November, 2008

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How to Get the Boss To Listen to You

On The Job

Do you sometimes think you've become the invisible employee? Do you think the only way your boss might pay attention to you is if you were holding a phone and saying: "I've got Oprah on the line for you!" You're not alone. Many people have felt ignored by their managers, but they are really beginning to fret more about it these days because they fear that "out of mind" may mean "out of a job" if layoffs hit their workplace.

Solution 114
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Creative Ritual or Mundane Routine?

Lateral Action

Photo by José Encarnação Duff left a thoughtful comment on my post about creative rituals , highlighting a potential danger of incorporating ritual into your creative process: the yin to the yang of ritual anchors is pure novelty. Bradford Keeney is a strong advocate of creative living by shaking up habitual routines and rituals. There is definitely something to this argument as well.

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When Was the Last Time You Made a Career Deposit?

On The Job

When I was a child, my mother often talked about living through the Depression. As the oldest child, she was sent to live with relatives when her family could no longer afford to feed all three children. Even though her time away from the family only lasted about a year, it greatly affected her life. She hated antiques. She thought of them as old, and old stuff meant poverty.

Career 100
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10 of the Toughest Interview Questions Ever

On The Job

My last post generated a lot of comments regarding the tougher stance employers may be taking regarding truthfulness from job seekers based on President-Elect Obama's criteria, and it got me to thinking about just how far the new administration may be willing to go when it comes to vetting job candidates. The Obama Administration is reportedly going to check into everything from an applicant's friends, family and associates to past e-mails, texts, online comments, etc., looking for anything that

Food 100
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How to Turn “Check-the-Box” Compliance Trainings Into Real Learning

Speaker: Brian Richardson, Brian Richardson, Founder and CEO of Richardson Consulting Group

Let’s face it—most ethics and compliance trainings aren’t winning awards for engagement. But that doesn’t mean they can’t be effective, relevant, and maybe even enjoyable! Join expert Brian Richardson for a dynamic session on how to breathe new life into your ethics and compliance training programs. You’ll discover creative strategies to turn traditionally dry topics into meaningful learning experiences that resonate and drive real change.

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Five Ways to Network With the Boss

On The Job

Want to know a key player many people forget to network with these days? The boss. Yep, the head honcho. The big kahuna. The top dog. You may wonder why you need to network with the boss when a) you see him every day; and b) you see him every day, dammit. But networking involves much more than just trying to get new business or find a new job. It's about understanding what the other person needs, what will help make him or her successful and how you can develop a quality relationship with the pe

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Is the New Color of Success. Green?

On The Job

When this nation was in it's formative stages, many people were struggling with low wages, few jobs and limited opportunities. "Go West, young man," advised many. So, thousands of people headed West, seeking their fortune and new lives. Now, I'm about to offer the same advice. Want better wages, a new and growing career and unlimited oportunities? Go green, ladies and gentlemen, go green.

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How Getting Nothing Done Can Make You More Productive

Lateral Action

Photo by iBrotha. Have you ever spent a whole day doing absolutely nothing, either for productivity or pleasure? The closest I've come has been on silent meditation retreats at a Buddhist monastery. The retreats I've attended have lasted between 3 and 10 days. The schedule and rules are designed to minimise not just fun and distractions but also productive activity.

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Spark Better Creative Thinking With Extra Headroom

Lateral Action

It’s a bit of a cliché… the artist’s loft with soaring ceilings as the ideal environment to unleash a masterpiece. But does that type of space really have anything to do with creativity? Spaces with tall ceilings certainly seem more inspirational, right? That’s why it’s the second thing your real estate agent points out (right after "Look how big it is!

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From the Comments: John T. Unger on Creative Burnout

Lateral Action

The Beach Burner Portable Bonfire by John T. Unger. Artist, entrepreneur and creative rock star John T. Unger left such a great comment on the post The Dark Side of Creativity: Burnout we thought it deserved a wider audience. If you've not read it already, you might like to read the creative burnout post to get the context before reading John's response.

