Seven Keys to Having a Positive Mental Attitude or... Everyone Doesn’t Like Broccoli

By Nancy Friedman

There’s an old joke about a little girl who always had such a great attitude. She was always so happy and upbeat. Her brother was just the opposite. One holiday, just to aggravate her and test her, her mean brother gave her a box filled with horse manure. He was tired of his sister always having such a positive attitude. He thought surely this would “fix” her. Christmas day, when she opened the box and saw the manure she exclaimed, "Whoopee...where’s the pony?"

Why do some people have such a great attitude and others a negative one? Well, we wondered the same thing; and through our research, we found seven “keys” that those with a positive mental attitude all share. See how you rate.

KEY #1: Choose your attitude in advance: When you wake up, you have a choice. You can be in a good mood or a bad mood. You also choose your attitude. You can wake up and mutter to yourself "this is gonna be a cruddy day" or you can tell yourself "this is gonna be a great day!" That immediate choice is the start of a great attitude. You’ve already decided it’s going to be a good one.

KEY #2: Visualize success: What this means is picture yourself having a successful day. Runners in the Boston Marathon picture themselves crossing the finish line – maybe not in first place, but still finishing the 26-mile race. Self-visualization is a key factor in having a positive mental attitude. Will it work 100% of the time? I wish it would. However, by visualizing your success, you’ll be able to have a better handle on what does happen. And a better chance of making it happen.

Key #3: Demonstrate humor, energy, and enthusiasm: We call these three items the MAGIC ingredients. Because without each one, creating a positive mental attitude will be very difficult. First, HUMOR. There is normally humor in every situation. Finding it is the KEY. Sometimes you’ll need to stretch and dig a little deeper to find the humor in a situation. But once you do, you’ll feel so much better. The ENERGY we talk about is important because without some “energy” in your attitude, you’ll be dragging along behind everyone. Energy is closely related to the third ingredient...and that is ENTHUSIASM. My father used to tell me "Nancy, enthusiasm is contagious; let’s start an epidemic."

KEY #4: Resist negative influences: It’s a fact. When we have a negative experience with a company, we’ll tell more people about it than if we have a good experience with the same company. And many times, when you hear that someplace wasn’t very good, you’ll believe the person who told you and choose not to do business with that company. However, you may only be hearing half the story. Check things out for yourself. Especially if the negativity involves a person you work with or know. I bet we’ve all heard negative things about someone we didn’t know and then when we had the opportunity to meet them ourselves, we find that they’re not as bad as someone had alluded to. In fact they might be nice. But you need to be the judge. Take negativity out of your life. Steer clear of those who drag you down and say negative things all the time. Being around other positive people is a good start.

KEY #5: Be a WHATEVER-IT-TAKES person: This "KEY" means be a problem solver. Life is going to put obstacles in front of all of us. How we go around those obstacles is the KEY factor. There’s normally a good answer to every problem put in front of us. Dale Carnegie said it best. Ask yourself, "What is the worst thing that can happen here?" And move up from that.

KEY #6: Embrace change...expect it and accept it: Some people are very good at handling change...and some resist it a lot. We had a fun saying at our house – I can still hear my father saying it: "Nancy, the next time you change your mind...get a good one." The major KEY to handling CHANGE is to accept it. Deal with it. In most cases there’s little we can do to stop it.

Key #7: Be grateful for what you have: I’m not sure this KEY needs to be explained. So many people have so much. And yet those same people are often the ones that constantly complain. Why wait for some life altering experience to be grateful for all you have? Be grateful, NOW...before something bad happens and makes you aware.

We know there are more KEYS to having a Positive Mental Attitude, but these are the first seven. Get these down “pat” and you’ll find the rest falls into place.

Nancy Friedman is president of Telephone Doctor®, an international customer service training company headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri, specializing in customer service and telephone skills. She is a KEYNOTE speaker at association conferences and corporate gatherings and is the author of four best selling books. Call 314-291-1012 for more information or visit the website at www.telephonedoctor.com. Published in Networking Today, June 2005.

Stress Busters at Work

By Barbara Bartlein

American workers are stressed out and it’s costing business big money. According to recent insurance industry studies, nearly half of workers say their job is extremely stressful and 27% claim that their job is the greatest source of stress in their life. Job stress is more strongly associated with health complaints than financial or family problems.

