Life – Page 2

The Danger of a Single Story

I recently saw the following tweet in my Twitter feed:

I paid attention to it because I know and love the CARE for AIDS people and organization and also because I love TED Talks.

If you are not familiar with them, TED talks are short talks that are packed with great info.

I found the talk that CARE for AIDS linked to very interesting. I have definitely been guilty of looking at the world through a single story.

If you have a few minutes, check out the talk.

What did you think of the talk? Any take-aways for you? I’d love for you leave a comment below.

How to Ask Questions that Get a Positive Response

Do you ask the right question—and in the right way?

You’ve got to grab their attention if you want people to listen.

In her book Communication Counts, media consultant Mary Civiello tells about a sales manager who wanted to introduce an incentive program. Salespeople could earn a bonus of $1,000 if they passed sales leads from customers over to a sales rep in a different division. Because the paperwork required to forward the lead took about 10 minutes to fill, the sales manager opened his presentation with a compelling point: “Who here would like to make $100 a minute?”

Who wouldn’t respond positively to a question like that?

Don’t Stagnate…Innovate!

Today is the last day of 2013. In many ways it was a great year, but I believe 2014 can and will be even better both personally and professionally.

As we head into another new year, a lot of people begin thinking about how they will get ahead and make a difference. The problem is many do not plan and end up repeating past mistakes and patterns. Only doing the same thing over and over again leads to stagnation, not just for individuals, but for the organizations they serve.

Why not make this year your year of innovation?

Leaders love innovators. Without them they would soon fall behind the times and lose their edge. No matter where you work or what your position is, there is always a way to add value through innovation. Here are a few tips to get you thinking.

1. Live, eat and breathe innovation.

Think about how changes in technology or to systems and processes could make or save your organization money, and actively seek out opportunities to innovate if you want to make a name for yourself.

2. Don’t get stuck in today.

Think about the bigger picture and what might be needed weeks, months and years into the future.

3. Look beyond your own team or department.

Often it is easier for “outsiders” to spot opportunities for innovation than those who are closely involved.

4. Speak up.

An idea is useless if you keep it inside your own head. If you spot opportunities, speak up and act on your inspiration.

This year could be the greatest year yet! What are some ways you plan to be more intentional this year? Drop a line or two in the comments section below.

De-Clutter Your Life and Keep Things Simple

Time is one of the most precious commodities in our lives, if not the most precious of all, and it is one of the few things that we can never get back. Today’s lifestyles, however, are so filled with responsibilities and with clutter that we are just left chasing our tails as valuable seconds, minutes and hours slip by. Both at home and at work we try to fit more and more into our already full lives, not just in terms of activities, but also in terms of possessions.

Some of the happiest and most contented people in the world today are those whose lives are simple. They work hard during the day, but their evenings are reserved for the simple pleasures instead of being packed with yet more tasks and responsibilities.

One of the reasons that people in other cultures are able to achieve a healthier work/life balance comes down to possessions or, rather, the lack of them. The more we own, the more we have to take care of and the more there is to go wrong. Why not de-clutter your home and get rid of all those things that you rarely use but that take precious time to clean and maintain and juggle around to make more space? A little less “stuff” is a small price to pay when compared to enjoying quality time with our families and friends and taking a few moments to watch a beautiful sunset.

Interested in simplifying you life? Check out this new book by Kevin Deyoung.

How to Not Lose Heart [Podcast]

We are all tempted to quit. The problem is that many of us are making permanent decisions based on a temporary situation. Today’s podcast will give you the hope you need to not quit.

Click to Listen

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