"All adverse and depressing influences can be overcome, not by fighting, but by rising above them."
~~~ Charles Caleb Colton
"If you wish to travel far and fast, travel light. Take off all your envies, jealousies, unforgiveness, selfishness, and fears." ~~~ Glenn Clark
If you want to get out of the pit, stop digging. ~~~ Ernesto Santos-DeJesus
"I have always believed, and I still believe, that whatever good or bad fortune may come our way we can always give it meaning and transform it into something of value." ~~~ Hermann Hesse
Friday, October 31, 2008
HR Quotes:- Overcoming The Negative
HR Motivational:- A Sweet Lesson In Humanity
Years Ago, A 10-Year-Old boy Approached the counter of a soda shop and climbed on to a stool. "What does an ice cream sundae cost?î he asked the Waitress.
"Fifty cents," she answered.
The youngster reached deep in his pockets and pulled out an assortment of change, counting it carefully as the waitress grew impatient. She had "bigger" customers to wait on.
"Well, how much would just plainice cream be?" the boy asked.
The waitress responded with noticeable irritation in her voice, "Thirty-five cents."
Again, the boy slowly counted his money. "May I have some plain ice cream in a dish then, please?" He gave the waitress the correct amount, and she brought him the ice cream.
Again, the boy slowly counted his money. "May I have some plain ice cream in a dish then, please?" He gave the waitress the correct amount, and she brought him the ice cream.
Later, the waitress returned to clear the boyís dish and when she picked it up, she felt a lump in her throat. There on the counter the boy had left two nickels (Nickel: 5 Cents) and five pennies (Penny: 1 Cent). She realized that he had had enough money for the sundae, but sacrificed it so that he could leave her a tip.
The Moral: Before Passing Judgment, First Treat Others with Courtesy, Dignity, and Respect.
Adapted from A Lifetime of Success Pat Williams & Fleming H. Revell
Adapted from A Lifetime of Success Pat Williams & Fleming H. Revell
Thursday, October 30, 2008
HR Safety:- Returning to Standard Time Can Be Deadly
For most people in the United States, daylight saving time ends at 2 a.m. this Sunday, November 2. And, according to several studies, the days following the return to standard time can be a particularly dangerous period for your employees, both at work and on their way home.
Two professors at Carnegie Mellon University reported last year that pedestrians walking around dusk are nearly three times more likely to be struck and killed by cars in the days following the return to standard time than just before the time change.
Ending daylight saving time results in about 37 more U.S. pedestrian deaths around 6 p.m. in November compared with October, according to the study by Professors Paul Fischbeck and David Gerard.
It's not the darkness itself that's the problem, but rather the lack of adjustment to earlier nighttime that's the killer, the professors said. They conducted a study of 7 years of nationwide traffic fatalities and calculated the risk per mile walked for pedestrians. They found that per-mile risk jumps 186 percent from October to November-and then drops 21 percent in December.
The December drop-off indicates the increased risk is caused by the trouble both drivers and pedestrians have adjusting when darkness suddenly comes an hour earlier, the researchers said.
Back in 1999, Kathy Konicki, safety director for Nationwide Insurance, was warning about the dangers associated with the end of daylight saving time.
"The time change has been known to leave many of us feeling fatigued, which can pose some safety risks at home and at the office," Konicki said, adding that some of the things to keep in mind about the switch back to standard time are:
-- Fatigue — Studies suggest that it takes people who work traditional hours several days to fully readjust their sleep schedule after the time change. While it may seem a welcome gift to get an extra hour of sleep as opposed to losing an hour in the spring, "Regardless, there is a physiological consequence to changing our clocks," Konicki said. "So don't be surprised if you feel a bit sluggish for the first week or so of November."
-- Accidents — Evidence suggests that time changes increase safety problems both at work and at home. "Just being aware of the increased risk of accidents in the period immediately following the time change may help you stay alert," Konicki said. "And remember to avoid building up a sleep debt in the days before the change."
Safety professionals have long used the start and end of daylight saving time as reminders for performing recurring safety tasks. On its website, the University of Oklahoma Police Department suggests using the occasion of setting your clocks forward or back as a cue to:
-- Check and Replace the Batteries In Your Smoke and Carbon Monoxide (CO) Alarms. Replace any smoke alarms older than 10 years. Replace any CO alarms older than 5 years.
-- Prepare a Disaster Supply Kit (Water, Food, Flashlights, Batteries, Blankets, etc.). Once you've created your disaster kit, use the semi-annual time change to check its contents (including testing/replacing flashlight batteries).
-- Check Storage Areas for Hazardous Materials. Discard any that are outdated, no longer used, or in poor condition.
Still another thing to remember when you "fall back" is that shift workers on duty that night will generally work an extra hour, for a total of 9 hours of work, and they must be paid for all of those hours.
For shift workers, changing work hours can be the norm rather than the exception. Tomorrow we'll look at some of the hazards posed by shift work, and how you can train your shift workers to stay safe and healthy.
Thanks to BLR
HR Safety:- Shift Work Risks: Stick a (2-Pronged) Fork in Them
It has long been known that shift work (defined as shifts outside of the traditional 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. workday) can have a damaging impact on workers' safety, health, and social and family lives.
National Sleep Foundation studies have found that most shift workers don't get enough sleep, and the sleep that they do get is less restful. During night shifts, workers are fighting the natural wake-sleep pattern, making it hard to stay alert at night and just as hard to fall asleep and stay asleep during the day.
Safety Issues
It is difficult to reset the internal circadian clock, the Foundation says. It is not surprising that 10 percent to 20 percent of nightshift workers report falling asleep on the job, usually during the second half of the shift. That's one reason why shift workers who work all night may find it difficult to sleep during the day, even though they are tired.
When sleep deprived, people think and move more slowly, make more mistakes, and have difficulty remembering things. Those negative effects result in lower job productivity and a higher rate of accidents. The financial loss to U.S. businesses is estimated to be at least $18 billion each year, according to the Foundation.
Health Issues
Chronic lack of sleep harms a person's health, safety, productivity, memory, and mood. Lack of sleep is associated with irritability, impatience, anxiety, and depression, the Foundation reports.
Those problems can upset job and family relationships, and spoil social activities. Shift workers experience more stomach problems (especially heartburn and indigestion), menstrual irregularities, colds, flu, and weight gain than day workers. Heart problems are more likely, too, as well as higher blood pressure.
A Two-Pronged Approach
The shift work training meeting in Safety Meetings Library says workers can protect themselves from shift work hazards by focusing their efforts in two directions:
-- Getting a Good Day's Sleep
-- Maximizing Safety While Awake and Working
Focus on Sleep
To ensure getting enough rest, the meeting tells employees to:
-- Always go to bed at the same time, preferably as soon as possible after work.
-- Sleep in a dark, quiet room. Use room-darkening shades or drapes and turn off the phone.
-- Eat balanced, nutritious meals. Eat only light snacks before bed. Avoid food that's heavy, rich, or spicy.
-- Exercise regularly, though not in the 2 hours before trying to sleep.
-- Avoid sleeping pills. If you have trouble sleeping, talk with your doctor.
Focus on Safety
The second prong of minimizing shift work hazards is maximizing safety during working hours. Here, the meeting advises employees to:
-- Turn on all the lights in your work area and in hallways, stairways, bathrooms, etc.
-- Replace or report any burned out bulbs promptly.
-- Check that you have adequate task lighting. If you can't see your equipment controls, read container labels, or have
other similar problems, let your supervisor know.
-- Be sure all work areas are ventilated, and report any ventilation systems that aren't working properly.
-- Keep temperatures comfortable. Again, if you can't get a comfortable temperature, let a supervisor know.
That's just a smidgen of the tips in the comprehensive meeting outline, which includes suggested discussion questions as well as a shift work checklist and quiz.
Thanks to BLR
HR Quote:- You, Too, Can Become Great
Keep Away from People Who Try to Belittle Your Ambitions. Small People Always do That, But the Really Great Make You Feel that You, Too, Can Become Great.
~~~ Mark Twain (1835ñ1910) Humorist and writer
~~~ Mark Twain (1835ñ1910) Humorist and writer
HR Service Culture:- There Is A Big Difference
Someone Once Said...
"Life Is Like a Game Of Tennis. The Player Who Serves Well Seldom Loses."
Etch this quote in your brain and apply it to your business! If I had to pick one key to building a successful company, I wouldn't hesitate; it would be...create a service culture.
And as much as we try to complicate what great service is...it's really pretty simple: It is giving more than the customer expects...consistently. You notice I said simple, not easy. There is a big difference.
By Mac Anderson / Simple Truths
HR Quotes:- Overcoming Obstacles / Judgment
Overcoming Obstacles
"Adversity has the effect of eliciting talents which, in prosperous circumstances, would have lain dormant."
