Have you ever been part of a winning team? If so, then you probably realize there's a myriad of factors that work together to make it happen. There's unison, communication, camaraderie, passion, and a drive to win to name a few. The bigger question is, have you ever been part of a team that just can't seem to get it right even though there were talented people involved? … [Read more...]
3 Surprising Ways to be Successful in Your Job
If your literature about finding success in your job is more than a year old, chances are it offers such traditional advice as "stand up and get noticed," "knowledge is power," and "strive to take leadership in projects." That was yesterday. Today's multi-generation workplaces mean the rules have changed, and if you still opt to take the traditional route, you may find … [Read more...]
Embracing Your Female Voice
I was once told by an employer that my voice was too high and too loud. Even worse, I raised it ever so slightly at the end of a thought, indicating a question or insecurity. He suggested I take lessons with a voice coach. Eventually, I did reach out to a friend of mine who moonlighted as a voice coach and sent over the same product video that caused the initial complaint. I … [Read more...]
How Not To Fund Your Startup Using Credit Cards
I attended a startup event the other day. It was a fireside chat with an accomplished business founder who now owns over 350 locations, worldwide. As this founder was going over his entrepreneur journey, he mentioned how he funded his startup using credit cards and how he applied for 15 of them. This is not the first time I’ve heard of an entrepreneur funding his/her company … [Read more...]
Feedback is a Gift – Especially When It Hurts
Few of us look forward to a feedback appointment. Regardless of how solid we consider our work performance and efforts to be, the bottom-line is that we all have professional blind spots and absolutely no one is exempt from negative feedback. We’ve all been there, but ouch! Usually, it comes with a sting, tempting us to lash out in ways that aren’t professional or more … [Read more...]
Why Curiosity Is the Most Important Trait an Entrepreneur Can Have
Everyone knows the old cliché "Curiosity killed the cat." Nobody wants to be that cat, especially not entrepreneurs. The thought of failing in a business venture is enough to steer any entrepreneur away from being curious. After all, "better safe than sorry," right? Actually, curiosity is an incredibly important trait for an entrepreneur. While everyone knows that "curiosity … [Read more...]
Managing the Employees on the Move
Of all the challenges facing the human resources professional in recent years, the rise of the mobile employee stands among those that require a steep learning curve. People hired to do a job for a specific company in a specific place are suddenly packing their bags and accepting that company's invitation to go work in India, China, the Middle East, or other foreign … [Read more...]
Authenticity and Gender
Seeing “authenticity” become the newest business buzzword has made me very happy. I write speeches for a living, and the best way for speakers to connect with an audience is to give them a glimpse of their authentic selves: Not just how they think in a business context but who they are, how the quirks of their personality got them this far, where they think those quirks may … [Read more...]
When Do You Get Your Best Ideas?
The day-to-day hustle of running a company can leave you with little time for new ideas. It's far too easy to get wrapped up in just keeping things running smoothly, but without the occasional burst of inspiration, you may find that your business is just coasting along rather than charging forward. It's important to make opportunities for inspiration to strike, and part of … [Read more...]
5 Signs You Are a Creative Person
In this new 'entrepreneurial age', creativity is an attribute which is increasingly regarded as the key to success. This is no real surprise, given that its dictionary definition is ‘the use of the imagination or original ideas to create something’. But how exactly can you tell if you are a ‘creative person’? 1. You work long hours and lose track of time Creative people tend … [Read more...]