Communication – Personal Development – Business

OK – here we go! In my pre-op meeting today, the nurse reminded us that the more knowledge you have, the more quickly you will recover from knee replacement surgery. But I was thinking, doesn’t that have a broader application? I was given pre-op exercises that I’ve been doing for over 3 months. My doctor gave me knowledge, I took action so know the future will be better. That is life in a nutshell.

Here is the problem. There are many people who have knowledge, they just don’t take action. Continue to challenge yourself to take risk, and most importantly do something. Nothing will happen without your active participation. So what will you do?

Tags: health, life long learning, outcomes by Marsha
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Aging is often welcomed with a variety of signs … One of them being the onset of aching joints. When I was diagnosed with arthritic knee joints, I knew I was doomed. And all I wanted was clear communication and to know I was in good hands with whatever treatment was chosen. My focus on personal responsibility kicked in and with the guiding advice of my doctors, I began the journey. So we tried: meniscus surgery cortisone shots orthovisc and synvisc shots physical therapy

Tags: client care by Marsha
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It’s painful watching someone speak who is filled with anxiety. How are you at controlling your nervousness?

Understand that the audience can tell immediately when you are panicked. This unrest is typically caused by lack of self-confidence, which is then exacerbated by poorly drafted presentations, little or no practice, and not knowing your audience. Think about a nervous speaker you previewed; did their anxiety build confidence in their message? Or were you just hoping they would make it through? Using a planning model helps reduce anxiety because it gives you structure and the knowledge that you are organized and in control.

Construction: Use the following 11-point model to plan your presentation. This model can also be used for planning meetings, writing newsletters and more.

Tags: communicate, presentation skills, professional development by Marsha
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Reader’s question:  I have a great job that I dearly love.  Recently, one of my 4 bosses added a task to my job that is actually a full time job on it’s own at this time.  I was unable to keep up on many of my other duties due to the priority level and time needed and this ongoing task.  I finally convinced my boss that added the task to my workload that it was way too much for one person.  However, he wasn’t happy and now he is hesitant to give me any other tasks.

Tags: business success, dealing with difficult bosses, Positive Behavior by Marsha
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How comfortable are you speaking in a public venue? How about if you are asked to present your views on a project you may be working on? What if your professional association asked you to keynote a meeting or present a concurrent session? Merely upon hearing these suggestions, most people become sick to their stomach, feel their knees begin to shake, and their mental terrorism starts screaming, “No way!”

Here is the quickest way to separate yourself from other people in the workplace: hone your public speaking skills, and become comfortable with presenting. I’ve learned that it is simply another skill to tuck away in your success toolbox.

Tags: professional development by Marsha
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“Whatever America hopes to bring to pass in the world must first come to pass in the heart of America.” -Dwight D. Eisenhower

Our simple freedoms have been violated. Many are now worried about their companies, their business, their customers and clients. The status of our daily lives, both personally and professionally have been changed forever. The one element we control is our personal freedom. Freedom begins with you and by taking personal responsibility for everything — including your success.

Tags: Uncategorized by Marsha
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The Wallow Fire in Arizona has been devastating. Many people have lost their homes that were surrounded by towering pines and crystal blue skies.  One month before the fire, my husband changed all of our cabin insurance to Allstate because of a recommendation from a dear friend.

The policies were activated with one condition concerning the Alpine retreat because the risk managers wanted a few small trees trimmed. Receiving the notice right before we left on an eight-day celebration of my birthday still gave us plenty of time to get to the property, trim the vegetation and take pictures of the completed work when we returned June 8th.

Tags: client care, customer service, Positive Behavior by Marsha
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We are in an ethical crisis. The affliction with many government leaders, companies, educational institutions and people is moral amnesia.  Whether you are in a leadership role or not, the state of ethical behavior is under scrutiny.

Take the matter of a teacher watching two boys fist fight in a Texas classroom.  The teacher does have a moral obligation and an ethical responsibility to prevent human suffering. After all, the teacher is a role model (or should be) and sets the standard.  It does not matter what “the law” says. Is this teacher suffering from Moral Amnesia?

Tags: Ethics by Marsha
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How much can you get done in a day? Want to spend more time in the outdoors but just can’t seem to find the time?  Survival in this business downturn and staying sane during the process is not easy. You must be faster at everything you do. Learn how to have the energy to accomplish it all by sleeping faster. Focus on leveraging every minute of the day by learning faster time management skills. Organize your outdoor gear so you can get to nature faster.

Tags: time management by Marsha
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When you are being mentally mugged by the toxic types, your self-confidence is in harms way.  Here are weapons that help you take aim:

• Relive a confident moment. Dig back in your memory bank and recapture an event when you delivered the kind of success you want.  Remember as much detail as you can. It’s true – you become what you think about.

• Stop “awfulizing.” You must train yourself to put on the brakes when your thinking wanders to a devastating event. Every time you relive a mental mugging, it seems just a little bit worse and becomes an even more awful event. Get a good weapon to take out the mental terrorists.

Tags: Behavior, dealing with difficult people by Marsha
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