WORK LIKE YOUR DOG

        WORK LIKE YOUR DOG

Work like a dog is an inspiring call to the readers to "come out and play" at work. People spend more time working, thinking about work, and traveling to and from work than all other waking activities combined. Employees are asked to do more for less-making their work lives more exhausting and less satisfying.  Having more fun at work isn’t a fantasy. It is a smart and savvy strategy to becoming a more creative, productive, and dynamic employee. The author advises to take pleasure from tasks, reduce levels of stress and recharge their creative side.

This article divided  in to three parts, in the first part he described the work as a game, in the second author described how to turn problems into opportunities and the last he advised how to learn to laugh and play with life.

1.     The Game of Work: first of all we have to know the rules of the game and he compares our work like a game.  When our life at work serves us an ace, many of us act as if it's the end of the world. Even the smallest of problems or mistakes can get blown completely out of proportion. We spend all kinds of time and energy living in the past, analyzing, criticizing, making excuses, worrying, and generally making ourselves miserable. "Hey, nobody's perfect -- how can I learn from my mistakes if I never make any" the author wants everybody to say this to himself. Everybody has to see every situation as an opportunity to play, to celebrate and to learn how to work less, play more and earn more. "The better you feel about yourself, the less likely you are to take yourself too seriously and the more you are able to laugh at yourself and the things that may go wrong all around you." In fact, if you haven't been rejected recently, then you probably haven't been trying hard enough. The author explained beautifully our pet dogs spend their days along with you. Waiting for your order, showing enthusiasm in the work we give, doing the things just like play and many more things and advise us to have fun at work and do the work differently and celebrate the fun. And as rule of play we have to play fair game and he compares ethics as good business.

2.     Turn the problems into Opportunities: The author advises to change the way you view the world and see the flowers in the garbage. In this part he explains three secrets of stress reduction, one out of them is-every person has to rethink in the difficult situations to get rid of. He also explains three ways to turn fights into frolics. Everybody has to learn to be happy when unhappy things happen.

3. Learning to laugh and play with life: Surround your self with people who like to laugh and play, stay in touch with your friends and live in the movement but not for the movement. He tells two ways to practice having fun. The author disagrees with the proverb "Practice makes perfect, rather he tells that "Practice makes permanent." In other words, if we practice something enough, it becomes habitual. And if we want to live a good life, which is meaningful, joyful, and happy, we need lots and lots of practice. If you want to become more comfortable  playing in your life think what can you change in your life?   And lastly the author advises us to take the pledge "I want you to lighten up on me already, will you! Now, let's go to work and have some fun".

By Book by Luke Barber and Matt Weinstein

THE Ist 4 SECONDS

THE Ist 4 SECONDS

THE Ist 4 SECONDS

 By : Gautam Gary Gupta

We meet at least 25000 people by the time we are 50 and at the end of walking so many people in life, we remember only a handful. Wonder Why?

Because, only those who mattered to us in same way and those who created an impression in mind, even meeting could be brief, but it stay in min. The impression can be positive or negative.

Most of people would not like to ‘impress in the latter way’ so the goal is to make an impression in such a way that we remain etched in people’s memory,  that we are noticed wherever we go.

Our First and LAST impression as the first impression is obviously the Last.

The Ist Second

Smile a while

A sage and his disciple lived in a secluded cottage, near a village. The disciple would go to the village everyday to arrange for food. But he hated doing it, as he found the villagers very unfriendly. They hardly ever acknowledged his presence. The disciple never spoke to anyone in the village and when he did, it was to the bare minimum. He disliked the unfriendly and what he thought to be the ‘rude behavior’ of the villagers and therefore hated his visits to the village.

His guru had divined the disturbed state of mind of his disciple and one day decided to accompany him to the village. Upon entering the village, the disciple found to his utter amazement, that the same villagers greeted his Guru with smiles and salutations.

“Master, I have come to this village number of times and I’ve never seen the villagers so polite and friendly. What has brought this sudden change in them? What have you done?” asked the incredulous disciple.

“Nothing! I simply smiled at them “, replied the sage.

Then he went on to explain, “My smile brought them closer to me. And at close quarters I discovered that they are really friendly people and they discovered that I’m a friendly man.”

 “A smile is the best way to relieve the tension and break the ice.” You have Four seconds to create a wonderful first impression and you cannot do it without a smile. You might be wearing the best of attires but if you are not wearing a smile, you have lost upon the first crucial second of a first meeting. And this is true in every walk of life.

