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Enhancing Lives

Category: Leadership

The Three C’s of Life:

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Choices, Chances, Changes.

Are you still looking back at the past?

2018 is almost a memory and if you want to live life on your own terms, you’ll want to focus your energy on the future! So ponder these questions:

1. What would make 2019 the BEST year ever?

2. What is one dream or one unfulfilled goal that keeps coming back?

3. What are one to three things that I want to accomplish this year?

4. If I accomplished all three, what would that mean to me?

5. Who else would that impact and how?

Don’t just let this precious time of the year pass you by without answering these questions!

This can be your BEST YEAR YET, but it won’t happen if you leave it to chance. Make the choice to live your best life on your own terms by starting today. “

Choice, chance, change

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Cyber Monday

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Online shopping competition is fierce these days, so I would think companies would be willing to step up to the trends to stay in the race.

A few days ago I had to call a customer service department of a major company. I had to listen to several options and several menu options before finally getting put on hold for over an hour before a human actually picked up. They claimed there was a high volume of callers that day. The day prior I had tried for two hours to speak to someone at that company. How can a company like that stay in business?

Too many companies have gotten away from TRUE customer service. True customer service includes a personal touch—a smiling voice, a helpful person—and no phone system can provide that. Human interaction is needed for genuine personal touch. To compound the problem even further, many companies no longer publish a phone number, if they do, it is somewhere in small type hidden on their websites. They want you to go through email and wait days for an answer. Efficient? For them, maybe. For me? No.

Don’t tell me how much you care about my business in a recording. I’m more than just a number in queue. I am not a robotic machine. I HATE talking to machines. It makes me want to hang up! I prefer to talk to a helpful person every time. 

Where I shop for my monthly consumables, a human answers in less than ten seconds every.single.time. and they are pleasant! I suppose they’ve spoiled me, letting me know my business is important to them. I’m important.

Yes I order online, but when there is a problem, I prefer to talk to a person every time. I love companies that make that a priority. Come Cyber Monday, I know which company will be getting my spending dollars!

How about you?

Stuck in your comfort zone?

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Monday thoughts.

How many of you are stuck in your own comfort zone?
You feel safe doing what you have been doing every day, but question when you don’t get the results that you desire.
This can pertain to any aspect of your life: health, fitness, relationships, business, etc.

Have you ever had a conversation with yourself?
I don’t mean just talking out loud like some people do. I mean really dig deep inside and pull out what it is that really scares you.
Only you can find out the true answer.

Now, don’t lie, because you will only lie to yourself and you are the one person you never want to tell lies.
Once you identify your fear, ask yourself if you take a step towards conquering it, will it physically or mentally harm anyone? 99.9% the answer will be no. The only ‘harm’  might be palpitations and cold sweats.

Identify the fear that makes you stuck in your comfort zone, take a deep breath and just go for it! What is the worse thing that can happen?
You dip your toe in the cold water and after the initial shock, you breath and say to yourself, ‘that wasn’t so bad! I got this!’
Little steps like this will help you step outside your comfort zone and positive results will happen!
Remember, FEAR is Face Everything And Roar!

Creating A Team Culture

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Constructing a team is a good thing. Creating a “culture” of teamwork is much better. The post below from “The Balance” can give you important input about creating a culture for your team. These can make a difference in your team’s success.

Teams with a team culture are aware that every success of every individual is the success of the entire team, not just that individual. Share this philosophy with new team members right up front. Knowing that this is a team and collaboration is expected of them will speed their individual accomplishments.

Don’t be shy about reminding them of the value of the culture that drives their successes. Reward and celebrate teamwork and recognize it often. Emphasize that the amounts of their bonuses will depend on how effectively they operate within the team culture.

This post also offers some great tips for team building, itself. Team building is something you do every day. Together you can solve each other’s “real” work issues and problems. Build celebrations around successes and make team collaborations fun and make FUN part of every agenda.

The team concept has quickly become a popular tool for businesses everywhere. That suggests that more and more companies understand that “none of us is as good as all of us”. Make that your belief system and create an environment that has a “system” and allows that system to duplicate. Duplication provides a fast track to success.

https://www.thebalancecareers.com/how-to-build-a-teamwork-culture-1918509

Inspiration vs. Motivation

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Many of us use the words inspiration and motivation interchangeably as though they are the same word. In fact, the two words, their meanings and the emotions they evoke are distinctly different.

Inspiration is an external, driving force—usually associated with some newly discovered information. Motivation, on the other hand, is an internal, pulling force that only comes from within. 

In many ways, these two concepts seem to conflict because we “feel” inspired, which comes from within and motivation has some elements of external factors, which cause us to take action.

A great convention speaker informational presentation can inspire us, but the call to action comes from within. We are responsible for taking that action.

Motivation is when you get an idea and take it to its conclusion.

Inspiration is when an idea gets a hold on you and drives you where you intend to go.

Create your motives (and your motivation). Inspiration will come from your spirit. Keep exposing yourself to new information and you will continue to “fill your tank” with inspiration. Your motivations for initiating your actions are YOUR responsibility. Don’t shirk it; embrace it and it will soon become a very good and successful habit. Habits are activities that duplicate themselves.    

Can The Fear Of Success Cause Me To Fail?

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The fear of failure is easy to understand. We all experience it, even if it is only from time to time (but it is likely more often). Fear of failure is right there “in your face”. It presents itself right up front and is obvious. As I said, fear of failure is easy to understand.

