Embrace Change to Help Your Career

Gone are the days where a smart, eager professional waits at a company for 10 or 15 years for a promotion to open.  Rather, expanding the virtual tool box at one company helps a leap forward, not just a single step promotion.  Possibly the most overused buzz phrase of the past decade is "change agent" or "change management" - and it carries negative connotations.  After all, external change agents are brought in for restructuring, layoffs, or extreme efficiency implementation.


If you can learn to divest yourself of the professional baggage as transitions happen, you will be able to successfully complete large-scale projects and gain great experience for your next jump.  The ability to phrase the right time to depart for new opportunities is best facilitated when you control the tempo of your departure - such as the end of a large software implementation, the launch of a new product, or the rebranding of an existing product in order to gain market share: all of these things form a great launch pad for a new endeavor on your own terms.

However, most employees get cold feet, share negative nelly impressions about large projects that require change in their routines or through processes.  If you have direct reports that are worriers, you need to allow them to "vent" - creating a certain time each week for concerns together allows them to feel safe as well as bond together; then, you can flip their energy toward positive motivation but guiding them through the rough waters rather than telling them which way the highway travels. 


Learning to cope with your own insecurity outside of the office as well as gaining new tools that help you manage expectations - employees and your own - so that the project will be a success and you have a blockbuster resume builder for your next career step.  It's not easy but there is no greater ROI for your career.


http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/247617

Blue Moon

Don't worry why the sky is blue or if the moon will be blue today - sometimes, you just need to enjoy the moment. It's an extra-special event, a rare occurrence.  On Friday, July 31st, most of the world will experience this "contrast between the calendar month and the lunar month."  Is there a time when you can celebrate a special event?   No need to wait for a blue moon - but you do have one today. You never know what you'll learn by just enjoying the view.


http://news.discovery.com/space/astronomy/once-in-a-blue-moon-happens-on-friday-why-150730.htm

Really "be" where you are

"The point is, you want to be there."


There are many ways to be an 'only'.  It's not just the hot topic of the day, the treatment of people based on race or ethnicity.  You may be the only female in the room.  You may be the only male in the room.  You may be the only Eskimo in the room.  You may bring an achieved status (such as education level, a home experience, or living abroad perspective) to the room.  Each and every person brings a unique viewpoint to a conversation and one that can contribute to a better solution if it's shared.


To the point, this blog post has no "labels" or "tags" or "shortcuts" as is the standard in posts because it shouldn't be what you SEE that prompts thoughts, it should be what you HEAR and READ that makes you think, gain perspective, and take steps forward because of what you've learned.


If you are the only one - a one of a kind - in a room, you practically have the moral obligation to stand up, to be heard. How will things change if there is silence?


http://www.npr.org/sections/codeswitch/2015/07/29/427190143/on-wyatt-cenac-key-peele-and-being-the-only-one-in-the-room

Location, location, location

Where do you live?  The economy of your state, for instance, may have heavy exports or imports from countries that will surprise you.  Louisiana's biggest import product is oil - not a surprise - and its largest partner is Saudi Arabia (in this case, it's influenced by the strategic oil reserves for the U.S. that are held in the state); largest export destination is China (which may come as a surprise, but is likely influenced by our large Port, which does a lot of business - 31 million short tons of cargo and over a million cruise passengers in 2014).  Some of the partners on the map may surprise you.


Think about how 'where you are' affects your business, your experience, and even your investments.  Are you diversified enough in your skills to be able to transition jobs swiftly in this ever-shifting economy?  Do you monitor the news of other cities and industries to detect trends and opportunities that will benefit you?  Make sure you are improving up your skills-set up to speed on training so that you are ready to shift gears if need be - and know where the map may take you.


http://www.businessinsider.com/state-and-country-trade-maps-2015-7

Who Are You?

And who are they?  Well, thanks to mathematics, you can know yourself and others a little better - no long genealogy journey televised with shocking revelations, no blood draws or mouth swabs.  It is a computer algorithm, formatted to look like a "translation" screen- thoughts on the left, transparency on the right.


