Good morning,
We made it to Friday! Today’s topic is on my mind this week because of conversations with friends facing various employment related challenges. When bombarded by adversity, this question often comes to mind.
When to give up?
The answer is as simple as it may be difficult. Never.
Don’t give up your dreams. Don’t give up your goals. Don’t give up your faith in yourself. You are the only person guaranteed to always be there to cheer you on - or discourage you if you let that happen.
It’s so easy to get discouraged in today’s economy. The phrase “I can’t” (that should be erased from our vocabulary) starts to take hold. I can’t possibly...close enough sales, start my own business, find a new job, achieve my dreams. Actually - yes you can (eventually), no matter how unlikely or even impossible the goal seems.
The question is: how many times are we willing to hear “no” before we get to “yes.” The answer had better be, “as many as it takes” or we probably won’t get there.
I’ve talked to people lately who aren’t looking for jobs because they hear there aren’t any available. Okay sure, I know the statistics and, yes, they may be against you. But if you don’t enter the race you have no chance to win.
So if there’s something you want to do – at home or at work – don’t give up! And have a sunny day.
Clarity
P.S. "Nothing in the world can take the place of Persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent." Calvin Coolidge, 30th President of the United States (1872 - 1933)
P.P.S. Thank you for visiting www.MySunnyNotes.com. If you’re new to Sunny Notes and would like to receive my sunny email each Friday, visit www.JoinSunnyNotes.com.
Clarity Patton Newhouse
Metropolitan Lincoln Mercury
32000 Ford Road
Garden City, MI 48135
313-670-7505
http://www.metromichigan.com/
Friday, February 26, 2010
Friday, February 19, 2010
I Am Not Alone
Good morning,
It’s Friday and I’m glad...but you already know Fridays make me smile. Today’s topic is networking. It’s on my mind because I recently attended an excellent event hosted by the Livonia Chamber of Commerce featuring guest speaker Bill Ford.
Mr. Ford’s remarks were outstanding and so was the turnout, which brings us to “networking.” Entering alone into a room full of hundreds of strangers is intimidating. I’m willing to admit it...for the sake of being helpful, because if I’m intimidated despite being a friendly and outgoing person, then I know others feel this way, too.
I attend a lot of events, often by myself, and I’ve learned a simple technique that saves me from drowning when I dive into an ocean of strangers. When entering a room, remind oneself of this.
“I am not alone. There are other people here who feel just as shy as I do – or worse!”
So instead of wishing to be rescued, try rescuing somebody else. Find someone who’s mingling alone, take a deep breath, put out a hand and say, “Hi, I’m (me). How are you today?” Chances are, you just rescued both of you. They return the handshake, you say something nice about the event, and suddenly you’ve confirmed what you already knew - you are not alone.
We could go on and on with this topic. Much has been written about networking and overcoming the fear of strangers. But if you don’t have this fear, or have found your own way to conquer it, I would love to hear your insights.
For now, I’ll conclude with this thought. When faced with “breaking the ice,” be the one to go first. Nobody else wants to either and that’s reason enough right there.
It might even help someone have a sunny day!
Clarity
P.S. “I have always depended on the kindness of strangers.”
Tennessee Williams, A Streetcar Named Desire (1947)
P.P.S. Thank you for visiting www.MySunnyNotes.com. If you’re new to Sunny Notes and would like to receive my sunny email each Friday, visit www.JoinSunnyNotes.com.
Clarity Patton Newhouse
Metropolitan Lincoln Mercury
32000 Ford Road
Garden City, MI 48135
313-670-7505
It’s Friday and I’m glad...but you already know Fridays make me smile. Today’s topic is networking. It’s on my mind because I recently attended an excellent event hosted by the Livonia Chamber of Commerce featuring guest speaker Bill Ford.
Mr. Ford’s remarks were outstanding and so was the turnout, which brings us to “networking.” Entering alone into a room full of hundreds of strangers is intimidating. I’m willing to admit it...for the sake of being helpful, because if I’m intimidated despite being a friendly and outgoing person, then I know others feel this way, too.
I attend a lot of events, often by myself, and I’ve learned a simple technique that saves me from drowning when I dive into an ocean of strangers. When entering a room, remind oneself of this.
“I am not alone. There are other people here who feel just as shy as I do – or worse!”
So instead of wishing to be rescued, try rescuing somebody else. Find someone who’s mingling alone, take a deep breath, put out a hand and say, “Hi, I’m (me). How are you today?” Chances are, you just rescued both of you. They return the handshake, you say something nice about the event, and suddenly you’ve confirmed what you already knew - you are not alone.
We could go on and on with this topic. Much has been written about networking and overcoming the fear of strangers. But if you don’t have this fear, or have found your own way to conquer it, I would love to hear your insights.
For now, I’ll conclude with this thought. When faced with “breaking the ice,” be the one to go first. Nobody else wants to either and that’s reason enough right there.
It might even help someone have a sunny day!
Clarity
P.S. “I have always depended on the kindness of strangers.”
Tennessee Williams, A Streetcar Named Desire (1947)
P.P.S. Thank you for visiting www.MySunnyNotes.com. If you’re new to Sunny Notes and would like to receive my sunny email each Friday, visit www.JoinSunnyNotes.com.
Clarity Patton Newhouse
Metropolitan Lincoln Mercury
32000 Ford Road
Garden City, MI 48135
313-670-7505
Friday, February 12, 2010
Encouraging Words
Good morning,
Happy Friday! Brrrrrrrr. But hang in there - only 36 days ‘til Spring. Meanwhile, let’s touch on a topic that seems almost as obvious as snow is cold.
