You Can't Mask an Ass (Yes, you read that right!)

Although I don't mean to offend I needed to get your attention. (This is an actual device I found in an antique store in Reno NV. I couldn't resist taking a quick photo!)

As most of you know I write about things that happen to me, things I've contemplated or things clients have asked me about. This time it was a personal interaction on the street that lead me to rant.


Short version... a man nearly plowed into me on the street because he wasn't paying attention (and didn't see a woman 8 months pregnant in front of him, go figure... I'm not that fast these days). As he narrowly missed me I smelled his sweet (and strong) cologne. I also noticed how nicely he was dressed. He clearly cares about the impression he makes on others. So, how about an "Excuse me." Or better yet, eyes ahead of you ready to smile at a stranger rather than down on your blackberry or looking for a penny in the sidewalk cracks!

Don't spend your time and money worrying about your impression if you can't cover the basics. Be nice. Be memorable- for the right reasons. Smile. Say "thank you," "please," and "excuse me" when it's right. Tell someone how nice they look rather than wait for their comment about you. Be the person your mother hoped you'd turn into. The rest is just eye (and nose) candy.

Where are Your Priorities?

I stayed away from the New York Times for a whole day while enjoying my first year anniversary. But when the digest came Sunday morning, the day we checked out of our love oasis, I couldn't resist. I peeked.

Sure enough there was an article that fired me up. It was titled Moonshine or the Kids. The link is below.

The article unveiled the ugly choices many poor families make in serving their households and families (or lack of service, I'd argue). The article focuses on families in the Congo but I must shout out from the rooftop that it is far from isolated in that area. We, here in rich America, do a disservice to our families too in choosing moonshine over our kids.

In this well-written article, Nicholas Kristof, features one family that is facing eviction, isn't equip with the most essential safety features to save their children's lives (a mosquito net in this case- think car seat in ours), and has a child that is about to be evicted from school because they can't pay the $2.50 a month tuition. Now, before you go sending them a check WAIT! Continue reading and you'll learn that the head of the household and his wife have cell phones that cost more per month than the debt on their rental home AND the tuition of their children COMBINED. The head of household ALSO spends about $12 a month on liquor. Talk about a catch! (I hope you read the sarcasm here.)

Now before you go spewing off about how people live in other countries, take a hard look at yourself and your neighbors. An equally challenging article to supplement this one could talk about our gross spending on things both frivolous and not THAT WE CAN'T AFFORD AND OUR DEBT SINS.

But before I digress too much.....
I want you to look at your weekly and monthly expenses. Count every penny. Where does your money go? Is that aligned with your goals this year (you do have goals don't you!?)? What do you find yourself saying, "I wish we had money for that." Or, "Too bad we can't afford that." If you are saying it to a scarf you see in a window for $85 fine. But, if you are saying that about your child's summer camp options, STOP YOURSELF and look at your own foolish splurges that benefited NO ONE.

You and I could have a long talk (ok debate) about what a luxury item is versus a necessity. Take a cell phone for instance. Many of you would say NECESSITY! I'd say LUXURY. Especially when you consider that only 10% of you REALLY need it for business sake. AND, the fact that it costs 3 times as much as your landline does. So, just by discarding your landline you rationalize that YOU NEED IT. You really are making me chuckle (on a good day). Mad on any other day. Especially if I hear you crying about what you can't do for your family. Go watch some more TV.

Whew. I told you I was fired up! Life is full of choices people. Make good ones.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/23/opinion/23kristof.html

Spend Some Time Reminiscing

I’m about to depart for the weekend to celebrate my 1st year anniversary. I’ve been looking forward to this for weeks. Part of the nostalgia of being back at the Greenbrier is thinking back to last year. Celebrating such a special day with my closest friends and family meant the world to me. Having the wedding that I had dreamed about for so long is a memory that I hope will never fade. I expect to do a lot of reminiscing this weekend.

I encourage you to spend some time reminiscing about events, activities and people that are/were hallmarks in your life. We shouldn’t spend all of our lives reacting and living in the current moment. The past has a lot to offer us- take advantage.