~~~ Horace
"The abundant life does not come to those who have had a lot of obstacles removed from their path by others. It develops from within and is rooted in strong mental and moral fiber."
~~~ William Mather Lewis
"If we had no winter, the spring would not be so pleasant: if we did not sometimes taste of adversity, prosperity would not be so welcome."
~~~ Charlotte Bronte
"People who consider themselves victims of their circumstances will always remain victims unless they develop a greater vision for their lives."
~~~ Stedman Graham
"Don't be disquieted in time of adversity. Be firm with dignity and self-reliant with vigor."
~~~ Chiang Kai-Shek
"The one resolution, which was in my mind long before it took the form of a resolution, is the key-note of my life. It is this, always to regard as mere impertinences of fate the handicaps which were placed upon my life almost at the beginning. I resolved that they should not crush or dwarf my soul, but rather be made to blossom, like Aaron's rod, with flowers."
~~~ Helen Keller
"Adversity has the effect of eliciting talents which, in prosperous circumstances, would have lain dormant."
~~~ Horace
"The abundant life does not come to those who have had a lot of obstacles removed from their path by others. It develops from within and is rooted in strong mental and moral fiber."
~~~ William Mather Lewis
"If we had no winter, the spring would not be so pleasant: if we did not sometimes taste of adversity, prosperity would not be so welcome."
~~~ Charlotte Bronte
"People who consider themselves victims of their circumstances will always remain victims unless they develop a greater vision for their lives."
~~~ Stedman Graham
"Don't be disquieted in time of adversity. Be firm with dignity and self-reliant with vigor."
~~~ Chiang Kai-Shek
"The one resolution, which was in my mind long before it took the form of a resolution, is the key-note of my life. It is this, always to regard as mere impertinences of fate the handicaps which were placed upon my life almost at the beginning. I resolved that they should not crush or dwarf my soul, but rather be made to blossom, like Aaron's rod, with flowers."
~~~ Helen Keller
"I've learned that no matter what happens, or how bad it seems today, life does go on, and it will be better tomorrow." ~~~ Maya Angelou
"The beauty of the soul shines out when a man bears with composure one heavy mischance after another, not because he does not feel them, but because he is a man of high and heroic temper."
~~~ Aristotle
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Judgment
We judge ourselves by what we feel capable of doing, while others judge us by what we have already done.
~~~ Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1807–1882) Poet
Distrust your judgment the moment you can discern the shadow of a personal motive in it.
~~~ Marie von Ebner-Eschenbach (1830–1916) Novelist
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
HR Motivational:- Christopher Columbus Was a Salesman
Many people do not realize the important role that sales people have played in America. America was discovered by a salesman. Christopher Columbus was looking for India and missed it by about 10,000 miles. Fortunately, he was a better salesman than he was a navigator!
If you question his sales credentials, consider this: He was an Italian in Spain with only one prospect to call on. If he missed the sale, he would have to swim home. That's pressure selling. Once aboard ship, he really had to "sell" in order to sail. Those sailors were going to throw him overboard and he kept saying, "It's just around the corner or over the horizon, let's sail one more day!" Then came that exciting call from the lookout, "Land ho!" and the most profitable sales call in history came to a close.
We were freed by a salesman. Think about it. Washington had to persuade the Colonists to leave their homes, farms, businesses, ship-building activities and fur trapping and go to war against the most powerful nation on earth. He had to be completely honest and tell them that if we won, he probably wouldn't have any money to pay them, and if we lost, they would be hung. That's selling!
I will confess to a certain degree of prejudice because I started selling vegetables on the streets of Yazoo City, Mississippi, when I was eight years old. Later, I sold peanuts in the downtown area. I was a salesman in a grocery store and on a paper route; then I was in direct sales for fifteen years. Today, I'm selling hope and ideas. Actually, everything is selling and everybody sells. Lowell Foletta said it well: "Our sales department is not the whole company, but the whole company is the sales department." So, no matter what your title or job description says, you are a sales person - just like Christopher Columbus. Buy that concept, sell with pride and I will SEE YOU AT THE TOP!
By Zig Ziglar
====================================================
Quote:
Lack of Direction, Not Lack Of Time, Is the Problem. We All Have Twenty-Four Hour Days. ~~~ Zig Ziglar
If you question his sales credentials, consider this: He was an Italian in Spain with only one prospect to call on. If he missed the sale, he would have to swim home. That's pressure selling. Once aboard ship, he really had to "sell" in order to sail. Those sailors were going to throw him overboard and he kept saying, "It's just around the corner or over the horizon, let's sail one more day!" Then came that exciting call from the lookout, "Land ho!" and the most profitable sales call in history came to a close.
We were freed by a salesman. Think about it. Washington had to persuade the Colonists to leave their homes, farms, businesses, ship-building activities and fur trapping and go to war against the most powerful nation on earth. He had to be completely honest and tell them that if we won, he probably wouldn't have any money to pay them, and if we lost, they would be hung. That's selling!
I will confess to a certain degree of prejudice because I started selling vegetables on the streets of Yazoo City, Mississippi, when I was eight years old. Later, I sold peanuts in the downtown area. I was a salesman in a grocery store and on a paper route; then I was in direct sales for fifteen years. Today, I'm selling hope and ideas. Actually, everything is selling and everybody sells. Lowell Foletta said it well: "Our sales department is not the whole company, but the whole company is the sales department." So, no matter what your title or job description says, you are a sales person - just like Christopher Columbus. Buy that concept, sell with pride and I will SEE YOU AT THE TOP!
By Zig Ziglar
====================================================
Quote:
Lack of Direction, Not Lack Of Time, Is the Problem. We All Have Twenty-Four Hour Days. ~~~ Zig Ziglar
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
HR Reward:- Rewarding Your Team
Learning Why "Thank You" Is So Vital
Imagine this scenario: One of your team members has saved the company a significant amount of money with a process she spent weeks creating. It's right before the winter holidays, so you decide to reward her with a turkey that she and her family can enjoy for dinner one night.
You make a big deal of presenting the turkey to her. She smiles and shyly accepts the gift, quickly putting it in the office refrigerator. You feel good because you rewarded her efforts, and she seemed to be happy about the recognition.
But is she? Things aren't always as they appear. You didn't take the time to find out whether or not she likes turkey, so you didn't discover that she's a vegetarian. And you didn't consider that she commutes to the office one hour by train - so by the time she gets that frozen turkey home to give away to friends, it will be a drippy, soggy mess.
Have you ever wondered why the rewards you offer don't seem to be received very well? We often hear from business experts about how important it is to reward your team. But it's equally important to take the time to find out how your team would really like to be recognized. Sometimes people don't want a bonus or pay raise. Instead, what they'd really like is a sincere "thank you" or a day off to spend with their families.
This article helps you learn the "Ins and Outs" of Recognizing Your Team.
The Importance of Rewarding Your Team
Although the idea of rewarding workers beyond their pay and benefits package seems obvious, some leaders avoid the practice, perhaps because they feel that showing appreciation undermines their authority, perhaps because they want to avoid stirring up jealousy in other members of the team, perhaps because they feel they don't have the time to do it, or perhaps because they feel embarrassed praising people openly.
This is a shame, because these attitudes reduce their own performance, and all of these problems can or should be avoided. The most successful leaders are those who recognize and reward their team's efforts. This not only builds trust, but it strengthens loyalty as well. Turnover is often much lower in teams that have a strong bond with their leader, and this impacts a company's bottom line.
You should also remember that, for the most part, the world's talent pool is shrinking - mostly due to declining birth rates, which leads to an aging workforce. This means that it's becoming harder for organizations to find the people they need. Finding and keeping talented people is a key issue, and the companies that figure out how to do this now will likely be the ones that succeed far into the future. One of the best ways to keep these people is to make sure that their hard work is appreciated. If finding the few minutes needed to recognize people is a problem, just think how much time you'd have to spend replacing them!
Recognizing Their Efforts
Appropriately rewarding team members for something they've done takes some effort on your part. If you don't put much thought into what you're doing, then you may just upset the very people you're trying to thank. This is why you should sit down with your team and find out how they'd really like to be rewarded.
For example, if your team is about to start a major project, find out:
- Which team achievements would people like to be rewarded for?
- What kind of reward would they like, as individuals and as a team?
- Would they rather celebrate with several milestones along the way, or have one big celebration when they hit the team's goal?
Learning how your team would like to be recognized, and how you can show your appreciation, is a vital step toward making sure that your efforts will be appropriate.
When and How to Say "Thank You"
The return on appreciation is huge. Workers who feel appreciated are twice as likely to stay at a company than those who don't feel appreciated.
