Are you sweet as honey? Or a mean one?

I was watching “How the Grinch stole Christmas” last week with my kids and it reminded me that people don’t always choose to be mean. Sometimes we fall into a pattern unexpectedly because of the way we are treated by others. He really gave it a go, even against his own desires and he was still mistreated until the end. If not for the love of a child, he would still be up in the cave trying to ruin Christmas.

Do you know someone like this? Someone who preys on others for their own benefit? Let’s just call them the Mayor of Whoville. Unfortunately, some people don’t feel they can succeed unless they bring someone else down. It’s all based on fear.

The old saying, “you can’t change someone” may be true. However, you can positively influence them enough to want to change on their own. Join me in having this influence on the un-influenceable!

Join this mantra: “I am strong and independent. I help make change. I take action. I make things better. I care for others. My growth is not dependent upon others failure. I can make my own success. I don’t need to take from others. I will stand up for what is right. I will make a difference with my actions. I will do my best every day. I will lead with integrity. I will approach every day with thankfulness. Someday I will change the world.”

Opportunities can be limited, redirected or completely missed based upon the human ability to accurately perceive or assume. Marketers deal with perceptions and assumptions daily, determining appropriate messaging.

If you acknowledge and accept that people hate to be sold to yet don’t want to miss an opportunity, messaging has to be unique for each target. Over time the target splinters off like a broken tree limb into micro-targets.  Continue reading →

As a strategic thinker, you look near and far for potential outcome. Not just the overarching goals, but the details in the day-to-day that will help you get there, one painstaking detail at a time.

Most people start their day with tools. Think about it. What are your essentials? Is it a cup of coffee and mascara? The Wall Street Journal and a diet coke? The news and a hot tea? Blogs and a Dr. Pepper? Your favorite book and a protein smoothie?

Each person has a tool box that get them started and keep them going each day. What five websites do you use the most each day? What five apps do you open frequently? There are things you can do to use time efficiently and promote progress. Have you thought about regrouping your apps on your cell phone? Having your websites auto display in open folders when you log onto your computer? Who are the people you call most often? Do you have them on speed dial buttons on your phone?

What do most people want more of? Time and money. Streamlining tasks and rethinking norms helps everyone to use time more efficiently, resulting in more profitability through better utilization.

Find yourself running to the copy room three times an hour? Consider a printer at your desk. Much like planning errands based upon location, it keeps you from unnecessarily bouncing back and forth, wasting time and getting lost on the way.

People see you as fast-moving, motivated, and sure of yourself. You always have a plan and know what needs to be done. You don’t accept excuses, whining or delay tactics. Be aware, there are people waiting on the sidelines for you to mess up.

Some people like to propel themselves through the errors of others, rather than work for it. It comes out as a snarky chuckle under the breath that reads, “finally you screwed up and I caught you.”

Sorry to destroy the party in your head… anyone who works for it knows that errors happen all of the time. If you don’t try you won’t make a mistake. Therefore, let me assure you that actionable people also fall short. Yes. There it is. Motivated, intelligent go-getters with a penchant for pushing the green button make mistakes.

These mistakes can vary. Some examples include using e before i when there’s no c in sight, not parking squarely between the lines, adding a few too many letters to a word, forgetting to add a referred image to a blog, missing the mark on a hotlink, occasionally losing their patience or forgetting to put their mug under the Keurig before pressing play.

In the end, these small shorts are representative of the old adage, “to be successful, you must fail.” Furthermore, you must admit that you will make mistakes. I am here today to admit, I’m fallible. Are you?

It’s a crazy strategy.

1. Join a gym.

Clearly finding a tool for exercise that works for you is a great way to start. It might be a video, 10 minutes of firming activities from your favorite magazine or committing to a monthly program at a gym.

The tool for losing the weight of excess “stuff” is Binbuds.com, it’s online flat-fee, no comission consignment.

2. Use your membership.

Yes, you have to show up. Participating in the process and committing to the program legitimizes the membership. No one is going to lose the weight for you, it’s all about what you put into it.

Once you join Binbuds.com, use it efficiently by posting as many items as you can. Everyone isn’t looking for the same thing so posting a variety will give you more opportunity to sell and “lose that weight”.

3. Talk about what you are doing.

Everyone gets motivaton from the support around them. Tell people you are on a new journey and find encouragement in what a new perspective gives. You might even find a friend who wants to jump on the journey wagon with you who will be a great accountability partner.

Put some skin in the game of getting rid of stuff, talk to friends about using Binbuds.com and encourage them to shop too. The more people who are shopping, the more are buying. This is the best strategy for losing the weight of unwanted items.

1. You know how to properly fold a fitted sheet, so it fits neatly into a square and in the pantry.

It’s been said that only witches know how to fold a fitted sheet. But we know the truth, it’s type A people. And really, don’t bother trying if you can’t do it right.

2.You believe trash goes into a receptacle, immediately.