A study by Integra reports that 29% of employees have yelled at co-workers because of workplace stress and 14% said they work where machinery or equipment has been damaged because of workplace rage. Almost one in five respondents has quit a previous position because of stress and nearly one in four have been driven to tears. Sixty-two percent of workers report that they routinely end the day with work-related neck pain and 34% describe difficulty in sleeping because they are too stressed out.

Occupational pressures lead to employee turnover, diminished productivity, and absenteeism that have a price tag for U.S. industry at over $300 billion annually. It is estimated that 60-80% of accidents on the job are stress related and the number of Worker’s compensation claims for mental stress has increased by almost 700 percent over the past eight years. Double digit increases in worker’s compensation premiums every year due to mental stress claims threaten to bankrupt the system in several states.

Stress can be managed, however by practicing some stress busters. You can minimize stress on the job for yourself and your employees with attention to environment, work load, and job security. Let’s start with the basics:

• Light. Natural sunlight tends to raise the neurotransmitter in the brain called serotonin. This chemical has a large impact on our mood, disposition, and our ability to handle stress. Unfortunately, many offices do not have access to natural light. If possible, try to get a “dose” of natural light everyday with a walk outside or a break by a window. If you are only exposed to fluorescent lighting, consider getting a desk lamp that has the natural spectrum of lighting. It is better for your eyes and your brain.
  
  
• Air. Airflow is often a big problem in many modern offices. Poor, stale air quality combined with air contaminants and fumes from office machines can interfere with positive performance. If possible, place your work area where you are not directly by copy machines and printers. Make sure that you get fresh air frequently during the day.
  
  
• Seating. Evaluate your chair, especially if you sit at a desk all day. Your feet should rest flat on the floor with your knees bent at approximately a 90-degree angle. Make sure that your chair has a good backrest that lets you position your back and take the pressure off your spine. Many companies have an ergonomics expert assist in providing good seating for their employees, as low back pain and carpal tunnel are major worker compensation claims.
  
  
• Workload. Make sure that you have a concrete job description that defines the scope of your responsibilities. If possible, don’t take on any new projects that are time intensive or come due during the time of another large project. Keep a priority worksheet that can be referenced frequently to make sure that you stay on task. Communicate with supervisors and/or other employees to keep them apprised of your workload. Be careful that employees are not set up to fail with unrealistic workloads due to downsizing or consolidation.
  
  
• Job security. A recent poll of workers found that almost 50% of employees were concerned about retaining their job. Massive lay-offs, downsizing, and the collapse of over 200 dot.com companies has left many workers wondering if their jobs will be there in the future. This worry and anxiety can lead to decreased productivity and the “institutional pathology” of checking out every rumor and anecdote whispered in the hallway. Clarify the status of the company and the job positions and seek out information from the appropriate sources, if necessary.
  

Productivity and a positive work environment go together. Take steps so your office environment is not like a “real life survivor program.”

Sign up for Barbara's FREE email newsletter at www.barbbartlein.com.

Barbara Bartlein is the PeoplePro™. She helps businesses sell more goods and services by developing people. She can be reached at 888-747-9953, by email at: barb@barbbartlein.com or visit her Web site at www.ThePeoplePro.com. Published in Networking Today, June 2005.

Software Tips & Tricks Shortcuts in FrontPage

By Laura Noble

Moving Up or Down from a FrontPage Table

There are strategies to move your insertion point directly outside of a table when tables are beneath each other.

It can be difficult to move the insertion point below a table with text, as shown in the sample below. Pressing the Enter key will enlarge the current table's height and pressing the Tab key will add another row to the table.

Both options work if that is the required result, but if you want a new table below the current table (may be because of different table property requirements) then moving the insertion below the existing table can be frustrating. But there is a solution! Read below!

Insert Space Between Tables:

1. Move the insertion point to the end of the last entry of text in the last cell of the table (last column, last row).

2. Press Ctrl + Enter.

Insert Space Above a Table:

1. Move the insertion point before the first entry of text (first cell of table).

2. Press Ctrl + Enter.

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Adding a Screen Tip to a Hyperlink

Adding a Screen Tip to a hyperlink is quite easy and can be another method to inform visitors. A Screen Tip will be displayed when a mouse is hovered over the hyperlink as shown in the sample below. Click to Open Tips and Tricks Page is the screen tip for the hyperlink Tips & Tricks.

1. In the Insert Hyperlink box click the Screen Tip button in the top right corner of the box and fill in the Screen Tip Text.

