" No one would remember the Good Samaritan if he'd only had good intentions; he had money as well. " Margaret Thatcher
After emailing a friend about the proposed bill to give away an additional 65 billion ($65,000,000,000) dollars a year to reduce world poverty by half by the year 2015 I received a response stating that it sounded Christian. I have a problem with that mainly because I do not think that it is a correct interpretation and here is why.
When you are taxed are you providing those monies with a happy heart? I know that I do not. I know that federal taxes are necessary, but sending them overseas for any purpose, even a purpose as noble as reducing poverty or providing fresh water, is wrong.
Also, from history, you will find that when monies are sent from government to government the monies seem to disappear at the worst or not get to where it is supposed to go in a timely manner. Not all governments are as honest as our government is, meaning that monies are siphoned off for personal use. Monies sent to governments, especially or even, get delayed in getting to the people who need them either because of the established bureaucracy or by neglect.
There is also the problem that the 0.7% figure put forth by Presidential Barack Obama is the same percentage that the United Nations would like to tax every developed nation in order to put forth their agenda. An organization that does not have the best interests of America in mind in anything that they do.
Thursday, February 28, 2008
Sunday, February 24, 2008
Obama’s Great Giveaway
"Charity should begin at home, but should not stay there." Phillips Brooks
Obama would like to give away an additional $845 billion more for global poverty or about 0.7% of gross national product of America each year for the next 13 years. Under this give away “plan” the President must develop "and implement" a policy to "cut extreme global poverty in half by 2015 through aid, trade, debt relief" and other programs.
"You must be the change you wish to see in the world." Mahatma Gandhi
There is one word that people seem to miss when reading the article and that word is additional. You see the United States already donates $21.3 billion ($21,300,000,000) a year. SO what Obama, along with others are looking for is a total of $86,000,000,000 (86 billion) a year for foreign aid. That does not count what the American public already donates, nor does it add in the funds made available following natural disasters such as the Tsunami of 2004.
You cannot hope to build a better world without improving individuals. We all must work for our own improvement, and at the same time share a general responsibility for all humanity." Marie Curie
If the percentage sounds familiar you may recall that is the exact percentage which the United Nations wants to tax every developed nation. Sounds like a way to get around American sovereignty and establish a tax which correctly fills the bill of “Taxation without representation”.
More later.
Obama would like to give away an additional $845 billion more for global poverty or about 0.7% of gross national product of America each year for the next 13 years. Under this give away “plan” the President must develop "and implement" a policy to "cut extreme global poverty in half by 2015 through aid, trade, debt relief" and other programs.
"You must be the change you wish to see in the world." Mahatma Gandhi
There is one word that people seem to miss when reading the article and that word is additional. You see the United States already donates $21.3 billion ($21,300,000,000) a year. SO what Obama, along with others are looking for is a total of $86,000,000,000 (86 billion) a year for foreign aid. That does not count what the American public already donates, nor does it add in the funds made available following natural disasters such as the Tsunami of 2004.
You cannot hope to build a better world without improving individuals. We all must work for our own improvement, and at the same time share a general responsibility for all humanity." Marie Curie
If the percentage sounds familiar you may recall that is the exact percentage which the United Nations wants to tax every developed nation. Sounds like a way to get around American sovereignty and establish a tax which correctly fills the bill of “Taxation without representation”.
More later.
Friday, February 22, 2008
Instead of Chili’s
"As a child my family's menu consisted of two choices: take it or leave it." Buddy Hackett
Have you seen the commercial where some friends are in a car and trying to decide what they should do? They are looking for something that would be different and they final decide that in order to do something different they should go out to dinner at Chili’s. But is that really something different? You want to try something different, here is a suggestion.
When you and your friends get together and are looking for something different why not cook or prepare a meal(s) for someone else. Find a shelter that hand out prepared meals. Where I live there are plenty of these organizations, one handing out up to 10,000 sandwiches a month and the homeless shelter we help serves about 50 homeless men a night and that is on a slow night.
“When I gave food to the poor, they called me a saint. When I asked why the poor were hungry, they called me a communist.” Dom Helder Camara
When we bring sandwiches to the shelter we simply drop them off, but when we bring a hot meal we stay. Usually the meals are simple, ziti, chili, etc. along with a bread or muffin and some fruit. All of this food cost me less than a dollar a person. You want to see a group of happy people bring them a hot meal, when they are used simply to sandwiches, on a cold Syracuse night.
