Posts Tagged ‘motivation’
Is living a dream worth it?
November 14th, 2009
My sister-in-law calls me a “bow head.” That’s because, while she grew up a tomboy, I was one of those little girls who wore bows in my hair and outfits that were all matchy-matchy. As they sang in the musical Flower Drum Song
On the other hand …
My DVD collection has more action pics
Are you ready to simplify?
November 13th, 2009
Apparently a lot of Americans have started to figure out that those who die with the most toys don’t win. They just spend their lives lugging around a lot more stuff—and then they have to leave it here for their loved ones to take care of when they finally shuffle off this mortal coil. So … people have started simplifying their lives by getting rid of some of their toys in advance.
3 big communication mistakes
November 12th, 2009
Recently I attended a big celebratory gathering of more than 100 friends. After everyone enjoyed a huge potluck lunch
Of all the mothers and daughters I know, Sarah and Whitney are the duo that most remind me of the relationship
But relationships like Sarah and Whitney’s don’t just happen by magic or luck. They take a lot of work. Watching them through the years, I know Sarah directed much of her parenting effort the same way my mother did—toward effective communication. They approached parenting from different perspectives: My mother worked full-time outside the home while Sarah was a stay-at-home mom. Both also had many responsibilities on behalf of their extended families. But when their children needed to talk, they were there to listen.
Quotes on finding the funny thing
November 11th, 2009
When my nephew was a year old, my mom and I kept him while my brother and sister-in-law attended a wedding in another state. One night he got upset about having to go to bed at his usual bedtime and decided to hold his temper until around midnight when he suddenly started screaming loudly enough to wake the hounds of hell.
My mother was in the room next to his and frantically tried to quiet him. But he was red-faced, furious, and having none of it. So she brought the squalling little cuss to me.
Can you take criticism?
November 9th, 2009
When I was studying journalism in college, I had one instructor whose opinion mattered more to me than anyone else’s. He was a tremendously talented writing coach with a wry sense of humor—and he didn’t pull his punches.
Occasionally we’d wander to the restaurant across the street from the journalism department and grab a corner table. He’d light a cigarette, lean back, and start critiquing my articles. When he came across a passage that didn’t work, he’d read it aloud … and laugh at my goofy sentence construction. I’d grimace and writhe in my chair, and he’d laugh even harder because he knew I was fighting the urge to throw my drink at him. One day I asked, “Do you laugh like that at all your students?” “No,” he said, “only the ones that can take it.” Taking it wasn’t always easy. But the lessons stuck, and they made me a better writer.
Why try your best?
November 7th, 2009
Several years ago I worked with a woman who confided that every morning she drove into the parking lot, then sat in her car with her head on the steering wheel trying to will herself to go into the building. That’s how much she hated her job. And knowing her supervisor, I couldn’t blame her. But once she walked into her office, she always maintained her professionalism and did her job well.
At least once in our working lives, most of us will know what it’s like to be stuck in a job we loathe. And if that’s where you are right now, you probably wake up every morning wondering why you bother to put in so much effort for people who make your life miserable, who don’t pay half what you’re worth, or who can’t tell the difference between good work and crappy work anyway.
When you feel like that, just think about Mrs. Staples.
Leaders say time trumps money
November 6th, 2009
What’s more essential to being an effective leader, time or money? According to the money people, the answer is time.
In a recent survey of accountants by Ajilon Finance and the Institute of Management Accountants, 29 percent of respondents said what leaders most need to be effective in their positions is more time. Only 14 percent said leaders need more money.
6 fun money-saving tips
November 5th, 2009
Several years ago I worked for a company that was downsizing and my job was unexpectedly eliminated. It wasn’t a big deal because the economy was good, work was plentiful, my financial responsibilities were few, and that job was just something to do until I found what I really wanted. So the first thing I did after being laid off was head for the mall to do some shopping and celebrate being temporarily freed from my alarm clock
These days I have a different perspective. I have many more financial responsibilities—and that means a lot more worries. As a freelancer, I’m vulnerable to the whims of a struggling economy. I’m trying to avoid spending money on anything nonessential. And that’s making me a little grumpy
Quotes on planning for success
November 4th, 2009
You know how you sometimes get a song stuck in your head, and no matter how hard you try, you just can’t get rid of it? That’s been happening to me today, except instead of a song, I have the same movie scene running continual loops in my brain. The scene is from the original movie Jaws
Police Chief Brody is tossing chum over the side of the Orca, the vessel he and his fellow hunters are using to track the great white shark that’s been menacing the beach resort of Amity Island. Suddenly the shark’s gigantic wide-stretched jaws emerge from the sea to snatch at the bait.
Stunned by the enormity of their prey, Brody backs into Orca’s cabin and tells its captain, “You’re gonna need a bigger boat.”
TAGS: motivation, plan, planner, planning, preparation, Quotations, quotes, Self-Improvement, vision | 
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How to be a better leader
November 3rd, 2009
For me, working in corporate communications was a little like being the only sober person at a wild party. You learn a lot about what’s really going on behind people’s carefully scripted public personas when you sit on the sidelines watching them get falling-down drunk. And since I had no desire to climb the corporate ladder, my experience in Big Business was equally eye-opening. My long-term ambition was always to become a freelance writer
TAGS: generosity, kindness, leadership, motivation, respect, Self-Improvement, trust, truth |
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