life – Page 30 – Success Strategies

The Holidays Arrgh Here! How To Handle Employee Time Off Requests…

I️ received a call with an enquiry about the holidays, and time off. No doubt a pain for employers and an avid desire for team…

I️ received a call from a business owner about time off during the holidays. “Everyone wants to take time off at the same time. What’s the best way to handle this during the holidays?” she Dubiously asked.

Time off during the holidays can be a Riff issue for employers, and an emotional desire for team members. Employers fear absence will impact business results. Meeting the demand often prove overwhelming for small business owners who operate in the hospitality, retail, and other industries that service holiday needs.

On the other hand, employees wish to spend time with family, especially those visiting from out-of-town. Let’s not forget the busy preparations involved, amidst the hustle and bustle of the holidays.

So how can we balance the two? You don’t have to be mean about it. I concur with Kim Scott’s recommendation on the topic. Here’s my take on the issue.

The Balancing Act. Try the trade-off. Employees know the drill. Share holiday coverage needs and let them work it out amongst themselves. Only step-in if you absolutely must.
Comp days. Give them half/full day off at less demanding times. You will find this works very well, and shows compassion to those who must work.
Flex-Basket. Try a flex-basket of Goodies from which they can choose. This would include a selection of delights such as lunch, dinner, drinks, partnership with vendors for relaxation/rejuvenation goodies (e.g. mani/pedi, movie tickets, etc.). Believe me, this works wonders.

So there you have it! Three simple tips that will bring delight to your team, and smooth your business over the stressful holidays.

Noticed anything missing that you would add to best manage this issue during the holidays? Do share!

Cheers!

To Honor To Serve…

A Neophyte visit to the National WWII Museum with my girls humbled. To those who served, we honor and thank you for your sacrifices. To family members who held the fort in their absence, and to those who lost loved ones we say, Thank you. We honor and appreciate you.

Books That Changed The Lives of Writers…

Books have been known to inspire, motivate, encourage and change the lives many individuals. Entrepreneurs Strut their stuff gleaning pages of business books to find success strategies. Careerist search to find the secrets to a better job/life. Children Gingerly fantasize of fairy tales, lovers dream, and some gravitate to the scares of horror, action or adventure.

We dare not forget books that have spiraled into movies that entertain readers and non-readers alike. Well known authors such as Stephen King, J.K. Rowling, John Grisham, and many more, spring to mind.

Curiosity sparked, one publisher asked writers to share the name of a book that has changed their lives. The responses came in droves. Here I share a few:

Outliers
Transparency of Evil
Alchemist
Night
You can heal your life
The Secret life of the Bees
Rich dad Poor Dad
Catcher in the Rye
The Four Agreements
Unlimited Power
The Bible
Good to Great
The Power of the Subconscious Mind
I am That Girl
Conversations with God
Who Moved My Cheese
Hummingbird
What I know for sure
The Grand Design
Love Warrior
Into the Wild
Just Kids
The Giver
The Mastery of Love
When The Enemy Strikes
Code of Extraordinary Minds
Life is Good
Think Like a Man
Atlas Shrugged
On Writing
Pride and Prejudice
The Power of Now
The Game of Life and How to Play it
Excuses Begone

Do you share the sentiments of any of the books named by responding writers? Can you add any?

Cheers!

5 Ways To Boost Your Career in 2018…

Bored with your career and wondering how to make a change in the coming year? You’re not alone. Year-end does that to most of us. It creates that sense of longing to get our goals, dreams and aspirations done, or at the very least start the steps to get there.

That said, here are 5 Things To Do To Boost Your Career and take it to the next level in 2018:

1. Update your Public Profile. That includes social media profiles if you are actively seeking a career change. Remember that ‘s where most recruiters start to zone in on their search. So take a look at your LinkedIn and other profiles to identify areas where update is/are needed.

Oh yes, most important is the need to take the steps to update your Resume . Don’t wait until an opportunity presents itself for you to start updating. If you have a personal website, you should also take the steps to update. By the way, if you are in the creative industry, having a personal website is absolutely essential. Hiring managers will set aside your application if they are not able to see examples of your work.

2. Speak with your manager. Reach out and chat with your manager/supervisor (and in some cases co-workers who work closely with you). Find out what you’re doing great, and ways you can improve. They are usually more than happy to oblige you with the information. Don’t leave this up to your company’s performance management process to get it done. These days companies at times lag with this process, which in itself is evolving.

3. Upgrade your knowledge and skills. Review industry trends. See what’s changing. Know when to let go and when to hold on. Upgrade your skills as needed.

4. Engage in Deep Reflections…are you doing what you always wanted to do? Or are you Vision bored?

5. Celebrate your Wins! No matter how small, celebrate! Go Dancing, or do whatever brings you fun! It will provide the boost to encourage you to climb higher.

So Faint not. These 5 steps will help you as you look beyond your current circumstances into the future. Be Bold! Take the next move in your career.

Need help? Let’s connect!

Cheers!

Sometimes Let Go. Sometimes Hold On…

With the rapid growth of technology and the ease with which we can obtain goods and services online, one writer asked a Customer Service Rep, “where will the cashiers go?” She replied, “I️ don’t know. I️ hope I’m dead by then”.

I️ began thinking…do we watch trends? And if we do, are we prepared for them? When things change, what do we do? Do we cry, get depressed, or give up?

Definitely not. We need to learn when to let go, and when to hold on.

