Quotes By Bo Bennett
Value people on their potential, not on their history.
Success is not in what you have, but who you are.
Communication is about being effective, not always about being proper.
Be friendly to everyone. Those who deserve it the least need it the most.
Remember that it is not where you come from, or not even where you are; it is where you are going that matters most.
Think before you act and act on what you believe.
If you are going to ask yourself life-changing questions, be sure to do something with the answers.
A dream becomes a goal when action is taken toward its achievement.
A good leader is one who can tell another how to reach his or her potential; a great leader is one who can help another discover this potential for him or herself.
A rejection is nothing more than a necessary step in the pursuit of success.
An excuse becomes an obstacle in your journey to success when it is made in place of your best effort or when it is used as the object of the blame.
Avoiding the phrase "I don't have time...", will soon help you to realize that you do have the time needed for just about anything you choose to accomplish in life.
Every day, people settle for less than they deserve. They are only partially living or at best living a partial life. Every human being has the potential for greatness.
Every minute you spend in your life is either spent bringing you closer to your goals or moving you away from your goals.
Frustration, although quite painful at times, is a very positive and essential part of success.
I like to think of sales as the ability to gracefully persuade, not manipulate, a person or persons into a win-win situation.
If you are only doing what you are getting paid for, and doing it no better than the average employee, then your pay is most likely right where it should be.
If you have not taken the time to define what happiness means to you, what have your spent your whole life pursuing?
It is not our mistakes that define who we are; it is how we recover from those mistakes.
Most of us are consumed with our own thoughts and desires and are not always thinking about what other people may want. This is not necessarily being egocentric; it is just being human.
Never expect people to treat you any better than you treat yourself.
Not being in tune with your customers is like living in an alternate reality; the way you think your customers feel about your product is not always the same as what your customers really think about your product.
One's work usually occupies more than half of one's waking life. Choosing work that does not bring happiness will lead to a life that is mostly disappointing. [this falls in with my business plan btw]
Show interest in all people, not just those from whom you want something. Making people feel important and good about themselves is just the right thing to do.
Success is about enjoying what you have and where you are, while pursuing achievable goals.
The only place opportunity cannot be found is in a closed-minded person.
The secret to having everything you want out of life is the realization that you really don't want most of the things you think you want.
Think of success as a game of chance in which you have control over the odds. As you begin to master concepts in personal achievement, you are increasing your odds of achieving success.
Those who improve with age embrace the power of personal growth and personal achievement and begin to replace youth with wisdom, innocence with understanding, and lack of purpose with self-actualization.
Untapped potential is the difference between where a person is now and where he or she can be.
Visualization is daydreaming with a purpose.
We can create the ultimate job security by becoming less dependent on the organization for which we work and more dependent on our own resources.
When it comes to success, there are no shortcuts.
While we are focusing on fear, worry, or hate, it is not possible for us to be experiencing happiness, enthusiasm or love.
Without initiative, leaders are simply workers in leadership positions.
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
Business Tip: Signs of a dysfunctional company
"The hallmark of a dysfunctional organization is a gap between reality and rhetoric," says Ben Dattner, a New York organizational psychologist. When resources are not used effectively or fairly, when plans are heavy on talk but weak on action or when barriers to communication cripple performance, you're dealing with a dysfunctional company.
Once diagnosed, the corrosive effects of such problems can be corrected. But make no mistake: It's neither easy nor immediate. You need to be tough-minded about identifying the source, particularly because it often starts at the top, where the power resides.
Here are three telltale signs that your company is unhealthy and some possible ways to get it well again.
1. You've got leaders who fake it.
The discrepancy between what leaders say they want and what they really want often causes company dysfunction. You can't ask employees to do anything you're not willing to do yourself.
2. You've got bosses who like to point fingers.
No company can flourish in an environment that penalizes experimentation or trust. While that sounds obvious, on a day-to-day basis the nature of risk-taking inevitably means a great number of dead ends before any breakthrough. Very few managers remain calm after hitting the wall.
But how you handle those crashes — and how you encourage employees to pick up the pieces and start anew — makes all the difference between a company that encourages innovation and one that stagnates.
"When you see a pattern of blaming and people trying to protect themselves and their particular turf, something is wrong," says Russ Moserowitz of Franchise Insights, a Bedminster, N.J., consulting company.