Happy Memories.

The Year is Almost Half Over: Where Are You?

It's nearly Memorial Day. Summer is almost upon us. Where has your year gone?

Have you been on track with the accomplishments you laid out? Did you even identify things you wanted to accomplish? (I sincerely hope so, especially if you are reading my blog.)

What are you currently working on?

Do you feel confident about the second half of the year? If so, GREAT. If not, WHY NOT?

Some of us live to be in our 90's. Some older. Others are robbed of life very early, in their 20's and 30's. You have no idea where you fall, nor do I. Why not make every year count for something? Make every year the most memorable- the one you want people to remember you for.

Never take for granted that you have another year to do the things you've been putting off. You may have that year. Some do. Some don't. Why let everyone else's demands run you wild year after year? That's certainly not memorable, nor enjoyable.

If you haven't yet.... start living YOUR life today. Declare it your own and lay out a map of what you want it to feel like, include, and exclude.

Happy living.

An Outstanding Example of Leadership... at an IMAX near you

Years ago I read a Harvard Business School article on Ernest Shackleton. I was so inspired by him and his leadership abilities that I kept the article (and I hate clutter so you know that means something). I share it with all of my clients who aspire to be better leaders or embark on running their own business.

As I was discussing the article with a client recently, I recalled the story had made its way to the large screen. Upon doing a little homework I found that it's playing at an IMAX near me, in Pittsburgh. I plan to go as does my client.

If you have not read about Shackleton's adventures I encourage you to do so. A simple Google search will give you all that you need. You may also want to find it playing at an IMAX theater near you. If you want the Harvard Business Review article that I am, simply email me at lspahr@spahrconsulting.com. I'm happy to share it.

If you are in Pittsburgh, you can view it at the Carnegie Science Center through September. http://www.carnegiesciencecenter.org/calendar/omni_details.php?eventID=1201

We are all leaders in some respect, whether we are good ones or not is the question to ponder.

Three Weeks Left to Sign Up for Champions and Lock in $39 a Month!

For the price of dinner you can invest in yourself, your career and your business. Finally, a flavor of coaching that fits your needs.

What people are saying about Lisa Spahr and her coaching programs…
…In the 6 months that I have been working with Ms. Spahr she has become one of my most valuable professional resources…. She has well exceeded my expectations of a consultant. She provides advice, suggestions, provides options….and allows me to make well thought out decisions. She listens and understands. Only after a few weeks of working with Lisa, I was “blown away” by her interest in my business and the results that she was providing…..


…I worked with a business coach before and the results were not favorable for my business or my view of the coaching process. However, working with Lisa was very different. She has helped me feel more confident in my business and in my decision-making. She brought me out of my comfort zone to highlight areas of growth, development and potential. I’m grateful for the opportunity to have met her and worked with her.


… I worked with Lisa in April and May and in that short of time, with her help and encouragement, I went from 52% to 90% YTD. It was Lisa Spahr who helped me achieve my goals, but most importantly helped me achieve balance with my family and my work, and I thank her for that.

And now through June 1, 2010 (in three weeks) you can sign up for your own 30-minute monthly telephone call with a coach through the Champions Series for only $39 a month.

We'll close membership enrollment from June through the end of September to focus completely on our current Champions and Clients and when we open again, the price goes to $59 per month. But every Champion enrolled before June 1st stays at the $39 per month membership fee for the life of their membership. It's unheard of in coaching circles, but we're doing it!

Visit http://www.spahrconsulting.com/  to learn more and then sign up .... before your time runs out!

Happy growth!

How do poor communication skills manifest in other ways? I say, blinkers.

If you know me, you know that a pet peeve of mine is people not using turn signals when driving. I notice it frequently. Likely 1 in 2 or at best 1 in 3 don’t signal to alert others as to their intentions to turn, change lanes or otherwise move in a fashion other than the straight and narrow.

