Winning Strategies

Go Big or Go Home

Funny thing it is that our kids come up with these phrases that make us stop in our tracks and say, "huh?".

My youngest son's current favorite phrase is-Go Big or Go Home. I believe this has a good crossover message for us in business today. We spend too much time, in my opinion, on mediocrity. Are you doing things halfway? Or half heartedly? Are you giving your current project or task ALL of your ATTENTION? Or are you just 'sort of' working on it? Are you creating an end product that is OUT OF THIS WORLD? or is it just OK?

If it isn't spectacular- shame on you. Go Big or Go Home. Make your next task the best that you can do!

Life is About Choices

Life is all about choices...what to eat? What to wear? Where to live? Where to work? Who to marry?

We get caught up in all the choosing and the most important elements of life blur from our focus. We need a magnifying glass pointed at the important focal areas: loved ones, health, rest, living our passions, God, and family.

Choose to direct your choices and focus in the right direction.

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Look Better, Feel Great, and Be More Productive

You could summarize all of my new years resolutions into 3 broad categories:

* Look Better
* Feel Great
* Be More Productive

From those broad sweeping general categories, I have assigned tactical
steps that move me forward in each area. Without goals, tasks and
priorities, it is unlikely that we will move those areas forward in our
lives.

Look Better:  In this category, I have placed a few new years goals that take me a step above last year.  We can always improve, I believe.  I have started with the following.

• Add 2 tailored suits to my wardrobe
• Get in better physical shape
  • P90X
• Choose better options for food (always difficult to do)

Feel Great:  This is around the areas of personal development.  I have tactical items in this section as well.

• Read 'The Purpose Driven Life'
• Add a period of Quiet Time into every day
• Be less 'busy' by taking a few things off the calendar
• Give myself permission to have a few pajama days (days that I do absolutely nothing and be extremely unproductive) laugh

Be More Productive:  Productivity is key when it comes to work performance.  My goal in this area is to rise to a higher level of efficiency and productivity.  I aim to get 'back to the basics' and create habits at work that PRODUCE MORE.

• Limit time on email
• Be stringent on my follow up
• Do what I say I will do
• Keep promises/commitments
• Always put PEOPLE before BUSINESS
• Sacrifice tasks for relationships, not relationships for tasks

What is on your list?  There is no right or wrong answers.  The only wrong answer is if you have NO plan and NO direction.  Make a plan to take you in a direction that you want to go.

 

 

Death of a TX Legend - The Texas Tornado

 

"The Texas Tornado", Louise Raggio, died yesterday at the age of 91. She is the woman responsible for giving women property rights. She is most known for her work in passing the The Marital Property Act 1967. Before the legislation, married Texas women were forced to give control of their bank accounts and real estate to their husbands. In addition, women could not borrow money without their husband's consent. Below is Dallas Morning News article - well worth the read. She was a champion of equal rights and a one of the most influential women's rights activists.

http://www.dallasnews.com/news/community-news/dallas/headlines/20110123-louise-raggio-trailblazing-dallas-lawyer-dies-at-91.ece 

 

 

 

Additional life highlights:

Only woman of a class of 10 to graduate from SMU law school - at night

1st female assistant district attorney (was paid $350 - half the salary of her male colleagues)

1st female to prosecute a criminal case

1st woman to be a director in the Texas State Bar

In the Texas Hall of Fame.

She was a trail blazer and she will be greatly missed.

(Thanks to Amie Hinderliter for this write up)

 

 

 

Life's Priorities

I desperately want to attend a taping of a TV show that my friend is working on, but my boy needs me. How often we prioritize and sacrifice- attempting to make the right decisions and create the best end result. We wonder- will they ever appreciate the sacrifices and challenges that we faced raising them? Will they grow into conscientious adults who are contributing members of their communities?

We wonder about the future and fret over the past. Today I encourage you in your journey. May you feel like the decisions you are making are shaping your little ones (or big ones as it may be) into contributing independent adults.
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Top Blogs of 2010

These were the most read blogs from Winning Strategies from 2010:

