Are you mentally strong?
1. Waste time feeling sorry for themselves - not worth investing time on this and learned this a long time ago
2. Give away their power - Lead, be a leader and empower your Team to take ownership, yet, never give away your power
3. Shy away from change - Change is the only constant we have as Leaders and the more we embrace change the more successful we lead
4. Waste energy on things they can't control - Guilty and working on this one
5. Worry about pleasing others - Until several years ago, always felt it was about pleasing others 100% of the time
6. Fear taking calculate risks - The only fear is the fear of failure and learn from any failures that occur
7. Dwell on the past - Guilty on this one too and will add to the list of things to improve on
8. Make the same mistakes over and over - Rarely happens, take ownership, learn and move forward
9. Resent other people's success - Always glad to see and help others become successful and to help them to keep growing
10. Give up after failure - Never give up and failures motivate leaders to continue to succeed
11. Fear alone time - Actually the opposite is true and really enjoy when there is some alone time with no interruptions
12. Feel the world owes them something - Always strive to give back to the world and understand it is not always fair
13. Expect immediate results - Except for the "move the whole mountain right now" never had to worry about this one!
What things do you avoid to keep you mentally strong?
http://www.forbes.com/sites/cherylsnappconner/2013/11/18/mentally-strong-people-the-13-things-they-avoid/
Connecting professionals to share stories of making new business relationships and creating opportunities.
Tuesday, November 26, 2013
Wednesday, November 20, 2013
I'm a Heinz Baby
This
week' blog is dedicated to all the family and friends who are part of
the Heinz family. We heard it a few times before and it was surreal
when it was actually announced last week the plant will be closing next year.
Growing up in the Tomato Capital of Canada (arguably in the World) it is still hard to believe the news.
Do you remember the baby question: "Are you a Heinz Baby or a Gerber Baby?". There was another baby food out there?
Proud to say I am a Heinz Baby, born and raised in Leamington, thanks to my Father who immigrated to Leamington in 1953. Dad worked at Heinz for 36 years and has been retired now for 24 years. That makes him part of the Heinz family for 60 of their 104 years!
At the 100th Heinz banquet, my Dad brought back the 100-year Heinz anniversary book and enjoyed reading the history of the Leamington plant. It was interesting to read about the business challenges of the late 1800's and early 1900's as Leamington town council was looking for a company to move in and create jobs.
Growing up in Leamington, it was the company to work for and you knew they would always take care of you. I chose to move Windsor and pursue a different path. I do remember when I was younger dreaming of working in the office at Heinz.
The Heinz whistle was our clock every summer when we were working on the farm or trying to get out of work! Mid-day the whistle blew and it was time to head in for lunch. Late afternoon, the five-minute warning whistle blew at 4:55 and it seemed so long for the 5 O'Clock whistle to blow.
Once, with my brother Rick, we were very fortunate to slip in with friends making a tomato delivery during "Busy Season". We met up with Dad for a quick tour. It was very fascinating as a young kid to see such a vast plant with so many people and so much machinery.
During my career, I was able to meet with the IT department on a few occasions and we did some business. The second tour of the facility as an adult never came and would have enjoyed it.
Heinz ketchup says it all and can't even think of another brand at the top of my head.
Wishing all the workers will find work afterwards and this Community will continue to help and support you.
Click on this link for some vintage pictures: http://business.financialpost.com/2013/11/14/heinz-in-leamington-a-look-back-at-ketchup-giants-history-in-canadas-tomato-capital/
Heinz Canada - Timeline:
http://www.heinz.ca/assets/heinz_canada_timeline.pdf
Growing up in the Tomato Capital of Canada (arguably in the World) it is still hard to believe the news.
Do you remember the baby question: "Are you a Heinz Baby or a Gerber Baby?". There was another baby food out there?
Proud to say I am a Heinz Baby, born and raised in Leamington, thanks to my Father who immigrated to Leamington in 1953. Dad worked at Heinz for 36 years and has been retired now for 24 years. That makes him part of the Heinz family for 60 of their 104 years!
