To start off the New Year, wouldn’t it be great to perform a Random Act of Kindness and then share your kindness idea with other people? Many people do really nice things for others (such as the person who paid off other people’s layaway items at a KMART, sparking others to do the same). Many people would like to take action, but they are not sure what to do. So let’s share ideas! For the month of January, I would LOVE it if you could please share with me your Random Act of Kindness and add your idea to this post, or email it to me at Mary@ProductiveLeaders.com so that I can tell others. (You can remain anonymous if you email it to me at Mary@ProductiveLeaders.com.)
Some quick ideas:
1. Drop off items at Goodwill, the Salvation Army, or a charity thrift store
2. Pay for someone’s coffee at 7-11
3. Feed other people’s parking meters
4. Take flower arrangements to a senior center
5. Contribute to or work at a Food Bank, Humane Society, or Children’s Hospital
6. Send a care package to a soldier or sailor
7. Give blood! (contact the Red Cross to find a convenient location)
I can’t wait to hear your ideas!
Warmly,
Mary

My Mom and Dad celebrated their 50th anniversary yesterday, and Father’s Day is tomorrow.

Dad provided me with great advice over the years (and he probably didn’t think I heard all of it) but I was paying attention, at least part of the time.

So Dad, in honor of Father’s Day and your Golden Anniversary, and all of the dads out there – A Few Things I learned From Dad.

1. Always carry enough cash to get home on your own.
2. You don’t get what you deserve, you get what you negotiate.
3. Life isn’t fair. Get over it.
4. They can’t tell you “no” until you ask.
5. Plan your work and work your plan.
6. Numbers don’t lie.
7. Put yourself in the other person’s shoes. Respect where they come from.
8. Business is about relationships. People do business with people they like.
9. Not everyone is going to like you or what you represent. Get over that, too.
10. It is easier to sleep at night when you do the right thing.
11. You are responsible for your community. Get involved. Give, give, and give some more.
12. To whom much is given, much is expected. Work hard.

As you can tell, I am very fortunate.

Happy Father’s Day, Dad!
Love,
Mary

Finding people to do business with is like dating. You spend a lot of time exploring options. You get referrals, you look online, and you go to events where others are, ostensibly, looking to make a connection with you.

Then you try them out. A date, as it were. Then you decide if the person you met is the person still living in their parent’s basement or someone you want to see again.

In economics this is called the Search Activity – finding people that you want to do business with.

It is fabulous when you find the right people – the people who support you, help you, and anticipate your business needs.

Last week my friend Christine from Art and Style Baking (http://www.artandstylebaking.com) designed cookie bag toppers for gourmet cookies she baked to promote my book, Master Your World. The cookies were shaped like dogs, doghouses, and dog bones, and she CREATED these cookie bag toppers with my company information and copies of my book covers. They were effective, eye-catching, and the cookies are delicious. They were a huge hit at the conference in Santa Fe, NM.

I found two mistakes in one of my books, AFTER it was already at the publishers. My text editor, Gail, took my mistakes, and revised my book interior for me in less than 24 hours, and then she sent it to the publisher for me. (http://ebookdesigner.wordpress.com) What a relief!

The amazing ladies, Ashley and Hannah, from Busy.Busy (http://busybusyevents.wordpress.com) were responsible for catering, set up, and event execution for the Colorado Springs Express Network (www.cswen.org) event, a Wine Tasting fundraiser for the scholarship program. Busy.Busy arrived early, created centerpieces, steamed the tablecloths, and orchestrated the event. They even made wine charms, which proven to be a really helpful with the many people in attendance.

Paul David of Wine Pairings (http://www.winepairings.biz) helped us find great wines to taste, to make the event successful. He writes a terrific newsletter on wine – I recommend signing up.

It is hard to find great people to work with. When you find them, treasure them and tell others!

Did you know that fashion trends mirror the economy?

The economy is showing signs of new life, and that optimism that is reflected in spring fashions. The stock market is coming back to life, the Consumer Price Index rose by 0.4% during each of the past two months (the largest back to back increases in two years) and thanks to the Middle East, oil prices are rising, which drives up other prices, but also increases wages, which is a goal of the US Federal Reserve (they want inflation of about 1.5-2.0% each year). US manufacturing is increasing for high value items, and American companies are starting to hire again. US unemployment fell below 9% for the first time in almost two years, across almost all sectors except state and local governments.

As a result (and with fingers crossed by retailers), consumers are spending again.  Perhaps consumers are just tired of bad news, but fashion spending is moving toward cheerful purchases of bright colors, happy patterns, and hopeful combinations. What is in for spring? Fashion for spring 2011 displays a strong vibrancy. We’re seeing people feel confident as they make clothing purchases that reflect a more positive mood reflecting uplifted spirits. Colors get brighter when the economy improves, too. We are seeing bright pinks, turquoise, reds, greens, purples, and even yellow. Platform shoes and wedges are in. (Maybe we are finally standing on the platform of an economic recovery?) Skirts are still all lengths, but many moved shorter, in hopeful confidence. Straight leg and wide leg pants are still very present as people are serious about functionality and ease of movement, paired with exuberant prints in vibrant enthusiasm.

Enjoy spring fashion and hopefully the upward spiral we are all feeling and yearning for will continue. (Yellow, for example, stimulates your creativity.) Have some fun with work as well as your wardrobe. Invest in yourself and others. According to economists and fashionistas alike, now is the time to do so!

By Dr Mary C. Kelly with Carolyn Strauss

www.productiveleaders.com

www.carolynstrauss.com

In September, Congress passed the Small Business Jobs Act of 2010. This is by no way a comprehensive profile of this complicated act, however this does highlight a few items that you might want to be aware of.

Some of the business provisions I found interesting are:

1. In 2011, landlords are required to issue 1099 statements for paid services in excess of $600 to any vendor.

Note: Penalties for not filing the 1099s double in 2011.

2. Sole proprietors, partners, and LLC members can deduct health insurance premiums before they calculate their self-employment tax.

3. The penalties for late filing of partnerships and S. corporation returns increases to $195 per partner, or shareholder, per month for 12 months.

Note #2: Find a great accountant.

What changes will affect you personally?

1. If you converted part or all of your traditional Individual Retirement Account (IRA) to a Roth IRA you can elect to pay a tax on the conversion in 2012 and 2013, rather than on the current return.

2. The Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT) exemptions dropped back to pre-2008 levels. This will surprise many middle-class Americans in 2010 as they carefully itemize but they will get hit with the AMT anyway.

3. You can still qualify for the 30% tax credit in 2010 for energy-saving improvements to your home. But, the maximum credit for 2010 and 2011 cannot exceed $1500. Solar energy credits are available through 2016.

4. The marriage penalty is back in 2011. Unmarried single tax filers will enjoy a lower tax liability than if they were married filing together.

5. Over-the-counter drugs are no longer qualified as medical expenses. (I know, I know, but I don’t write the tax code. So if you can get a prescription for Motrin instead of buying ibuprofen over-the-counter, does that count?)

6. The long-term capital gains rate increases to 20% in 2011, up from 15% for most income filers with capital gains. Dividends will be taxed at the ordinary rates.

7. In 2013, a new “Medicare tax” of 3.8% will be assessed on passive income or modified adjusted gross income for married filing jointly, or $200,000 for single or head of household.

8. The child tax credit drops in 2011 from $1000 to $500 per child. Childcare credits will also fall for most taxpayers.

The tax laws changed quickly at the end of 2010.

My advice? Accountants assume new importance with these tax changes. I am not an accountant, so please verify what you need to do with a qualified accountant.

Good luck!

Mary Kelly
www.ProductiveLeaders.com

Every relationship has a life cycle. When you are really lucky, that life cycle lasts forever.

However, some life cycle end before we are ready to let them go.

