Beyond 254

Focus On One Good Thing

It may seem like I was complaining in the last few posts. But in reality, I was merely pointing out situations at work that I found rather amusing.  I will admit that things have started to become somewhat peaceful. My major projects are completed and another was put on hold. Also, the environment has been changing based on the way I have been looking at things.

I have been reading a book by Catherine Ponder called "The Millionaires of Genesis." This is a fascinating book and I will need to write a review when I finish it. But I had to stop for a minute to mention a point she made in Chapter 5. When you find yourself in the midst of a negative situation, Catherine Ponder stated that you should "Dwell on likenesses, not differences. Look for something to agree with in the situation. Agree with it and withdraw in peace." The only way a negative condition can remain a force is for someone to feel badly about it. Basically try to find something positive about your current situation, even if it is only one thing. So, I decided to find the one good thing to focus on at my job. The one good thing I did find to focus on was the sense of humor of a few of my co-workers. There are a few people that I work with, that make me laugh, so I decided to make that the center of my focus. I also discovered another co-worker that shared my passion for healthy living. I noticed by focusing on that one good thing, it seems like I have become more at peace with my current environment. Also, I seem to be connecting a little better with some of my co-workers. So I challenge you to find at least one good thing about your job, no matter how small it is. By focusing on the positive, you are drowning out the negative energy. Once that negative energy is diminished, a stronger sense of peace can move in.

Tip of the Day: Focusing on one positive thing on your job can give you something to look forward to each day. This will diminish some of the "dread" most of us encounter when we face each new day at work.

Were You Listening?

I was on a conference call last week with a team of people. During the call, we outlined our steps with the client for an issue that needed to be resolved. The client stated that they will not be able to give us a timeline until they have the requirements from my team. The very next day, I received an e-mail from one of the directors that attended this call. He asked if I had a timeline from the client. I felt like saying, "You were on the same call, were you listening?" I politely reminded him that they need the requirements from us first, so I was going to set up a team meeting to discuss this. I know that people have plenty on their plate nowadays, but sometimes a lot of my work is reporting information that was currently discussed.

Tip of the day: Make sure all meetings are documented and send the notes to the attendees that were present. Even if they fail to read the minutes, you can simply forward the information to them when they ask questions associated with that meeting.

Over 400 Miles, One Sentence

  I had to attend an out of town team meeting on Monday. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss our high priority projects. I spent Thursday and Friday last week and the time while I was in flight, preparing for this meeting. Not sure what to expect, I wanted to make sure I was prepared. Two other team members had to travel to attend this meeting. The total attendees were nine (that included the locals and the out of towners). The meeting was scheduled for two hours. We started reviewing the first set of projects and I noticed that the Director, VP and Senior Manager did most of the talking, they rarely requested our input. The majority of the time, upper management did most of the talking amongst themselves. At one point, the VP stated, that if we do not get to all the projects, we can conclude on a conference call. I thought to myself, this meeting should have been conducted via conference call to begin with. I did manage to say one sentence in regards to my projects. Wow, just think, I woke up at 4:00am to catch a flight to a city over 400 miles away to say one sentence. At least they briefly skimmed over my projects, they did not even discuss the projects of my other traveling colleagues.

On the positive side, we got a free lunch and I got some time away from the office. Also, since I was prepared, I was not nervous or tense, because I tried to anticipate all their questions before hand.

Tip of the day: It is better to be overprepared, for any major meeting. You will be more relaxed and at ease because you will be prepared for any questions that come your way.

Typical Corporate America

The other day someone forwarded the selection below to me in an e-mail. I decided to share it with you, because this scenario is an excellent example of Corporate America today. I am not sure who originally wrote this, but it is an accurate illustration of today's corporate culture.

A Japanese company (Toyota) and an American company (Ford) decided to have a canoe race on the Missouri River. Both teams practiced long and hard to reach their peak performance before the race. On the big day, the Japanese won by a mile. The Americans, very discouraged and depressed, decided to investigate the reason for the crushing defeat. A management team made up of senior management was formed to investigate and recommend appropriate action. Their conclusion was the Japanese had 8 people rowing and 1 person steering, while the American team had 8 people steering and 1 person rowing. Feeling a deeper study was in order, American management hired a consulting company and paid them a large amount of money for a second opinion. They advised, or course, that too many people were steering the boat, while not enough people were rowing. Not sure of how to utilize that information, but wanting to prevent another loss to the Japanese, the rowing team's management structure was totally reorganized to 4 steering supervisors, 3 area steering superintendents and 1 assistant. They also implemented a new performance system that would give the 1 person rowing the boat, greater incentive to work harder. It was called 'Rowing Team Quality First Program,' with meetings, dinners and free pens for the rower. There was discussion of getting new paddles, canoes and other equipment, extra vacation days for practices and bonuses. The next year, the Japanese won by two miles. Humiliated, the American management laid off the rower for poor performance, halted development of a new canoe, sold the paddles, and canceled all capital investments for new equipment. The money saved was distributed to the Senior Executives as bonuses and the next year's racing team was outsourced to India.

Sadly, The End.

Here's something else to think about: Ford has spent the last thirty years moving all its factories out of the US, claiming they can't make money paying American wages. Toyota has spent the last thirty years building more than a dozen plants inside the US. The last quarter results: Toyota makes 4 billion in profits....Ford racked up 9 billion in losses.

Ford folks are still scratching their heads.

I Apologize for My Absence

I apologize for my absence. I have been very busy these last couple of weeks preparing for a fashion show. In addition to working full time, I have been attending rehearsals twice a week since late May. The show was Sunday, August 3rd, but the week leading up to it was extremely hectic for me. I was getting ready for the show, as well as getting my house in order because of the guests that came to town. Due to my schedule, I neglected my writing. My writing usually helps rejuvenate me and gives me a boost. I am glad that my schedule is slowly getting back to normal and I can get back to writing and catch up on my reading.

As some of you know, I have an intense passion for the fashion industry. I was given the opportunity to model in a local show and I welcomed the challenge. The show was a success and we received plenty of positive feedback. But for me, this show provided a creative outlet for me. One thing I have learned was that my current job situation is stifling my creativity. Due to my job, I cannot express my true style. Since we have to dress "business casual" my true style is hidden under pin-stripe pants and boring tops. Working with these ladies over the last few months has been inspiring for me. I plan to start expressing myself more by changing my hairstyle and adding more exciting pieces to my business wardrobe within the next few weeks. This show has pulled out what has been buried deep within me for years. Also, this show was a big jump outside of my comfort zone, but I feel proud of myself for doing this. I challenge everyone to go outside their comfort zone and experience all that life has in store for you. Who knows you may learn something about yourself in the process.

Tip of the Day: Take a step outside your comfort zone to follow your passions. Not only will it provide a sense of joy, you will also learn something about yourself in the process that might need improving, in order for you to move to the next level.