But it may be that the fear of success is your biggest obstacle. It is much more insidious and more difficult to identify. The article below from “Lifehack” can be very helpful in identifying that you fear success.

Try saying it to yourself, “I am afraid of being successful”, it doesn’t sound right. It sounds counter-intuitive. Check the behaviors, which indicate that you may, indeed, fear success. The article explains some things that you can do. You have often heard (probably) that your subconscious mind is in charge much more than your conscious mind is.

Don’t be afraid of being extraordinary. Having a strong why can help you overcome the fear of success. Revisit your “why” often or, more importantly, write it down and keep it in front of you where you will see it often. You and what you can do for you is powerful beyond measure.

If you work hard doing results producing activities, becoming successful is inevitable. You will have your share of failures. It is just part of life. Believing that you deserve or even are entitled to success can make it all happen. It all begins with you. Don’t fear to become rich, standing out or change. Don’t avoid doing two things every day that will lead you to become the awesome you that is within you.

www.lifehack.org/articles/communication/what-you-have-fear-success.html

Challenges to Millennials

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Millennials are facing significant and unique challenges as they enter the workforce, the housing market and attempt to construct their futures. The article below from the Detroit Free Press illustrates the realities and the obstacles they face.

Many millennials have accumulated thousands in education debt.These 25-34 year-olds now average over $33,000 in education debt. Nearly 50% of families with the head of household under 40 years of age owe money for student-related loans.

Although the recent economic recovery, has helped some, there are still challenges to finding decent jobs in this demographic. Many drop out of college because of anxiety regarding growing debt. And indicators are that even those who have not accumulated debt by choosing higher education are facing the same challenges to their financial futures.

Millennials are bringing home significantly smaller paychecks making it less likely for them to be able to own a home or save anything for their retirement. In essence, millennials are accumulating assets at a much lower rate than those even only 25 years ago.

Many are seeking alternative careers. Some becoming entrepreneurs and experimenting in businesses of their own. So they are searching for answers. But new businesses contain risks of their own including significant up-front investments which can begin the debt cycle all over again.

The company with which I am associated offers millennials alternatives that can help turn their frustrations into opportunities. It eliminates risk and is virtually at no investment. It gives millennials the opportunity to begin wealth creation and much brighter futures. There is hope, young people. 

www.freep.com/story/money/personal-finance/susan-tompor/2018/04/25/student-loans-millennials-generation/537227002/

Giving & Receiving Leadership

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Good leadership is complex. At the same time, it is simple. The “flow” of effective leadership is both up AND down. Mentoring your team is, of course, your responsibility as a leader. You are the leader because you have unique knowledge and skills, so you must share them.

In addition, there is another dimension to leadership, accepting feedback gratefully and willingly. That is the most difficult part for most leaders. Those whom you lead have valuable experiences as well. A good leader recognizes that and respects that feedback from his/her team.

Saying you are open to that and really BEING open to that are two different things. Employees and team members can sense when you are genuinely listening and absorbing their input. This article below from Forbes will give you some valuable perspective. The best leaders don’t just listen to feedback; they solicit it.

To get the feedback you want, you must build trust amongst your team. They must feel safe in giving it to you. There are no negative consequences. If you act defensively you will get less and less constructive feedback. Remember, you and they are sharing wisdom and you will both benefit from it. Balance your leadership with positive (when it is deserved; no fake stuff) and with constructive interaction.

This dialogue will enrich the culture of your business and it will gain momentum, so it will occur more and more often. After your interchange has concluded, be sure and thank the person for taking the time to provide this information. Sometimes it is an advantage to repeat what it was that you have counseled about so both parties are on the same page. Good leadership will pay considerable dividends to your business. The best news is that it becomes easier and easier as you practice it.

www.forbes.com/sites/forbescoachescouncil/2018/01/16/being-a-great-leader-means-giving-and-receiving-feedback/#6a42c223ebc9

Benefits Of Mentoring

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Mentoring is a practice that is touted by many contemporary companies. You have probably also heard it referred to as “coaching”. No matter what it is called, it is a practice that, obviously, is an asset to those being mentored (mentees).

But, have you stopped to think that there are also significant benefits to those doing the mentoring? The article below from “The Chronicle” helps point out some ways where the benefits of mentoring not only flow down to the mentee, but up to the mentor. You see it is not a one-way street.

The lessons you teach can serve as a relearning experience for the mentor. As you increase the confidence and the posture, it improves your own and reinforces the skills that got you to where you are. So as you remind your mentees to have confidence in themselves and their personal resources, take an inventory of your own realizations.

Mentorship forces you to step back to when you were being mentored. As they ask questions you will be faced with your own past experiences that will put their questions in the context of your experiences. How did I learn that? What helped me when I was in their position?

Just because you are now the mentor does NOT mean you are all-knowing. Keep perspective on the perceived hierarchy and remember you can learn from those that you mentor, as well. So keep an open mind and be willing to learn from them. They are usually younger than you are and have a much more contemporary perspective than yours.

Let your mentoring experience make you a better leader. Bear in mind that, as you help them, you should be helping yourself increase your leadership skills. And always be aware that the mentoring journey is all about them. What you get back is collateral knowledge. They are happy to share with you because of what they have gleaned from your relationship.

The company, with which I have associated myself, has established the mentoring (coaching) process as the cornerstone of owning and growing a healthy business that will pay “lifetime” dividends.  It is so integral to their culture; it has been incorporated into the Mission Statement. I keep it on my desk so that I am able to review it every day.

chronicle.umbmentoring.org/four-ways-mentoring-benefits-mentor/