The remedy is to put your trust in the people you hire and give every employee sincere responsibility. Hands-on, my-way-or-the-highway entrepreneurs won't find this easy. But that's how the business gets better.
3. You've got a CEO who doesn't set priorities.
Fast-growing companies are often so intensely focused on moving to the next level that no one is actually in charge. That's how dysfunction creeps in and takes hold.
Company leaders must set
the mission and the agenda. A hands-off policy can only go so far.
http://www.microsoft.com/smallbusiness/resources/management/leadership-training/3-signs-of-a-dysfunctional-company.aspx#signsofadysfunctionalcompany
Once diagnosed, the corrosive effects of such problems can be corrected. But make no mistake: It's neither easy nor immediate. You need to be tough-minded about identifying the source, particularly because it often starts at the top, where the power resides.
Here are three telltale signs that your company is unhealthy and some possible ways to get it well again.
1. You've got leaders who fake it.
The discrepancy between what leaders say they want and what they really want often causes company dysfunction. You can't ask employees to do anything you're not willing to do yourself.
2. You've got bosses who like to point fingers.
No company can flourish in an environment that penalizes experimentation or trust. While that sounds obvious, on a day-to-day basis the nature of risk-taking inevitably means a great number of dead ends before any breakthrough. Very few managers remain calm after hitting the wall.
But how you handle those crashes — and how you encourage employees to pick up the pieces and start anew — makes all the difference between a company that encourages innovation and one that stagnates.
"When you see a pattern of blaming and people trying to protect themselves and their particular turf, something is wrong," says Russ Moserowitz of Franchise Insights, a Bedminster, N.J., consulting company.
The remedy is to put your trust in the people you hire and give every employee sincere responsibility. Hands-on, my-way-or-the-highway entrepreneurs won't find this easy. But that's how the business gets better.
3. You've got a CEO who doesn't set priorities.
Fast-growing companies are often so intensely focused on moving to the next level that no one is actually in charge. That's how dysfunction creeps in and takes hold.
Company leaders must set
the mission and the agenda. A hands-off policy can only go so far.
http://www.microsoft.com/smallbusiness/resources/management/leadership-training/3-signs-of-a-dysfunctional-company.aspx#signsofadysfunctionalcompany
Life Tip: Changes the way You think a bit doesn't it?
[http://www.tranquilityisyours.com/cry.html ]
I know some moan about reading and say that humans don't like to.
But I'm sorry to inform you - thats NOT a good thing. [Leaders Are Readers BTW FYI]
Humans are declining globally when it comes to pursuing knowledge. Books die, Libraries lie bare...
Life changing information never discovered.
It's sad.
And the thing I find most depressing, is the lack of investment in ones own growth.
Learning about yourself is the most important thing you can do.
It's saving my life. And helping me to change, and to grow, and to understand people. And bear with some haha.
And I am working on communicating better, because I do feel like at times I have miscommunicated myself and so been misunderstood. Completely misunderstood at times. Even now - I feel some have made up their minds based on a misunderstood emotional reaction.
And its been really horrible sometimes.
To feel judged. Put down through subliminal [or not so subliminal] hints and attacks , being Mocked. belittled...
[And while you would say you weren't, you know you were. And if you would just stop, and take a look at yourself-
Especially from outside of your biased perspective,
then maybe you would see things a little differently.
No.
Maybe you would see things A LOT DIFFERENTLY.
and then maybe... no, and then things WILL change.
and my friend, when the stats tell you people aren't happy, you've got to face the facts.
You've lived the lie long enough.
Open your eyes.
And see the truth.
Because its right in front of you.
Theres a reason there's both thinkers and feelers in society. Because they need each other so that the head doesn't get too big and kill the heart. Yes, a metaphor.
But in society thinkers can kill feelers. Especially due to a lack of understanding.
Read on, I know this is hard for you
To Whom It May Concern,
The reasons for my writings is I feel the need to share something I feel is of grave importance. A truth that if understood, could change many things for many people.
There are different personality types in the world.
some people do not think like you. and you two will not understand each other. and don't presume to. unless you communicate. and honestly.
