Our Deepest Fear…

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Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. 
Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. 
It is our light, not our darkness
That most frightens us. 

We ask ourselves
Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?
Actually, who are you not to be? 
You are a child of God. 

Your playing small 
Does not serve the world. 
There’s nothing enlightened about shrinking 
So that other people won’t feel insecure around you.

We are all meant to shine, 
As children do. 
We were born to make manifest 
The glory of God that is within us. 

It’s not just in some of us; 
It’s in everyone.

And as we let our own light shine, 
We unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. 
As we’re liberated from our own fear, 
Our presence automatically liberates others.

~Marianne Williamson

How Can You Know What Your True Dreams Are?

When Dreams tug, let it flow.

Dr. Shelly's avatarSuccess Strategies

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A dream is a cherished aspiration, ambition, or ideal.

How can you know what your true dreams are? That was the question a 22-year-old asked. An interesting question that has troubled hearts for centuries.

How Can You Know It’s a Dream?

It never goes away. It stays with you. You go to the left…it’s there. You go to the right…. it’s there. It never leaves until you confront it. Until you come face to face with it. Sometimes our dreams are so big they scare us. But that’s when we need to take a step back.

Let’s think of Steve Jobs. Everything we do now can be done through a little device – the cellphone. Be it text, talk, scroll, have sleepless nights because we’re too connected; talk with a doctor; device-in-hand, head down… we walk around as if in a trance. It all became a reality because of…

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Where Did The 8-Hour, 5-Day Work Week Come From? Rissman Tells All…

Turning point for the Standard Work Week shared by Stearns Weaver Miller on what’s happening concerning COVID_19

Where did the 8 hour, 5 day work week come from? Ford Motor Company in 1914, but it was a long time coming.  Before that, factories were open around-the-clock with employees working long days and 100 hour weeks. In the late 1880s, a labor movement started using a slogan like “eight hours for work, eight hours for play and eight hours for rest”.  After that, it took almost 20 years until Ford reduced employees’ regular work week to 5 days consisting of eight hour days. The company also doubled employee pay, causing shockwaves throughout the industry. By doing this, Ford saw employee productivity increase and profit margins double. The thinking was that if the company was going to make any money, employees needed time off to buy things.  Seeing the success of Ford, other companies naturally implemented the eight hour day, which soon became the working standard.  So there it is, the reason the 8 hour, 5 day work week exists in our country for over a century is nothing more than an old effective factory work schedule.

 Glenn Rissman 

Read the full commentary on the turning point of the standard work week here

A Nod And A Smile Among The 4 New Ways That Replaced The Handshake…

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Is the traditional handshake a thing of the past? Has it been replaced by fear? Caution reigns with its mighty power. Yep, the worldwide Pandemic has infiltrated business and traditional code of ethics for greeting colleagues, business partners, interviewees and networking. But as things change we need to adapt. The Society of HR Managers (SHRM) shared its 7 Alternatives. When next we connect in person, it might be a nod and a smile ingrained in a touch of social distancing in the midst. Here I share my top 4 pulled from the SHRM list.

Handshake Alternatives

  1. Offer a Nod and a Smile
  2. Make a Good First impression … a pleasant wave will do
  3. Focus on eye contact
  4. Develop a workplace code (corporate cultural adjustment)

It’s the new normal. From the list above which do you intend to use? Do share. We would love to hear.

Cheers!

 

 

 

 

Your Fears are Real. 3 Things To Do About It…

Your fears are real! Let no one tell you otherwise.

If ever there was a time that most people are afraid it is now. The worldwide Pandemic has put most countries under lock-down. Stay-at-Home. Keep safe is the cry from most. Yes indeed, the world is afraid. Job loss is rampant. The loss of loved ones, be it family or friends. The future. Our goals, plans, ideals. All seems to be going up in the air.

Yet still I dear say that all is not lost. While there is life there is hope. Yes…Fear is real.  But here are 3 things that you can do about it.

3 Things To Do About Your Fear

1. Don’t Avoid it. Do it in-spite of your fear. Whatever your goal, go after it.

2. Prepare. Research. Gather information. Find out what you can do to alleviate your fear. For example once I was inspired to do a skydive (crazy adventurous me). Naturally I was afraid. Jumping 14,000 ft high from a small craft in the air is no easy task, but I worked on my fear. I researched. Found the best skydiving school with zero failures (eyes rolled …ha ha). Then I did other things but the fear rose to greater heights when they had you sign a gazillion release documents before they moved on to the exciting part…the actual jump! It was exhilarating! I did my research and it put my mind at ease. Try it and watch your fears dissipate.

