Tag Archives: mindset

Should Companies Ban Social Media Among Employees?

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should companies ban social media?

Recently I’ve been noticing more and more companies here in Malaysia putting a barrier around their employees, preventing them from accessing social media tools within the premise. While some go about a complete ban, some left room for the marketing department to roam about freely.

Is that a good move?

It is fully understandable that social media tools especially Facebook, Twitter and blogging can be a huge time waster at work. Employees may be playing games, chatting away or busy updating their personal blogs instead of being ‘productive’ at the workplace. It’s no wonder why companies have to resort to a complete ban.

However, it is also interesting to note that some of these companies are supposedly customer centric, saying that they listen to their customers and etc but at the same time, staying out of social media. Strange indeed.

Blogs (social media) doesn’t get people fired, people get people fired. – Deb Schultz, Altimeter Group

To me, social media should not be banned in a company at all. Instead, companies should establish clear guidelines on how social media can be used. Companies such as Dell takes social media very seriously and goes to the extend of training their employees in this area and they have been utmost successful.

IBM takes a different approach by allowing their employees to write their social media policy for them. Sounds absurd? Not really, considering the fact that since the employees will be the ones using social media, they should be the ones setting the guidelines. In fact, they are more likely to keep to it if they formed it themselves. Plus giving your employees this liberty may cultivate an innovative culture in your company.

Some companies don’t even have rules to regulate social media usage. They simply let their employees do what they like, as long they perform in the end.

So.. What’s the Conclusion?

There is really no hard and fast rule in implementing / regulating social media in a company. I really do prefer both Dell and IBM’s way of doing it but it also depends on your comfort level as a business owner in the industry. Remember, social media can act as both an asset and a liability to your brand. Experiment with techniques and find out what’s best for your environment – social media only works when you try.

Are You Watching or Participating?

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Are you someone who watches or someone who participates? Someone who observes or someone who gets their hands dirty?

Why not BOTH?

There are too many people living on extreme ends of this world – some observing, busy over analyzing and criticizing things; while some too indulged in the execution of things, neither of which is better than the other.

Perhaps today is a good time to ask yourself, what have you been in 2010? And what do you want to become in 2011?

If you’ve been looking from the sidelines, it is time for you to put your analytical skills to good use and execute your plans.

If you’ve been getting your hands dirty all day long, it is time for you to start strategizing and formulating plans to increase productivity or the effectiveness of what you’re doing.

2011 is going to be an exciting and challenging year for many and you definitely do not want to just LOOK at passing opportunities or just JUMP into every passing one without a strategy.

It’s time to take on the new year with a bang!

Don’t Criticize – You Don’t Learn from Someone You Criticize

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Criticism is a funny thing. We can joke about things, people and situations but when we criticize, it tends to affect your being more than you actually know.

When we criticize a person, we are subconsciously labeling that person as unimportant or not-worth-my-time and when that happens, chances are even when he / she comes up with a good idea in the future, you won’t take it in.

Now bear in mind that constructive criticism is valid as it is but many find it difficult to really be constructive in their criticism to others, especially in an competitive environment.

What to do in situations such as these? Don’t criticize – as much as you want to, don’t. Give some time for yourself to look from different angles before passing a comment. If you absolutely have to say something, be objective and do not draw a conclusion on that person.

Easier said than done, but remember: if you go about criticizing everyone that comes into your way, you’ll end up with no one on your side – and you definitely do not want that to happen.

Strategy is Everything

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A strategy determines which path you'll take

Proper planning is essential to success. Strategic planning is vital to success. One can plan for everything but without a STRATEGY, the plans are nothing.

You see, once you have clearly identified what your goals are it is important to carefully plan how you will achieve them – that’s planning, by putting down what you need to do. Strategy on the other hand, adds an edge and the “how-to” to your plans. For example, your plan may be to “move my blog to a .com by end 2010”. But how can you achieve it? That’s the strategy!

Many people skip this step in their excitement to pursue their goals and sad to say, failure to strategize will lead to failure and disappointment… leading to the abandonment of goals. What’s the problem over here? You did not have a success strategy.

It is true that no matter how carefully we lay out our plans, reality will require us to change and adapt through various circumstances. This is where your strategy shines – the adaptation of plans and the last minute improvisations that will push you towards your goal.

“The process of planning prepares you to take the steps necessary to realize your goals and aspirations.“

THIS is strategy

Take for example the picture above. The fish may have planned to join the other side but it takes strategy for that to happen – how much air to hold, how much strength to jump, how high to jump, how much momentum to build, how should it land – that’s STRATEGY!

Planning alone is not a success factor. You plan your game but it takes strategy to manage resources, coordinate and manage factors, changes and the environment. Planning is important, but strategy is crucial. A solid plan also makes room for a winning strategy.

Do you have a plan for 2011? Do you have a strategy for 2011? We’re only about 20+ days away from 2011. Take some time off today to plan and strategize!

Strategy is everything.

How Are You Keeping Up With 2010?

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We’ve already come to the end of November and it will soon be Christmas, then 2011. How has 2010 been treating you? Has it been difficult? Challenging? Disappointing?