There are thinkers and there are feelers. And I think there is a suppression and misunderstanding and lack of structuring towards promoting feelers in certain regards
My training manager at work is teaching us to use metaphors in order to explain some things, so here goes. Showing differences between feelers and thinkers and suppression of feelers through an analogy
Foosball. I love foosball.
Now being a feeler, I believe in good sportsmanship.
Definition of sportsmanship: Which is the "Golden Rule of Sports haha interesting :P
The "Golden Rule" -- Do unto others as you would have others do unto you.
So feelers think about others?
And while it is not a requirement, it is a value I hold closely. So I'd happily lose to a "good" game of foosball.
Then there are those that would rather win and exploit a shot that statistically increases onces chances of scoring by about 80% in order to win the game
[ exploit means to take advantage of btw]
So for me, I'd happily lose for good sportsmanship over losing to having my "achilles heel" attacked constantly.
Now take this to the real picture - and in society when thinkers dominate they tend to attack the emotional aspect that is a feelers makeup, and due to not understanding, stifle the cries until they cry no more.
Definition of demoralization:
To undermine the confidence or morale of; dishearten
[morale: the degree of mental or moral confidence of a person or group; spirit of optimism]
And heres something interesting: http://aynrandlexicon.com/lexicon/amoralism.html
and this: http://aynrandlexicon.com/lexicon/anti-conceptual_mentality.html
[Is the amoralist acting irrationally in refusing to acknowledge the welfare of others as an end he ought to pursue?]
This is largely a thinkers dominated society, and I believe largely due to inefficient education in the aspect of emotions, human development and understanding, etc.
The more I learn about myself and why I react to certain things etc, the more I change the things I react to and the way I react.
And an understanding that other people think and act and see things completely differently helps me to get over a lot of issues or potential grudges haha.
And also to meet people where they're at.
Like, I'm going through a lot of stress myself at the moment due to being overworked and going through a lot of stuff in life - I'm happy but my system is worn out and tired. and so I am emotionally extremely drained. So my system makes me look emotional whenever i get in a frustrating situation , suppressed, etc.
and check this out: for those who get so stressed out you cry? don't feel bad:
"...A study by the University of Minnesota discovered that the chemicals that build
up in your body during emotional stress can be removed in your tears, and
unreleased stress can increase your risk for heart attack and damage certain
areas of your brain. So your human ability to cry is not only therapeutic, but
could even be considered a survival tactic.
Sometimes you have no choice. Your body overrides any
effort to suppress the urge to cry. When you hold back
your tears, you only amplify the emotions or stress your
body is trying to release through crying..."
Definition of Stress:
[http://medical-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/stress]
Stress is defined as an organism's total response to environmental demands or pressures.
So , last year I had a blackout from exhaustion due to working too much aged 22, and this year my doctor prescribed medication for me for stress - and i get put down for the symptoms triggered by stress, which doesn't help when I'm recovering...
and some are wired to not give a fuck about anything I just said.
its great.
also , think about keeping your mind open - being open minded - because as we get older we start "setting" in our ways and it "solidifies" in a sense - becomes us. and once you think you have arrived - you set yourself up for a state of decline.
I know some moan about reading and say that humans don't like to.
But I'm sorry to inform you - thats NOT a good thing. [Leaders Are Readers BTW FYI]
Humans are declining globally when it comes to pursuing knowledge. Books die, Libraries lie bare...
Life changing information never discovered.
It's sad.
And the thing I find most depressing, is the lack of investment in ones own growth.
Learning about yourself is the most important thing you can do.
It's saving my life. And helping me to change, and to grow, and to understand people. And bear with some haha.
And I am working on communicating better, because I do feel like at times I have miscommunicated myself and so been misunderstood. Completely misunderstood at times. Even now - I feel some have made up their minds based on a misunderstood emotional reaction.
And its been really horrible sometimes.
To feel judged. Put down through subliminal [or not so subliminal] hints and attacks , being Mocked. belittled...
[And while you would say you weren't, you know you were. And if you would just stop, and take a look at yourself-
Especially from outside of your biased perspective,
then maybe you would see things a little differently.
No.
Maybe you would see things A LOT DIFFERENTLY.
and then maybe... no, and then things WILL change.
and my friend, when the stats tell you people aren't happy, you've got to face the facts.
You've lived the lie long enough.
Open your eyes.
