Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
Doing VS Being. What is more important?
I believe that we get caught up in this trap because doing is so much easier. We can quantify what we do--the results are right there to see and count and judge. We can count how many sales we've made, we can measure how much of the yard we've landscaped, and we can count the number of times that we've driven to the store. We can also see the results of not doing, such as the dishes on the kitchen counter, the full "to-do" list of things that still need to be done, or the bed that hasn't been made or the clothes that haven't been washed. There's a lot of value in doing, of course, for doing allows us to keep things clean and to take care of problems, often before they even come up.
But there has to be time for being in there, also. "Being" doesn't consist of sitting in front of a screen, be it television, computer, games, of movie, for that is a form of passive consumerism, taking in something that someone else has done. And while this can be valuable for unwinding after a long and stressful day, it still isn't a way of being.
It's hard for me to define "being" as I'm using the term here. No one has taught me what it means, though I have read many books that address the idea. It seems that being is getting in touch with that deeper part of ourselves, that inner power that many people call "spirit," that many others call "God." I'm not sure what I'd call it, but I do know that I don't let it out nearly enough, and my outward behavior and actions aren't guided nearly often enough by its power. this is the part of me that can help me define who I am in this world, as opposed to what I do in this world, yet I keep it under wraps, buried beneath all of the activities and tasks and chores that keep me running seemingly all the days of my life.
I believe things are getting worse rather than better, for I see the way many kids are being raised these days. Between soccer and basketball and cricket and music and homework and skiing and all of the many, many tasks that are part of their lives, they are much, much busier doing things than members of my generation were as kids. Children these days often have very little time for playing, for having fun, for just being kids, and that's both sad and frightening. As they grow up, they can't help but develop a nagging sense of having missed something very important.
Where is your focus--on "being" or on "doing"? Both are very important, but they must be maintained in a careful balance. If we go too far over on the doing side, we're definitely risking missing one of the most important aspects of who we are, and we're risking never getting in touch with that deeper part of ourselves that can bring us fulfillment and peace. When we ask ourselves why we're here on this planet, I'm pretty sure that the answer is closer to "finding out who I am" than it is "accomplishing more things than my neighbor."
Monday, April 12, 2010
How to best promote yourself at the workplace
You’ve been happily overworking yourself all year, you’ve been putting your every effort into your “dream-turned-reality” job and you have modestly assumed that the Top- Notch quality of your work, your utmost devotion to the job and the organization, the voluntary overtime you have been indulging in are enough reasons to “magically” earn you a long awaited and much deserved promotion/raise etc.? Think again!
You might consider the following statement cheerless, but it is largely true: doing your job - even if “a la perfection”- in many cases will not get you the praise/ reward/ promotion you so much deserve, it will not even get you the employee of the year award unless you go the extra mile. What more can a steadfast employee do? Blast your own horn; yes, you’ve read it correctly. Should you wish for your co-workers, boss, director, CEO to know about your accomplishments (and maybe later on keep the superstar that you are in mind for that senior position you have been eying), you might as well not brag, but lay the facts to the public (the office in your case), in a gentle and thoughtful way of course, never aggressively or offensively. Think of it as pitching yourself for a new position, you’ve been there and done that successfully at a certain point, the slight difference is that right now, you get to pitch yourself while on the actual job, leaving your options open for any career advancement or promotion opportunities (and also of course the bonus, rewards and words of appreciation).
Question is: What are the best ways for you to market yourself at the workplace
- 1. Be nice to your direct boss: You do not necessarily need a reason to pop by his / her cubicle. Make it a point to drop by twice a week to give him/ her a face to face update about your job activities and have a light chit-chat about other things (such as football, extra-curricular activities, pancakes with blackberries, or whatever else might put a smile on their face).
- 2. Be present during department/organizational meetings: By being present, we are not referring to mere physical presence but rather active presence and positive contribution when and where convenient. Always aim to ask a question (don’t settle for less than brainy ones) or answer a question (especially when you are 100% certain it’s an answer to wow the crowd)! You will be surprised by how many people will remember and refer to you as the positive team player with remarkable insights and a genuine interest in the department/ organization’s wellbeing.
- 3. Don’t restrict yourself your office connections to only people in your department: Are you the senior marketing executive? Befriend other colleagues in other departments such as IT, accounting or maybe HR. You never know where the next opportunity lies; an opportunity that might perfectly suit your bundle of exceptional skills may not necessarily be bound only to marketing. Broaden your horizons and expand your networks!
- 4. Voice your accomplishments: Have you just closed a deal with a hot shot client? Have you made you department’s filing system much easier by suggesting an efficient simpler “personal” technique? Spread the news (in writing if doable) – a statement of facts that need not transcend a self congratulation letter. Make sure you do however include a line or two that state how your deed will contribute to your company’s betterment. Documenting your accomplishments will be a great resource for your boss to refer to during the annual appraisal (and this might actually just get you that raise you’ve been longing for).
- 5. Gear up to wow the crowd: Your aresenla of skills does not mereley consist of technical and interpersonal skills required for your role, you do have as well many other skills (and hidden talents). Put them in use when the situation allows it. Do you have an eye for design? Volunteer (in front of your boss & upper management) to give the decorators a hand with the new office design. Have you studied Spanish as a foreign language? Offer to be the middleman between a colleague and one of his “Only Spanish” speaking clients. News flies, and so do good deeds. Be a good–doer who does not shy away from sharing his accomplishments with an entourage that he respects and learns from everyday!
Friday, April 9, 2010
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