A business life cycle is like any other relationship in terms of supporting and enhancing those involved. When you pour your heart and soul into a business, like a personal relationship, it can be devastating when it ends. You spend years of time, money, and resources to create an entity that contributes to the well being of the lives of those around you and those you serve. It is hard to watch your life’s dream overtaken by external circumstances and a changing market.

Imagine having all of your investments in 8 track tapes. Markets change.

Truth is, it is wise to know when it is time to close the doors and move on to new opportunities.

However, ending any business means shifting long-term relationships with customers, clients, suppliers, the network of buyers, as well as your trusted friends and partners. Change can be difficult and frightening for many people. But not evolving means certain stagnation. (And who wants that?)

Ending the business or losing a job means “not knowing” in your life. “Not knowing is a state of grace” according to Thich Nhat Hanh. A glass that is already full has no space for anything new.

When you end a personal relationship, people understand that you are lonely, in need of support, and in need of new opportunities to meet other people. Starting a new business or looking for a new job is much the same.

Here are our three suggestions for how to bungee jump to your next great opportunity:
1. Get clear about who you are, what gifts you bring to the table, and the causes that fuel your passion. This is a great time to focus on doing what you really want to do.
2. Engender support. Reach out to your network of friends, colleagues, and associates, and ask them how you can be of help to them and their passions.
3. Be open to exploring new ideas and business options. Think outside of traditional roles and functions. Stretch your competencies by learning a new skill or business application, or by joining groups that stimulate your creative thinking beyond the typical standard for your industry.

Just a note, remember, five years ago, there were no blogs.

By Mary Kelly, PhD (www.ProductiveLeaders.com) with Carolyn Strauss (www.CarolynStrauss.com)

New Year’s Eve is a time for me to make my list of lists that I post on my white board in my office.

My 2011 lists are for a variety of purposes; business and personal growth, thoughts, ideas, resolutions, and random To-Do items.

• Books to read
• People to call
• People to meet
• People to connect/reconnect with
• Charities to support
• Trips to take
• Articles to write
• Random acts of kindness to accomplish
• Groups to speak to
• Friends to spend time with
• Projects to start
• Projects to finish
• Meals to try
• Benefits to attend
• People to appreciate

I am ALWAYS looking to expand this list! If you have another list category or a suggestion or an idea, please make a comment on this blog, or email me at Mary@ProductiveLeaders.com.

Happy New Year!

Wealth is discretionary time.

-Alan Weiss

I am not sure if Alan was the first to say it, but it resonated with me. Many people work to make a living, but they don’t have much of a life.

There are a few ways of building real wealth, not monetary wealth.
1. Live in the moment. Focus on being present in the moment and enjoying the process of what your life is.
2. Enjoy the work that you do. If you don’t love every single thing that you do, change your attitude.
3. Get rid of the energy vampires in your life. If there are people who are causing you to lose energy, stay away from them.
4. Try not to work with people who are bad for you. I wrote an article recently that I wasn’t sure people would find funny. One of my friends commented that if the people reading my article didn’t think it was funny, I didn’t need to work with them anyway. Good advice!
5. Get rid of your own baggage. Don’t let your own doubts, misconceptions, or fears get in your own way. Stay out of your own way and go forward.
Have a great day and enjoy your world!

Fresh Palisades Peaches!!!!

They are so juicy and delicious fresh from the farm, but they also fabulous as a dessert, tucked nicely under a cobbler crust. (My friend Deborah Hoskins went peach shopping two weeks ago and she put the cobbler idea into my head for the season. )

Fresh Peach Cobbler
4 large fresh peaches
1 cup butter
1 cup sugar
1 cup flour
sprinkle of cinnamon

Plop fresh peaches into boiling water for about 45 seconds. Remove them quickly and dunk them into cold water. Then drain and cool a few minutes. The skin should peel right off with very little lost fruit. Cut into quarters. Remove pit and any hard parts, and slice.

Sprinkle with ¼ cup of the sugar and spread in 8 x 8 pan. Sprinkle with a dash or two if cinnamon, if desired. (Large pie pan works well too.)

Melt butter. Stir in flour and sugar. It will be sticky and crumbly. Spread over peaches.

Bake at 350 for 45 minutes or until browned on top. Serve with fresh whipped cream or vanilla ice cream.

Memorial Day, 2010

Want to thank a veteran? Hire them and strengthen your work force in the process

Some of my business friends were lamenting the lack of commitment and dedication of their workforce. One gentleman claimed he could not get people to follow directions.

“How many former military people do you have?” I asked.

The answers were blank stares.

The military corporate culture produces many of the characteristics that many work places lack. Military people are trained to show up — on time or early. They are computer savvy. They work until the job is completed. They understand how to take and give directions. They appreciate honest and helpful feedback. They are motivated to do a good job. They are serious about working, and serious about fulfilling your mission. Most veterans have the can-do attitude that employers want.

“I don’t know where to find military people,” one business owner replied.

“Couldn’t be easier or cheaper!” came the answer.

Do a google or bing search for “hire military veteran” and all kinds of groups with databases pop up. You can post your job requirements at most of these sites for free. Good for your business, and good for the veterans.

You can also join LinkedIn groups that focus on hiring veterans.

I adore my civilian workers or friends, but on this Memorial Day, if you are thinking about increasing your workforce, please consider hiring a veteran.

If you need help finding veterans to hire, please reply to this blog or email privately, and I will help.

Thanks! Happy Memorial Day!

An 8 year old gave me a great quote last night. We were talking about baseball, and I asked him what position he liked best. Eyes shining, wide grin, he beamed, “First base or pitcher. Hmmm, I like pitcher best. When you are the pitcher, you always get the ball.”

What a great reminder that it can certainly feel easier standing in the outfield, and occasionally worrying what happens if the ball comes your way, but If you are pitching, you know the ball is coming to you. You don’t have the uncertainty of the pop fly to right center. You know that the game cannot go forward without you. More pressure on the pitcher, maybe. But it is more consistent pressure. You are the center of the field, the center to the action. You always get the ball.

In business, sometimes we hold back from being on the pitcher’s mound. We don’t want to stand out, because if we become the focal point, we can expect pressure and criticism. Being at the center means people are counting on you and you have to perform more often and more consistently, in front of more people. But you also get the opportunity to shine. It pushes you to work harder and work (and play) at the top of your game.

So if you feel like you are hiding in the outfield, maybe give pitching a try.

Put me in coach. I’m ready to play.

Happy Easter!

Easter is a time of rebirth and new life.  In addition to the religious aspects of Easter, most people like the idea of celebrating spring as a time of growth, fresh opportunity, and an end of winter.  (Chocolate bunnies and those malted-speckled eggs are great too.)

It is easy to fall into the routines of our daily lives.  We are comfortable with our routines.  There is a regular rhythm in our habits.   But when does a routine turn into a rut?

As we look forward to the progress of the new season, it might be fun to try new things as a way of growing in this season.  Try to do something new, if not every day, maybe make a point to try something new once a week.  New experiences help us breakout of our groove (Yes, I used the word groove) and are just plain fun.

Some ideas:

1)  Try completely different food – a Moroccan restaurant, Thai Panang, or Korean BBQ

2)  Take a class that interests you

3)  Walk someone else’s dog

4)  Participate in different exercise class, such as a Nia or Zumba class

5)  Sign up to support a new fundraiser

6)  Watch an episode of the History channel on a completely foreign topic

7)  Plant some herbs

8)  Help your cells regenerate – for a whole day, eat just fruits and vegetables

9)  Further help your cellular development by getting a great night’s sleep

10)  Clean out a closet and donate what you don’t use

11)  Wash the car!  Or surprise someone else by cleaning their car

12)  Try a local brewery’s beer

13)  Try a different wine

14)  Drive a new road

15)  Put a different assortment of toppings on your next pizza

16)  Babysit someone else’s kids

17)  Open a cookbook at random and try whatever page you see

18)  Listen to your kids’ music

What are your ideas for new experiences this spring?  Let us know by leaving a comment!

