Category Archives: Changing Your Life
November 18, 2015 How Great Leaders Inspire Action
Simon Sinek, photo credit: StartWithWhy.com
How can you get one person to act? How about a bunch of people? How about an entire movement? Great leaders can inspire this kind of action. They lead revolutions and motivate people to buy their products. There is something different and powerful about great leaders. What is it?
Leadership expert Simon Sinek attempts to explain.
“People don’t buy what you do,” Sinek said in a recent TED Talk, “they buy why you do it.” You have to believe in your product or cause so deeply that it inspires others to believe as well. It’s the principle that Martin Luther King Jr. used in his activism. As Sinek says, Dr. King had an “I have a dream” speech, not an “I have a plan” speech.
If you’re not driven by belief and you don’t know why you do what you do, why would anyone else buy into what you do?
The principle makes sense and has been proven over and over again, from Apple to the Wright Brothers. If you have a few minutes, I highly recommend watching Sinek’s TED Talk. It will make you ask yourself, “Why do I do what I do?”
Happy watching:
MARGARET SMITH IS A CAREER COACH, INSIGHTS® DISCOVERY LICENSED PRACTITIONER, FOUNDER OF UXL, AND CO-FOUNDER OF THE TAG TEAM. YOU CAN VISIT HER WEBSITE AT WWW.YOUEXCELNOW.COM
Tags: great leaders, great leadership, how great leaders inspire action, Inspiring leader, Margaret Smith, simon sinek, TED Talk, UXL
November 11, 2015 Your Robot Co-Worker: What you have that it doesn’t
I’ve been reading a lot about robots lately. From drones to vacuum cleaners, more and more robotics are being used to take over “people jobs.” While some people have expressed concern about this, I have faith that people will figure out how to continue to live and work side-by-side with robots. After all, we’ve been doing it for years! Certain factories, customer service telephone lines, and banking services have all been automated for a while. And new jobs have cropped up that we never predicted a couple decades ago (app developer, social media marketer, pet stylist). Not to mention, there’s a whole movement of people who relish the “old ways” and seek out hand-crafted furniture, family farms, hand-sewn clothing, etc.
Anyway, back to the robots.
Even though robots are beginning to take over more and more jobs, there are still several skills that YOU have that THEY don’t. According to a BBC report, “So far, humans are vastly superior at any work that relies on creativity, entrepreneurialism, interpersonal skills and emotional intelligence. Jobs that fall into these categories – including clergymen, nurses, motivational speakers, caretakers, trainers, entertainers and more – will probably fare well in a more automated world.”
Capitalize on those skills! Brush up on your networking and interpersonal communication. Keep your mind nimble and creative. You can take classes, attend networking events, join volunteer organizations, find a meet-up group, or any number of things to keep your uniquely human skills sharp.
Above all, don’t panic! Humans are endlessly innovative and I’m sure we’ll figure out a way to work alongside the increasing number of robots. Who knows what new jobs might be invented because of the rise in robotics. Robot maintenance station, anyone?
MARGARET SMITH IS A CAREER COACH, LICENSED INSIGHTS DISCOVERY PRACTITIONER, FOUNDER OF UXL, AND CO-FOUNDER OF THE TAG TEAM. YOU CAN VISIT HER WEBSITE AT WWW.YOUEXCELNOW.COM
Tags: human skills, keep your job in the future, people skills, polish your communication skills, robots in the workplace
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November 4, 2015 The Power of Laughter
The power of laughter, demonstrated in a photo booth. Photo Credit: Bubble Gum Photo Booths
Combat stress! We live in a stressful world. Recent research from the American Psychological Association shows that the majority of Americans experience significant amounts of stress. In a 2014 survey, 67% of those surveyed reported experiencing emotional symptoms of stress and 72% reported experiencing physical symptoms of stress.
One great way to fight your stress is through the power of laughter.
I attended a Brave New Workshop (BNW) class several months ago and one of the subjects they addressed was laughter. BNW is an improvisation group that works with people to boost confidence, connectivity, mental agility, and attitudes. Throughout their classes, you’ll often hear groups roaring with laughter. This isn’t an accident.
According to a publication put out by BNW, “Laughter is a powerful tool in helping individuals move away from fear and into discovery.” In a recent study, researchers from Loma University showed that laughter reduces cortisol, thus reducing stress. Other researchers have shown similar results of the stress-decreasing quality of laughter and have paired it with improved immune system response.
So, watch a funny movie, go to a humorous play, play an interactive board or card game with friends, or take an improv class. Begin to see the funny side of life 🙂
MARGARET SMITH IS A CAREER COACH, LICENSED INSIGHTS DISCOVERY PRACTITIONER, FOUNDER OF UXL, AND CO-FOUNDER OF THE TAG TEAM. YOU CAN VISIT HER WEBSITE AT WWW.YOUEXCELNOW.COM
Tags: benefits of laughter, laugh at work, laughter and Brave New Workshop, Margaret Smith, Minneapolis career coach, the power of laughter, UXL
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