“If you keep your fence painted, your manure doesn’t seem to smell so bad.” Farm wisdom from the Big Valley in central Pennsylvania. My dad, John Sr., and I were meeting with several farmers who lease our farmland on Friday, when I heard that pearl of wisdom. This coming from the herdsman who has one…
Category: Soft Skills
Why Millennials Leave Organizations and 3 Keys to Solve It
The greatest talent challenge currently facing the world’s employers is engaging the Millennial generation. Businesses run the risk of losing a large percentage of their workforces if they do not adjust to nurture loyalty among Millennials. In Deloitte’s recent 2016 Millennial Survey, they collected the views of nearly 7,700 Millennials representing 29 countries around the globe….
Show Some Love — Make Mentoring More Meaningful
If you’ve had the privilege of being supported by an amazing mentor, what was it about this person that made such an impact? Perhaps their guidance enabled you to set and achieve goals much more quickly than had you tried without their wisdom. With Valentine’s Day around the corner and in the spirit of ‘paying it…
Four Professional New Year’s Resolutions Worth Adopting
If you are among the 45% of Americans who make New Year’s Resolutions1, here are nine that will help propel your career. If you haven’t already chosen your resolutions, consider adopting the following this year. Become an early bird. One study cited byPsychology Today found that early birds are generally happier because they were more productive in a given day…
Time Out!
The human side of life embraces all emotions and experiences — the good, the bad, and the ugly. This is what I am thinking in January 2016. During the past year, I read around ten biographies of great people from all walks of life: politicians, inventors, business executives, and sports coaches. I am reminded of…
Time Out!
“When a man listens, teaches, encourages — not because he has to, but because he wants to — he becomes a hero.” I’m not sure who’s responsible for the quote, but I keep it on my desk. I wonder what would happen if we just made that our goal for 2016. Happy planning this week….
Let’s Talk Turkey — Three Profitable Ways to Show Appreciation
‘Tis the season to save a bundle from a consumer’s perspective, and sell a ton from a retailer’s perspective. What is often missed—especially when forcing employees to work on Thanksgiving, is the true spirit of the season. There are umpteen ways to show your gratitude to employees and customers, however these three tips are affordable and…
Time Out!
Time Out! My heart is crushed when I hear of senseless killing of humans by other humans. I am reminded of a recent adage I heard, “Hurt people, hurt people.” I look forward to traveling to Paris. Happiness, fulfillment, and joy are never found in a consumption mentality at the expense of others. Rather, they…
Time Out!
Performance under pressure. Watching it is amazing. Most of us have jobs that have pressure, though we don’t have 10 million viewers watching everything we do and analyzing all of our decisions. The pressure of sports represents the ultimate in reality TV. This week, the Kansas City Royals won the World Series. While their players peaked at the…
Four Steps to Master Mindfulness
More and more Americans are practicing mindfulness, or meditation, for one simple reason—it works. Just as regular physical exercise is beneficial for the body in terms of better rest and general health, mindfulness is beneficial for minimizing stress and maximizing productivity. Whereas exercising your muscles improves your physique, exercising your brain increases its density where…