It is snowing, and my dogs are having a marvelous, snowy time.  They love the snow.  They love standing in the snow, crunching the partially frozen top layer of previous snowfalls, and they love chasing each other in the snow.  This is “dog tag” and while I don’t quite understand the rules, it involves lots of running, chasing, dashing in circles, and barking.  It looks like loads of fun.

Then the wet dogs come inside.  They drags in chunks of ice, snowballs that cling to furry legs, and whatever foliage they can manage.  It can be messy.

I think many times, having fun involves a messy process.  I like the idea that we embrace the messy aspects of our life, including our fun.   While I love a clutter-free, clean house, (my office doesn’t count) I also love the chaos and mess that comes with house-guests, especially those with children.  I enjoy the remnants that remain after a good party, or what the kitchen looks like after a really great meal.  Messy and wonderful.

The mess is sometimes evidence of a terrific memory and a fun time.  So let’s go make a mess!

Congress got involved with credit card companies. As a result, the credit card companies recently changed the rules regarding how it can charge customers. The credit card changes went into effect February 22, 2010. Consumers with credit cards should be aware of their rights under the new laws.

1. Interest rates: Credit card issuers can no longer change interest rates in the first year that they issue the card. Cardholders get 45 days notice on any rate changes. Interest rates on the balances will not be raised unless the account is 60 days past due.

2. Put a cap on it: Activation and/or service fees in the past were unlimited. Now, the activation and service fees are capped at 25% of the credit limit during the first year of use.

3. Amazing grace: Card issuers previously were able to change the due dates to make it easier to charge late fees. Now, credit card companies have to give customers at least a 21-day grace period to pay their balance.

4. Credit limits: Customers have to agree to exceed their credit limits before they can be charged a fee for doing so, and customers who go over limit can only be assessed one fee per bill.

5. How long? Monthly statements now need to show how long it will take a cardholder to pay off the balance of their credit card debt if they only pay the minimum amount due.

6. Just say no: Cardholders can now refuse to accept interest rate hikes. If you refuse the new interest rates you opt instead to pay off your balances at the existing rates.

7. Hi Mom! Credit card companies used to target college students because their parents were liable for all charges. Now, anyone under 21 years old must have a co-signer or proof of enough income to repay the debt they might incur before they are issued a credit card.

Caveat Emptor!

Daytona, FL

Today is my perfect Valentine’s Day. I get to watch the Daytona 500.

I realize that watching NASCAR may not be every girl’s dream for Valentine’s Day, a day usually hallmarked by, well, Hallmark, candy, champagne, roses, and heart-shaped chocolate boxes. But it works for me.

On Valentine’s Day we celebrate love, and that means doing activities that make your loved ones happy. Some people will go out for a romantic dinner – I am making tempura shrimp and vegetables that go well with other race food. Some people will dress up and look beautiful for their partners – I will be in jeans and a number 14 sweatshirt. Some people will exchange cards and romantic gifts – I will place bets on NASCAR drivers and hope that my friends’ drivers lose. Traditional Valentine’s Day? No. Valentine’s Day Fun? Yes.

Valentine’s Day is a moment to reflect on the important relationships in our lives, and there is one that is commonly ignored. My friend Carolyn Strauss (www.CarolynStrauss.com) reminds us in her blog that we need to remember to love ourselves as well. We need to love the person we are. So please take a little time to do something nice for yourself, as well as your loved ones.

However you decide to celebrate a day that focuses on love and friendship, do what makes you happy, and what makes those around you feel cherished. Share the joy of being together. Make a promise to spend more time with someone special, whether it is a grandparent or a niece or a significant other.

Happy Valentine’s Day!
Mary

Beauty may be in the Eye of the Beholder,
But Product Value is in the Eye of the Buyer

Leaders need to put themselves in the position of their consumers. The theme of this article is to encourage leaders to experience their product or service from their customers’ perspective.

1. Buy your product, and then try to return it.Do the internet search. Price compare. Actually make an order to see how well the process works. Some companies do this very well. Kohls, COSTCO, and Walmart are all very good about product purchase procedures and customer service during the return process. They build up a loyal customer base by being helpful and considerate throughout the buying (and sometimes returning) experience.Customers want the buying experience to be fast, pleasant, and productive. That means they don’t want hassle or difficulties along the way. If a company makes the process too onerous or time-consuming, customers will
   simply find other places to buy what they want. One reason many customers buy online is they don’t have to deal with customer service personnel.

   Organizations should experience their processes to see how they can increase consumer loyalty through simply examining their own customer experiences. Consider the airline industry.

   The airline industry needs to understand why so many of us are willing to put up with the lack of seat assignments at Southwest. It isn’t that they allow our luggage to still travel with us for free, although that is a help. Many people LUV (their ticker symbol) Southwest Airlines because the booking and changing of tickets is an easy process. Not only is there ZERO hassle for changing a ticket, but their customer service people are sincerely pleasant and helpful.

   My most recent experiences changing tickets on two major airlines were expensive and time-consuming. I don’t understand why I get docked $150 for a ticket change (months before the initial flight would have occurred) and then when I tried using the remainder of the ticket after the $150 was deducted, the airline also kept the remainder of the amount that I didn’t use when I rebooked. Seriously? I traded in a $534 ticket for $178 ticket? After several hours on the phone with various customer service representatives who were neither pleasant nor helpful, I succumbed. I was defeated.

   No amount of marketing or clever slogans is going to reverse the damage of poor purchasing processes and unpleasant customer representatives. Are senior leaders oblivious to the fact that their organizations are driving customers away? Maybe. But I guarantee that the major leaders of the airlines do not go through their own ticketing process and customer service desks and, therefore, have no real idea how miserable the experience is for their consumers. So I fly Southwest whenever possible.

2. Go through your own drive-in. While traveling cross country with 2 dogs in the car, my meal selections are limited to either restaurants that do not mind my furry ones sitting with me (read: NONE) or those fine dining establishments that have drive-through windows.So on a recent trip, I placed my order at the window, and proceeded to the payments and collection window. I politely asked if they would please throw away my coffee cup (from my first drive-through experience of the day) to make room for their drink in my cup holder. To my unhappy surprise, the answer was a firm NO.“We cannot accept trash at the window.” “Why not?” I ask (in my own customer voice, which is far sweeter than I actually felt). “It is our policy not to accept trash. But you can park, come in, and throw away your trash.”

   Not willing to be so easily dissuaded from my fried entrée, I persist. “Is there an outside trash can?” “No,” came the reply, “because people might put garbage in it.” Seriously?

   It is 10 degrees outside, and I have pooches (what if I had children in car seats?) to consider. “Cancel my order please” was my response on behalf of all people traveling with small children, those who are physically challenged, and everyone else. It is ridiculous policy, and one that I am sure senior management knows nothing about. Why? Because they do not procure their own products in the same manner as average consumers do. They need to experience their company’s purchasing procedure like their customers do.

3. Make the call.Leaders of America, I dare you – call your own customer service department. How long are you on hold? How many voice mails did you have to go through? How many buttons did you have to press before you got to the right department? An actual person?Nightmare on Hold – A Customer Service Story:My worst telephonic customer service experience was with one of the biggest PC manufacturers. After they shipped me the wrong $150 part, I tried to return it. Sorry, I was one day outside the 20-day window, they answer. “But:” I pleasantly explained, “I have only been home from a trip for 2 days, and it is only Monday.” “Sorry,” says their customer service representative in a country that sounds far away, “The clock starts when you place the order. And you can only return it by DHL.” (The DHL service office was an hour and a half away from where I lived.) Huh?