Don't write something special for this test, because that's akin to counting cards.  Take a sample of your writing - a work email, a grant report, a training description - and enter it into the box.  Out of the box comes the description.  You can see how easy it would be to run this on your coworkers, too.  You could even run the test for different points in time, or with writing samples intended for different audiences.


Who's to say you couldn't run your sales material and your client communications to check the pulse on how you may come across to those market segments???  Or what could happen with political speeches or press releases as they are run through the "truth filter"?


Mercedes Benz used a great graphic in its advertising several years back, depicting the left brain versus the right brain.  Familiar to many people as it was in vogue to try to fit yourself into a right brain or left brain workplace. From that advertisement:


Left brain
I am the left brain. I am a scientist. A mathematician. I love the familiar. I categorize. I am accurate. Linear. Analytical. Strategic. I am practical. Always in control. A master of words and language. Realistic. I calculate equations and play with numbers. I am order. I am logic. I know exactly who I am.


Right brain
I am the right brain. I am creativity. A free spirit. I am passion. Yearning. Sensuality. I am the sound of roaring laughter. I am taste. The feeling of sand beneath bare feet. I am movement. Vivid colors. I am the urge to paint on an empty canvas. I am boundless imagination. Art. Poetry. I sense. I feel. I am everything I wanted to be.


You have two halves of the brain - you use them both.


As you take a journey to the center of your world, remember that you are more than "they" say you are.  You are a work in progress - having a touch-point is always helpful to make sure your progress is in the right direction. You can't be confined to a box.  And, after all, this is artificial intelligence.

https://watson-pi-demo.mybluemix.net

Staying Strong

If you are honest with yourself, you have felt overwhelmed or even annoyed by LI messages, FB posts, texts, missed calls log, voicemails... and when you go through them, then you still may feel as though you aren't keeping up with your own things.  Well, as you fight to keep your head above virtual-message waterlines, make sure that you are spending quality time alone.  Yes, alone - electronically detached.  If you can't hear your own thoughts, it is extremely difficult to figure out the next step for your project, lead your team's presentation, or contribute meaningfully to the company's product launch. 


My team used to joke that at a certain time each week, they knew they couldn't find me and almost the exact length of time I was off the grid.  But, they knew right where I was... horseback in the woods.  My quiet time allowed for exercise, focus, reflection, and for some learning from a 1500 pound animal - if I wasn't in the moment, my moment could easily end up on the ground in a big "pay attention" message.  By doing something physical that is nearly second nature, you allow your mind to block out the messages and lists in your head in order to focus on form and function.  When you are done, you may be physically tired, but mentally refreshed and actually have discovered answers or next steps figured out for the remainder of the week by letting your sub-consciousness attack an issue while you attack the trail. 


[Also - when you go off the grid, for safety's sake, let someone know.  And if you switch days, tell them that, too - or you'll be surprised at the panic that can develop because you are always on your game and no one can reach you.  (I am still apologizing for that lack of courtesy to Robert and the gang.)]


Make sure you take time for yourself - it will make you better than ever!




http://www.businessinsider.com/how-mentally-strong-people-use-solitude-2015-7

Beyond "Hello, Dolly"

The ebb and flow of a person's focus can be influenced by group-think; if we don't talk about cloning, maybe it isn't happening.  Here, the ancient "game of kings" has found itself on the forefront of technology.  Avid horse lover that I am, there are troubling implications for this practice in the article below - but I guess we need to chalk it up to science, new product applications, and the polo governing body allowing "experimenting with any breeding technology that might elevate the level of play." The game of kings uses 10 mounts per match - no wonder polo has earned that description, and cloning will likely only reinforce it.  I wonder what Mr. Ed would say... http://www.vanityfair.com/news/2015/07/polo-horse-cloning-adolfo-cambiaso

No Excuses

People stand out when they challenge the status quo. It could be an engineer that thinks about the solution to a traffic pattern in a different manner or a store clerk that notices foot patterns during a shift that brings more revenue with a shift in product placement.  People have a great tendency to put things in boxes and think that's the only place something should be, that people should be.  If people try to "move that cheese", for instance, the engineer may be scorned for wasting time on traffic patterns because that isn't "her box"... the clerk may be scolded for wasting time people watching when he has assignments to fold clothes or dust. As a result of the majority of people not wanting their boat rocked, people to stay in their assigned lane because society encourages (and sadly rewards) that type of behavior.


