Beyond 254

Enigmatic Pain: Part 2

I almost forgot to give an update of the enigmatic pain I experienced back in May. The doctor's visit was for recurring pain in my collarbone and upper-back region that has been present for the last couple of years. As I suspected, the results of the test turned up nothing.

It is good that there is nothing wrong, but it still bothers me to not know what is going on. The doctor told me to take an anti-inflammatory medication for one month and if it does not clear up, then get an MRI. Since I do not like to take medicine, I did not take the pain medication and decided to see if the problem can be solved naturally. I am starting to wonder if what I am experiencing is stress related. I noticed that since I am handling things better on my job, the severity of the pain has decreased. Also, I noticed that when the stress level does go up, the pain level increases, but not as severe as earlier this year. I will continue working on my attitude, reading my daily inspirational books, going to church and writing in my gratitude journal. The more that I work on myself and gain a deeper relationship with God, the pain will continue to decrease and my body will heal. This will be a journey, so I will keep you posted on my progress.

Tip of the day: Try to eliminate stress in your life by taking time to pray more, meditate and finding other channels that bring joy and relaxation into your life.

False enTITLEment

Sometimes when I watch people in Corporate America, I notice something different about some people who have titles. It seems like the bigger the title, the bigger the ego.

I notice that when certain people reach the level of manager, director or higher their ego inflates. They feel that their title enTITLEs them to act a certain way because of their position. It seems like some managers want to reign down their terror on their staff, creating a very hostile and unproductive environment. Other corporate leaders, feel that people need to adapt to their volatile mood swings. Have you ever been fearful to talk to some managers, because you do not know what kind of mood they are in? Management teams that promote an environment of fear, hostility, gossiping and backstabbing create a poisonous atmosphere for their organization. This type of poison flows through the corporation and creates employees who lack creativity, work ethic and ambition. These behaviors create low morale that can paralyze an organization. Sometimes you wonder why some companies are in a constant state of struggle and others seem to thrive and prosper. I think, in some cases, it all stems from how a company treats its employees. Companies that offer better pay, good benefits and most importantly a positive work environment will naturally attract the best and the brightest. The law of giving applies in this situation. The more companies give out to employees and their community, the more they will receive. They will attract the best people. Their employees will work hard and be more creative, which in turn will help the bottom line.

Of course, not everyone in a management position lets their ego get out of control. But for the other management teams, they need to learn to think of others and let go of their ego. I once heard Dr. Wayne Dyer say that EGO stands for "Edging God Out." In today's society, it looks like out of control egos are the standard and accepted in corporations across the country. Corporations need to understand that egos will hurt, instead of help their organizations. They need to address these egos immediately before they paralyze their environment and cripple their company.

Dreams Deferred

I realize from talking to other co-workers that many people have suppressed or given up on their dreams. During these conversations, my co-workers mentioned desires they have and things they are passionate about, but have not pursued them. I wondered how different the world would be if everyone followed their dreams?

I believe people would be happier and corporations would be in better shape, if everyone followed their passions and dreams and obtained jobs that line up with their gifts. This is also applicable for people starting businesses that line up with their talents. If people worked in areas they were designed for, I feel that we would not have as many inferior products and poor customer service. When you create or build something you are passionate about, you work hard at it until it is perfect. If you are not that passionate about it, you will only do what is necessary to get by. Think about the job you are doing. Are you going that extra mile because you love it so much or are you just doing the minimum to get by?

I talked to many people on the job, who have dreams to open restaurants and spas. Others have expressed interest in singing. But there is a silver lining; yesterday one of my colleagues emailed me to tell me that he is resigning from his company to pursue a better opportunity. It is very encouraging when I hear people taking action and seeking something more enriching for their lives. So the question is when are you going to make that first step and move toward your dreams?

Tip of the day: If you cannot resign from your job yet, working part-time on your dreams is the best way to start moving toward your goals.

Dangers of Sleep Deprivation

This past Sunday, I watched 60 Minutes and they did a story on Sleep Deprivation. Watching this story scared me to my senses. I have not been getting adequate sleep for years and this story finally put it in perspective for me.

