Should Never Wear Orange To An Interview:</span><br />Why Your Brown "Power Suit" Could Be Making You Look Passive, Why You Should Ditch Navy If You're In A Creative Field And Never Wear Orange<br /><br />Color has a lot of power. It can calm you, make you hungry, and even put you in the mood for love, color psychologists say. But can it get you a job?<br /><br />While it won’t make up for lack of experience or qualifications, wearing the right color can start you off on the right foot during an interview, according to a recent study by Harris Interactive for CareerBuilder. <a href="http://www.careerbuilder.com/share/aboutus/pressreleasesdetail.aspx?sd=11/21/2013&id=pr791&ed=12/31/2013">A survey of hiring managers</a> and human resource professionals revealed that employers associate personality attributes with the colors candidates wear to job interviews.<br /><br />For example: <br /><br />Black conveys leadership.<br />Red was a color of power.<br />Blue gives the impression that the person is a team player.<br />Gray reads as logical and analytical.<br />White gives the feeling of being organized.<br />Green, yellow, orange and purple are associated with creativity.<br /><br /><br />“In terms of projection, your appearance tells more about you than what you say or how you say it,” <a href="http://www.yourstyleworks.com/">says New York image and style expert Carol Davidson</a>. “And out of all of the elements of your wardrobe, color speaks first.”<br /><br />In addition to polishing your resume and interview skills, selecting the right clothing is an important element of finding a new job. The best color to choose depends on the industry, says Davidson, who teaches a class about wardrobe color planning at New York’s Fashion <a href="http://www.fastcompany.com/organization/institute-of-technology">Institute of Technology</a>. Before you grab a garment from your closet, consult this list of popular clothing colors:<br /><br /><div>
DON'T WEAR NAVY IN AN INTERVIEW FOR A CREATIVE JOB<br />Navy sends a message of being enterprising, trustworthy, honest, and credible, says Davidson. It’s a great choice for industries like law or <a href="http://www.fastcompany.com/explore/finance">finance</a>. If you’re interviewing for a more creative environment, however, it could be considered too conservative.<br /><br />Employers from the CareerBuilder survey recommended blue most often, with 23% of hiring professionals identifying it as their most preferred wardrobe color choice.</div>
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WEAR BLACK IF YOU ARE INTERVIEWING FOR A MANAGEMENT JOB<br />Black is an extremely strong color and is highest on the authority scale, says Davidson. “Most people figure that’s a good thing, but for a first interview you don’t want to run the risk of overpowering the person in front of you,” she says.<br /><br />If you are interviewing for position where you would be in charge or if you’re demure in your appearance, however, Davidson says black could be a great choice. Fifteen percent of the employers from the CareerBuilder survey recommended wearing black.</div>
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YOU PROBABLY SHOULD AVOID BROWN ALL TOGETHER<br />Polar opposite to black, Davidson says brown conveys the message that you’re simple and slow to change. In fact, she doesn’t recommend wearing this color to an interview in any industry.<br /><br />”Like every color, brown does have some positive attributes; it can read comforting and reliable,” she says. “But in an industry that is fast-paced and innovative it may give the impression you’re staid and passive.”</div>
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<br />GRAY IS GOOD FOR ANY INDUSTRY<br />A great choice to wear on an interview for any industry is gray, says Davidson. “Gray sends a message of being rock solid, wise and reliable,” she says.<br /><br />Since gray also reads a bit more understated, Davidson suggests adding a bolder accent color depending on the industry. For example, someone applying for a job at an advertising agency might add a red scarf, yellow shirt or purple tie to add a bit of personality and flair.<br /></div>
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RED MIGHT BE A BIT TOO MUCH<br />Red comes across as bold and assertive, and Davidson advises against wearing it for an interview. In many industries it can come off too strong.<br /><br />“Red can send less favorable messages about the candidate--that he or she is domineering, rebellious and obstinate, for example,” she says. “There is a fine line between assertive and aggressive, and red is a risky choice for an interview. That said the feisty quality of this color might be well-suited in sales or law.”<br /></div>
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WANT TO APPEAR THAT YOU HAVE ATTENTION TO DETAIL? WEAR WHITE<br />In contrast to red, white is a reassuring color that can convey a feeling of new beginnings, impartiality, cleanliness and purity.<br /><br />“It’s 'immaculate' quality can suggest an attention to detail and therefore makes it a good choice for an interview,” she says. While you probably don’t want to wear white suite, a crisp white shirt is appropriate for any industry.<br /></div>
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PUT THE INTERVIEWER AT EASE WITH GREEN, SEND THE MESSAGE THAT YOU'RE UNIQUE WITH PURPLE OR YELLOW, BUT PLEASE DON'T WEAR ORANGE<br /><br />Green is a color often associated with a sense of calm and wellbeing, as well as wealth and prosperity. Davidson says it’s a good choice for an accent color as it will not only put the interviewer at ease, it will send a message of possibility and growth.<br /><br />For more creative environments, Davidson suggests wearing a color that pops such as purple or yellow: “Purple sends a message of being artistic and unique, while yellow signifies optimism and creativity,” she says.<br /><br />Orange, however, topped the CareerBuilder list for the worst color, with 25% of employers saying it was the color most likely to be associated with someone who is unprofessional.<br /></div>
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LIGHT AND DARK<br />No matter which color you choose, Davidson says you should also consider its tone. “All colors can be scaled from authoritative to approachable,” she says.<br /><br />Dark colors are perceived as formal and authoritative, while light colors make the wearer appear more friendly and approachable. Bright colors convey confidence while muted colors are conservative and less threatening.<br /><br />And contrasting colors can send a message, too: “The higher degree of contrast--wearing black and white, or navy and white, for example--the more powerful you will appear,” Davidson says. “The lower the degree of contrast, the more approachable and friendly you seem.”<br /><br />By Stephanie Vozza</div>
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Link: <a href="http://www.fastcompany.com/3036012/how-to-be-a-success-at-everything/why-you-should-never-wear-orange-to-an-interview" target="_blank">Fast Company</a></div>
Lakeview Consultantshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16980939262033041377noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-709867292527263840.post-91479011770739789192014-08-28T13:00:00.003-04:002014-08-28T13:00:58.072-04:00How To Stop Putting Things Off And Make Yourself Get To Work<div class="p1">
<span style="font-size: large;">How To Stop Putting Things Off And Make Yourself Get To Work</span></div>
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No more excuses: Stop procrastinating and get to work with these tips</div>
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One of the biggest problems you need to solve if you work for yourself is how to make yourself do work.</div>
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The best entrepreneurs have figured it out and just pound out the work they need to do.</div>
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But many others put off their dream careers, or stay in jobs they like, because they’re afraid to figure this out. Being in a job, or staying in college, means that you have someone else imposing work and deadlines on you, and you’ll get fired (or dropped from school) if you don’t do the work. So you put off doing the work until you can’t anymore because of the fear of being fired.</div>
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What does this say about us? It’s saying that we can’t trust ourselves enough to figure out how to motivate ourselves. I know, because I was in this boat for many years. It wasn’t until I started to learn to solve this problem that I found the courage to work for myself.</div>
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It’s solvable. It’s not easy, but it’s doable. And you can do it just as much as I can--I’m no superman, trust me. I feel lazy, I procrastinate, I fear failure, just like anyone else. But I’ve learned a few things that work for me.</div>
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What works for you will be different, but here are some ideas I use that might help:</div>
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<b>SHOW UP</b></div>
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If you need to write, the main thing you need to do is just to sit down in front of your text editor. If you start cleaning the house, or watch some videos, or read stuff online, to put off the moment when you have to start to write, then you’re never going to write. Instead, show up. The rest will come.</div>
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<b>THINK ABOUT WHO YOU’RE HELPING</b></div>
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Sure, there’s a lot of fear involved in doing hard work. But when you look at the fear you’re only looking at the downside. What about the upside? By showing up and working, you’re going to help someone. I think about readers who might need what I have learned. But sometimes you’re just helping yourself, building a new career or business. And that’s okay--you’re a person deserving of that help, and that’s a worthy endeavor.</div>
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<b>RUTHLESSLY CARVE OUT THE SPACE</b></div>
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You’re too busy? Bullshit. Make the time if it’s important. Stop watching TV, reading news, browsing things online, looking at <a href="http://www.fastcompany.com/explore/social-media">social media</a>, saying yes to other people’s requests, going to lunches, get out of being the head of those committees, whatever. Carve out the time. Put it on your calendar daily and make it happen. Make that time sacred, and don’t let anything interfere. You have to be incredibly ruthless to make this happen, but you can do it.</div>
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<b>DO THE SMALLEST POSSIBLE STEP</b></div>
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Yes, I mean smallest possible. That doesn’t mean, “Write the first section of that report” … it means, “Go to your computer and open a document.” Or “Get up off the couch.” Or “Write one word.” Call that a success. Trust me, if you can take that first tiny step, the next step is a little easier. Get over the initial hurdle by making that hurdle as low as possible, and then keep clearing really easy hurdles until you’re an unstoppable force of nature.</div>
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<b>LET YOURSELF FEEL THE FEAR</b></div>
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We tend to not want to be afraid, and so we think about anything else. We don’t admit the fear to ourselves until we have to. Well, it’s time--you have to. Admit that you’re afraid, and see that that’s okay. We’re all afraid. I certainly am, all the time. It’s perfectly okay to be afraid--let yourself feel it. Be open to the feeling of fear, be present with it, really experience it. See where it’s coming from. What scenarios have you imagined that cause you to be afraid? Are those scenarios real? What would you do if they happened? Could you survive? I bet you could.</div>
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<b>COMMIT TO OTHERS</b></div>
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Social motivation is probably the most powerful motivation there is. If you’re having trouble, ask a friend for help. Ask for some accountability. Give yourself a consequence if you fail. Don’t fail. You can do this.</div>
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You can make yourself work even if you’re afraid.</div>
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You can ruthlessly make the time, take the smallest step, feel the fear and overcome it, find inspiration in the people you’re going to help. You can show up.</div>
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<i>This article </i><a href="http://zenhabits.net/do-it/"><i>originally appeared</i></a><i> in Zen Habits and is reprinted with permission.</i></div>
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By Leo Babauta</div>
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Source: <a href="http://www.fastcompany.com/3034946/hit-the-ground-running/how-to-stop-putting-things-off-and-make-yourself-get-to-work?utm_campaign=home&utm_source=tumblr&utm_medium=exchange&partner=tumblr" target="_blank">Fast Company</a></div>
Lakeview Consultantshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16980939262033041377noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-709867292527263840.post-39747583010572164782014-08-15T12:19:00.001-04:002014-08-15T12:19:31.408-04:005 Simple Ways To Bring Out The Best In Your People<span style="font-size: large;">5 Simple Ways To Bring Out The Best In Your People</span><br />It’s something all managers want to do, yet, as every manager knows, it’s easier said than done: bringing out the best in your people. How often as managers are we frustrated by chronic employee under-performance? <a href="http://www.gallup.com/strategicconsulting/163007/state-american-workplace.aspx">Studies</a> routinely show that an unacceptably high number up of employees – up to 70 percent – are disengaged, emotionally disconnected from their companies. Yet the most effective <a href="http://www.forbes.com/management/">management</a> is often the simplest and most basic. All five of these management tips have a common cost: nothing.<br /><br />“Tone at the top” – Lead in a way that makes it easy for others to want to follow. Setting the right example by your own business behavior – your own evenhandedness and ethics – makes it easy for your employees to respect you. Nobody wants to follow somebody they don’t respect, yet they’re eager to follow those they do. It’s always surprised me how often management doesn’t play by the same rules they ask others to – when setting a fine example costs nothing and only breeds productivity.<br /><br />Take a sincere interest in the course of their careers –<a href="http://www.towerswatson.com/en/Insights/IC-Types/Ad-hoc-Point-of-View/Perspectives/2014/tracking-people-priorities-and-trends-in-high-performance-companies?utm_source=TWTwitter&utm_medium=TWTweet&utm_campaign=TWTweet">Studies</a> show that high-performing companies routinely motivate their people by emphasizing career development. Any manager can too, easily. It’s human nature and only makes sense. All employees at all organizational levels are keenly interested in the course of their own careers. Showing genuine interest in helping employees gain the skills they need to succeed is a solid way to build lasting loyalty.<br /><br />Ambitious but not unrealistic expectations – Both in formal job objectives and informal day-today managerial expectations, you want to set targets that stretch your employees but are attainable. Let them know you have high (but not unreasonable) standards, and at all times expect excellence. Competence breeds confidence, and successfully achieving ambitious goals motivates them to do it again.<br /><br />Provide honest insightful feedback on a regular basis – The key word here is “honest.” As in candid feedback traveling in two directions – positive and negative, up and down… feedback that neither ducks the hard stuff nor ignores the positive stuff. If employees aren’t receiving regular feedback, how will they know if they’re doing well or need to course-correct? How can they give their best if it’s not completely clear what their best looks like?<br /><br />Get to know who your people are - If you want to bring out the best in your employees, you have to, at least to some extent, understand them. Gain a basic understanding of what interests them, what bothers them, what they care about, what motivates them. Is it money, respect, praise, a bigger office, or a chance to spend more time with the kids? There are a multitude of possibilities. The better you know your people, the better chance you’ll have to pull the right managerial levers.<br /><br />I’ll be the first to admit nothing on this list is inordinately complex. But just because something is common sense doesn’t mean it’s commonly practiced. The best managers are insightful and employee-centric. They understand their employees, and know that bringing out the best in them – to ultimately drive positive business results – is the absolute best thing they can do as a manager.<div>