I would guess that these men, women and teens also are poor communicators in other facets of their lives. They believe that as long as they know where they are going (or think they do) nothing else matters. Everyone else will just figure it out or deal with it. Others matter far less to them than their desire to turn or change lanes at that time. Besides, they may guess, who cares. They rationalize that they didn’t impact anyone other than themselves. Nice. Those mottos will come in handy when you have your first spat with your partner, argument with your boss or try to show you were the good guy/gal in divorce court. Ok, so I’m taking it to extremes. I really hate failures to blink. It’s rude, not at all “team oriented”, and unprofessional- not to mention unsafe and illegal. I hope you picked up the transference of traits from the asphalt to the workplace in that last sentence. Oh, I forgot egotistical.

So, dear fellow drivers, use that signal that came standard on your car, truck, SUV, moped, etc…. show us that you want to be better communicators because you know it will have a positive impact on your life otherwise. And, hey, you may make us all a little safer out there. Bonus.

Visit Me at Costco!

I was all set to blog about failed blinkers and poor communication. But, I have to shout out my excitement for news I just received. My book, World War II Radio Heroes: Letters of Compassion, has been accepted by and is in Costco stores today!  It may be limited distribution, to test the market first, so please look for it and request it through the manager if yours does not have it in stock.

I am so grateful for everyone who has supported this wonderful story over the years. We have a goal of reaching an audience of 1 million by 2012 and I must tell you we are in a great position to do that. We've been in a number of national magazines and now in a nation-wide wholesaler.

Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

Stop by your local Costco today and pick up the book for yourself or as a gift for someone who loves a great story.

Join me at Progressive Pittsburgh May 7th- an All Day FREE Conference

Sponsored by the Community Bridge-Building Network, this is a community conference celebrating business, education, recreation, social service, and cultural diversity in the Pittsburgh area.

8:30 AM-5:00 PM May 7, 2010 at the Edgewood Club, 1 Pennwood Avenue, Edgewood Borough, 15218

The conference is FREE but you must register by emailing CBridgeBN@aol.com with "conference" in the subject line. Include your name, company name and phone number.

Speakers include:
Bill Peduto, Jennifer Ankowiak, Brian O'Neil, Harish Saluja, Gina Mazza, Cheryl Campbell, Georgia Berner, and Pat Clark.
Entertainment provided by: Etta Cox

Take Time to Evaluate Your Relationships

I was once engaged to a man I never married. He was lovely and wonderful in many ways. But, the decision to end the engagement didn’t come from an argument or a fundamental disagreement in lifestyle. It was a simple question that I posed to myself one day.

“Do I love him more than I believe I have the capacity to love another?”

You see, I wasn’t, as most do, going to just compare this love to ones previous. That seemed too simple and in fact would only cheat myself in the long run. I had to try to imagine what the possibilities for love were and to somehow compare what I had with those possibilities. Hard I know, but believe it or not, the answer came quickly. “No, I didn’t.” I truly believed that a greater love existed in the world. Whether or not I’d find it, that was going to have to be a gamble … or maybe a prayer. But, I couldn’t settle. I think most people do that and I didn’t want to be like most people. Most people seem really unhappy too- why on earth would that be a crowd I wanted to be in?

As spring has arrived and newness is on your lawn and, hopefully, in your heart, I challenge you to take a look at your relationships and ask yourself some tough and some not-so-tough questions. They don’t have to be the same question I asked myself. Make up your own. Do your own evaluation.

If you are willing to share, I’d love to hear what you asked and what you answered.

Wishing you healthful and happy relationships, everyday.

Join me this Thursday, April 22nd, at the Get Invovled! Service Summit

It is going to be a great day filled with networking, education and fun with other service-oriented people in their 20's and 30's. Tom Baker has put together an all-star line up of speakers from local politicians to non-profit executives to coaches. I'm thrilled to have been asked to be a part of it. See you there.

For more information visit: http://www.bakerleadership.com/events.html

I have two tickets available if you are interested. Email me.

Time for You and Those You Love

*This pic was taken in Virginia City NV

I just came off of a 2-week vacation. Most people I know rarely take 2 week vacations anymore…. There is just so much to do at work, at home, etc…. How can they afford to disappear for 2 weeks? My question is how can you afford not to?

