Hygiene in the Workplace: It Matters

Last week I was shopping at a major retailer for business supplies. What I witnessed prompted this weeks blog.

I'm far from a germophobe- you can ask my friends and family. However, I realize that the world is getting more health conscious. People are paying attention to illness origin and germs more than they ever have before. Companies have moved to the motto- if you are sick, stay home. That has become an order to promote faster healing as well as keeping the healthy workforce healthy.

The cashier at this major chain had a chronic cough- every 5 seconds she was coughing. Sometimes she'd cover her mouth, other times she wouldn't. She then began picking at her lips with her fingers- a nervous habit or one out of boredom. She was using these same fingers to punch details into the cash register, take my credit card, and touch my purchases. Yuck. Even I was offended. She told me to have a great day. I told her that I hoped she would feel better. And, she looked at me as though I was crazy. Maybe she felt great.

Business owners beware. Part of your training needs to include hygiene and illness. What are employees to do when they are sick? How sick? What behaviors are acceptable in the workplace and not so. We are all familiar with hygiene and behaviors in the food industry. Let's set many of those same standards in other workplaces to foster better business, happier employees and customers, and a healthier environment.

Here's to your health.

"I'll do that later." The Procrastinator's Theme

This week I was at a corporation delivering a talk on stress reduction. An employee approached me and asked what advice I have for the chronic procrastinator.

If you have trouble "doing something now" and always seem to "put off til tomorrow.... or tomorrow's tomorrow..." here are a few simple suggestions to getting it done.

List those things you are putting off.
List those things you'll do right away (scheduling a spa day, grabbing lunch, hitting the happy hour circuit, etc...)
Assign a pairing of something you put off and something you have no problem doing such as... I will make 5 calls and THEN I can go to lunch.
Or, make it a string of things to do before enjoying a pleasurable item or event ... I will do three things (list them specifically) on my list before I get to schedule my weekend.

Be disciplined. Be on top of all of the things on your list- including those you don't like.

Don't put off til tomorrow those things you've been doing so for a month. Drop it completely or get it done.

Put on Your Consumer Vision

I often speak to groups about networking and building a successful business.

It often surprises me that people fail to try to see things from a consumer aspect.

To build a successful business you need to offer three things:

1. Be there (in person, on mind, and at their fingertips) and ready to deliver
2. Make a favorable and lasting impression
3. Provide value (not the cheapest price!)

To do the above you have to look at your business from a consumer standpoint. You already think you do all three. But, do they? Why don't more think that of you and your business?

I challenge you to partner up with a fellow business professional (not your best friend) and offer to review each others businesses with your consumer vision or consumer goggles. It would go something like this:

• We each agree to spend 3 hours reviewing each others businesses over the next 30 days
• We will review the following materials or items: (examples) storefront, business cards, marketing materials, philosophy, presence in the community, etc...
• We will deliver a written report to each other on such a date when we meet for coffee. The report will include our impressions of the materials, recommendations and/or feedback on how to improve them and our overall impression of your business (in the three key aspects stated above in this blog).

Now, just because your business partner doesn't accept each recommendation doesn't mean the exercise was not valuable. Remember, business is not personal! You learned about your business from another persons perspective- and you offered your valuable insight to them on theirs. You've already won by doing the exercise.

Have You Overstayed Your Welcome?

Have you reached a plateau in your career with your current employer?
Have you found the last year to be unstimulating and/or sterile?
Do the years look the same?

Many people find themselves in the comfort of the "same old same old". Only, it really isn't comfortable we just convince ourselves that it is. And, given that change can sometimes be difficult- we make excuses to stay where we are even though we are no longer challenged at work.

Our work, our employment, is a significant piece of our lives. It should be empowering, stimulating, positive, life-fulfilling, and rewarding. It is essential that you recognize the signs when this is no longer the case. When that happens you have to be prepared to make a move.

Some of the things you can do:
Speak with your supervisor to see if there is a special project you can take on.
Evaluate your own performance- maybe the lack of stimulation is with you.
Look at the company offerings. Is there something you want?
Survey the industry in which you work. What is out there that excites you?
Evaluate your desire to switch industries. Are you ready? Where do you see yourself?
Update your resume for those opportunities you may want.


Don't stay in a dead end job. Don't let talk of a bad economy hold you back. Stop allowing excuses to rule your years.

Your current job may have served its role in your life. Now, its time to find your next adventure. That adventure may be as simple as a new project at work. Or, it could mean a life-changing switch in your career.