   Again, not easily dissuaded, I persisted in trying to find a reasonable person to help resolve the situation. I made over 150 phone calls to their overseas customer service desk, and no one even pretended to care about my
   problem. One of their senior customer service representatives suggested that I donate the undesired part to a school, because there was no way they were taking it back. I fell outside the stated policy. There are no exceptions.

   On phone call number 151 (I started logging them for my own amusement, since I spent so much time on hold, and I thought that number might prove lucky), I asked for the phone number to their Headquarters, right here in the US. Surely, I thought, if I spoke to a manager, I could explain that the part was still sealed in its box, and the mistake was theirs. I was told there are no phones at their Headquarters.

   My three letters went unanswered (this process became a research experiment in customer service), and emails to the company customer service site were ignored. Remember, I still needed a part to fix my computer.

   After two weeks of irritation and countless hours, I bought a Mac. My entire company went Mac. For the cost of decent customer service and a $150 part, this PC manufacturer lost me and my entire company forever. Mac, I am happy to report, has GREAT customer service.

Leaders can protect against bad customer service before it starts by having efficient systems in place to take care of customers the first time. Not sure if your procedures are working? Make a return, go through the drive-through, and call your own customer service department.

Blessed are they…..

There are those people in every organization who perform the myriad of tasks that everyone takes for granted.
If you haven’t done any of these in a while, then you owe someone a thank you.
I once had a boss who, when my time with the organization was complete (my tour was finished) and I was getting my outbrief, looked at me and blankly said, “I honestly don’t know exactly what you do around here.”
I replied that much of what I did was, in fact, largely unnoticed because there were no problems associated with my department. “But don’t worry,” I assured him, “You’ll know more about what I did after I have been a gone a few weeks. When I’m not here, you’ll suddenly miss me.”
I wasn’t trying to be self-aggrandizing or arrogant. He just never knew how many problems never got to his level because they were handled at mine.
Then there are the basic, every day activities:

1. Making the coffee (and again and again)
2. Refilling the paper tray in the copier
3. Sorting the mail
4. Signing for delivery packages
5. Cleaning out the office refrigerator
6. Taking care of the trash
7. Sending flowers to whoever is sick, had a baby, or lost someone
8. Making the lunch run
9. Answering the phones in the common areas
10. Replacing the toner in the printers

So to those people who DO those unappreciated, daily activities that make it nicer for the rest of us, thank you!!

It is minus 4 degrees at my house right now.  The temperature did not get higher than 7 degrees today.  On really cold days, when I am snowed in, I stay home.  Why fight Mother Nature?

Being trapped in the house and my office makes me ridiculously productive.   No transit time, no spending time doing my hair in preparation for a face-to-face meeting, having to grab coffee on the road or waiting in-between meetings.

I love working on my home office.  I know some people who do a lot of work from home have a hard time “going” to work, but I love my work and I love the environment.  Still, there are times when I struggle to attack the projects that frustrate, irritate, or seem mundane.

So the question is how do I to get motivated when the project pile just keeps getting higher?

1. Wash the towels first.   I am the queen of laundry, and when the pile looms, I attack the towels first.  Why?  They are bulky and once they are in the washing machine, the rest of the pile looks less daunting.  Make a dent in the biggest, easiest pile first.  Then the rest of the tasks seem more manageable.
2. Make a dated list.  Not just the normal To-Do List that continues to grow every day regardless of the past three 18-hour workdays.  Put the day and date at the top of the  list of what is really important that day, and jot down what you really want to get accomplished that day.  Giving yourself measureable, attainable goals is helpful.  Simple ones like “Take Vitamins” and “Walk Dog” counts.
3. Multi-task.  I know, I know.  Everyone says that multi-tasking increases the time it takes to accomplish something, but if you have a long, tedious conference call to attend that you are not chairing, clean out a drawer or do some other fairly mindless task while others talk.  I run two computers simultaneously so that I can always be working on something, and I don’t wait for loading of pages or looking up other information.
4. Do the Post-Its Notes Focus Trick.  Thinking about the 2 dozen cupcakes that you need for the Halloween Party in the morning?  And the dog’s vet visit? And the oil light that came on yesterday?  And the project that is due in two days?  Write all the little distractions and other things on their own Post-It note, so and put them on the wall, on the space under the counter of your desk, or anyother place where you might see them.  Then as you get a few moments of free time, you can do some thing about those quick taskers.  What is left at the end of the day gets stuck on your daily list.
5. Walk fast.  People in organizations assume that if you walk quickly, you are busy.   When you ARE busy and walking fast, and fewer people will want to waste your time with idle chat, (so slow down slightly but keep walking).
6. Get it Done Now!  I make a sign and post it.

Good luck!

Mary

~ 7 Financial Strategies to Lead Into a Successful 2010 ~

January always seems a bit like a Monday morning. Lots to do, and not nearly enough coffee. Pass the aspirin and start planning now.

1. Assess the debt. If you personally did your part to single-handedly stimulate the economy over the holidays, we thank you. January is the time to assess all debt – credit cards, lines of credit, what you owe Mom and Dad, and car payments (I don’t count mortgage payments as debt, because you have to live somewhere, and if you weren’t paying a mortgage you’d be paying something for rent anyway.) Add it all up, and write that number on your calendar for Jan 1, 2010. As you pay off debt, track that number by adding up all debt at the beginning of every month, to make sure that debt number is heading in the right direction.
2. Any Thing, just not Every Thing. The book Do It made a great point several years ago – you can have Any Thing you want, just not Every Thing you want. So prioritize your serious wants, and separate those from your more frivolous wants. If you want to take a vacation, make saving for that a priority. If you want to increase retirement savings, cut out something less important. It is all about making a clear decision and focusing on the end goal.
3. Make a List and Check it Twice. I am the first to say that shopping with a list adds time. (I always forget something in the first aisle and have to double back somewhere at least twice.) However, whenever I take a trip, I make a list. When I go to a presentation, I make a list. For my financial goals, I make a list. Why? It increases the chance of getting it done if it is something I look at regularly. When making 2010 business goals, make a list. And before heading off to shop, make a list.
4. Taxes, Taxes, Taxes. The tax bill is going to come as a surprise to a lot of people. The US deficit spending has to be funded from somewhere, so we are going to see personal income as well as corporate tax increase. If the deficit spending increased by 4 fold in 2009 alone, how much do we think our taxes are going to increase? (Hint: Probably more than what we’d like.) Hopefully taxes won’t multiply by 4 immediately, but we are naïve if we think we are not going to be impacted. Start planning for taxes early, and be prepared. You might need to get professional help.
5. Pay to Pay? I know, it does seem wrong to pay a someone so that they can help you pay what you owe to the government. However, remember that a great tax person will generally 1) know the laws, 2) know the most recent changes, 3) actually save you time, effort and money in the long run. Don’t forget to take 2008 losses. Lot of folks are still reeling from the stock market melting, and many people sold at a loss. Remember that you can offset gains with losses for tax purposes. Again, seek a professional if it seems overwhelming.
6. Get the family involved. Sit down and honestly discuss financial matters with the family. Make sure everyone (over a certain age, of course – an 8 year old doesn’t need to know what the utility bill is) understands that there are limited resources. A great technique is to give teens and tweens their own “living allowance” which includes what they need for lunches, entertainment, clothes and miscellaneous items. Start tweens off with a weekly living allowance, and teens for the month. It teaches them to budget, to allocate funds for what they want, and to be mindful of money. My friends did this with great success. The first month the teen ran out of lunch money on the 20th of the month. Mom directed the teenager toward the jar of peanut butter. Teen never had a budgeting problem again.
7. Spend less than you make. If money gets tight, stop shopping. I was very impressed when a friend of mine told me a few weeks before Christmas that she just couldn’t do gifts this year because money was tight. Her friends were MORE than understanding, and a more than a few felt relieved because they were tight this Christmas too. Pressure off!

