The Value of Living in the Present Moment

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living in the momentAre you living in the present moment? Many of us would like to think we are but unfortunately are weighed down by the past or anxious about the future.

We may have regrets or guilt over our past and we need to let these go because they are circumstances that we may not be able to change.

We may also be anxious about the future and what will happen to our families, our businesses or us.

When we are able to let go of the past and realize that most of what we are anxious about will never happen we can begin to just focus on where we are now: The present moment.

Here are some reasons why we need to let go of the past, not worry about the future, and practice living in the present moment. Read more

How to Make the Right Hire the First Time

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the right hireMaking a bad hire can be incredibly expensive—not only do you end up spending recruiting and training money on someone who’s not going to work out over the long haul, but it’s also expensive when you think about the opportunity cost.

What could you have been doing with your time had you not been investing it in an employee who wasn’t a good fit for you and your organization?

That’s why it’s so essential to make the right hire the first time.

This is arguably one of the most important things you can do for your organization.

Imagine having staff on hand who will not just get the job done, but will also surprise you by doing the job better than you would have done it yourself? That’s every manager’s dream. But how do you make the right hire? Read more

The Value of a Stewardship Attitude

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stewardshipWhat is stewardship? In its simplest form it is managing what we have for someone else.

In other words, it is the management of something or someone entrusted into our care. We are given many gifts and abilities that we are to use to help others whether customers, employees or suppliers.

From a personal and spiritual perspective, I believe that all I have has been given to me by God and I am a steward of those things: My wife, Joy; my three boys, our business, my knowledge, my skills, my abilities, my time, my money, etc.

As a steward of all of those things, I have the responsibility to manage those for the benefit of the owner or others. This attitude can have a profound impact on your people and your business.

Here are a few ideas on the impact of a stewardship attitude: Read more

Overcoming Fear

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fearsDo you have the desire to face down your fears? Overcoming fear takes will, courage, and the right attitude. Here are a few ideas on overcoming our fears of anything.

Relaxed Focus

To overcome fear we need to be relaxed. Fear tenses us up as it fills us with negative thoughts. We need to first close our eyes and think about an enjoyable moment or place to help put us in a state of relaxation. Read more

Leaders: When Being Nice Isn’t Nice at All

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LeadersLong gone are the days of the cold blooded business executive sitting behind his expansive mahogany desk, twirling his moustache as he dreams up new ways to torture and terrify his underlings.

Ok, that might be the Hollywood version of the mean CEO, but business today has definitely changed.

Most leaders are encouraged to be human – to engage with staffers at every level, walk through their corporate offices mingling, even participate in staff parties or other events.

That type of ‘level playing field’ atmosphere certainly makes for a pleasurable work environment, and probably places your organization on the list of “top spots to work”.

Can Leaders be Too Nice?

But can you be too human? Too nice? And could you be setting yourself up for trouble by playing the jocular nice guy with your teams? Read more

Do You Procrastinate? Stop Wasting Time with These Tips

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procrastinateDo you procrastinate? I’m sure most if us have our moments, where we set off to tick everything off of our to do list, then find ourselves staring out the window into the sunshine.

Procrastinate is defined as “to put off or defer (an action) until a later time; delay; to postpone until tomorrow”.

There are many reasons for procrastination. I know a person who procrastinates because she simply can not work efficiently unless under extreme deadlines. So, if there is a week to do a project, she would rather procrastinate until the two day mark, and then get the project done in a frenzy. Effective? Who knows. It seems to work for her. Read more