"If we can conquer space, we can conquer childhood hunger" Buzz Aldrin
How did we do that? Use the Buy One Give One idea of which I wrote of earlier. Since we knew we were going to provide a meal to those in need we would buy items along the way and designate them to that purpose. We also let friends of ours know in advance that we were going to make a meal and they make the bread or muffins. Sometimes we get together to make the meals and other times we meet and combine the meal into bags to make it easier to hand out.
How many meals could you make for the same cost as what you would spend for a night out?
Have you seen the commercial where some friends are in a car and trying to decide what they should do? They are looking for something that would be different and they final decide that in order to do something different they should go out to dinner at Chili’s. But is that really something different? You want to try something different, here is a suggestion.
When you and your friends get together and are looking for something different why not cook or prepare a meal(s) for someone else. Find a shelter that hand out prepared meals. Where I live there are plenty of these organizations, one handing out up to 10,000 sandwiches a month and the homeless shelter we help serves about 50 homeless men a night and that is on a slow night.
“When I gave food to the poor, they called me a saint. When I asked why the poor were hungry, they called me a communist.” Dom Helder Camara
When we bring sandwiches to the shelter we simply drop them off, but when we bring a hot meal we stay. Usually the meals are simple, ziti, chili, etc. along with a bread or muffin and some fruit. All of this food cost me less than a dollar a person. You want to see a group of happy people bring them a hot meal, when they are used simply to sandwiches, on a cold Syracuse night.
"If we can conquer space, we can conquer childhood hunger" Buzz Aldrin
How did we do that? Use the Buy One Give One idea of which I wrote of earlier. Since we knew we were going to provide a meal to those in need we would buy items along the way and designate them to that purpose. We also let friends of ours know in advance that we were going to make a meal and they make the bread or muffins. Sometimes we get together to make the meals and other times we meet and combine the meal into bags to make it easier to hand out.
How many meals could you make for the same cost as what you would spend for a night out?
Thursday, February 21, 2008
BOGO
"When Andrew Carnegie died, they discovered a sheet of paper upon which he had written one of the major goals of his life: to spend the first half of his life accumulating money and to spend the last half of his life giving it all away. And he did!" Jim Rohn
I am not sure who started this acronym BOGO (Buy One Get One) and I hope that by using it I am not stepping on someone’s copy right. I have taken this acronym and changed to Buy One Give One.
“The life of a man consists not in seeing visions and in dreaming dreams, but in active charity and in willing service” Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
How many people in America go hungry? Second Harvest states that there were approximately twenty-five million (25,000,000) in 2007. Even if you do not believe that number, simply helping people or charities is always a good thing. Also if you would like to help Second Harvest you can download a free copy of Barilla’s cookbook until February 29th and they will donate $1.00 to America's Second Harvest for every cookbook downloaded, up to 100,000 downloads.
"The measure of a life, after all, is not its duration, but its donation." Corrie Ten Boom
When there is a BOGO I will check out my coupons which are stacked up uncut in the family room. If I have coupons then it makes giving these items even easier. I will pick up the items when I do my usual shopping so that I am not making any extra trips. Most of these items are food items and I donate them to the local food pantry, unless there is a call from a group or organization for additional help.
“Where there is charity and wisdom, there is neither fear nor ignorance.” St. Francis of Assisi
While we support our local pantry and a few others when they ask for help, we also support a men’s shelter. Those items which are not food, e.g. cleaning, laundry detergents, etc, are provided to other organizations which my wife and I support.
“Charity is injurious unless it helps the recipient to become independent of it.” John D. Rockefeller
I am not sure who started this acronym BOGO (Buy One Get One) and I hope that by using it I am not stepping on someone’s copy right. I have taken this acronym and changed to Buy One Give One.
“The life of a man consists not in seeing visions and in dreaming dreams, but in active charity and in willing service” Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
How many people in America go hungry? Second Harvest states that there were approximately twenty-five million (25,000,000) in 2007. Even if you do not believe that number, simply helping people or charities is always a good thing. Also if you would like to help Second Harvest you can download a free copy of Barilla’s cookbook until February 29th and they will donate $1.00 to America's Second Harvest for every cookbook downloaded, up to 100,000 downloads.
