By Nancy J. Lewis, MS, PHR, RCC In the complex world of change, chaos, and uncertainty, we must examine the attitude we embrace. One quick way to assess an attitude of another person is to ask yourself how you feel when they leave your presence? Do you feel inspired and charged up ready to take on the world or you do feel like the life has been zapped out of you? Ask yourself, how do people feel when they leave your presence? Each and everyday you must decide the attitude you will embrace. You maybe faced with challenges and difficult people, but it is still a personal decision as to how you allow the attitude of others to influence your attitude. Consider the following seven strategies for improving your attitude. 1. Surround yourself with positive people. Look at those people that are a part of your network and examine the weather (attitude) that they carry. If gloom and doom is all they bring to you consistently, give them a reality check and make them aware of what they are doing. So often people who are consistently negative are not aware of their negative energy. If they are non-responsive, you may have to minimize the time you interact with them. People who fail to change often become toxic and if you stick close to them that toxicity may rub off on you. Seek out those people who recognize the challenges of the day but continue to face them with a positive attitude. Strive to align yourself with people with energy, excitement for life and a positive outlook on the circumstances they face. 2. Read and listen to motivational and inspirational books and tapes. This is a great way to keep yourself inspired and focused on the possibilities of life. When you wake up in the morning, instead of turning on the television, spend those first minutes reading inspirational, biblical, or motivational books. If you drive to work, put in a CD or tape. If you ride the train or bus, read books or invest in a personal CD player and fill your mind with positive thoughts. You have no excuses because you can go to your local library and get books and tapes. Information on anything you want is on the Internet. You simply must have a desire to find ways to maintain a positive attitude. 3. Count your blessings. Recognize that no matter how things maybe, see the blessing in the midst of the chaos and confusion. As you reflect on the blessing that will help you get things in perspective and help you see the glass half full versus half empty. 4. Smile. Be mindful of your countenance and body language. What messages do you send to people when they interact with you? A smile says to others that you are approachable and it costs nothing. 5. Take time to appreciate the simple things in life. Take a walk in the park and don’t just rush by the roses, instead take time to enjoy and smell them. Take time to watch a sunset and remember who to thank. Spend time with those less fortunate and seek opportunities to give words of encouragement to those who pass your way. 6. Believe in yourself. Recognize that you are special and unique. There is no one else quite like you. So let your positive attitude shine. Walk and talk with confidence and know that you have something special to contribute to the world. 7. Live each day to the fullest. Quit putting off some of the things you want to do in life and go for the gusto now. Learn to maximize the minutes of each day. Practice these strategies to help you maintain a winning attitude; an attitude others want to catch! ================= Your Comments Are Welcome.
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By Debra Gould, MS Ebony Speakers first successful creation was a book project entitled “Real Women, Real Issues: Positive Collaborations for Business Success” is a unique collaboration between four dynamic women coming together from many years of varied experience and from their mastermind group experience. Out of that experience came the concept of communicating with other women on the importance of maintaining quality personal, professional and business relationships with other people who promote positive living. Ebony Speakers is excited to announce that our second project was a recent webinar on Wednesday, June 18, 2014. It was just another example of the next level of connecting our audience to the powerful message of real women working in collaborations. During one of our unique mastermind sessions we all determined that it was time to launch a webinar. We are blessed to have a technology savvy business woman like Carole Copeland Thomas to lead the way to address the program logistics to host this webinar series. Nancy J. Lewis agreed to take on the online registering process and it was onward to create the webinar entitled Savvy Sisters: Share Strategies for Everyday Life. The day of the webinar Carole Copeland Thomas welcomed our guests to sharpen up their skills while moving forward in life. This important webinar will covered these topics. Your Personal SWOT Assessment by Debra W. Gould Taking Charge of Your Career by Nancy J. Lewis Using INNOVATION to Get Things DONE by Michelle Porchia Reinvent Yourself & Stay Relevant in Technology by Carole Copeland Thomas Here are a few highlights of what we shared with our listening audience on June 18. Debra's conversation on how can I use the SWOT Assessment to validate my strengths and opportunity to attack the guilty feelings every time I decide to take time for myself. Nancy's conversation was discussed the difference between whining and winning and addressed the tough questions regarding taking charge of your own career. Michelle's conversation discussed technology, tools, your game plan, and work boundaries. Carole's conversation was on the rapidly changing world, connections, collaborations, and effectively using social media including Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and LInkedIn. We realize seating was limited for this online registration at only $29.00 per person. If you missed out on June 18th due to meetings, business travel or whatever let me suggest a way to get you plugged into this informational, educational, motivational and inspirational webinar. Ebony Speakers still want to invite you to attend our exciting “special one hour” webinar held on June 18, 2014. Here's how it will work: First, register and purchase the webinar. Then...