But, what happens when someone goes beyond expectations?  At one point in history, instincts kept us alive.  If we take time to listen closely, there is still a bell within us that can alert that something is just not right.  It doesn't have to be life threatening, merely a situation or solution isn't the best it can be.  If your instinct tells you something, put your brain to work.  You can be the one outlier that discovers great things - or as in this story, corrects a false assumption that had been perpetuated for eons.  Don't let a "container define your story".  http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/alexander-the-great-father-tomb_55afec52e4b0a9b948536a84

Fierce, With Follow-Through

Disruptive talent is the new buzz phrase, and if you are a company lucky enough to attract one, you need to support the talent and not force a square peg in a round hole. Richard Branson is a great example - and notes that if a manager doesn't let the creativity flow, the talent will start a new company and be fierce competition.  Companies say they actively seek employees that "innovate, challenge conventional wisdom, spot trends, see commercial opportunities, and tenaciously find ways to achieve success."  But they may not always follow-through, even though it would obviously be a way to increase product offerings and ROI. 


Find a company or project that is "looking for candidates who will be provocative, unbending, and relentless in their pursuit of the goal" and you will be able to really sink your teeth into it.  Refining the wheel isn't as profitable or fulfilling as designing a new item that will be a smash hit and disrupters are absolutely necessary for success. While not everyone has the natural ability to be a disruptive talent, we all can have moment of fierce imagination, inspiration, motivation - where the typical shortfall hits is action.  Even if you have to start with small steps, it will be much more personally satisfying than having old-school managers trying to put your square peg in a round hole.  True leaders will appreciate your contributions.  Great article. Read more. http://www.bbc.com/news/business-33609566

What Happens When You Select the Right People

Would you wait a year before telling your server at the restaurant that he brought you the wrong meal?  It's about time companies begin to realize that an annual review makes very little sense; your time is their money and it is not a good ROI to wait to praise someone a year later or to have a twelve month "opportunity to keep missing targets" in order to redirect efforts.  At one company, I had our team complete various exercises once a month to learn about your own characteristics, what you thought were your strengths, as well as what your team members thought were your strengths. After a little initial pushback, the team learns together how others hear messages more clearly, or identifies an untapped strength of a team member, or finds out what kinds of projects excite team members.  It makes for a much more effective - and productive - team.  You'd be surprised if you talk more often with your team members how emerging leadership traits can be identified and nurtured - especially if you select the right people to work on projects. If you aren't taking a pulse more than once a year, well... do you really care about the pulse of the patient? 


http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/on-leadership/wp/2015/07/21/in-big-move-accenture-will-get-rid-of-annual-performance-reviews-and-rankings/?tid=HP_more?tid=HP_more

"It's Just Work."

What's your niche? Have you found "a knack for something that somebody was willing to pay for" that  you enjoy and still gives you time for your family and friends? Don't worry. You will. Just have faith and look how it may not be like Wobegon, but you will find your idyllic life. He didn't have a path, either, but he focused on what was important and had a plan - and it would be tough to find anyone over 30 that doesn't know his name. This article from 1997 is interesting - especially since he just announced retirement.

http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/1997/10/its-just-work/305002/?single_page=true

Pony Express

A project running full steam ahead that takes twelve years to get to market?, with no taste-test requires? Do you remember what you were doing twelve years go? Did you live in the same place twelve years ago? While the end result is "nice", not many companies could afford an R&D effort of such elongated duration. When everyone else (but the government, apparently, in this case) develops a plan, real attention is given to schedules and customer markets.Sometimes, you really do need to be more lucky than good (and have a deep bank account) - and then the fruits of labor flourish. If you can work a project for twelve years without results, more power to you; however, smart planning leads to increasing efficiency and gives you better returns for your investment. I actually bought a book of them yesterday because I had something to mail... but this design didn't push me to be a collector or buy 1,000 of them.  Wonder how many people have changed behavior because of the watermelon?


http://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2015/07/usps-stamp-design-summer-harvest/398657/

Need a Professional Checkup?