"The measure of a life, after all, is not its duration, but its donation." Corrie Ten Boom
When there is a BOGO I will check out my coupons which are stacked up uncut in the family room. If I have coupons then it makes giving these items even easier. I will pick up the items when I do my usual shopping so that I am not making any extra trips. Most of these items are food items and I donate them to the local food pantry, unless there is a call from a group or organization for additional help.
“Where there is charity and wisdom, there is neither fear nor ignorance.” St. Francis of Assisi
While we support our local pantry and a few others when they ask for help, we also support a men’s shelter. Those items which are not food, e.g. cleaning, laundry detergents, etc, are provided to other organizations which my wife and I support.
“Charity is injurious unless it helps the recipient to become independent of it.” John D. Rockefeller
American Business Competition
"Life leaps like a geyser for those willing to drill through the rock of inertia." Alexis Carrel
Have you noticed that a fast tempo seems to have taken over everything we do? The question is does this fast pace make things better? Should you develop a tempo which requires you to start moving faster and faster? The answer to that question is probably based on where you are now in the “pace of life” and where you want to be in the life you are leading.
"To climb steep hills requires slow pace at first." William Shakespeare
We have all(?) heard that an object that is in motion tends to stay in motion. How much more energy does it take to go from zero to 60 mph, than to go from 30 mph to 60 mph? Basically that means that we need to keep moving. To continually improve your life is easier when you are moving ahead already than when you stop and go. How many of you have finished school and decided to go back for further education and found it harder than proceeding from one session to another?
"The reading of all good books is indeed like a conversation with the noblest men of past centuries who were the authors of them, nay a carefully studied conversation, in which they reveal to us none but the best of their thoughts." Rene Descartes
When you are exercising do you seem to have more energy than when you are sitting around? The same is true with your mind. The more that you learn the easier it is to learn more. Read a dozen books in a year and you will be further ahead than the majority of the population. Pick out those books that will make you a better person, a better employee, a better citizen.
"Your needs will be met once you can find a way of projecting energy and fulfilling someone else's need." Stuart Wilde
Start your own study group. Read books and articles that you feel will help you and share them with people who are like minded. Just like in school, sharing your information with others and taking in what they learn will expand your knowledge faster than trying to do everything on your own.
Have you noticed that a fast tempo seems to have taken over everything we do? The question is does this fast pace make things better? Should you develop a tempo which requires you to start moving faster and faster? The answer to that question is probably based on where you are now in the “pace of life” and where you want to be in the life you are leading.
"To climb steep hills requires slow pace at first." William Shakespeare
We have all(?) heard that an object that is in motion tends to stay in motion. How much more energy does it take to go from zero to 60 mph, than to go from 30 mph to 60 mph? Basically that means that we need to keep moving. To continually improve your life is easier when you are moving ahead already than when you stop and go. How many of you have finished school and decided to go back for further education and found it harder than proceeding from one session to another?
"The reading of all good books is indeed like a conversation with the noblest men of past centuries who were the authors of them, nay a carefully studied conversation, in which they reveal to us none but the best of their thoughts." Rene Descartes
When you are exercising do you seem to have more energy than when you are sitting around? The same is true with your mind. The more that you learn the easier it is to learn more. Read a dozen books in a year and you will be further ahead than the majority of the population. Pick out those books that will make you a better person, a better employee, a better citizen.
"Your needs will be met once you can find a way of projecting energy and fulfilling someone else's need." Stuart Wilde
Start your own study group. Read books and articles that you feel will help you and share them with people who are like minded. Just like in school, sharing your information with others and taking in what they learn will expand your knowledge faster than trying to do everything on your own.
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
American Business Competition
"If you have an important point to make, don't try to be subtle or clever. Use a pile driver. Hit the point once. Then come back and hit it again. Then hit it a third time a tremendous whack." Winston Churchill
There was a local story in our area about the negotiations between a company and a union. Unless there was a way to make the factory more cost efficient it would be closed down. Sounds familiar and to a point it makes good business sense. Cost efficiency makes good business practice as it means you do something that businesses are in existence for, to make a profit.