Under no circumstances do you throw a wrapper on the floor, tuck it under the couch or put it in my purse. Hop up off that complacent rear and drop it in the trash, right now.

3. You clean while you cook.

Why would you want to spend an hour cooking and an hour cleaning when you can just clean up as you go? Duh.

4. You make lists and use them; usually in a notebook of various categories of them.

Look, with this much amazing knowledge stored in one place, it’s hard to keep on track of all of the lists. It’s better to just keep a walking journal of all the various tasks for home, work, kids, short term goals, long term goals and grocery lists on you, at all times.

5. Your closet is organized.

You might have hangars that match, clothes seperated in sections by type, season and color. It’s really about the details that make it unique. Most importantly, if it doesn’t fit, it needs to go.

6. You always cover food in the microwave.

Food explodes, it’s inevitable. There’s something about the microwave that makes a simple dish splatter to the four corners of that spotless interior within 15 seconds. But we know that a breathable lid or paper towel goes on top of  every plate, bowl and dish.

7. You believe that empty beds need to be made.

If you are not in it, it needs to be made. Yes, we are just going to sleep in it again tonight. And the covers will be straight, tucked and fresh for another perfect nights sleep if it’s made before we peel back those starchy folds.

8. You have at least two long-term goals.

Your goals may change, but you always have something on the horizon. Want to learn to sail, live on the beach or start a business? Chances are pretty good you always have several ideas for growth and development in your mental pipeline at all times.

9. You respond, file and delete email.

Ugh, email accounts are so overwhelming it would be easier to hire someone to clean them out or just delete it all together and start over. Grab it, read it, respond to it, file it, use it and unsubscribe. Whew, that feels better.

10. The success of your day is directly coorelative to the amount of items checked off your to-do list.

Scratching items off, checking boxes and highlighting according to your accomplishment system balances cortisol levels which help you feel more relaxed and peaceful. And ah, to throw a list away can carry you through a week on a cloud.

Now, back to those sheets…

If you are over eighteen, chances are pretty good that you have heard the traditional advice on interviewing. Some of the highlights include: dress professional, use minimal makeup/trim facial hair, don’t overdue on jewelry, show up early, take your resume, send a thank you note, etc.

The interviewing necessities that do not seem to be covered include managing your social presence. When searching for candidates I tend to look at what people “are not” sharing in an interview. I start simple: do they have a photo, do they have a resume and what are their public facing social media photos saying about them?

1. Add a photo to your LinkedIN profile that is professional.

It’s $30 to go to JCPenney portrait studio and have a professional head shot taken. It doesn’t need to be a work of art or the most magical photo ever, what it does need to be is professional, neutral and business card worthy.

2. Fill out your LinkedIN profile entirely and attach a resume.

Regardless of listing your previous places of employment, you need to  have as much professional information as possible on your profile for quick reference and a meaty resume that lists the functions of those positions. You might even consider including reasons for gaps in employment, as some employers will skip right over a resume with unexplained holes.

3. Edit your social media accounts.

I know, you really liked the photo of spring break weekend, your senior year in college and all of the festivities that came with those memories. Unfortunately, you kept it as your banner on your facebook page for three months and now it’s public facing, forever.

Your instagram accounts let me know where all of your tatoos are, your favorite fermented beverage and the many games you can play with quarters, golf balls and plastic dolls. Unfortunately, that doesn’t adequately represent many of the conservative professional positions businesses are hiring for.

Make changes, be smart, remove, save and store inappropriate photos. Consider the profession you are applying for. Would potential consumers, donors, students, parents or board of directors support and encourage the image you are displaying on social media?

I must admit, I am a bit confused.

Starbucks has never put angels, wise men or the baby Jesus in the manger in their marketing. We are not talking about Chick-fil-a here. Starbucks has never took a stance for or against religious preferences or faith based beliefs. And with their multitude of investors with varying backgrounds, I wouldn’t expect them to.

To make it even more of a head scratcher, people seem to be ticked about the absence of snowflakes and reindeer… which, I personally have never ready in any of the Gospels about the birth of Jesus and their inclusion.

This makes me wonder, are people just upset that their holiday cup o’ joe isn’t being adequately represented, having nothing to do with faith at all? I am a huge fan of coffee. I like making my morning caffeine jolt fancy and adding flavors, varying types of milk and a tad of whip… ok, a ton of whip. Yet I assure you, it will taste the same in a white cup, fall cup, red cup or cup with hearts, dots and unicorns (as requested by a seven year old).

Let us remember that it is a great start to the day, a fun way to connect with friends and a comfortable way to meet new business associates but it is not what faith is based upon, nor does it have any impact on the depth of holiday traditions.

Who knows, maybe next year they can debut a cup with a reindeer flying over a menorah while snowflakes decend on the baby Jesus. After all, not everyone who says Happy Holidays intends to dis Christians, Santa or Reindeer. Just make sure I get a new clean cup and I’ll keep enjoying my Venti Skinny Cinnamon Dulce Latte.