Literally translating to “good change,” Kaizen is a productivity philosophy that was developed in post-WWII Japanese manufacturing. The process was meant to challenge the status quo by introducing small, continuous improvements. While other methods of productivity and accountability – like to-do lists and the pomodoro technique – provide a definitive framework for achieving your goals,…
Born Josephine Esther Mentzer on July 1, 1906, Estee Lauder would go on to become one of the most influential businesswomen of the 1900’s. In fact, in 1998 she would be the only woman to make it onto Time Magazine’s list of the 20 most influential business geniuses of the 20th century. In addition to…
“By criticizing, we do not make lasting changes and often incur resentment.” Don’t like how a family member cooked the turkey? Not a fan of a friend’s new hair style? While it might be tempting to let everyone know how we feel, what is that really going to achieve? The turkey can’t be re-made, and…
While you may not have full-blown Cell Phone Addiction, if you’re like most smartphone users you check your phone at least 58 times per day (according to data from RescueTime), and receive 46 push notifications (according to Business of Apps – although that number seems low to me). While it’s great to be able to…
Founded only one year after Dale Carnegie wrote his best selling book How To Win Friends and Influence People, John Deere is an iconic brand with a firm hold on the agriculture, lawn care, and heavy machinery industries. But even long-standing companies with a loyal following feel the need to improve from time to time. …
Dale Carnegie believed in the power of admitting one’s mistakes – believed so much, in fact, that this makes up his twelfth human relations principle: If you are wrong, admit it quickly and emphatically. Thirty-two years after the release of Carnegie’s seminal work, How To Win Friends and Influence People, this principle was put to…
As a leader, it is imperatively important to offer your team consistent feedback – not only in times of improvement but also in times of praise. One of the largest complaints of employees is not hearing anything positive when they are doing their job well, only criticism when things are going wrong. Enter the constructive…
Communication has often been regarded as a soft skill – but is that really the case? If we think about it, communication is essential for, well, everything. Unfortunately, clear and effective communication often gets disrupted either through our delivery or in our listening when “life” gets in the way – enter heart-centered communication. Heart-centered communication…
Staying in the security of your comfort zone forever sounds like a nice idea, doesn’t it? In there it’s safe, cozy, and above all predictable. No anxiety or worry, no listing pros and cons, and best of all — no fear of failure or injury. Yes, that sounds great. The exact same thing, day after…
Dale Carnegie was no stranger to the concept of breeding success from failure. In fact, it’s a principle still shared with students today. He said that failure is not meant to stop you, but rather, failure is there to help you go further. Therefore you must learn how to use said failure as a stepping…