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By Victor Lipman</div>
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Source: <a href="http://www.forbes.com/sites/victorlipman/2014/08/14/management-tip-5-simple-ways-to-bring-out-the-best-in-your-people/?utm_campaign=forbeslinkedin&utm_source=linkedin&utm_medium=social" target="_blank">Forbes</a></div>
Lakeview Consultantshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16980939262033041377noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-709867292527263840.post-84424786904372814822014-08-07T11:15:00.002-04:002014-08-07T11:15:22.379-04:003 Things Failing Miserably Teaches You About Leadership <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.9em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: Vollkorn, Times New Roman; font-size: large;"><span style="letter-spacing: -0.1599999964237213px; line-height: 24px;">3 Things Failing Miserably Teaches You About Leadership</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Vollkorn, Times New Roman;"><span style="letter-spacing: -0.1599999964237213px; line-height: 24px;"><i>Skip the painful process of falling flat on your face, and learn these important lessons from one CEO who has stumbled badly.</i></span></span></div>
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You've no doubt been told countless times to <a href="http://www.inc.com/jessica-stillman/3-steps-to-uproot-your-fear-of-failure.html" style="border: 0px; color: #009cd8; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">stop fearing failure</a> and accept it as a growing experience and precondition of innovation and accomplishment. It's a popular mantra, but in a world filled with corporate <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cover_your_ass" style="border: 0px; color: #009cd8; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">CYA</a> and zealous reputation management, examples of it in practice are pretty light on the ground. But there is one standout example: <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Altucher" style="border: 0px; color: #009cd8; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">meet James Altucher</a>.</div>
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A serial entrepreneur who has started 20 companies (17 of which failed), Altucher has built a massive following by <a href="http://www.jamesaltucher.com/2011/06/16-failures-out-of-17-attempts/" style="border: 0px; color: #009cd8; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">admitting in detail all the incredible ways he's screwed up</a>. But reading Altucher's work isn't all about reveling in another's missteps. He's also a generous giver of advice on <a href="http://www.jamesaltucher.com/2011/06/suicide-and-13-other-ways-to-deal-with-failure/" style="border: 0px; color: #009cd8; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">what all that failing has taught him</a>.</div>
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Take, for example, a recent in-depth answer he wrote to the question, "<a href="http://www.quora.com/Leadership/What-is-the-most-important-thing-you-have-learned-about-leadership" style="border: 0px; color: #009cd8; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">What is the most important thing you have learned about leadership?</a>" on question-and-answer site Quora. In his response he once again admits his shortcomings. "They fired me as CEO. Then they fired me as a board member," he writes. "The reason? I was a bad leader. Here are some things I didn't know about my own company: I didn't know what our product did. I didn't know any of the clients. I didn't know how much money we made. I didn't know how much we lost. And I had crushes on the secretaries and maybe two or ten other employees."</div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.5em;">But he doesn't stop there. Altucher also goes on to share what his failure actually taught him about </span><a href="http://www.inc.com/jessica-stillman/the-incredibly-boring-trait-that-all-great-leaders-need.html" style="border: 0px; color: #009cd8; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">leadership</a><span style="letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.5em;">, offering up 10 lessons he took away from these experiences. That's handy as a practical illustration that all those touting the educational value of failure might be on to something, but better yet, it offers entrepreneurs hard-won knowledge without actually having to walk Altucher's painful path. Here are a few examples:</span></div>
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<b style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 0.8em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">1. Yes, and...</b></h2>
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Saying no is easy. Far more difficult than shooting down ideas is <a href="http://www.inc.com/jessica-stillman/can-creativity-really-be-taught.html" style="border: 0px; color: #009cd8; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">encouraging creativity</a> and drawing out better ones. In order to do this you need to <a href="http://www.inc.com/magazine/201404/adam-bluestein/companies-use-improv-to-boost-creativity.html" style="border: 0px; color: #009cd8; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">take a page from improv comedians</a>and learn to tame your knee-jerk, "No!" response to innovative suggestions. You need to get better at fielding ideas and improving them. You need to <a href="http://99u.com/articles/7183/the-yes-and-approach-less-ego-more-openness-more-possibility" style="border: 0px; color: #009cd8; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">develop the habit of responding with "Yes, and</a><span style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline;">..."</span> Altucher lays out his bullet-pointed suggestions for a better way to give constructive criticism:</div>
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<li style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 25px; list-style: disc outside none; margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">"Yes, and"</li>
<li style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 25px; list-style: disc outside none; margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">List what's good</li>
<li style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 25px; list-style: disc outside none; margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">How you would improve</li>
<li style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 25px; list-style: disc outside none; margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Figure out the vision that is the base of the idea that you are talking about.</li>
<li style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 25px; list-style: disc outside none; margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Connect the "Why" of what you are suggesting to the initial vision. Does it work better than the initial idea?</li>
<li style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 25px; list-style: disc outside none; margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="http://www.inc.com/jessica-stillman/5-steps-to-a-truly-open-minded-debate.html" style="border: 0px; color: #009cd8; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">Be open to the fact that you might be wrong</a>. ALWAYS ALWAYS you might be wrong.</li>
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There are limits to how many people any individual human can build meaningful connections with (your 600 Facebook friends notwithstanding). Altucher calls this the 30/150 rule: below 30 people you're a tribe; from 30 to 150 you can know of everyone by reputation at least; after 150 forget about personal connections entirely. So what ties together organizations as they grow past this 150-person barrier? Stories.</div>
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"We united with each other by telling stories," Altucher writes. "If two people believe in the same story they might be thousands of miles apart and total strangers but they still have a sense they can trust each other." Leaders need to leverage this truth by telling visionary stories such as "we are delivering the best service because... We are helping people in unique ways because... A good story, like any story ever told, starts with a problem, goes through the painful process of solving the problem, and has a solution that is better than anything ever seen before."</div>
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When you're past the point of listening to and taking care of every employee individually,<a href="http://www.inc.com/jessica-stillman/a-storytelling-guide-for-those-who-stink-at-storytelling.html" style="border: 0px; color: #009cd8; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">telling these sorts of unifying stories</a> is essential for a leader. "Companies live and die on this," Altucher insists.</div>
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<b style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 0.8em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">3. Lead Yourself</b></h2>
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Altucher isn't the only leadership expert who makes the incredibly essential but all-too-frequently overlooked point: You're unfit to lead others until you're pretty good at <a href="http://www.inc.com/jessica-stillman/leader-one.html" style="border: 0px; color: #009cd8; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">leading yourself</a>. So before you develop lofty aspirations of guiding others, make sure you've done the necessary work on yourself.</div>
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"Before I can lead anyone I have to lead myself. I have to read. I have to try and improve one percent a week. I have a handful of interests and I have a lot of experience. I have to get better at the things I'm interested in. I have to understand more deeply the painful experiences I've had, I have to every day practice the health: physical emotional mental spiritual, that I suggest to everyone else," he writes.</div>
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<em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">What leadership lessons have you taken away from your failures?<br /></em></div>
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Source: <a href="http://www.inc.com/jessica-stillman/3-things-failing-miserably-teaches-you-about-leadership.html" target="_blank">Inc.</a></div>
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By Jessica Stillman</div>
Lakeview Consultantshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16980939262033041377noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-709867292527263840.post-17233809359107164602014-06-09T15:05:00.002-04:002014-06-09T15:05:43.569-04:008 Entrepreneurial Qualities That Contribute To Success
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<span style="font-size: large;">8 Entrepreneurial Qualities That Contribute To Success</span></div>
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There are entrepreneurs who are extremely successful and everything they touch seems to turn to gold, and there are some that do not see as much success. What are the deciding factors that separate those that crank home run after home run and those that struggle at the plate?</div>
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While the majority of entrepreneurs have no problem working hard, not all work smart and possess the following entrepreneurial qualities responsible for driving success.</div>
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<b>1. Not being afraid of delegating tasks. </b>As entrepreneurs, we tend to always have a full plate and feel that we can take on any task. In reality, if we keep adding to the already-full plate it is eventually going to collapse and create a mess. Don't be afraid to delegate tasks to an experienced member of your company that has the ability to get tasks completed.</div>
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<b>2. Managing time effectively. </b>Proper time management is necessary to distinguish between extremely urgent tasks and those that can wait. Use a notebook or whiteboard to prioritize your tasks by writing them down. Mobile devices and tablets have calendars and notepads, but nothing is more effective than actually writing down your "to-do" list. Focus on one task at a time and don't let new "to-do's" disrupt your focus. Knock them out one at a time.</div>
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<b>3. Visualizing goals and success. </b>You need to see your goals and success in your mind first if you plan on making them a reality. Not only do you need to visualize the end result, but you also need to visualize every step that it is going to take to get there. Napoleon Hill said it best: "<i>What the mind can conceive and believe it can achieve.</i>"</div>
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<b>4. Listening and communicating well. </b>If you aren't a good listener and communicator it will result in miscommunications and wasted time, not to mention added work to correct the miscommunications. Time is one thing that all entrepreneurs would like more of. How often have you wished there was more hours in a day? Avoid wasting priceless time repeating and redoing tasks due to poor communication.</div>
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<b>5. Understanding your time is valuable. </b>While it would be great to be able to give everyone the time that they wanted, it would leave you with little to no time to accomplish the things that you need to get done. If a sales representative has a question, they should address it with the sales manager. If a customer has a question they should be speaking with your customer-care representative. While people might demand your time, it doesn't mean that you have to grant them the time. Your time is valuable, so don't waste it on disruptions that should be handled by other members of your organization.</div>
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<b>6. Seeking help when you need it. </b>We often let our stubbornness prevent us from asking for help. Have you ever been stumped and someone comes along with the answer and you think, "Why in the world didn't I think of that?" Often times a clear mind and different viewpoint can quickly solve a problem or provide an answer to a question. Don't be afraid to ask for help when you need it, as it can also help to strengthen the communication within your organization.</div>
