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Showing posts from 2010

THANKSGIVING TO YOU...

I awoke this morning with devout thanksgiving for my friends, the old and new. T is for the trust the pilgrims had so many years ago H is for the harvest the settlers learnt to grow A is for Appoline, my mother who gave me new vision N is for nurture and beauty which she gives K is for kindness, gentle words, thoughtful deeds S is for smiles, the sunshine everyone needs G is for gratitude... our blessings big and small I is for ideas, letting wisdom grow tall V is for voices, singing, laughing, always caring I is for Islam, who taught me about sharing N is for neighbors, across the street, over the sea G is for giving of myself to make a better me. On this Thanksgiving Day, I wish to say that I am honored to have you in my primary network. Thanks for loving and caring for me. Develop an attitude of gratitude, and give thanks for everything that happens to you, knowing that every step forward is a step toward achieving something bigger and bett

Who Are Your "Next Generation" Leaders?

Research by Development Dimensions International (DDI), a global workforce and leadership training, staffing and assessment firm based in Bridgeville, Penn., indicates that companies are at risk to lose a substantial number of their executives within the next five years. Companies are faced not only with the challenge of replacing existing managers, but the need to add new managerial staff. According to a recent hiring survey conducted by Management Recruiters International, Inc., mid-managers, executives and professionals are in great demand. More than half of the companies surveyed indicated that they are planning increases in their mid-management and professional staffs. As the population continues to age and baby boomers begin leaving the job market, experts predict that there will be serious shortages of employees to fill high-level professional, managerial and technical spots. Whether your replacement needs are the result of tragedy, transition or trial and error, consideri

The Intelligent Entrepreneur Vs Job-seeker

In "The Intelligent Entrepreneur", a new book out from author Bill Murphy, Jr., Bill distills 10 rules of successful entrepreneurship from the stories of several Harvard Business School graduates from the Class of 1998, including yours truly. As I read through the stories, and looked at Bill's rules, it struck me that there are similarities between the successful entrepreneur and the successful job-seeker. You're both trying to create something new — a new company or a new position for yourself. You're both faced with the emotional challenges that go with any new endeavor. There are plenty of setbacks along the way in starting a company and getting a job. And success is dependent on sticking to it and seeing it through. So with that in mind, I thought I'd share five of Bill's 10 rules with you and show how they apply to your job search. #2 Find a problem, then solve it. It's not enough in the 21st century to simply describe yourself to future

Teamwork in tough times

At the center of every high performance team is a common purpose-a mission that rises above and beyond each of the individual team members. To be successful, the team's interests and needs come first. This requires "we-opic" vision (What's in it for we?), a challenging step up from the common "me-opic" mindset. Effective team players understand that personal issues and personality differences are secondary to team demands. This does not mean abandoning who you are or giving up your individuality. On the contrary, it means sharing your unique strengths and differences to move the team forward. It is this "we-opic" focus and vision-this cooperation of collective capability-that empowers a team and generates synergy, the power of teamwork. Cooperation means working together for mutual gain-sharing responsibility for success and failure and covering for one another on a moment's notice. It does not mean competing with one another at the team&#

Balance Global Strategy with Local Differences

Perhaps the most significant challenge to the creation of a global compensation and benefits strategy is the conflict between the need for a unified global strategy and the need to address local differences, particularly those that are legally mandated. Maintaining the appropriate balance is a constant dilemma for most HR functions, but it seems particularly acute for compensation and benefits. Of all the global HR practices, compensation and benefits is the most localized (mainly due to economics, tax laws, and labor requirements).

Wait to Worry

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I've been in business for over 12 years, and I've come to realize the difference in success, or failure, is not how you look, not how you dress and not even how you're educated. It's how you think. I can't overstate the importance of being able to maintain a positive attitude but I'm the first one to admit...it's not easy. I used to worry. A lot. The more I fretted, the more proficient I became at it. Anxiety begets anxiety. I even worried that I worried too much! Ulcers might develop. My health could fail. My finances could deplete to pay the hospital bills. A comedian once said, "I tried to drown my worries with gin, but my worries are equipped with flotation devices." While not a drinker, I certainly could identify! My worries could swim, jump and pole vault! To get some perspective, I visited a well known, Dallas businessman, Fred Smith. Fred mentored such luminaries as motivational whiz Zig Ziglar, business guru Ken Blanchard and leader

What gives someone the Right to Lead?

How do you define leadership? What gives a man or woman the right to lead? What gives a man or woman the right to lead? It certainly isn't gained by election or appointment. Having position, title, rank or degrees doesn't qualify anyone to lead other people. And the ability doesn't come automatically from age or experience, either. No, it would be accurate to say that no one can be given the right to lead. The right to lead can only be earned. And that takes time. The Kind of Leader Others Want to Follow The key to becoming an effective leader is not to focus on making other people follow, but on making yourself the kind of person they want to follow. You must become someone others can trust to take them where they want to go. As you prepare yourself to become a better leader, use the following guidelines to help you grow: Let go of your ego. The truly great leaders are not in leadership for personal gain. They lead in order to serve other people. Perhaps tha