3. Take Small Steps. As you embrace your fear, take it a step at a time. For sure you will overcome as you release it.

When were you afraid? What did you do about it? Do share, we would love to hear.

Cheers

I Ain’t Gonna Lie. Leadership Ain’t Easy. 11 Hard Things You Have To Do To Be A Great Leader…

You have to try and fail and try again

I Ain’t Gonna lie. Leadership Ain’t easy.

The Hard Things – INC Lolly Daskal. Here I share Eleven.

  1. You have to make the call you’re afraid to make
  2. You have to give more than you get in return right away
  3. You have to care more about others than they care about you
  4. You have to feel unsure and insecure when playing it safe seems smarter
  5. You have to lead when no one is following you …yet
  6. You have to invest in yourself even when no one else is
  7. You have to deliver results when making excuses is an option
  8. You have to make mistakes and look like an idiot
  9. You have to try and fail and try again
  10. You have to run faster even when you’re out of breath
  11. You have to meet deadlines that are unreasonable and deliver results that are unparalleled

Does any of the above resonate? Any you want to add? Do share. We would love to hear.

Cheers!

Professionals Share 21 Pro-Tips on How To Work Remotely…

Either you run the day or the day runs you.

In a public forum, renowned author Seth Godin asked professionals to share their approach to working remotely. Here are a excerpts of their responses I gleaned as they thunderously chimed in.

  1. Create a designated working space with everything in reach.
  2. Deep work in the morning. Lighter work in afternoon.
  3. Go outside at least once a day
  4. Divide time into 30 minute segments, making sure a task is attached to each. Regular short breaks, food.
  5. Stick to a schedule and treat self to a half hour sitcom during lunch. A good lunch keeps mindset light.
  6. I work from home but my husband doesn’t. Feel like my space is being invaded a little. I always stick to a routine and make sure I dress as though I’m leaving the house. That helps my mindset a lot.
  7. Shower and dress well. Focus on one (only one) major item to accomplish that day.
  8. Act as if you are in an office. Dress, voice and stature. Be even more engaged by email and on calls ideally video. Make presence felt virtually. Do brief turn-the-chair around update chats by messenger and quick zoom call.
  9. How can some (e.g. a dentist) work from home? In response to this question personally I say, plan, strategize future business and/or personal goals.
  10. Do breathing exercises and make sure environment working in isn’t distracting.
  11. Take one hour shift with partner to manage young kids home from school.
  12. Eat lunch with friends over video calls.
  13. Set up own schedule and share with friends to chat when not working
  14. Building a machine learning model.
  15. No prototype…no work meeting. Have a tangible artifact to collaborate on or review
  16. The one thing I appreciate is that I can work from home (and thinking of those who cannot).
  17. More focused… meaning work gets done earlier than disruptions in office (i.e. called to meetings, discussions etc). Then Netflix to end the day.
  18. This is a time to reflect, learn and innovate.
  19. Bought flowers this week. Brightens the view on a rainy day
  20. Made office space private and more organized. When door closed, no one bothers.
  21. Set a goal that you can meet each day that will help you feel accomplished at the end of the day. Oh… and talk to someone each day about something other than work. Social distancing does not mean social isolation.

Any missing that you would like to add? Do share. We would love to hear!

Cheers!

Social Distance. 5 Ways To Greet Safely…

Here’s a hug for you, and for you, and one for you.

But Hold up! With the advent of the Corona virus we are not supposed to be hugging right? It’s called keeping your social distance. We are now forced to find new ways to greet others at social gatherings such as in the networking sphere.

5 Ways To Greet Safely

Here are 5 Ways:

  1. Look the person in the eye and use your feet to greet (shown in video). It’s called the Wuhan Shake.
  2. Wave to say hello
  3. Fist Bump
  4. Head nod
  5. Just say hello

There are tons more circulating but for now as we battle the Corona health pandemic, these should help bridge the gap.

Cheers!

 

Will Anyone Want To Read What You Write?

Raise your words not your voice. It’s rain that grows flowers not thunder ~Rumi

With exclamation signs and all the teacher sent an email titled “Important! Please read!” Parents rolled their eyes. Who wants to read a lengthy email captioned like that? The essence of what she wrote was students folders were sent home with report cards. Why not just say that? What parent isn’t interested in his/her child’s performance?

Corporate Communication

It’s the same with communication sent to employees by supervisors and managers. That’s essentially what  Aaron Orendorff   discussed in his insightful New York Times article Your Colleagues don’t read anything you write.

Simply say what you mean. No need to shout. It’s what Rumi’s quote alluded to Raise your words not your voice. It’s rain that grows flowers not thunder. 