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<b>7. Getting out of the office. </b>As an entrepreneur, you have probably spent several 18-hour days behind your computer or worked through the night late at your office until the sun came back up. It is important to break your day up, for both your physical and mental health. Take a few breaks throughout the day and walk around the office or take a walk outside to clear your head and give your eyes a break from the computer. Leave your office for lunch, even if you bring it — go eat outside and get some fresh air. Want to jumpstart your day and have healthy energy throughout the day? Go to the gym bright and early before you hit the office every morning and get a good workout in. You will have a clear mind, abundant energy and improved mental focus.</div>
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<b>8. Giving back. </b>It is important to understand how lucky we are, as entrepreneurs, to do what we love. When you are appreciative of what you have accomplished and then take a step back to see what you can do to give back, it gives you a feeling like no other. My company helps several 501(c)(3) organizations with their <a href="http://www.marketdominationmedia.com/nonprofit-marketing/?utm_content=&utm_medium=email&utm_source=Triggermail&nr_email_referer=1"><span class="s1">nonprofit marketing</span></a> each year. Helping several nonprofits that support causes I believe in is a great feeling. "<i>You can have everything in life you want, if you will just help other people get what they want,</i>" said Zig Ziglar.</div>
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Nobody said being an entrepreneur is an easy thing to do, and while these qualities will not translate into automatic success, they sure can help.</div>
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By Jonathan Long</div>
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Source: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/8-qualities-that-contribute-to-success-2014-6?utm_content=&utm_medium=email&utm_source=alerts&nr_email_referer=1" target="_blank">Inc.</a></div>
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Lakeview Consultantshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16980939262033041377noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-709867292527263840.post-3962632080136214092014-06-04T14:41:00.001-04:002014-06-04T14:41:25.280-04:00All Entrepreneurs Need to Tell These 6 Stories<h3 style="border: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 0.8em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
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<span style="font-size: large; font-weight: normal;">Think you've got your pitch down cold? Good for you, but your work isn't over.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Vollkorn, Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: -0.1599999964237213px; line-height: 24px;">All Entrepreneurs Need to Tell These 6 Stories</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;">You may have one story down, but you've got five more to go, says Eileen Gittins, the CEO of Blurb. Gittins was speaking at the Dell Women Entrepreneurship Conference in Austin on Monday.</span></div>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;">Gittins' company started out as a way for people to make well-designed photo books in somewhat less than an eon. Since then, Blurb has grown into a popular platform for e-books, publishing about 7,000 titles a day and reeling in about $100 million in revenues a year.</span></div>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;">As Blurb grew, Gittins learned how important it was for her customers to believe there were real live people behind it, and to trust in them. Blurb has no retail stores and no salespeople--it was all about the computer screen. Gittins found that storytelling was key to developing her brand and her culture, and came to believe that all entrepreneurs have to be able to tell these six stories.</span></div>
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1. The pitch.</h3>
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The first story, says Gittins, is the pitch, which she calls "the story to get you started." You tell what you are doing, what you have on offer, and why the person listening should care about you. Gittins must have a good one--she's raised $80 million in venture funding, and, as she puts it, "kissed so many VC frogs I don't even remember their names."</div>
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2. The story about your company.</h3>
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This tells what you do, why you do it, and what distinguishes you in the marketplace.</div>
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3. A personal story.</h3>
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"A personal story can advance your business more than you can imagine," Gittins said. Her company has an all-hands meeting every month: "I get the engineers to show up at 8:30, which is an act of god," she said.</div>
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At those meetings, each department nominates someone to tell a story of something that happened recently in the business. It can be of success, failure, or something in between. The stories help build trust between colleagues. And, Gittins says, and at some point, "People don’t want to hear from you. What they really want to do is hear from the guy who runs customer support or the CEO's assistant. Those tend to be the personal stories."</div>
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4. The catalyst story.</h3>
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This is the most important one, said Gittins. The form is predictable: There's a hero, there are obstacles, the hero overcomes the obstacles, and all is sweetness and light. But the use of this story is anything but: "One of the great things about the catalyst story is it's a great way to help your people understand some of the change you want to surface at your company," Gittins said.</div>
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"We started in the world of personal publishing, where you make a photobook for your mom or the people you know. Now we're doing self-publishing, and if people aren't authors they don't understand it."</div>
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The catalyst story, she says, needs to be specific as to date and time. And by the time it's over, it should be obvious to everyone in the audience what would have happened without the catalyst.</div>
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5. The branding story.</h3>
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At a small company, this story may rely heavily on the founder’s own story.</div>
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6. 'The vision thing.'</h3>
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"This is the biggest possible vision of where your company can go," says Gittins. And it often starts out a bit like a children’s story: "Once upon a time…" or "Imagine a world where…"</div>
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One of her favorite variations on "the vision thing" is to imagine the characteristics of the hypothetical company that would put her out of business tomorrow. Once you've done that, she says, "you've just defined the vision for what you need to do to pre-empt that from happening."</div>
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By Kimberly Weisul</div>
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Source <a href="http://www.inc.com/kimberly-weisul/all-entrepreneurs-need-to-tell-these-six-stories.html" target="_blank">Inc.</a></div>
Lakeview Consultantshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16980939262033041377noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-709867292527263840.post-70641396014057583382014-05-07T12:51:00.001-04:002014-05-07T12:51:50.379-04:0014 Tactics for Reading People's Body Language<br /><span style="font-size: large;">14 Tactics for Reading People's Body Language</span><br /><br />Whether someone's lying to you, hitting on you, or bossing you around, you can read their intent and emotional state in their <a href="http://www.inc.com/john-treace/guide-body-language-negotiation.html">body language</a>--if you know what to pay attention to. <br /><br /><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/whats-more-important-body-language-tone-of-voice-or-what-you-actually-say-2012-6">According to UCLA professor Albert Mehrabian</a>, 55 percent of what you convey comes from<a href="http://www.inc.com/11-body-language-essentials-for-your-next-negotiation.html">body language</a>, 38 percent from the tone of your voice, and only seven percent from the words you say. <br /><br />So how do read between the lines? We've compiled tips from <a href="http://www.psychologytoday.com/collections/201106/how-read-people">Psychology Today</a>, research journals, and other publications to help you understand what people are telling you, far beyond their words. <br /><br /><div>
1. Look for a lack of crinkles around the eyes to detect a fake smile.<br /><br />Making a genuine smile--also known as a Duchenne smile--is nearly impossible to do on command. It's why family photos tend to look so awkward. <br /><br />The smile, it turns out, is all about the crow's-feet around your eyes. When you're smiling joyfully, they crinkle. <a href="http://lifehacker.com/5852572/how-to-read-and-utilize-body-language-to-reveal-the-truth-in-almost-any-situation">When you're faking it, they don't</a>. <br /><br />If someone's trying to look happy but really isn't, you won't see the wrinkles.<br /></div>
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2. Raised eyebrows are often a sign of discomfort.<br /><br />In the same way that real smiles shape the wrinkles around your eyes, <a href="http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/fulfillment-any-age/201206/the-ultimate-guide-body-language">University of Massachusetts professor Susan Krauss Whitbourne</a> says worry, surprise, or fear can cause people to raise their eyebrows in discomfort. <br /><br />So if someone compliments your new hairstyle or outfit with their eyebrows raised, it may not be sincere.<br /></div>
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3. If their voice goes up or down, they're likely interested.<br /><br />Whether you know it or not, your vocal range shows your interest.<br /><br />"Once a conversation begins, besotted women slip into sing-songy voices," <a href="http://www.psychologytoday.com/collections/201301/how-read-people/making-sense-strangers">Psychology Today reports</a>, "while men drop theirs an octave." <br /></div>
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4. If they mirror your body language, the conversation is probably going well.<br /><br />When two people are getting along, their postures and movements mirror each other's. When your best friend crosses her legs, you will, too. If you're on a date that's going well, you'll both be making the same goofy hand gestures. <br /><br />This is because we mirror each other when we're feeling a connection, <a href="http://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/2013/01/28/love-2-0-barbara-fredrickson/">says</a> positive psychologist Barbara Fredrickson.<br /></div>
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5. Eye contact shows interest--both positive and negative.<br /><br />When you look at someone in the eyes, it sets an arousal state in the body. <br /><br />"How that arousal is interpreted, however, depends on the parties involved and the circumstances," <a href="http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/cutting-edge-leadership/201404/5-secret-powers-eye-contact">writes</a> Claremont McKenna College organizational psychologist Ronald E. Riggio. "Being stared at by a stranger who appears large or ominous can be seen as a threat and elicit a fear response ... However, the gaze of a potential sexual partner causes arousal that can be interpreted positively--as a sexual invitation." <br /></div>
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6. But if they look into your eyes for too long, they might be lying.<br /><br />In an attempt to avoid looking shifty-eyed, some liars will purposefully hold their gaze a touch too long, so that it's slightly uncomfortable. <br /><br />They may also <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/11-signs-someone-is-lying-2014-4#!IPkbl">stand very still and not blink</a>.<br /></div>
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7. An expansive pose signals power and a sense of achievement.<br /><br />How people hold themselves is a big clue as to how they're feeling. <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/harvard-amy-cuddy-power-pose-research-2012-10">Harvard professor Amy Cuddy</a> finds that expansive poses increase testosterone and confidence. If they're leaning back and relaxed, they feel powerful and in control. Similarly, <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/Research%20shows%20that%20even%20people%20born%20blind%20raise%20their%20arms%20in%20a%20V%20shape%20and%20lift%20their%20chins%20slightly%20when%20they%20win%20a%20physical%20competition.">r</a><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/Research%20shows%20that%20even%20people%20born%20blind%20raise%20their%20arms%20in%20a%20V%20shape%20and%20lift%20their%20chins%20slightly%20when%20they%20win%20a%20physical%20competition.">esearch shows</a> that even people born blind raise their arms in a V shape and lift their chins slightly when they win a physical competition.<br /><br />On the other hand, a low-power pose--seen when someone closes up and wraps their arms around themselves--increases cortisol, a stress hormone. <br /></div>
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8. Crossed legs are usually a sign of resistance and low receptivity, and are a bad sign in a negotiation.<br /><br /><a href="http://au.businessinsider.com/what-body-language-tells-you-a-negotiation-is-going-terribly-2012-9">Out of 2,000 negotiations</a> videotaped by Gerard I. Nierenberg and Henry H. Calero, the authors of "<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0757003141/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0757003141&linkCode=as2&tag=spacforrent-20">How to Read a Person Like a Book</a>," there wasn't a single settlement when one of the negotiators had their legs crossed. <br /><br />Psychologically, crossed legs signal that a person is mentally, emotionally, and physically closed off--which may mean they're less likely to budge in a negotiation.<br /></div>
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9. A "cluster" of gestures shows a real feeling of connection.<br /><br />Attraction isn't communicated through one signal but a sequence.<br /><br />Neuropsychologist Marsha Lucas <a href="http://www.psychologytoday.com/collections/201301/how-read-people/making-sense-strangers">has a good one to watch for</a>: "After making eye contact, she looks down a bit, gathers or otherwise preens her hair, and then looks up at you while her chin is tipped."<br /></div>
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10. If they're laughing with you, they're probably into you.<br /><br />If someone is receptive to your humor, they're likely interested in you.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.mysmu.edu/faculty/normanli/Lietal2009.pdf">Evolutionary psychologists say</a> that humor plays a pivotal role in human development. It serves as a way of signaling a desire for a relationship, be it platonic or romantic.<br /></div>
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11. A clenched jaw, tightened neck, or furrowed brow shows stress.<br /><br />All these are "limbic responses" associated with the limbic system in the brain. <br /><br />"Emotion, spotting and reacting to threats, as well as assuring our survival, are all heavy responsibilities of the limbic system," <a href="http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/spycatcher/200910/the-key-understanding-body-language">says</a> former FBI counterintelligence agent Joe Navarro. "The bus leaves without us, and we are clenching our jaws, rubbing our necks. We are asked to work another weekend, and the orbits of our eyes narrow as our chin lowers."<br /><br />Humans have been displaying discomfort this way for millions of years, Navarro says.<br /></div>