If you think you don't have time or can't afford to show appreciation to your team, then stop and think about how much you currently invest in hiring and training new people. How much would you save if your staff turnover were lower? Probably a lot, which is why recognizing your team's efforts is almost always cost-effective.
And don't think that daily gratitude will "wear out" your team. Has anyone ever thanked you so many times that it lost its meaning? Probably not. It's not likely that your team will ever get tired of receiving your appreciation.
Just make sure you're sincere about why you thank people. And don't rush the "thank you" while you're on your way somewhere else. This WILL probably make your gestures lose their meaning. Stop, look at the person, and tell him how much you appreciate what he's doing.
These small gestures cost nothing except a few seconds of your time, but their payoff is enormous.
"Thank You" Tips
Remember these guidelines:
-
Be Consistent - Consistency is vital. If you praise often during one month, and then skip the next month entirely, your team will wonder what's going on. Creating a culture of recognition and reward is important – so once you start, make sure you continue.
-
Be Specific - Every time you praise people on your team, be specific about what they did to deserve the recognition. If you say, "Jim did a great job yesterday!" that's not only vague, but it may cause jealousy from other team members. Being specific not only makes the person you recognize feel better, it also lets the whole team know that you're paying attention. So, detail exactly what the person did and why it made a difference.
-
Know Your People - You must know your team to reward them adequately. For example, if you know that someone loves art and music, then opera tickets or museum passes would probably be an appreciated, thoughtful gift. If someone else is a sports fan, then football tickets might be a great idea. Getting to know your team's interests is critical to showing your appreciation well. Send out a survey, or question them about their passions. And write it all down so you don't forget.
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Make the Reward Relevant - Your gift or gesture should be relevant to your team member's effort. For example, if someone comes in early for a week to make sure a project is completed on time, then a gift certificate for a great breakfast would be a good fit. If, however, the person just saved the company from a mistake that would have cost millions, then something more significant is needed!
Ideas for Rewarding Your Team
As we said earlier, chances are high that your team isn't looking for a bonus check or pay raise to feel appreciated. Sometimes, smaller gestures go further and don't break the budget in the long run. Here are some creative ideas to consider for showing appreciation to your team:
-
Offer flexible scheduling - not everyone needs, or wants, to be in the office at 8:00 a.m. Or, you could offer telecommuting days.
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Send handwritten thank-you notes when someone goes above and beyond the requirements of the job.
- Create "free day" coupons that a worker could use for a free day off - no questions asked - without using vacation or sick time.
-
Take your team out to lunch - and then, as a last-minute surprise, give them the rest of the day off.
- Give out "lazy Monday" coupons to allow a team member one "free" Monday morning off.
- If you e-mail a team member to say thank you, consider copying that message to YOUR boss.
There are thousands of creative ways to say "thank you." The great thing about these gestures is that they'll probably be remembered far longer than any bonus check. You'll show your appreciation - and, at the same time, you'll strengthen the bond between you and your team.
Key Points
Leaders need to say "thank you" regularly. Your team members will likely work much harder if they feel that what they're doing really makes a difference, and that their efforts are noticed by those with "power."
Thank-you gifts don't have to be extravagant or costly. Small gestures are often remembered longer than financial bonuses. These small, entertaining rewards can also help promote a sense of fun in the workplace, which may go a long way toward helping you retain key talent.
By James Manktelow / Mindtools
HR Workplace Enemies:- How to Win Over Your Enemies
Sadly, in business, we all have them: Enemies. Rivals. Adversaries. Foes. They say bad things about us behind our back. They prevent us from succeeding in our work. Or they ignore us, in acts of passive aggression. Whichever M.O. they choose, they make our lives more difficult and decidedly less pleasant.
You know who they are. Have a few names in mind?
Here's a bit of advice that will most likely surprise you: What's the quickest way to get one of these archenemies to like you? Answer: Get him to do you a small favor.
Let me explain.
It sounds counter-intuitive but it can be easily explained by what social psychologists call "Cognitive Dissonance Theory." The theory maintains that we all try to maintain consistency in our attitudes and behaviors. When we do a person a favor (the behavior), we tend to like him more as a result (the attitude).
This phenomenon is also known as "The Ben Franklin Effect." Franklin wrote in his autobiography, "Enemies who do you one favor will want to do more." A political opponent in the Pennsylvania state legislature was annoying Franklin and he set out to win him over. Franklin asked his adversary if he could borrow a rare book from his library. According to Franklin, when they next met in the House, the adversary spoke to him for the first time "with great civility." He added that they eventually became great friends.
The Problem
All employees need cooperation from their co-workers in order to succeed at their jobs. Without respect, they won't receive the cooperation they need to be effective. Senior management can promote the importance of teamwork until they are blue in the face, but employees must respect one another if they are to work together effectively.
What to Do
Here is the Ben Franklin method that individual employees and managers can use to get their enemies to like them.
1. Identify Your Enemy
Think of the individuals who are preventing you from succeeding at your work. It could be a co-worker, subordinate, boss, employee from another part of the company, or even a customer.
2. Ask for a Small Favor
The favor should require the adversary to expend some effort, although it shouldn't be a Herculean task.
3. Proceed as if You Are No Longer Enemies
If your future interactions with this person are to be positive, you must treat him or her as a colleague, not an adversary. Otherwise, your attitude may negate the newly gained feelings of good will toward you and, instead, perpetuate the ill-will of the past.
Conclusion
Take a lesson from Ben Franklin and the Cognitive Dissonance Theory. If your workplace enemies are making life difficult for you, ask them for a favor. Give it a try. You might be pleasantly surprised.
By Dr. Bruce L. Katcher / AMA
HR Managing:- Managing Up
A very long time ago, there lived the King of Kings in Persia. Every night for three years, he would take a virgin from the town, make her his wife, and then have her beheaded in the morning. He did this because of the betrayal he felt as a result of his first wife's infidelity. After 3,000 such executions, he met and married Scheherazade.
On the night before she was due to be killed, Scheherazade began to tell the King a captivating story. Just before she reached the end, and just as she had gotten to the cliff-hanger, Scheherazade abruptly stopped. The mesmerised King, who eagerly wanted to hear the rest, asked her to continue. But Scheherazade said there wasn't enough time since dawn was about to break, but vowed to finish the story the next day when it would become even more exciting.
And so the King kept Scheherazade alive as he eagerly anticipated what would happen next. But every night, Scheherazade would stop just before the end of the story, which made the King keep her alive for one more day. This continued for 1001 nights, by which time Scheherazade had become the Queen and had given birth to three of the King's sons.
In this supposedly true story, famously called Arabian Nights, Scheherazade influenced the King in the same way you can influence your boss. That one way is summarised using one word: understanding. The more you understand your boss's objectives, problems, and style, the easier it'll be for you to get approval for any big ideas you'd like implemented.
Scheherazade understood the King's objectives (to be entertained), his problems (feelings of betrayal), and style (storytelling). She combined an understanding of all three to get what she wanted. You can do the same thing.
Objectives: Find out your boss's key performance indicators, and then link any proposed change to the achievement of those goals.
Problems: Discover what's keeping you boss up at night and show how your solutions will help to solve those problems, rather than your own.
Style: If your boss is analytical, use numbers. If your boss is direct, don't waffle. If your boss is expressive, tell stories.
Eventually, Scheherazade ruled the kingdom. So can you.
By James Adonis
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Did You Know?
A study of 500,000 employees has found that 56% of them do not have a clear understanding of their employer's goals.
Source: FranklinCovey / Harris Interactive
=====================================================
Quote
"Seek first to understand, then to be understood."
Stephen Covey
HR Health:- Attacking Heart Attack Risk Factors
We looked at the growing problem of obesity in America and at its serious consequences for your employees' health and your organization's bottom line. Today we'll focus on the related issue of heart attacks, and how you can help your employees lower their risk.
In order to reduce the risk of heart attack, you must first understand the causes and contributing factors.
The heart receives oxygen-rich blood from the lungs and sends it throughout the body. A heart attack occurs when a clot blocks an artery that carries the blood. Blockages damage the heart muscle within minutes. Within hours, the damage may be so great that it prevents the heart from functioning.
While some risk factors for heart attacks can be prevented or controlled, others cannot, including a family history of heart disease, age, or being male. According to BLR's, heart attack risk factors that can be prevented or controlled include:
-- Being Overweight, which makes your heart work too hard
-- High Cholesterol Levels and Diets High In Cholesterol and Saturated Fat, which clog and block the arteries
-- Smoking, which narrows blood vessels, increases heart rate, and doubles heart attack risk
-- Lack of Exercise, which can increase body weight and cholesterol levels
-- Stress, which can trigger health problems and weaken the heart
-- High Blood Pressure, which makes the heart work harder and weakens it
-- Diabetes, which, if uncontrolled, increases cholesterol levels
It goes without saying that if you smoke, you should stop--that is the single best way to lower your risk of a heart attack.