When you come across an unknown face, the lack of familiarity creates a chasm between the other person and you. A smile can help you bridge this chasm and give the ‘unfamiliar’ and opportunity to become ‘familiar’.

We want to reach out to people and build a connection with the world. The smile is surely the most economical and trusted way to forge such a connection.

“The way you smile reflects your attitude and before you realize, the other person has formed an opinion about you based on the way you smile.

Express the smile in a way that it exudes warmth. The only two facial features that you should move are your eyes and your lips. Make the jaw line responsive, so that the smile does not look artificial. Make your eyes reflect the smile on your lips. Your smile should convey confidence, not arrogance or pretence. Do not widen your eyes unnecessarily. Do not play with your nose. Do not have different smiles for different people. Do not put on a half smile. A half smile suggests reticence. Do not smirk. Smirking gives the impression of arrogance when you smirk to acknowledge somebody’s presence you are conveying that the other person is not important to you. A smile is another way of saying: I am happy with my life, I am happy with myself and I am very happy to get an opportunity to know who you are.”

Attitude stems from the way you think about people, and how you approach them. If your approach is not open minded and if you categorize people, then you are hindering your ability to meet new people and make better connections.

A smile costs nothing but gives you what no cosmetic on earth can – a pleasant and forthcoming appearance. A sincere and heartful smile elicits a similar response, bringing pleasure to the one who smiles and to the one who receives it. The ultimate valve of a smile lies in its ability to exude warmth. A genuine smile can induce feelings of happiness even if it is from a stranger. A smile is the most useful and economical way of making the first 4 seconds a gateway to a promising future. Smile your way, through life, for a smile is a win-win way of conquering life. When you smile, you form a situation. Your ability to form situations with the world is what makes you a good communicator. At the end of the day, the first four seconds do nothing but concludes how good a communicator you can be.

The 2^nd Second

An eye for Eye.

You should look into the person’s eyes and give him all the attention he deserves.

Every face speaks a language of its own, of which, the eyes are an important part. They determine how involved you are with another person, even before you start a verbal exchange/ when you meet a person, the most clinching part in the way your eyes are placed with that person, in that person. Look directly into that individually eyes. If your eyes are looking else where, then you are sending a signal that you are not interested, On the other hand, if you look directly into the person’s eyes, you create an instant bond. Keep your eyes completely open. While making eye contact. Do not wink or look half-heartedly. Do not stare at the person or look dazed. The expression in your eyes and the time span of your eye contact could determine your interest in the other person.

Eye contact plays a pivotal role in cross-cultural communication.

A prolonged eye contact, especially with ladies, can be taken as a offence in some cultures. Whereas in other cultures, not looking at a person in the eyes can be interpreted as a sign of dishonesty. Looking away while conversing can also prove to be a major hurdle in effective communication.

The 3^rd Seconds.

Shaken and Stirred.

Managing your hands in the most difficult thing to do while conversing. Many a time, the formalities of the spoken language take precedence over those of the body language. If you put your hands behind, it might make you look slavish. If you put them in the front, it may look as if you are attending a choir. The hands placed on the sides give you the perfect look. Maintaining such a posture requires practice. Limp hands on the sides do not portray the right image. Make sure the hands display energy. Keep your body erect and firm. Walk towards the person with a rhythm.

Handshake. The only physical warmth that you can share with somebody at the first instance is the handshake. It tells the other person how much you appreciate his being there.

The finger handshake: An extended finger instead of a palm suggests disinclination to meet the person.

The Double handshake: The double handshake tends to show excessive gratitude or inferiority complex and has a slavish undertone.

The halfhearted Handshake. A halfhearted handshake is a sure shot way of making the other person feels unimportant and defied.

The Gym Handshake. When you shake hands with some body, you are building a physical rapport and not displaying physical aggression.. So make sure that you are shaking the other person’s hand and not wringing it. Your handshake has to be firm and not bone-crushing.

The Perfect Handshake. Take your right handout at waist level and gracefully swing it into the other person’s hand. You have to make sure that the edge of your palm coincides with that of the person. Get a grip on the person’s palm and shake it steadily. Shake the hand and jerk it once. Do not keep jerking it, or holding it, as it will make the person uncomfortable.

A good handshake is very significant as this ordinary physical contact can symbolize the trust exchanged between two people. Though it is a simple gesture, it can be the deciding factor in meeting, interviews and social gathering.

Sometimes, some women may not shake your hand back. You must not take it personally or read it as an insult. It is best not to shake hands with a woman unless she offers her had first.