2. Click OK to close the Set Hyperlink Screen Tip box and complete remaining hyperlink settings.

Note: Screen Tips will not be displayed in Design view only in the Preview Browser view or the Internet.

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Recognizing Saved & Unsaved Open Pages

Quickly verify if an open page in FrontPage is saved by looking at the Page Tab. If there is an asterisk (*) to the right of the page name, as shown in the sample below, (SoftwareTipsandTricks.htm Page tab), the page has not been saved.

Stay tuned to Networking Today in the coming months for more Software Tips & Tricks from Noble Software Solutions.

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Laura Noble is the owner of Noble Software Solutions. Laura can be contacted at 519-680-2689 or by email at lnoble@noblesoftwaresolutions.com. www.noblesoftwaresolutions.com

Published in Networking Today, June 2005.

Preparing for Job Interviews

By Jim Couturier

Preparing for a job interview can be a daunting task. Competition is high as individuals change careers and/or positions more often in today’s ever-changing business environment. With extensive experience in conducting interviews for two major strong-branded organizations, I’d like to share a few tips to help give you a competitive edge in the hiring process.

On average, I see between twenty and twenty-five people for one position – so competition is tough. Being at your best is crucial. The key to any interview is presenting your skills and talent effectively and building a rapport with the hiring manager in order to separate you from other candidates. I

like when candidates put themselves in my role or the hiring manager’s role – he or she is expected to have a strong work ethic, motivation, and most importantly a positive and responsive attitude. I specifically look for these qualities (a few among many).

It's important for candidates to be able to handle tough interview questions – be prepared to think on your feet and speak from the heart. Be yourself.

Hiring managers can read between the lines on résumés. Many companies specialize in ensuring your résumé is impressive – this is fine and great but ensure the information is accurate and complete. We are looking for the right fit. Do your homework prior to the interview – do you know the position you are applying for? Do you know the basics of the company?

Appearance and professionalism are crucial for the specific position you are applying for – so dress the part. Know what value you bring to the organization – why should you be hired? What makes you a good fit? What will your immediate impact be with the company? What in your past can you demonstrate to show this?

Your past results are a strong indication of future results. Know your strengths, but most importantly be able to discuss your weaknesses and how you plan to overcome them.

And finally, send a thank you note after the interview. A short note will go a long way to letting the hiring manager know your sincerity and professionalism.

Jim Couturier is the Recruiting Manager for Clarica, 148 Fullarton Street, Suite 1604, London, ON N6A 5P2. Jim can be reached at (519) 432-1841 ext 224 or by email at jim.couturier@clarica.com.

Published in Networking Today, June 2005

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Should You Fire a Client?

By Michael W. McLaughlin

In the early 1900s, Vilfredo Pareto, an Italian economist, concluded that 20% of the people controlled 80% of the wealth. Since then, his now-famous 80:20 rule has been applied to everything from advertising and time management to identifying product defects.

One application of Pareto’s Principle is that 20% of your customers or clients will generate 80% of your headaches. It stands to reason that you’ll boost the vibrancy of your business by pruning that disruptive 20% every year or so. Few things damage the long-term health of a business more than client saboteurs—and there are more than a few out there.

Consider Firing a Client if…

• It takes days or weeks to get on your client’s calendar.
  

• Your client wants to approve or attend all your meetings with decision makers.

• You have stopped developing new skills.

• Invoices are nitpicked to death or payments are consistently late.

• The client fails to review critical documents in a timely manner.

• Your profit margin is eroding with no end in sight.

• Your work no longer seems to have a substantive impact on the client’s business.
  

It may sound crazy to fire your clients, but doing so is one of the best strategic actions you can take. Clients define the culture of your business, and serving tiresome ones erodes that culture and poisons the environment. Problem clients create more work and needless stress. They kill your profits and your productivity, and that negativity can seep into your personal life.

It takes courage to walk away from a paying client, no matter what the circumstances. But don’t worry; if you excel at what you do, more desirable clients will find their way to your doorstep.

Michael W. McLaughlin is the coauthor, with Jay Conrad Levinson, of Guerrilla Marketing for Consultants. Michael is a principal with Deloitte Consulting LLP, and the editor of Management Consulting News and The Guerrilla Consultant. Find out more at www.guerrillaconsulting.com and www.managementconsultingnews.com.

Published in Networking Today, June 2005.