Another good risk-reduction step is to improve your diet. Ways you can do this include:
-- Eating Fresh Fruits and Vegetables and Whole Grain Breads, Cereals, Pasta, and Rice
-- Avoiding Saturated Fats like Butter, "Junk Food," Fried Food, Creams, and Gravies
-- Eating Steamed, Broiled, and Baked Foods and Low—or Nonfat Dairy Products
-- Restricting Salt Intake to keep Blood Pressure Down
-- Checking Packaged Food Labels for Sodium Content
-- Substituting Pepper or Other Seasonings for Sodium
-- Avoiding Alcohol to Keep Blood Pressure Down (and if you're diabetic)
If you do experience symptoms of a heart attack, you should take immediate action. Get to a hospital immediately if you experience:
-- Chest pain that lasts longer than 10 minutes. This could range from slight discomfort to pressure or tightness to crushing pain.
-- Pain that radiates to the left shoulder, arm, back, teeth, and/or jaw even if you rest, change position, or take medicine.
In addition, you should promptly tell your doctor about such other potential heart-problem symptoms as:
-- Frequent Angina — Chest Pain that goes away when you rest (It's a sign your heart needs more Oxygen.)
-- Shortness of Breath
-- Weakness
-- Anxiety or Restlessness
-- Dizziness, Fainting, and/or Change In Pulse Rate
-- Sweating
-- Nausea and/or Vomiting
-- Pale or Bluish Skin
Thanks to BLR
HR Motivational:- Be Part of the Humane Chain
In times of confusion, sorrow, frustration and fear, it is difficult to be aware of how one small deed can brush away the aforementioned feelings. The inhumane chain effect of our interactions can be harmful communication and can cause others to experience the same negative emotions that we are feeling.
By the same token, the humane chain of our interactions can rescue others from their negative emotions and fears. Just one small deed at the beginning of the humane chain can be life changing, or perhaps life-saving, for people all along the chain.
********************
SMILE
She smiled at a sorrowful stranger.
The smile seemed to make him feel better.
He remembered past kindness of a friend
And wrote him a thank you letter.
The friend was so pleased with the thank you
That he left a large tip after lunch.
The waitress, surprised by the size of the tip,
Gave part to a man on the street.
The man on the street was grateful;
For two days he'd had nothing to eat.
After he finished his dinner,
He left for his small dingy room.
He didn't know at that moment
That he might be facing his doom.
On the way he picked up a shivering puppy
And took him home to get warm.
The puppy was very grateful
To be in out of the storm.
That night the house caught on fire.
The puppy barked the alarm.
He barked till he woke the whole household
And saved everybody from harm.
One of the boys that he rescued
Grew up to be President.
All this because of a simple smile
That hadn't cost a cent.
Author unknown
********************
Affirmation:
"I am part of a humane chain and I am doing my part to make it a life changing chain."
Have a strongly linked week!
Mary Rau-Foster
Sunday, October 26, 2008
HR Humor:- English Is A Crazy Language
There is no egg in eggplant nor ham in hamburger ....
Neither apple nor pine in pineapple.
English muffins weren't invented in England or French fries in France.
Sweetmeats are candies while sweetbreads, which aren't sweet, are meat.
We take English for granted. But if we explore its paradoxes, we find that quicksand can work slowly, boxing rings are square and a guinea pig is neither a pig nor from Guinea.
And why is it that writers write but fingers don't fing, grocers don't groce and hammers don't ham?
If the plural of tooth is teeth, why isn't the plural of booth, beeth? One goose, 2 geese. So one moose, 2 meese? One index, 2 indices? Huh?
If you have a bunch of odds and ends and get rid of all but one of them, what do you call it ? (Answer-- Is it odd that you have just one?)
If teachers taught, why don't preachers praught?
If a vegetarian eats vegetables, what does a humanitarian eat?
Sometimes I think all the English speakers should be committed to an asylum for the verbally insane. In what language do people recite at a play and play at a recital?
Ship by truck and send cargo by ship?
Have noses that run and feet that smell?
How can a slim chance and a fat chance be the same, while a wise man and a wise guy are opposites?
You have to marvel at a language in which your house can burn up as it burns down, in which you fill in a form by filling it out and in which an alarm goes off by going on.
English was invented by people, not computers, and it reflects the creativity of the human race, which, of course, is not a race at all.
That is why, when the stars are out, they are visible, but when the lights are out, they are invisible.
And finally, why doesn't "Buick" rhyme with "Quick"?
By Philip E. Humbert, PhD,
Neither apple nor pine in pineapple.
English muffins weren't invented in England or French fries in France.
Sweetmeats are candies while sweetbreads, which aren't sweet, are meat.
We take English for granted. But if we explore its paradoxes, we find that quicksand can work slowly, boxing rings are square and a guinea pig is neither a pig nor from Guinea.
And why is it that writers write but fingers don't fing, grocers don't groce and hammers don't ham?
If the plural of tooth is teeth, why isn't the plural of booth, beeth? One goose, 2 geese. So one moose, 2 meese? One index, 2 indices? Huh?
If you have a bunch of odds and ends and get rid of all but one of them, what do you call it ? (Answer-- Is it odd that you have just one?)
If teachers taught, why don't preachers praught?
If a vegetarian eats vegetables, what does a humanitarian eat?
Sometimes I think all the English speakers should be committed to an asylum for the verbally insane. In what language do people recite at a play and play at a recital?
Ship by truck and send cargo by ship?
Have noses that run and feet that smell?
How can a slim chance and a fat chance be the same, while a wise man and a wise guy are opposites?
You have to marvel at a language in which your house can burn up as it burns down, in which you fill in a form by filling it out and in which an alarm goes off by going on.
English was invented by people, not computers, and it reflects the creativity of the human race, which, of course, is not a race at all.
That is why, when the stars are out, they are visible, but when the lights are out, they are invisible.
And finally, why doesn't "Buick" rhyme with "Quick"?
By Philip E. Humbert, PhD,
HR Business:- Motivation Every Day
There's a wonderful quote from Zig Ziglar that "People often say that motivation doesn't last. Well, neither does bathing. That's why we recommend it daily."
I am frequently amazed at the number of business people I meet who will not listen to tapes or read books or attend seminars. They don't have time to read, and the tapes "don't work." They "can't afford" the seminars, and they "don't need" the education. And then they wonder why their careers seem to reach a plateau!
Even a badly done tape may contain a kernel of truth, a bit of wisdom, or it may motivate you to do your work better or differently or with more integrity than "that other guy." Motivation comes in all shapes and sizes. Sometimes we are motivated by needing to pay the bills, at other times we are motivated by an inspirational seminar or the enthusiasm of a speaker.
Sometimes we are motivated by a desire to do better for our families. Sometimes we are motivated by fear, but we are almost always motivated when we are around exciting people with great ideas, lots of energy and a clear vision of where they are going. Motivation works!
As a business leader, there are important reasons to keep yourself focused, enthused, energized and eager, and you owe it to the people who look to you for leadership. Whether you stay motivated by re-writing your goals every day, or by listening to tapes, learning new skills or attending rallies, do whatever it takes. Your success tomorrow depends on your level of motivation, commitment and determination today.
I am frequently amazed at the number of business people I meet who will not listen to tapes or read books or attend seminars. They don't have time to read, and the tapes "don't work." They "can't afford" the seminars, and they "don't need" the education. And then they wonder why their careers seem to reach a plateau!
Even a badly done tape may contain a kernel of truth, a bit of wisdom, or it may motivate you to do your work better or differently or with more integrity than "that other guy." Motivation comes in all shapes and sizes. Sometimes we are motivated by needing to pay the bills, at other times we are motivated by an inspirational seminar or the enthusiasm of a speaker.
Sometimes we are motivated by a desire to do better for our families. Sometimes we are motivated by fear, but we are almost always motivated when we are around exciting people with great ideas, lots of energy and a clear vision of where they are going. Motivation works!
As a business leader, there are important reasons to keep yourself focused, enthused, energized and eager, and you owe it to the people who look to you for leadership. Whether you stay motivated by re-writing your goals every day, or by listening to tapes, learning new skills or attending rallies, do whatever it takes. Your success tomorrow depends on your level of motivation, commitment and determination today.
By Philip E. Humbert, PhD,
HR Motivational:- The Power to Get Stuff Done
Consultants and motivational speakers have talked about the importance of written goals at least since Benjamin Franklin. The 19th century Psychologist and philosopher, William James, talked about clear goals, and Napoleon Hill wrote about them in "Think And Grow Rich" in the 1930's. Of course you should choose clear personal goals, write them down, and stay the course!
And that's the rub. The daily grind of "staying the course."
We all have goals of some sort. Some are written, some are vague, some are almost dream-like, but we all have things we long for. The rub is in making them happen.