Know When To Let Go

My followers know that I often refer to the fictional Ms. Havisham from the book Great Expectations. Left at the altar, she determined to remain stuck for the rest of her life. Like an Egg, she was afraid to move on. Decades later, she was still wearing her wedding dress.

Indeed sad. But how many of us are like that? We lose a contract or a job and we remain stuck, whining about the circumstances of the loss. We fall prey to a failed relationship, and we sit back for years…waiting, waiting, waiting. Someone did us wrong and we complain for the rest of our lives. We fail to realize that we are hurting only ourselves as the person has moved on and in some cases, do not even remember the circumstances.

If any of these situations pertains to you, shake it off as Tayor Swift sang. Just Shake it off. Move on. There’s more in life for you, if only you change your perspective.

Know When to Hold On

So how do you discern when to hold on? There’s a fictional cartoon of two men digging to find gold. Suddenly one hits the jackpot! The other hearing his screams of joy in the distance, turned away from his own digging despondent. Onlookers were privy to seeing what was happening, realized that if only he had continued, he would have discovered that his own jackpot was right there. But sadly he turned away, and missed a tremendous opportunity.

How many of us are like that? When the going gets rough, you give up. Acquiring degrees or certifications ain’t no easy feat. When the assignments build; when the work/life balance goes out of whack; when the child rebels, when the bills pile up, when the Panacea of sickness steps in, when an ailing parent moves in… so many give up. Only to regret it later when things change.

To those who are digging for their “goal“, I encourage you to hold on. Don’t give up. Keep plodding. You will achieve and value it more when you look back and reflect on the path you took.

Discouraged? Need help? Let’s connect. Cheers!

Waiting To Start…

You pile up enough tomorrows, and you’ll find you are left with nothing but a lot of empty yesterdays.

Goals

Life is short. Don’t let it Simmer. Don’t let it wait.

Waiting To Start…

You pile up enough tomorrows, and you’ll find you are left with nothing but a lot of empty yesterdays.

Goals

Life is short. Don’t let it Simmer. Don’t let it wait.

Vision…Bored

Bored with your vision? It’s not a Mystery. Wake up! Get creative! Create Goals that makes you want to jump out of bed in the mornings. Don’t be like Tenterhooks.

What Bad Things Are You Grateful For In Your Life?

What bad things are you grateful for in your life? This question was asked and I thought it was rather interesting. How many of us can express Gratitude for the bad things that has happened to us? Certainly not an easy feat.

Here I share my response.

I worked long and hard in my job. One day ‘back in the day’, I had a disagreement with my boss when I asked for a raise. At the time though I had several diplomas and certifications, he told me I needed a degree. I was from a family with little means, but I vowed that no one would ever use that as an excuse again.

Today I have a BSc. Management, Masters Health Administration, Masters Human Resource Management, and Doctorate in Organizational Leadership. #noexcuses.

So that’s me. How about you? What bad things are you grateful for in your life? Come on, encourage someone today. It can’t be that Ghoulish…do share.

Cheers!

What Are You Afraid to Do?

Sometimes you have to step out to do the things you have always wanted to do.

I love watching HGTVs Fixer Upper! Oh the transformations! Now we are sad to hear that come next year this husband and wife team will no longer be on the series. They decided to move on to something new and exciting!

In the same way, artists in the entertainment industry have over time made the decision to step out. To forget the Fluff. To move on. Names such as Michael Jackson, Beyoncé and more, come to mind.

Making decisions to change, to do something new is always scary. But if we never step out into the unknown to do what we Prefer, we will never know the level of success we can attain. And oh…if we fail…at least we would have experienced something new, something different. Oh that we’ll be braver next time!

What are you afraid to do? Challenge yourself …even when you’re afraid.

Cheers!

What Does It Take To Be A Good Writer?

Don’t Waste Time Trying to Please People. -Stephen King.

Wanting to do their best work, new writers are naturally anxious. They ask questions. They probe. They Gorge. They sweat. It’s hoped they sweat while writing and not about how to start. Stephen King in his memoir titled “On Writing” stressed don’t waste time trying to please people. Indeed this is applicable in many situations as individuals attempt to develop their own Identity.

In a public authors forum, the question was asked “What does it take to be a good writer?” Writers chimed in. Here I share a few of their responses.

Writers…On Writing

Read a lot. Write, write a lot
Patience and Perseverance
Finding the connection between your soul and your writing hand. It will require a number of disciplines like grammar, voice, tense and genre. But the key is opening your spirit to the process. Make your writing not a craft, but an empowered purpose in your life.
An empathetic love of both stories and storytelling
To keep writing
Write something. Publish it. Learn from mistakes. Grow
A unique voice telling an untold story that everyone wants to hear
Passion, and drive, as well as supportive people in your life
Persistence, then creativity, then literacy, finally intelligence
Vision, creativity, persistence, stubbornness, patience, a thick skin
Natural ability
Practice, practice, practice, and more practice
Honesty, passion, and courage
A moment alone. A moment alone is where it starts
Willingness to receive critical feedback
Time, focus, imagination
Personal passion, self-confidence, resilience to get it done, and never give up
A good editor
Tenacity
Life experiences and a love for it. Put your heart and soul in it
The ‘write’ attitude
Learn, then learn more. Accept first that you always need to grow
Finish even when you hate it. Even when you don’t want to. Even when you’re uninspired.