Save Yourself. Turn the TV Off. ... at least more often

One of the things I notice, changing about myself as I age, is my distaste for television and for people who spend hours watching it.

I've been there. I was the little kid who watched a lot of TV. I was the adult that would eat in front of the TV, as a single person living in an apartment. I would occasionally get caught up in sitcoms and drama series and watch as though it was a scheduled part of my day.

Then I realized that year after year the plots changed ever so slightly but I was in the same place. My growth and development, personally and/or professionally, was not enhanced one ounce by spending so much time watching television.

In my Dan Kennedy education I've learned about a quote that I've come to embody, "Poor people have big TVs; Rich people have big libraries." I believe it.

I advocate more reading, more socializing, more walks- less TV. When you do watch TV make it educational or TRUE entertainment once in a while. Don't allow it to take up more time than a part-time job with zero yield.

Advice to Calm the Nerves of a Chair

A business woman emailed me recently. Her email can be summed up as follows, "Help! I’m nervous about an upcoming event I am chairing."

Here was my response:

Without knowing the Chair's responsibilities (for this event) here are my general suggestions:

1. Speak to last years Chair about his/her experiences
2. Have all of the things prepared that you can well before hand (so they don't add worry as the day arrives)
- outfit, makeup, shoes (knowing you'll look fabulous will help you feel great)
- schedule leading up to event (including a wonderful relaxation or celebration period afterwards)
-try to get a hold of event agendas, speeches, names of others involved, etc...
3. Rehearse, Rehearse, Rehearse
4. Build yourself up to the moment/event by reading positive comments about you from others (clients, groups, etc...); listen to music that pumps you up or relaxes you (depending upon what you need); remind yourself that you've been chosen because of who you are (they really appreciate you and your work in the business community)

I believe most nervousness can be relieved by preparing and rehearsing.

You'll be and do great!

Think Ahead.... Planing to Age is Smart

Last year I consulted an attorney to design my will, health care directive and other important life and death documents. I also hired my first financial planner to coach me on the road to financial success. I'm 34.

Some of you may say I'm too young to be concerned with wills and such. I have no children, no husband, etc... However, I do have things that mean the world to me that I want to ensure follow my wishes after I die. And, I care about those who may be here well beyond me- and want this process to be easier on them. What would happen to my house? My book and the rights to it? My family linens? My dogs (aka children)?

And, yes, I know how to do a budget. I understand basic math. However, the financial planner if far more than that. He took the long and short view of my goals, my income, my debt. He created a plan that had multiple variables to consider and far better outcomes than I could have designed on my own. I feel better just having that plan to refer back to as I make financial decisions. And, he holds me accountable as we meet frequently. Something a good coach always does.

These thoughts entered my mind this morning after sharing last evening with a retirement community discussing my book, World War II Radio Heroes. I've been to dozens such communities over the last few months. Some higher quality than the others. As I imagine that one day I might be in one of them I realize how important it is to plan carefully. Its never too early to look decades ahead. But, its often too late when we get around to it.

Plan with confidence. Build your team of supporters (attorneys, financial planners, coaches, doctors, etc...) now for a better future.

Diet and Exercise.... repeat

Humans are typically smart creatures. Why then do we have the knowledge and power to change so many things but we don't. We ignore the prevailing information to stay in our current unhappy and unhealthy state.

Change is sometimes hard work. And, there is always tomorrow right?

I live this everyday myself. I go through moments of great change and then periods where little changes.

How many times do we hear "diet and exercise" are the key to loosing weight and staying healthy? We hear it often. We know its true. But, we still (many of us) fail to put in the work and dedication required to do better in both areas- consistently.

That is where a partner comes in. Having a partner elevates our efforts and helps to keep us motivated (and honest).

A dear friend was gearing up for her nuptials a year ago. She wanted to lose weight. So, we started a friendly little wager- for a nice gift- to see who could loose the most in 2 months. We have the same weaknesses and the same knowledge about what it takes (and neither of us will go extreme routes to win this battle)- so let the game begin. We sent daily logs of what we were eating- and how much. We had weekly weigh-in's. It was great. We connected more than usual. We helped each other tweak our diet and exercise routines. We motivated each other. It proved that having an ally in achieving your goal goes a lot further than doing it alone.

Find a partner in your path to achievement. Challenge a colleague who wants something similar to you. Become a team in making great things happen. And, never stop being smart about what it takes. For health.... its diet and exercise.