And see the truth.
Because its right in front of you.
Theres a reason there's both thinkers and feelers in society. Because they need each other so that the head doesn't get too big and kill the heart. Yes, a metaphor.
But in society thinkers can kill feelers. Especially due to a lack of understanding.
Read on, I know this is hard for you
To Whom It May Concern,
The reasons for my writings is I feel the need to share something I feel is of grave importance. A truth that if understood, could change many things for many people.
There are different personality types in the world.
some people do not think like you. and you two will not understand each other. and don't presume to. unless you communicate. and honestly.
There are thinkers and there are feelers. And I think there is a suppression and misunderstanding and lack of structuring towards promoting feelers in certain regards
My training manager at work is teaching us to use metaphors in order to explain some things, so here goes. Showing differences between feelers and thinkers and suppression of feelers through an analogy
Foosball. I love foosball.
Now being a feeler, I believe in good sportsmanship.
Definition of sportsmanship: Which is the "Golden Rule of Sports haha interesting :P
The "Golden Rule" -- Do unto others as you would have others do unto you.
So feelers think about others?
And while it is not a requirement, it is a value I hold closely. So I'd happily lose to a "good" game of foosball.
Then there are those that would rather win and exploit a shot that statistically increases onces chances of scoring by about 80% in order to win the game
[ exploit means to take advantage of btw]
So for me, I'd happily lose for good sportsmanship over losing to having my "achilles heel" attacked constantly.
Now take this to the real picture - and in society when thinkers dominate they tend to attack the emotional aspect that is a feelers makeup, and due to not understanding, stifle the cries until they cry no more.
Definition of demoralization:
To undermine the confidence or morale of; dishearten
[morale: the degree of mental or moral confidence of a person or group; spirit of optimism]
And heres something interesting: http://aynrandlexicon.com/lexicon/amoralism.html
and this: http://aynrandlexicon.com/lexicon/anti-conceptual_mentality.html
[Is the amoralist acting irrationally in refusing to acknowledge the welfare of others as an end he ought to pursue?]
This is largely a thinkers dominated society, and I believe largely due to inefficient education in the aspect of emotions, human development and understanding, etc.
The more I learn about myself and why I react to certain things etc, the more I change the things I react to and the way I react.
And an understanding that other people think and act and see things completely differently helps me to get over a lot of issues or potential grudges haha.
And also to meet people where they're at.
Like, I'm going through a lot of stress myself at the moment due to being overworked and going through a lot of stuff in life - I'm happy but my system is worn out and tired. and so I am emotionally extremely drained. So my system makes me look emotional whenever i get in a frustrating situation , suppressed, etc.
and check this out: for those who get so stressed out you cry? don't feel bad:
"...A study by the University of Minnesota discovered that the chemicals that build
up in your body during emotional stress can be removed in your tears, and
unreleased stress can increase your risk for heart attack and damage certain
areas of your brain. So your human ability to cry is not only therapeutic, but
could even be considered a survival tactic.
Sometimes you have no choice. Your body overrides any
effort to suppress the urge to cry. When you hold back
your tears, you only amplify the emotions or stress your
body is trying to release through crying..."
Definition of Stress:
[http://medical-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/stress]
Stress is defined as an organism's total response to environmental demands or pressures.
So , last year I had a blackout from exhaustion due to working too much aged 22, and this year my doctor prescribed medication for me for stress - and i get put down for the symptoms triggered by stress, which doesn't help when I'm recovering...
and some are wired to not give a fuck about anything I just said.
its great.
also , think about keeping your mind open - being open minded - because as we get older we start "setting" in our ways and it "solidifies" in a sense - becomes us. and once you think you have arrived - you set yourself up for a state of decline.
Business Tip: The Office Death Requiem - Twelve Ways to Kill the Passion and Potential in Your Office
by Kelly Swanson, Humorist
1. State your opinion wherever and whenever possible. Make sure that you always comment on everything that is going on. People need to hear how you feel about everything.
2. Look for the negative in everything and everybody. New project? Make sure you find out what's wrong with it and share it with everyone. New employee? Wait in dark corners to see if they slip up. Somebody makes a mistake? Hooray, you've got something to do for the rest of the day. Always be on the lookout for how people are messing up. Never ever find ways to build them up. That's not your job.