In a global economy businesses must become more efficient in their production, employees, etc. The American worker is highly productive and according to some is highly paid. Unfortunately, we appear to be too highly paid when compared to workers in other countries. When it comes to pay and benefits, it appears that ‘management’ is always looking for ways to decrease the pay and benefits received by Americans to “level the playing field”.
Ye when all is said and done management, corporate boards, CEOs, etc take a very limited view of the wage disparity between the American worker and those in other countries. You ever wonder if they look at their own salaries when they determine that wages need to be reduced in order to make American business more competitive. When the CEO of General Motors (GM) makes in access of ten ($10,000,000) million dollars compared to the CEO of Toyota makes less than one ($1,000,000) million dollars General Motors competitive?
The other part of this equation is not simply the salary of the CEO of a company, but the salaries of upper management. If the CEO of GM makes ten million dollars a year what do the other members of the board make? What about the vice presidents, directors, and managers make? How far down the corporate ladder do you need to go in a company like GM, which is continually losing its share of the market, before you make the same salary as the president of Toyota?
I wonder how the union taking a 30% pay cut will affect the workers at the factory. What concessions has the management been willing to take? HAve they been willing to take a 30% pay and benefit cut to make their factory more competative with those overseas?
There was a local story in our area about the negotiations between a company and a union. Unless there was a way to make the factory more cost efficient it would be closed down. Sounds familiar and to a point it makes good business sense. Cost efficiency makes good business practice as it means you do something that businesses are in existence for, to make a profit.
In a global economy businesses must become more efficient in their production, employees, etc. The American worker is highly productive and according to some is highly paid. Unfortunately, we appear to be too highly paid when compared to workers in other countries. When it comes to pay and benefits, it appears that ‘management’ is always looking for ways to decrease the pay and benefits received by Americans to “level the playing field”.
Ye when all is said and done management, corporate boards, CEOs, etc take a very limited view of the wage disparity between the American worker and those in other countries. You ever wonder if they look at their own salaries when they determine that wages need to be reduced in order to make American business more competitive. When the CEO of General Motors (GM) makes in access of ten ($10,000,000) million dollars compared to the CEO of Toyota makes less than one ($1,000,000) million dollars General Motors competitive?
The other part of this equation is not simply the salary of the CEO of a company, but the salaries of upper management. If the CEO of GM makes ten million dollars a year what do the other members of the board make? What about the vice presidents, directors, and managers make? How far down the corporate ladder do you need to go in a company like GM, which is continually losing its share of the market, before you make the same salary as the president of Toyota?
I wonder how the union taking a 30% pay cut will affect the workers at the factory. What concessions has the management been willing to take? HAve they been willing to take a 30% pay and benefit cut to make their factory more competative with those overseas?
Affording Social Security
"Failure will never overtake me if my determination to succeed is strong enough." Og Mandino
The first complaint from business will be that they are already taxed too much, no different from the American public. How are we, business and individual, supposed to be able to afford the changes in Social Security I talked about in the last two posts.
As for the individual, there will be an increase in the taxes that they pay, if they earn more than $102,000 a year. I am not too upset about it, maybe I would be if I earned over the maximum and now had to pay into the retirement fund and forgo the “raise” provided by the ending of being taxed like the majority of the population.
As for business, I would end their contribution to the Social Security fund at the new maximum of $250,000. That is an increase in the taxes which they pay and there is no getting around that, unless you make all taxes collected by Social Security and Health Insurance pre-tax dollars.
No, that will not make your contributions to retirement balance out, but it will reduce the pain.
The first complaint from business will be that they are already taxed too much, no different from the American public. How are we, business and individual, supposed to be able to afford the changes in Social Security I talked about in the last two posts.
As for the individual, there will be an increase in the taxes that they pay, if they earn more than $102,000 a year. I am not too upset about it, maybe I would be if I earned over the maximum and now had to pay into the retirement fund and forgo the “raise” provided by the ending of being taxed like the majority of the population.
As for business, I would end their contribution to the Social Security fund at the new maximum of $250,000. That is an increase in the taxes which they pay and there is no getting around that, unless you make all taxes collected by Social Security and Health Insurance pre-tax dollars.
No, that will not make your contributions to retirement balance out, but it will reduce the pain.
