5-minute Mangement Course

I can't take credit for this amazing piece of editorial, but I can pass it on. Juicy nuggets of wisdom to be found here:

5-MINUTE MANAGEMENT COURSE

 

 

Lesson 1:
A man is getting into the shower just as his wife is finishing up her shower, when the doorbell rings. The wife quickly wraps herself in a towel and runs downstairs. When she opens the door, there stands Bob, the next-door neighbor.  Before she says a word, Bob says, "I'll give you $800 to drop that towel. "   After thinking for a moment, the woman drops her towel and stands naked in front of Bob After a few seconds, Bob hands her $800 and leaves.   The woman wraps back up in the towel and goes back upstairs. When she gets to the bathroom, her husband asks, "Who was that?"   "It was Bob the next door neighbor," she replies.  "Great!" the husband says, "did he say anything about the $800 he owes me?"

Moral of the story :
If you share critical information pertaining to credit and risk with your shareholders in time, you may be in a position to prevent avoidable exposure.

Lesson 2:
A priest offered a Nun a lift. She got in and crossed her legs, forcing her gown to reveal a leg. The priest nearly had an accident. After controlling the car, he stealthily slid his hand up her leg.   The nun said, "Father, remember Psalm 129?" The priest removed his hand. But, changing gears, he let his hand slide up her leg again.   The nun once again said, "Father, remember Psalm 129?"   The priest apologized "Sorry sister but the flesh is weak."   Arriving at the convent, the nun sighed heavily and went on her way.   On his arrival at the church, the priest rushed to look up Psalm 129 ...It said, "Go forth and seek, further up, you will find glory."

Moral of the story:
If you are not well informed in your job, you might miss a great opportunity.

Lesson 3:
A sales rep, an administration clerk, and the manager are walking to lunch when they find an antique oil lamp. They rub it and a Genie comes out.   The Genie says, "I'll give each of you just one wish."   "Me first! Me first!" says the admin clerk. "I want to be in the Bahamas , driving a speedboat, without a care in the world."   Puff! She's gone.   "Me next! Me next!" says the sales rep. "I want to be in Hawaii , relaxing on the beach with my personal masseuse, an endless supply of Pina Coladas and the love of my life."   Puff! He's gone.   "OK, you're up," the Genie says to the manager.  The manager says, "I want those two back in the office after lunch."

Moral of the story:
Always let your boss have the first say.

Lesson 4
An eagle was sitting on a tree resting, doing nothing. A small rabbit saw the eagle and asked him, "Can I also sit like you and do nothing?"   The eagle answered: "Sure , why not."   So, the rabbit sat on the ground below the eagle and rested. All of a sudden, a fox appeared, jumped on the rabbit and ate it.

Moral of the story:
To be sitting and doing nothing, you must be sitting very, very high up.

Lesson 5
A turkey was chatting with a bull. "I would love to be able to get to the top of that tree," sighed the turkey, "but I haven't got the energy."   "Well, why don't you nibble on some of my droppings?" replied the bull. They're packed with nutrients."   The turkey pecked at a lump of dung, and found it actually gave him enough strength to reach the lowest branch of the tree. The next day, after eating some more dung, he reached the second branch. Finally after a fourth night, the turkey was proudly perched at the top of the tree.   He was promptly spotted by a farmer, who shot him out of the tree.

Moral of the story:
BullShit might get you to the top, but it won't keep you there.

Lesson 6
A little bird was flying south for the Winter. It was so cold the bird froze and fell to the ground into a large field. While he was lying there, a cow came by and dropped some dung on him.   As the frozen bird lay there in the pile of cow dung, he began to realize how warm he was. The dung was actually thawing him out! He lay there all warm and happy, and soon began to sing for joy.   A passing cat heard the bird singing and came to investigate. Following the sound, the cat discovered the bird under the pile of cow dung, and promptly dug him out and ate him.

Morals of the story:
(1) Not everyone who shits on you is your enemy.
(2) Not everyone who gets you out of shit is your friend.
(3) And when you're in deep shit, it's best to keep your mouth shut!

THIS ENDS THE 5-MINUTE MANAGEMENT COURSE

It's not all about you...

