Monday, December 18, 2006

Kathy's Connection

EXECUTIVE COACH AND CAREER FACILITATOR GETS RID OF IRRITATIONS IN HER ENVIRONMENT

Actually, as I wrote that headline, I kind smiled. Yes, that means a few people in my life too. Though I originally was thinking about stuff that was irritating me.

For example, I bought a phone system with three handsets.
I forgot to program my Mom's number on one of them and it turned out that was the handset that I constantly was picking up. Not any more. Sat down in front of the TV news, got the manual out and now when I come back from vacation I will not have that irritation.

Where does one put all the receipts that accumulate in one's purse. Amazing how four hanging folders work to "drop" them in after I have circled the recipient, the date and the amount. Now matching to bank statement is easy.

Laundry room. Who would've ever thought making it routine to clean the laundry room each week too. No longer are clothes "waiting" to be ironed pile up....it has become a "must" to iron anything in there each week.

New daytimer--yes, I still use one. It is so much easier and I do not have to keep anyone waiting while I check my PDA and the notified works great for capture my latest great idea.

At any rate, I have transferred names/numbers that I use all the time. Even if they are programmed in my cellphone it gives me quick reference when I want to pass on the names/numbers for networking purpose.

Magazines that never got read this year have found their way to my condo recyling room. We are getting better and better at sharing magazines here, which results, of course, in less paper going into our environment.

BUSINESS COMMUNICATION TIP:

Make sure you make some appointments for the week you get back from vacation. Nothing worse -- a blank calendar when you are back. You want to start your year off with a positive mode....not the "Wish I would've thought to set up some appointment" mode.

MAKE SURE YOU TELL YOUR FRIENDS ABOUT WEEKLY WISDOM -- When you forward them, tell them they too can get it every week on my website. I am pleased to say in January it will be the beginning of my third year sending Weekly Wisdom.

Friday, December 08, 2006

Kathy's Connection

EXECUTIVE COACH AND CAREER FACILITATOR IS A ROAD WARRIOR THE WEEK OF DECEMBER 4, 2006

Let's see, have to pack for all-day meeting in Sacramento, then flying to Los Angeles for a day of play and then a day of training in LA and then back to Sacramento for four days. All I know is that I am suppose to encounter sun after Vancouver, Washington breaking a 64 yr. old record -- we got 13 inches of rain in November.....Even we Washingtonians are not use to this much rain.

It is so interesting if you take a break from being a road warrior for a while, you truly do get out of practice. I just returned. I had forgotten to pack my favorite pillow---Figured out long ago the "High" pillows in hotel just worked to help prevent me from adjusting to a new place. Thus, the change in hotels two nights was even more disconcerting......Though the upside, if you don't sleep one night, the next night you are so tired you do sleep.

You go to reach for your favorite lotion and realize you "forgot" to put in at the last minute....the list goes on! Also, forgot looking walking shoes...they walk much in California.

BUSINESS COMMUNICATION TIP:

Make yourself a checklist. Even the most organized person can be put into a tailspin at the last minutes if an unexpected phone calls or your ride shows up early.

Monday, December 04, 2006

Kathy's Connection

EXECUTIVE COACH AND CAREER FACILITATOR CONTINUES ORGANIZATIONAL PLAN

For a while it looked like I wasn't going to accomplish my goal of having EVERY room and drawer gone through my house by the end of the year. Since I work from home that also included my office!!!!

Okay, I used the excuse that I am creative and that is how creative people have their office ---LOTS of papers with ideas that "might" work etc. Well it wasn't working for me. I was to the point that I couldn't find things when I needed them. Since I have the belief I never lose anything, I knew it would show up, yet it didn't help when I needed it immediately.

Then I made a decision about the direction that I wanted to go in 2007 -- More speaking, training and writing. Since I decided on the umbrella "Communications in the Workplace" that narrowed the subjects I needed to keep information on in my files.

Many wastepaper baskets later taken to the recyling bin have resulted in an office that truly is a pleasure to walk into it.

BUSINESS COMMUNICATION TIP:

Even if you do not get a position you apply for,
write a note and thank the Hiring Manager for giving
you the opportunity to be interviewed. Not only is it a
terrific thing to do, you never know the person officially
hired might not work out......you won't be forgotten.