Happy New Year!

Now is the time to get the home budget under control, assess debt, and keep track of business costs.  Setting up a system at the start of the new year somehow seems more satisfying than starting in May.  A few easy tips:

1. Spend less than you make, after taxes.  What you make after taxes is the actual disposable income.  Many people forget about taxes, whether property, income, sales, car registration, or state taxes, and then are surprised when the paycheck runs a little short at the end of the month.

2. Create a realistic budget.  Sit down with the credit card receipts and the checkbook, and figure out the major expenditures, such as the house and car payments, utiities, and food.  Then create the rest of the spending plan after you have paid the bills.

3. Know where the money goes.  Many people get into trouble because they truly cannot figure out where the money went.  So track it.  And be honest.  If you truly do spend $60 a month at Starbucks, but buy your clothes at Goodwill, that is okay as long as you have planned for that in the budget.

4. Write it down.  The best way to know where the money went is to track it.  There are many great personal finance programs available.  You can use a ledger book.  You can use a school notebook.  There is a free downloadable monthly budget program on my website that allows you to either make your own book by printing out monthly sheets or you can maniplate the entries and amounts and it does the math for you.  It is yours to use, and is not on any server, so your information stays completely private.  www.organize-you.com/refills/

5. Plan for the rainy days.  If this recession taught us nothing else, it alerted us that anyone have financial troubles, so it is wise to save for emergencies.

Good luck and let me know how it goes!!!

Mary

I left the white snow to go the white sandy beach for Christmas, not because I am a sunbather (ha!) or because snow is cold (it is), but because my sister and her kids, my brother and his kids, my cousin (who is a awesome) and parents all decided to head to FL for the Christmas holidays. So the dogs and I hopped into the car and drove 1600 miles to share in holiday fun.

The house is full of the chaos and noise that corresponds with children, and I just love it.

The dogs have been complete troopers, both on the long 2 day drive (I know!) and with the small people who insist on tugging and pulling on the dogs while teaching them how to play Candyland.

My parents are of the age where the loudest noise they hear during the day is when Dad pops the top off a beer. So the riotous fun of the children is a big change for them. (They mute television commercials because they don’t like the noise.)

The kids, of course, are having a grand time – they are other adults to pounce upon with books, demanding stories, and all kinds of new games. Aunt Mary thinks poker is a great way to teach numbers and counting. Grandpa loves to teach toasting. Grandma is working on Scrabble with the 6 year olds. Great Aunt Mary is a fan of building sandcastles with shoes on.

So far, so good. No major meltdowns or fits of crying, and the kids are holding up too.

Merry Christmas!
Mary

~ 10 Ways to Enjoy the Joy with a Stress-Free Holiday ~

Leadership is not just a position at work. Leadership also means taking responsibility at home, and that means ringing in theholiday with as much joy, and as little stress, as possible.

The holidays mean wonder, joy and a celebration of abundance, but it can also mean moments of frustration, anger and irritation at friends and family. Every year there is an unrealized expectation that the mere appearance of the holidays also brings with it a metamorphosis that those closest to us will transform into something else. Seriously, is it realistic to expect that our family will all become characters from a made-for-TV Christmas special just because we all decided to get together for the holidays? It is not. Yet these expectations remain, and whenever there are unrealized expectations, there is disappointment, leading to frustration and anger.

So how do we enjoy all of this togetherness time?

1. Keep the big picture. Who really cares of Aunt Thelma wants to contribute her horrible green beans for the Christmas feast? Smile, say thank you, and move on to something important.
2. Let go of other people’s problems. Their problems are not yours, much as they might try to share them. If you can’t solve their personal problems, then those are not your problems. You can listen, you can empathize, you can sympathize, but if you cannot solve them, then you need to give up the emotional anxiety associated with them. Move on. (I am a big fan of the Move On idea.)
3. Be the grown up. I recommend this a lot, especially when your partner, the person you love, drives you crazy. Be the mature person in the relationship. Be the first to try to see the other person’s perspectives, and try to find a reason for their behavior. It is more important to be together and appreciative than to be right. So overlook the stories that are not told t, the imperfect recall of an event, or a missed promise. Other people are going to complain, act out, and behave badly, ect. When they irritate you, they give you an option. You have a choice – either be the grown up and act accordingly, or not. I recommend the high road. Why? Fewer regrets later. And it makes the decisions easier. Or you can just smile and move on to something important.
4. Focus on the important. Great leaders differentiate between problems and inconveniences. Problems are real. Inconveniences may be unpleasant, but they are hardly life threatening. Many people blur the difference and forget to focus on the important. As a result, those little matters start to take over. By staying focused on the important, the little inconveniences will fall away.
5. Buy a goat. Nothing provides focus more than the knowledge that your $ 75 goat could save an entire family’s life. Think about the benefit you could provide for the price of a month’s worth of mocha lattes. It is a great way to celebrate your own abundance while helping out someone else. Go to www. Worldvision.org or www.heifer.org . And save a family.
6. Give Uncle Harold the goat.You know Uncle Harold, who hates everything he gets for any occasion? Even better. Buy a goat or a pig or 5 ducks (a bargain at just $30) in his name and send him the card. (That will teach him to criticize last year’s cookie basket!) Well, it may not teach him to think twice about complaining, but at leastsomebody will be grateful for your gift.
7. Take 5. Take just 5 minutes to go for a walk, and try to get the family to go with you. (I realize that could take 45 minutes.) Try to have activities that encourage healthy behavior, even if it is just for 5 minutes.
8. Clarify the expectations.Frustrations and unrealized expectations often occur because people don’t know what is expected. As my New York grandma used to say, “If they don’t know better, you tell them.” So open the dialogue early and let people discuss activities, meals, and presents. Generally, people at work do better when they know what is expected of them. Why do we think that our families might be different? Agree on a few guidelines and make sure everyone knows.
9. Communicate, communicate, and communicate. Holidays can be tough because sometimes one family’s tradition or rules merge with another’s morays. For example, one holiday meal was being cooked by an in-law, whose family’s ideas of meal promptness made the military pale by comparison. When he cooked for my family, whose idea of a mealtimes falls into the “when we all get to the table” he was upset and chagrined that some people showed up “late” not realizing that it is impossible to be “late” to a meal in my family. If something is important, let people know. If they don’t understand the importance that is your fault for failing to effectively communicate. The onus of the communication is on the communicator, so make sure that you take responsibility for the message you want received.
10. Breathe. Accept people for who they are and what they are not. Sometimes, despite all of our diplomacy, plans go awry, people get upset, and there is a lack of gratitude and appreciation. Honestly, it would be terrific if we all became that person our dogs think we are, but few people have the forgiving nature common to most dogs. But that doesn’t mean the effort is wasted. This year, let’s try practicing acceptance and forgiveness.

Let me know how it goes! I’d love to hear how your holidays go!

Mary’s Apple Cake

Spray Pam in a 9 x 13 inch pan. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

1 cup oil
½ cup applesauce
2 cups sugar
3 eggs

Cream together. Add:

3 cups flour
1 tsp. baking soda
2 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp salt

Stir in:

1 tsp vanilla
1 cup chopped pecans or walnuts
4 cups chopped apples

Mixture will be VERY thick.

Bake 50-60 minutes until toothpick inserted comes out clean. Dust top with powdered sugar.

Great for breakfast or dessert.

My dad used to say, “People work for money. If you want loyalty, get a dog.” He wasn’t trying to be cynical – he was trying to give me advice. (For the record, my dad still loves to give me advice.)