Recently I was reminded with the old days where I used to train under my coach for badminton. I remember that it is at the time when I’m facing a stronger opponent, physically drained, worn out and out of breathe, my coach will always tell me:

“Keep your focus! If 100% isn’t enough, go 200%! If 200% still isn’t enough, go 300%! You’re here to win it, else you’re going home!”

Today when I look back, wow, there is so much truth in that. When life gets challenging and tough, that’s your opportunity to shine – to accomplish something you’ve never done before. Successful entrepreneurs take on challenges because they know their skills will be refined and failures will only make them stronger.

Are you on the verge of giving up? Now is the time to focus upon the goal – to win it – giving it 200%, 300% or more.

Let’s end 2010 with a bang!

When Did You Stop Dreaming?

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Many of us have dreams; or rather, used to have dreams.

Look back at those times when you were growing up in school – you may have big dreams – to become a millionaire by a certain age, to be your own boss, to travel the world, to write a book, to have THE job, to have a fairy-like wedding and etc – now ask yourself: When did you stop dreaming?

Or did you tell yourself to be real and get over the dreams?

I would say: Dream, and make it real. Don’t let reality be an excuse for you to stop dreaming, and nobody is too young or old to stop dreaming. Have you ever wondered why some people can be so passionate in the things they do and they can go all out, claiming success as theirs? They are nowhere special as you yourself are. You can, too!

One of the reasons why they are able to do it is because they have a dream – and they are set to achieve it. They are willing to do what it takes, to sacrifice and to persevere through whatever that comes in their way. They managed to put-to-action their passion for the dream and believe they can do it.

Now, if you’re sitting there saying to yourself that you’ve already tried many times and still failed or simply do not have the resources or time to achieve your dreams anymore, you’re simply not trying enough. As you know, there are risks in life and each dream you have is also likely to have risks attached to it. For example – you may have to give up your current job to be your own boss.

I’m not saying that if you try hard enough, your dreams will 100% come true; but what I can tell you for sure is that if you give up, you’ll 100% have NO chance in achieving your dreams. Take a look at a short video below of seven real life dreamers that have been rejected, ridiculed and laughed at YET persevered, pursued and achieved their dreams:

What Can You Do Today:

1. Start dreaming

Yes, it’s time to start dreaming again. Don’t let reality pull you back.

2. Write down that dream of yours

Put it on paper, pin it up somewhere, put it as your wallpaper or anyway to remind you of your dream. Even better, share it with someone that has a dream too and work towards it together!

3. Map out what it takes to achieve that dream

List down what sacrifices is required and what will you need to achieve it – be as specific as possible and always take up the opportunity to be one step closer to your dream!

4. Make your dream a reality!

If you can’t take it on right away, make allocations to start working on it. If a certain method does not work, try another or try talking to someone that has already been through it for advice – the Web is a great place for that. Use Facebook, Twitter or participate in discussions to get more ideas and support to have your dream come true!

What is your dream?

DREAM, and MAKE IT A REALITY!

How to: Eliminate Your Energy Zappers – Stay in the Game!

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Life is all about energy - both positive and negative

Life is all about energy. You need energy to wake up in the morning, to go to work, to attend meetings, to reply emails, to answer that phone call, to have fun with your friends.. you get the drift – and it’s a daily cycle. People tend to live through the day ending up tired and totally zapped out of energy thinking it’s normal – but it really isn’t that simple.

Why?

In life there are things that give you energy and there are things that rob or zap you of energy. The worse part is, you may not know that these things are zapping your energy rapidly because it has become part of your life, a routine that has been weaved out of our consciousness.

Energy Zappers

Energy Zappers - Stay Away From Them!

In most situations, it’s not that you don’t have enough energy due to lack of sleep / rest that’s holding you back – it’s the things that are robbing you of energy that’s really the problem. Things that zaps your energy includes people who get on your nerves, the stress from poor traffic conditions, parking problems, that hatred or unforgiveness in your head, unproductive meetings, datelines or anything that happens to step on your toes – activities or situations that you just don’t like getting yourself into.

Energy Chargers

Energy Chargers - Your Source of Happiness

Not all hope is lost! There are energy chargers around you and all you need is to make use of them to fill you up again. These chargers are your are friends that make you laugh, your favorite song, talking to your significant other, accomplishing tasks, closing a deal, shopping, eating, any activity that makes you happy and the small things that make you happy to be alive.

What Can You Do

While it’s true that you may be tired and fatigued, it also may be that you need to re-look into your daily life. Identify energy zappers and eliminate them. It could be anything – people, jobs and situations so start listing them out today! Make a conscious decision to remove them from your life and add activities that replenishes your energy instead.

If you’ve put it on paper, you’ll probably realize that not all energy zappers can be eliminated and I agree 100%. The main focus is to be consciously aware of what zaps you and to take control of the situation – do not let it zap you off just like that. For example if traffic conditions are driving you crazy, perhaps playing your favorite song over the radio will charge you up a little?

Make this conscious decision and it may change your life forever! It’s never easy but it’s definitely worth trying – after all, what’s there to lose when there’s all to gain?

What are your energy zappers and chargers?

