Stuck in a rut? Here's how to get off the nail
Research tells us that two out of every three people are dissatisfied with their job. Why do they stay in a job they don't like? Probably because it easier to stay than it is to go and look for another job. They're stuck in a rut. I once heard a story about a woman who walked by a certain house every day. There was a man on the porch, and a dog lying at his feet. Every day the woman heard the dog moaning and groaning, clearly uncomfortable. One day, the woman asked the man, "Why ...More of "Stuck in a rut? Here's how to get off the nail"
Work less, live more
I once had an affair... with my job. It started around 2001 and wasn't just for a few busy weeks
either, it went on for a couple of years. I cheated on my husband and my children, spending a significant amount of time away from them. I cheated them out of time they should have had with their wife and mother. My 'partner' was available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. 'He' was easy to spend time with... he was fun and rewarding. He was at the end of a phone call, at the keyboard of ...More of "Work less, live more"
Core Fears
Fear is the number one motivator of all humans. Fear causes us to do more things than any other motivator, including money. Sad isn't it? Fear is a deep-rooted emotion that causes us to do things seemingly beyond our own control. We react based on fear, as opposed to respond. We lash out in fear, we avoid in fear, we lose weight, quit smoking and argue based on our fears. I was speaking to a psychologist recently about "core fears." We all have a ...More of "Core Fears"
Get Your Mojo Back
I'm getting married! We bought a house! We're having a baby! I got accepted into university! Remember those moments? Remember how excited, how full of energy, how positive you were? When was the last time you felt that energized? When was the last time you wanted to jump out of bed in the morning because you were so excited about what was on your schedule? If you are like most people, those events occurred sometime in your 20s or early 30s. There are many years between those events ...More of "Get Your Mojo Back"
Never Too Old
Are you too old to try new things? That question almost hurts, because I like to think that I’m not too old for anything. Surprisingly enough, I do meet people who think they are “too old” to do things.
I recently bought a Macintosh laptop. I have been using PC since the PC came into the work environment in the l980s. I started out as a computer trainer, so I am extremely comfortable with the PC environment, and computers in general. My entire networked office is ...More of "Never Too Old"
Let's Get Busy Doing Nothing!
Are you “too busy”? It seems we are a culture of people who try to “out-busy” each other. "Hi Rhonda. How are you today?”
“Busy. You know how it is. How about you?”
“Busy busy – it never stops!” And on the discussion goes.
When I was growing up, my brother and I attended church and Sunday school. I also attended Brownies or Girl Guides during the school year and in the summer I played competitive baseball. ...More of "Let's Get Busy Doing Nothing!"
Do you interrupt others?
Knock, knock!
Who’s there?
Interrupting cow.
Interrupting cow wh—MOOOOO!
Please pause for this interruption
I admit I have a very bad habit that is incredibly annoying. OK, so I have many annoying habits. But today I’ll talk about just one: I cut people off when they’re speaking.
I don’t intend to be rude; I just seem to think that I know where the other person is going and that I can ...More of "Do you interrupt others?"
Taking Notes While Listening
I teach an extremely popular course on Minute Taking - and one of the most common questions I get asked is how to take notes while listening. These techniques are helpful for both Minute Taking as well as taking messages while on the telephone. 1. Keywords - try not to write down entire sentences - you will very quickly lose your place and concentration. The average person speaks at about 250 words per minute - can you write that fast? I didn't think so ...More of "Taking Notes While Listening"
Are You Good Enough?
What we cannot do is settle for "good enough". Do you ever sit back and look at life and say "This is Perfect'? I hope that occasionally this happens to you - that you are perfectly satisfied, that life is exactly what you pictured it to be, and that you are truly happy. What we cannot do is settle for "good enough". Good enough is the enemy of great. People just accept that this will ...More of "Are You Good Enough?"
Are you an Internal or External Thinker?
Some people go through life and never feel they have any control at all. How much control do you feel you have on events in your life? Here’s an exercise to help you find out. Draw a line on your page with the words "External" at one end, and "Internal" at the other end. Now plot your placement on this line based on the following explanation of life. This isn't just business related, but applies to your personal life as well.
External thinkers
Are you an Internal or External Thinker? "
Are You Having a Professional Mid-Life Crisis?
Most people go through a period in their professional life where they become stuck. Have you ever caught yourself despairing, "Is this what I'm going to do every day for the rest of my life?" If so, you may have been professionally stuck, facing a mid-life crisis. I had a professional mid-life crisis at the tender age of 28. I started out loving my job - I was getting paid well and was successful at my job. Then, without realizing it, I drifted into the comfort zone. I could work for ...More of "Are You Having a Professional Mid-Life Crisis?"
You Are Either Living or You Are Dying. Which are you doing?
In the movie "The Shawshank Redemption," the main character says that there is one choice to make in life: We can either get busy living or get busy dying. It makes you stop and think, doesn't it? If you aren't actively doing one then you are, by default, doing the other. I meet so many people who are passively dying. At work, they're in what I call the 'comfort zone.' So easy to get into, and so difficult to get out of.
Have you ever driven somewhere and not remembered ...More of " You Are Either Living or You Are Dying. Which are you doing?"
Trendy Phrases...and Buzz Words
Our minds can absorb information four times faster than the average person can speak. That means that, at any given time, three quarters of your brain is working on something else. We may simultaneously be aware of the temperature, of distractions in the room, and of other conversations taking place. The problem is that sometimes 'the something else' is more interesting than the main event! As communicators, we need to fully engage the brain of the person with whom we are speaking. We need to be ...More of "Trendy Phrases...and Buzz Words"
Being "Proactive" Just Means Changing Your Mindset
n the 1990s we all heard the word "proactive." It seemed to be the buzz word of the decade. But what does it really mean to be proactive? One definition is "to do things before they need to be done - the opposite of reactive." How can we be proactive with our day-to-day jobs? How can we ensure the pile doesn't threaten to overtake us? Here are five steps that will help you become proactive - and reduce that daily frustration. 1. Keep ...More of "Being "Proactive" Just Means Changing Your Mindset "
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