3 Communication Gems

Personally, I walked away with three gems:

  1. Put action words in your subject line
  2. Listen more. Talk less
  3. Don’t answer. Ask

Often it’s not what we say but how. So check your manner, tone, words and how you speak. Chances are your tone precedes your voice. Something to think about.

Cheers!

Resignation. Knowing When It’s Time…

The Royal couple’s resignation and their desire to make a huge change, has turned the world upside down. So many questions. What will happen next?

Knowing when it’s time.

It’s no secret that resignation from anything is hard. Be it resignations from public office, volunteer roles, relationships (yikes) or other.

A few years ago I wrote about the process of resignation. It’s a serious thing and one that has been thrown into the spotlight again with that Royal Resignation.

The Way To Turn It In

But is there a right way to resign? Having managed the Human Resource role for over 25 years, I have seen many. Besides the common letter, I have seen post-it notes from recent grads to their supervisor, text messages, and a call to say “I’m out”.

Reflecting on the Royal couple’s resignation or their desire to make a huge change, its as though the world has been turned upside down. So many questions. What will happen next? How will they function? Where will they live? How will they perform their various roles? So many questions.

But there are correct ways to resign. Most companies have formal procedures to be followed including putting the resignation in writing (not on post it …smile). Companies often advise employees of the pertinent notice to be given to the employer if and when they intend to leave. This varies from company to company and may be anywhere from a day’s notice for new hires still on probation, two weeks or a month depending on state laws. Again this all depends on the capacity that the incumbent holds.

A Sigh Of Relief?

When it’s finally done employers may decide to have the employee leave the company immediately or stay until they hire a replacement for training and handover should they do desire. It might very well be a time to shake things up a bit, negating handover to replacement.

Reports are that the royal couple announced their resignation on social media…more specifically, Instagram. This has alarmed the Queen as well as members of the royal family.

The Divide

There’s now a divide about whether it should have been done and how. Oprah’s name has been called and she has denied providing advice or her opinion on this very royal matter.

I’ll only conclude with encouraging you to do it the ‘proper’ way. That means, give the required notice to the powers that be. But then again Millennials consider the decision to be the couple’s because of the bureaucracy involved, while older generations support to follow the traditional route.

It’s your decision. But whatever route you take, be prepared for the next steps as the receivers of the resignation respond.

Good luck to you as you make your own changes this year. If you need help, don’t hesitate to ask me how either through my newest book Your Career: Ditch It or Switch It or simply contacting me here.

Cheers!

New Mayor’s Historical Appointment. Success And The Challenges He Had To Overcome…

I was flying out of the Fort Lauderdale International airport to Washington DC for a conference when I heard the familiar voice of Broward County’s newly appointed Mayor VC Holness announcing welcome to visitors. Mayor Holness made history recently when he was unanimously voted to become the first Black Mayor to lead the county. Indeed an achievement.

Success Strategies Research

Personally I extend my own congratulations because years ago when I conducted my research on Success Strategies of Caribbean American Leaders in the United States with Nova Southeastern University, Mayor Holness quite willingly agreed to participate in the phenomenalogical study. At the time he was Commissioner. In the research he shared the strategies he used to become successful as well as the challenges encountered along the way.

Regardless of how we feel about politics, his appointment signifies a goal he went after and achieved.

Mayor Holness continues to strive. To work hard to show those who wish to achieve that it can be done through hard work and dedication.

More of his story as well as those of other industry leaders in healthcare, aviation, education, media and more can be read in the book Success Strategies of Immigrant Leaders In The United States.

Thanks again Mayor VC Holness for your willingness to go beyond the call of duty to share your experience to benefit rising millennial leaders.

Cheers!

Leaders Discover Yourself…

Becoming a leader is synonymous with becoming yourself. It is precisely that simple and it is also that difficult.– Warren Bennis

At a family social 9-year-old RJ was asked to be the leader for his little brother and cousins at the park. He looked shocked. He’s never been asked to play that role formally before. Yet unknown to him he has always done it. He was a natural born leader.

Discover Yourself

When we reach for a goal that is beyond our usual capacity we discover great things about ourselves. Things that surprise, encourage, and please us. Things that make us go aghast. Leadership opportunities are all around at work, school or play. You don’t have to have that official title of leader.

Stretch Yourself

But these leadership discoveries can only happen when we step outside our comfort zone. When we are scared but do it anyway.

Step outside your comfort zone today. Stretch yourself. You’ll discover great things. Read more in my book Success Strategies of Leaders.

Cheers!

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