With all of the industry 'should do' lists, it gets to be "who's on first" roundabout of trends and trendsetters in corporations. But, there is no need to wait for bad news to conduct a reality check and make adjustments for the better. Regardless of personal views - especially when printed in HBR - respect is given to the head of one of the largest worldwide organizations when he gives tips on leadership. Promoted from within to lead, look at what he says are leadership traps, promotional obstacles and ways to remind yourself of important items.  You know you are not being truthful with yourself if you think you don't need an "annual" to see if these "diseases" have developed - and find the remedy to improve yourself. 


https://hbr.org/2015/04/the-15-diseases-of-leadership-according-to-pope-francis

Money on Monday

I am giving this entrepreneur two thumbs up for the spirit and idea of her company that she started in 2014. If you identify your money motivators and triggers, you can invest 'in line' with your beliefs - and buying stock when you had a stressful day can return a far greater reward than a splurge at a department store or the extra dessert at a restaurant.  Investing can be fun. And, people should start saving younger than we do (you get more money that way). Many people rely only on their work-directed retirement plans.  And work always has the employees best interest at heart, right??? Now, with smartphone apps, you can have the live sync to stock exchange data with historical views. Small ideas and small investments grow into larger ones - take advantage of saving today.


http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-07-16/can-one-brunch-date-force-you-to-face-your-budget-

When Big Admits Behemoth Isn't Better

Bigger paycheck... Bigger 401k match... Bigger PTO allotments... Employees agree these are definitely better when bigger and help attract star talent to companies. But what happens when big businesses realize Bigger is cumbersome... Bigger is slow... Bigger ain't better?  They look for best practices and to the adored consumer companies. Statements about adjusting business models, increasing autonomy, implanting flexibility - big statement from big companies that are making statements that reflect their own infest that they are too big for their britches. Remember your vision for personal and professional goals and don't get stuck in corporate group-think. It's a dangerous place to drift. 


http://www.thestreet.com/story/13219479/1/general-mills-ceo-we-want-to-act-more-like-a-small-company.html

Don't Forget the Importance of Play

As adults, our focus is on responsibilities - bills, jobs, the order of things.  Children, however, tend to focus on play and enjoy themselves.  Turns out, we can learn from kids.  Our minds still need distraction that has no other purpose but to allow a time of enjoyment.  It's not just about breaking up the boredom or drudgery of the work task.  It's about distracting the mind with something simple.  And K.I.S.S. is important.  It's not about texting or playing a smartphone game or watching cute animal videos; you need something tactile - squishing a stress ball, shaking a snow globe, even spinning a paperclip on your desktop (hopefully out of ear-shot of your boss).  You need to take time for you and your brain to chill out.  Don't rely on fish oil supplements or vitamins to boost your memory - K.I.S.S. and play.


http://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2015/07/stress-toys-focus-work/398453/

The Great Wide Open

We clamor for information to make better decision; we expect religious leaders to be forthright and pious; we demand real transparency of public officials. But this all focuses attention on how other people act with no accountability regarding our own actions. Personal beliefs and expectations shape how we see other people's actions, both in our private lives and our work lives, but rarely do we look at ourselves. This physician author accurately states "Americans thrive on choice."  But we have to remember that there are personal choices as well as professional choices, and they aren't always as compartmentalized as we would prefer. Development of self enhances development of you as a professional, too. Opening your mind to different cultures, other opinions, or new technology may allow you to learn something that will help you when you least expect it. 


http://www.politico.com/agenda/story/2015/07/hacked-big-deal-i-made-my-most-personal-data-public-000140?hp=b1_c3

