6 Things To Do If Your Mirror Is Broke: How To Manage Your High Expectations

6 Things to do if your mirror is broke: How to manage your high expectations.

Hello again, jeff noel, The Blog Whisperer, from Orlando, ready and willing to share strategies and tactics for things you can do if you don’t like what you see in your mirror.

Life is stressful. It can also be glorious. Life is monotonous. It can also be incredibly exciting. Life is full of risks and failure. It can also be full of rewards and success. At the end of the day, truth be told, the only person in charge of our lives is us. Period. Exclamation mark!

Let’s get right to this shall we:

1. Prepare yourself for pain:

• Honesty is the best policy. Yeah, but the truth hurts. Sure it does. It can also set you free. And that’s what you seek, freedom. Manage your expectations.

2. Make lists:

• Find a way to categorize your life. Some people call these things buckets. Others call them the big rocks.

3. Think big picture:

• Dream. have some fun. Fantasize what noble and honorable statement should go on your gravestone (real, virtual or otherwise).

4. Benchmark:

• Read. Study. Observe. Ask. Write. Tell. The more you look around, the more you talk about it, the more you write it down, the clearer what you want and need comes into focus.

5. Prepare to manage failure:

• The reason we get to a critical, frustrating point to begin with is that we don’t do enough failing. Think of yourself as a scientist in a lab, experimenting. You know it takes many tries, and many failures to reach a positive outcome.

6. Prepare to manage success:

• The long way is the short cut. Celebrate excellent failures. Punish mediocre successes. And know full well that if you stay on your journey, you will eventually get to your destination. Be prepared for victory. And remember to celebrate all those seemingly insignificant milestones (stepping stones really).

This list offers one way to manage your high expectations. It is not exhaustive, nor scientifically proven. To manage my 51 years, these are the common sense steps that I’ve made common practice. Good luck. Work hard.

So now you know. If the high expectations you have are leaving you drained, insecure, or worried, the best place to start earnest change is to go look in the mirror. The only person in charge of managing your performance is you. Learn to manage and commit to doing it well.

5 Tips For Creating Balance In Your Busy Life

5 Tips for creating balance in your life:

These days, finding life-work balance seems more elusive than ever.

Hello everyone, jeff noel, The Blog Whisperer, from Orlando, returning for another chance to help you help yourself. This post is about a topic nearly everyone struggles with – life-work “balance”. Here are 5 common sense tips I’ve learned from a lifetime of trying (and failing), observing, and studying others.

First: You should know I believe life-work stability is not a permanent address. You will not arrive and stay in a state of life-work balance. Balance is often like a pendulum swinging back and forth – as life’s challenges ebb and flow. Admitting this will make your efforts and results more realistic.

Second: The long way is the short cut. If you think there are short cuts, you might as well stop reading now.

Ok, so lets get to these 5 tips, Life’s Big Choices I call them:

1. Mental Balance:

• Seriously evaluate the people you associate with, the language you use, the things you watch, the things you read. All of these contribute to the habit of seeing the glass half-empty or half-full. You have a mental responsibility to manage this. It will require focus and discipline – and maybe some painful choices.

2. Physical Balance:

• Your body is a temple, a gift, a vessel. Ignoring or denying this sets you up for failure, big time. We’re talking the basics here: regular exercise, adequate rest (yes, rest is under-rated), proper nutrition. And how about a few fundamental health metrics like: BMI, cholesterol, triglycerides, resting heart rate.

3. Emotional Balance:

• Also known as spiritual essence. This is the part of us that longs to be loved and compels us to want to love others. We judge ourselves on our intentions – what we are going to do “some day”. Others are judging us by what we have already done. In other words, what you do thunders so loudly, I can’t hear what you say.

4. Financial Balance:

• Also known as our J.O.B. Every ant in the ant colony, every bee in the bee hive – all make a contribution. Same with humans. In our world, society pays us money for our contribution. As Abraham Lincoln said, “Whatever you are, be a good one”. Oh, and one more thing, spend less than you earn.