This story touched on the typical effects of sleep deprivation: fatigue, slow responsiveness and decreased memory function. But the point that scared me was the fact that it can put you at risk for diabetes, even if you are healthy. They did a study with a young, healthy male who received only 4 hours of sleep for six nights. After only a few days, they noticed that he was in a "pre-diabetic state." His body was not metabolizing sugar properly and it was brought on by lack of sleep. This man was not overweight and he was healthy. He did not have the typical diabetic risk factors, but lack of sleep pushed his risk over the edge in just a few days. The experts recommend 7 1/2 to 8 hours a night. Less than 7 1/2 hours can put you at risk. They also stated that lack of sleep can cause weight gain. When you do not get enough sleep, it causes a drop in leptin levels. Leptin is a hormone that tells the brain when you are full. When those levels drop, leptin tells your brain that you are hungry even though you are not. This story really affected me, because I get 5 to 5 1/2 hours (if I am lucky) of sleep per night. Even on the weekends, I might get 6 to 7 hours. I am a very health conscious person, but according to the experts, if I am not getting enough rest, my healthy lifestyle might be null and void.

After watching this broadcast, I immediately started to update my schedule, so I could get the recommended 7 1/2 hours a night. I will start out and shoot for 6 1/2 to 7 hours and then work my way up to 7 1/2. I will let you know in a few weeks the changes that take place due to this major lifestyle shift. I encourage you to join me on this quest to improve your health and well being. It will help in all aspects of your life.

Tip of the Day: GET MORE REST!

Where Will Your Gifts Take You

Today I was thinking about gifts and talents. Everyone is gifted with special talents that they were born with. But ask yourself are you using your talents to the fullest?

 

This past Friday, the great and respected journalist, Tim Russert from NBC, past away suddenly. Tim Russert was an outstanding journalist, who had an intense passion and gift to discuss and analyze politics and political issues. Over the years, I have seen him in action interviewing politicians and covering elections with passion and zeal. Over the last few days, I have been watching the tributes that were given in his honor. Tim Russert had the respect of his colleagues as well as competitors from other major networks. But what fascinated me were the accolades he received from the leaders of the United States. He was admired by members of Congress, Senate and even the President. Two verses from Proverbs summed up Tim Russert’s gifts and talents. Proverbs 18:16 states, “A man’s gift maketh room for him and bringeth him before great men.” Another verse is Proverbs 22:29 and it states, “Seest thou a man diligent in his business? He shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before mean men.” Tim Russert’s gifts and talents brought him before world leaders. So my question today is where will your gifts take you? Are you even practicing and using your gifts and talents? You might say that Tim Russert’s job required him to meet with world leaders and politicians. True, but it was his passion that made him stand out. Also, other examples include fashion designers who are sought out by first ladies to design their gowns or entertainers who perform before world leaders. Even people who own cleaning businesses and construction companies, who are passionate about their craft, are sought out by influential people because their excellent work draws people to them. Like the Proverbs verse states, your gifts will make room for you. You need to find out your gifts and believe in yourself and you will discover this for your own life.

 

Tip for the day: Take time to discover your passions and if you are not walking in your true calling, start creating a transition plan to move you in the direction of your destiny.

Things I Look Forward To After I Escape: Part 2

I created a list a few weeks ago called “Things I Look Forward To After I Escape.”  I decided to revisit it, because I wanted to revise the wording of a few items. Instead of focusing on what I do not want, I wanted to change the wording to focus on what I do want. The article and the updated list are shown below:

 

As you know, I plan to “break-out” from this prison called Corporate America by the end of this year. Today I was thinking of all the things that I look forward to after I leave Corporate America and strike out on my own. The things I look forward to are listed below:

• Spending my time doing something that I am passionate about
• Expressing my creativity
• Sharing my thoughts, creativity and ideas with other like minded people
• Looking forward to Monday mornings
• Setting my own schedule
• Freedom to work wherever I want
• Control over my own destiny and future  instead of leaving my future in the hands of short-sighted corporate executives
• No more commuting and fighting traffic Commuting to my home office
• No more lunches at my desk Having lunch at fabulous restaurants
• Escaping the cubicle
• Working in an aesthetically pleasing environment
• No more office politics Working in a positive environment
• No more illnesses and pain related to job stress  Healthy body and peaceful mind
• No more boredom  Excitement

I would advise you to create an “I look forward to” list of whatever you believe for, whether it is a better work environment, new job or leaving Corporate America. Print out the list and place it where you can see it everyday. This will help keep you motivated, so you can work toward your goal.

