Living things exert energy and require energy in order to continue to function. Your business doesn't run itself, certain energies are required to be put into it so that it will keep running. You, indiviually, require sustenance in order to continue functioning. Sometimes that sustenance is not measured in calories.
This week, I have the opportunity to go to a workshop within my line of work. I try to attend every year and was one of the speakers last year. I also am involved with the designing of the logo, some years. Regardless, it is the fuel for my year. It is an awesome time to see people I haven't seen and to be "fed" with information that helps me in my profession.
I remember when I worked as an instructor at a college that I didn't like the first-of-the-year inservices. They seemed like a waste of time. It didn't help that most people thought the same. Maybe you approach workshops, inservices, etc., your line of work the same way. I challenge you to think differently. Imagine if your company was to launch something new and innovative, be it an invention or a marketing campaign, and you didn't make it because you deemed it not important enough. Think of what you'd miss out on. You'd be in the dark!
Some of you do work individually at your job. When this is the case, you definitely need to consider going to events that will help you be refueled, refocusd, and rejuvenated. (In the meantime, this newsletter is designed to help you in those areas)
Just like the human body will tire out if not replenished with nutrients, so will your career. Continuing Education Units keep you "in the loop" but they also keep you refueled for the future. So, whenever you can make to gatherings that will enhance your job, take advantage of it. Who wants to let their battery die out and let their career suffer? I hope no one.
Don't let your battery die. Recharge your batteries by being involved in events that will help you become refueled, refocused, and rejuvenated so you can "keep going and going and going"!
Showing posts with label industrial inspiration. Show all posts
Showing posts with label industrial inspiration. Show all posts
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Industrial Inspiration: Dissipating Snowpile
In the town where I live there is this huge snow pile. The pile is created by the accumulation of deposited snow the City puts there, which they've taken off of the main streets in town. Since we've had a few good snows this season, the pile is about 3 "mountain ranges" deep. Each pile was probably around 15-feet high. Kids love to climb up with their sleds and then slide down. I drove by once and noticed someone made a little tunnel to slide in and out before going down the hill. It all looked so fun that I've even thought about going over to it to let the kid in me have some fun (maybe when my 2-year old gets a little older).
As I drive past that pile of snow quite regularly it created a train of thought in my head. That thought went something like this, "Though that much snow is taking a long time to melt, if snow is not continually put on top of the pile, it will eventally disappear, and no one will really ever notice".
Does your business or your position reflect that statement? To put it into a better context, did your business start out "big" - big dreams, hopes, income, etc., but has started to dissipate? Did you start in your position with a lot of vigor and fire, but some of that has started to dissipate? If you don't continually add to yourself and/or your company, you will start to dwindle, like the snowpile.
We've had some 60-degree days since that snow pile was created. Those temperatures have caused some significant melting, but it hasn't caused the pile to go away, yet. You may experience some low times or big hits, but that doesn't have to cause your "pile" to dwindle away. You allow your dreams to melt away. YOu allow your fire to go out. Outside influences do just that, influence, but they don't have to put it out, you allow that to happen.
You probably know how to put the snow back on your pile. You keep yourself fresh, you create new goals, you look for ways you can improve, you look to see how you can self-renew, you evaluate the competition and see how you can be distinct in your field to keep snow on your pile. If you don't do some of those things (and probably others) your pile will slowly melt away. Then what happens? Will people miss you? Will your employer find someone who will be able to replace you with someone who comes in with "lots of snow on their pile"?
May you find a way or ways to make sure your pile doesn't melt away, regardless of the environment (which will make the actual snowpiles eventually go away). Do all that you can to keep your snowpile from dissipating!
I love adding more snow to my pile!
(This is from a newsletter I send out to businesses each month. If your business would like to receive one, please contact me by leaving a comment)
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As I drive past that pile of snow quite regularly it created a train of thought in my head. That thought went something like this, "Though that much snow is taking a long time to melt, if snow is not continually put on top of the pile, it will eventally disappear, and no one will really ever notice".
Does your business or your position reflect that statement? To put it into a better context, did your business start out "big" - big dreams, hopes, income, etc., but has started to dissipate? Did you start in your position with a lot of vigor and fire, but some of that has started to dissipate? If you don't continually add to yourself and/or your company, you will start to dwindle, like the snowpile.
We've had some 60-degree days since that snow pile was created. Those temperatures have caused some significant melting, but it hasn't caused the pile to go away, yet. You may experience some low times or big hits, but that doesn't have to cause your "pile" to dwindle away. You allow your dreams to melt away. YOu allow your fire to go out. Outside influences do just that, influence, but they don't have to put it out, you allow that to happen.
