A few years ago, early during a brief tenure with a fair-sized development agency, I led a one-day training of management skills for a group of about 15 managers. I gave an overview of management styles, teams and empowerment, communication, decision-making, time management, delegation, and performance reviews. Most participants were new to management. They […]
Archive | Fireside Chats
Creating meaningful conversations around work situations. With enough interest, these might turn into community chats at a local coffee shop.
Living is Vital
Last week, I was speaking with one of my interns. She is a senior university student who has had several diverse jobs and internships over the last couple of years. She has seen a variety of careers and jobs and lifestyles in this short time period. She was reflecting on all of this, wondering out […]
How (maybe?) to hire your first employee
Today I met with a person who I really, really want to hire for my business. He would be the first real employee, so this is a big deal, and a big leap for me. (I’ve been thinking about expanding for over three years!) The problem is, I can’t hire him right now. I need […]
The Ongoing 40’s Dilemma
In our society, when you hit 40, you should have “made it” by now. The definition might vary between – improving upon your parents success and ensuring they are taken care of – really hitting it “big” financially – dream house, dream job, white picket fence – gated community and being a member of the […]
Channelling Success
There are times in our lives when we are on top of the world. The Gods are on our side and we’ve hit a streak of good fortune. Or we’ve simply found our “zen” and we can relax about the things we cannot control. And then there are times when we’ve hit an all-time low. […]
We are the Shareholders
What’s your thought on Staples, and the recent news that they are cutting employee hours to avoid paying for the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) for their people? Have you ever decided to boycott a retail business for treating their employees poorly? I’ve done it to Walmart. And now it’s time to avoid Staples. In in […]
Human Fear – What Drives Us?
By Agent M1 on December 17, 2013 in Entrepreneurism, Fireside Chats, Weekly Survival, Work Life Balance
I was scanning an article in Fast Co. about how insecurity can contribute to success in business and life. This is news, since the usual message is that confidence and, what is not called ego but really is ego, can forge success. The question may not be about whether we all have fear / insecurity, […]
Take Me to Your Leader!
In a leadership role, whether covert or not, you are like the roots of a big strong tree, with branches that spread around the world, touching all the places you have lived and worked. The leaves that cover these branches represent the many, many colleagues who’s professional and personal lives you have touched and influenced. […]
Feelings
Almost all (positive) change starts with a positive emotional attractor. Change, whether at a professional or a personal level, has tipping points based on emotions. Positive emotional attractors, through our peripheral nervous system, help us thrive and grow. Positive emotional attractors are activated by our trusting relationships. They give us our ideal self, fill […]
Better Than Perfect
We all want to do the best we can do, to be our own version of perfect. I resolve to stop eating cheese (all those calories from fatty animal sources, messing with my HDL levels). I pledge to only spend money on the things that are absolutely needed by my family so that I can […]
