A New Year Creates New Opportunities

First Reaction/ First Glance

This time of year always creates new goals and resolutions, like be more productive at work, exercise on a routine basis, start a new diet, clean out your closets, etc.

Of course all of these are important and for many their goals and resolutions come true, which creates a great sense of accomplishment and pride for staying true to their commitment.

The Learning Process

Then again for some of us these goals and resolutions fall by the wayside because we lose focus on what we want to accomplish or simply fall back into the same routine we go through day in and day out.

What if you change your thinking this New Year and reflect back on the past year on a bad experience, a relationship that didn't go well, or a project that failed at work.

Improving for the Future

Take a few moments to relive one of these painful events and jot down a few notes on what you would or could have done differently. Set a new goal or plan taking what you learned and make amends for your actions.

You might just be surprised at the many events this past year that were true learning experiences. I believe it's these experiences that build our characters and allow us to make this a promising and prosperous new year for ourselves, families, friends and co-workers.

I hope your New Year is filled with excitement.

DO SANTA'S ELVES SWEAT THE SMALL STUFF?

First Reaction/First Glance
Can you imagine what it must be like to be an elf in Santa’s workshop? Millions of orders coming in, standard inventory items backordered, and worst of all, the recession has forced Santa to cut back their hours, forcing them to work that much harder.


The Learning Process
As orders are filled, tempers soar, and words are spouted, which creates bad feelings and sometimes lingering heartaches.

Santa’s elves know how to handle these pressure-packed situations. They perform at high levels year in and year out. Yet they realize they are all passionate about bringing smiles to their customers’ faces throughout the world, which provides for a healthy culture.


Improvement for the Future
We all have been there – hard feelings, differences of opinion, damaged friendships, and strained relationships at work.

This time of year is no different for you than it is for Santa’s elves so when stress gets you down, conflict arises, put yourself in a forgiving mode and remember what Santa says:

HO! HO! HO! Tis the season not to sweat the small stuff!

Merry Christmas everyone.

Is Your Ladder Tall Enough?

First Reaction/First Glance
Have you ever climbed to the top of a ladder safely only to find you still weren’t high enough or simply didn’t have the right tool with you to fix your problem?

How does this relate to accomplishing your goals or achieving your dreams as you reach for new levels of expectations set by either yourself or your boss?


The Learning Process
How often do we start our ascent towards what we want to accomplish only to find the rungs of the ladder are either loose or even missing?

At this point, you can ask for help from someone who has experience, try to tighten the rungs on your own, or perhaps rush your plan and end up chivvying all the way to the bottom of the ladder only to start over again.

Just like many things in life, a well thought out plan can pay huge dividends and eliminate those wobbly moments or severe slip-ups in life.


Improvement for the Future
Many times in our lives we rush too fast and try too hard, even though our efforts have the best of intentions, only to fall short of our goal.

In fact, we become so overwhelmed that we forget about the talented people we work with who could help us accomplish what we have set out to do.

So the next time you get stuck half way up the ladder, stop and ponder all of the options and seek help from the people who are on your team.

You’ll be surprised at how tall your ladder of success will actually reach.