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Lou Has a Killer Idea

Lateral Action

Lou went to graduate school for business administration. Lou knows how to administer business, and that’s what Lou does. In fact, Lou’s a master at it. Says so right there on the wall. But lately, everyone seems to want him to do more, be more creative, solve more problems. Lou is really starting to resent people like Jack and Marla. until he has what he thinks is the killer idea.

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Mid-Year Review: How to Ignite Employee Potential Through Meaningful Feedback

Mid-year performance reviews aren’t just boxes for HR to check. Paycor’s toolkit empowers leaders to: Identify high-potential team members. Boost engagement with meaningful feedback. Support struggling employees. Nurture top talent to drive results. Learn how to ignite employee potential through meaningful feedback. When you nurture top talent, everybody wins.

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Which Way Do You Spin… Left Brain or Right Brain?

Lateral Action

Which way is the dancer spinning. clockwise or counter-clockwise? Most people will see her turning counter-clockwise, which apparently means you're more left brained (logical). I see her spinning that way, and it's at first almost impossible to imagine her going clockwise. But it happens, usually by focusing or when something unexpectedly alters your perception.

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Get Rid of the Big Fat Lies -- and the Little Skinny Ones -- on Your Resume

On The Job

"Welcome, Ms. Smith. Please have a seat." "Thank you. I'm very excited to have this opportunity to interview with Blubber, Inc." "Great! Well, let's get down to it. It says here that you attended the University of Florida and graduated in 1995 with a degree in business. Is that correct?" "Yes. I worked very hard and learned so much. I'd really like to put that knowledge to work for Blubber.

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10 Good Things About Working Longer Hours

On The Job

With the economy in the crapper, most people I know wouldn't even think of uttering the words "work/life balance." As more people are laid off, it's up to the survivors to pick up the work load and do it without complaint -- if they want to keep their job. But it's tough. Real tough. That's why I thought I'd end the week with a sort of optimistic view of what many of us are going through right now -- work/life imbalance.

IT 100
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Do You Take Your Creative Rituals Seriously Enough?

Lateral Action

Photo by Esparta What do the following people have in common? The Priestess of Apollo - Greece, 403 BC. She has fasted for several days prior to the 7th of the month, which is sacred to her God. She washes in the Castalian Spring, then drinks the waters of the Kassotis which confer the gift of inspiration. Clutching laurel leaves and a cauldron of water, she descends into a chamber beneath the temple and mounts a high tripod seat.

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The Hidden Skills That Separate Good Leaders from Great Ones

Speaker: Chandra McCormack, CPA, MBA, NACD.DC

Technical degrees might open doors—but it’s the soft skills that keep them open. In the face of disruption, evolving workplace dynamics, and rising expectations of leadership, soft skills like communication, emotional intelligence, and presence have become core business essentials—not nice-to-haves. Inspired by stories from her father coupled with her own career journey, seasoned executive Chandra McCormack breaks down how to lead with impact, connect with purpose, and cultivate a workplace cult

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Why You Don’t Need to Be a Genius to Achieve Creative Success

Lateral Action

Photo by Sebastian Bergmann. On a cold winter's day shortly before his death, the artist Michelangelo Buonarroti gathered a large sheaf of drawings from his studio and carried them outside. As he stepped through the doorway he caught his breath - first at the frosty Roman air, then at a gust of smoke from a bonfire burning in the yard. Approaching the fire with the breeze at his back, the artist bent over and started feeding it with the drawings - single sheets at first, for fear of choking the

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Now That The Election is Over, What Will You Talk About at Work?

On The Job

The leaves have fallen off the trees, the pumpkins are rotting on the front porch and we've got a new president-elect. It is, indeed, a changing of the times for us, and that is evident even in the workplace. For so long, politics and what Sarah Palin spent on her clothes and which foot Joe Biden shoved in his mouth were topics of conversation around the cubicles of America.

IT 100