The 4^th Second

Speak well, Greet well

A greeting is the first verbal sign of respect that you show to the other person

Greeting is the beginning of vocal communication a greeting is always made while shaking hands. It can be of two kinds-formal or casual. One should always stick to a formal mode of greeting when meeting a person for the first time. A ‘good morning’ or ‘good afternoon is a very good way to greet a person.

While shaking hands, you have one second to address the person. A good greeting can make a lasting impression on a person.

Ø                        Do not lisp when you greet a person

Ø                        Be clear in your pronunciation

Ø                        Do not whisper or speak in a high pitch.

Ø                        Keep you tone melodious

The greeting is the last of the four seconds and the response you get from the person after you have greeted him is enough for you to judge the future.

How to respond to a greeting

There are close-ended answers and open-ended ones. A typical close-ended conversation would be as follows:

A:      Good afternoon

B:       Good afternoon

                                                  A:       How are you?

                                                 B:        Fine

      A:        Where do you live?

                                                 B        Nearby

A close-ended conversation leaves no scope for further dialogue and could lead to awkward silences.

On the other hand, a typical open-ended conversation would be as follows:

A         Good afternoon

B          Good afternoon

                                                A          How are you?

                                     B          Very well, thanks you. How about you?

                           A          I’m fine too. Where do you live?

                          B          Not too far from here. And you?

An open-ended conversation is full of reciprocity, where you are continuing the dialogue. While receiving importance from the other person, you must also learn to respond with appropriate question so that he feels equally important and attended to. This helps in prolonging a conversation after the first four seconds.

One of the most common problem is body odour, due to which people feel diffident. The simplest solution is to wear deodorants, perfumes or colognes.

A GREETING IN COMBINATION WITH A SMILE, EYE CONTACT AND HANDSHAKE HELPS YOU CREATE THE PERFECT, LASTING IMPRESSION!

WINNING STRATEGIES

WINNING STRATEGIES

The mantras are narrated below:

- Selecting the best: i.e. employing the right people especially at senior positions, having a positive attitude, the ability to inspire others and the potential to grow and assume higher responsibilities for contributing to the success of the organisation. ‘Superior talent will be tomorrow’s prime source of competitive advantages, we bet on people, not strategies’.

-Agile organisation: i.e. being able to take the changing scenario in its stride. A ‘High Speed’ culture enables an organisation to be more sensitive to its goals and objectives while taking into account the demand of the existing business department.

“Speed has to be inbuilt in the organisation’

-Be small but look big: Globalisation is erasing boundaries and building a network between nations and people. So, flat structure and adaptive people shall be the slogans of the next millennium and this could be done through out-sourcing secondary functions and by giving emphasis to and strengthening core competencies to boost up profit and future growth and build a strong reputation of the organisation in the corporate world.

-Investment in people: Human Resource in an organisation is its most renewable source.

The key issue should be optimum utilisation of intellectual capital and to capitalise the creativity and talent available by giving due recognition to those who have made exemplary efforts in implementing improvements and creating innovations.

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A big strength of GE (General Electric) lies in its mastery in motivating people. GE’s CEO, Jack Welch, himself reviews the performance of the Co.’s top 3,000 managers every year and suggests the desired changes, thanks them, and takes note of their family crises.

So, to be successful, organisations need Managers who are “ Loving & Caring” and are employee- oriented.

-Culture of learning and adaptability: New and innovative concepts are to be continuously learnt and adapted in the organisations. By applying the latest and the best management practices and also by leveraging the knowledge of employees as well as database/ archives, an organisation could gain a significant competitive advantage

 

A closer interface/ interaction between Industry and Academic Institutions has immense potential to benefit both.

This has been corroborated by HDFC Chairman- Deepak Parekh when he says:   “The real advantage one company has over another in a highly competitive and  ‘information- sensitive’ economy, is the ability of its managers to learn faster than its competitors”.

-Synergy of resources is possible only when the team is integrated and the team can only be integrated when the team members share different thoughts and actions together.

The key to success is the optimum utilisation of resources, infrastructure and human capital and this can be done through skill tracking.

“Challenge is how to trap the organisation’s hidden wealth which means full utilisation of its human competencies”

Some companies like DR. Reddy’s laboratories and Crompton Greaves are already putting their human capital into the asset part of their balance sheet.

The second section, titled ‘Dynamics of Success’ is devoted to the importance of change and adaptability and unleashes the entire strategy of success. The phrase of  ‘Dynamics of Success’ is narrated letter by letter in this section

D :   Develop new generation business leaders who through their talent can bring about 

the metamorphosis from the existing state to the desired state. Leadership is the foundation of sustained profitability.

