Finish Strong December 2008
“Don’t be afraid to give your best to what seemingly are small jobs. Every time you conquer one it makes you that much stronger. If you do the little jobs well, the big ones tend to take care of themselves”
- Dale Carnegie
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In 2007 the young Irishman, Padraig Harrington, stood on the 18th hole of one of the most admired golf tournaments of all time, the Open Championship (British Open).
He had all but won the tournament and what would be his first major golf victory. Teeing off with a two stroke lead made it seem this wonderful victory was clinched.
~ Until the unimaginable happened.
Not only his first shot, but also the one following found the water. I remember being glued to the television waiting to see if he’d be able to keep his composure. Padraig refused to go down without a fight and finished as strong as he could and somehow ended up with a tie. The playoff was victorious and he went on to win his first ever major golf tournament. And even more amazing, won two out of four of the major events this year.
I believe that as he was taking his second penalty last year, he had about 30 seconds to make up his mind. Thirty seconds to decide to stay in the game and finish strong, or throw in the towel. He made the right decision and reaped the rewards.
Finish strong, and have a great rest of the year!
Randy Sims
Randy@SimsSearch.com
Tuesday, December 9th, 2008
10 ways to have a better day. November 2008
Make it a Great November! From: Randy Sims
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10 Ways to Have a Better Day Today
by Geno Stampora
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Wake up 30 Minutes Early.
Get up 30 minutes before the alarm goes off and take the first half hour for yourself. Once you get busy and into the day there never seems to be the time for yourself. Take this time to plan getting the most from the day.
Read, Listen, or Watch Something Uplifting.
Make this a daily habit. Get out of starting the day with no mental food. A great day does not begin with the news or the paper, it begins with ideas or energy that will propel you through the day. What you first hear will stay with you throughout the day.
Eat a Good Breakfast to Start You Off Right.
Get something good into your body to wake it up and get it going. Think about the energy you will need to perform. Everyday we run a marathon. What would you need to eat and drink to win it.
Choose Your Winning Attitude.
There is enough to go wrong without sabotaging yourself. Your attitude is a choice you make. Don’t let it come between you and your success. Be careful to keep it positive all day long.
Be Aware of What They are Telling You.
The people around us have a profound effect on how we get through life. Our closest friends and family are our greatest environmental influences. Make sure you have the best advisors you can find.
Make the Most of What You Do.
When you get to your work, make it the best place to be. Most people go to work and never think about work while they are there. Focus on your contribution. What would it be like if you were not around. Strive to give a 100% each and every day.
Always Remember that People are Listening.
Make a point of talking well of others. Wish others the best in life. What goes around does come around. Don’t talk negative about anyone. Try to understand their circumstances Practice being a support system to your friends and family. They need you.
Be Honest and Fair to Others.
It does make a difference. What you give to others is usually what you get from others. Practice integrity that people can see and feel. Be aware of what you say. Learn to walk your talk at all times. The more people trust you, the more of their time they will trust with you.
Pace Your Energy to Last All Day.
Be careful of bursts of energy. Pace your energy throughout the day. If you get to crazy early in the day, you will reach a point of exhaustion before the day is over. By planning your entire day before you begin, you will have what you need. You’ve heard the old saying “look alive.”
Get in Bed Early and Study for the Future.
I have a friend who keeps a journal at his bedside. Every night he writes what he learned new on that day. The only way to keep one step above the masses is to learn new ways to do things. Develop the habit of reading a work or personal development book before you go to sleep. Reading for 30 minutes a day is like a year of college. You can’t succeed if you don’t read. Remember throughout your day that life is what we make it, day by day. Practice having the best day ever. It adds up to a great life.
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Have a Great Day!
Tuesday, December 9th, 2008
Risk vs. Reward July 18, 2008
“I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.” Thomas A. Edison
So often we need to have an attitude like Thomas Edison, because if he would have given up, we might all be sitting in the dark right now.
It is easy to let things scare you: defeat, criticism, the economy…… but we all must keep pushing ahead, giving it our all, and doing what is right.
Because so often out of the difficulties or hard times can come something great and something beautiful.
Just like this Lone Cypress, over 250 years old and still prevailing on its rocky perch.
Friday, July 18th, 2008
Generation Gap at Work? - April 25, 2008
Boomers, Gen. X, Gen. Y…… so what’s next. Actually Gen. Z, those born around 2000 and after.
To know how to work along side and motivate the different groups, we first must know who they are.