I came back refreshed, rejuvenated, and more relaxed.

Work lives went on without me- you aren’t as irreplaceable as you think- and few of us are emergency surgeons, and even if we are that is why they have others on call.

I actually got to enjoy day after day of doing what I want when I wanted and with whom I wanted to. It was joyous. Although, I must confess, I do feel that is how I live my non-vacation life at least 40%+ of it. But, this was extra-special.

When is the last time you took more than 5 days away from your job (and don’t count illness)? If it was more than 6 months ago I encourage you to plan your next break now. Make it at least 12 whole days. Go where you want. Hide away at home if you want: reading, cooking, doing a local retreat, whatever…. Just make sure it’s really your time and no one else’s.

Then, drop me a line and tell me how you felt afterwards. It’s ok if you tell me that it felt weird the first few days or that you felt compelled to be back at work- in today’s frenzied environments we’ve, sadly, created that trend. But, give it a few more days and allow your bodies and minds to sink into vacation mode. Then, simply enjoy.

Now Go Out There and Get Yourself a Raise! Quoted in CNN Money

http://money.cnn.com/2010/04/05/magazines/moneymag/105914381.moneymag/

Fresh off the press, I was interviewed for this piece featured in CNN Money on how to get a raise in a tough economy.

Enjoy it and let me know if you have specific questions.

Do You Know What Your Employer Pays for You?

This week, especially today, has been a treasure-trove for good career and business related articles. I tend to watch cnn.com for career news. They hit the jackpot today.

I read an article titled Why a $14 an hour employee costs $20. www.cnn.com

So many people don’t realize how much it costs to keep them on board. They only think in terms of what they get paid. Unless you are in management or otherwise have had to wear the numbers hat in an organization you may be oblivious to the costs involved with hiring, training and firing people.

Smart companies involve employees in the greater understanding of how things work- how they keep afloat. When employees know and understand how the numbers benefit or detriment them they can be more productive.

I hear people often complain about the cost of an item. They only consider the value it may have in their life. They assume it has a 300% mark up- and maybe it does. But do you know why or how that price was determined? It’s a very similar process.

How much rent does your employer pay on their office or warehouse space?
How much of your benefits do they pay?
How much insurance do they carry for their product, people, space, etc…?
What are their costs to do business (everything from the fax equipment they have, the technicians who service it, the materials they use to make their goods, etc…)?
What profit margin are they running on? What makes it fluctuate?
If they pay you $15 how much do they also pay to have you as an employee in taxes (and the above items)? *I usually tell a company to expect 35% overhead per employee.

Now, that $15 book doesn’t seem so high does it? That vet visit for $65 seems pretty fair when you realize what it has to support to be there another year, right? Paying $8 for a car wash doesn’t seem so outrageous does it?

To break even, Also Known As making ZERO profit, some companies have to make thousands each day.

No wonder they say business is tough.

I’ve Been Put on Probation…. Now What?!

I received an email this week from a reader who wanted more guidance on her probation status at work. She had read a previous blog posting of mine on the issue.

If you are on probation I encourage you to do these 6 things:

 Decide if you want to keep the job or it would be a blessing to be rid of it
 If you opt to free yourself of the position, make sure you take steps to minimize any damage to your professional reputation by meeting with each party involved and expressing your apologies that the fit wasn’t exactly right and you’re opting to move on to eliminate further harm or embarrassment to yourself, your team and the company as a whole (certainly customize this for the situation)
 If you opt to stay, you have to go in full damage control mode fast.
 Meet with each party involved with the decision to keep or fire you and plead your case, sincerely and openly. You will have to own up to mistakes, miscommunication and faults- even if you don’t believe they are yours. Stubbornness will get you no where.
 Develop your own action plan to get back on track with everyone. Ask for their input. Apologize for misgivings in the past. Tell them you want and will do better for the good of the team and the company.
 Be willing to turn a new leaf. Be better than you were yesterday. Be open to working with people you don’t like or don’t want to like. Realize that you are not perfect, no one is, and your success depends upon your ability to see a situation outside of yourself.