Y:    Young talent should be encouraged to give a fresh look to the organisation and also   

         to blend the past experience with future enthusiasm to achieve the future goals.

N :    Need for “ Knowledge Management” to regain the edge. Successful companies will

         be the ones that will best do the job of capturing, storing and leveraging what their

         employees know. ‘ Knowledge will be the new currency of the Millennium’.

A:     Adopt and adapt to a flexi system by switching over to flexible timings and

         adaptation to new technology to make the managers’ life easier.

M :   Make individuals a part of the Vision and the Objective of the company

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“People perform better when the organisational goals are aligned with the individual interest.”

I :   Interface between the industries and various academic institutions  to make good use of genuine and innovative ideas of  professional institutes for achieving excellence

C :  Concentration on ‘Competency Development’ to ensure survival of contemporary business

S:  Shifting the attitude from Control to Support and giving the highest value to humanity- treating people with the fullest dignity and in a humane manner.

O :  Openness so as to ensure a paradigm shift in the organisational culture and environment along with free flow of information and knowledge through interactive forums.

F :  Focus on Excellence in All Spheres ranging from customers’ needs, customer service,  customer retention– it is very imperative for today’s managers to maintain their competitive edge.

S : Self motivation - ensure that people working in the organisations are motivated and inspired enough to be fit and to excel in work, and let them feel that opportunities never come to those who wait-  they are captured by those who attack.

U : Utilising the vast potential that lies dormant within each individual. Most of the individuals do not realise their hidden potential, which is to be tapped by a good leader

         

C : Continuous Improvement Process.

“ Success is not achieved by luck or fate, it is achieved only when an individual takes a decision to succeed  with a clear goal followed by persistent action.”

C : Creativity – It is an organisational necessity - because it helps the organisation to come up with improved productivity and higher consumer satisfaction, which is the goal of every dynamic organisation.

          “ Creative Solutions Need Creative Minds”

E : Effective Leadership and Participation – always makes a winning, unbeatable and result oriented team. Hence, thrust should be given to developing effective leadership , not only at the top level, but also at the middle management level and the floor level.

S : Sensitive to New Business Environment- revolution in IT and new business processes have made business more responsive, less time consuming, effective and productive.

S : Success – “ Success is a journey and not a destination”- To be successful we have to follow the very spirit of all the narrations made above and also to adapt to changes as  has been revealed by Theodore Livitt in the article “ Marketing Myopia” when he states that every major industry was once a growth industry……… In the case of industries with declining growth, the reason of failure was not always a saturated market, rather it was due to failure of the management to adapt to the impending change.

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The third section, on “Motivation for Enhancing Employee Morale”, emphasises the role of organisation in developing individuals as self starters to enable them to set their own goals and accomplish them within the prescribed time. The role of business is not only to make good quality products, make profits and serve the customer well but it is also necessary to keep the internal customers i.e. employees, satisfied, inspired and motivated.

“Unsatisfied employees can never satisfy external customers”

It is true that people work for money but they do need love, care, praise and recognition/ appreciation to go that extra mile. They want tangible proof that someone really cares about the job they do and reward is just a symbol of that.

So, identifying the strengths of individuals and spotting talent in them; Carrier Planning and Career Growth; Celebrating Success at every milestone; Competency Development etc. are some of the issues that are to be taken care of for the healthy growth of the organisation.

 ‘The seemingly under average employees could turn out to be the distinguished ones, if their area of strength is recognised and channelised, so as to match job assignment and also to make them feel that the superiors are consciously caring for their career and any suggestions for improvement are communicated for their own good.’

The fourth section –“Developing Goal Managers in a Cross Cultural Environment”-

reflects the significance of  Global Managers in the globalised environment who through  

 ‘Orientation to the global market’ and ‘Developing a Universally Acceptable Working Culture Ability’, are able to meet the expectations of the foreign counterparts to answer the  questions related to some critical issues, ranging from impact of competitiveness to

being late entrant, to chances of profitable growth, to their fitness in the new culture generated by the new international business scenario  ……

“ A Winning Manager is the one with winning ways across the globe”

The fifth section, titled ‘Speaking to Influence’ spells an effective strategy for developing the art of communication and presentation and starts with  a quote :

“ Mostly people are good at what to say but poor at how to say”

which has been very adeptly supported by a situation where a presentation is to be made to a foreign collaborator. The manager is ready with perfect data and slides but he is thoroughly  confused, nervous and his body language indicates that he wants to get over with the presentation as soon as possible and when the show is over , it creates such a weak/ poor impression that the foreign collaborators refuses to enter into any deal with the company.