Boomers = Born 1946-1964. Influences such as Churchill & Dr. Spock to Jack Nicklaus & JFK. And TV like ‘The Ed Sullivan Show’ and ‘Gilligan’s Island’
Generation X = Those born approximately 1965-1979. Leaders such as Nixon, Reagan, Bush, & Clinton. Sports heroes such as Hank Aaron. And the first generation to be taught on computers in school.
FORTUNE Magazine reported on Generation X employees: “77% of Gen Xers say they’d quit in a minute if offered “increased intellectual stimulation” at a different company. And they’re intent on managing their own time: 51% would jump ship for the chance to telecommute, and 61% of Gen X women would leave their current jobs if they were offered more flexible hours elsewhere……
In regards to job satisfaction for Gen X, FORTUNE reported:
“Recognition scored very low, and power and prestige ranked dead last. Salary, a major preoccupation for boomers, came in third from the bottom.” She adds: “It’s interesting, because most employee-motivation efforts in companies are designed by boomers, who tend to build the programs around what motivates them. But this generation is different.”
So, who is Generation Y …. = Those born in the late 70’s up until around year 2000. Growing up with the Clinton and Bush influence as President. And, the wave of Tiger Woods on the sports world.
And….
* They have financial smarts, early planners when it comes to retirement
* Work-life balance isn’t just a buzz word, it is a priority
* Change, change, change. Gen Yers don’t expect to stay in a job, or even a career, for too long.
97% own a computer
94% own a cell phone
76% use Instant Messaging.
15% of IM users are logged on 24 hours a day/7 days a week
34% use websites as their primary source of news
28% own a blog and 44% read blogs
49% download music using peer-to-peer file sharing
60% own some type of portable music and/or video device such as an iPod
I personally believe it creates a wonderful learning environment having a blend of various generations in the work place. Not only can we learn from each other, but it also creates a natural succession plan for the company.
But with differences, can come certain issues. Lee Hecht Harrison reports that more than 60% of employers say they are experiencing tension between employees from different generations, according to their survey.
The survey found more than 70% of older employees are dismissive of younger workers’ abilities. And nearly half of employers say younger employees are dismissive of the abilities of their older co-workers.
This is something to be aware of, and realize the need to manage to. But still realize the great benefit to your company in providing this type of diversity.
For the full article from FORTUNE including interesting case studies, visit
http://money.cnn.com/2006/01/17/news/companies/bestcos_genx/index.htm
Friday, April 25th, 2008
Job Market - 2008 and Beyond - March 28, 2008
As we research the current job market situation, one term standouts predominately; “Baby Boomers”
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, federal government employment is expected to decrease by 3.7 percent by 2016. Though there will still be several thousands of federal vacancies due to baby boomer retirements.
This trend is consistent throughout the corporate sector as well, and in various industries.
In my 15 years of recruiting, I have seen all types of economic situations that play a major role in determining the number of job openings vs. the number of qualified, available candidates. There never seems to be a perfect balance. We are always forced to adjust our business strategies to compensate for a shortage in one area or the other. We are able to, however, develop an understanding of the economy and implement best practices to create a sound business plan which will impact how a company manages the flow of its workforce.
However, this situation with the mass exiting of the Baby Boomer population is something that we have not seen in the past. I have spoken to companies who are really scratching their heads when they look at their upcoming retirement schedule. These companies are having a hard time figuring out how to fill these large gaps with qualified employees in order to maintain their current level of experience and talent.
Currently there is already a tight labor market. The number of job openings is exceeding the number of successful, qualified candidates. We combine that with the current situation that there is 1.7 million less younger adult workers in our workforce, age range of 25-40, compared to past years. So, that is 1.7 million less workers to replace the estimated 77 million baby boomers who will be eligible for retirement now and in the near future. Now it becomes a simple situation of supply and demand. The demand of qualified, successful professionals is high for most companies. And, the supply of these professionals could be at an all time low in the next few years.
There is no doubt we will see an increase in marketing awareness to attract talent, and companies to promote their environment, culture, and career opportunities to this shrinking candidate market. Companies should begin to plan now on how to recruit and retain their talent as well as how to adjust and streamline their hiring processes in order to standout above their competition.
Traditionally, the strongest companies always look at their staff as their greatest asset. So being able to hire the ‘best of the best’ will be even more critical as we face a potential economic tightening, and a shortage of our best assets, our qualified employees.
* Next Month I will look at how the Boomers, Gen X, and Gen Y employees are impacting our workplace environment, and thoughts on how to recruit and manage the different groups.
For past articles visit www.SimsSearch.com
Friday, March 28th, 2008
Stress Busters - February 22, 2008
“If you ask what is the single most important key to longevity, I would have to say it is avoiding worry, stress and tension. And if you didn’t ask me, I’d still have to say it.”