Almost everyone I talk with--large audiences where I'm the keynote speaker, small corporate trainings, and individual clients--they ALL talk about distractions. They ALL talk about interruptions and daily frustrations.
They ALL talk about how busy they are and how little time they have.
And yet winners find the "secret" of doing first things first.
The winners in life have exactly the same amount of time and the same resources everyone else has. They work hard (like everyone else) and yet there is a huge difference in their RESULTS. In the end, winners come out on top because they have a SYSTEM for choosing their top priorities and sticking to them.
Here are a couple of practical suggestions, starting with the most fundamental truth I know: You must decide what you want in life. Life is full of options, and each of us has the responsibility to clarify our choices and pursue our dreams. No one can do that for you. Decide what you really want in life!
Most people don't think carefully about their most important goals. They have goals that are vague or have never been discussed and coordinated with family members. Be clear. Talk it over with the people in your life and focus on what you truly want.
But then, here are my suggestions for making specific daily progress:
1. REVIEW Your Goals frequently. Brian Tracy and Napoleon Hill recommended reading them every day, and they were smart people. I do a thoughtful review of my own goals at least once a month, and briefly re-write them every morning. If you aren't making progress on your goals, the first step is to review and commit to them more often.
2. Work with a TEAM. Talk with your family. Review your priorities with your boss. Get together with a master-mind group every week. Talk about your goals with people who will support you and who have the resources to help you succeed!.
3. PLAN Your Day and do it each evening so your mind can prepare for the new day while you sleep. What has to be done tomorrow? What problems will come up and how will you deal with them? What is your one major target for tomorrow? Decide the night before.
4. Each MORNING, confirm your daily targets. I write my three most important tasks on a 3x5 card each morning. I do it with my morning coffee. I think it helps.
For most of us, the key to daily action is a SYSTEM that keeps us focused and brings us back to our most important goals. On our own we are too easily distracted. We lose focus and waste time. Instead, use a SYSTEM that gets you back on course like an auto-pilot. Then, trust the system and get to work!
By Philip E. Humbert, PhD,
And that's the rub. The daily grind of "staying the course."
We all have goals of some sort. Some are written, some are vague, some are almost dream-like, but we all have things we long for. The rub is in making them happen.
Almost everyone I talk with--large audiences where I'm the keynote speaker, small corporate trainings, and individual clients--they ALL talk about distractions. They ALL talk about interruptions and daily frustrations.
They ALL talk about how busy they are and how little time they have.
And yet winners find the "secret" of doing first things first.
The winners in life have exactly the same amount of time and the same resources everyone else has. They work hard (like everyone else) and yet there is a huge difference in their RESULTS. In the end, winners come out on top because they have a SYSTEM for choosing their top priorities and sticking to them.
Here are a couple of practical suggestions, starting with the most fundamental truth I know: You must decide what you want in life. Life is full of options, and each of us has the responsibility to clarify our choices and pursue our dreams. No one can do that for you. Decide what you really want in life!
Most people don't think carefully about their most important goals. They have goals that are vague or have never been discussed and coordinated with family members. Be clear. Talk it over with the people in your life and focus on what you truly want.
But then, here are my suggestions for making specific daily progress:
1. REVIEW Your Goals frequently. Brian Tracy and Napoleon Hill recommended reading them every day, and they were smart people. I do a thoughtful review of my own goals at least once a month, and briefly re-write them every morning. If you aren't making progress on your goals, the first step is to review and commit to them more often.
2. Work with a TEAM. Talk with your family. Review your priorities with your boss. Get together with a master-mind group every week. Talk about your goals with people who will support you and who have the resources to help you succeed!.
3. PLAN Your Day and do it each evening so your mind can prepare for the new day while you sleep. What has to be done tomorrow? What problems will come up and how will you deal with them? What is your one major target for tomorrow? Decide the night before.
4. Each MORNING, confirm your daily targets. I write my three most important tasks on a 3x5 card each morning. I do it with my morning coffee. I think it helps.
For most of us, the key to daily action is a SYSTEM that keeps us focused and brings us back to our most important goals. On our own we are too easily distracted. We lose focus and waste time. Instead, use a SYSTEM that gets you back on course like an auto-pilot. Then, trust the system and get to work!
By Philip E. Humbert, PhD,
HR Culture:- The Role of Language in Culture
Have you ever thought about the role that language plays in your corporate culture, your family's culture, or even your regional culture? We develop language shortcuts that are meaningful so that we don't have to keep explaining certain things. We develop common understanding because of the common language we share. Even though we may speak English with others, the English we use depends on where we live and the culture in which we operate.
I remember when I was tutoring a person from Colombia several years ago I had to explain why we use the words and phrases we do. Anyone who has ever studied a language other than their native language has had to struggle with the impossibility of translating idiomatic phrases.
What is the language of your organization's culture? Many industries have a myriad of acronyms that are completely foreign to outsiders. When I worked in the aerospace industry we had countless acronyms and one of our trainers made a project of having people in her classes add to her list of acronyms we used so she would understand the comments in class.
Is your language focused on your past or on your future? In order to effect change in an organization it is important to have a clear picture of where you are before you try to move in any direction from that. Part of that understanding comes from listening and looking around you to determine the language of your culture. What is important in your culture? You can tell what's important by what people hold onto. What is open to change and what must remain constant?
As you begin to plan for changes, you may try to explain the new in terms of the old, but find that the two are not compatible. You must recognize that there may be limitations. Sometimes you have to rebuild your language or even invent new terms. As the saying goes, "Necessity is the mother of invention." We have all seen this in new product development.
However, what about language in terms of your leadership? Does it feel too "touchy/feely" to discuss methods of positive motivation? Does your culture support discussing ideas in an open forum without fear of reprisal or raised eyebrows? Can you have productive conflict where people hash out all sides of an issue honestly and respectfully? Are you willing to let go of control and instead facilitate others' success?
The word "change" can be a negative word in almost any culture. The world today is moving quickly and the only constant may be constant and more rapid change. Building a culture that can withstand this change means that we must have language that will accommodate the dialog of failure as well as the dialog of success. They go together to create new visions. The language must give people the means to embrace learning from the old while transitioning to the new and unknown. Listen to the way language plays out in your culture and you may find an opportunity to lead your organization to the future more effectively.
I remember when I was tutoring a person from Colombia several years ago I had to explain why we use the words and phrases we do. Anyone who has ever studied a language other than their native language has had to struggle with the impossibility of translating idiomatic phrases.
What is the language of your organization's culture? Many industries have a myriad of acronyms that are completely foreign to outsiders. When I worked in the aerospace industry we had countless acronyms and one of our trainers made a project of having people in her classes add to her list of acronyms we used so she would understand the comments in class.
Is your language focused on your past or on your future? In order to effect change in an organization it is important to have a clear picture of where you are before you try to move in any direction from that. Part of that understanding comes from listening and looking around you to determine the language of your culture. What is important in your culture? You can tell what's important by what people hold onto. What is open to change and what must remain constant?
As you begin to plan for changes, you may try to explain the new in terms of the old, but find that the two are not compatible. You must recognize that there may be limitations. Sometimes you have to rebuild your language or even invent new terms. As the saying goes, "Necessity is the mother of invention." We have all seen this in new product development.
However, what about language in terms of your leadership? Does it feel too "touchy/feely" to discuss methods of positive motivation? Does your culture support discussing ideas in an open forum without fear of reprisal or raised eyebrows? Can you have productive conflict where people hash out all sides of an issue honestly and respectfully? Are you willing to let go of control and instead facilitate others' success?
The word "change" can be a negative word in almost any culture. The world today is moving quickly and the only constant may be constant and more rapid change. Building a culture that can withstand this change means that we must have language that will accommodate the dialog of failure as well as the dialog of success. They go together to create new visions. The language must give people the means to embrace learning from the old while transitioning to the new and unknown. Listen to the way language plays out in your culture and you may find an opportunity to lead your organization to the future more effectively.
By Vicki Anderson
Saturday, October 25, 2008
HR Manage:- Help! I've Been Buried in My Mail Avalanche
We've all felt that way from time to time, haven't we? We've all struggled with a way to dig ourselves out from under the piles that can come from a blizzard of mail.
You CAN weather the storm. With a few simple new habits, you can take control over your mail, rather than it taking control of you.
Most people tend to try and solve the problem of what to do with their mail AFTER their kitchen table or desk is piled so high that stuff is falling on the floor. Sound familiar? You just know that your overdue utility bill is hiding in that pile but you just can't find it, along with the invitation to the birthday this weekend that you haven't yet RSVP'd to.
Let's back up several steps and see if there's not a way to tame the beast before it even comes to your mailbox.
