Leadership Tip

I love this Leadership Tip from a friend, Mary Ann Masur, that I thought I would pass on! Enjoy!

You Don’t Need a Green Thumb To Grow Your Garden
Over the weekend I worked on my garden and planted containers on my deck. I pulled up weeds, pruned dead plants and planted new flowers to bloom.
My physical garden is a metaphor for your business garden or other area of your life.
Pick an area on which you want to focus. Ask and answer these questions:
• What is the season in this garden?
• What needs to be pruned or eliminated?
• What do the weeds look like?
• What are they overtaking?
• What kinds of animals may be digging up your plants or running around in the garden?
• What areas do you want to grow?
• What kinds of fertilizer and how much water do they need?
You do not have to have a green thumb to grow a beautiful garden. You just need to be willing to spend some time imagining, pruning, planting and nurturing. When you do, you can create what you desire.

Lovin' your job....Aint' so easy!

Lovin' your job is no easy task! It doesn't come easy! However, there are things we can do to help!

Here are a few hints and tips on how an employee can love his job, just a few points from what you mentioned in the book?

• Make sure you are doing what you love, what you are passionate about(if you aren’t make a change or volunteer for the work you are passionate about) , this helps you truly be successful
• Hang with a gang that gets it – Make sure you are hanging with colleagues that you want to emulate or are looked up to in the organization. Steal shamelessly their tips to success!
• Build relationships with your colleagues – help each other and they will help you!
• Find a Mentor – one who has tenure with your company so they can help you navigate through the political landscape of the company. Nothing can make you more “unhappy” than to be caught in a political landmine!

Amazon PUSH Day - April 28th 2010

So, I just hear that each Author should do a "Book push" day with Amazon.com. My book push day with Amazon.com is APRIL 28TH - WEDNESDAY. If you haven't bought a book already, hold off and please buy one that day! Tell your friends and pass it on....THANKS SO MUCH FOR YOUR SUPPORT....Hope you have a fabulous weekend!!!

It's only a job....

Recently I had a stimulating conversation with some friends about whether our job defines us or not. We were split, 50% it did and 50% it did not. Which is better? Which is safer? I can't answer that for you, however, I know when you let something or someone else define who you are or what makes you happy, it's a dangerous place to be, or will be at some point. I love my job, really I do, but at the end of the day, it's a job. Feeling this way, helps put bad days in perspective, or even the thought of losing your job. So if you feel this way too, nothing should really rattle you or create distress in your life from things that happen during "8-5" and if it does you need to evaluate your job or the way you value that job in your life.

Ways to make your office a Happier place to be...

I get asked the question, How can we make our office a better place to be every day...One thing is for sure - you don't have to be the boss to make these ideas a reality where you work...

Here are a few ideas to consider...

•Create a SWAT team at work where their mission is to plan activities that give employees something to be happy about or look forward to; for example, Tuesday snack days, Thursday happy hour, Friday pot luck.
•Create a Peer to Peer recognition program, everyone wants to feel successful and feel like they are adding value, this makes them “happy”! So, give kudos to colleagues for a job well done!
•Celebrate your wins and successes!
•Don’t be afraid to laugh, work doesn’t have to be a bad place to go! Create a culture where it is OK to laugh, tell stories, tell jokes, help bring other’s attitude’s up
•Lastly, if you find you have a member of your team that is bringing everyone down, get them out! One of the biggest reason people have happy cultures is that leaders get rid of the bad eggs!

Say What???

Recently I was listening to one of my favorite radio stations, 104.9 THE RIVER. It's a Christian Rock station. They had released a list of the most "happy" states in the country. Among the top was a real shock! You will never believe it! It's Michigan!!! SAY WHAT? Really? Detroit has one of the highest unemployment rates, the area is sooo depressed, but one thing is not....The value of family, faith and helping others! Yep, you heard it. The top three reasons they feel happy is because of their family values, faith and their involvement in community service. Ironically, three of the top secrets to happiness, you will also find in my book. If those areas are "right" in your life, there is not much that can go wrong...even at work!

Speaking of being happy, I am about to head out on vacation. Heading to Florida to watch my daughter compete in a National Cheer competition (GO iYooWee Fusion All Stars!) for 4 days in Orlando, Florida...Then we are heading on a 6 day caribbean cruise with friends...Sooo...I will chat with you when I get back.....Have a HAPPY Day!

Oh What a Night!

This title may bring you back to a great song that used to be one of my favorites, Oh What a Night (late Dec back in 63)...Loved it and that is how I feel about the book signing at Wyandotte Winery held last night! We had a packed house and great discussions. It is so interesting to me how many people really struggle with happiness at work. When I asked the group (of about 40 ppl) how many were happy at work, only about 10% raised their hands. It's tough enough to be happy in our economy now and after seeing so many wonderful people out of work struggling to make ends meet. So, today if you ARE happy at work, be GRATEFUL! If you DO have a job, be GRATEFUL. If you know someone struggling, reach out and help them. THAT is what finding happiness is really all about... Until next time my friends...