At the 100th Heinz banquet, my Dad brought back the 100-year Heinz anniversary book and enjoyed reading the history of the Leamington plant. It was interesting to read about the business challenges of the late 1800's and early 1900's as Leamington town council was looking for a company to move in and create jobs.
Growing up in Leamington, it was the company to work for and you knew they would always take care of you. I chose to move Windsor and pursue a different path. I do remember when I was younger dreaming of working in the office at Heinz.
The Heinz whistle was our clock every summer when we were working on the farm or trying to get out of work! Mid-day the whistle blew and it was time to head in for lunch. Late afternoon, the five-minute warning whistle blew at 4:55 and it seemed so long for the 5 O'Clock whistle to blow.
Once, with my brother Rick, we were very fortunate to slip in with friends making a tomato delivery during "Busy Season". We met up with Dad for a quick tour. It was very fascinating as a young kid to see such a vast plant with so many people and so much machinery.
During my career, I was able to meet with the IT department on a few occasions and we did some business. The second tour of the facility as an adult never came and would have enjoyed it.
Heinz ketchup says it all and can't even think of another brand at the top of my head.
Wishing all the workers will find work afterwards and this Community will continue to help and support you.
Click on this link for some vintage pictures: http://business.financialpost.com/2013/11/14/heinz-in-leamington-a-look-back-at-ketchup-giants-history-in-canadas-tomato-capital/
Heinz Canada - Timeline:
http://www.heinz.ca/assets/heinz_canada_timeline.pdf
Wednesday, November 13, 2013
5 Great Challenges Businesses Face
1. Integrity
Absolutely agree this is on top of the list of challenges faced in business. Integrity and Honesty are qualities that set great companies apart from the rest. Quality of work goes hand in hand with Integrity.
How do you ensure your team has Integrity? How do you handle individuals not delivering Integrity?
Tough challenges and must be dealt with, the sooner the better once discovered. Lack of Integrity tarnishes your reputation and your brand.
Deliver Integrity and insist upon it across your company. Lead with Integrity.
2. Customer Loyalty
We are very fortunate at AlphaKOR to have an audience following us who are very loyal. Thank you to all the clients and associates who share their voice so we can keep striving for excellence. It is with this utmost loyalty we can visualize advanced "early warning signs" to help us stay focused on the right path.
Customer Loyalty is about building trusting, long-term relationships. We are Partners with our clientele and provide more than a vendor selling products and services. Customer Loyalty is about relying on your Team for expertise to solve their challenges. It also means collaborating with other experts to work together for the client.
3. Problem Solving
Trusted relationship building entails listening to problems and providing a plan to solve the problem. We solve problems both in a reactionary mode as they arise and we provide solutions and plans to avoid and minimize problems in the future.
We collect, analyze and discuss problems faced by companies. Offering solutions both for short-term and long-term strategies to address and solve the problems shared and uncovered during our process.
How does your Team offer Problem Solving?
4. The Element of Uncertainty
Experience and expertise help reduce the element of uncertainty. Let's not forget about our hunches and gut feelings. Entrepreneurs, leaders and visionaries have these feelings and sometimes it is challenging to follow them. Stay focus and listen to your customers will increase the element of certainty and success.
Technology adds another level of uncertainty as it changes so rapid and as I like to say "Our business has to change hourly to stay on top of technology".
5. Competition
Define your competition and set your company apart as the leaders. Many competitors exist and this is good for the customers and the companies servicing specific sectors. Good, healthy competition puts pressure on better quality, attention to details and taking care of business.
What are your Top 5 Challenges your Business Faces?
This week' topic was inspired by: http://www.forbes.com/sites/cherylsnappconner/2013/03/04/the-8-great-challenges-every-business-faces-and-how-to-master-them-all/
Absolutely agree this is on top of the list of challenges faced in business. Integrity and Honesty are qualities that set great companies apart from the rest. Quality of work goes hand in hand with Integrity.
How do you ensure your team has Integrity? How do you handle individuals not delivering Integrity?
Tough challenges and must be dealt with, the sooner the better once discovered. Lack of Integrity tarnishes your reputation and your brand.
Deliver Integrity and insist upon it across your company. Lead with Integrity.
