IMPORTANCE OF A DAY OFF
After spending three weeks in Europe over the holidays, I came home and started pouring it on for my career. Since I enjoy it so much, I worked every day of the week, including Saturday and Sunday. My mind was clear and there seems to be so many ideas that needed to be implemented now.
The ideas flowed faster than I could put them into place. My bulletin board started to become covered with sticky notes with ideas. While out and about, my little notebook was the recipient of still more ideas.
Since Twitter was now part of my regular routine, that needed attention. Oh yes, then there was Facebook and LinkedIn. It is amazing what you learn when you click on the links people are providing, particularly on Twitter. With LinkedIn I keep up with my professional colleagues with whom I have something in common and Facebook, while much more casual, one still learns a great deal what is happening in our world.
By the end of the day, I had little energy and I was exercising. Clearly I was burning myself out and it was time for a break. Time to take day off without phones and emails.
Yesterday, I lounged in bed until I was ready to get up. Looked out and it was very foggy. Longing to see sun, I trusted that the weatherman was right and it would burn off. Picked up the house, got myself dressed in slacks and sweater I enjoyed and went out to the car. There was no plan.
While crossing the Columbia River the fog grew thicker. Finally decided to turn west and took “the road less traveled”. As the elevation increased, the fog lessened and there was sun. I drove around stopping and sometimes window-shopping wherever I wanted. There were no real great new discoveries during the course of the day. Roamed through a Powell’s Bookstore that I had not seen in Beaverton area.
Drove back into Vancouver, Washington and the fog was still thick – apparently, the sun never surfaced during the day. Came home and put in a pizza in the oven, sat back and watched a good movie. Went to bed early.
This morning the world looks so much brighter (even though we still have fog). Ideas are flowing again – yet, this time I have more energy to implement them.
BUSINESS COMMUNICATION TIP:
Do you have white boards that are stained in your office?
Turns out plain old rubbing alcohol will clean them up quickly.
Don’t forget to sign up for my “Weekly Wisdom” on my website. http://www.kathycondon.info
Friday, January 30, 2009
Sunday, January 25, 2009
POSTCARDS ARE STILL APPRECIATED
Before I left on my trip to Europe to visit my daughter, I read an article in “The Oregonian” by Shawn Donley. The title was “Upstage email, send a postcard”. He said, “A postcard, especially one that didn’t have to be shared was a big deal and made us each feel special”.
The article struck a chord with me. My daughter has always been good at sending me a postcard when she is on her journeys. This article reminded me how much a postcard from her brought a smile to my face when I opened my mailbox. I would read her note, and then look at the picture for I knew she had a reason for sending that particular card to me.
On a recent trip to Portugal, I decided to send some special people a postcard. First, there was the purchase of the “right” card to reflect an accurate picture of my journey. Then there was the matter of finding the correct postage. Often the store where you buy the postcard has postage in the drawer. You have to ask if they have postage available for it is never advertised.
Okay now you have the card with the stamp. Now where do you mail it? Not as easy as one might think. Each country has a different color for its mailboxes and they are not in what we would consider logical locations. In Portugal, I was told go by the butcher shop on the corner, turn right and the mailbox is there on the side of the building.
I was home for week and I got an email thanking me for the postcard. When I stopped in to deliver a special gift to a friend, she said with a smile “Thank you for the postcard”. No question the sending of postcards is becoming rare since you can email people from any place in the world. Yet, this little experiment proved to me Shawn was right….postcards do make one feel special.
BUSINESS COMMUNICATION TIP:
When you are writing on your blog, write it in Word first. Then cut and paste it into your blog format. You will be very glad you did if you have ever experienced writing something for twenty minutes then losing it at the last minute.
Before I left on my trip to Europe to visit my daughter, I read an article in “The Oregonian” by Shawn Donley. The title was “Upstage email, send a postcard”. He said, “A postcard, especially one that didn’t have to be shared was a big deal and made us each feel special”.
