WHERE DOES THE TIME GO?

"The only difference between a rich person and a poor person is how they use their time."


I must admit I'm not sure where my time has gone. I started this blog for December and then got caught up in 'life'. This morning I got anxious at the thought of the month drawing to an end without having finished it. Then I realized that the year was drawing to a close as well.


In a week we will focus on making goal posters for 2010. We will look back at the posters we created for 2009 to see how much progress we made in achieving those goals. I wonder how we will feel about that progress.


Where did your year go? Did you spend your time or invest it? Did you reach your goals or will they carry over to 2010? If they carry over, what will you commit to do differently to make sure they become reality? Goals are all about change.


When setting your goals for 2010, ask yourself, "What changes am I willing to go through to make this goal a reality?" You can say you want to learn a new skill, but if you never take the first step and follow through, they are just hollow words. Goals aren't meant to impress others; they should be a commitment you make to yourself - one that you work hard to keep.


Take yourself and your goals seriously. Plan your time every day around achieving your goals. Here are a couple of quotes to keep it in perspective.

The ultimate reason for setting goals is to entice you to

become the person it takes to achieve them.

The size of your success is measured by the strength of your desire; the size of your dream; and how you handle disappointment along the way.

Good luck with your goals for 2010.


Have I told you how much I appreciate you? I do!

POSITIVELY THANKFUL

I consider myself to be a positive person. I generally take the view that the glass is not only half full, but a waiter will be around soon and top it off before I get to the one-quarter mark.

It was almost two years ago that I got the news that I had breast cancer. The call came from my doctor the day before Thanksgiving. My response to him was, "God says to give thanks in all things, so thank you." I was sure that God would bring good out of the situation, even though I couldn't see the end yet. I'm happy to report that He didn't disappoint. Unfortunately, that positive attitude seems to slip in the smaller matters of life.

On a recent trip to Ephesus, our group visited the house where John took Mary and she lived out the rest of her life. It was a peaceful place that touched everyone in the group. There was a fountain area in the gardens where you could get 'holy water'. Beside it was a wall where prayers were written on bits of cloth or paper and tied to the wall. I felt moved to write prayers for family and friends so I opened my travel bag to look for my pen.

My bag had an section with a pen loop and I had placed one in it when I packed. When I opened my bag and didn't see the pen where I expected to find it, I told my friend that I must have lost it. She looked down, stuck her hand in another area of the bag and said, "Here it is". Thankful, I took the pen and started writing my prayers. As I did, others in the group asked to use it to write their own prayers.

I sat in the peace and quiet of the garden while person after person poured their hearts onto pieces of tissue, scraps of paper and torn travel guides. As I sat waiting for my pen to be returned, God laid it on my heart that He had used my pen to bless others and that I had almost missed the opportunity to participate in the blessing because my pen was not where I expected it to be.

I knew I put the pen in my bag. Why then, if I am a positive person, didn't I have faith in what I knew rather than what I could see? How many times have we missed God's blessing because He didn't show up like we expected Him to, because He wasn't where we thought He should be, or because we choose to see with our eyes and stop depending on what we know in our hearts?

God is crazy about us! He rejoices over us! He cares about our physical and spiritual well being. Why then, when things get tough, do we fail to see Him in the midst of our struggles? Why do we not view our challenges as His intimate confidence in our ability to learn and grow through the experience with Him?

In this season of Thanksgiving, dig deep and look at the things that aren't going like you hoped; the things that are not what you expected or where you expected them to be and truly lift them up and thank God for them. It is through these things that He shows us the best of Himself. It is through these that He perfects our faith. It is through these that He will walk with us and take us to the blessings He has in store. There is sunshine on the other side of your dark clouds.

Have I told you how much I appreciate you? I do!

FRESH BREWED FAITH

(This month's blog is borrowed from Gwen Smith. I have added my own comments, but the bulk of this work is hers).

Every morning I walk straight to the coffeepot and push the ON button. I'm a total coffee girl. I like it piping hot, extra dark roast with half and half, and I struggle to function without my first cup of coffee. I crave the first sip and relish the warmth of the mug in my hand. I jokingly call it "my warm, happy friend." My mornings just wouldn't be the same without coffee.

We should have the same attitude about our faith and our jobs. We should wake up each morning bursting at the seams to be with God. To be in His presence. To listen for His still small voice. To savor Him. To ask for His guidance during our work day. A faith that is brewed fresh daily, strengthens us, renews us and enables us to mount up with wings like eagles. To experience the power of God in our work lives. To run and not grow weary. To walk and not faint.

Like a morning with no coffee, there are times when we are sluggish in our faith and our attitude toward our jobs. There are times when we need a shot of God-caffeine in our day. A spiritual espresso. What can we do at these times?

