Good Manners Always Matter
Good Manners Always Matter It is surprising how many people just don’t realize the importance of good manners. We all need to be aware that many people notice when someone…
Thoughts, Guidance, Inspiration
Attributes of Professional Behavior
What are the Attributes of Professional Behavior? It is important to note that someone’s title or position in an organization is not a guarantee that they will act in a…
Beware of “Dream Snatchers”
Beware – Could a “Dream Snatcher” Be Holding You Back From Achieving Your True Potential? If you want to achieve your true potential it is important to first recognize whether…
Lessons from the Bumble Bee
Lessons from the Bumble Bee – Dream the Impossible Dream To be truly successful you need to avoid being a “Limitation Thinker.” In fact, you need to be the opposite.…
Strengthening Your Strengths
Professionalism – Strengthening Your Strengths It is an all too human tendency to worry about the things we are not good at. Such people spend much of their time and…
Determination
Determination Who do you think I am describing? He failed in his first business as a storekeeper. He failed in his first attempt to obtain political office. He failed when…
Life can be just like my chicken
Life can be just like my chicken I was recently preparing to heat-up a pre-cooked piece of chicken in the microwave. Before putting it in the microwave, I thought how…
The Art of being a Good Communicator
The Art of Being a Good Communicator Ronald Reagan was the 40th President of the United States. He is often remembered as a great communicator. His skill in communicating was…
Active Listening
Professionalism – Active Listening A true professional appreciates the importance of active listening when someone else is speaking to them. Just think about how often are you not fully attentive…
Striving for Excellence
Professionalism – Striving for Excellence People who act in a professional manner do not settle for mediocrity. They do not deliver “shoddy work.” They pay attention to detail. They take…
Attributes of Great Leaders
Attributes of Great Leaders “Leadership is not about rank, title or position. It is about actions and results.” Great Leaders are focused on creating the future. They focus on what…
Projecting a Professional Image
PROJECTING A PROFESSIONAL IMAGE “Just like a bottle of Coca-Cola, your personal image is your brand.” The way you dress, the way you do your hair, the shoes you wear,…
Professionalism and Integrity
Professionalism and Integrity “Integrity is like an invisible suit of armor. It will protect and support you throughout your life so long as you take good care of it.” People…
Leadership – Exceeding Expectations
Leadership – Exceeding Expectations “If you want your team to exceed expectations you must first tell them the expectations they have to exceed.” It seems a simple enough directive. Tell…
Achieving Peak Performance
Achieving Peak Performance – Personally and Organizationally ‘If you want to change the results you have been achieving you must start by changing the goals you have been pursuing.” If…
Maximizing Personal Performance
Maximizing Personal Potential – When Bad Things Happen It is a normal part of everyday life for bad things to sometimes happen. Bad things happen in our personal lives and…
Think Like a Customer
Think like a Customer Whether they realize it or not, all people in the workforce can have a distinct impact on the success or failure of the organization in which…
Don’t be a “Limitation Thinker”
Don’t be a “Limitation Thinker” If you want to achieve your full potential, you need to avoid “Limitation Thinking.” People who are plagued with this are those who build invisible…
“Negative Self Talk”
“Negative Self-Talk” – Removing the habit Are you ever conscious of allowing “Negative Self-Talk” to be going around in your head? All of us have a tendency to do that…
Avoiding Anacondas
Avoiding Anacondas – Achieving Your True Potential Everyone has the potential for greatness. Unfortunately, very few people achieve it. In fact, many people just drift along and never expect to…
Emotional Control
Emotional Control Do you ever feel compelled to say something to someone because their words or actions have greatly annoyed or offended you? Do you feel a pit in your…
Professionalism
Professionalism Have you ever wondered why some people are referred to as being “very professional?” What sets them apart from other people in the workplace? Why is it that others…
Personal Effectiveness
Personal Effectiveness The most effective people in the workplace appear to have a certain characteristic in common. This characteristic revolves around their utilization of time. They know where they spend…
Improving Your Communications
Improving Your Communications In today’s society, one of the greatest sources of misunderstandings is often the failure of one person to communicate effectively with another. Communication failure is often a…
Commit to be more Open-Minded
Commit to be more Open-Minded A member of my family was recently expressing their apprehension about going to a holiday event. They thought that the person responsible for organizing the…
Being a Reliable Person
Being a Reliable Person I recently had a telephone call with a company that had done some work on my home and was due to return for a few minor…
The Problem with “Realistic” Goals
The Problem with “Realistic” Goals I believe it is important to set goals each year – both personal and professional. Most people and many organizations often achieve much less than…
Tell Team Exactly What is Expected of Them
Tell Team Exactly What is Expected of Them Peter Drucker is often referred to as the “Father of Modern Management” and it was Drucker who stated “Management by objectives works…
Thoughts for Leaders and Aspiring Leaders
Thoughts for Leaders and Aspiring Leaders As a Leader or an aspiring leader, it is important to have a list of tenets or beliefs to which you subscribe. These can…
3 Tips to Start the New Year
3 Tips to Start the New Year Get a great start to your success in the new year by taking note of the following tips. 1. Clearly visualize your goals…
Take a Look in the Mirror
Take a Look in the Mirror When I was a child, my mother frequently had to remind me to wash behind my ears. Similarly, when I was brushing my hair,…
Don’t Overreact to a Negative Situation
Don’t Overreact to a Negative Situation When I was teenager my father had a very nice motor car. It seemed to have so many advanced features on it. However, I…
Taking on the 800 Pound Gorilla
Taking on the 800 Pound Gorilla The challenge faced by many start-ups (and sometimes the far more developed companies) is how to successfully compete with and beat a much larger…
Listening Problems
Listening Problems A year or two ago, my wife and I had been trying to purchase wood flooring. It was at that time in short supply, and I had become…
Think Before Speaking
Think Before Speaking My mother-in-law had a number of phrases or sayings that she would use from time to time with great effect. One in particular that still makes me…
It’s All about Lobsters
It’s All about Lobsters Someone recently discussed a situation with me that had made him feel somewhat uncomfortable. He had met with three of his work colleagues who discussed their…
The Importance of Meeting Notes
The Importance of Meeting Notes I have often found in business that unless I write notes during a meeting or, at least, prepare a written report immediately following such a…
Creating a World-Class Organization
Creating a World-Class Organization with World-Class Customer Service One of the best ways to ensure the outstanding success of a company is for everyone in the organization to understand and…
What’s Holding You Back?
What’s holding YOU back from Achieving Your Full Potential? Is it an “Anaconda?” Everyone has the potential for greatness. Unfortunately, very few achieve it. Many just drift along and never expect to make much of themselves. They don’t seem…
A Simple Smile
A Simple Smile Some years ago, after moving my office into a new building, I could not help but notice when walking down the communal corridors just how miserable some…
Don’t Prejudge People
Don’t Prejudge People Many years ago when I was living in Norway, most mornings I would see a Norwegian man walking to his office, which was in the same building…