As a teenager, I was working a boring job that was located many miles away from my house. I was offered a job at a higher paying wage that was closer to where I lived, so it should have been a no-brainer to accept the closer, more interesting job. While I felt a degree of loyalty towards my employer, even my teenaged brain realized dad was right.

I worked hard, I was focused, but I wasn’t being paid comparable wages. In economics, this is referred to as the theory of Efficiency Wages.

So here’s how Efficiency Wages works. If you have a terrific employee, you should pay them not only what they are worth, you should pay them as much as you possibly can, and more. You should pay then what they are worth to your company. Why? Because employees work for money.

Sure, there are intrinsic motivators, and there are people who would do their jobs for nothing. (Those select, lucky few are usually independently wealthy. The rest of us need to earn a living.)

Really terrific, experienced, hard-working employees are exponentially worth more than unreliable, inexperienced, problem people. They work hard, and the higher wages results in much higher productivity. It is time consuming and difficult to find a truly great employee, so when you do, as a company or as a boss, do your very best to keep them with you. The phrase “you get what you pay for” has never been more true than with hiring talented employees. Some of the best advice I’ve ever heard was to “hire the best people you can find, and pay them as much as you can” to truly build your business. They will perform tasks that you cannot, and they will have ideas that you need.

If you don’t adequately compensate your employees, even if they personally like you, they will be forced, out of economic necessity and opportunity, to accept higher paying positions elsewhere. Then you as an owner or manager are suddenly spending a majority of your workday on personnel issues, as you try to replace your superstars. In economics this is called the Search Activity. It is the opportunity cost, the time and resources that it takes to find, screen, train, and hire new people. If a new hire doesn’t work out, you have three choices; you can fire them, encourage them to leave, or find another place in the organization that will take them. All of those options are time-consuming and painful. Then you have to repeat the hiring process again.

The firm suffers a loss of productivity while the job is vacant or in transition. You may have to repeat the replacement process a few times, and chances are, you are not going to find someone who can do what your superstar did.

Many managers and owners fail to realize that the theory of Efficiency Wages, or the cost of not paying employees well will actually cost you more in the long run.

Conclusion: People will work where they can best realize their highest potential, where they are paid well, and feel challenged. So managers, your employees may adore you as a person, and you may be easy to work for, but they will ultimately walk away if you are not properly compensating them. People work for money.

Find your nearest humane society if you want unconditional loyalty!

The 30 Days of Thanks
Intro: My friend Mika (http://www.mthvirtualassistance.com/2009/11/07/30-days-of-thanks-day-2/) joined her friends in a project called 30 Days of Thanks. The idea of doing a journal of thanks for the 30 days of November seems like a terrific way to focus on abundance and joy.
Feel free to join us!

Today I had the honor and privilege of interviewing young men and women who applied for a nomination to attend a service academy. Since my brothers and I all attended the Naval Academy (my sister went AFROTC) and I taught at the Naval Academy, this was a wholly different part of the puzzle.

I was impressed with the caliber of the young people who are motivated, energized, and eager to serve their country. It made me smile to hear them talk about their idealistic views of how they are going to change the world. I admire them for standing up, volunteering, and articulating the same things my brothers and sister and I all said when asked why we wanted to be in the military. While everyone has a different perspective, a common theme was the desire to be part of a greater purpose.

I was also impressed by the caliber of the people conducting the interviews. While every office conducts the selection differently, I am sure, I was struck by the fairness, dedication, and commitment of the teams of strangers, who come together to help their elected officials make great choices for a stronger military. The teams really worked hard to place the right young people at the right academy.

I am thankful to be a small part of such a fair, careful, and deliberate process to help young people with their futures and the future of the officer community of the US military.

Dr. Mary Kelly, CDR USN (ret)
CEO, Productive Leaders
www.ProductiveLeades.com

I spend lots of time in airports. And today I saw genuine concern and random acts of kindness all over.

A man helped a 30-year-old woman get checked in. It was the first time she had flown, and she didn’t know how the bag check system worked.

People cheerfully stood aside to allow two frenzied and stressed airline workers get to their plane.

Three people in a completely full flight helped to organize the overhead bin to fit in the bags of perfect strangers.

People actually held their coats in their laps like we are supposed to.

People applauded when uniformed military personnel boarded the plane.

At baggage claim, two older gentlemen lifted the bags of others who had trouble getting their bags off the carousal.

People got out the way for each other at the escalators.

People held the doors for others at the elevators.

People behaved the way we are supposed to.

Current economic times call for innovation, flexibility, a change of focus, and adaptability in business. And all of this can make a company stronger and better able to compete in the coming years.

1. Nobody likes to see their friend, neighbor or family member lose a job, and certainly rising unemployment is disheartening for many. The recession, which started in 2008, and will probably continue through 2010, is anatural part of a progressive economic cycle (regardless of the initial catalysts). That doesn’t mean much when you are having trouble paying bills, in danger of losing your home, or worried about your finances.
2. A recession can be difficult to endure. However, there are positive aspects as a result of this recession that we need to remember.

   It is forcing both companies and families to look hard at their finances. For the first time, sometimes in the course of a marriage, husbands and wives are sitting down and talking about their financial situation. They are figuring out the terms of their mortgage, the annual percentage rates on their credit cards, and they are taking a hard look at their expenditures. Families are prioritizing what is important to them, and they are spending money based on thosepriorities. They are finding that they need fewer high-end and duplicative products.

3. Companies are doing the same. Responsible companies are looking at where their resources are allocated and making decisions based on company priorities and profitability.

   Companies, like families, are reducing waste, being mindful of their spending, and making adjustments. Companies are discovering that if they do not provide value, patrons will go elsewhere. For businesses that are flexible, responsive, and value-oriented, this is a great opportunity.

4. Entrepreneurs who started a business and struggled with it for years and finally closed the doors this year should be encouraged. Without a recession, maybe they were just going to continue to struggle for 20 years. Maybe it really wasn’t the right business. That is an advantage great in a capitalistic society. The “invisible hand,” the term coined by Adam Smith in 1776, ensures that people have the opportunity to engage in businesses where they can either succeed or not, but the market determines ultimate profitability. So, if you develop a terrific product, it will probably be terrific in any economy. If you have a product that is poor or mediocre, it is probably not going to survive a recession. The good part about that is that is then you get out of a business or product that is poor or mediocre, which opens opportunity for a successful endeavor.
5. Both families and companies are being creative and innovative. What we implement during tough times is going to make all the difference in how well we succeed when this recession is over.

I love that the universe has a prize for people who promote peace. And just 11 days after President Obama took office, the Nobel Peace Prize submission was due. He won. The prize money is $1.4 million. Not bad work for 11 days of work. Of course, it is a mere pittance compared to Bank of America’s CEO severance package of $53 million.)
I know that President Obama intends to donate that $1.4 million to a charity. I am sure there is a team of lawyers who are now wondering how to choose a worthy charity that doesn’t offend somebody. I was pondering how much bank bonus money was going to charity.
If it is true that we “vote” with our pocketbooks, what does this say?
Very interesting how money gets allocated.
Mary Kelly
www.ProductiveLeaders.com
www.Organize-You.com

I am daily reminded of the importance of wonderful friends, mostly because I have amazing people who allow me to come into their lives.  I regularly invade the homes of my friends when I travel, and they very cheerfully put up with my crazy schedules.  They also allow me to sleep with their dogs.  So I am very thankful today for my amazing friends.

I am impressed that tough economic times have increased the level of volunteerism in America.

I was at the Denver USO today, where engineers, doctors, teachers and many others make coffee and serve sandwiches to military service members and their families.   Many of the volunteers were military themselves, are or were part of a military family, have kids in the military, or took advantage of the USO when they were active duty and feel as though they want to help.   The Denver USO does not advertise for volunteers, and there is a waiting list of 160 people (over a year long) to be one of the volunteers. Wow! That’s intrinsic motivation.