One practical way to build your faith is by remembrance. When David was just a shepherd boy, he had courage to face a giant partly because he remembered the previous victories the Lord allowed him to experience. His past victories fueled his faith. Ours do the same. We can face our giants (heavy work loads, busy calendars, grumpy co-workers, declining profits, difficult clients) with equal confidence when we pause to remember how God has worked in our past.

What has God brought you through in the past? Think on these things and choose to trust him to bring you though all you will face today and tomorrow. God has equipped you with your talents and has placed you where you are for a purpose. When you trust God with a fresh brewed faith He will be your Strength and Sustainer. Fill up your faith cup every morning by getting alone with God. This energizing, percolated faith is available to all who ask, seek and knock (Matthew 7:7-8)

Have I told you I appreciate you? I do!

THE CRISIS OF CHANGE

Unfortunately, it takes a crisis before most of us change. Sometimes we have to see what we don't want, to know what we do want. I experienced this during my battle with cancer; I didn't want to be a victim, I wanted to be a survivor. Many companies are experiencing this same crisis as they battle the current economic downturn.

So, how do we become survivors? The first step is to take control and responsibility for your own life and your own attitude. You create your life, one thought, one belief, one action, one choice at a time. You must also choose your vision of where you want to go. Every journey begins with a desire to go somewhere and do something and if you have a desire then you also have the power to make it happen.

Life is all about energy. Think about the people who increase your energy and those who drain you. Think about foods you eat that make you feel good and those that make you tired. Think about projects at work that energize you and those that burn you out. Everything is energy. It is found in our thoughts, the words we say, the music we listen to and the people we surround ourselves with.

You have probably experienced thinking about a friend and then suddenly they call. You may work with a colleague and each of you knew what the other was going to say next. Our thoughts are powerful because they are loaded with energy. When you identify what you desire and write down your vision, you begin the process of mobilizing the energy to create the life you want.

Complete these questions:

1. My vision for my life (including my health) is


2. My vision for my work, career, job and team is


3. My vision for my relationship and family is

Scripture says that "Where there is no vision, the people perish" (Proverbs 29:18). This truth applies to every aspect of our lives, our families and our companies. We must have a vision, then we must take responsibility for our actions and attitudes to achieve that vision.

Every crisis offers an opportunity to grow stronger and wiser; to reach deep within and discover a better you that will create a better outcome. So while we may be experiencing crisis, what matters most is what you do with it.

And that is another lesson.

Have I told you how much I appreciate you? I do!

ROCK YOUR WORKPLACE

Most people spend their entire lives in unquestioned routines, never hearing the calling of how great they could be if only they refocused on making a profound difference through their work.

The economic down-turn has impacted our clients and, in turn, our bottom-line. Our company has had to make cuts that were difficult but necessary for us to survive and thrive. As difficult as it was for the leadership of the company to make those decisions, the hard work - the change that will make the greatest impact - is still ahead of us. Where will leadership take us now?

First we need to understand that leadership is not a position - it is a way of being. It is about being determined to make big things happen regardless of your position. People who 'step up to the plate,' who see an opportunity to make an impact and seize it are infinitely promotable and endlessly valuable. Each one of us should strive to be that kind of employee and leader.

I have always believed that the tough economy would make us all better. Pressure is what turns coal into diamonds and trials are how God shows us the best of Himself. Our attitude toward all the changes we face should be one of expectant hope. God is in control of those who are leaving us and of those who remain. He has preordained this very hour. Our response should be to show up, do our best and expect great things.

Great change doesn't happen overnight, but all change starts now and starts with you. Here are some things to try:

• List three things that, if you were in charge, you would change.


• Set about doing all you can to change those things - enrolling others to your ideas, getting necessary approvals, lining up a budget, or coaching others around you to "get it." And watch the magic happen.
  

Many of the comments above come from the book, "Thank God It's Monday" by Roxanne Emmerich. In the coming weeks, I want to guide us into applying the concepts from this book to help us create success for ourselves and our workplace.

Have I told you how much I appreciate you? I do!

A TRIED AND TRUE ECONOMY

Whenever we experience difficulties, we look to our history to study trends and solutions that helped turn around a previous situation. The future is always unsure; however, the past is tried and true. The past is our compass to navigate through the future.

Business development is a struggle right now. It may be a bigger struggle today than in the past, but it isn't a new challenge. To crack the code on successful new business development, look at what has worked before.

In our own model, we have direct clients or we partner with an agency that does not have an internal media department. Our biggest past wins have been through our partner relationships. History shows us that this should be our focus for short-term business growth.

History also shows that faith at work in the workplace is one of the best new business development tools available. The belief that God equips us, places us where He wants us to serve and provides the opportunities to expand our influence can carry a company to great heights. The emphasis is on belief.