2. Customer Loyalty
We are very fortunate at AlphaKOR to have an audience following us who are very loyal. Thank you to all the clients and associates who share their voice so we can keep striving for excellence. It is with this utmost loyalty we can visualize advanced "early warning signs" to help us stay focused on the right path.
Customer Loyalty is about building trusting, long-term relationships. We are Partners with our clientele and provide more than a vendor selling products and services. Customer Loyalty is about relying on your Team for expertise to solve their challenges. It also means collaborating with other experts to work together for the client.
3. Problem Solving
Trusted relationship building entails listening to problems and providing a plan to solve the problem. We solve problems both in a reactionary mode as they arise and we provide solutions and plans to avoid and minimize problems in the future.
We collect, analyze and discuss problems faced by companies. Offering solutions both for short-term and long-term strategies to address and solve the problems shared and uncovered during our process.
How does your Team offer Problem Solving?
4. The Element of Uncertainty
Experience and expertise help reduce the element of uncertainty. Let's not forget about our hunches and gut feelings. Entrepreneurs, leaders and visionaries have these feelings and sometimes it is challenging to follow them. Stay focus and listen to your customers will increase the element of certainty and success.
Technology adds another level of uncertainty as it changes so rapid and as I like to say "Our business has to change hourly to stay on top of technology".
5. Competition
Define your competition and set your company apart as the leaders. Many competitors exist and this is good for the customers and the companies servicing specific sectors. Good, healthy competition puts pressure on better quality, attention to details and taking care of business.
What are your Top 5 Challenges your Business Faces?
This week' topic was inspired by: http://www.forbes.com/sites/cherylsnappconner/2013/03/04/the-8-great-challenges-every-business-faces-and-how-to-master-them-all/
Wednesday, November 6, 2013
How do you Prioritize?
Thanks to those who asked to blog again about prioritizing as many of us keep working on how best to do this.
Do you prioritize based on certain criteria? The worth of the task? FIFO or LIFO? (just ask if you do not know what these are). What you like or dislike the most/least?
With the volumes of information hitting us today, prioritizing has become more important to successfully move forward. Part of the ongoing process needs to include knowing when to say no, as much as it goes against our grain. There are times when no is the right answer.
Today it's about making a top 3 priority list with the biggest and most challenging one at the top (Eat That Frog). Once that is out of the way, #2 and #3 seem a lot easier. Maybe it's the early-bird routine of getting out of bed at 5 am, reviewing what's on the plate for the day, prioritizing the top 3 things and then head to the gym for 6:30 workout have made this a habit.
At the office for 8:15 am with the priority list completed, the day organized and scheduled and adjustments made for new information/tasks received.
Interruptions, new incoming information and change of time-frames/deadlines are all reasons to build a flexible schedule, yet sticking to the top 3 priorities to complete them before moving onto anything else, within reason. Yes "emergencies" and other pressing matters will take precedent, however, it is important not to allow everything to become an emergency.
How do you deal with the new tasks and re-prioritizing your day? Please do not share you follow LIFO!
Do you prioritize based on certain criteria? The worth of the task? FIFO or LIFO? (just ask if you do not know what these are). What you like or dislike the most/least?
With the volumes of information hitting us today, prioritizing has become more important to successfully move forward. Part of the ongoing process needs to include knowing when to say no, as much as it goes against our grain. There are times when no is the right answer.
Today it's about making a top 3 priority list with the biggest and most challenging one at the top (Eat That Frog). Once that is out of the way, #2 and #3 seem a lot easier. Maybe it's the early-bird routine of getting out of bed at 5 am, reviewing what's on the plate for the day, prioritizing the top 3 things and then head to the gym for 6:30 workout have made this a habit.
At the office for 8:15 am with the priority list completed, the day organized and scheduled and adjustments made for new information/tasks received.
Interruptions, new incoming information and change of time-frames/deadlines are all reasons to build a flexible schedule, yet sticking to the top 3 priorities to complete them before moving onto anything else, within reason. Yes "emergencies" and other pressing matters will take precedent, however, it is important not to allow everything to become an emergency.
How do you deal with the new tasks and re-prioritizing your day? Please do not share you follow LIFO!
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