5. Administrative Balance:

• I call this your personal Head Quarters, or HQ for short. This is all the stuff that doesn’t fall neatly into the other four. The paperwork of life. It’s about being decently (not compulsively) organized, to keep up with life’s reality – there is a never-ending flow of stuff to deal with.

One more important thing before wrapping this up. Sort of like a bonus revelation. You must find your own way. If you are looking for the steps, a manual, the recipe – you will never bask in the glow of knowing both defeat and victory. And if you expect your children (or nieces, nephews) to be successful at this, know they will look at you and say one of two things: You we a glorious example or a terrible warning.

So there you have it. Simple. But not easy. Remember, just because it’s common knowledge doesn’t mean it’s common practice. That part is determined by you and you alone. If it were easy, none of us would have to worry about life-work balance.

Do iPads kill….?

Will iPads kill the laptops as primary business device?

Especially with the brand new iPad 2 just out, many are wondering if the iPad or other slate / tablet computer are a full replacement for the laptop. And if not, what is it? And what are the consequences for the IT organization? I tried answering the question originally on the “new leadership” site http://www.nofear-community.com and repost my updated thoughts here. Follow on Twitter: markMEberstein

Will these devices only be used to consume information? Likely some form of input will be necessary. From not talking to quick communication via email or Facebook updates or Twitter. There will still be a need for “specialized” devices or extensions for devices, like a keyboard for the writers of long texts or designers of complex graphics.

But the vast majority of our communication will be short and succinct and many of the input mechanisms of the latest mobile devices are already fully sufficient.

As the amount of information and tasks we try to squeeze into a device; screen size will be a factor for the usability. On the other hand, it is the weight and the size that impact mobility.

The “new devices” are not “replacing” the PC, but often fulfill specialist functions that in the past a PC would not have been used for. Anybody carrying a 2 kg laptop as a phone?

But because now these devices can also do some of what only PCs could do in the past, the need for PCs is decreasing. Not going away, but decreasing.

Like with Social Networks (or the PCs for that matter) we discover (usually the Digital Cowboys discover it first) what other functions the devices can perform.  And the newly discovered uses go often far beyond what the original invention or design was intended for.

Like with the IT capabilities of an organization; it is important to look at the capabilities and functions the end-user device is performing.

Let’s look at the iPad from Apple as an example. Looking at some of the functions it performs, its functional “capabilities” (or use), and how it compares.

• Mobility: More mobile than a laptop, but less than a phone
• Weight: lighter than a PC
• Screen size (usability): more than a phone but less than a laptop and far less than a flat-screen TV
• Note taking: nearly as easy to use as paper, but far easier to share and further use of the notes
• Data access: near universal, similar to PC and phone also in speed. But less manageability and security than a managed PC
• Entertainment: better video than phone, but inferior to TV; heavier than iPod for music
• Reading: inferior to Amazon’s Kindle or printed documents in readability and battery life but color
• Pictures: similar quality to phones (not as easy to handle); inferior to actual digital cameras.

While it is easy to find a better solution or device for a specific capability, for the user the iPad doesn’t compete with their TV or PC.  It simply adds opportunities, e.g. to watch a movie when on the road, to have a video conference when sitting in the park and to read a magazine while reviewing pictures from a photo shoot.

And there is no doubt, that people are utilizing their iPad for heavy business use; both when looking around in meetings as well as e.g. following some of the discussion here on LinkedIn. Many claim they can do between 50-90% of their work on an iPad today. Sure an interesting shift.

And there are large organizations that are exploring to replace at least some significant percentage of their laptop population with iPads or other slate devices.

But will the iPad replace all the other devices, including the laptops? Surely not. But it adds capabilities to situations where we didn’t have them before and opens new usage scenarios that have an impact on the “traditional” devices and solutions delivering a capability “traditionally”.