D-i-c-t-i-o-n-a-r-y

When I was younger and I didn't know how to spell something, my father would say ok and begin spelling this instead of the actual word. It helped create self-sufficiency and assurance that if I didn't know something, I could - and should - look it up. On July 15th, the Department of Labor defined work, employees and contractors for American business. Seems corporate as well as several government entities had a "definition creep" (rather than mission creep, a discussion for another day) that blurred lines for profit instead of... Well, a variety of things. You think you know what you mean, but for some employers this is a whole new ballgame.  You had better know the definition according the to D-O-L as a worker and as an employer.


http://www.dol.gov/whd/workers/Misclassification/AI-2015_1.htm

Budget Time (are you really just forecasting 10% growth again?)

How many times have you just 'added ten' to come up with next year's budget... Or one product ads eight while another adjusts thirteen to hit the target your GM said was "the right fit"? Just a guess... Ten would cover the cost-of-living adjustments and typical inflation when the Fed hits normal rate increases with a small profit margin maintained, but not putting your product out of reach of consumers.  But is that why a perfect ten is the standard "just do it"? If you can't justify it, be a better professional that doesn't blindly follow, and instead of present facts to lead to a better way.  Help your business by understanding the vision but utilizing realistic steps to achieve it. Here are some suggestions.


https://hbr.org/2015/07/a-way-to-know-if-your-corporate-goals-are-too-aggressive

How Do You Define Success?

Well, guess what - it isn't what you think they see, it's what they think they see.  You may be smart; they may see abrupt.  You may be thoughtful; they may see too timid.  While some people think the small things aren't important, studies (and marketing experts) plead with people to pay attention to the small things.  I once worked with a politician after the largest natural disaster in the U.S., and people in the room had no idea what was being said because of the fidgeting and playing with some distracting item at the podium.  Who cares? You NEED to care.  It's your career on the line.  Bloopers reels aren't just funny - they should be used as lessons learned in the world of business because there are no "do-overs" in the real world. 


https://www.yahoo.com/finance/news/8-small-things-people-judge-160047114.html

The Best of The Best

Remember Tom Skerett's quote in the movie "Top Gun" to the cadet class, the one that motivated millions of kids and young adults to want to be Maverick?  Viper starts by telling them how awesome they are.  "The elite. The best of the best. We’ll make you better. You might say we’ll make you the best of the best of the best. " Don't lose that drive to be the best - take a lesson from how the American Elite Special Ops Forces work and apply it to your own game. 


https://hbr.org/2015/07/make-your-team-less-hierarchical

Making a Change Even with Odds Stacked Against You

Each of us has experienced "battles".  Fighting for something in which we believe takes effort and bravery - it helps to talk about it with friends, who can help accomplish your dreams with you.  Today is Bastille Day in France, where 226 years ago people believed in a dream bigger than the French monarchy and worked to be heard that they wanted to lead a new life.  What's your dream? How will you overcome the small obstacles and the mountains? Make a plan, and make sure to celebrate your accomplishments, no matter what size!  


http://www.thelocal.fr/20150713/how-to-make-the-most-out-of-bastille-day

Betting on Forgetting

"The brain crowns winners and losers." Americans tend to believe that the more tasks that you cram into a day, the bigger winner you are. However, asking for help or using 'cheat sheets' to get things done makes us think to ourselves that we are being perceived as a loser. But remember if you actually get things done and don't forget to call a friend or complete an errand for a family member, then that actually makes you a winner. It doesn't lessen your status if you have a helping hand to get things done.


http://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2015/07/11/421749669/trying-to-remember-multiple-things-may-be-the-best-way-to-forget-them

Talk of the Town

Pretty soon, information on the importance of childhood sleep habits will reemerge, preparing us for the start of school. (In the south, that occurs the second week of August, less than a month away.). But not a lot of discussion ever occurs for office workers. Sure, we know the tragedies that happen when truckers, bus drivers or train engineers are sleepy - but what about the people who work at a desk? With telecommuting and flex time as tools for employers to manage costs, start times may be another option to save money. It's a variation of flex time many employers - and employees - don't consider but maybe it's time everyone should. 


http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/248295?ctp=BizDev&src=Syndication&msc=google-editors-pick&google_editors_picks=true
​

It takes all kinds

Sometimes, we think about the big problems, the catastrophe, the landslide. But really, the simple and more common things are likely to nick your Achilles' heel. While it's important to have big plans, it is also important to plan for the small disruptions, too.


http://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2015/07/squirrels-trading-new-york-stock-exchange/398108/

How do you show your love?