1) Catalogs
Take a look at your mail for a week or so when it comes in. What is it that you are receiving? Catalogs are one big problem area. Do you have a couple of catalogs that you order from? If so, you are probably also being bombarded with tons of mailings from partner stores.
The best way to stop the flow is to take each catalog that you don't wish to receive, sit down at your computer and type out a quick email to their customer service address requesting that they remove you from their mailing list effective immediately. It might take a few minutes of your time but you will end up the winner in the end.
If there are some catalogs that you enjoy receiving but that tend to pile up for you, consider this approach. Keep a hanging folder in your desk. In the folder, keep only the current issue of the catalogs. Once the new one comes in, toss the old one immediately.
2) Magazines
Next up? Magazines. Take a few moments to consider which magazines you are receiving and whether or not you are actually reading them. Many people tend to simply renew their subscriptions each year and let the magazines pile up with the intention of reading them--someday. If you receive 4 magazines a month but only truly read half of them, maybe it's time to choose which ones you really love and let the others lapse.
3) Junk Mail
We've dealt with a couple of fairly easy fixes--now we reach the heart of the matter. Junk mail versus your important stuff. With so much junk mail coming in on a day-to-day basis, it's easy to lose track of the mail that you really do need.
Some junk mail can be dealt with on an individual basis such as postcards from realtors, dry cleaners, or other local companies. It can take a few minutes, but if you contact these companies individually, you can request that they not send you any further mail. The other option is simply dumping the stuff the minute you bring it in the house. Have a recycling bin in an easily accessible spot where you sort the mail and toss all of the junk mail right away that doesn't have personal information on it.
4) Protect Your Identity
Some stuff will need to be shredded including anything that has more than just your name and address on it such as credit card applications and mortgage refinance offers. Rather than building up a large pile of stuff and shredding it on an occasional basis, keep your shredder in a spot that is easy to use each and every time you need to shred something.
5) Important Mail
This is our last and yet most important category. You've blocked the door on all of the other unneeded stuff and you now have only the truly necessary pieces. Bills, personal letters, cards, etc.
6) Bills
You can take one of a few different approaches to bills. You can avoid receiving paper bills altogether by visiting the company's website and signing up for an e- bill option. This allows you to check your bill online, print out a copy if you so choose for your records and pay your bill online as well. If you are the sole person in your household handling the finances, this is a great option. If there are others involved, you may choose to continue to receive paper bills to ensure that the bill is being taken care of.
Once a bill comes into your household, rather than tossing it on the pile, it's best to open it and either pay it right then and there or you can also jot yourself a note in your planner or PDA of when the bill needs to be paid. Then file the bill in a file folder marked BILLS. Toss the outer envelopes--they are simply adding to your paper clutter.
You CAN weather the storm. With a few simple new habits, you can take control over your mail, rather than it taking control of you.
Most people tend to try and solve the problem of what to do with their mail AFTER their kitchen table or desk is piled so high that stuff is falling on the floor. Sound familiar? You just know that your overdue utility bill is hiding in that pile but you just can't find it, along with the invitation to the birthday this weekend that you haven't yet RSVP'd to.
Let's back up several steps and see if there's not a way to tame the beast before it even comes to your mailbox.
1) Catalogs
Take a look at your mail for a week or so when it comes in. What is it that you are receiving? Catalogs are one big problem area. Do you have a couple of catalogs that you order from? If so, you are probably also being bombarded with tons of mailings from partner stores.
The best way to stop the flow is to take each catalog that you don't wish to receive, sit down at your computer and type out a quick email to their customer service address requesting that they remove you from their mailing list effective immediately. It might take a few minutes of your time but you will end up the winner in the end.
If there are some catalogs that you enjoy receiving but that tend to pile up for you, consider this approach. Keep a hanging folder in your desk. In the folder, keep only the current issue of the catalogs. Once the new one comes in, toss the old one immediately.
2) Magazines
Next up? Magazines. Take a few moments to consider which magazines you are receiving and whether or not you are actually reading them. Many people tend to simply renew their subscriptions each year and let the magazines pile up with the intention of reading them--someday. If you receive 4 magazines a month but only truly read half of them, maybe it's time to choose which ones you really love and let the others lapse.
3) Junk Mail
We've dealt with a couple of fairly easy fixes--now we reach the heart of the matter. Junk mail versus your important stuff. With so much junk mail coming in on a day-to-day basis, it's easy to lose track of the mail that you really do need.
Some junk mail can be dealt with on an individual basis such as postcards from realtors, dry cleaners, or other local companies. It can take a few minutes, but if you contact these companies individually, you can request that they not send you any further mail. The other option is simply dumping the stuff the minute you bring it in the house. Have a recycling bin in an easily accessible spot where you sort the mail and toss all of the junk mail right away that doesn't have personal information on it.
4) Protect Your Identity
Some stuff will need to be shredded including anything that has more than just your name and address on it such as credit card applications and mortgage refinance offers. Rather than building up a large pile of stuff and shredding it on an occasional basis, keep your shredder in a spot that is easy to use each and every time you need to shred something.
5) Important Mail
This is our last and yet most important category. You've blocked the door on all of the other unneeded stuff and you now have only the truly necessary pieces. Bills, personal letters, cards, etc.
6) Bills
You can take one of a few different approaches to bills. You can avoid receiving paper bills altogether by visiting the company's website and signing up for an e- bill option. This allows you to check your bill online, print out a copy if you so choose for your records and pay your bill online as well. If you are the sole person in your household handling the finances, this is a great option. If there are others involved, you may choose to continue to receive paper bills to ensure that the bill is being taken care of.
Once a bill comes into your household, rather than tossing it on the pile, it's best to open it and either pay it right then and there or you can also jot yourself a note in your planner or PDA of when the bill needs to be paid. Then file the bill in a file folder marked BILLS. Toss the outer envelopes--they are simply adding to your paper clutter.
7) Personal Letter
Personal letters are wonderful as are cards of all types. The problem lies when there's the need or desire to retain each and every piece of correspondence. You might consider keeping some that are really special and meaningful. In the case of a letter, you can even scan it right into your computer, eliminating the need to keep the original.
8) Do It Daily
The very most important thing that you can do to manage your mail and keep it from taking over your life is to tend to it when it arrives. It may seem like a daunting task but you'd be amazed at how much you can get done in a small chunk of time--15, 10 or even just 5 minutes will make your life so much easier!
Thanks to Get Organized Now
Personal letters are wonderful as are cards of all types. The problem lies when there's the need or desire to retain each and every piece of correspondence. You might consider keeping some that are really special and meaningful. In the case of a letter, you can even scan it right into your computer, eliminating the need to keep the original.
8) Do It Daily
The very most important thing that you can do to manage your mail and keep it from taking over your life is to tend to it when it arrives. It may seem like a daunting task but you'd be amazed at how much you can get done in a small chunk of time--15, 10 or even just 5 minutes will make your life so much easier!
Thanks to Get Organized Now
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
HR PR/Media:- Marketing Without Money
Do you have a great idea for a story, but no clue how to get it in the news? Are you tired of pitching press releases the news media simply ignores?
After a quarter of a century beating the street as a TV reporter, I have a scoop for you: the media needs good stories. But most stories are pitched so poorly, they are lost in the blizzard of faxes that blanket every newsroom.
So, here are five steps to increase your chances of getting covered that even some PR pros don't know:
1) Be Unusual
The old adage about "Man bites dog" still holds true. The news doesn't cover what's normal. We cover the abnormal.
PR whiz Carolyn Alvey knew this when she was trying to raise money for a charity several years ago. Instead of holding a garage sale, she sent out a press release announcing a "Celebrity Garage Sale." Everything from Bob Hope's old golf clubs to Roger Staubach's long-neglected neckties were for sale. By making an ordinary garage sale extraordinary, the media was instantly sold on the story.
2) Be Visual
Reporters tell stories with pictures. If the pictures aren't there, chances are the reporters won't be either.
Even the most non-visual story can be made visual if you're creative. A dog biscuit business? Boring. A dog birthday party complete with doggie guests and party hats? Now you're barking up the right tree.
That's what Michelle Lamont did to boost her dog biscuit bakery. She began baking huge dog biscuit birthday cakes and inviting the media to cover the parties. She's had reporters hounding her for stories ever since.
3) Choose the Right Reporter
Perhaps the most common mistake even some PR pros make is trying to sell a good story to the wrong person. Most reporters have a specialty, like "crime" or "business." So, seek out the reporter who will have the most to benefit from your story. Start studying the news. Before you call a TV station or try and pitch the paper, become familiar with a reporter's work. Don't try and sell an investigative story to a reporter who covers entertainment.
4) Write Like Reporter
If I were going to send a press release to a reporter, I'd write the kind of headline that a newspaper would run. And I'd make the rest of the release so conversational that a TV anchor could read it right on the air.