Recommended read: How to develop a winning mindset

Attributes of an Entrepreneur: Being Punctual

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When was the last time you were punctual? If you’ve always been, keep it up! If you haven’t, it’s time to step it up! Why? Being punctual is an obvious indication of respect towards the other party’s time. Punctuality is a problem in many places, and for some, it has even became a norm in their daily life. If you’ve caught yourself saying: “Oh, he / she’s gonna be late anyway”, remember: it does not matter if the person you’re going to meet is not going to be punctual – it’s about you.

Are you punctual? | Attributes of an entrepreneur

The Rule of Thumb to be Punctual

“To be late is to be on time; To be early is to be before time.”

Having that said, plan your day’s time well. Make sure you allocate sufficient time for you to get to your car (some places take 10 minutes to get to the parking lot!), travel from one place to another, consider traffic conditions and etc. Always aim to get there at least 10-15 minutes before the agreed time.

I’ve personally found this rule to be particularly useful as I recently attended a meeting only to find that my client’s office runs on a 15-minute faster clock. Imagine if I would to have arrived “on-the-dot”, that would mean that it’s already 15 minutes late for them – it would definitely hurt my reputation.

In situations such as these, explaining that they are not following the current universal time does not save you.. guaranteed.

What to do if You Can’t Make it on Time

I have to agree that being punctual is no easy task, especially when you have a never ending to-do list, back to back appointments and the horrendous traffic on the roads. I’m not saying that the above can be used as an excuse, it’s just that things DO creep up unexpectedly and in situations such as these:

1. Contact the person you’re meeting at least 30 minutes before the appointment to inform that you may be late because of ___. Sometimes it will be helpful to mention your current location so that he / she will be able to estimate how long would you need to get there. Don’t be inclined to say “I’m 10 minutes away” if you are not (punctuality plays here, too!).

2. If you are unable to make it AT ALL somehow, again, call him / her up at least 30 minutes before the appointment to apologize, and see if a reschedule is possible with a valid explanation. You’ll probably lose some brownie points over here so do NOT miss (or be late for) the rescheduled appointment at all cost!

It’s Time to be Punctual!

Get started today! Keep the rule in mind and make every effort to be punctual – it will be a lifesaver, especially if you’re an entrepreneur!

Have You Invested in Yourself Today?

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Happy November! Soon it will be Christmas and then the new year will come. It’s really amazing to see how time flies. As we slowly creep towards the end of 2010, let me ask you this simple question:

“How often have you invested in yourself thus far in 2010?”

Why Invest in Yourself?

It is interesting to note that we often invest in many things – except ourselves. Time, money and effort is spent on work, studies, business meetings, luncheons and the list is never ending. We live in an ‘instant’ world today where we are somewhat trained to expect everything to be instant. Think about it – instant noodles, instant coffee and even Google Instant! It’s no wonder time flies quickly as we are constantly finding ways to save time, only to fill it up with more work over and over again.

Investing in Yourself

Now now, I’m not going along the route of physical investments such as through career building opportunities, training programs and etc although that is also important. However, your personal wellbeing and emotional needs are equally (or more) important too!

Investing in yourself like a plantI would like to suggest using a plant as an illustration – it will most definitely survive with water, air and light but without fertilizer the good soil, it will not grow into it’s finest form. It’s alive, that’s for sure but perhaps without flowers, fruits and lushful leaves.

Likewise, us humans can live life just as it is – participating in an endless rat race that will eventually lead to a life without meaning; stressed up, boring, rich (maybe) but always insufficient and perhaps friendless. Do we really want to head down that path?

Take some time off! Go for a holiday, catch a movie, read a book, spend quality time with family members, friends and loved ones, take up courses for self improvement, pick up a sport, take a walk, go shopping, sleep – anything other than work. Believe me, it won’t be a waste of time at all! In fact, you’ll be able to get back to work mentally refreshed and perhaps pickup new ideas off work – how cool is that?

Look for opportunities to take time off this week and feel the difference! It’ll be worth it ;)

Start investing in your ‘plant’ today!

Attributes of an Entrepreneur: Sacrificial

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The weekend went by exceptionally quick this time as I participated in a badminton tournament on Saturday. A fruitful weekend, that’s for sure. How about you? Did you manage to accomplish the task you set out to do last week? Focus is a difficult thing to do and often comes along with necessary sacrifices one way or another.

Some may sacrifice time spent on games, watching TV and for some, even sleep (which is, not good)! Sacrifices can be painful to some and perhaps the best thing could ever happen to another. Like it or not, sacrifice is often part of the package of being an entrepreneur.

“Sacrificial – the willingness and the inner defense of an entrepreneur. To sacrifice breeds success. Sacrifice also demonstrates ownership and keeps one humble. Sacrifices may take time, effort and money with the potential for long term returns. Without sacrifice, an entrepreneur may end up with nothing.”

Think about it, many entrepreneurs first started out with ZERO. You may have heard stories of how they went on zero payroll, going through a series of trials, tribulations and challenges before they actually took off and became what they are today.

Yes, their stories are inspiring. The truth is – you CAN, too!

It is simple: If you don’t work for your own success, who will?