Wednesday, July 8, 2009
How to Release Stress
Stress is caused by problems and issues. The best way to release stress is to write down your problems and issues, focus all your thinking and energy to discover the solution.
Saturday, July 4, 2009
July Book: Leadership Passages
Leadership Passages: The Personal and Professional Transitions That Make or Break a Leader
by David Dotlich
This book is for senior executives who went through life change events. It is a easy read and provides interesting suggestions for anyone who are going through any dramatic life events, such as promotions, layoffs, new job, lost loved ones, starting a company, moving to foreign country to start a new career...
Publisher Comments:
Predict and Survive the Make-or-Break Crises You Will Face in the Course of Your Career
"Leadership Passages describes systematically that it is far more effective and compelling to build on both successes and failures, rather than trying to overlook or even ignore the valuable lessons that unavoidable adversity in both our personal and business lives can teach us."
–Daniel Vasella, chairman and CEO, Novartis
"If you want to succeed and have inner peace at the same time, then this book is for you."
–Ram Charan, coauthor, Execution: The Discipline of Getting Things Done
"Leadership Passages describes in direct, simple, and honest language how human beings become great leaders. Filled with wisdom, insight, and practical advice from three world-class coaches–reading this book is like attending and completing a senior-level leadership program, or spending a week with the best executive coach."
–Linda Clark-Santos, senior vice president, Talent & Organizational Capability of Washington Mutual
"Do careers stop when we are passed over, have a bad boss, or just blow it? Not according to this book. Great leaders pick themselves up and move on, learning while they go forward. Leadership Passages shows us how."
–Ken Blanchard, coauthor, The One Minute Manager® and The Secret
"This breakthrough book on leadership development is filled with practical advice on ways to lead others and ways to learn from your life as well as your career. We all know that experience is a teacher, but Dotlich, Noel, and Walker show us why!"
–Joe Berardino, vice chairman, Sciens Capital Management LLC, and former chairman and CEO, Andersen Worldwide
by David Dotlich
This book is for senior executives who went through life change events. It is a easy read and provides interesting suggestions for anyone who are going through any dramatic life events, such as promotions, layoffs, new job, lost loved ones, starting a company, moving to foreign country to start a new career...
Publisher Comments:
Predict and Survive the Make-or-Break Crises You Will Face in the Course of Your Career
"Leadership Passages describes systematically that it is far more effective and compelling to build on both successes and failures, rather than trying to overlook or even ignore the valuable lessons that unavoidable adversity in both our personal and business lives can teach us."
–Daniel Vasella, chairman and CEO, Novartis
"If you want to succeed and have inner peace at the same time, then this book is for you."
–Ram Charan, coauthor, Execution: The Discipline of Getting Things Done
"Leadership Passages describes in direct, simple, and honest language how human beings become great leaders. Filled with wisdom, insight, and practical advice from three world-class coaches–reading this book is like attending and completing a senior-level leadership program, or spending a week with the best executive coach."
–Linda Clark-Santos, senior vice president, Talent & Organizational Capability of Washington Mutual
"Do careers stop when we are passed over, have a bad boss, or just blow it? Not according to this book. Great leaders pick themselves up and move on, learning while they go forward. Leadership Passages shows us how."
–Ken Blanchard, coauthor, The One Minute Manager® and The Secret
"This breakthrough book on leadership development is filled with practical advice on ways to lead others and ways to learn from your life as well as your career. We all know that experience is a teacher, but Dotlich, Noel, and Walker show us why!"
–Joe Berardino, vice chairman, Sciens Capital Management LLC, and former chairman and CEO, Andersen Worldwide
Sunday, June 21, 2009
Tournament of Champions
My son is an excellent baseball player; he is fast, strategic and calm under stress. This year, he is on a great team. They won the Saratoga AAA Little League Championship two weeks ago. The team advanced to the Regional Minor Tournament of Champions.
Everyone was excited. The coaches and team practiced everyday.
They won the first game on Saturday. They won the 2nd game on Monday. They won the 3rd game on Tuesday. Then they entered the final. It was a tough game. Luck was not on our side. Many hits were caught in mid of air, there were two questionable calls from the umpires and the team got frustrated. My son scored but the team lost the game. They are in the 2nd place.
The final game wiped all recent victories, everyone felt defeated instead of enjoying the great season. I know I was one of them.
My son and I walked to my car, I asked him: "How do you feel?" His face was still calm, showing neither excitement nor disappointment. "Mom, it is okay”, he said. “ I learned one thing from my coach, if you want it bad enough, use your heart and guts, you will get it eventually."
It was a moment of truth in my life. We use our brain every day forgetting about our heart and guts, the sources of true success. So gather your passion and courage and go for what you want in your life. Eventually you will get it
Everyone was excited. The coaches and team practiced everyday.
They won the first game on Saturday. They won the 2nd game on Monday. They won the 3rd game on Tuesday. Then they entered the final. It was a tough game. Luck was not on our side. Many hits were caught in mid of air, there were two questionable calls from the umpires and the team got frustrated. My son scored but the team lost the game. They are in the 2nd place.
The final game wiped all recent victories, everyone felt defeated instead of enjoying the great season. I know I was one of them.
My son and I walked to my car, I asked him: "How do you feel?" His face was still calm, showing neither excitement nor disappointment. "Mom, it is okay”, he said. “ I learned one thing from my coach, if you want it bad enough, use your heart and guts, you will get it eventually."