Enjoy the Perfect in Imperfection

As the spring has sprung where I live, I was reminded to embrace every moment of sunshine and every bud about to erupt on a stem. The air feels so welcoming. The scent in the air is so enveloping. It truly is Spring Fever.

No matter what the full day brings you. No matter what stresses exist at work, home or play…. Let the little moments signaling brighter, warmer days soak your psyche for a few minutes.

I enjoyed eating a meal outside in my backyard- even though the dogs would fence fight a stranger or an enemy rival every 20 minutes.

I enjoyed the porch swing even when the air was a tad cooler than I wanted, just to feel my feet being swept out from under me in full control and safety.

I enjoyed looking at the yard, even though it signals the hard work ahead.

And, I dreamt of that first vine ripen tomato- even though its not been planted yet.

Enjoy the moments of beauty that exist, even if they are surrounded by other things that have to be managed, cared for our cautioned. Realize it is beauty inside of those things and you can harness it.

Reply to All... Don't Do it!

There are thousands of email blunders out there. I can recall sending a colleague a note which he forwarded on without carefully examining the content first. The content, to my discredit, was not the type which would have been viewed favorably by the new recipient. Ouch. That hurt. Chalk it up as a lesson I knew better but ignored at that moment. Don't send anything you wouldn't say out loud.

Here's my latest, and ongoing pet-peeve, the "reply to all" function. Wow. What a handy tool that is wildly misused and causes veins to throb everywhere!  Just stop it. Does everyone on that list need to see that you are indeed planning to attend or bring materials, or .... (stop me before I get out of line here)? No, they don't.

The sender wanted to blast a number of people at the same time so that they could all receive the same message at the same time. It was not meant as an open invite for 100 people to learn about the confirmation or rant of the other 99. The others don't need your input, most likely. So, don't reply to all.

It's a shame that it has to be written but I do see more of this now.... "Please do not reply to all if you reply at all. Reply only to the original sender of the email."  Duh. (I haven't used that word in decades by the way but it really fits here.)

In the last 3 weeks my inbox has swelled beyond the normal chaos because people have chosen to reply to all to show their enthusiasm for a project. Show your enthusiasm by showing up, contributing, bringing in sponsors, writing a book, .... I don't really care but not in the reply to all.

When you reply to all you are intruding upon an already full system, email. People are trying to decrease their boxes not get more. Do your part. Be a professional. Show you are a little smarter than that. Do Not Reply to All unless it is absolutely essential that everyone on that email receive your input. 9 times out of 10 it is NOT appropriate.

Thank you. All of you.

5 Big Do's for Your Career Search

Sadly, it needs to be repeated.

1. Know how your resume will look to them. This means, if you send a pdf, look at it first, how does it look? If you send it through a newspaper, know what format it comes out on the other end. Physically, how does your resume look to the person who makes the decision if you go on to the next round.

2. Include a cover letter and make it personal. When I work with companies, I bin (AKA throw it in the trash QUICKLY) any resume without a cover letter. And, believe it or not, many come through that way. Include a cover that shows me you spent time reading the job description and doing your homework on the company. And, hey, make me like you or at least be interested enough to move you to the next round.

3. Include an objective or something to make me see that you want THIS job in THIS industry. Take 30-seconds to refine it for each job you submit for.

4. Match the resume to the position you want. If I ask for someone who can manage a team of distributed people tell me about your experience doing that. Specifically, tell me how many, where they were and how you managed them. Make it easy for me to say yes to you.

5. Send it in via Email and Hard Copy Mail. The competition is fierce. Be assertive. DON'T EMAIL IT IN 5 TIMES... I'd bin you for annoying me.

Email me for 5 more tips. Happy Hunting.

Between the Resignations and the Recalls… Is Anyone Safe Anymore?

Maybe its just me, the last few weeks have been filled with one clip after another of ethical and morale violations, professional suicide acts, and “better late than never- in most cases” “we’re sorry our product is faulty (and threatening people’s lives) and we tried to cover it up for a little while”.