People respond better to encouragement than criticism.
That's just the way it is. Nevertheless, this simple but important principal is often overlooked at work and – yes – at home, too.
You’ve probably run into people who seem to think, consciously or unconsciously, that complimenting a person deters them from doing better. However quite the opposite is true: positive feedback encourages a person to earn more positive feedback. I’ve been fortunate to work with encouraging people who know that finding fault is easy, but providing encouragement, although more challenging, is more rewarding.
Inevitably, all of us encounter the need to elicit more desirable results from people around us – our employees, coworkers, bosses or family members. Instead of going straight for corrective criticism, a more effective approach is to say something nice first. It’s respectful; and there's always something to compliment – if we don't see it then we’re simply not looking closely enough.
Today’s sunny note invites you to join me in a little sunny challenge, to compliment someone, anyone, who you wouldn’t otherwise have complimented. Let’s lead by example and hope it’s contagious.
Regardless of how often you already do this, the challenge is to compliment at least one more person than usual today. Who knows – it might be the only kind word they’ll hear all day.
And have a sunny day!
Clarity
P.S. “Correction does much, but encouragement does more.” Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
P.P.S. Thank you for visiting www.MySunnyNotes.com. If you’re new to Sunny Notes and would like to receive my sunny email each Friday, visit www.JoinSunnyNotes.com.
Clarity Patton Newhouse
Metropolitan Lincoln Mercury
32000 Ford Road
Garden City, MI 48135
www.MetroMichigan.com
313-670-7505
Happy Friday! Brrrrrrrr. But hang in there - only 36 days ‘til Spring. Meanwhile, let’s touch on a topic that seems almost as obvious as snow is cold.
People respond better to encouragement than criticism.
That's just the way it is. Nevertheless, this simple but important principal is often overlooked at work and – yes – at home, too.
You’ve probably run into people who seem to think, consciously or unconsciously, that complimenting a person deters them from doing better. However quite the opposite is true: positive feedback encourages a person to earn more positive feedback. I’ve been fortunate to work with encouraging people who know that finding fault is easy, but providing encouragement, although more challenging, is more rewarding.
Inevitably, all of us encounter the need to elicit more desirable results from people around us – our employees, coworkers, bosses or family members. Instead of going straight for corrective criticism, a more effective approach is to say something nice first. It’s respectful; and there's always something to compliment – if we don't see it then we’re simply not looking closely enough.
Today’s sunny note invites you to join me in a little sunny challenge, to compliment someone, anyone, who you wouldn’t otherwise have complimented. Let’s lead by example and hope it’s contagious.
Regardless of how often you already do this, the challenge is to compliment at least one more person than usual today. Who knows – it might be the only kind word they’ll hear all day.
And have a sunny day!
Clarity
P.S. “Correction does much, but encouragement does more.” Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
P.P.S. Thank you for visiting www.MySunnyNotes.com. If you’re new to Sunny Notes and would like to receive my sunny email each Friday, visit www.JoinSunnyNotes.com.
Clarity Patton Newhouse
Metropolitan Lincoln Mercury
32000 Ford Road
Garden City, MI 48135
www.MetroMichigan.com
313-670-7505
Friday, February 5, 2010
The List
Good morning,
Happy Friday! To list or not to list, that is the question. We’re talking about the infamous “To Do List.”
Any time management book or seminar I’ve encountered has something to say about it. I’ve even heard talk about the “Not To Do List,” which by the way is an interesting concept to contemplate.
In my case, I have an Excel list on my computer where I jot down requests made of me – big or small – so they don’t get forgotten in the hustle or fall through the cracks. But that long list doesn’t help a bit with prioritizing or making effective use of my time.
The list that does help is the one I write right before going home at night, or worst case scenario, first thing the next morning to start my day. Three important items – just three – written in ink on a small pad of paper. It’s a “quick start” list to get the day off to a productive start before the usual happens – you know, the calls, the emails – the usual that takes one's day in unexpected directions.
This simple technique makes morning the most effective part of my day. Because if not addressed first thing in the morning, the “important” will often lose out to the “urgent,” referencing the note from December 11th.
I hope your Friday is productive, enjoyable and a sunny day!
Clarity
P.S. “Better three hours too soon than a minute too late.” William Shakespeare
Clarity Patton Newhouse
Metropolitan Lincoln Mercury
32000 Ford Road
Garden City, MI 48135
www.MetroMichigan.com
313-670-7505
Happy Friday! To list or not to list, that is the question. We’re talking about the infamous “To Do List.”
Any time management book or seminar I’ve encountered has something to say about it. I’ve even heard talk about the “Not To Do List,” which by the way is an interesting concept to contemplate.
In my case, I have an Excel list on my computer where I jot down requests made of me – big or small – so they don’t get forgotten in the hustle or fall through the cracks. But that long list doesn’t help a bit with prioritizing or making effective use of my time.
The list that does help is the one I write right before going home at night, or worst case scenario, first thing the next morning to start my day. Three important items – just three – written in ink on a small pad of paper. It’s a “quick start” list to get the day off to a productive start before the usual happens – you know, the calls, the emails – the usual that takes one's day in unexpected directions.
This simple technique makes morning the most effective part of my day. Because if not addressed first thing in the morning, the “important” will often lose out to the “urgent,” referencing the note from December 11th.
I hope your Friday is productive, enjoyable and a sunny day!
Clarity
P.S. “Better three hours too soon than a minute too late.” William Shakespeare
Clarity Patton Newhouse
Metropolitan Lincoln Mercury
32000 Ford Road
Garden City, MI 48135
www.MetroMichigan.com
313-670-7505
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