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12. Expansive, authoritative postures show leadership. <br /><br />Whether they're innate or learned, there are a number of signals and behaviors people use when they feel that they're a leader, or at least are trying to convince you that they are.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/what-body-language-best-signals-leadership-2012-11">They include</a> holding an erect posture, walking purposefully, steepling and palm-down hand gestures, and generally open and expansive body postures. <br /></div>
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13. A shaking leg signals a shaky inner state.<br /><br />"Your legs are the largest area of your body," University of Massachusetts professor Susan Whitbourne <a href="http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/fulfillment-any-age/201206/the-ultimate-guide-body-language">says</a>, "so when they move, it's pretty hard for others not to notice." <br /><br />A shaky leg signals anxiety, irritation, or both, she says. <br /></div>
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14. Crossed arms can signal defensiveness, depending on the context.<br /><br />It's easy to seize on body-language cues, but it's important to <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/4-secrets-to-reading-body-language-like-an-expert-2012-10">be aware of the context</a>. While crossed arms typically indicate that someone is closed off, people are also more likely to cross their arms when it's cold and when their chair doesn't have an armrest. <br /><br />Be aware of the environment before making a decision or changing strategy based on these types of behaviors.<br /><br />By Drake Baer and Max Nisen, Business Insider<div style="border: 0px; font-family: Vollkorn, 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0.9em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Source: <a href="http://www.inc.com/drake-baer-max-nisen/tactics-for-reading-body-language.html?cid=readmore" target="_blank">Inc.</a></div>
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Lakeview Consultantshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16980939262033041377noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-709867292527263840.post-15560264102445588082014-04-29T15:20:00.000-04:002014-04-29T15:20:28.104-04:00A Crash Course in Leadership For 20-Something CEO's<br /><span style="font-size: large;">A CRASH COURSE IN LEADERSHIP FOR 20-SOMETHING CEOS, FIVE ESSENTIAL LESSONS FOR TODAY'S CROP OF YOUNG LEADERS.</span><div>
<br />Traditionally, leaders spent 20 or more years rising through the ranks before they made it to the corner office. But we’re seeing a rise in CEOs in their 20s and 30s, who either founded their own company or rose quickly through the ranks of an established organization.<br /><br />Discussions on the topic of 20- and 30- something CEOs usually focus on the creativity of youth, versus experience gained through decades on the job. But these attributes aren’t mutually exclusive.<br /><br />As a father of two sons, I approach giving advice to any young person with some trepidation. But after four decades at Deloitte, I have unique insight into the factors that determine whether a senior leader of any age sinks or swims.<br /><br />1. LISTEN TO THE RIGHT PEOPLE. IGNORE THE REST.<br /><br />Younger CEOs need a whole lot of confidence in themselves and their mission. You likely have very few resources. And there’s a good chance you’re going to fail.<br /><br />It’s a fact; some people won’t understand your vision. Some people will think they’re being helpful by telling you to give up. At the same time, mentors will never be more important in your career than they are right now. Mentors help us look at problems differently, and see things in us that we can’t see ourselves.<br /><br />One of my most important mentors was instrumental in pushing me out of my comfort zone and opening my eyes to the possibilities for my career. Every young leader needs someone like that.<br /><br />2. BE TOUGH ON PROBLEMS, NOT ON PEOPLE.<br /><br />CEOs need to be resilient and have the courage to make difficult decisions. But some leaders can make the mistake of being “tough” not just on the problems facing their business, but also their people.<br /><br />To foster long term respect––with their people, their clients, and their management team––20- and 30-something CEOs need to inspire, rather than terrify. This isn’t being “soft.” The tone you set will reverberate through the culture of your organization. I remember a time when a client was upset with how a particular situation had been handled. Losing my cool or raising my voice with the team responsible wasn’t going to do anything to help the issue at hand.<br /><br />Instead, I worked side-by-side with the leaders on both teams to work through the problem, to repair the client relationship, and to get things back on track.<br /><br />3. CONTINUE TO TAKE MEASURED RISKS, EVEN WHEN THE STAKES GET HIGHER.<br /><br />One thing I love about startups is how their leaders have the courage to take risks, knowing these are essential to drive the company forward.<br /><br />My son Matt Salzberg (a young CEO in his own right, he leads Brooklyn-based startup Blue Apron), shared a concept with me that sums it up. He said “An entrepreneur is someone who jumps from a plane without a parachute, and figures out how to build one on the way down.”<br /><br />But as organizations grow, they have more to lose, they can become more cautious, and they can become slower to innovate.<br /><br />Not many businesses stay at the top for more than 100 years, or even 50. The reason Deloitte continues to succeed is because we’re continually anticipating the big challenges and opportunities that our clients will be facing in the future. This fuels the development of more innovative services and delivery models.<br /><br />4. EVOLVE AS A LEADER WHILE YOU SWING FOR THE FENCES.<br /><br />Be ready to adapt your approach, style and strategy throughout your company’s lifecycle.<br /><br />One of the biggest challenges cited by younger CEOs is managing large teams of people. So start focusing on getting better at this right now, before you experience growing pains.<br /><br />All CEOs must continue to evolve their style and approach throughout their career.<br /><br />5. PLAN IN QUARTERS, BUT THINK IN YEARS.<br /><br />Launching a startup requires a long-term dream or vision, but is mostly measured in small increments. Funding rounds, product launches, perhaps looking ahead to the buyout, or IPO.<br /><br />Younger CEOs need a plan to take their organization well into the future, not just as far as an IPO.<br /><br />When I was U.S. CEO, I managed the business quite closely between each internal reporting period, but I was (and remain!) just as passionate about building on our global strategy and vision for the future.<br /><br />I can’t fully understand how our organization will need to adapt in the next 50 or 100 years. But five or 10 years is a great place to start.<br /><br />I’m really inspired to watch the careers of younger CEOs unfold. I think in the past, younger and older CEOs have viewed each other almost as different species. Moving forward, I hope we can create closer connections where we can learn from each other and become more effective, inspirational, and innovative leaders as a result.<br /><br />--Barry Salzberg is global CEO of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited and proud to have recently started writing for the LinkedIn Influencers blog. You can <a href="http://theofficeofbarrysalzberg.cmail2.com/t/j-l-tidlidy-hhlhitjjk-t/">follow his posts on LinkedIn</a>.<br /><br />By Barry Salzberg <div>
Source: <a href="http://www.fastcompany.com/3024244/leadership-now/a-crash-course-in-leadership-for-20-something-ceos" target="_blank">Fast Company</a></div>
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Lakeview Consultantshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16980939262033041377noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-709867292527263840.post-69269450704551003812014-04-15T14:49:00.004-04:002014-04-15T14:49:58.951-04:009 Things People Just Don't Get About Entrepreneurs<div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.9em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: Vollkorn, Times New Roman; font-size: large;"><span style="letter-spacing: -0.1599999964237213px; line-height: 24px;">9 Things People Just Don't Get About Entrepreneurs</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><a data-ls-clicked="1" data-ls-seen="1" href="http://www.inc.com/jeff-haden/8-qualities-of-fearless-entrepreneurs.html" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">Entrepreneurship</a> is <em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">hard</em>, both physically and emotionally. Doubt, anxiety, despair--along the way, every entrepreneur struggles with those feelings.</span></div>
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So why are <a data-ls-seen="1" href="http://www.inc.com/ss/jeff-haden/best-2013-books-entrepreneurs" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">entrepreneurs</a> willing to face the vulnerability, the emotional ups and downs, and the risk of public and private failure?</div>
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Easy. They have no choice. For entrepreneurs:</div>
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<strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 0.8em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">1. The voice in their heads is louder than every other voice they hear. </strong>Others may doubt. Others may criticize. Others may judge and disparage and disapprove.</div>
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You don't care. You see all those opinions for what they are: not right, not wrong, just data. So you sift through that data for the actual nuggets you can use. The rest you ignore.</div>
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Why? You may respect the opinions of others but you <em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">believe</em> in your ideas, your abilities, your will and perseverance and dedication. You believe in yourself. And that makes you want to live your life your way and not anyone else's way.</div>
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<strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 0.8em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">2. They believe that how they play the game truly is more important than whether they win or lose. </strong>If you're an entrepreneur, you'd rather fail on your own terms than succeed on someone else's. You'd rather reach for your own future than have your future lie in someone else's hands. You feel it's <a data-ls-seen="1" href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LYak0rPUDIU" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">better to burn out than to fade away</a>.</div>
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Sure, you want to win. You're driven to win. But you want to change the rules, create your own playing field, and win the game <em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">you</em> want to play--because winning a game in a way you're forced to play would still feel like losing.</div>
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<strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 0.8em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">3. They don't make choices--they <em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">create</em> choices. </strong>Most people simply choose from Column A or Column B. Entrepreneurs glance at A and B and then often create their own Column C.</div>
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As <a data-ls-seen="1" href="http://www.inc.com/eric-schurenberg/the-best-definition-of-entepreneurship.html" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Jon Burgstone says</a>:</div>
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<em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Every time you want to make any important decision, there are two possible courses of action. You can look at the array of choices that present themselves, pick the best available option, and try to make it fit.</em></div>
<div style="border: 0px; font-family: Vollkorn, 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0.9em; padding: 0px 0px 0px 30px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Or, you can do what the true entrepreneur does: Figure out the best conceivable option and then make it available.</em></div>
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And that's why they often accomplish the inconceivable--because to entrepreneurs, that word truly <a data-ls-seen="1" href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D58LpHBnvsI" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">doesn't mean what everyone else thinks it means</a>.</div>
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<strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 0.8em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">4. They enjoy succeeding through others. </strong>Talent is obviously important, but the ability to work together, check egos at the door, and make individual sacrifices when necessary is the only way any team succeeds.</div>
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That spirit can only exist when it comes from the top.</div>
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And that's why entrepreneurs focus on the individual rather than the position, <a data-ls-seen="1" href="http://www.inc.com/jeff-haden/traditional-leadership-hierarchies-are-dead-or-should-be.html" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">the team rather than the hierarchy</a>, and most important, from gaining happiness and success from the happiness and success of others.</div>
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<strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 0.8em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">5. They don't need to be disciplined, because they can't wait to do all the things that bring them closer to achieving their goals. </strong>Discipline often boils down to finding a way to do the things you need to do. Entrepreneurs can't wait to do the things they need to do. They have goals and dreams, and they know every task they complete takes them one step closer to achieving those goals and dreams.</div>
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That's why entrepreneurs can have fun performing even the most mundane tasks. When there's a clear line of sight between what you do and where you want to go, work is no longer just work.</div>
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Work is exciting. Work is fulfilling. Work, when it's meaningful and fulfilling, is <em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">living</em>. And that's why.</div>
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<strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 0.8em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">6. They don't want to simply gain a skill and then live a routine. </strong>Some people work to gain a skill or achieve a position so they can relax, comfortable in their abilities and knowledge. They've worked hard and are content. (That's not a bad thing; <a data-ls-seen="1" href="http://www.inc.com/jeff-haden/the-only-definition-of-success-that-matters.html" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">everyone's definition of success should be different</a>.)</div>
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Entrepreneurs hate the contentment an acquired skill brings. Entrepreneurs hate the comfort an achievement affords. Entrepreneurs see acquired skills as a foundation for acquiring more skills. Entrepreneurs see achievements as platforms for further achievement.</div>