Do we believe that God is bigger than the current economy? Do we believe that God can help a situation where expenses exceed income? Look at history. When Jesus feed 5,000 people with five loaves and two fish and had twelve baskets left over, the balance sheet didn't add up. When the wine ran out at the wedding in Cana, Jesus turned water into about 120 gallons of the finest wine. Elisha took the little bit of oil the widow had left and filled all the jars she borrowed from neighbors. Biblical history is full of these accounts and we can trust them to get us through anything we face today.

Believing is the first step, taking action is the next step. In every instance the people involved had to put forth effort or sacrifice to see the rewards. The young boy in the crowd sacrificed his lunch so Jesus could use it. The widow had to trust Elisha with her last bit of oil when she was facing bankruptcy. You see, the basis for the miracle was their own resources! God will multiply what we surrender to him—multiply it beyond our dreams.

How do we apply these lessons from history?

• First, don't let current challenges take your focus away from the fact that God is in control - in our companies, in our economy, in our lives.
• Second, remember that God gifted you to do what you do and placed you where you are for a purpose - His purpose. Work every day to please Him.
• Third, make the sacrifices necessary to work harder and smarter and become a part of the solution. When you are part of the solution, you are also part of the blessing.

The past is our compass to navigate through the future - even a history 2,000 years old.

Have I told you how much I appreciate you? I do!

It's Monday morning and as I arrive at work, there he is, a big black cloud of negativity between me and my destination. How could I get passed him and not allow him to suck out the joy I have worked so hard to muster this morning? "Good morning, Joe. How was your weekend?" Joe replies, "Not long enough, filled with too much yard work and I have a pile of projects on my desk that I don't know if I'll get done in time."

Everything Joe shared is true, so why is it so draining to hear? The problem is his focus.

Monday Morning Take Two -

"Good morning, Joe. How was your weekend?" Joe replies, "It went by fast because I worked in the yard all weekend. I accomplished so much, though. It really looks great! I feel so lucky to have a nice home and yard - even luckier to have a job. Looks like I'll be pretty busy this week. I could use some help if you've got time to spare."

The situation didn't change, however, the conversation is upbeat and I'm not drained. I walk away feeling good even though this time I've been asked to provide some assistance.

So what really robs us of joy; the work before us or the focus and attitude we have toward it?

We should think of our attitude in the same terms as our physical health. We hesitate to come to work with a cold or the flu but think nothing of bringing in the deadly virus of a negative attitude. It is more contagious than any infection we will ever encounter because we really don't have to get that close to catch it or spread it. The good news is, a positive attitude is just as contagious and all it takes is a change of focus.

If you focus on what is going well in your life, work, relationships - you fill your mind with the positive and it drives your outlook. If you compliment the positive attitude of a coworker (spouse, family member), you encourage more of that same attitude in them.

Attitude without action loses its power. I often say, "Catch someone (and yourself) doing something right." Be quick and public with praise and slow and private with criticism. This action will create a petri dish that breeds germs of positive attitude that will spread like swine flu in the media.

Proverbs 18:21 says, "The tongue has the power of life and death." Speak words that give life and watch it change your world!

Have I told you how much I appreciate you? I do!

Getting A Read On Clients

Knowing how a client feels about the service they receive is critical to maintaining that relationship. There have been cases where the account executive has asked a client how satisfied they were with how the account was being handled and received good feedback only to have the client pull the account later without warning.

The account executive may have made a common mistake. While they started off doing the right thing by soliciting feedback, they had fallen down in the way they had asked.

There are two keys to getting feedback from clients. First, you need to ask for feedback on the right dimensions. And second, you have to ask in a way that really tells you how they feel.

What you ask about

There is certainly some value in asking clients how they feel about the recent sales performance of their product or service, or the effectiveness of a recent campaign - this is obviously an important issue. By asking how they feel about the effectiveness of a recent campaign, you’re able to bring issues to the surface you were unaware of and you might be able to provide additional context and perspective.

Ultimately, however, sales performance is beyond your control - far better to then move on and also ask about something that you can actually influence, such as the advice/strategy you are providing today or the communication clients have received.

How you ask

The next step is asking in a way that gives you an accurate reading. The problem is that most people are polite, don’t want to hurt your feelings and want to avoid conflict. Asking clients if you have done a good job of communicating over the past will often get you a “sure”, a response that’s not all that helpful in getting a sense of where you really stand and may in fact mask real unhappiness.

Similarly, asking clients after a meeting how they feel about revised marketing strategies will often get you a “fine”, again not terribly edifying. Consider instead asking clients to give you a report card from 1 to 10. At the conclusion of a meeting (or if that’s not possible, a phone call), one way to do this is to say: “I wonder if I could take a minute to get some feedback on the communication you have received from me over the past few weeks. How would you rate the contact you have received from me on a scale from 1 to 10, where 1 is low and 10 is high?”

