Saturday, September 1, 2007

MAKING THE MOST OF YOUR MISTAKES

(1) Recognize
What is failure? Is it permanent? Is there a second chance? When is someone a failure? When he/she makes a mistake, quits or think he/she is? Your guess ia as good as mine!

(2) Review
Failure should be your teacher, not your undertaker! Failure is delay, not defeat. It’s a temporary detour, not a dead-end street. A winner is big enough to admit mistakes, smart enough to profit from them and strong enough to correct them.

(3) Repress
Maybe your own personal problems and hang-ups caused the failure. If so, begin to work immediately on your self-discipline. If the problem is you, take control of yourself and actions.

(4) Readjust
“It’s not what you have lost, but what you have left that counts.”

(5) Re-enter
“You can’t learn without mistakes!” Mistakes mark the road to success. He who makes no mistakes makes no progress. Make sure you generate a reasonable number of mistakes.

However, too many people are so afraid of failing that they make their lives rigid with checks and counterchecks, discourage change and, in the end, they miss the opportunity that can send their life skyrocketing.


Source: The Winning Attitude, John C. Maxwell
2007 Shaques Publishing Inc

THE ART OF TEAM LEADERSHIP

Creating a winning team doesn’t come just from having the right individuals. You may have a group of talented individuals, but if each person is not doing what adds the most value to the team, you won’t achieve your potential as a team.

You’ve got to put people in places they belong. Thus, to be able to put people in the places that utilize their talents and minimize the team’s potential, you’ll need these 3 things:

Knowledge of the Team

You can not build a winning team or organization if you don’t know its vision, purpose, culture or history. If you don’t know where team is trying to go and why it’s trying to get there, you cannot take the team to the height of its potential. You’ve got to start where the team actually is; only then can you take it somewhere.

Knowledge of the Situation

Even though vision or purpose of an organization may be fairly constant, its situation constantly changes. Good team builders know where the team is and what the situation requires.

For instance, when a team is young and just getting started, the greatest priority is often to gather good people. But as a team matures and the level of talent increases, five-tuning becomes more important. As such a time, a leader must spend more time matching the person to the position.

Knowledge of the Players

Teambuilding is not working on an assembly line. As such, a leader who intends to make everyone else conform to his/her image, to approach their work using the same skills and problem-solving methods, is only courting disaster.

As you work towards building a team, evaluate each person’s experience, skills, temperament, attitude, passion, people skills, discipline, emotional strength, and potential. Only then will you be ready to help a team member find his proper place. In other words, knowing the person you are trying to position in the right place (niche) counts. “The achievements of an organization are the results of the combined effort of each individual,” – Vince Lombardi, NFL Champion Coach.

A sign of a great team is the proper placement of people. In other to help people reach their potential and maximize their effectiveness, stretch them out of their comfort zones, but never out of their gift zones. Moving people outside their gifts leads to frustration, but motivating people out of their comfort zone leads to fulfillment!



Source: The 17 Indispensable Laws of Teamwork, John C. Maxwell
2007 Shaques Publishing Inc

HOW TO BE RESPECTED

(PART 1)

If anyone wants to be respected by others, wealth, clothing or physical attractiveness are not requirements. The way others perceive us isn't necessarily based on our level of education, what schools we may have attended or with whom we are acquainted. Respect is accorded to those who live respectable lives--that is, people that conduct themselves with integrity and treat others, in turn, with high regard.


If we set the example by respecting ourselves - appreciating our own good qualities and using them to highlight the positive in others' lives. Then our example will be followed and that same regard will likely be shown to us in return. The most important thing to remember is that respect is earned; we must act respectably in order to receive the benefits.

1. Always present yourself as a clean person--bathed, groomed and dressed neatly. Clothing doesn’t need to be expensive but it should be laundered and in good repair. Take care of your health and your teeth. Your ready smile will show others that you enjoy your own company and theirs too.

2. Keep your language clean and respectable. Say positive things about others whenever possible, but be sincere. People can recognize the difference between true interest and forced flattery.

3. Try not to be a negative person. It is easy to point out the downside of a situation but if we make the effort to overcome our obstacles we can lead happier lives and be an encouragement to others. Find ways to assist those who need help and your own troubles will seem less overwhelming.

4. It's wonderful greeting people in a proper friendly manner. It is appreciated and returned by others. Start a trend!

5. Never bully others or take advantage of their weaknesses. Bullies are not respected because they do not show respect. Allow people to keep their dignity.


Excerpted By: Timo Steve
2007 Shaques Publishing Inc

YOU

You kissed my lips and I felt a flutter in my heart,
You touched my hand and lit a spark in my body,
You stared into my eyes and saw straight into my soul,
You put your arms around me and I was finally complete.

- Laura Aguiar -

TOP 5 SKILLS OF A SUCCESSFUL NEGOTIATOR

Negotiation skills are critical whether you’re trying to convince your spouse to “settle” for that flat-screen TV, negotiating your salary with a potential employer or scoring a business deal. Here’s an interesting outline of the necessary skills to employ, during a negotiation:

a) Manage Communication Effectively
Determine what messages you can send to improve your chances of success. “When someone stops talking and you’re confronted with silence, remember that body language is still there to be deciphered.”

b) Use Tactics Strategically
You could do a one-on-one negotiation; pamper the counter-party’s ego or make your objective sound like it’s their idea. But match your tactics with the counter party’s underlying motivation and above all, set deadlines.

c) Control Information Wisely
Get your hands on detailed, current information as the winning party is often the side with better information.

d) Understand People Fully
Acknowledge your stakeholders and their underlying motivations. But also see if you can identify your allies.

e) Facilitate Situations Productively
Since all negotiations are different, consider the situation at hand, then decide who should contribute to the negotiation, when and where it should take place so you can improvise if there are any sudden changes.