Monday, February 18, 2008
Social Security Privatization
"The absent are never without fault. Nor the present without excuse." Benjamin Franklin
Now for the discussion of Social Security that always gets me in trouble with my father. That is the privatization of the system. I know everyone looks at that and says that it makes no sense for us to be able to invest our monies as we see fit, keep our own money and to leave what is left to our children (being facetious), but does it?
Let us keep the 6.25% Social Security tax and the 1.45% Medicare's Hospital Insurance (HI) and invest it in a 401K type fund, which can be used as a retire find. Increase the maximum income to $250,000 which we are required to contribute to the Social Security fund.
Take the matching funds which are required from businesses and provide those funds to the public funding of the Social Security act. All income should be taxed under Social Security, and any income which is over the $250,000 maximum be placed also into the public monies.
There is too much temptation for politicians when all of the Social Security tax pours into the general fund. Unfortunately for Presidential hopeful Al Gore, there is no lock box, but maybe there aught to be. Instead of placing the monies into the general funds, any unused monies should be placed into Savings Bonds.
Now for the discussion of Social Security that always gets me in trouble with my father. That is the privatization of the system. I know everyone looks at that and says that it makes no sense for us to be able to invest our monies as we see fit, keep our own money and to leave what is left to our children (being facetious), but does it?
Let us keep the 6.25% Social Security tax and the 1.45% Medicare's Hospital Insurance (HI) and invest it in a 401K type fund, which can be used as a retire find. Increase the maximum income to $250,000 which we are required to contribute to the Social Security fund.
Take the matching funds which are required from businesses and provide those funds to the public funding of the Social Security act. All income should be taxed under Social Security, and any income which is over the $250,000 maximum be placed also into the public monies.
There is too much temptation for politicians when all of the Social Security tax pours into the general fund. Unfortunately for Presidential hopeful Al Gore, there is no lock box, but maybe there aught to be. Instead of placing the monies into the general funds, any unused monies should be placed into Savings Bonds.
Thursday, February 14, 2008
Social Security for everyone: by everyone
"Most of the time, stuff doesn’t just happen to us—we make it happen by what we do and the way we are." Tony Jeary
Everyone knows that Social Security will run out of money, the only question is when. There are band aid approaches, for example increasing the age, from 65 to 67, which people can start collecting 100% of their Social Security. If the age of eligibility were to be the same as in 1935 when Social Security was enacted, the age for full eligibility would be 78 years old.
With the number of workers per person collecting Social Security decreasing these measures do not even qualify as stop gap actions. Basically this means that unless you want to increase the age for collecting Social Security checks dramatically you need to find more people who contribute to the program. So where do you find the additional people?
Remove the limit on income to which the Social Security tax applies, which would mean ending the $102,000 limit. Those who make more money than the $102,000 limit actually get a 6.2% raise in the pay periods following their reaching the limit. Does it make sense that people who make twenty million ($20,000,000) or more a year to contribute for only 2 days or less for the economic welfare of the country?
Social Security is designed for the economic welfare of those who retire, so why is it that everyone, even those who have enormously high incomes are not required to contribute to the fund?
Everyone knows that Social Security will run out of money, the only question is when. There are band aid approaches, for example increasing the age, from 65 to 67, which people can start collecting 100% of their Social Security. If the age of eligibility were to be the same as in 1935 when Social Security was enacted, the age for full eligibility would be 78 years old.
With the number of workers per person collecting Social Security decreasing these measures do not even qualify as stop gap actions. Basically this means that unless you want to increase the age for collecting Social Security checks dramatically you need to find more people who contribute to the program. So where do you find the additional people?
Remove the limit on income to which the Social Security tax applies, which would mean ending the $102,000 limit. Those who make more money than the $102,000 limit actually get a 6.2% raise in the pay periods following their reaching the limit. Does it make sense that people who make twenty million ($20,000,000) or more a year to contribute for only 2 days or less for the economic welfare of the country?
Social Security is designed for the economic welfare of those who retire, so why is it that everyone, even those who have enormously high incomes are not required to contribute to the fund?
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
Social Security in need of repair
"And in the end, it's not the years in your life that count. It's the life in your years." Abraham Lincoln
Depending on the type of discussion you want to start you can either talk about saving Social Security or reforming Social Security. I have tried talking to my father and father-in-law about what is happening with this entitlement and always have to make a hasty retreat.