“ All communications serve both, a practical purpose as well as an inspirational purpose. Make your communication both”

The sixth and the last Section – “Coping With Executive Stress” is devoted to the first and foremost priority of our lives i.e. managing stress in our personal as well as professional lives.  Stress is the most frequently used word in the workplace today. Long

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working hours, overload, deadline pressure, execessive touring, and no time for family leading to domestic disharmony are a few of the top stresses which executives of today are complaining about.

 

This section dwells in detail about the sources  and consequences of stress .  Sources of stress, ranging from the tension of the past to the anxiety of future, can be broadly classified  into :

External Sources – uncertain future, tyrannical superiors, unreasonable targets etc.

Self- generated stress  - confused priorities, poor time management, emotional immaturity, incompatibility with spouse and/or superiors and colleagues etc.

We should not ignore stress because it may be just the beginning of a long drawn battle with a problem related to stress such as  restlessness, sleeplessness, frustration etc..

 These long drawn consequences of stress may ultimately lead to acute depression and domestic disharmony if not treated timely because

“when under stress , an individual experiences symptoms which are not normal to his behaviour

So to ELIMINATE STRESS for SUCCESS

·        treat your family as the foundation for your success because it is the pillar of strength in your lives

·        develop your subordinates because if you make others winners, you are already a winner.

·        Keep refreshing surroundings because a healthy ambience helps a person to be cheerful, relaxed and away from stress

·        Plan the work and decide priorities ,understand constraints to accomplish your job successfully, and enjoy the success

·        Be self reliant and independent to make yourself ready for hiccups which may arise due to organisational changes like downsizing, retrenchment or unexpected increase in work load etc.

Stress is not always harmful. In the right amount, stress helps in making a person stay alert, reflexive and proactive. But an effort has to be made by the individual and the organisation as a whole to reduce the stress by mutual setting of goals, regular feedback etc. because - ‘If you look for the positive things in the life , you will find them’.

Ultimately, never forget :

 “If you want harmony in your country, you must have harmony in your society, you must have harmony in your family and you must have harmony in yourself.”

                                                                             (A quote by Confucious)

1,001 WAYS TO MOTIVATE YOURSELF & OTHERS

 1,001 WAYS TO MOTIVATE YOURSELF & OTHERS

The Roots of Motivation

Motivation is a force that creates behavior to fulfill a need.  It is not necessarily positive or negative, fulfilling or frustrating.  It can be all, some or none of these.  How often have you heard the phrase “Police are still searching for a motive”?  Yes, people can also be motivated to take negative actions.  Motivation is a powerful and complex force that causes us to act.  Motivation itself is not an observable phenomenon, but the force behind the resulting behavior.  One behavior can have many possible motives.

Basically there are two levels of motivation: survival and achievement.  Survival needs include safety, nourishment, shelter and procreation.  These fundamental physical needs must be fulfilled to satisfy our body’s daily requirements.  Once these basic needs are satisfied, we begin to look to other areas of need including achievement, emotional fulfillment, personal growth, and self worth.

The key to motivating a person into action lies in knowing which of these needs is most prominent in that person at a particular point in time.  Motivating forces are not universal.  They are subjective and can change at a moments notice as priorities change.  What motivates today may seem hollow and useless tomorrow.

WHAT MOTIVATES:

Below is a list of the emotions and needs that ignite people to action:-

Achievement	Acquisition	Advancement	Affiliation	Ambition
Balance	Belonging	Betrayal	Camaraderie	Challenge
Confidence	Consistency	Construction	Control	Co-operation
Defense	Desperation	Defense	Desperation	Education
Excitement	Fairness	Fear	Forgiveness	Freedom
Harmony	Hatred	Information	Involvement	Learning
Order	Peace	Politics	Power	Praise
Redemption	Respect	Responsibility	Resolution	Retention
Self worth	Sharing	Anger	Status	Stress Relief
Unity	Vanity	Change	Vision	Autonomy
Esteem	Happiness	Creation	Recognition	Self Improvement
Ego	Giving	Revenge	Love	Prestige

 

THEORIES OF MOTIVATION

There are several theories of motivation.  Here we will discuss only three types of motivational theories.