Source: “Mastering Business in Asia: negotiation,” Peter Nixon
2007 Shaques Publishing Inc

JULIUS CAESAR (100 – 44 B.C.)

The Politician

Gaius Julius Caesar came from a partisan family, but he was also the nephew of Gaius Marius, a general who had once been a private soldier and became the champion of Rome’s lower classes – the plebeians and the Italian non-citizens.

Julius Caesar was a young politician, who managed to get along well with both Pompey and Crassus (the two ex-consuls), who hated each other. After serving as a governor of Roman provinces in Spain, Caesar returned to Rome to run for Consul. He was supported by both Pompey and Crassus.

But Caesar was always looking ahead. He didn’t like his prospects after he finished his term as Consul. It was customary for ex-consuls to be given governorship of the provinces. If the senate had its way, Caesar (the leader of the party of Marius) would go to the most remote parts of Africa.

Instead, Caesar proposed to the 2 ex-consuls – both powerful men; Pompey with his military reputation and his popularity, and Crassus with his money – that they divide the real power in Rome among themselves and take the governorships they wanted.

After Crassus was killed and Pompey assassinated, he returned to Rome and undertook many reforms. The senate, however, was not pleased with Caesar’s actions. They felt that he was spending money too freely, and that he was planning to proclaim himself “King of the Roman” – a title and position that they all feared. Thus, in the year 44 B.C., a group of senators attacked Caesar on the steps of the Temple of Pompey, and stabbed him to death.

His adopted so and heir, Octavian Caesar, took over his place as head of the state and ruled as an absolute monarch, while preserving all the reforms of a republican government.


Source: 50 Military Leaders Who Changed The World, William Weir
2007 Shaques Publishing Inc

HOW TO SOCIALIZE, BE FUNNY AND MAKE FRIENDS

PART 3

11. Place importance on making social contacts.

The people who are considered popular may not be the sharpest tacks in the box, but they are making important contacts that may come in handy later in their lives. They have networks that may help them get decent jobs later. It is never too late to feel that being popular is important. If your work environment allows for it, host a party, organize a sports game, etc.

12. Love yourself.

It is difficult to like others when you do not appreciate yourself for who you are. Bootstrap yourself and work and play day to night until you feel good about yourself again. Try exercise to improve your self-esteem.

13. Be loyal.

Little things count: If you make an appointment, be on time. If you're in a group, show up early, and stay late (even if you don't have anything to say at the moment).

14. Be nice to others.

Always give compliments to those, but don't try too hard. If you are shy take a deep breath and risk it. You never know what might happen. Also crack a joke every once in a while. Again if you are shy, but inside crazy, let it out once in a while. Wear your hair up high and spin around, or dance, others will laugh, and find you fun and funny to be with.

15. It's easier to talk to people if you have shared an experience with them.

Clearly the friends you have at the moment predominantly talk about interesting things they did in the past.

16. Share interesting/silly ideas.


Excerpted By: Timo Steve
2007 Shaques Publishing Inc

FLIRTING TIPS

We have all flirted at some point in our life be it unconsciously with our body language or vocally. From the age of time – girls, boys, teens, men and women have been showing signs of flirting.

Here are some flirting techniques we’ve all tried and tested:

* Laugh at even the least funny things the person says.
* Licking your lips in a sensual manner.
* Stare the person straight in the eye.
* Walk past the person and gently blow into their ear.
* Wear eye-catching clothing and accessories – make a bold statement!
* Speak clearly and sensually –Be sure to keep eye contact when doing so.
* Make the first move! Ask many questions which will show you’re interested.
* Smell as great as you look!
* Don’t act the part of someone that you are not. Always be yourself!
* Always have respect for yourself and the other person. Not advisable to be overly pushy!

All in all, don’t appear to be stalking! Being smooth, casual and non-intimidating will let your intentions be known.


Excerpted By: Timo Steve
2007 Shaques Publishing Inc

LAWS OF POWER – (EPISODE 4)

INFECTION: AVOID THE UNHAPPY AND UNLUCKY

You can die from someone else’s misery – emotional states are as infectious as disease. You may feel you are helping the drowning man but you are only precipitating your own disaster. The unfortunate sometimes draw misfortune on themselves; they will also draw it on you. Associate with the happy and fortunate instead.

LEARN TO KEEP PEOPLE DEPENDENT ON YOU

To maintain your independence you must always be needed and wanted. The more you are relied on, the more freedom you have. Make people depend on you for their happiness and prosperity and you have nothing to fear. Never teach them enough so that they can do without you.

USE SELECTIVE HONESTY AND GENEROSITY TO DISARM YOUR VICTIM

One sincere and honest move will cover over dozens of dishonest ones. Open-hearted gestures of honesty and generosity bring down the guard of even the most suspicious people. Once your selective honesty opens a hole in their armor, you can deceive and manipulate them at will. A timely gift – a Trojan horse – will serve the same purpose.


Source: The 48 Laws of Power, Robert Greene & Joost Elffers
COPYRIGHT 2007 Shaques Publishing Inc.

BLONDE IN A CAR

A blonde walked into a gas station and said to the manager, ''I locked my keys in my car. Do you have a coat hanger or something I can stick through the window to unlock the door?''

''Why sure,'' said the manager, ''we have something that works especially well for that.''

A couple minutes later, the manager walked outside to see how the blonde was doing and he heard another voice. ''No, no! A little to the left,'' said the other blonde inside the car.