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Entrepreneurs pay their dues, and they want to keep paying more dues. They look at themselves in the mirror and think, "OK...but <a data-ls-seen="1" href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qFRSF5NzHrY" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">what have you done for me lately?</a>"</div>
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And then they go out and do more.</div>
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<strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 0.8em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">7. They're fans of other entrepreneurs. </strong>Working for a corporation is often a zero-sum game, because personal success usually comes at the expense of others. If you get promoted, someone else does not. If you get an opportunity, someone else does not.</div>
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That's why, in a corporate setting, it's really hard not to begrudge the success of others--it's hard to be genuinely happy for a co-worker when you're really disappointed.</div>
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Entrepreneurs, on the other hand, love when others succeed. They know the pie is big enough for everyone. (Forget the current pie; they're out there trying to make new pies.)</div>
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Entrepreneurs see the success of other entrepreneurs as exciting and inspirational and as validation that creativity and hard work <em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">do</em> pay off.</div>
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<strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 0.8em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">8. They're willing to start a movement of one. </strong>We all like to belong, to feel we're kindred spirits, and that's why some ideas quickly gain a following and why great ideas can become movements.</div>
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Joining a crowd is awesome. But every movement starts with one person who dares to stand up, alone, unprotected, and vulnerable, and be different: to say what others aren't saying, to do what others aren't doing--to take a chance and accept the consequences.</div>
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What makes entrepreneurs willing to take that risk?</div>
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<strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 0.8em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">9. They think, <em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Why not me? </em></strong>Regardless of the pursuit, success is difficult to achieve. That's why we all fail sometimes. And when we do, it's easy to decide events were outside our control. It's easy to feel depressed and wonder, <em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Why don't I ever get the opportunities other people get?</em> or <em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Why aren't my friends more supportive?</em> or <em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Why can't I catch a break?</em></div>
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In short, it's easy to think: <em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a data-ls-seen="1" href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NjUQMs0kVEI" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Why me?</a></em></div>
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Entrepreneurs ask a different question: <em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Why not me?</em></div>
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That's why entrepreneurs will open a restaurant in the same location where other restaurants have failed: <em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">They didn't succeed, but why not me?</em> Entrepreneurs will start a software company with nothing but an idea: <em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">They may have deeper pockets and a major market share, but why not me?</em></div>
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Entrepreneurs don't assume successful people possess special talents or a gift from the startup gods. They see successful people and think, <em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">That's awesome, and if she can do that, why not me?</em></div>
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Good question: <em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Why not you</em>?</div>
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If you think about it, there is no real answer, because when you're truly willing to not just dream big but also to try incredibly hard, there are no reasons you can't succeed--at least none that matter to you.</div>
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By Jeff Haden</div>
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Source: <a href="http://www.inc.com/jeff-haden/the-entrepreneurs-creed-inner-beliefs-of-true-entrepreneurs.html" target="_blank">Inc.</a></div>
Lakeview Consultantshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16980939262033041377noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-709867292527263840.post-65042573540756642282014-04-09T12:25:00.002-04:002014-04-09T12:25:38.297-04:005 Secrets To Being A Great Mentor<span style="font-size: large;">5 Secrets To Being A Great Mentor- By Someone Who Was Mentored By The Best</span><br /><br />The Encyclopedia of American Business History notes that <a href="http://www.druckerinstitute.com/link/about-peter-drucker/">Peter Drucker</a> was not only “the most important managerial theorist of the 20thcentury” but also “a mentor to several generations” of executives.<br /><br />The book recalls the friendship forged between Drucker, known as the “man who invented management,” and Buford, a cable television pioneer from Tyler, Texas, who later dedicated his considerable intellect and energy to social entrepreneurship and the building of America’s megachurch movement. (Royalties are being donated to the <a href="http://www.druckerinstitute.com/">Drucker Institute</a>, which I run.)<br /><br />Buford’s narrative begins at the end of Drucker’s life, shortly before he died in 2005, at age 95, when Buford realizes that he has come to visit his friend for the last time. From there, after a short introduction to the significance and impact of Drucker’s work, Buford retraces the extraordinary connection that they built over 23 years.<br /><br />It started with a letter that Buford wrote to Drucker, seeking his counsel on how to improve the performance of a business that was already growing fast. The next thing Buford knew, he was on his way to Drucker’s modest ranch house in Claremont, Calif., for a one-on-one meeting. Things blossomed quickly from there.<br /><br />“In terms of friendship, we were an unlikely pairing,” Buford writes. “A generation apart in age. One of us spoke English with a heavy Austrian accent. The other spoke Texan. I owned a cable television company. Peter didn’t even own a television. . . . I followed the Dallas Cowboys. He followed Japanese art.”<br /><br />Yet for all of these differences, the two clicked. Their sensibilities and worldview were totally in sync. “In Peter,” Buford explains, “I found a soul mate.”<br /><br />In addition to being a charming read, Drucker & Me conveys many management lessons—on relentlessly providing what the customer values, on engaging in “planned abandonment,” on aligning people’s strengths with the work that they’re asked to undertake. But above all, the book is a wonderful guide on how to be a mentor, filled with useful takeaways. Here are five:<br /><br />First, a model mentor doesn’t just give answers. In Drucker’s case, he had Buford write him a long letter before each of their sessions, ensuring that Buford had carefully thought through the challenges with which he was grappling. When they finally sat down together, Drucker would pepper Buford with questions.<br /><br />“He wanted Bob to think for himself,” <a href="http://www.jimcollins.com/">Jim Collins</a>, for whom Drucker was also a mentor, observes in the foreword to Drucker & Me. “The greatest teachers begin with humility, a belief that only by first learning from their students can they be of greatest service to them.”<br /><br />Second, a model mentor is always fully present, recognizing the tremendous trust he or she has been handed. “Whenever I was with him,” Buford recalls of Drucker, “he was focused. If the minister of Japan called, the minister would have to wait until my meeting ended.”<br /><br />Third, a model mentor doesn’t shy away when the professional blends with the personal, understanding that someone’s career and the rest of his or her life are often intimately linked. On this score,Drucker & Me contains several dramatic turning points, including the drowning death of Buford’s 24-year-old son, Ross.<br /><br />As soon as Drucker heard the terrible news, he phoned. “For the next several minutes, we had a very affectionate, compassionate, intensely personal conversation, and his sadness for my losing Ross almost seemed to match my own,” Buford writes. “And then he said something that was remarkable in its candor even as it echoed my own thoughts. ‘Isn’t it a shame that it takes this kind of moment for you and me to have the kind of conversation we just had?’”<br /><br />Fourth, by truly listening, a model mentor can help introduce a level of clarity that would likely be unattainable otherwise. “Your mission, Bob, is to transform the latent energy of American Christianity into active energy,” Drucker told Buford eight years into their relationship. Writes Buford: “Just like that, he nailed it. He took my meandering thoughts . . . and articulated exactly what I wanted to do.” Indeed, this single insight from Drucker was the spark that Buford needed to create <a href="http://leadnet.org/">Leadership Network</a>, a highly effective nonprofit that teaches church pastors how to multiply their own impact in the community.<br /><br />Finally, a model mentor gives permission, encouragement and applause—but also demands accountability. “After a while,” Buford says, that “long rambling letter” he sent before each consulting session with Drucker “became my performance report. I’m not sure he would have allowed me access, at least in the early going, if I had no results.”<br /><br />In his 1990 book Managing the Nonprofit Organization, Drucker credits two of his first bosses—one at a financial firm, the other at a newspaper—with being ideal mentors in their own right. “They were totally un-permissive and demanding. And they did not hesitate to chastise me,” Drucker recounted. “But they were willing to listen to me. They were sparing with praise, but always willing to encourage.”<br /><br />Obviously, he learned well, exhibiting these very same traits with Buford. But so, in turn, did Buford learn well.<br /><br />I know this firsthand. Although we, too, are from different worlds—I’m a Jewish guy from Baltimore, a generation younger than Buford, and much more a basketball than a football fan—we share many core values. And while I would never claim to be as close to Buford as he was with Drucker, his guidance and friendship have been indispensable. He has urged me, along with my staff, to sharpen the Drucker Institute’s mission, leading us to where we are today: “strengthening organizations to strengthen society.” He has pushed us to think bigger and aim higher.<br /><br />Inc. magazine once called Peter Drucker “<a href="http://www.inc.com/magazine/20020901/24536.html">the North Star of mentors</a>.” Bob Buford, I can attest, shines awfully bright himself.<br /><br /> By Rick Wartzman<div>
Source: <a href="http://time.com/54568/5-secrets-to-being-a-great-mentor-from-someone-mentored-by-the-best/" target="_blank">Time</a><br /><br /> </div>
Lakeview Consultantshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16980939262033041377noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-709867292527263840.post-42464822591904163512014-03-24T13:49:00.003-04:002014-03-24T13:49:32.575-04:00When Company Culture Encourages Risky Behavior <div style="border: 0px; font-family: Vollkorn, 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0.9em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
The texting/speeding driver will probably see jail time and rightly so. However, I also blame her boss for creating a work environment where being on-time was so important that an employee felt it necessary to put innocent people at risk.</div>
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What could the boss have done differently? For one thing, it's stupid and careless to text people when you know they're probably driving. But texting while driving is a symptom, not a cause.</div>
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<span style="font-family: Vollkorn, Times New Roman; font-size: large;"><span style="letter-spacing: -0.1599999964237213px; line-height: 24px;">When Company Culture Encourages Risky Behavior </span></span></div>
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This morning I was forwarded a story about how <a data-ls-seen="1" href="http://www.jillkonrath.com/sales-blog/bid/157397/Avoid-This-Killer-Sales-Strategy-at-All-Costs" style="border: 0px; color: #009cd8; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">bestselling author Jill Konrath's husband was rear-ended</a> by a driver who was speeding while answering a "Where are you?" text from her boss. She was late for work.</div>
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The driver struck Fred Konrath's car, propelling him into two pedestrians, a married couple. The husband, who tried to thrust his wife out of the way, was killed and the wife so seriously injured that she needed over 5,000 stitches and staples.</div>
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Both the driver and her boss were focusing on getting things done rather than thinking of how their actions might hurt others. The real problem is creating a corporate culture where outcomes are more important than people.</div>
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Fortunately, it's possible to create an environment where people matter more than outcomes. Here's how:</div>
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<li style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 25px; list-style: disc outside none; margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 0.8em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Become a good role model.</em></strong> As every parent knows, "Do as I say not as I do," never works. If you're taking thoughtless risks (like driving aggressively because you're late), you're teaching your employees that such behavior is OK.</li>
<li style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 25px; list-style: disc outside none; margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 0.8em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Don't force employees to do dumb things.</em> </strong> A former boss once demanded that I drive 50 miles in Ireland (left side of the street, right side steering wheel) after an overnight flight. I obeyed because I knew my job was on the line.</li>
<li style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 25px; list-style: disc outside none; margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 0.8em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Expect reasonable work hours.</em></strong> People who are tired and stressed make bad decisions. Even when bad decisions don't end up killing people, they can wreak havoc with your company and customers.</li>
<li style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 25px; list-style: disc outside none; margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 0.8em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Fire the jerks and assh*les.</em></strong> Jerks make themselves successful at the expense of others. If you tolerate jerks, your best people will eventually leave and those who remain will be the jerks and wannabe jerks.</li>