Or after you have met to revise a client’s advertising plan, say “Now that we have made these changes, how comfortable do you feel with your new strategy on a scale from 1 to 10, with 1 being low and 10 being high.”

Few clients will give you a score that they see as a failing grade, but some who feel a little uncertain might give you a 5, 6 or 7, thinking that is an acceptable score that won’t hurt your feelings. In reality, if the response is 7 or below, clients are telling you they’re not all that happy. You need to follow up with them by learning more. So you could say “Tell me, what aspects of your plan still leave you uncomfortable?” or ” What kind of changes would you like to see to the communication you get from me over the next few weeks?”

If, on the other hand, you get an 8, 9 or 10, then you can move on with the confidence that you are in fairly good shape with this client.

Even if you get a great score, consider one final question that can yield eye-opening results.

That question: “What one thing could I do in the period ahead to improve your experience working with me and my team?” Having asked that question, sit back and allow the client to fill the silence that follows - you might be surprised by what you hear.

One final note. Not every client is consistent and rational. Just because someone has given you a grade of 8 or 9 does not mean a friend won’t tell them about an agency whose approach moved the sales needle and then they switch agencies.
Those kinds of events are beyond our control. What we need to focus on are the things we can influence - such as asking clients for feedback on the right dimensions and in a way that gets them to tell us how they really feel.

For those of you who are not in account service, remember that everyone is your client and use this approach with your co-workers and managers to know where you stand with them.

Have I told you how much I appreciate you? I do!

An Unexpected Surprise

Have you ever tried to pull some aluminum foil out of the box and the entire roll just jumps right out of the box as you pull? Then you have to put the roll back in the box and start over. The stubborn roll always comes out at the wrong time!

Well, whoever looks at the end of your aluminum foil box? I sure never did until someone shared an unexpected surprise with me. Recently a friend revealed this to me...

Yesterday I went to throw out an empty Reynolds foil box and for some reason I turned it and looked at the end of the box. And written on the end it said, "Press here to lock end." Right there on the end of the box is a tab to lock the roll in place. How long has this little locking tab been there? I then looked at a generic brand of aluminum foil and it had one, too. I then looked at a box of Saran wrap and it had one too! I can't count the number of times the Saran wrap roll has jumped out when I was trying to cover something up.I hope I'm not the only person that didn't know about this.

My friend surely was not the only one who was surprised by the commonly overlooked, yet highly ingenious feature.

When I read this email from my friend, I ran to my kitchen to validate this with my own eyes. After I noticed that every aluminum foil box had this handy feature, it made me think. How often in life is there a wonderful feature right before our eyes, and what does it take for us to notice?

· Do you ever look at a friend but not see him?
· Do you ever listen to team member but not hear her?
· Do you ever think about how much you appreciate your spouse, but not express it?

The key is to look past the role (employee, boss, spouse, vendor) to see the person. Taking this view will likely reveal lots of "hidden features" – skills, wisdom, ideas, perspectives –that we might otherwise overlook. Like the hole in the side of the foil box, seeing all the features people bring to our relationships can make our lives a lot easier... you might be surprised!

The story above came from Lee Colon. It fit so well with what I wanted to share with you next, that I decided to make it my next installment. My challenge to you is to take this 'revelation' and apply it to your work and your co-workers. Are there wonderful assets that you have overlooked because you are too busy focusing on what goes wrong or someones perceived shortcomings?

Catch someone doing something right in the next few weeks. Make an effort to see, hear and express appreciation for those assets. You will not only bless that person, you will recieve a blessing yourself and you might find that your job feels a little less like work.

Have I told you I appreciate you? I do!

Taking the first step

I remember watching McKenna take her first steps. Holding on to a table or chair and then, with encouragement from everyone around her, she stepped out on her own. The commitment was made and there was no turning back. After two steps, she fell mid-stride into the third step. It wasn't perfect, but it was good enough. Each fall led to stronger legs, greater confidence, and shouts of encouragement from everyone who witnessed her attempts.

In the same spirit, I am launching out with my first blog. My friend, Jean Ann, encouraged me to take what I like doing best - inspiring, motivating and educating - and turn it into a blog for the people I am most passionate about - the staff at Ward.

So here's the first step. I may fall mid-stride, but I am counting on you to encourage me. Your feedback will help me put one foot in front of the other and we can go down this path of growth together.

Your part of the journey is to:

• Interact - Share topics you find value in that can be used to inspire, motivate and educate.
• React - Give feedback so that each post will be more confident and sure-footed.
• Act - Put into action anything that you find worthwhile so that your own walk is stronger and takes you to a better place.
  
  Have I told you how much I appreciate you? I do.