I admit I’m more sensitive than most, perhaps the better word is skeptical. I’ve been in risk communication and businesses or arenas that address it for more than 15 years. I see bad news following poor decision-making all the time. The bad news typically comes out long after the closed-door meetings, the whispers, the threat of lawsuit…. And the headlines. Sad but true.

Are you protected? As a consumer? As a producer?

Have you long since evaluated your own practices, policies, language, and behavior? Do you know where you might be a walking time bomb or violation waiting to happen? Have you just been lucky?

Have you tried to temper (or lets be honest with one another, cover up) a bad situation that you should have handled different in hindsight?

When I work with people I sometimes encourage them to imagine their greatest critic on their shoulder (like the angel and devil in the cartoons). It might be your mother, your boss, your board, you daughter. Imagine someone watching and listening to you throughout the day. Would they be proud of your conduct? Would they be pleased with your performance and interactions? If not, you need to ask yourself why and how you can adjust to be more in line with an acceptable code of conduct.

Tickle-fights are not appropriate with co-workers or staff. Signing or joking about intimate body parts is not acceptable water-cooler chat. Knowing that your product puts others at risk, even if 5% of the population and continuing to produce it without warning is just plain bad practice – and it will cost you big time. Doing a favor for a friend who just needs you to place a call, look the other way or just sign this…. Well, they really aren’t a friend anyhow. Or, maybe you’ll find out when you lose your job and you need a loan to pay your bills- ask them. Heck, maybe they’ll even come visit you in jail when you land there. Jeff Foxworthy says that’s the sign of a true friend. Well, no let me get it right, Jeff says that person would be sitting in jail with you… on a cot smoking a cigarette…. (Yeah, shamelessly I do know this one)

Pull up that Girl Scout or Boy Scout motto. Do the right thing. Time and time again. Do the right thing. For your health and ours. (and so we can get back to serious news like “milk-a-holic Lyndsey”)

Changes in the Champions Series are Coming. Pay Attention and Win Big.

First, join us this coming Tuesday, March 9th, for our monthly call. Guest speaker, Ashley Moss will be presenting:

Creating a One-of-a-Kind Presence for Your Business Through Public Relations


PR is one facet of marketing that is often overlooked by businesses, especially those who don't have the time or staff to implement these practices effectively. Find out how you can incorporate PR into your marketing plan and increase the communication you have with the public through exposure in the community and media at no cost!

Guests pay $20 for the call or recording to listen at their leisure. Pay by March 8th at http://www.shop.powletters.com/
 
Champions are always free to join in on the call and will always get the recordings for later listening.
 
Now, on to the changes. Champions have always received a 15-minute private call as part of their benefits package. I'm changing that to 30 minutes!  Yes, 30 minutes. So, we're doubling the benefit. That is, if you choose Option 2 which includes the 30 minute call. If 15 was enough for you, you can keep that option (Option 1) and also keep the monthly call topic (or choose from the library for our new members who want to revisit a topic we've covered in the past). So, the choice is now yours. Longer call time or keep the 15 and keep the monthly seminar. Here's another bonus. If you opt for #2 you'll still be invited to the call when we have a special guest speaker. So, you'll win either way.
 
The Champions Series was created by the demand I saw in my clients and prospects. The Series has evolved over time as we've seen what works and what doesn't. I'm proud to make this offering to extend the call time for those Champions who feel it would be more beneficial than the monthly group call/topic. We always want this Series to serve you the Champion.
 
Another change to the Series: prices will increase in October. But wait.... I won't increase them on current members!  So, if you joined or join now through May 30 at the $39 a month price YOU ARE LOCKED IN AT THAT PRICE and I WILL NOT raise it on you for the duration of your membership. If you stay in the Series for 5 years, you'll only pay what you agreed to pay when you signed up.... $39! What a great deal.
 
We will NOT be accepting new members from June 1 through September 30. Our office will only be serving existing clients and Champions during those months. When we open enrollment on October 1, 2010 the Champions price will increase to $59 per month- STILL a bargain for the benefits (which are valued at $225).