1. What Us Girls (Sometimes) Wish the Boys Knew and Understood:
   http://bethanywilliamsblog.typepad.com/blogging_with_bethany/2010/05/what-us-girls-sometimes-wish-the-boys-knewunderstood.html
2. Building the Life of Your Dreams:  http://bethanywilliamsblog.typepad.com/blogging_with_bethany/2010/10/building-the-life-of-your-dreams.html
3. Do It Better Than Anyone Else, And in Less Time:  http://bethanywilliamsblog.typepad.com/blogging_with_bethany/2010/09/do-it-better-than-anyone-else-and-in-less-time.html
4. Beaten Down and Broken at Work:
   http://bethanywilliamsblog.typepad.com/blogging_with_bethany/2010/09/beaten-down-and-broken-at-work.html
5. You Have All That you Need:
   http://bethanywilliamsblog.typepad.com/blogging_with_bethany/2010/08/you-have-all-that-you-need.html
6. Are You Willing to Get Up, Stand Up, and Run After Your Dreams?
   http://bethanywilliamsblog.typepad.com/blogging_with_bethany/2010/06/are-you-willing-to-get-up-stand-up-and-run-after-your-dreams.html
7. Life is Yours To Design: 
   http://bethanywilliamsblog.typepad.com/blogging_with_bethany/2010/07/life-is-yours-to-design.html
8. Social Networking Well Kept Secrets: 
   http://bethanywilliamsblog.typepad.com/blogging_with_bethany/2010/06/social-networking-well-kept-secrets.html
9. Dream a Better Dream:
   http://bethanywilliamsblog.typepad.com/blogging_with_bethany/2010/04/dream-a-better-dream.html
10. Over 2,000,000 Miles on American:
    http://bethanywilliamsblog.typepad.com/blogging_with_bethany/2010/02/over-2000000-miles-on-american.html

Enjoy! 

New Year, New Attitude Towards Work

Read my most recent article on workbloom:

http://workbloom.com/blog/workplace/new-year-new-attitude-towards-work/

Work Advice for the Day- Back to the Basics

We falter and struggle.  We get frustrated and wonder what to do next.  Often times, the best solution is 'Back to the Basics'.  Sometimes it is the simplest things that we have stopped doing.  It is the small steps that add up to really big steps when we miss them:

External

• Does the client know how to get ahold of you?
• Have you made you contract information readily available? 
• Do they feel like they can call you and ask a question without feeling like they are bothering you or taking up your time? 
• Have you promised them something that you didn't deliver?
• Does the document/email or communication that you sent them have your company name and number on it?
• Did you ask them how they are?
• Have you checked in on them when you don't need something?

Internal

• Have you typed up your squibbled notes from that meeting 3 weeks ago? 
• Did you document the meeting in your internal respository so that others can access the information?
• Have you internally communicated all action items as promised?
• Do you look into the eyes of the people talking to you?

Sometimes the ways that we can have dramatic business effect is to concentrate on the simple tasks necessary to ensure that we are not throwing away our time, and our company's resources.  If you've attended a meeting and not followed up, then the meeting was a waste of your time and the company resources. 

Solution Ideas

• Designate time on your calendar for follow up.  If you have made it through college, than you know how to get your homework done.  Use this skill at work.
• Focus on people.  Often we are missing that the people we work with and our customers and our business partners are all PEOPLE.  People with needs, wants, problems, dilemmas, frustrations, and difficulty with work/life balance.  We forget to be compassionate and understanding.  We sometimes forget to treat people like people.  Put yourself in their shoes.  Focus on them.
• Care about your coworkers.  You spend a lot of time at work, but do you truly show your coworkers that you care about them?  or are you rushing through the niceties to get to the core of the matter?  Coworkers/teams that care about each other produce more.  Just like basketball teams and football teams, if they have a team spirit, they will accomplish.  Stop and pay attention to a need of your coworker.
• Email isn't the end all be all.  Forget about an email.  Email is worn out.  Consider writing a hand written note or a memo.  Stand out from the crowd.  Try a phone call.  Leave a voice message.  Drive or walk to their office.  Shocking advice, I know.

Best of luck in returning to the basics.  You will find impact and results in the simplest of tasks.

 

 

 

 

New Phase of Life

Heather and Brian delivered an adorable baby girl, Madison, this morning at 7:40 am.  She weighed 9 pounds, 3 ounces and was 20 inches long.  She is a delight to see and hold.

I think back over the many seasons of life.  Each season holds joys and challenges, unique views and sensations.  Every facet of our life changes before us and shapes and moldes new and different experiences.    I remember each of my children as they were babies, and the many phases of the lives that we have lived through.  I think of the challenges and uniqueness of each one.  Life moves at a fast pace and before we know it, our children are grown and having babies of their own.  It is a startling revelation to see my baby girl all grown up and becoming a mother of her own.  I'm so proud to see her and the beautiful woman that she has grown into.  She is sweet, sincere, honest, and amazing.  Her father would be so proud of her.  I'm sorry that he isn't alive to see this day.

So, as I drive into the next phase of my life, life as a mother of a daughter with a baby (yes, still working towards the gma word) (laugh), I look forward to the next phase of my life.  I look forward to babysitting for my adorable granddaugther, and watching her grow, learn and discover the world around her.  I am still amazed by the miracle of birth and I sit entranced by the wonder of it all.  Yes, it is simply amazing. 

I held baby Madison in my arms today and was reminded of the truly important things in life.  I was able to feel her warm body snuggled up next to mine and watch her wiggle in my arms.  I saw her mother lovingly holding her and gently caring for her.  It was an amazing sight. 

Goodnight sweet Madison.  We welcome you to the world.

Asking for and Getting a Raise- How Do You Do It?

Watch this quick video to walk you through the ABC's of asking for and getting a raise.