The hospital where I volunteer is comprised of mostly professional or retired people who also just want to help.  Amazing!   The motivation of these volunteers to accept work a counter, fill in for others, deliver dinners, and be a comforting shoulder in times of crisis is commendable.

Watching the increase in volunteerism makes me believe that there is a strong correlation between the need for a community response and the desire for people to be part of a community solution.  When times get tough, we need each other more. Thanks to everyone who volunteers in their children’s schools, in churches, at hospitals, community centers, senior centers, welcome centers, airports, and everywhere else other people need a hand.

“I’m so busy!” “I was going to do it, but I ran out of time!” “Summer flew by!”

You hear it every day. People feel as though they are short on their most valuable resource: time. Time isn’t something we get back, so it is important that we seize the opportunities we have to make the most of our most precious commodity.

How do we find more time in every day? A few ideas:

1. Use your precious minutes wisely. No, not your phone minutes. Your life minutes. Life is a finite number of unknown minutes, so it’s important to use them wisely. There are probably things that you don’t need to do as often as you might think. I am personally guilty of over-checking my email accounts. I do not really need to check email 20 times per day. That wastes my minutes.
2. How do you use your minutes wisely? Make a schedule. Make a schedule that works for you – one that prioritizes the event that you need to do, the important things you are required to do, and the small things that you should do.
3. Make sure that the work you do is planned around your natural energy level that fluctuates throughout the day.There are certain times of the day when you’re probably more productive for doing certain things. Some people are better at making phone calls in the morning. Some people are better writing at night. I get a little sluggish in the afternoons, so I try to schedule meetings during that time, since generally, meetings are energizing to me. A lot of people know get sleepy in the afternoon (that may be partly due to dehydration so drink plenty of water). That may be a good time to schedule active activities. Make sure that when you plan your day that you’re planning it to your personal energy level for maximum productivity.
4. Don’t procrastinate. Nike was right. Just do it and do it now. Make that appointment. Return those calls. Respond to e-mail. One of my graduate school colleagues said that he needed time to reflect before he answered an e-mail. But then he admitted he frequently forgot to actually respond. He said, well, it’s the thought that counts. While that may be true for some aspects of life, the action lets people know about the thought, so do it now.
5. Trade work. If you find that you have some tasks that just don’t get accomplished, consider not doing them. You may be able to find someone else with whom you can trade a job, someone who enjoys doing the task that you don’t want to do. In the Kolbe instincts assessments on how to make decisions and solve problems, Kolbe analyzes people’s strengths to maximize both their work and personal behavior. In the strengths world, we try to find ways to a certain task that matches strengths to instincts. (See Meredith Masse’s website www.Mpower-consulting.net for more information on the Kolbe method.) The premise is that the jobs people do should match their natural strengths. That way, they’re happier and more productive. This is why, for example, very few of us are changing our own oil anymore. It takes us 10 times longer, is loads messier, and in the long run, probably doesn’t. We need to dispose of the oily mess and we have a harder time with going under the car. Thanks to $19.95 oil changes, this work has become predominantly outsourced for the majority of people.

Treasure your minutes! Use your time wisely!

One of the main reasons I like NASCAR is that the teams racing each other try hard.  The teams truly exert effort to make their driver successful.  Driving a car 600 miles at 200 mph with less than 2 feet separating you from the next guy is hard to do for hours on end.  And the teams have to support that driver by trying to get him the best car possible, with the best pit stops possible.  Changing 4 tires in 13 seconds with 5 lug nuts each is hard work.  Performing a wedge adjustment while the car is getting fueled and the tires being changed is hard work too.   The NASCAR pit crews practice what they do, and everyone working to meet a 13 or 14 second deadline takes precision, concentration, and mostly, a lot of effort by everyone involved during an adrenaline-filled race.

And I enjoy the fuel strategies and the teamwork and crew chiefs and the ramifications of various cautions and who gets the Lucky Dog.  I like and appreciate all that.  But what I really applaud is the sheer effort that every team exhibits every single week.  I like to think that they try hard because they love what they do and take pride in their accomplishments, as we all should.

I tune in to NASCAR races because there is more to it than GO FAST, TURN LEFT.   It is great to see people who work hard, race hard ,and try hard to be successful at what they do.

(Oh, and yes, I do have a favorite driver…)

Comments anyone????

Mary Kelly

www.ProductiveLeaders.com

Mary@ProductiveLeaders.com

My library account said that I had two items that were overdue. I knew my items were not overdue. I knew this with the same certainty that I know that I will, at some point this week, misplace my car keys. Lose car keys, yes. Lose library materials? Never.

I know this because I neurotically track my borrowed books, CDs, and Audio books as prized possessions. They get a special bag that transports them carefully, and the inventory sheet stays with the bag.

So when I saw the email notice indicating my tardiness, I used it as an excuse to scoot off to the library on a Sunday afternoon.

I found the nicest librarian, and she and I together found the truant CDs right there on the shelf, where they belong. She apologized for the error, and I told her that I was grateful for the excuse to make the trek. Perusing the shelves of the library is like waking up on Christmas morning. You never know what you’ll find. I discovered 6 new treasures to take home today. What a great break!

I think the reason I enjoy books so much is the way books allow me to explore the world through someone else’s perspective, and from their corner of the universe. For a moment in time, I get to feel what that author portrays. I get to breathe their air and experience their world. And I get all this from a visit to my local library.

Big thanks this week to all of the librarians who help people find just that right book to transport them to that other world.

Mary Kelly
www.ProductiveLeaders.com

I had a conversation with a friend, and I confess that I was getting a bit irritated. She was upset because she was reassigned for the school year to difficult class in a different school district. She was upset because she thought these students would be less prepared, have fewer resoures, and that this school year would be a lot more work.
My perspective was completely different. I told her that she had the opportunity to make a huge difference in the lives of these children, that she would be forced to be more resourceful and more creative, and that yes, this was going to be more work but in the end, it would make her a better teacher.
Jobs and work and careers and LIFE isn’t about what is easiest, it is about trying hard to do our best, and hoping that along the way, we somehow made a differnce.
Most people say that they had one or two teachers in their life who really made a difference in their lives. Every semester and every year, everyone who teaches gets the chance to be that one or two big influences. Yes, it takes work and effort , but wow, how cool is that?
I think my friend is lucky to be in this role, and I admire her for doing what she does.
My first grade teacher, Mrs. Ginger Boehm, challenged me, encouraged me, and made me work. She made an incredible impact on my life, and I consider myself tremendously fortunate to still be in contact with such an amazing lady. She is one of my teachers who made a difference to thousands of students.
So, as we start this school year, a big thank you goes out to the teachers out there who are making a differnce every day.
From Mary Kelly
www.ProductiveLeaders.com
Mary@ProductiveLeaders.com

I heard someone mention work-life balance.

Work is part of life, and while I agree that working nonstop can be tedious, not having work is worse. Work is healthy. Work is productive. Work provides a schedule and a discipline that helps organize the day. Oh, and there is the idea that we work for income.
I look forward to meeting people who do, and ostenstensibly, enjoy the same type of job I do. And that seems to be the key to a work-life balance. Enjoying work is the key.
Much of the work I do is on a computer, and I have, at times, been accused of an emotional atteachment to my computer. But. I protest, it is so easy to be productive online. I don’t play games. I do research. I read. I learn every time I log on. I enjoy learning. So, by the transitive property, I enjoy work. Balanced? Dunno. But fun.
by Mary Kelly
www.ProductiveLeaders.com

With the dismal news about the dismal science, the economy, it is not surprising that people are feeling alarmed by the thought of rising taxes, decreasing government services, loss of their 401 (K) contributions, and generally feeling sad about the short term future.
My solution? Give it away. Try to find something that you do that will help other people and offer to provide your help for free. This increases your abundance and pushes others forward. You feel better, they benefit from your knowledge, and things improve for everyone.
Most importantly, you grabbed control of your future by embracing the idea of shared abundance.