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Note: Please consider joining the Henson family's <a data-ls-seen="1" href="http://www.stopthetextsstopthewrecks.blogspot.com/" style="border: 0px; color: #009cd8; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank" title="Stop the Texts, Stop the Wrecks initiative">Stop the Texts, Stop the Wrecks initiative</a>. Take the pledge and don't drive distracted.</div>
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By Geoffrey James</div>
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Source: <a href="http://www.inc.com/geoffrey-james/should-employees-kill-to-keep-a-job.html?cid=sf01001" target="_blank">Inc.</a></div>
Lakeview Consultantshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16980939262033041377noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-709867292527263840.post-61826046822192153462014-03-21T15:52:00.002-04:002014-03-21T15:52:35.399-04:004 Tips To Staying Motivated During On A Dragging Workday<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 7.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 20px;">4 Tips To Staying Motivated During On A Dragging Workday</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;">I believe that establishing a “flow” at work-
what the sociaologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi referred to as being so engaged
and motivated that you practically get lost in the joy of whatever you’re
doing- is the key to unlocking happiness. It’s no secret that stress and
dissatisfaction at the office can carry over into our personal lives, where
friends and family unluckily absorb the brunt of our negative energy. Sound
Familiar?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;">Colleagues that freguently remark, “Where did
the time go?” have probably channeled this “flow” – being so engaged in their
work that time feels like it’s flying by.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 15pt;">Here are some tips on how to uncover this
mindset throughout the workday:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18.5pt; line-height: 15pt;">1. Record happy moments. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;">Keep a journal of the moments when you feel
really happy at work. Use Post-Its, a notebook, an app — whatever’s easiest —
to record what you were working on, who you were working with and when.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 15.0pt; margin-bottom: 7.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;">For extra credit: You can get an even better
triangulation of your "flow" moments if you also separately record
the moments when you were frustrated, annoyed or disappointed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 7.5pt; mso-line-height-alt: 15.6pt; mso-outline-level: 3;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18.5pt;">2. Challenge yourself.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;">The "flow" state often arises when you
are doing something challenging — but when you are skilled enough to meet the
challenge. For example, if analyzing the weekly sales report is fun for you
because you find it challenging, this is a good indicator of a "flow"
moment.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 7.5pt; mso-line-height-alt: 15.6pt; mso-outline-level: 3;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18.5pt;">3. Ask peers to observe you.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 15.0pt; margin-bottom: 7.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;">Contact the people you work with and ask them —
colleagues and managers alike — if they can recall moments when you seemed most
engaged. If they can’t recall anything immediately (which is likely), ask if
they wouldn’t mind keeping track for the next week or so, and then gather
feedback.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 15.0pt; margin-bottom: 7.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;">When checking in with my employees every
quarter, I ask what they were most proud of accomplishing as a jumping off
point to maximizing “flow” moments.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 7.5pt; mso-line-height-alt: 15.6pt; mso-outline-level: 3;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18.5pt;">4. Find your happiness trends.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;">After two weeks, you should have a fairly
complete record of your happy moments at work. Sit down with a cup of coffee
and see what trends emerge. Are you happiest in the morning? In the afternoon?
When you are working alongside other people or by yourself? In front of a
computer or in front of a whiteboard? Virtually or face-to-face? Are you
happiest making things or evaluating them?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;">As your happiness trends emerge, you can more
aptly put yourself in a position to enjoy work, discuss a change of role at the
office, or even decide to do something else completely.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;">By James Reinhart</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;">Source: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/the-trick-to-curing-a-dragging-workday-2014-3" target="_blank">Business Insider</a></span></div>
Lakeview Consultantshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16980939262033041377noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-709867292527263840.post-67312493565085796082014-03-12T11:08:00.001-04:002014-03-12T11:08:33.781-04:0013 Things You Should Do On Your Commute Instead Of Playing Candy Crush<span style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 20px;"><span style="font-size: large;">13 Things You Should Do On Your Commute Instead of Playing Candy Crush</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">Your daily trip to and from work doesn't have to be a complete waste of time. Experts say with some strategic planning you can easily use your commute to recharge and boost productivity.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">Amy Hoover, president of </span><a href="http://www.talentzoo.com/" style="color: #00709a; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Talent Zoo</a><span style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">, says whether you drive, carpool,</span><span style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"> </span><span style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">take a train, </span><span style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">bike, or walk, making the most of that time can help set up the rest of your day. “If you're interested in knocking out some work or simply relaxing, there are things you can do to turn a lengthy commute from a frustrating time-eater to a satisfying and productive time of day.”</span><br />
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Here are 13 productive things you can do during your commute:</div>
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<strong>1. Ramp up or wind down.</strong> The first thing you need to do is recognize what kind of person you are, says Connie Thanasoulis-Cerrachio, a career expert and co-founder of <a href="http://www.sixfigurestart.com/" style="color: #00709a; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">SixFigureStart</a>. If you’re energized in the morning and tired in the early evening, for example, use your trip to work to accomplish tasks and your trip home to relax and reenergize.</div>
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<strong>2. Bicycle or walk to work, if possible.</strong> While it's unlikely to make your commute shorter, starting or finishing the day with some physical activity can keep your brain sharp, in addition to keeping your body in shape, says Rita Friedman, a Philadelphia-based <a href="http://www.phillycareercoach.com/" style="color: #00709a; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">career coach</a>.</div>
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<strong>3. Reflect.</strong><span style="line-height: 1.5em;"> </span><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">“Taking time each week during your commute to check in on your goals is a great way to stay on track and make adjustments," says Teri Hockett, chief executive of <a href="http://whatsforwork.com/Base/LandingPage" style="color: #00709a; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">What's For Work?</a>. It's also the perfect time to think about what makes you happy and what areas of your life could be improved.</span></div>
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<strong>4. Check emails and voice messages.</strong> If you’re not driving or riding a bicycle, your morning commute is a great time to get a head start on your workday. Attending to messages early in the morning will set you up for a productive day. However, the experts say you shouldn’t spend your entire commute doing work. </div>
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<strong>5. Listen to music or audio books. </strong>These activities support your ongoing learning and development, Hockett says.</div>
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<strong>6. Mentally prepare for the day.</strong> If you'd like to get a head start on your day, you can use your commute time to get ready for what's on your calendar, Hoover says. “If you have a presentation, practice out loud and put the finishing touches on. If you have an important meeting, make sure you know what you're going to cover and your position on the subject matter.”</div>
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You can also use this time to plan the rest of your day outside the office. “Perhaps you can finalize the dinner menu in your mind, plan what you'll wear to an after-work function, or think about what you’ll do with your kids this weekend. A workday without distractions relating to after-work responsibilities or activities can be far more productive,” she says.</div>
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<strong>7. Create a to-do list.</strong> Your commute is the perfect time to create a to-do list or fine-tune the one you’ve already made. “By creating a to-do list and prioritizing the day's responsibilities, you're setting yourself up to have a more organized and focused workday,” Friedman says. If you can't actually write a list because you're driving, it can still be useful just to have a mental checklist. You might also consider using a voice recorder or memo app on your phone, just as long as it doesn't require you to look away from the road.</div>
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<strong>8. Relax. </strong>Consider using your commute to unwind. “Practice calming your mind, or just enjoy the environment around you,” Hockett says. “The idea is to just be present in the moment and relax.”</div>
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Friedman says you can, and should, spend some time thinking about what you did or need to do during the workday, “but if you spend a majority of your commute doing some deep breathing and focusing on the other things in your life, it can be an excellent transitional time so you don't walk in the door feeling wound up.”</div>
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<strong>9. Learn.</strong> Subscribe to a podcast or buy a language program. Your commute can be used to catch up on news, expand your knowledge in a particular area, or learn a new language.<span style="line-height: 1.5em;"> </span></div>
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<strong>10. Check in with your friends and family. </strong>You may have very limited time for this type of communication throughout the rest of the day, so use your commute time to call your parents, chat with your significant other, or text your friends (as long as you’re not driving).<strong style="line-height: 1.5em;"> </strong></div>
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<strong>11. Check in on your social networks. </strong>If you’re not driving, use your phone or tablet to interact with your network on social media by sharing information and engaging with them.</div>
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<strong>12. Sleep.</strong> Depending on your commute, you may be able to catch a power nap, which can give you a boost of energy, Hockett says. “Studies have shown that 10 to 15 minute naps can be very positive for the mind and body. Just set your alarm, and close your eyes.”</div>
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<strong>13. Play games that will sharpen your mind. </strong>If mindless games are what<strong> </strong>truly relax you, it’s okay to indulge from time to time, Thanasoulis-Cerrachio says. But you should consider swapping out games like Candy Crush for<span style="line-height: 1.5em;"> crossword puzzles or other brain games, "as these have been shown to help stave off age-related memory loss," </span><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">Friedman concludes.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">By Jacquelyn Smith</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">Source: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/how-to-make-the-most-of-your-commute-2014-3" target="_blank">Business Insider</a></span>Lakeview Consultantshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16980939262033041377noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-709867292527263840.post-63279921315893375682014-03-10T16:59:00.003-04:002014-03-10T16:59:51.514-04:006 Tips for Productive Time Management<div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.9em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: Vollkorn, Times New Roman; font-size: large;"><span style="letter-spacing: -0.1599999964237213px; line-height: 24px;">6 Tips for Productive Time Management</span></span></div>
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Once again Spring came around and messed with my time clock. Even though I know I still have the same number of hours in the day, I can't help but feel that <a data-ls-seen="1" href="http://www.amazon.com/Spring-Forward-Annual-Madness-Daylight/dp/1582434956/?tag=roarin09-20" style="border: 0px; color: #009cd8; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">Daylight Savings Time</a>has stolen an hour from me. My body clock still thinks it's 7 a.m. when I wake up, and yet here it is 8 a.m. Sure, I have more daylight, but for the most part, the only light I need for my productivity is the glow of my computer.</div>
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Every year, I want to find a way to <a data-ls-seen="1" href="http://bit.ly/KDTime" style="border: 0px; color: #009cd8; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">gain back that hour</a>. I figure somehow maybe I can cheat the system and get back that 60 minutes to write, read, or just relax with my wife and dog. So I put thought into my current processes and how to manage them more efficiently.</div>
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It's no fool's errand. In the worst case, I'm stuck with the same patterns but can at least recognize where I'm slow and inefficient. In the best case, I get super-efficient and rack up more time to kayak over the summer. Then, I feel rich in time when the clock <a data-ls-seen="1" href="http://bit.ly/VIbRxH" style="border: 0px; color: #009cd8; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">changes back in the fall</a>.</div>
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Here are the six time-management tips I'm using this year. Who knows, maybe you'll gain an extra hour now as well.</div>