The old business adage is pretty clear - it takes less money to keep a customer than find a new one. But bosses don't typically consider their employees as customers and the same funding formula applies to them, too. Rather than focusing on the negative, how can you bring the positive out of people, assign project where staff can excel, and how can you enhance your internal reputation (cuz you know the internal folks talk and can burn or build your external reputation)?


http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2015/07/07/fascinating-photos-show-how-our-offices-have-evolved-over-the-decades/?tid=HP_more?tid=HP_more

"Keepin' up with the Jones"

(Archive July 9, 2015) Motivation is an important part of self-esteem and a sense of satisfaction with our lives. As an employer, however, "to whom much is given, much is required."  What does this mean to you and your team? You could look at this as another regulation and potential expense. Or you could look at this as work life balance and a way that you can put limits on work to make employee's lives healthier and happier. Happy staff give great living testimony about your company!


http://www.npr.org/sections/alltechconsidered/2015/07/08/416515537/amid-new-overtime-rules-more-employers-might-set-email-curfew

Strange Bedfellows

Political analysts use this term to describe the effect of "the enemy of my enemy is my friend" or when two diametrically opposed politicians end up on the same side of an issue. (Note that's diametric not diabolic...) This WSJ article, posted after the outage on Wednesday, shows how sometimes unintentional alliances are perceived even if they don't exist. It's unlikely these two plan anything together, but they are having similar effects.  It's always important to consider your competition's role - sometimes it can enhance your own standings if the perceptions are used wisely.


http://www.wsj.com/articles/trump-and-sanders-the-disrupter-brothers-1436398120

Fork. Spoon. Rock?

Make sure you have the right tools to get the job done. 


http://m.csmonitor.com/USA/USA-Update/2015/0707/Bear-shatters-glass-at-Minnesota-zoo-with-rock-do-grizzlies-use-tools

Water, Water, Everywhere

Or nowhere? Who knows? You won’t know unless you improve your metrics.  What do you measure? And does it matter not only to you, but your customers? 


http://thelensnola.org/2015/07/07/experts-on-water-and-subsidence-you-cant-manage-what-you-dont-measure/

Have You Needed To Change...

but don’t have time to figure out what would work best?  Perhaps you bought a new software program that someone else recommended to you, but you aren’t sure how to use it.  You don’t have time to dig into all that it can do, but you know it should do more than what it is doing for your team.  Process management is as important as time management, though it’s not the same thing.  Make sure you know the difference.


http://m.huffpost.com/us/entry/7740986 

They Said That?

No matter who says it, the old ways no longer work. Fine-tune your engine... Sharpen the saw... But, don’t reinvent the wheel...


http://latino.foxnews.com/latino/politics/2015/07/07/marco-rubio-on-us-economy-old-ways-no-longer-work/?cmpid=GoogleNewsEditorsPicks&google_editors_picks=true

Look Both Ways

Sometimes, we are so focused on the goal that we don’t see other things around us.  These could be opportunities, like low hanging fruit, or hazards.  This simple bike-ride reminds everyone that you can be the leader, but what happens when something derails your path?


http://m.bleacherreport.com/articles/2515851-huge-crash-takes-out-riders-on-stage-3-of-the-tour-de-france?utm_source=cnn.com&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=editorial

Your Dream versus Their Dream

It's great to hear that people still possess the power of positive thinking (http://www.theatlantic.com/national/archive/2015/07/aspen-ideas-american-dream-survey/397274/), but what if they go where you aren't? (http://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2015/07/01/poll-obama-millennials-want-to-leave-the-america-they-created/)