Tip of the Day: As you can see, I kept the revisions in place, so you can see the original thought compared to the new thought. I do not want to focus on the negative, but instead keep the positive attributes the center of my attention. I will revisit this list again, in order to create more defined attributes so I can establish clarity. This list is a good first start and a great foundation to build upon.

 

 

 

Can’t You People Read: Part 2

It seems as if people never learn. Today, I spent all morning putting out fires. My managers kept asking questions about a high priority project. All of their questions and concerns were addressed in earlier status reports that are sent daily. I try to give them the benefit of the doubt and understand that they are probably bombarded by all kinds of information each day. But to me, I would think that you would try to remember the information about an important project. I went through this same scenario a few months ago, when managers did not take the time to read about critical project status. It is frustrating, because it seems like I am wasting my time going over things that were already discussed and mentioned in previous reports. So many times today I wanted to say, “If you would read your status reports, you would know better than to ask these questions” (sorry, that was my ego talking!). But of course, I stayed polite and responded to their questions. In the midst of the frustration, I am thankful that I had the information to respond. It gives me some sense of peace in the center of all this chaos.

Tip of the Day:  Make sure you save all correspondence. If someone ever tries to claim that they did not receive an e-mail from you about a certain topic, just forward the original e-mail that was sent to them. Once they see that the original e-mail was addressed to them, it usually keeps them quiet for the rest of the day. At least they know that they cannot use that excuse anymore.

Is It Really Incompetence?

Some days, I wonder why my job is so hard for me. Sometimes, it seems like a struggle to get my tasks accomplished. I look at others around me and it seems as if other people are also fighting their jobs. I started to wonder are all these people really incompetent or are they in a job that is not a fit for them?

I always believe that if you are passionate about something, it will be a lot easier for you. I think that is why I struggle so much with my job, because I lack the passion. I get my work done, because I have a strong work ethic, but I lack the excitement and enthusiasm to go that extra mile. One of my co-workers is so good at his job, because he has such an excitement for it. He reads up on the latest technology and seeks out the hot, new gadgets in his spare time. Because of this, people on the job look to him as a subject matter expert due to his knowledge. This thirst for knowledge about technology causes him to gain more insight and wisdom. People see that expertise in him and seek him out. I look at others around me, who are stuck in jobs they are not passionate about. I bet if you talk to them about a subject they love, you will see the knowledge and wisdom pour out. I know whenever people talk to me about fashion/beauty, spirituality and self actualization; I can talk for hours because I am obsessive about these things. I am always reading about or seeking out shows geared toward these topics, so I can learn more about them. So, next time you start beating yourself up because you are struggling on the job, do not doubt your intellect, just realize that you are not walking in your true calling. Once you find out your purpose, your life will be so much easier. You will also discover that you are smart, knowledgeable and others will notice that in you and start seeking you out.

Tip for the day: Discover what you are passionate about. What gives you the most joy? Once you answer those questions, start seeking out opportunities to move your life in the direction you were destined for

Adverse to Change

Today, I was talking to a co-worker after she had a conversation with one of the HR payroll clerks. She stated that this clerk was complaining about the new payroll system, we implemented for the HR department. This new system is a better tool, but the clerk did not like the fact that she had to learn a new system and process.

 

Change and learning new things is what helps people and organizations grow and develop. Without change, people can become complacent and get stuck in a rut. Also by staying the same, you can fall behind the times in relation to trends and technology. Can you imagine someone wearing the same hairstyle or clothes for the last 30 years? It starts to become boring and predictable. Your mind is not being energized, because you are not learning and trying new things. Lastly, resisting change can cause you to get left behind. Sometimes change is not comfortable, but understand that it will eventually be for your own good. As for the HR payroll clerk, she will come to realize in time that this new system is better and the growing pains that come with change are only temporary. In the end, it will make her job a lot easier.

 

Tip of the day: Try or learn something new each day. This might include trying a new food, taking a different route home or reading a new book. Watch and see how you will benefit from this new experience.