Free Advice is Worth what you Pay for It

A recent edition of Fortune Magazine featured a host of successful people including Bill Gates, Tiger Woods, General Colin Powell sharing the in a section entitle The best Advice I ever Got.  Here are some that have helped me along the way.

From Anthony Robbins:  There is no such thing as success or failure; there are only outcomes.  This is very similar to Shakespeare’s There is nothing good or bad but thinking makes it so.  How we label the outcome also determines our approach to dealing with it.

Also from Mr.  Robbins: When preparation meets opportunities, luck happens.  Too often we are waiting for life to happen to us instead of the other way around.  I don’t know the source of this one but it is really good:  You have got to be in it to win it. 
There is also a story of a blonde who kept praying to win the lottery until finally one day, God said to her:  Could you at least buy a ticket?  I hope this is not the story of your life.  Another one of my favorites is from Eleanor Roosevelt, who said:  No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.  Unless we draw our boundaries, people will step al over us.  Learn to stand up for what you think is right but do it respectfully and without ego.  Last, but not least, this one is from a previous boss:  Free advice is worth what you pay for it.  There you go. 

Saving power at Work Place

In these trying economic times, many companies are facing eroding profits and budges deficits, with the end result that the focus is increasingly on cutting overheads and expenses, with electricity consumption singled out as one of the most practical ways to save some money.

Here is how:

Turn off your CRT (cathode ray tube) monitor every time you leave your desk.  These monitors consume 150 watts of power per hour and keeping them off for just an hour during the day can save enough electricity to power a bulb for 10 hours or enough to light up a small household in any village. 

Set the thermostat of all air conditioners at no less than 22 to 24 degree each degree increased saves two to four percent worth of power.  If the workplace consists of a large hall, turn off one of two ACs and use the remaining in conjunction with pedestal fans to circulate the cool air, air conditioners account for 60 to 70 % of the total summer bill.

Turn off all air conditioners during the lunch break.  The room will absorb heat and this process will stop once the warm air completely replaces the cold air. Then when the air conditioners are turned on after lunch, all the heat will be removed in one go.

Install reflecting film on your glass windows.  Not only do they reflect 40 to 60 % of the heat, they also let in the sunlight giving you a nice bright office and cutting down on lighting needs.  According to the California Energy Commission, 30% of any area’s cooling needs are derived from solar energy entering through glass.
Unplug electrical items such as microwaves and tea makers; about 75% of the electricity used to power such electronics is consumed while they are in standby mode. 

Clean the filters of the hand dryers in the office washrooms at least once a week.  This will help reduce the power it consumed while they are in standby mode.

Clean the filters of the hand dryers in the office washrooms at least once a week.  This will help reduce the power it consumes.

Unplug mobile phone chargers immediately after charging.

Replace incandescent bulb or tubes with energy savers.  These last 10 times longer and cut down on electricity consumption by up to 75% with out compromising on the lighting quality.

Motivating Employees

While organizations invest a substantial amount of money on buying and maintaining machinery, keeping employees motivated is often overlooked.  However, since human beings are decidedly different from machines, they need to be motivated and at times even pampered. 

Here are some guidelines on how to keep employees motivated:

Make your employees feel wanted and secure to keep them committed t the organization. 

Pay your employees more than what the market offers.  Review their benefits package on a yearly basis.  Make sure that your employees are aware of the benefits that are being given to them. 

Ensure that the objectives chalked out for each individual are clear and can be easily understand. 

Maintain open channels of communication and keep team members updated on the organization’s progress.

Institute a system of training to enhance employee skills.  This will result in individual and organizational development.

Make sure that you are accessible to your team members at all times.  Ensure that team members are accessible to each other as well. 

Maintain a friendly work environment so that your employees feel like coming to work and can enjoy their jobs. 

Initiate a fair system of rewards.

Arrange get together like annual dinners, picnics, social events etc. so that the team turns into a family.  Make it a point to remember employees special occasions such as birthdays, weddings etc.  When employees are faced with crisis, take care of them. 

Minimising Mistakes at Work Place

Very often insufficient emphasis is given to avoiding mistakes which not only affect productivity but also the working environment.  The truth is that mangers do make mistakes which at times not only affect the performance of their departments but the morale of the employees as well.  The key for a good manger is to ensure that his personal mistakes are kept to a minimum.  Here is how:

Keep abreast of developments in your field.  Subscribe to industry journals, obtain further education and network with people from your field who work for other organizations. 

Always welcome tough assignments and increased responsibilities; not only will you enhance your confidence, you will also develop professionally. 

Do everything to make sure the right decision is made.  Ask yourself questions related to the problems, whatever you have the required information to make a decision and what the consequences of inaction will be. 

Once you have made a decision carry it out without about the outcome.  Remember that although it might feel good to be liked by your employees, it is far more important to be respected by them. 