I would like to eat healthier. I would like to actually consume my full share of the recommended 9 fruits and vegetables.

The problem?? I eat like a 3rd grader. I eat sporadically, when food is available, and when left to my own foraging devices, often resort to easy and fast. Cookies fit the bill well. If I need a fruit, I have been known to pour a glass of wine.

That is not to imply that I don’t realize the valuable aspects of healthy food. Fresh, healthy food prevents diseases, contributes to a sense of well-being, and is, well, healthier.

So what stops me? I just don’t take the time. I know it is important, but I sometimes neglect healthy provisioning in the day to day rush to whittle away at the To-Do list.

So just for today, I am going to think really hard about eating 9 fruits and vegetables today. I will make an effort to eat a healthy salad. I may even try to rescue one of the fruits in my refrigerator. Being and staying healthy is one way we can be more productive. So I will try. Just for today.

I wish more people understood that people, like dogs, need their good behavior rewarded. My dogs cheerfully do what I ask of them because they know they will get some kind of positive reward – tummy rubs, ball throwing, treats or a happy “good girl!” But I don’t observe nearly enough people being appreciated. If people were properly appreciated, then they would, as logic goes, they would conduct more good behaviors which get them more appreciation.
So which comes first, the good deeds or the rewards? I say the rewards.
Do a good deed today and see if any one notices. If not, that’s okay too. There is always tomorrow.

No, not like landscapes or anything that requires artistic talent. I am talking about putting paint on walls and changing the room, using “Polar Bear White” trim, and making the nicks and other imperfections go away. Painting is healthy and theraputic. In a few hours you get to completely change a complete place. With a few hours of focus (and a few sore muscles, if you are me) we can enact transformation of a place and its environment.
I wonder why changing ourselves is so hard? I met a young woman who went to the emergency room with back pain and to everyone’s surprise, mostly her own, 2 hours later she gave birth. The baby was a complete shock. Imagine how many aspects of her life changed in that 2 hour period. Thankfully, she is thrilled and the baby is doing well.
I babysat for a friend’s dog over the weekend and thought that required a few changes in my life…..I commend my young friend for being so willing to completely change her whole life with 2 hours of notice. And everyone else who is willingly embracing change.

Your time is yours, so claim your time. How do you find more time in the day?
1. Use your minutes. People don’t realize that 60 seconds is a lot of time. Look at all of the places where you spend “just a minute” that are taking away your time. Standing in one place on the phone, waiting in line at the grocery store, picking up a prescription, or my favorite, in an elevator. There is now news feeds in some high tech elevators to capitalize on that lost time. Use that time to sort your wallet, answer blackberry emails, update the To-Do list, drink some water or do some isometric exercises. Just use the minutes.
2. Plan the day. Not just the meetings, but also the work in the day. Do the urgent, but also take care of the important. One guy’s advice was that the first thing he did every morning was something to help his company make money. Sometimes we get caught up in the immediate and the urgent and we neglect the important. Make sure that you plan to tackle the project in the in-basket that has been there for 4 days. Carve time in the day and stick to your schedule.
3. Be kind, but keep walking. Don’t let other people throw you off your schedule. (Well, except maybe your boss….) There are people at work who are time-vacuums. They start talking, and 45 minutes later they are relaying their camping trip story from 1983 for the third time. These people will absorb your time faster than a paper towel at a child’s swimming party. So start walking. Get up from your desk and walk to the bathroom, the coffee machine, or around the building. Few people follow people who start walking.

What else do you so to add time to your day? Please let me know!

Mary at Productive Leaders
www.ProductiveLeaders.com

Your time is yours, so claim your time. How do you find more time in the day?
1. Use your minutes. People don’t realize that 60 seconds is a lot of time. Look at all of the places where you spend “just a minute” that are taking away your time. Standing in one place on the phone, waiting in line at the grocery store, picking up a prescription, or my favorite, in an elevator. There is now news feeds in some high tech elevators to capitalize on that lost time. Use that time to sort your wallet, answer blackberry emails, update the To-Do list, drink some water or do some isometric exercises. Just use the minutes.
2. Plan the day. Not just the meetings, but also the work in the day. Do the urgent, but also take care of the important. One guy’s advice was that the first thing he did every morning was something to help his company make money. Sometimes we get caught up in the immediate and the urgent and we neglect the important. Make sure that you plan to tackle the project in the in-basket that has been there for 4 days. Carve time in the day and stick to your schedule.
3. Be kind, but keep walking. Don’t let other people throw you off your schedule. (Well, except maybe your boss….) There are people at work who are time-vacuums. They start talking, and 45 minutes later they are relaying their camping trip story from 1983 for the third time. These people will absorb your time faster than a paper towel at a child’s swimming party. So start walking. Get up from your desk and walk to the bathroom, the coffee machine, or around the building. Few people follow people who start walking.

I’m a hard core capitalist, which means this bailout bothers me. A billion dollars is more money than I can imagine.
But I think people need to be trying to help each other out on a more personal level. I am not talking about hand outs, I am talking about paying it forward. I think if we all looked around we could find ways to help other people’s businesses succeed. What can we do to help push each other forward? I am looking at friend’s businesses and trying to help them with setting up books, developing websites, and creating business plans. In a burst of optimism I am wondering what would happen if we all reached out and pulled someone else 2 steps forward.

I like coffee in the morning. I like to get up and grab a cup and sit in front of the laptop and get caught up on the world.
But my dogs don’t need coffee. That may be attributed to the fact that they sleep more than I do, but it may also be because they wait until I wake up and then they are supremely excited to be alive. We get to go outside!!! We get breakfast! The world is amazing!!!!
Yes, they have better perspectives than I do in the morning. I need to substitute “have to” with “get to” in my morning routine and get the same feeling that the dogs have.

Social networking is alive and well. Search Engine Optimization means getting domain names higher in the search list. Keep googling yourself to see where google ranks you. Use Linked In, Facebook and Twitter to increase traffic.

I confess I pay little attention to Basketball until March Madness hits. Then I watch with sheer amazement at the talent, perserverence, heart and discipline exhibited by these players. I know people get really excited by the close games and the OT and the teams that go forward. I see loads of talented students who will go on to be pilots and architects and managers and teachers. And I am so proud of all of our young people who work so hard toward their academic and athletic and spiritual goals.

Especially in these tough economic times, keep up your friends and contacts. People over use the word “networking” when they think about developing contacts and finding job information. But networking is more than that. It is all about you trying to help other people. If that is happening, then you have a network that is there when you need help. Wherever you are, you are two steps ahead of someone else, so give them a hand.

I got a hyacinth plant today because it smelled like spring. It was already blooming, or I don’t think I would have recognized it as anything worthwhile. A dried up bulb isn’t very impressive. What we see, touch, hear or smell isn’t always as things truly are. Look twice. FInd the bloom.

Talented people sometimes doubt their abilities when that talent is unrewarded. When they doubt their abilities, they might look for places where they feel their efforts ARE rewarded. Good managers know that good people need ot know that their efforts are rewarded. Good families members know that as well. Make sure that you let the people in your life know that they are appreciated too.

People often shy away from asking employees or bosses for what they want or need. They are afraid they will be rejected or become unpopular. A lack of clearly articulating requests creates uncertainty. Most people want more information, not less. Withholding negative information does not help either. Quality people can figure out a way to solve problems, and they need as much information as they can get. You owe it to the people around you to provide them with clear communication.

Rewarding good behavior only works if the reward has some meaning for the recipient.