The Behavioral Theory, probably the most commonly known motivational theory, states that desired behaviors recur when reinforced and that people can be influenced to behave like others whom they see rewarded for such behavior.  According to the Behavioral Theory, one person can motivate another person simply by rewarding desirable behavior and punishing or ignoring undesirable behavior.

The Cognitive Theory suggests that people are most motivated by things that pique their curiosity and are interest or fun.  This theory relies heavily on intrinsic motivation and the desire of the individual to answer a question, fulfill a need or achieve competency in a subject.  It doesn’t however, account for the reasons that people endure intense or prolonged suffering (neither interesting nor fun) to achieve a goal.

The Humanistic View is based on idea that people have a fundamental drive to fulfill certain needs in a specific order.  The basic human needs, according to the theory, are physiological satiation, safety, belonging, esteem, self- actualization, understanding and aesthetic.    Somewhat similarly, the Achievement Theory states that people develop a need for achievement and seek to fulfill that need while avoiding the possibility of failure.

While each theory has merits and applies in many real-life cases, a blanket theory to motivate people in every situation is elusive.  Motivation depends upon having an understanding of people and their wants and needs.  Your ability to identify and fulfill these fundamental needs is the key to being a successful motivator.

KEY IDEAS

There are several key ideas that are essential to understand motivation.

Motivation is a force, positive or negative that causes us to act

Understanding the underlying motive behind the action is the key to motivating anyone, including you.

Every motive we have for action arises from a need and our desire to satisfy it.

Motives come in many forms and change throughout our lives.

Motivation is the act of encouraging someone to do something they need to do, but may not be able to initiate on their own.  Manipulation is the act of deceiving someone into doing something they might not otherwise do.

Motive can change during an activity.

To create a strong incentive, your reward for achieving a behavior must be directly tied to the motive for action

WAYS TO MOTIVE YOURSELF

“Knowing and doing are as different as night and day.”

The gap between knowing and doing is where great men and women are made or lost.  Most of us know what we have to do to achieve our dreams, but we have a hundred and one reasons not to act on our knowledge.  We don’t have enough money, we don’t have enough time, we don’t have the skills, we don’t have the materials, we don’t have the patience, we don’t have the courage, and on and on into eternity.

The reality is that with all of the energy we use to think up and justify those excuses, we could be half way to achieving our goals.  If only we had the motivation to get started on the “doing”.  Once we can motivate ourselves, we can motivate anyone.

INSPIRATION	APPLICATION
Failure is like driving down a dead end road and turning around to find a better route.	Make a habit of being enthusiastic.
Winners don’t have time to place blame; they’re too busy getting ready for the next challenge.	Ground yourself with solid principles so you don’t get distracted from your goal by trends or fads.
Sometimes how far you go is not as important as the direction you take.	Be prepared – your opportunity may come at any moment.
Intentions do not count, actions do.	Do your best at every stage of the game.
If you don‘t know where you want to go, no amount of planning will get you there.	Surround yourself with positive, enthusiastic people.
You are what you think you are.	Focus on becoming.
Problems are teachers not obstacles.	Don’t let yourself get trapped in other’s negativity.
Everyone is good at something.	Do what you love.
The first step determines the direction of the journey.	There is only one person you must answer to in the end – yourself.
Allow yourself to dream, it just may come true.	Tackle small problems before they grow into unmanageable situations.
Instead of saying “I can’t reach my goal because I don’t have X.” think about what you can do to get X or how you can achieve your goal without X.	Rather than viewing life an as endless sting of problems to be solved, view it as an unfolding mystery to be revealed.
INSPIRATION	APPLICATION
Nothing has control over your destiny but you.	There is someone, somewhere who can help you.  Find him or her.
Adversity is the wrapping paper of opportunity.	See your dreams as a preview of the future.
Practice doing small, unpleasant tasks so when the time comes for real sacrifice, you are well trained.	Never say No
The only thing stopping you is yourself.	Accept failure as part of success.
The future is where you will spend the rest of your life.	Ground yourself with solid principles so you don’t get distracted from your goal by trends or fads.
The joy of the journey is not so much in reaching the harbor as in anticipating wheat lies ahead	Find satisfaction in your daily life.  Don’t wait for your big break to come.
There is no guarantee that tomorrow will come.  Do it today.	Don’t let your weakness overshadow your strengths.
When your perception changes, the cloudy day turns sunny.	Define the reasons behind your goals.
Nothing is certain, so don’t bet on it.	Don’t get discouraged if it seems that nobody believes in you.  Start a trend by believing in yourself.
Appreciate what you have.	Meaningful goals produce meaningful results.
Experience, whether good or bad, is an asset.	Acknowledge that your destiny lies in your hands and you can make it or break it.
No matter how bad your situation is, you always have the freedom to discover something good about yourself.	It doesn’t matter how many times you fall; only how many times you get up.
What you are is more important than what you have been and what you aim to be is best of all.	Practice being motivated.  You may fail at first, but practice makes perfect.
Your goals must be clear but your guidelines must be flexible.	Choose quality over quantity.