It was a moment of truth in my life. We use our brain every day forgetting about our heart and guts, the sources of true success. So gather your passion and courage and go for what you want in your life. Eventually you will get it
Monday, June 15, 2009
Recommended handbook: The Business Style Handbook
The Business Style Handbook: An A-to-Z Guide for Writing on the Job with Tips from Communications Experts at the Fortune 500 (Paperback)
by Helen Cunningham (Author), Brenda Greene (Author)
This books is very helpful if English is your 2nd language.
by Helen Cunningham (Author), Brenda Greene (Author)
This books is very helpful if English is your 2nd language.
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
Being Challenged or Managed
My friend lost his job recently and has been actively interviewing for a new one.
Last month he came out of an interview, calling his best friends, telling us how excited he was. He felt challenged by the hiring manager, by his energy, vision and ambitions. We all hoped he would get his dream job. But he didn’t. One of the stakeholders did not approve hiring him. We felt very sorry for him.
He went to another interview a few days ago, another good opportunity; we were all excited for him and kept our fingers crossed. He called me after his interview; his voice was low, filled with sadness. He said he felt he would be “managed not challenged” by the hiring manager during the interview.
How sad! being managed and not challenged! A creative mind that is challenged generates excellent ideas. A great leader sets the bar high, exudes high energy and challenges and inspires his employees.
A good manager could use a matter of fact attitude, gather all facts about all the candidates, compare their strengths and weaknesses and then make their decision. Yes, he could get the most qualified employee, but might not get a super-charged employee, an innovative mind and productive and creative solution generator.
Last month he came out of an interview, calling his best friends, telling us how excited he was. He felt challenged by the hiring manager, by his energy, vision and ambitions. We all hoped he would get his dream job. But he didn’t. One of the stakeholders did not approve hiring him. We felt very sorry for him.
He went to another interview a few days ago, another good opportunity; we were all excited for him and kept our fingers crossed. He called me after his interview; his voice was low, filled with sadness. He said he felt he would be “managed not challenged” by the hiring manager during the interview.
How sad! being managed and not challenged! A creative mind that is challenged generates excellent ideas. A great leader sets the bar high, exudes high energy and challenges and inspires his employees.
A good manager could use a matter of fact attitude, gather all facts about all the candidates, compare their strengths and weaknesses and then make their decision. Yes, he could get the most qualified employee, but might not get a super-charged employee, an innovative mind and productive and creative solution generator.
Saturday, May 23, 2009
Orthogonal Networking
The long weekend is coming, another perfect time to network and find new opportunities. One of my friends complained to me:” I having been seeing the same friends in the same professions for 20 years, they are my competitors in the job market, I am not motivated to network with them!”
I sort of agree with her. I suggested her try something different, something I called “Orthogonal Network”, instead of networking with the group of people who have the same professions, network with people who are in the same field, but in different roles. For example: If you are an engineer, try to network with an accountant, a sales person or marketing person, and vice versa. If you are a controller, you might want to network with a VC, CEO or another executive.
These friends in orthogonal roles know what’s going on in their companies and will recommend you to the openings in their company without feeling been threatened.
I sort of agree with her. I suggested her try something different, something I called “Orthogonal Network”, instead of networking with the group of people who have the same professions, network with people who are in the same field, but in different roles. For example: If you are an engineer, try to network with an accountant, a sales person or marketing person, and vice versa. If you are a controller, you might want to network with a VC, CEO or another executive.
These friends in orthogonal roles know what’s going on in their companies and will recommend you to the openings in their company without feeling been threatened.
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
Rock Climbing
Rocking climbing was my son’s top choice to celebrate his 11th birthday; he was going to challenge himself as well as his friends.
His younger brother was not sure whether he should join the group. One hour before the party my friend called and asked if her 7 year old could join the rock climbing party. My younger son heard our conversation; he decided to join the troop.
Climbing the 20 foot wall was an easy task for my older son. He conquered every single wall the instructor suggested. But it was a hard task for other 11 year old boys. One of them quit after he reached 5 feet, two of them quit after 10 feet. “It was too hard, it is too high, I am afraid of heights” the boys told others when they finally touched the floor.
My younger son followed in his older brother’s footsteps, his legs were trembling, he struggled, rested and struggled again. With his family cheering him on, he finally reached the top. Then he struggled even harder to get down. He would not let go and slide down the wall.
I held the sweaty little one and asked him how he felt. He told me the same thing the other boys said, he was tired and scared. “Why didn’t you quit?”, I asked. “ I saw the top, I was very close to it! My brother did it, I can do it too!” he replied.
We all experience fear, a tiring moment, a feeling of unfair competition and treatment. Some of us quit because we don’t have a goal or hope for the outcome. Some of us continue because we have clear goals and faith in our success.
His younger brother was not sure whether he should join the group. One hour before the party my friend called and asked if her 7 year old could join the rock climbing party. My younger son heard our conversation; he decided to join the troop.
Climbing the 20 foot wall was an easy task for my older son. He conquered every single wall the instructor suggested. But it was a hard task for other 11 year old boys. One of them quit after he reached 5 feet, two of them quit after 10 feet. “It was too hard, it is too high, I am afraid of heights” the boys told others when they finally touched the floor.
My younger son followed in his older brother’s footsteps, his legs were trembling, he struggled, rested and struggled again. With his family cheering him on, he finally reached the top. Then he struggled even harder to get down. He would not let go and slide down the wall.
I held the sweaty little one and asked him how he felt. He told me the same thing the other boys said, he was tired and scared. “Why didn’t you quit?”, I asked. “ I saw the top, I was very close to it! My brother did it, I can do it too!” he replied.
We all experience fear, a tiring moment, a feeling of unfair competition and treatment. Some of us quit because we don’t have a goal or hope for the outcome. Some of us continue because we have clear goals and faith in our success.
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