Have you ever had this situation occur? You know the one. Where you ask an innocent question of your boss or your boyfriend or a cashier or anybody really, and the reply is snarky, nasty, high-pitched or angry? And you wonder to yourself, what did I say to deserve that reaction? Well, the answer is nothing - you most likely said nothing wrong. Because, their reaction is NOT ABOUT YOU.


Let me explain. This is something that over the years and through communication exercises and training, I've come to learn and observe. We are all unique individuals and we each carry with us our own baggage of some sort. Most of it learned far before we knew what the word ' learn' even means. On any given day, I might be frustrated about work or my level of fitness or an irritating thing my husband said, and you...might ask me an innocent question and I might just unleash on you without any provocation. Is that your fault? No. Is it my fault, Yes. Should you be upset that I threw all my negative feelings and energy at you...ultimately, NO. Because it wasn't about you. It was about me.


My point is this. We have sole control over our minds, emotions and bodies. We have control over how we act and react. We don't have control over how someone else feels or acts or speaks. If someone says or does something to you, you can not control that action, you can only control your reaction (which most of the time is called your attitude). And most things that happen to us are not about us.

The more you remember this, the more control you have over your life. I always have a self-chat about "can I control this?" And if the answer is "No.", then I move away and go about my business. Especially if it has the potential to negatively affect me. Life is too short to worry and deal with other people's drama. I only want positiveness in my life, and I do that by keeping myself surrounded by positive people and making conscious choices about what I will allow to affect me. 

I hope this makes sense to you. I have found this concept to be especially powerful and freeing for me. I want it to resonate for you too. Peace. 

Looking good for your age.

Helloooooo again!

 I'm back. I'm fired up. Let's chat!!

I'm changing the focus of my blog (after a two year hiatus, I've decided to pick it up again). I love fashion, I love make-up, and every darn girly thing out there. But, I realized I love it because it makes me feel good. And not just good but powerful and confident. And as I've gotten older, I realize that is my passion - wanting to make all women feel good, powerful and confident. 

Fashion is one way to feel that but there's other things that contribute. So, I'm going to start focusing on all those things I think help us as women. 

The topic today - something I grapple with daily - is looking age-appropriate. (I'm 44 and still looking good, but not as good as I did at 35) Most of the time, I think I'm doing okay but there are moments when I'm shopping at the GAP and think, "What the hell am I doing in this store? I'm not 16!" and then the next thing I know, I'm headed to the cashier. (can you relate?)

I should maybe start with what my definition is of age-appropriate. For me, it means, if you are over 33, you should no longer be wearing clothing you did when you were 25. It means your make-up should be a touch more subtle. It means you don't shop at PacSun or Claire's or  are buying your bras at Aerie. At 33 (in my opinion) you should be "grown-up". You now have a woman's body, and hopefully a clearer definition of your future and who you are as a person and if you're really lucky, a grown-up job (or family). 


This age is a pivotal point where we, as women, should be feeling our power and not relying so much on what we look like but on what we know. We should be presenting ourselves as the force-to-be-reckoned-with that being in our 30's gives us. Not clinging to whatever it was in our twenties we needed to feel valued (our bodies, our faces, our cute hair-twirling etc).

Here are my questions for you, dear readers. Do you have clothing in your closet that is over 5 years old? When was the last time you bought a different type of hair product? Or got a new hairstyle? Have you changed your make-up routine in the last 3 years?? And are you jeans giving you muffin top because they're too low? Are you clothes hole-y or pilled? 

If you answered "Yes.", "Never", "10 years ago", and "No", "Yes." and "Yeah." to these questions, then you are teetering on the precipice of UN-age appropriateness. 

Things change ladies and we have to change with them. Being current (not necessarily trendy, mind you) in your wardrobe, your make-up, your overall style is not frivolous, its powerful. It shows the world that you are in the NOW, you care about yourself and have a deep self-respect. Those are all pieces to the overall powerful feeling that keep us as women relevant to those around us. 

So, do a self-evaluation. How do you feel? How do you want to feel? Do you have control of your life? If your answer to any of these questions is not what you want it to be, then take action. And if you don't know how, ask me.

Peace, power and confidence.  -Ruth