Focus: It means the difference between success and mediocrity

There are many demands placed on today’s worker. No one is exempt from this pressure, from CEO to clerk. We’re all asked to accomplish a high volume of error-free outcomes. Just keeping up with a day’s worth of incoming email can seem daunting, much less making headway on the long-range goals you’ve set (or others have…

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Bringing Communities Together One Dog Biscuit at a Time

Our workday tasks are often focused on our internal initiatives. Completing deadlines and projects are paramount to our organizational success. Something happened to me this week that reminded me of the importance of stepping outside of those boundaries. Wednesday night when I got home, I found a gift bag hanging on the front door. My…

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Problem resolution can sometimes leave you in a messy hole

In organizations, there are a multitude of projects that are constantly underway. These initiatives are designed to fix an existing problem or improve something, such as reduce the number of client complaints, increase billable hours, or achieve higher quality in a product. These are good goals to have, as long as leaders recognize the true…

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Cat and Mouse: A game to help you be patient in reaching your goals

In today’s business environment, all of us want things to happen fast. Any business leader, manager, employee, and even (and perhaps especially!) consumers, have expectations for immediate results. We get impatient when we have to wait for something we desperately want. We focus on the outcome instead of the process. I know I get insane when…

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Accountability is not always fun nor easy

Enforcing a rule that someone doesn’t agree with or like can be difficult, especially if you are anticipating resistance. You dread having to deal with those cranky comments and grumblings from staff and so it’s tempting to dodge it all together. When that happens, you’re letting your short-term interests (avoiding the conflict and trying to make everyone…

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Who Moved My Acorns?

When weeding a few days ago, I pulled up more than I bargained for. I noticed a tight grouping of healthy leaves off to the side of the garden; they were attractive but obviously not one of our planted perennials. I wrapped my hands around the stems and tugged back and forth a few times, then one final pull…

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An easy, simple, and effective way to motivate employees

There is an easy, simple, and effective way to motivate employees. It works like a charm, and better yet, the real benefits are lasting and deep. Here’s the tip: Have employees do what they love and then encourage them to do it more. Maybe that sounds just too crazy. I imagine you reading this and thinking…

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The Grass is (Not) Always Greener on the Other Side

It’s human nature to want something that we don’t have. I see it in workplaces all the time. It shows up in a multitude of ways. It’s evident when an employee wishes they had a job with more pay, better hours, or a more understanding boss. They may hear lofty stories of good times from…

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