Will any device in the future be the “one fits all”? Highly unlikely in the next decade. Maybe when we achieve Singularity and have a device directly implanted in our brains… The iPad experience gets us closer.

Stress: Handling what life throws your way

Change is inevitable – after all, nothing really stays the same, but how you handle stress is crucial for a balanced life.

But in today’s challenging times, it seems like we’re on “uncertainty” overload, never knowing what will happen from one moment to the next. Here today, gone tomorrow – or, at the least, very different tomorrow.

Uncertainty bring stress and confusion, and while most of us would be quick to say that we want less stress and more certainty in our lives, what we really want is less of a stress reaction to what life is throwing our way.

We can choose our response to stress.

We can’t choose what happens to us as change is inevitable – but we can choose our responses to the situations we encounter. Let’s take a look at five different responses that people have to stressful situations. As you read through these five responses, you may want to think of a recent stressful event or news that you may have received, and see what your reaction to that event can teach you about how you habitually respond. You may have one type of response at work, and another at home, or you may react differently depending on who else is involved.

The first, and unfortunately all too common response to stressful events is to suffer and be a victim to it. People who respond this way don’t take action. Things happen TO them – and though they may complain and be generally miserable about it, they don’t take any steps to do anything. They allow life to control them, instead of the other way around. This way of responding is certainly not recommended, and eventually, it will take its toll on one’s physical and mental health.

The second type of response is to accept it the situation, and to get some perspective on it. Someone with this response may say “so what,” or perhaps get some perspective on the situation by asking if it will it matter in a year – or a week – or even in a day.

The third way to respond is to actually take steps to change the situation – taking action to bring it to resolution (or at least move toward resolution). This is a very powerful response, and one that many effective leaders employ.

The fourth way to respond is to avoid the situation. People responding this way make a decision not to get involved in a situation that they don’t see as concerning them, or upon which they can’t make an impact. For example, someone may choose not to get involved in a dispute going on within their office if it doesn’t directly involve them.

The fifth and final way that people generally respond to stress is to alter the experience of the situation. When we look at a situation differently, the experience itself changes. Changing perceptions is probably the most challenging of the responses, because we tend to be stuck in our own interpretations and assumptions about what’s happening, but it is also perhaps the most powerful of all.

It’s your reality. Don’t stress about it ~ change your response to it!

It’s your world, and you can create it as you wish. Remember, what one person sees as stressful, another person barely notices, or sees as exciting and full of opportunity. How are you going to choose to view change today?

For Brandon Moreno, being a trainer and success coach isn’t just a job, it’s a mission. He has logged nearly two decades of extensive experience leading professional development teams in Fortune 20 companies, international business environments, and startup organizations.

Brandon is a Certified Professional Coach and one of the few selected to coach using The Sedona Method®. In addition, he is a Master NLP Practitioner, certified in Time Techniques™ and hypnotherapy.  Brandon has been a featured expert for the San Diego Business Journal and has spoken alongside bestselling authors such as Greg Reid as well as Oprah guests like Lisa Nichols and master motivational speaker Jim Lutes.

He is bestselling co-author with Brian Tracy, Dr. Wayne Dyer and others of Bouncing Back: Thriving in Changing Times. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of LaVerne.

He has done extensive graduate work in Global Leadership at the University of San Diego and holds a certificate in Human Resources Management from Chapman University.

Visit:  http://www.integrativeleadershipgroup.com for more information on getting a coach in your corner today!

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Come vote for me to be casted as a Life Coach on an upcoming reality show for a major cable network! No information is required, just one click and it’s fun!  VOTE NOW!  As TV’s number one coach, together we can transform lives and handle stress in an entirely new way!

Why UPS Trucks Rarely Turn Left

The UPS package delivery system uses packages marked with special codes to load the trucks by address as well as a delivery sequence to make as many right turns as possible. Turning left usually requires waiting for oncoming traffic and traffic lights, so by eliminating that idle time, UPS saves millions of dollars. Since the trucks are driven an average of 2.5 BILLION miles a year, their package flow software combined with right-turn only planning, eliminates 29 million miles of driving and saves 3 million gallons of fuel annually. Efficiency is so much of a focus at UPS, that at the end of the day, their brown trucks are parked 5 inches apart with their rear view mirrors overlapping to maximize parking space.