Why is this so important? A major market newsroom gets hundreds of press releases every day. Often the decision on whether to cover your story is made in a matter of seconds. Many times that well-crafted sentence in the third paragraph of your press release is never read.
5) Wait for A Slow News Day
The holidays are the slowest "news times" of the year. When government offices are closed, so are most of our sources. Take advantage of it. In fact, take out your calendar and begin circling government holidays. If the government isn't making news, we reporters are scrambling to find something to cover. Pitch even an average story on a day when the media is starving for news, and you're much more likely to get coverage.
There you go. Now you're armed with knowledge that even some well-paid public relations professionals don't practice. If your idea is unique, visual, and pitched to the right person when the supply of news is running thin, you're in!
After a quarter of a century beating the street as a TV reporter, I have a scoop for you: the media needs good stories. But most stories are pitched so poorly, they are lost in the blizzard of faxes that blanket every newsroom.
So, here are five steps to increase your chances of getting covered that even some PR pros don't know:
1) Be Unusual
The old adage about "Man bites dog" still holds true. The news doesn't cover what's normal. We cover the abnormal.
PR whiz Carolyn Alvey knew this when she was trying to raise money for a charity several years ago. Instead of holding a garage sale, she sent out a press release announcing a "Celebrity Garage Sale." Everything from Bob Hope's old golf clubs to Roger Staubach's long-neglected neckties were for sale. By making an ordinary garage sale extraordinary, the media was instantly sold on the story.
2) Be Visual
Reporters tell stories with pictures. If the pictures aren't there, chances are the reporters won't be either.
Even the most non-visual story can be made visual if you're creative. A dog biscuit business? Boring. A dog birthday party complete with doggie guests and party hats? Now you're barking up the right tree.
That's what Michelle Lamont did to boost her dog biscuit bakery. She began baking huge dog biscuit birthday cakes and inviting the media to cover the parties. She's had reporters hounding her for stories ever since.
3) Choose the Right Reporter
Perhaps the most common mistake even some PR pros make is trying to sell a good story to the wrong person. Most reporters have a specialty, like "crime" or "business." So, seek out the reporter who will have the most to benefit from your story. Start studying the news. Before you call a TV station or try and pitch the paper, become familiar with a reporter's work. Don't try and sell an investigative story to a reporter who covers entertainment.
4) Write Like Reporter
If I were going to send a press release to a reporter, I'd write the kind of headline that a newspaper would run. And I'd make the rest of the release so conversational that a TV anchor could read it right on the air.
Why is this so important? A major market newsroom gets hundreds of press releases every day. Often the decision on whether to cover your story is made in a matter of seconds. Many times that well-crafted sentence in the third paragraph of your press release is never read.
5) Wait for A Slow News Day
The holidays are the slowest "news times" of the year. When government offices are closed, so are most of our sources. Take advantage of it. In fact, take out your calendar and begin circling government holidays. If the government isn't making news, we reporters are scrambling to find something to cover. Pitch even an average story on a day when the media is starving for news, and you're much more likely to get coverage.
There you go. Now you're armed with knowledge that even some well-paid public relations professionals don't practice. If your idea is unique, visual, and pitched to the right person when the supply of news is running thin, you're in!
By Jeff Crilley
HR Grooming:- How Pure Is Pure Enough?
My good friend James Howard of Honinteg Consulting asked me this question: "If a hospital delivers 10,000 babies a year, what is an acceptable number of them to drop?"
Percentage-wise, dropping just one baby would be a very good success rate, unless you happen to be that baby (or its parent)! So, obviously, the goal is to drop none.
What about purity? Let's say you are making a giant five gallon pot of the world's best homemade chili. How much dog poop could you put in it before it impacted your desire for the chili?
What about your mind? How much profanity and negative garbage is okay to allow into your mind? And since you can't live life without being exposed to some negative input, shouldn't you have pretty good "filters" to make sure the negatives get cleaned away before they get to the vital parts?
If you run engines in a dirty and dusty environment you had better clean or change that air filter on a regular basis. If you watch a lot of TV, or surf the Internet haphazardly, you had better plan on spending extra time putting the good stuff into your mind.
The best way to keep an engine running smoothly is to make sure you give it pure fuel, run it in a clean environment, and change the filters on schedule. Our bodies and our minds work the same way. Our minds need pure and positive input, our bodies need pure food, and we must develop filters that trap and discard that impure stuff that we are exposed to.
Think about the miserable people you know – they let the bad stuff in, and they don't have any filters to keep the bad stuff from gumming up their engines.
By Tom Ziglar
Percentage-wise, dropping just one baby would be a very good success rate, unless you happen to be that baby (or its parent)! So, obviously, the goal is to drop none.
What about purity? Let's say you are making a giant five gallon pot of the world's best homemade chili. How much dog poop could you put in it before it impacted your desire for the chili?
What about your mind? How much profanity and negative garbage is okay to allow into your mind? And since you can't live life without being exposed to some negative input, shouldn't you have pretty good "filters" to make sure the negatives get cleaned away before they get to the vital parts?
If you run engines in a dirty and dusty environment you had better clean or change that air filter on a regular basis. If you watch a lot of TV, or surf the Internet haphazardly, you had better plan on spending extra time putting the good stuff into your mind.
The best way to keep an engine running smoothly is to make sure you give it pure fuel, run it in a clean environment, and change the filters on schedule. Our bodies and our minds work the same way. Our minds need pure and positive input, our bodies need pure food, and we must develop filters that trap and discard that impure stuff that we are exposed to.
Think about the miserable people you know – they let the bad stuff in, and they don't have any filters to keep the bad stuff from gumming up their engines.
By Tom Ziglar
HR Grooming:- Fixing Problems
Question: Can you remember a day when you did not have some "problem," irritation, disappointment, defeat or set-back of some kind? It might be having to make an unexpected stop at the service station because your mate drove your car and neglected to refill it. Or maybe your boss gave you incomplete information on an important project and now you have to start all over.
The big issue is not the problems; they're part of life. The issue is how to handle the problems. Do you let a simple problem dictate to you how you should behave the rest of the day, even to the way you deal with other people? Sometimes that's hard to do, but ask yourself the question, "What real difference does this make in my life tonight, or even in the morning?" In most cases you'll realize that it really doesn't matter. With that in mind, you'll be able to forget the problem of the moment and move on.
Conclusion: You can take control of your own thoughts, actions and emotions, which means you can take control of your life. The best way to deal with problems is to re-order your thinking and see them as opportunities to grow or mature. It also helps to remember that if there were no problems in your job, chances are good you would not be needed. Chances are also good that the greater the difficulties, the greater the need for you to be there to handle them. That's the reason you're on the payroll. Think about it, and I'll SEE YOU AT THE TOP!
By Zig Ziglar
The big issue is not the problems; they're part of life. The issue is how to handle the problems. Do you let a simple problem dictate to you how you should behave the rest of the day, even to the way you deal with other people? Sometimes that's hard to do, but ask yourself the question, "What real difference does this make in my life tonight, or even in the morning?" In most cases you'll realize that it really doesn't matter. With that in mind, you'll be able to forget the problem of the moment and move on.
Conclusion: You can take control of your own thoughts, actions and emotions, which means you can take control of your life. The best way to deal with problems is to re-order your thinking and see them as opportunities to grow or mature. It also helps to remember that if there were no problems in your job, chances are good you would not be needed. Chances are also good that the greater the difficulties, the greater the need for you to be there to handle them. That's the reason you're on the payroll. Think about it, and I'll SEE YOU AT THE TOP!
By Zig Ziglar
HR Grooming:- Overcoming The Fear Of Rejection
To Conquer Your Fear of Rejection, you need to handle the word "no" in a constructive way. When people turn you down after a presentation, you have to interpret the "no" as "no this is not right for me now." We also can interpret "no" as meaning, "I need to know more about this opportunity or the products before I can say yes."
I look at the service I offer to others as a gift that almost everyone desires. It's like a nutritious dessert. What if waiters or waitresses in a restaurant said to customers at their tables: "Would you like our special strawberry parfait for dessert? It's the best in the world!" And they were told "no" by their patrons, three out of five times.
Would they go to their manager, throw up their hands and quit, lamenting, "They don't like me or my strawberry parfait"? Of course they wouldn't. They'd go on about their business, thinking the patrons had missed out on something delicious.
That's why I treat products as a gift, much more nutritious and beneficial than a fruit dessert. But what is being rejected is the presentation, not the presenter. When I can separate my self-esteem from offering the products or business opportunity, I can live with rejection and look for ways to get a positive response more often.
When You Are Experiencing Rejection, that's the time to network with mentors and role models. It's also the time to listen to upbeat music and read articles like this, to attend meetings and conference calls, and to hang around with optimists and winners.
