How to guides

Three Other Communication Elements Beside Words to Increase Your Success

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Maya Angelou had a timeless saying ““People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”   This is true now as it ever was.

This is why even if you carefully researched the facts and had all the logic in the world in your communication, you still only have 25% chance of success in influencing the listener.   That is because words and logic alone is not enough to be an effective communicator.   There are 3 additional communication elements that will increase your chances to be heard and to be supported. ...  read more

Mid-Year Check-In on My New Year Resolutions & a Path Forward

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Can you believe we’re halfway through the year already? Time flies.  Are you still working on your New Year Resolutions?  If you are not, don’t worry, you are not alone.   On average only 46% of people are still working on their New Year resolutions after six months.   Whether you are or not, mid year is a good time to check in and perhaps invigorate your pursuit again to achieve your New Year resolutions.    Back in January, I chose three personal resolutions to focus on: Do Less, Love Myself, and Find Myself.   Here is where I am today and how I plan to move forward. ...  read more

How to Increase Your Happiness – Let Go of the Outcome

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As an overachiever for many years, I used to only have conditional happiness.   “I will be happy when x, y, z happens”    Sound familiar?   It’s the most detrimental line of thinking and one that had fleeting happiness.   It was my husband that helped me realize that I can decouple my happiness from my achievements or things that happen outside my control. ...  read more

Do You Work to Live or Live to Work – Answer These 10 Questions

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work to live

When I ask this question “do you work to live or live to work?  You may say, “I work to live.”  However are your actions and decision consistent with this response?  Below are 10 questions you can ask yourself to find out if you truly work to live.

Why the Answer to This Question is Not Simple

I think society has taught us – “To be happy we should work to live and not live to work.” as no one on their death bead ever regrets not working enough.   As a result, whenever anyone is asked this question, very few would ever admit that they live to work.  It’s just not as cool.   Our quick answer that “I work to live” actually means – “I want to work to live.  I don’t want to live to work as life is too short. ” ...  read more

How to Improve Your Life and Work Today? Try OACS

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improve your life and work

I have been interviewing therapists to see if I can find one that is a good fit.   This post is not about recommending you to get a therapist.  That’s totally up to you.   It’s about sharing a useful tip one therapist shared with me that immediately improve my perspective and thus my life and work.   Apply OCAS!  What is OCAS?  I will get to that in a few paragraph. ...  read more

How to Be More Productive at Work – Shorten Meetings by 5 min

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Shorten meetings by 5 min?  How can that be more productive?  This concept may seem counter-intuitive but I think you will agree with me once you finish reading this post.    Have you noticed that our jobs now are full of meetings?  My meetings can run from 8am to 4pm with maybe one or two 30 min break in the middle.   This leaves very little time to think, plan, or work. ...  read more

How to Influence Others to Make Changes

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Do you know how to influence others to listen to your ideas?   The ability to influence others is one of the most important soft skills to develop, especially as you get more senior in your career.   It is more of an art than a science.  The good news is I believe anyone can master the influence skills if you put in efforts to develop it.  If I can learn it, so can you.   🙂 ...  read more