 

 

WAYS TO MOTIVE YOUR CLIENTS & CUSTOMERS

INSPIRATION	APPLICATION
In the long run, honesty really is the best policy	Prove your commitment to excellence through your daily actions.
Hospitality is a welcome change in our frenzied life.	Believe in your products & always keep your promises.  Clients like consistency.
Why you do things and the way you do them is more important than what you do.	Keep customers happy even after you’ve finished your business with them.
A smile is the universal language.	Make your client’s primary objective your primary objective.
People are more likely to buy from you if they feel you understand their needs, than if they understand the features of your product or service.	If your client is a busy person, get right to the point.  Busy people are used to making quick decisions and don’t like to be “sold”.
Know the difference between simply treating people well and making them feel important.	Take the opportunity to personalize interactions with clients whenever possible.
Favour relationships over transactions.	Clients like consistency.
People like to business with people they like.	Treat clients like lifetime partners in your business.
People like to have the newest and the best, but they don’t necessarily want to be the first to have it.	When a customer is undecided, present two options and the basis for choosing each to motivate him to make a decision.
Meeting customer expectations is more important than your objective level of quality.	Provide customers with the opportunity to feel they have made a good decision.

WAYS TO MOTIVATE CHANGE

“The best time to change is before you are forced to”.

Change is one of the most frequently recurring, yet one of the most frightening aspects of human life.  The every act of living subjects us to ongoing change, both within and around us.  Change is a reality that cannot be avoided or ignored – much as some of us might try.

The best way to motivate yourself to change is to enthusiastically meet the change head on before it is forced upon you.  Change is often unpleasant or uncertain.  Having to face the unpleasant or the uncertain is best done in a positive state of mind, rather than when you are anxious or ill.

MOTIVATE YOURSELF	MOTIVE OTHERS
Never fear change	Create an atmosphere that is open to regular change.
To initiate a change, start with a step that will bring noticeable results, no matter how small.	Avoid implementing too many changes at once.
Nothing in life leaves you where it finds you.	Allow sufficient time to adjust to change.
Life is ongoing.  You will never have it under control, so stop trying.	Change is easiest to face when you go through it with someone at your side.
Change is an inevitable part of life.	Once a change is made, encourage people to stick to it and avoid the temptation to revert to older, more comfortable ways.
If you invite change within yourself, rather than being affected by change, is easier to deal with,	Allow for mistakes and delays when a change is implemented.  People quickly get frustrated if they fee you expect perfection from the start.
Don’t’ turn away from a possibility of change until you are objectively sure it has nothing to offer.	Point out the habits and excuses that are preventing change from occurring.
Try something new every day to develop a tolerance for the new and different.	Outline some sample scenarios of the potential results of the change.
Celebrate change. Be positive.	Change is easiest to face when you go through it with someone at your side.
It is usually easier to go with change than to fight against it.	Change is accepted best when there is a logical reason behind it.
Treat change as an honored guest.	Change is more acceptable when it does not appear irrevocable.
Remember that change has brought you to where you are now and will continue to help you grow if you handle it deftly.	Present a change in the most positive light, but don’t hesitate to communicate potential negatives.
You cannot change your actions without first changing how you think about those actions.	People change when they are good and ready to.  You will never change someone who is not ready.
If you stop changing, you stop living.	Provide opportunities to talk about an impending change to give people the chance to identify their feelings toward it.
Life is one-way journey.  No matter how badly you might want to go back, you cannot.	Designate concrete areas that will not be affected by the change to create a psychological safety zone.

WAYS TO MOTIVATE YOUR BOSS

“Credentials are easily replaceable, commitment and integrity are not.”

 

INSPIRATION	APPLICATION
If you cost your boss more than you earn for her, you won’t be around very long.	If you want your boss to back up your new ideas, be willing to share the credit.
It is not enough to get things done; you should be seen doing them.	Make your boss’ weaknesses your strengths and offer assistance.  You will become indispensable.
Knowledge is power.  Share it with your boss and your influence will increase measurably.	Your boss is not responsible for your personal problems-leave them at home where they belong.
A win-win situation is the ideal motivator.	Never steal your boss’s spotlight or beat her at her game.
Everyone wants something in life.  Do you know what makes your boss tick?	Be prepared to show that you have exhausted your resources before asking your boss for help.
Positive expectations usually lead to positive outcomes.	Give more than you have to.  Don’t be on time, be early.  Don’t meet requirements, exceed them.