The article struck a chord with me. My daughter has always been good at sending me a postcard when she is on her journeys. This article reminded me how much a postcard from her brought a smile to my face when I opened my mailbox. I would read her note, and then look at the picture for I knew she had a reason for sending that particular card to me.
On a recent trip to Portugal, I decided to send some special people a postcard. First, there was the purchase of the “right” card to reflect an accurate picture of my journey. Then there was the matter of finding the correct postage. Often the store where you buy the postcard has postage in the drawer. You have to ask if they have postage available for it is never advertised.
Okay now you have the card with the stamp. Now where do you mail it? Not as easy as one might think. Each country has a different color for its mailboxes and they are not in what we would consider logical locations. In Portugal, I was told go by the butcher shop on the corner, turn right and the mailbox is there on the side of the building.
I was home for week and I got an email thanking me for the postcard. When I stopped in to deliver a special gift to a friend, she said with a smile “Thank you for the postcard”. No question the sending of postcards is becoming rare since you can email people from any place in the world. Yet, this little experiment proved to me Shawn was right….postcards do make one feel special.
BUSINESS COMMUNICATION TIP:
When you are writing on your blog, write it in Word first. Then cut and paste it into your blog format. You will be very glad you did if you have ever experienced writing something for twenty minutes then losing it at the last minute.
Saturday, January 24, 2009
IT DOESN’T HURT TO ASK
Do you ask for help when you need it?
Just got done reading about a blogger who was frustrated with Twitter’s lack of response when he had an issue---a glitch prevented him from writing tweets to his followers. It wasn’t until he asked a man who was well- known in the Twitter Circle to help him that his issue got resolved.
There is nothing better than being able to help a person. We go about our days handling our own business and do not have a clue someone might need help. There are mind readers, yet, most of us do not happen to have such a talent.
This week I had the opportunity to have a couple of one-on-one coffee dates. My goal was to connect. As we talked, ideas started flowing and opportunities surfaced on both sides for cooperation and growth. I walked away from these meetings smiling for my energy was high and was pleased to take away new learnings.
Back in my office, I wrote down some of the “good ideas”. I sent off a note to one of people I had met with this week. I asked for help in clarifying something I was considering putting into a new seminar. Soon there was a reply and the sentence, “Kathy, thanks for asking me to help”.
Instead of thinking you are infringing on people by asking for help, think of it as a way of honoring another person. You are honoring them by seeking their advice, counsel, or physical help. My bet is that will be more than happy to help you out……just ask.
BUSINESS COMMUNICATION TIP:
Working on your taxes? Here is a link that will help you determine the value of goods you have donated. http://turbotax.intuit.com/personal-taxes/itsdeductible/index.jsp
Do you ask for help when you need it?
Just got done reading about a blogger who was frustrated with Twitter’s lack of response when he had an issue---a glitch prevented him from writing tweets to his followers. It wasn’t until he asked a man who was well- known in the Twitter Circle to help him that his issue got resolved.
There is nothing better than being able to help a person. We go about our days handling our own business and do not have a clue someone might need help. There are mind readers, yet, most of us do not happen to have such a talent.
This week I had the opportunity to have a couple of one-on-one coffee dates. My goal was to connect. As we talked, ideas started flowing and opportunities surfaced on both sides for cooperation and growth. I walked away from these meetings smiling for my energy was high and was pleased to take away new learnings.
Back in my office, I wrote down some of the “good ideas”. I sent off a note to one of people I had met with this week. I asked for help in clarifying something I was considering putting into a new seminar. Soon there was a reply and the sentence, “Kathy, thanks for asking me to help”.
Instead of thinking you are infringing on people by asking for help, think of it as a way of honoring another person. You are honoring them by seeking their advice, counsel, or physical help. My bet is that will be more than happy to help you out……just ask.
BUSINESS COMMUNICATION TIP:
Working on your taxes? Here is a link that will help you determine the value of goods you have donated. http://turbotax.intuit.com/personal-taxes/itsdeductible/index.jsp
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