~ George Burns- Comedian
We all have it from time to time. Stress. Here are a few tips to help us keep it in control.
25 Stress Busters:
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Make time for yourself daily
Ask for help when you need it
Remember to laugh
Take a deep breath
Have realistic expectations
Remember to schedule time for fun
Do preventive maintenance before things break-down
See problems as challenges
Get some fresh air
Knock out one task at a time
Be organized
Take it one day at a time
Look on the “bright side”
Pray
Don’t dwell on the past
Treat yourself
Learn to say “no”
Take a tea or water break
Talk things out
Forgive and forget
Call an optimistic friend or colleague
Simplify your schedule
Fix at once anything that breaks
Spend time with family
And again, remember to laugh.
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Have a Great Day!
Randy Sims
© Copyright - All Rights Reserved
Saturday, February 23rd, 2008
Achieving your Goals, It all starts with you! - January 18, 2008
Amazingly enough, in all my research on goal setting, it is stated that only 3-4% of people actually set goals for themselves.
What does that tell us? Well, if we were to put this simple practice in place, we would be ahead of 96% of those who we are probably competing against. And even more important, you will see a drastic difference in the focus you have in life, and the excitement you feel in striving to go after what is important to you. Goals are important to give you direction in life, ignite you into action, and create a wonderful balance in your life.
So, why is it so hard to commit to setting goals?
One of the main reasons is the fear of criticism. When we have a new vision or dream, often our co-workers, colleagues, friends, or family members are quick to extinguish our hopes of a new venture. But, the main critic that you have to be aware of is YOU. We must protect our confidence! We can never lose hope and confidence in ourselves.
In a study conducted at UCLA, it showed that during any given day, our mind is filled with 73% of negative “self talk” conversations. In other words, almost ¾ of the time we are telling ourselves that we can not do something.
My friend, Dr. Less Parrott in his book “Love the Life you Live” elaborates on this study and the process of turning negative self talk into a positive attitude.
How often do you catch yourself saying: ‘I know I am not going to get that job or promotion’, ‘There is no way I can make this deadline’, ‘I just know I will not be able to get everything done that I need to….’
Sound familiar? Well, if we are constantly telling ourselves that we “can’t” we will condition ourselves to believe it and live it.
Some of the other common reasons goals are not set are:
- The fear of failure. Successful people should remove this word from their vocabulary. In my opinion, lack of trying is the only failure. We all started out crawling as toddlers, we all had some challenges and slips and falls, but we didn’t give up or the world would be full of crawlers and not walkers.
- We become complacent. I like to use Tiger Woods as an example here. Even though he was the number one golfer in the world, he decided to change his swing. All the critics and doubters went after him, but he simply stated that I am not where I want to be, or where I need to be for the long term. What an example. Maybe he did not finish as high as he’d like in a few tournaments while he was working to improve, but look where he is now.
- It’s easier not to take responsibility for yourself. We all need to be held accountable; we might as well hold ourselves accountable. Setting goals puts us in a position to be more successful, to do that it requires pushing ourselves more. Some people unfortunately just choose to shoot for average and do not want to be responsible for motivating themselves to succeed. They choose to drop out or give up rather than embracing the talents they have and taking responsibility to utilize those gifts and talents.
- Lacking inner desire to achieve something great. This is where if comes full circle. You have to have a passion, something you want to do, and want to keep doing better. When you find that one thing or it might be more than one, how are you going to get better if you don’t want to achieve greatness in your area of passion? Get it? You have to reach down deep, find your desires, strive to be great, and set the goals to keep you on track to hit your mark!
Many people also simply don’t know how to set goals. Let me give you some good practical advice.
- Decide what is important to you in life and make a list of those things (do not make them all about one area of your life, for example, everything should not revolve around your work)
- Within those areas, how do you want to better yourself? For example, if your health is very important, you may want to begin an exercise/weight loss program. Within your business you may strive to increase earnings or receive a promotion; in school, increase your grade point average…..
- Now, write those goals down! There is something very important about having them written. You are making a contract with yourself. And, keep them handy; in your wallet or purse, in your desk. I have mine typed out on a business card size of document, and keep them with me all the time.
- Write each goal in a Positive and Specific statement. “I will lose 12 pounds by December 31, 2008” Having them written in a positive way creates reinforcement each time you read them.
- Celebrate when you achieve your goals. Make it a plan to have some type of victory party. You’ve earned it.
Again, protect your confidence by believing in yourself. And make it a practice to fill your mind with “positive talk”. You will be surprised at the difference this will make.