3. Squelch exciting new ideas with three ways you would have done it better. Nothing kills excitement faster than you following their new idea with how you would have done it differently. Say something pat like, "That's nice, but it will never work. We tried it ten years ago."
4. Spread Gossip. Make sure that news never stops with you. It's your duty to make sure everybody in the office knows about it by lunch - because you're concerned, of course. Then go home and tell your family. Call your friends and fill them in. And if you have time, run and tell the neighbors. They are all just waiting for you to come fill them in.
5. Make sure nobody is having fun in the office. This is not a carnival; it's a place of business. You don't pay people to have fun, you pay people to work. Wipe that smile off your face and remember that it sucks to work here. Be happy on your own time. Be glad you have a job.
6. Come up with a vision and goals that fit your agenda, type them up in a fifty-page manual, and yell at people when they don't walk around setting your words to music. Scratch your head and wonder why they aren't excited about working here. Why their actions don't reflect your missions. Why their only motivation is to get to five o'clock. Then sit down, write a revised updated mission statement, type it up, and ask that it be replaced in that notebook on the dusty shelf in the break room. Oh, yeah, and ask them to refer to it often.
7. Blame problems on other people. It's not your fault they've got a bad attitude. Never should have hired them in the first place. Sour apple spoils the bunch. Remind yourself that in the fairy tale, you are never the wicked witch - it's always somebody else. People can't be motivated, so don't even try.
8. Make sure everybody hates you. You get more respect that way. You aren't paid to be liked - you're paid to get the job done. Fear and intimidation create loyalty in a company. Keep them on their toes by reminding them that you can get rid of them at any moment.
9. Let your office double as a therapist's office. Have plenty of tissues. Let them know they can come here and get marriage advice and lots of love. Spend hours telling them how they can get Little Susie potty trained. Tell them your door is always open. We're here to make sure everybody's feelings are taken care of. Accountability? Not here. How can Cathy Customer Service be expected to work when her ex-boyfriend left her for the cross-dressing circus clown at the county fair? Let's be realistic.
10. Make sure nobody understands their value to the bottom line. An occasional thank you or a turkey at Christmas is okay. But that's it. You've given them a job and you expect them to do it and be happy about it. Don't show them the big picture of how all of you serve together as a team embracing one common coal. Please. You're not motivational speakers for gosh sakes.
11. Focus on processes more than attitude. Give them a hundred and fifty things to do and then monitor every step. It's all about the process - so, by golly, give them more every chance you get. Forget about attitude. Forget about creating a corporate culture of integrity - shoot, that's for sissies. So what if their motivation is to serve their own agenda and make sure they look good even at the customer's expense? As long as they get that report in on time, you're happy.
12. Walk away from this article all bent out of shape because I listed twelve things. Who does that? That's not the way you're supposed to do it an article! Something should be done about this! The horror! Spend the rest of the day smug and happy with yourself that you play by the rules and do things like everybody else. Congratulations. You are now part of the pack.
1. State your opinion wherever and whenever possible. Make sure that you always comment on everything that is going on. People need to hear how you feel about everything.
2. Look for the negative in everything and everybody. New project? Make sure you find out what's wrong with it and share it with everyone. New employee? Wait in dark corners to see if they slip up. Somebody makes a mistake? Hooray, you've got something to do for the rest of the day. Always be on the lookout for how people are messing up. Never ever find ways to build them up. That's not your job.
3. Squelch exciting new ideas with three ways you would have done it better. Nothing kills excitement faster than you following their new idea with how you would have done it differently. Say something pat like, "That's nice, but it will never work. We tried it ten years ago."
4. Spread Gossip. Make sure that news never stops with you. It's your duty to make sure everybody in the office knows about it by lunch - because you're concerned, of course. Then go home and tell your family. Call your friends and fill them in. And if you have time, run and tell the neighbors. They are all just waiting for you to come fill them in.
5. Make sure nobody is having fun in the office. This is not a carnival; it's a place of business. You don't pay people to have fun, you pay people to work. Wipe that smile off your face and remember that it sucks to work here. Be happy on your own time. Be glad you have a job.