1. Go to www.ebonyspeakers.com 2. On the top menu bar drop down the Savvy Speakers box found underneath the Webinar Series Box. 3. Our Savvy Sisters Webinar is a Password Protected webpage on our website. 4. You can also download the slides on this page All I can say is WELCOME and get ready to explore your ability to excel, enjoy the webinar and thank you to our guests. Lastly, we are in the process of scheduling future webinars by Ebony Speakers. From years of experience in training, human resources and corporate consulting Debra W. Gould, Nancy J. Lewis, Michelle Porchia and Carole Copeland Thomas have crafted a power-packed business guide for women and men of all ages and ethnicities. We hope you'll join us for future webinar discussions! Topics in the webinar toolkit include: •Global Diversity •Career Transition •Networking •Relationship Economics •Starting and Running A Business •Working Through Difficulties and Challenges ================================== Debra W. Gould, MS is the president of Debra Gould & Associates, Inc. based in New Orleans and provides management consulting and training services to commercial and government clients. Debra is one of the founders of The Ebony Speakers and co-author of the book, Real Women, Real Issues - Positive Collaborations For Business Success. Debra can be reached at: (504) 244-6576, email: djgould@gouldassoc.com and website: www:gouldassoc.com Nancy J. Lewis, MS, PHR, RCC
In today’s world of business, it requires you redefining your process, redesigning your process, retooling and reframing how you do business. It is no longer business as usual, but rather business as unusual. So get over the way things have always been done and don’t think outside the box; throw the box away. One thing is certain, you must understand the VIP effect to propel your business or career forward in these challenging times. So here are my pointers on the VIP effect. V-Visibility is key. You must may sure people know who you are and what you do. A friend once told me the first rule of networking is you must show up; but once you show up what happens next. You must learn the art of connecting. Find ways to get your name or company name in the spotlight. It might be in newspaper articles, blogging, volunteering, etc. just get visible in ways that work for you. I-Image is key. What kind of image do you radiate to others and does it represent the authentic you? You must make sure you are true to yourself and the image you project to others. How you dress, talk, act are apart of your image. P-Performance is essential. Once you are visible and have the right image, you must be able to perform the job in the spirit of excellence. No excuses will do as you must autograph your work with excellence. Perform so people will tell others about how great you are. Go for it and create a winning VIP!! Your Comments Are Welcome! By Nancy J. Lewis, MS, PHR, RCC
Authenticity is a key to building sustaining and meaningful relationships whether in professional or personal settings. Authenticity is about being genuine and true to your core values no matter what. In today's world, often times we have difficulty in being authentic and transparent because it can come back and impact your career. Sometimes authenticity is not appreciated or celebrated because things are being done or said that make other uncomfortable. Consider the following questions on authenticity as it relates to your world: 1. Does the culture of your organization support and embrace authenticity? 2. Are people encouraged to bring their whole self to work? 3. Are leaders authentic in your workplace? 4. How is failure viewed in your organization? 5. Can authenticity and transparency be a reality for your organization? Something to ponder as you realize the value authenticity can bring to your company. Authenticity has been linked to better work performance, engagement, and total wellness of employees. That is a good enough reason to create a culture that is open to employees being able to be authentic in the workplace. We lose creative ideas, develop silos, and polarize work teams when we fail to embrace this important but elusive attribute. I want to share five things to remember about authenticity. 1. Authenticity is about doing and saying the right thing even when it's not popular. 2. Authenticity is about being consistent with who you are no matter where you are. 3. Authenticity is about knowing what the non-negotiables are in your life. 4. Authenticity is about encouraging others as you operate from the abundance mentality. 5. Authenticity is about knowing how to lead from your heart. Strive to live an authentic life as you move forward to greater success, peace, and love. One of the phrases I say a lot is, "Do you because everybody else is taken." ================================= Your Comments Are Welcome. By Nancy J. Lewis, MS, PHR, RCC Leadership is a vital link in effective and successful organizations. Strong leadership is essential to moving organizations from mediocrity to greatness. As companies struggle with downsizing, rightsizing, capsizing, and resizing, leadership must be demonstrated to navigate the winds of change in the workplace. Cornerstones of leadership are integrity, respect, and accountability. Integrity in its simplest form is walking the walk and talking the talk. It is about keeping your promises and doing the right thing ever when it is not popular. It requires making tough but fair decisions in difficult situations. Leaders must be willing to walk in integrity to lead, motivate, and retain a diverse workplace. It is not what you say that people remember; it is what you do. Respect is a quality leaders must demonstrate when interacting with employees and colleagues throughout the organization. It does not matter what position, title, or rank employees hold, leaders must practice this attribute. It is about esteeming others and showing honor to them. Accountability means when you mess up, miss a deadline, you own up to it, without making excuses or blaming others. You focus on solutions and review what needs to happen so this mistake does not occur again. There is no humiliation in failing as long as you learn from your experience. Leaders must understand through failure we grow and expand our comfort zones. Cultivate an environment where integrity, respect, and accountability are the core essentials for building and sustaining a successful organization. ============= Your Comments Are Welcome Nancy J. Lewis, MS, PHR, RCC