You probably know how to put the snow back on your pile. You keep yourself fresh, you create new goals, you look for ways you can improve, you look to see how you can self-renew, you evaluate the competition and see how you can be distinct in your field to keep snow on your pile. If you don't do some of those things (and probably others) your pile will slowly melt away. Then what happens? Will people miss you? Will your employer find someone who will be able to replace you with someone who comes in with "lots of snow on their pile"?
May you find a way or ways to make sure your pile doesn't melt away, regardless of the environment (which will make the actual snowpiles eventually go away). Do all that you can to keep your snowpile from dissipating!
I love adding more snow to my pile!
(This is from a newsletter I send out to businesses each month. If your business would like to receive one, please contact me by leaving a comment)
Social Bookmarking Links
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Industrial Inspiration: Staying Above the "Red Line"
Life is all about trying to stay above the red line. This last week on "The Biggest Loser" (a show about weight loss) the contestant who fell below the red line instantly went home. It was the first time this had been done on the show's history. The normal ending is to vote between two people who've gone below the yellow line, that is they were the two who had the least percentage of weight loss for the week (not necessarily the least amount of weight).
In the business world the competitiveness doesn't last a certain amount of weeks. Just like watching one's weight cannot just end after a certain number of weeks, making sure your business is successful never ends. Every business is replaceable. We would make it without Wal-Mart, McDonald's, Macy's, and your business. Every employee is replaceable. Your business would probably be able to survive without you. This concept is understood, that is why the competitiveness among businesses never ends.
I knew a State Farm employee (who I am insured with) tell me that when he had customers who threatened to leave he didn't worry too much. State Farm is an insurance mogul. One customer isn't going to affect them that much. What if it was one per agent, that might make them a bit nervous. However, we don't all work for moguls. Some of us are the only employees. Regardless of the history of our companies or place of employment, we never want to go below the red line.
Even those who are with moguls, as an employee, you're always replaceable. However, you are where you're at to do the best job you can do with the company you work for. You can make a huge difference in the position you are at. You can be the best salesperson. You can be the top realtor. You can also be a great employer, gaining respect from your employees. Not always is the top about sales and money.
You shouldn't want to relax in your position to think you and/or your company is "safe" from falling below the red line. I know a seed salesman who talks about trying to make courtesy calls regularly to keep that relationship with his clients. He's continuing to fight. He doesn't want to all below the "red line" because there's always another seed salesman who can replace him.
Though there is a lot of competitiveness in the business world, there should also be a sense of staying relaxed. When the body is too stressed you won't lose the weight, cause your body goes into panic mode. When you put too much stress on you with your business you will appear too greedy or impersonable. This won't help you in your quest to stay above the "red line". So, keep going, be as good as you can, relax, strive for the doing better each day, relax, and enjoy the ride!
In the business world the competitiveness doesn't last a certain amount of weeks. Just like watching one's weight cannot just end after a certain number of weeks, making sure your business is successful never ends. Every business is replaceable. We would make it without Wal-Mart, McDonald's, Macy's, and your business. Every employee is replaceable. Your business would probably be able to survive without you. This concept is understood, that is why the competitiveness among businesses never ends.
I knew a State Farm employee (who I am insured with) tell me that when he had customers who threatened to leave he didn't worry too much. State Farm is an insurance mogul. One customer isn't going to affect them that much. What if it was one per agent, that might make them a bit nervous. However, we don't all work for moguls. Some of us are the only employees. Regardless of the history of our companies or place of employment, we never want to go below the red line.
Even those who are with moguls, as an employee, you're always replaceable. However, you are where you're at to do the best job you can do with the company you work for. You can make a huge difference in the position you are at. You can be the best salesperson. You can be the top realtor. You can also be a great employer, gaining respect from your employees. Not always is the top about sales and money.
You shouldn't want to relax in your position to think you and/or your company is "safe" from falling below the red line. I know a seed salesman who talks about trying to make courtesy calls regularly to keep that relationship with his clients. He's continuing to fight. He doesn't want to all below the "red line" because there's always another seed salesman who can replace him.
Though there is a lot of competitiveness in the business world, there should also be a sense of staying relaxed. When the body is too stressed you won't lose the weight, cause your body goes into panic mode. When you put too much stress on you with your business you will appear too greedy or impersonable. This won't help you in your quest to stay above the "red line". So, keep going, be as good as you can, relax, strive for the doing better each day, relax, and enjoy the ride!
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