Using advanced analytics, UPS discovered relationships in their truck usage data that highlighted how minor changes could produce amazing results!  But look closely and you’ll see that there is more than just a lesson in cost savings here.

The real insight is that “if you can’t measure it, you can’t manage it.” Studies have shown that more often than not, 80% of your success comes from 20% of your efforts. It is the same for job hunting.

Just think of how much more productive you could be if you focused 80% of your effort on 20% of the things that get you the best results! The secret is to know what those “20% activities” are.

Start your new job search today to measure your activities and track the results.

If sending out resumes for jobs listed on job boards gets you a 4% response rate but 60% of your interviews come from networking events, where should you focus your efforts?

For many job searchers, they rarely get calls for jobs posted on job boards, yet they spend 90% of their time sending out more resumes.  Try a mix of search strategies and see what works for you. Over the course of a month, a minor change in your job search focus can produce amazingly different results. Track your results tied to what you are doing and the data may surprise you.

In the movie Jerry McGuire starring Tom Cruise, actor Cuba Gooding, Jr. made famous the phrase “Show Me the Money”. Years later, a variation of that saying, “Show Me Results” is what’s on the mind of most hiring managers.

Looking for a job is a job. Measure what you do and manage your activities tied to what gets results.  If you are turning left instead of right in your job hunt, you may be too late to pick up a package that’s being returned to the sender because nobody’s home.

The 1 Key To Igniting Your Passionate Purpose For Life

If you could find your passionate purpose in life, what would that be worth to you?

Hello everyone, jeff noel, The Blog Whisperer here from Orlando, Florida. How important are milestones in your life? And why do people even bother keeping track? In May, I’ll reach a blogging milestone – 4,000 blog posts. That’s about 800 per daily (5) blog. No one writes about wellness – the meaning of a balanced life – quite the same. Hopefully, you get this – that life has 5 big, purposeful categories.

Here are 3 questions to help you identify your innate need for a passionate life purpose:

1. How long have you searched? Most of us have spent a lifetime searching for meaning in our lives.
2. How much effort have you devoted?  Most of us started out enthusiastically, idealistically, and determined.
3. Do you know anyone who has done what you’d like to do? Few among us have a clear, concise, and compelling purpose.

Now that we can agree that we all want meaning in our lives, and that we’ve spent a fair amount of time & effort, and that we know few people who’ve succeeded, it’s time to reveal an approach that should lead you to a breakthrough you’ve been searching for all along.

You’ll need to organize 4 things before embarking on the creation of your clear, concise and compelling life’s purpose:

1. Something to write with and on. This could be a keyboard/screen, or pencil and paper.
2. Find a place where you think best. A quiet (or noisy) place. An inspiring place. One without interruptions.
3. Time on your schedule. You’ll need time. Maybe less than an hour. Maybe more. Better to have more than you need.
4. You may then begin to answer this simple statement: “The reason I’m alive is to…..”

Now here’s the 1 key to igniting your passionate life purpose. Are you ready to discover this simple but profound key?

Wait. Time out. Stop for a moment. Before the key is revealed, take a few deep breaths. Smile. Be hopeful. Even joyful. This is the most important part in your journey for meaning and purpose. And you have every right to be skeptical and even afraid. Two things to overcome this:

1. You have dreamt about this your entire life.
2. Your passion for this purpose will not allow you to wait any longer. This is your destiny.

What you are about to understand is profoundly simple and simply profound. Do not let this seemingly simple exercise stop you from proceeding. Ready? Here it is:

The 1 key to igniting your passionate purpose for life is to write it down and keep writing and re-writing, until you finally get to the thing that makes you cry.