There are basically four things we do in selling our products and services, and only four. We use the products and services ourselves, we talk to people about the products and services, we talk to people about the financial benefits we offer, and we coach them to refer us to others who do the same thing. First, we are coachable and willing to learn something new every day. Then, we become coaches. All you really need to move up to the next level is have faith in yourself.
To laugh is to risk appearing the fool. To weep is to risk appearing sentimental. To reach out for another is to risk involvement. To expose your feelings is to risk revealing your true self. To place your ideas and dreams before a crowd, is to risk rejection. To love is to risk not being loved in return. To live is to risk dying. To hope is to risk despair. To try is to risk failure. But risks must be taken because the greatest hazard in life is to risk nothing at all. People who will risk nothing --- do nothing, have nothing, and become nothing. They may avoid suffering and sorrow, but they cannot learn, feel, change, grow, love or live. Chained by their certitudes, they are slaves.
They have forfeited their freedom. Only a person who risks is truly free. And one last idea you can live and believe, is the more that you give ----- the more you'll receive.
I look at the service I offer to others as a gift that almost everyone desires. It's like a nutritious dessert. What if waiters or waitresses in a restaurant said to customers at their tables: "Would you like our special strawberry parfait for dessert? It's the best in the world!" And they were told "no" by their patrons, three out of five times.
Would they go to their manager, throw up their hands and quit, lamenting, "They don't like me or my strawberry parfait"? Of course they wouldn't. They'd go on about their business, thinking the patrons had missed out on something delicious.
That's why I treat products as a gift, much more nutritious and beneficial than a fruit dessert. But what is being rejected is the presentation, not the presenter. When I can separate my self-esteem from offering the products or business opportunity, I can live with rejection and look for ways to get a positive response more often.
When You Are Experiencing Rejection, that's the time to network with mentors and role models. It's also the time to listen to upbeat music and read articles like this, to attend meetings and conference calls, and to hang around with optimists and winners.
There are basically four things we do in selling our products and services, and only four. We use the products and services ourselves, we talk to people about the products and services, we talk to people about the financial benefits we offer, and we coach them to refer us to others who do the same thing. First, we are coachable and willing to learn something new every day. Then, we become coaches. All you really need to move up to the next level is have faith in yourself.
To laugh is to risk appearing the fool. To weep is to risk appearing sentimental. To reach out for another is to risk involvement. To expose your feelings is to risk revealing your true self. To place your ideas and dreams before a crowd, is to risk rejection. To love is to risk not being loved in return. To live is to risk dying. To hope is to risk despair. To try is to risk failure. But risks must be taken because the greatest hazard in life is to risk nothing at all. People who will risk nothing --- do nothing, have nothing, and become nothing. They may avoid suffering and sorrow, but they cannot learn, feel, change, grow, love or live. Chained by their certitudes, they are slaves.
They have forfeited their freedom. Only a person who risks is truly free. And one last idea you can live and believe, is the more that you give ----- the more you'll receive.
By Dr. Denis Waitley
HR Workplace:- Politics and the Workplace
As you are reading this article, the issue of political discussions in the workplace is reaching its zenith and its fallout will continue for the next couple of months. So, what is an employer to do about it?
Politics and the Workplace: What is an Employer to Do?
According to a Senior Human Resource Specialist of a large company, Karen Codere, business owners should establish guidelines that allow employees to discuss the issues but also allow others to opt out. And it looks like the recently published American Management Association 2008 Political Discussions in the Workplace Survey, supports Codere's assertion. The results of this survey show that 39 percent of business people say they are comfortable with discussing political views in the workplace, while 35 percent of those surveyed said they are uncomfortable discussing their political views with colleagues.
Codere believes employees have a right to free expression, but she also knows, "The courts have said that you're allowed to have a workplace that's not political." Instead, says Codere, the key to overcoming this juxtaposition is to have a "clear well-crafted policy of what's permitted." The problem is, according to 57 percent of the senior executives who participated in the aforementioned survey, no written policy exists at their companies prohibiting the distribution or posting of material endorsing a political party or candidate.
What are the Potential Problems that Could Occur if Employers Allow Politics in the Workplace?
Without a policy addressing politics in the workplace, Codere says several potential problems like the following could occur:
· Hurt feelings about a remark made against a favorite candidate – of both customers and employees
· Loud and angry debates of ideology between employees and among employees and customers
· Souring of a workplace's spirit of community
· The filing of a serious complaint.
Codere also points out managers must stay out of political conversations in the workplace. She iterates, "Just like in the situation of a manager dating an employee in the workplace, an employee can use the company management's statement of political preference as a basis for a harassment or a 'retaliatory claim' like, 'they knew I was not voting for candidate X and that is why they fired me.'"
What Might a Policy Concerning Politics in the Workplace Contain?
In order to avoid the potential issues listed above, Codere advocates developing a policy detailing the company's guidelines on political activities and discussions in the workplace. Such a policy could include the following stipulations, suggested by Codere, but should be customized for your company:
· Political discussions during non-work time, including break time or in the lunch room may be okay as long as the policy clearly defines where those events take place, but discussions on the production floor may not be. ("You're paying employees to work," says Codere.)
· Campaign buttons and the like should be left at home, especially for employees who deal face-to-face with customers. (Codere gives the example here that a buyer who backs one candidate may not appreciate your salesperson's opposing candidate's button.)
· Each employee should remember they have a right to say, "I don't want to talk about the election."
Codere concludes with this statement regarding employee election rules, "Most employees really get it. They respect each other's views." The policy simply serves as protection in case they don't, so consider writing your own.
By Cara Whedbee, Ph.D.
HR Workplace:- Prevent Employee Gossip from Hurting Your Business
Employee Gossip is a Top Pet Peeve in the Workplace
What Can Employers Do To Prevent Gossip From Getting Out Of Hand?
According to a recent Randstad Survey, gossip is listed as one of the top three pet peeves found in the workplace. Gossip has probably been around since the beginning of the time. Gossiping at work is nothing new and it is as common as a paper clip. Â However, when employees feel betrayed by malicious or unfounded rumors and gossip, a thread can be torn that can unravel the fabric of an organization.
Understandably, most employers are focused on bigger picture things like increasing revenues and reducing costs. They may not be aware that employee gossip is reaching an annoying stage or that it is getting out of hand.
Can A Business Suffer Unnecessary Costs As A Result Of Employee Gossip? A Here are just a few obvious consequences, especially if the gossip is of a malicious or annoying nature:
- Employee Misunderstandings which can lead to conflict. A Conflict will affect productivity.
- Employee Mistrust of one another which can negatively impact team performance.
- Employee Turnover as some employees might feel powerless if they feel targeted by gossip. They simply resign and go to work somewhere else.
- Employee Morale is affected. A Once trust and credibility are lost; it is often difficult or impossible to restore those earned positions.
- Supervisory Burnout for someone trying to resolve the problem. It can become so overwhelming (who said what to whom, who was involved, etc.) that the supervisor wonders if the job is worth the emotional toll.
What Can Employers Do To Prevent Gossip From Getting Out Of Hand?
Here are some practical tips that may help prevent out-of-control situations caused by malicious or annoying gossip:
- Employee Communications: Consistently and regularly keep employees informed and in the loop. A Schedule regular meeting where employees can share information and voice concerns. Some companies provide a hotline number that employees can use to call in and express concerns.
- Employee Training: Â Training and development seminars and courses can help employees understand how malicious gossip is hurtful to others. A Training can also help employees understand how to tactfully reply to other employees who want to gossip. For instance, employees can learn appropriate responses such as; I hadn't heard that about Co-worker. Let's go ask her about that. Or, by simply saying, I'm not comfortable talking about Co-worker.
- Remind Employees Of An E-Mail Policy: Sometimes gossip is spread through e-mails as much as around the water cooler. Â Periodically inform employees that company e-mails are not private and that they are subject to employer review.
- Build A Supportive And Cooperative Culture: An environment built on trust starts out with a genuinely supportive culture, and it starts at the top. Show your managers and supervisors how much you respect and honor their contributions. Invite their feedback and show them how you respect and value their opinions. They are more likely, in turn, to model the same attitude and behaviors to employees.
- Take The High Road And Set An Example: A Never belittle or demean another employee in public. Â If you have an issue with someone's performance, speak directly with the employee and in private.
Take Charge and Remember the Golden Rule Approach
While it is unrealistic to think that gossip will be totally eradicated from the workplace, employers can take charge of the situation. Employee communications can include written and verbal expectations and reminders of acceptable conduct in the workplace. By setting an example and providing additional training, hopefully employers can prevent seriously damaging gossip from taking root. As the Golden Rule says, treat others as you want to be treated, which seem to be a timeless approach.
By Priscilla Kohl
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