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<strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 0.8em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">1. Keep a time log. </strong>Intention is the key to being <a data-ls-seen="1" href="http://bit.ly/SOrGEc" style="border: 0px; color: #009cd8; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">more productive</a>. I have to focus my time on the highest manner of productivity. That means not leaving things to chance. In order to remove inefficiencies, I first have to know where they are. I'm keeping a log of time spent on my calendar in order to identify inefficient tasks I can delegate or improve. This past year, I logged my writing time with my column and improved my writing efficiency from 3.5 hours per column to less than 2 hours.</div>
<div style="border: 0px; font-family: Vollkorn, 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0.9em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 0.8em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">2. Add music to solo tasks. </strong>One of the ways I reduced my column-writing time was with a specific music playlist. I grouped songs into 30-minute increments. Now when <a data-ls-seen="1" href="http://bit.ly/KDWrite" style="border: 0px; color: #009cd8; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">I write</a>, I set my pace to that specific play list.</div>
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The music acts as a metronome keeping me in a rhythm. It also lets me know by which song is playing how far ahead or behind I am on the pace without having to clock watch. Lastly, the earphones keep me tethered to the computer, so I'm less inclined to get up for distractions. I'm now adding this to other reading, writing, and thinking tasks.</div>
<div style="border: 0px; font-family: Vollkorn, 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0.9em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 0.8em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">3. Schedule related tasks together. </strong>Lately, I have been in a high volume work mode. Between producing a <a data-ls-seen="1" href="http://bit.ly/1m2bUl0" style="border: 0px; color: #009cd8; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">weekly live radio show</a>, writing three columns a week, and managing a large marketing project, I'm moving fast and furiously to make sure everything and everybody gets deserved attention.</div>
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Instead of moving back and forth between different projects in small increments, I'm setting large blocks of time or even a full day for related tasks. This reduces physical and mental prep time, as well as the effort and distraction of having to remind myself of all the detail surrounding the projects.</div>
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<strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 0.8em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">4. Add pre and post times to meetings. </strong>So often I stack several meetings on the phone or in person. Then, later, I have to go back and decipher my notes to set everything in motion. My new approach is to schedule two minutes before each meeting to prep an action list. I modify the list during the meeting and then I take three minutes afterward to put those items into action. When possible, I apply the <a data-ls-seen="1" href="http://www.inc.com/dave-kerpen/the-1-work-hack-that-will-save-you-900-hours-a-year.html" style="border: 0px; color: #009cd8; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">recent tip</a> from my <em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Inc.</em> colleague <a data-ls-seen="1" href="http://www.amazon.com/Likeable-Social-Media-Customers-Irresistible/dp/0071762345/?tag=roarin09-20" style="border: 0px; color: #009cd8; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">Dave Kerpen</a> of setting those action steps in motion during the meeting itself.</div>
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<strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 0.8em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">5. Improve punctuality. </strong>I used to pride myself on being a very punctual person. I hate being late for anything and am annoyed at others who keep me waiting. So I was shocked when recently a good friend and client told me that she always assumes I will be 15 to 30 minutes late, due to my past behavior.</div>
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I thought about how much time is lost in being late, from rushing, rescheduling, apologies, etc. Upon reflection, I identified the culprit. I constantly try to squeeze in one more task, call, or email before I leave for a meeting. No more. I'm now scheduling a set time to leave, with a five-minute buffer to <a data-ls-seen="1" href="http://bit.ly/Ov6pRh" style="border: 0px; color: #009cd8; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">each meeting</a>. I can always add in a simple task while waiting if I'm early.</div>
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<strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 0.8em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">6. Add a planned work break. </strong>Flipping back and forth from project to project can create distraction and tire my brain. So I have added a <a data-ls-seen="1" href="http://bit.ly/1chbacQ" style="border: 0px; color: #009cd8; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">15-minute head-clearing exercise</a> in the middle of the day. Then I do a quick two-minute download of my thoughts so I can assess the remaining day. This combined activity sort of defrags my brain, allowing me to operate at peak efficiency.</div>
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By Kevin Daum</div>
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Source: <a href="http://www.inc.com/kevin-daum/6-tips-for-productive-time-management.html" target="_blank">Inc.</a></div>
Lakeview Consultantshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16980939262033041377noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-709867292527263840.post-20860803079413711952014-03-03T13:24:00.000-05:002014-03-03T13:24:23.092-05:00How the Oscar-Nominated Movies Can Make You a Better Boss<div data-mce-style="margin: 0px 0px 0.9em; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-family: Vollkorn, 'Times New Roman'; line-height: 1.5em; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; letter-spacing: -0.01em;" style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.9em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: Vollkorn, Times New Roman; font-size: large;"><span style="letter-spacing: -0.1599999964237213px; line-height: 24px;">How the Oscar-Nominated Movies Can Make You a Better Boss </span></span></div>
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So, I have a confession to make. I am an entrepreneur and a mother, and my <a data-ls-seen="1" data-mce-href="http://www.inc.com/alexa-von-tobel/smartest-time-saving-tips.html" data-mce-style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; color: #009cd8; text-decoration: none;" href="http://www.inc.com/alexa-von-tobel/smartest-time-saving-tips.html" style="border: 0px; color: #009cd8; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">time</a> is precious. I have very little free time-- but what free time I do have in the first two months of the year is spent watching every Oscar nominated film. I've seen every one this year, and it occurred to me that weaved throughout each of these films are some serious pearls of wisdom for entrepreneurs. As you sit down this weekend to watch the Oscars, see if you can pick up on any of these <a data-ls-seen="1" data-mce-href="http://www.inc.com/magazine/201306/leigh-buchanan/traits-of-true-leaders.html" data-mce-style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; color: #009cd8; text-decoration: none;" href="http://www.inc.com/magazine/201306/leigh-buchanan/traits-of-true-leaders.html" style="border: 0px; color: #009cd8; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">leadership</a> themes from the Best Picture nominees:</div>
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<strong data-mce-style="margin: 0px 0px 0.8em; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; letter-spacing: 0px;" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 0.8em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><em data-mce-style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">American Hustle: </em>Fake it til you make it.</strong></div>
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Irving Rosenfeld and his partner Syndey Prosser are forced to work with the FBI when they are busted for running a total sham of a business. They get into a situation that is way outside their comfort zone, and are forced to work on the biggest, and scariest, con of their lives. By pushing themselves beyond their perceived limits, they discover an awful lot about themselves, and what they are truly capable of. Leaders can and should get comfortable being uncomfortable--and pushing forward even when it feels impossible.</div>
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<strong data-mce-style="margin: 0px 0px 0.8em; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; letter-spacing: 0px;" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 0.8em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><em data-mce-style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Captain Phillips</em>: Nice guys finish first.</strong><br />When Captain Richard Phillips was commanding a cargo ship 145 miles off of the Somali coast, he was captured by pirates. Unlike the pirates, the Captain and his crew were unarmed and had only their negotiating skills to carry them through. Through his ability to connect with the lead pirate, Muse, Captain Phillips was able to protect his men and survive an incredibly challenging situation. He knew exactly how to handle this armed, unstable pirate--and it wasn't by playing hardball. He was simply kind, and thoughtful, while remaining strong and solid in his approach. He was nice, but not weak--a key lesson for all of us.</div>
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<strong data-mce-style="margin: 0px 0px 0.8em; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; letter-spacing: 0px;" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 0.8em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><em data-mce-style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Dallas Buyers Club</em>: Be solution-oriented.</strong><br />When Ron Woodruff, a rodeo cowboy was diagnosed with HIV and given 30 days to live, he tried to begin the typical treatments of AZT, and found that the system and the drug was completely broken. He decides to cross the border into Mexico where he learns about alternative solutions to treat HIV, and begins smuggling them into the U.S. and starts the "Dallas Buyers Club," a membership club where HIV patients can get these alternative medications. His willingness to tackle this problem with an (albeit illegal) solution, lengthened the lives of thousands of HIV patients and changed the course of HIV treatment. Although he had a lot of mixed feelings about the gay community, many of whom were his customers, Ron worked to push past his own ignorance to solve a problem and had a successful, game-changing business as a result. As a leader, are you solving problems with your product or on your team? You should be.</div>
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<strong data-mce-style="margin: 0px 0px 0.8em; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; letter-spacing: 0px;" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 0.8em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><em data-mce-style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Gravity: </em>Remember the power of mentors.</strong><br />When Dr. Ryan Stone, an engineer on her first shuttle trip to space, ends up having a freak accident on a routine spacewalk, she and astronaut Matt Kowalsky are left spiraling in space, tethered to each other. Matt spends the next hour telling her various lessons about life and space, and their connection is as deep as they come. When Matt and Ryan get separated, Ryan is forced to channel Matt's confidence and knowledge to help get her home. She brings back his words and takes from them what she needs to in order to survive. Many of us as leaders have met people who have said things that we took with us on our journeys. Remember and look for people whose words and actions can inspire you to great success.</div>
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<strong data-mce-style="margin: 0px 0px 0.8em; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; letter-spacing: 0px;" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 0.8em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><em data-mce-style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Her: </em>Human connection is important.</strong><br />Theodore Twombley lives in LA in the not-too distant future. He becomes fascinated by a new advanced operating system--basically Siri on steroids. "Samantha," his OS, is so advanced that she feels like a real person. Their connection is deep, and as Samantha gets more and more advanced, it gets complicated. Watching <em data-mce-style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Her</em> was like a giant reminder that we are headed towards a time where technology can and will advance faster than we'd ever expect. Through all of this, it's more important than ever for leaders not to become isolated. We constantly use technology to make our time-pressed lives more efficient, but we must, to be good leaders, make time for people--our most important asset.</div>
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<strong data-mce-style="margin: 0px 0px 0.8em; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; letter-spacing: 0px;" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 0.8em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><em data-mce-style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Nebraska: </em>If you don't make time for family, you'll regret it.</strong><br />Nebraska is the story of David and his drunken, elderly, disoriented father Woody. When Woody receives a letter stating that he won a million dollars in a mail-order sweepstakes, he is convinced it's not a hoax. His son David agrees to drive him from Billings, Montana, to Lincoln, Nebraska. David essentially stops his life to go on this goose chase for his father, and along the way, repairs old, damaged relationships with his entire family. As leaders, we can't always stop everything we are doing to spend a week on a road trip with our most difficult and challenging family members, but it's important to ensure that our family relationships are a priority.</div>
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<strong data-mce-style="margin: 0px 0px 0.8em; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; letter-spacing: 0px;" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 0.8em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><em data-mce-style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Philomena:</em> Don't accept no for an answer.</strong><br />Based on the book <em data-mce-style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The Lost Child of Philomena Lee</em> by BBC correspondent Martin Sixsmith, this film tells the story of Philomena, a woman who was forced to give her child up for adoption by the nunnery that took her in when she was a pregnant teenager. Philomena had tried to discover the whereabouts of her son, who she signed away to an abbey in Ireland, but based on the church doctrine, she was not entitled to any information about him. It was only after a journalist contacted her and encouraged her to push past the church's refusal to cooperate that Philomena learned the truth about what happened to her son. Because she learned to not accept the first "no" that she got, she was able to achieve her goal and find peace. Leaders need incredible resilience, and they must push forward even when faced with challenges.</div>