So often we make excuses why we don't do certain things in our life. When we do this, we often delay walking into our destiny and adversely impact our integrity level. Consider the following five strategies the next time you find yourself making an excuse. 1. Be honest with yourself. It is important to look at yourself in the mirror and have a heart to heart and admit you have a problem. Don't continue to deny this is an area in your life you are okay with and hope it will simply go away without you addressing it. Others know you are making excuses and it is time you face it also. It is important to state the problem out loud acknowledging you recognize this is problem you are going to fix. It is helpful to solicit the assistance of a trusted friend that will hold you accountable when you find yourself making excuses. 2. Set realistic expectations. Before you make commitments and say yes to something--even something small--ask yourself if you truly believe you can and will follow through. Some people set unrealistic goals and then fail in accomplishing their commitment. It is critical to have forethought and count the cost of what you are committing to. Look at the time constraints, the magnitude of the task and then make an informed decision. Sometimes you have to say no and that is okay. It is better to say no than to repeatedly say yes and fall short of what you have committed to. Doing what you say you will do speaks to your level of integrity. Integrity is a lot easier to maintain than regain. So think before you commit! 3. Stop whining and start winning. Stop complaining about what you don't have and making negative confessions. It is so important to count your blessings and know that you win when you begin to speak positive statements of faith. Be slow to speak and swift to hear and if what you are going to say is not in line with what you want to see manifest in your life; don't say it. Choose to move from whining about life and get in the game of winning in life. Become your own best cheerleader recognizing that greatness lives inside of you. 4. Take charge of what you need to do. Just determine in your heart that whatever you need to do to succeed you will do. Be in charge of your life by making the right decisions and taking action on the goals you have set for yourself. Challenge yourself to know that you have skills, talents, and abilities inside you to make your dreams a reality. Don't look for others to do the things you need to do. Commit to what needs to be done and then do it. 5. Be solution centered. Instead of focusing on your problem, begin to look at the possible solutions. What you focus on becomes greater; so why not focus on ways to resolve your situation? Be willing to ask for help from those individuals who have knowledge and skills that can help you. Don't let pride and ego keep you from getting valuable insight and wisdom from those who can shorten your learning curve and provide you with helpful solutions to the challenges you face. Choose to use your energy focusing on solutions and then be willing to take responsibility for your life. By Nancy J. Lewis, MS, PHR, RCC Christmas is a time of love, joy, peace, and happiness. It brings to mind memories of family and friends from past days where we have shared time over eggnog, cookies, and holiday treats. This year I challenge you to give the gift of yourself in creative ways. It is important not to stress out because you can’t give the gifts you desire to give. Give the gift of yourself because that’s the gift that means the most. Enjoy the eggnog, cookies, family gatherings, and the love that you feel from loved ones and friends, but don’t get consumed with feeling you have to buy something to make Christmas meaningful. The following tips are things you can do this Christmas season to bring a smile to the faces of family and friends.
These are just a few of the ideas you can use. The key factor to remember is give of yourself and when you do watching the smiles, hearing the laughter, and feeling the love that runs from heart to heart is priceless. Have a wonderful Christmas and a New Year filled with peace beyond measure, joy unspeakable, and love that fills your heart. ========== Nancy J. Lewis is the president of Progressive Techniques, Inc. based in Fayetteville, Georgia where the theme of her organization is "Developing a Better You!" Nancy is one of the founders of The Ebony Speakers and co-author of the book, Real Women, Real Issues - Positive Collaborations For Business Success. Nancy can be reached at: (404) 559-7614, email: nancy@progressivetechniquesinc.com and website: www.progressivetechniquesinc.com. Your Comments Are Welcome. Merry Christmas, Happy Kwanzaa, and Seasons Greetings To You And Your Family
Throughout The Holiday Season! By Nancy J. Lewis, MS, PHR, RCC As we begin to plan and prepare for the upcoming holidays, we often forget to count our blessings and be thankful for the simple things of life. We forget to enjoy the fragrance of a rose and we forget to tell special people in our life how much they mean to us. We get so busy with the activities the holidays bring we forget to spend time with the young and the old. The time is now to stop, reflect, and give thanks for all the things you have. Life is fleeting; we must learn to make the most of each day.