Ask employees for their ideas and opinions.  This lets them know that what they think matters and as a result they will work harder when they feel they are contributing to the organization success. 

If you need to be critical, suggest specific steps to prevent a mistake from reoccurring.  Constructive criticism can result I peak production, performance and profits.  Learn to share responsibility for the mistake and listen to the other side of the story, too.  Above all, forgive and forget. 

Most personnel problem comes from employees not having enough information about what management has done and why or what is expected of them.  Keep employees updated and let them know exactly what you want them to do. 

Summer At Work Place

Summer is a time to flaunt your trendy summer wear.  It is the time to experiment with fresh and lively colours.  However, with the rising temperature and power outrages, comfort also becomes a prominent consideration.  It is imperative to look neatly attired while simultaneously surviving the heat and avoiding horrendously unattractive sweat stains.  In short, summers should be about hassle free dressing.  Here are a few ideas on how to build effortless summer style:
Mixing and matching works best.  A light shade top with a stripy shalwar or vice versa makes for good summer wear. 

Splurge on flowery, flowing, printed sundresses for effortless summer femininity. 
Consider purchasing knee length kameezes in colorful print patterns that exude the cool and breezy look. 

Hop on the Capri pant craze, buy a pair of cotton white, being or black Capri or full length pants to take you anywhere.  Pair them easily with a loose or slightly form fitting \bright single toned or floral long kameez, the trick here is the airy fabric.  For the most flattering Capri/pants look, opt for a wide leg.  Choose bright or neutral colors. 

Fancy footwear is key; consider revamping your shoe closet with a new pair of sandals, flip flops or flats with flashy embellishments.

Avoid dark bags; switch to large, bright bags or two-tone canvas, woven straw, or lighter neutral carriers.

Binges in, so be it your shoes, bags or jewellery, bling away.  For work, small, subtle diamantes with a basic elegant pendant and bracelet will give the final finish to your summer work attire. 
Finally, summer is not for tousled hairstyles, long sleeves, dark colored clothes and cotton jackets.  Save them for cooler months. 

Start Living in Three Dimensions

A curious mind is very different from a curious person.  Unfortunately, most of us belong to the latter category wherein we are interested in the lives of other people, colleagues, neighbors and celebrities.  This we do to our own detriment, filling ourselves with envy and resentment.

However, those who cultivate a curious mind are forever filled with wonder and excitement at the universe around them.  They are avid readers and learners and explorers of the worlds within and without.  They discover, create, invent.  They ask why to gain a deeper understanding and uncover mysteries.  They search, probe and investigate to uncover the truth. 

Why is this important? Well aside from the obvious benefits of being knowledgeable in a manner that is useful to you (and to others), the person with the curious mind takes himself or herself into an entirely different orbit of experiential living.
 
Try this for the next few weeks and see the difference:  gaze at nighttime sky and wonder at how early explores traversed the oceans and continents.  Pick up a good dictionary and probe the origins of everyday words.  You will be surprised at what you discover.  Open the hood of your car and try to figure out the relationship and use of all that’s there. 

Keep asking questions like how and why things work or are the way they are.  Ask who invented the machines and gadgets you use.  Don’t just take your life for granted; start living in three dimensions.

Tips to Burn Out at Wrok Place

Do you find yourself in a state of emotional, mental and physical exhaustion caused by excessive and prolonged stress?  Are you feeling overwhelmed and unable to meet pressing demands?  If you are, then you are experiencing what is knows as burn out, a gradual process which can creep up on anyone who fails to spot the early warning signs.  These signs are subtle at first but they get worse with the passage of time.  However, they can be prevented if timely addressed. 

Hare are five signs of a burn out:
Dragging yourself to the office, coming in late, skipping work altogether or leaving early from work.  Your post lunch sessions are spent either frequently looking at your watch or checking the empty email box.

Being cynical, irritated or snappy on petty matters with your colleagues.  You may find it difficult to get along with people you used to get along with well in the past. 

Enthusiasm is replaced by indifference, so that it takes an unusually long to complete even mundane tasks.  This is often referred to as going through the motions syndrome. 

Feeling sudden bouts of failure and self doubt with an increasing sense of general dissatisfaction which may isolate you from the professional network. 

Reduced immunity may leave you vulnerable to frequent physical ailments, including exhaustion, headaches, general weariness and muscular tension, as well a change in appetite and disturbed sleeping patterns. 

Prevention:
Review your professional commitments to reset your priorities.

Apply personal management tips; for example differentiate between what is important and what is urgent, learn to delegate, etc.

Take care of your physical well being with a proper diet, sleep and regular exercise. 

Nurture your creative side by trying innovative solutions of routine problems.

Develop a strong mental resilience to handle stress related challenges. 

Take advantage of your holiday times to refresh yourself.