But before you can talk about either saving or reforming Social Securityyou need to understand the history of this government program. What you have is a program started by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1935 to provide retires, and the disabled. Sounds great, at a time when this country was caught up in a worldwide depression. With 25% of the work force out of work at its height there needed to be hope.
In 1935 you could collect your retirement payments from Social Security at age 65, but the life expectancy was approximately 62 years old. In 1950, I could not find the numbers for the 30’s, there were 16 workers supporting each person on Social Security. Today there are 3.3 people working to support each person collecting Social Security.
Call to Action
First, read up no the history of Social Security.
Second, determine what needs to be changed in Social Security to maintain the program in the future.
Third, look at your own retirement plans and conclude what effects there will be on your ability to retire if there is no Social Security.
Depending on the type of discussion you want to start you can either talk about saving Social Security or reforming Social Security. I have tried talking to my father and father-in-law about what is happening with this entitlement and always have to make a hasty retreat.
But before you can talk about either saving or reforming Social Securityyou need to understand the history of this government program. What you have is a program started by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1935 to provide retires, and the disabled. Sounds great, at a time when this country was caught up in a worldwide depression. With 25% of the work force out of work at its height there needed to be hope.
In 1935 you could collect your retirement payments from Social Security at age 65, but the life expectancy was approximately 62 years old. In 1950, I could not find the numbers for the 30’s, there were 16 workers supporting each person on Social Security. Today there are 3.3 people working to support each person collecting Social Security.
Call to Action
First, read up no the history of Social Security.
Second, determine what needs to be changed in Social Security to maintain the program in the future.
Third, look at your own retirement plans and conclude what effects there will be on your ability to retire if there is no Social Security.
Thursday, February 7, 2008
Reformation & Your Boss
"Always sit as far up front as you can." Denis Waitley
Make your boss look good? How do you get that from having a positive attitude? You ever try and make something or someone look good by being negative?
A positive attitude will help you at work and in life as people like to be around someone who has a positive attitude, who smiles and is not always grumbling.
Call to Action
First, identify your manager’s career objective. Once you have done that, help him/her reach her goal.
Second, make your boss look good.
Make your boss look good? How do you get that from having a positive attitude? You ever try and make something or someone look good by being negative?
A positive attitude will help you at work and in life as people like to be around someone who has a positive attitude, who smiles and is not always grumbling.
Call to Action
First, identify your manager’s career objective. Once you have done that, help him/her reach her goal.
Second, make your boss look good.
Tuesday, February 5, 2008
Reformation & A Positive Attitude
What would your world be like if you take a positive attitude to everything in your life? Change your frame of reference to life’s difficulties to challenges, formally called problems, as ways to make our lives interesting and us better.
"Instead of spending your time thinking about how bad things are, think about how good they will be!" Chris Widener
Surround yourself with people who look at life as a challenge to overcome and are willing to take you with them. Friends like that are rare, but those people are out there just waiting to be discovered and allow you to help them. Some of those fiends should be books, audios, articles, etc. Remember that you are there as part of the team, the good people will pick you up when you need it and you are there to help them.
Look for that ‘good’ boss that will work with you to fulfill your goals and career development in the way you want to go. Of course that means that you need to remember that you are there to make money for the company, never forget that. It does not matter if you are working for a major international company or the corner mom & pop store. Make your boss look good , not at the expense of your dignity or your health, but because a good boss will return the favor.
I once had a boss I like to call the “Golden Child”, because everything she touched turned to success. Not only did she receive a number of promotions in a short stretch of time, but she took me with her and I received two promotions, in three years after being stuck in the same place for more than three years. I did not change, which to some people was a big problem. What the Golden Child did when she became my boss was to use the positive aspects of my character to accomplish the task at hand. You can do the same with not only the people below you but also with those above you.
Call to Action
First, identify the main purpose of the company you work for. This is sometimes not easy as there may be conflicting messages between the mission statement and the day to day operations.
Second, identify those people that believe in the company’s mission statement. Associate with those people who believe in the company and work towards fulfilling that goal.
Third, make your boss look good.