 

WAYS TO MOTIVATE YOUR EMPLOYEES

INSPIRATION	APPLICATION
When you don’t care, they don’t care.	Treat others, as you want to be treated.
Successful motivation consists not of doing it to people but doing it with them.	Praise employees most frequently in areas of their work that they take most seriously.
The best way to develop respect and responsibility in employees is to give it to them.	Create a work place that is free of prejudice.
Those who play well together work well together.	Give each of your workers a special, personal mission.
When the work and the worker fit, there is no need for further motivation.	Apologize honestly for your mistakes.
Making request is generally preferable to giving orders.	Treat employees like responsible adults.
Always give credit where credit is due.	Make sure all employees take regular vacations to renew their spirit.
Too many rules impede morale.	Never assign two people to do the job of one; it promotes boredom, frustration and apathy.
Employees are most highly motivated when they feel they are appropriately compensated for what they produce.	Let talented employees feel they have the power to make a difference.
Employees feel secure, and therefore work best, when they trust their boss.	Give your employees a vision to strive for.

WAYS TO MOTIVATE YOUR TEAM

“Don’t tread on the process to reach the goal.”

INSPIRATION	APPLICATION
Competition is only motivating if there is a prospect of winning.	Don’t make promises or threats you don’t intend to keep.
Teams are made of team players not superstars.	Create an atmosphere in which individual team members are willing to make personal sacrifices for good of the team.
People respond best when they can make the best use of their talents.	Never stop teaching your team new and better winning skills.
As a team leader, your approach is a stronger motivator than your methods.	Push team members top their full potential but never forget to respect their dignity.
The reward of success must be shared equally among all team members whatever their level of contribution.	Use humor to dissolve interpersonal tension among team members.
Discipline allows people to act in concert based on common principles.	Point out errors without placing blame.

WAYS TO MOTIVATE DECISION MAKING

“Avoiding a decision is equal to deciding to do nothing.”

Accept the fact that nothing is certain and that no decision is perfect

Face your decision honestly.

You will never have enough information to decide flawlessly.

Leave your emotions and personal biases at the door when making critical decisions.

Every decision must include a plan of action to carry out the decision.

Once you decide, announce it.  This will spur you to action.

The more successful you become the more difficult decisions you will have to make.  Readily accept every opportunity to practice along the way.

Accept that decisions are made in reality and may require constraints, compromises or sacrifices.

Once you decide, set a specific start date within the next few days.

Make a habit of the act of making decisions.

WAYS TO MOTIVATE PRODUCTIVITY

“Motivation is the key to productivity.  Given two people of similar ability, the motivated person will always outperform the unmotivated person.”

INSPIRATION	APPLICATION
Seek problems because you need opportunities.	Every “emergency” that comes along distracts Don’g.
Being productive is one of the greatest intrinsic rewards.	Don’t allow people to waste your time with unsolicited sales calls, unwanted social visits, etc.
Life goes on whether you fail or succeed at any single task.	Stop waiting for the ideal time – it will never come.
You can do a lot with a little if that little is totally committed.	Identify and challenge negative thoughts that are blocking your ability to get your job done.
Working smart is always more productive than working hard.	Set priorities & if you aren’t blessed with self-discipline, pretend you are.
Once you get going, the going gets easier.	Don’t spend inordinate amounts of time on low priority tasks.
Doing without thing is as bad as thing without doing.	Reserve your work area for work only – not coffee breaks, reading or socializing.
A positive attitude is a poor substitute for actual preparation.	Learn to say no to task you don’t have time for or interest in.
Organization invites work.	When it’s done, forget it and move on.
Remember to say “thank you” to yourself.	Avoid announcing your plans in advance; it brings out the opposition in droves.
Effort alone is not enough; it must eventually produce measurable result.	Do it right the first time, even if it takes longer.
Well begun is half done?	Know the limits of your job.  Don’t waste time duplicating other people’s work.
Just because it doesn’t have to be done now, doesn’t mean you can’t do it now.	Do one thing at a time.
Activity is not the only necessity for productivity thinking can be immensely productive.	Delegate work that can be done by others, starting with the jobs you dislike most.