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<strong data-mce-style="margin: 0px 0px 0.8em; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; letter-spacing: 0px;" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 0.8em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><em data-mce-style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The Wolf of Wall Street:</em> There are no shortcuts to success.</strong><br />New York stockbroker Jordan Belfort built a giant empire off of selling penny stocks. A life filled with greed and corruption, Jordan was the ultimate "get rich quick" hustler--living a life of affluence filled with drugs and corruption. Jordan's story reminds us all as leaders that there truly are no shortcuts to success. True leaders don't cheat their way to the top, and the ones that do, have short-lived success.</div>
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<strong data-mce-style="margin: 0px 0px 0.8em; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; letter-spacing: 0px;" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 0.8em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><em data-mce-style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">12 Years a Slave: </em>Even when the odds are stacked against you, always believe in yourself. </strong><br />This true story follows the incredible tale of Solomon Northop, a free man who lived in the North in the 1800s. Abducted and sold into slavery, Solomon spent 12 years living as a slave in deplorable, unimaginable conditions. It seemed that Solomon would never return to his life as a free man--and yet, he never gave up hope and never stopped believing that he was free. Though none of us could imagine a life like Solomon's, we as leaders can face insurmountable odds. Haven't we all felt like it was totally hopeless at one point or another? We must remind ourselves that being a leader involves lots of ups and downs, and that it is only our ability to believe in ourselves and our strength to lead through difficult times that will carry us through.</div>
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When you're watching the Oscars this weekend, remember that there are leadership lessons to be learned from each and every film.</div>
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By Carrie Kerpen</div>
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Source: <a href="http://www.inc.com/carrie-kerpen/9-lessons-from-oscar-nominated-movies.html" target="_blank">Inc.</a></div>
Lakeview Consultantshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16980939262033041377noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-709867292527263840.post-66765213432333795232014-02-28T18:26:00.002-05:002014-02-28T18:26:35.925-05:00Want to Be Truly Productive? End Each Day Like This<div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.9em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: Vollkorn, Times New Roman; font-size: large;"><span style="letter-spacing: -0.1599999964237213px; line-height: 24px;">Want to Be Truly Productive? End Each Day Like This</span></span></div>
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Recently, I wrote a column with tips on how to <a data-ls-seen="1" href="http://bit.ly/1lxLies" style="border: 0px; color: #009cd8; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">start a great day</a>. What I neglected to mention is that the best way to make sure your day has a solid start is to have a great ending to the day before. If you finish your day stressed and worried with lots of loose ends, it will impact your time at home as well as your sleep. String a few of these unhappy endings together and you'll watch <a data-ls-seen="1" href="http://bit.ly/SOrGEc" style="border: 0px; color: #009cd8; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">your productivity</a> plummet like a rock.</div>
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You can solve this problem with a small paradigm change. Focus as much or more energy on ending your days well and you'll start each day more rested and vibrant. Here are 7 simple tips to help you finish right so you can start the next day with a clear mind and a happy heart.</div>
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<strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 0.8em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">1. Finish one "organizing" project. </strong>Busy people always have some organizing project they have yet to get accomplished. It might be cleaning out an old file drawer or clearing your email. Whatever it is, schedule 20 minutes at the end of the day and tackle it. Even if you get partway done you'll feel like you started to <a data-ls-seen="1" href="http://www.amazon.com/Getting-Things-Done-Stress-Free-Productivity/dp/0142000280/?tag=roarin09-20" style="border: 0px; color: #009cd8; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">accomplish something</a>. Within a week at most the task will be done and you'll feel lighter inside.</div>
<div style="border: 0px; font-family: Vollkorn, 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0.9em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 0.8em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">2. Address all communication. </strong>I hate having email and messages that lag overnight. They create little voices in my head screaming <em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Answer me! Answer me! </em> I feel like I was rude and left people hanging. I hate ending the day feeling guilty. Even if you can't find a way to deal with all your correspondence and messages, the least you can do is acknowledge that you received the <a data-ls-seen="1" href="http://bit.ly/16QmUvC" style="border: 0px; color: #009cd8; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">communication</a>. Create a signature that says: <em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Thanks, I got this. I'm a little busy but I will respond within a day or two. </em>Then you can add the task of responding to your list of things to do without offending those who made the effort.</div>
<div style="border: 0px; font-family: Vollkorn, 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0.9em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 0.8em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">3. Do a brain dump. </strong>When I am really busy, my brain will run in circles and I struggle getting to sleep. Rather than suppressing the mental energy, I prefer to release it. I sit down and write down everything in my brain. Not everything that comes out has value (as some have told me.) But once it's in a document or on paper, my brain frees itself and allows me to rest. <a data-ls-seen="1" href="http://www.amazon.com/Moleskine-Classic-Notebook-Large-Notebooks/dp/8883701127/?tag=roarin09-20" style="border: 0px; color: #009cd8; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">Journaling</a> can also help extract those sticky thoughts. I often write my columns at the end of the day since it leaves my head drained and ready to recharge on the pillow. (This one is being written at 2:30 AM.)</div>
<div style="border: 0px; font-family: Vollkorn, 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0.9em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 0.8em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">4. Review your calendar and to-do list. </strong>It seems obvious to do this, but many people wait until the morning to make their list and set their dates. I find the later part of the day is the best time for making the to-do list and reviewing the calendar since that way I can make sure I didn't leave anything hanging or open-ended from the day. There is nothing worse than trying to rest and feeling like you <a data-ls-seen="1" href="http://bit.ly/19mx1gn" style="border: 0px; color: #009cd8; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">forgot something important</a>.</div>
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<strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 0.8em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">5. Set out your clothes. </strong>Weather reports have become sufficiently accurate to know how to dress the next day. If you followed tip #4, you'll also know if you have any meetings that require you to dress a <a data-ls-seen="1" href="http://www.amazon.com/How-Dress-Success-Edith-Head/dp/0810921332/?tag=roarin09-20" style="border: 0px; color: #009cd8; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">little nicer</a>. Better to have a fashion crisis in the evening while watching TV than to end up late because you couldn't find that tie or blouse. You can even catch a little more sleep if the clothes are all there, pressed and waiting when you wake up.</div>
<div style="border: 0px; font-family: Vollkorn, 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0.9em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 0.8em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">6. Set a "Shut Down" time. </strong>Even though late-night <a data-ls-seen="1" href="http://bit.ly/KDPhone" style="border: 0px; color: #009cd8; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">phone calls</a> are rare around my house, email and texting can go all night long. This is not a good idea. I finally made a decision to stop checking a couple of hours prior to bed. It allows me to decompress and takes away the risk of adding more thinking to my brain that will disturb my rest. I'm not a doctor or paramedic, so there are few emergencies that need my immediate attention. They can wait until morning when I am fresh and ready to address them.</div>
<div style="border: 0px; font-family: Vollkorn, 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: -0.01em; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0.9em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 0.8em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">7. Center yourself. </strong>Once everything is put away, organized and the day is over, find 20 minutes before bed for some relaxing introspection. Be it meditation, <a data-ls-seen="1" href="http://bit.ly/KDPrayer" style="border: 0px; color: #009cd8; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">prayer</a> or simply quiet breathing, isolate yourself from people and electronics so you can spend some quality time slowing the outer world. (It's ok to have the poodle on your lap. At least this works for me.) This is a good time to let go of anything that made you angry or upset. It's also a wonderful time to acknowledge gratitude for anything good that happened. If that doesn't help you start the next day on the right track, nothing will.</div>
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By Kevin Daum</div>
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Source: <a href="http://www.inc.com/kevin-daum/want-to-be-truly-productive-end-each-day-like-this.html" target="_blank">Inc.</a></div>
Lakeview Consultantshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16980939262033041377noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-709867292527263840.post-49110715484379848362014-02-24T18:27:00.000-05:002014-02-24T18:27:17.767-05:007 Important Creative Thinking Skills<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: large;">7 Important Creative Thinking Skills</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1">We were on a call recently with an <a href="http://brainzooming.com/take-it-easy-today-and-share-your-strategic-challenges-with-a-great-team/3613/"><span class="s2">extended creative team</span></a> generating ideas for client videos. During breaks, I found myself jotting down examples of important creative thinking skills the team was exhibiting. These seven <a href="http://brainzooming.com/saturday-special-6-keys-to-improving-creative-thinking/959/"><span class="s2">creative thinking skills</span></a> demonstrated during the call are ones which benefit both those who display them and those working with them too:</span></div>
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<span class="s1"><b>1. Suspending advocacy of your own idea to push for another person’s concept</b>.</span></div>
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<span class="s1">It’s helpful to be able to come into a creative situation and demonstrate your willingness to champion another person’s idea. It can open the way to getting others to support your thinking, as well.</span></div>
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<span class="s1"><b>2. Putting your own idea to the same test you apply to an idea from someone else.</b></span></div>
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<span class="s1">When it comes to your own ideas, it’s easy to be a hypocrite and apply all kinds of hurdles to other ideas while letting your own thinking slide by unchallenged in your own mind. Just one thing to remember: don’t become somebody known for doing this!</span></div>
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<span class="s1"><b>3. Combining two different ideas and making them better (not muddled) as one idea.</b></span></div>
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<span class="s1">Often (maybe “almost always”) compromising on creative ideas leads to something nobody likes, recognizes, or thinks satisfies the original objective. Being able to dissect ideas to pull out highlights and put them together as something new, however, is entirely different, and a great skill to have.</span></div>
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<span class="s1"><b>4. Letting someone else take “ownership” of your idea in order to build support for it.</b></span></div>
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<span class="s1">This skill really tests whether you believe so strongly in an idea you’re willing to let someone else step up and take it on as their own idea to see it prevail. The key to seeing your idea win out can be letting somebody else be the vocal proponent for it.</span></div>
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<span class="s1"><b>5. Displaying the patience to wait for someone else to say what needs to be said so all you have to do is agree.</b></span></div>
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<span class="s1">It’s tempting to jump in right away and make all the points you feel necessary in a creative discussion before anyone else talks. At times though, patience and silence are called for when it becomes clear someone can and will express your perspective – and can do it more appropriately than you can.</span></div>
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<span class="s1"><b>6. Sticking to your guns amid challenges to a creative idea which makes solid strategic sense.</b></span></div>
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<span class="s1">There are many creative ideas which, while being really cool, have nothing to do with what you’re trying to achieve and how you should be achieving it. When confronted with others who are passionately arguing for highly creative yet hardly strategic concepts, make and remake your case if the idea you’re advocating is on the mark strategically.</span></div>
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<span class="s1"><b>7. Always looking for new creative skills to develop in yourself and those around you.</b></span></div>
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Not only do you want to make yourself stronger creatively at every juncture, it’s in your best interests to help improve the creative performance of your overall team. Creative meetings are a great opportunity to spot gaps others labor under as well as seeing your own creative shortcomings. Inventory what you saw (or didn’t see) after a creative meeting and get to work filling the gaps.</div>
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By Mike Brown</div>
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Source: <a href="http://brainzooming.com/7-creative-thinking-skills-important-for-you-to-have/7998/" target="_blank">Brainzooming</a></div>
Lakeview Consultantshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16980939262033041377noreply@blogger.com0