6. Come up with a vision and goals that fit your agenda, type them up in a fifty-page manual, and yell at people when they don't walk around setting your words to music. Scratch your head and wonder why they aren't excited about working here. Why their actions don't reflect your missions. Why their only motivation is to get to five o'clock. Then sit down, write a revised updated mission statement, type it up, and ask that it be replaced in that notebook on the dusty shelf in the break room. Oh, yeah, and ask them to refer to it often.
7. Blame problems on other people. It's not your fault they've got a bad attitude. Never should have hired them in the first place. Sour apple spoils the bunch. Remind yourself that in the fairy tale, you are never the wicked witch - it's always somebody else. People can't be motivated, so don't even try.
8. Make sure everybody hates you. You get more respect that way. You aren't paid to be liked - you're paid to get the job done. Fear and intimidation create loyalty in a company. Keep them on their toes by reminding them that you can get rid of them at any moment.
9. Let your office double as a therapist's office. Have plenty of tissues. Let them know they can come here and get marriage advice and lots of love. Spend hours telling them how they can get Little Susie potty trained. Tell them your door is always open. We're here to make sure everybody's feelings are taken care of. Accountability? Not here. How can Cathy Customer Service be expected to work when her ex-boyfriend left her for the cross-dressing circus clown at the county fair? Let's be realistic.
10. Make sure nobody understands their value to the bottom line. An occasional thank you or a turkey at Christmas is okay. But that's it. You've given them a job and you expect them to do it and be happy about it. Don't show them the big picture of how all of you serve together as a team embracing one common coal. Please. You're not motivational speakers for gosh sakes.
11. Focus on processes more than attitude. Give them a hundred and fifty things to do and then monitor every step. It's all about the process - so, by golly, give them more every chance you get. Forget about attitude. Forget about creating a corporate culture of integrity - shoot, that's for sissies. So what if their motivation is to serve their own agenda and make sure they look good even at the customer's expense? As long as they get that report in on time, you're happy.
12. Walk away from this article all bent out of shape because I listed twelve things. Who does that? That's not the way you're supposed to do it an article! Something should be done about this! The horror! Spend the rest of the day smug and happy with yourself that you play by the rules and do things like everybody else. Congratulations. You are now part of the pack.
Business Tip: DISC Profile Styles Needs and Desires By R. L. Cagle
It is important to understand different aspects of the various styles of DISC personality profiles. One of the areas to keep in mind when assessing different styles is their needs and desires. This can let you know the types of work environments that the different styles prefer. In a sales situation, it lets you know what type of presentation or approach will be most effective.
Dominance need and desire power, authority, and prestige. They prefer direct answers and like people to be brief and to the point. They seem to be all business, need support for their decisions and desire challenges and risks. Dominance personalities need possibilities and options and actually enjoy attacking problems and participating in spirited debate.
The Influence style desires praise and recognition. They like a work environment that gives them freedom, with a friendly atmosphere. They need excitement, new and different situations, Influence personalities need a chance to talk, want support for their dreams and respond well to incentives.
Steadiness styles like the status quo, and prefer to work in a structured environment with lots of organization. They prefer an agreeable atmosphere at work and like the team approach to projects. If you have to implement change for a Steady be sure to give them time to adjust to the change if possible.
The Competence personality desires to be right the first time and it is very important for them to be correct. They need details and specifics and do not respond well to hype. They like their privacy and prefer having exact job or task descriptions. Competence styles need accurate data, and respond best to facts and logic.
Dominance need and desire power, authority, and prestige. They prefer direct answers and like people to be brief and to the point. They seem to be all business, need support for their decisions and desire challenges and risks. Dominance personalities need possibilities and options and actually enjoy attacking problems and participating in spirited debate.
The Influence style desires praise and recognition. They like a work environment that gives them freedom, with a friendly atmosphere. They need excitement, new and different situations, Influence personalities need a chance to talk, want support for their dreams and respond well to incentives.
Steadiness styles like the status quo, and prefer to work in a structured environment with lots of organization. They prefer an agreeable atmosphere at work and like the team approach to projects. If you have to implement change for a Steady be sure to give them time to adjust to the change if possible.
The Competence personality desires to be right the first time and it is very important for them to be correct. They need details and specifics and do not respond well to hype. They like their privacy and prefer having exact job or task descriptions. Competence styles need accurate data, and respond best to facts and logic.
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