"Instead of spending your time thinking about how bad things are, think about how good they will be!" Chris Widener
Surround yourself with people who look at life as a challenge to overcome and are willing to take you with them. Friends like that are rare, but those people are out there just waiting to be discovered and allow you to help them. Some of those fiends should be books, audios, articles, etc. Remember that you are there as part of the team, the good people will pick you up when you need it and you are there to help them.
Look for that ‘good’ boss that will work with you to fulfill your goals and career development in the way you want to go. Of course that means that you need to remember that you are there to make money for the company, never forget that. It does not matter if you are working for a major international company or the corner mom & pop store. Make your boss look good , not at the expense of your dignity or your health, but because a good boss will return the favor.
I once had a boss I like to call the “Golden Child”, because everything she touched turned to success. Not only did she receive a number of promotions in a short stretch of time, but she took me with her and I received two promotions, in three years after being stuck in the same place for more than three years. I did not change, which to some people was a big problem. What the Golden Child did when she became my boss was to use the positive aspects of my character to accomplish the task at hand. You can do the same with not only the people below you but also with those above you.
Call to Action
First, identify the main purpose of the company you work for. This is sometimes not easy as there may be conflicting messages between the mission statement and the day to day operations.
Second, identify those people that believe in the company’s mission statement. Associate with those people who believe in the company and work towards fulfilling that goal.
Third, make your boss look good.
Monday, February 4, 2008
Reformation & Mind Mapping
"Learning how to learn is life's most important skill." Tony Buzan
Mind mapping, developed by Tony Buzan was something I came across in one of the courses provided by the company I work for. It was a hard concept at the beginning to grasp, but once I understood the principles and started using the principles process I found it exciting. It is a way to open up the mind while focusing on a single or multiple tasks/projects.
Not only is it a great method for thinking about an idea, but it can be used for team approaches to a project. I have also used mind mapping during other courses I have taken to dig deeper into concepts and ideas presented. I have also used this mind mapping to review books which I have read for fun or profit.
I also was able to take some of the ideas from the mind mapping (free software) course and apply them to other areas of life. One of those ideas was the use of color. Using different colors for different projects helps me to keep track of 4 – 8 projects at a time. Some people laughed at some of my color choices, but I have noticed over the years that people have adapted my use of color for their own projects. The hard part is find pens, paper, steno pads, etc in the color chosen.
Try mind mapping, take a course or read a book on the subject. You can go to YouTube and watch videos discussing this principle. One of the YouTube presentations that I find interesting is presented by Stephen Pierce who has written a number of books.
Mind mapping, developed by Tony Buzan was something I came across in one of the courses provided by the company I work for. It was a hard concept at the beginning to grasp, but once I understood the principles and started using the principles process I found it exciting. It is a way to open up the mind while focusing on a single or multiple tasks/projects.
Not only is it a great method for thinking about an idea, but it can be used for team approaches to a project. I have also used mind mapping during other courses I have taken to dig deeper into concepts and ideas presented. I have also used this mind mapping to review books which I have read for fun or profit.
I also was able to take some of the ideas from the mind mapping (free software) course and apply them to other areas of life. One of those ideas was the use of color. Using different colors for different projects helps me to keep track of 4 – 8 projects at a time. Some people laughed at some of my color choices, but I have noticed over the years that people have adapted my use of color for their own projects. The hard part is find pens, paper, steno pads, etc in the color chosen.
Try mind mapping, take a course or read a book on the subject. You can go to YouTube and watch videos discussing this principle. One of the YouTube presentations that I find interesting is presented by Stephen Pierce who has written a number of books.
Friday, February 1, 2008
Reformation & Reading, again
"Take action every day - some small dose at a time." Jeffrey Gitomer
Are you looking for a small dose? Try Daileylit to have books delivered to you’re your email on the schedule you choose. You determine how long it will take you to complete the book and read at your schedule. Some of these books are free and others have a charge to them.
Are you looking for courses that you can take at your own pace checkout About.com to find courses/newsletters on a variety of subjects delivered to your email.
Are you looking for a small dose? Try Daileylit to have books delivered to you’re your email on the schedule you choose. You determine how long it will take you to complete the book and read at your schedule. Some of these books are free and others have a charge to them.
Are you looking for courses that you can take at your own pace checkout About.com to find courses/newsletters on a variety of subjects delivered to your email.
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