While preparing the holiday turkey, cornbread dressing, macaroni and cheese, green bean casserole, cranberry sauce, and home made rolls and desserts, take stock of all that you have to be grateful for. This year prepare a little extra food and take it to someone less fortunate. Be determined to make a difference in the lives you touch with a smile or kind deed. Remember the acronym THANKS as you enjoy this festive time of year. T-take time to be thoughtful with others and attentive to their needs. When you do this, it shows your concern for the well being of others. Be willing to extend yourself and be a blessing to someone else. H-help others by sharing laughter and joy with them. Maintain your sense of humor. I once read laughter is a tranquilizer with no side effects. We must find ways to bring happiness and laughter back into our lives and the lives we touch. Remember laughter works like medicine so try a dose so you can feel better. Create a laughter journal and remind yourself of some of the things you did that brought a smile to your face. A-adopt an amiable disposition. Be cordial and friendly with people you meet and greet. Let the sunshine of your personality radiate rays of light to others. Be a light in the midst of darkness as you smile and treat each day as a gift from God. N-nurture and cultivate relationships in your life and watch them develop and grow. This is a perfect time to send a note to someone you have been thinking about and thank them for touching your life in a special way. Seek to spend time with people that are positive forward thinking people and will challenge you to grow and become better. K-kindness is a language everyone understands. Make a point to do random acts of kindness this holiday season without expecting anything in return. This will touch the hearts of people in a special way and you will feel better for doing them. S-seize the moment. There is never a better time than now to stop and make that call, hug that family member or friend, text a family member and tell them you love them, or treat yourself to a day at the spa. The important thing is you do it NOW, don’t wait. Commit to seizing the moment each and every day of your life. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving! ========== Nancy J. Lewis is the president of Progressive Techniques, Inc. based in Fayetteville, Georgia where the theme of her organization is "Developing a Better You!" Nancy is one of the founders of The Ebony Speakers and co-author of the book, Real Women, Real Issues - Positive Collaborations For Business Success. Nancy can be reached at: (404) 559-7614, email: nancy@progressivetechniquesinc.com and website: www.progressivetechniquesinc.com. By Nancy J. Lewis, MS, PHR, RCC
Today’s workplace is filled with uncertainty, chaos, and change. We are seeing things happen in business and with employees that is unprecedented. Downsizing, resizing, mergers, organizations simply going out of business is becoming all too common. As a result of this you have more and more people looking for jobs in totally different industries. So how do you retool your career? You look within and identify who you are, what your strengths and attributes are, and what you are good at doing and enjoy. Retooling is about being authentic and true to your core values and recognizing how to turn challenges into opportunities. What are you passionate and energized about relating to work? What dreams have you been sitting on? Now is an opportunity to see if you can align your dreams with your passion as you retool your career. You must get into action and take steps to retool your career. It means reviewing and making sure your resume reflects your strengths and highlights your accomplishments and successes. It requires letting people in your network know you are looking for an opportunity to share your skills and attributes in a progressive company that values stars. This is not a time to sit back and hope someone finds you. Remember it is not what you know or who you know, rather who knows you and what they know about you. You must BRAND YOU! You must be willing to learn and develop skills in areas that you have not been exposed to before. It might require going back to school for a degree, taking professional development courses at a local community college, or getting a mentor or a coach. It may mean having to do research/reading on an area of interest you know little about. The important thing to remember is you must commit to lifelong learning. In retooling, you take your transferable skills and apply them to your next career opportunity. If you were good at marketing, technology, teaching, etc. how can you leverage those skills in your next career move? It is vital to build on what you have learned in life and be willing to utilize those same skills in a new career. You can no longer guarantee that jobs you have had in the past will be what you do in the future. You must be open minded and have a willing spirit to adapt to the constant world of change. Retooling makes you look at what is important to you and then begin a plan of action for moving forward in the face of change to achieve greatness in your life. Remember to ask for what you want, engage others in your job search, commit to life-long learning, look at failure as a detour and not a destination, keep a positive attitude, and continue to walk in integrity and faith. Your Comments Are Welcome Below |
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