September 26, 2011 – Issue #26

For The Times They Are A-Changin’
These words sung by Bob Dylan in the 60’s are just as relevant today as they were then. We live in a world that is changing faster every year. New technologies, new ideas and new paradigms surround us.

Our ability to adapt and change, and move past our hidden barriers, is key to achieving success on our terms.

Monday Morning Rise and Shine is about to change with the times. Next week watch for a “new” look and a renewed focus on supporting you to achieve stellar results and a spectacular rising star career. Here’s to you reaching your full potential and shining as brightly as possible.

Survey Says
Contribute to the conversation.

Last week we asked – What inhibits our positive return on effort? Wasting time on email, Facebook; saying yes to activities out of obligation or guilt; lack of clarity on which activities are the most essential; never really considered the critical importance of maximizing time (vs merely managing time).

The results were tied (sort of). 32% of you felt “wasting time on social media” and 32% felt “never really considered the critical importance of maximizing time (vs merely managing time)” inhibits your positive ROE. While 18% responded “saying yes to activities out of obligation or guilt” and 18% said “lack of clarity on which activities are the most essential.”

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© Betsy Jordyn and Lisa Martin 2011. All rights reserved.

September 19, 2011 – Issue #25

Maximize Your Return on Effort
You have a responsibility to leverage your (and your team’s performance) to achieve or surpass your organization’s goals. You also have a responsibility to yourself and to those you love – to generate the greatest return on the time and effort that you devote to your work.

These two goals are not mutually exclusive though, at times, you may feel that they are in direct conflict. The month of September is definitely one of those times when you can feel pulled in 72 directions. You can feel both excited and exhausted…with summer vacations ending, work deadlines looming, new assignments starting, children getting settled into school, routines and schedules solidifying, etc.

To successfully navigate this transitional period, remember to focus on the results you want to achieve; not the tasks you have to do. Then ask yourself: “Am I doing the right things, in the right way to get the right results?” In doing so, you will decrease your stress…and increase your level of achievement in proportion to your time and effort.

Survey Says
Contribute to the conversation.

Answer this week’s poll here – What inhibits our positive return on effort? Wasting time on email, Facebook; saying yes to activities out of obligation or guilt; lack of clarity on which activities are the most essential; never really considered the critical importance of maximizing time (vs merely managing time).

You may subscribe and encourage others to subscribe by clicking here.

© Betsy Jordyn and Lisa Martin 2011. All rights reserved.

September 12, 2011 – Issue #24

Unmeasured Strength – The Consummate Portrait of Resilience
Ten years ago the United States fell victim to a horrific terrorist attack. Almost 3,000 innocent people lost their lives. Today, we want to invite you take a moment to remember those who died…and those who lived…and those who risk their well-being to ensure ours.

The resilience and strength of 9-11 survivors demonstrate unequivocally that the terrorist objective of demoralizing a country was not accomplished. In fact, the opposite has taken place.

Consider the re-birth of lower Manhattan, which has been transformed into residential haven complete with elementary schools, outdoor cafes and accessible retail and services.

Consider the words of 9-11 survivor, Lauren Manning, found in her biography, “Unmeasured Strength.” Ten years ago she was not expected to live as a result of the extensive burns over 80% of her body. Twenty-five surgeries later, she is a victor over tyranny and has exacted the best revenge against unjust suffering – living well.

“Here is the simple version of what happened: I went to work one morning and was engulfed by the fires that would bring down the twin towers of the World Trade Center. I fled the building in flames, so terribly injured that almost no one held out any hope for me. Yet in the weeks and months that followed, I battled back from the edge of death to hold my child in my arms and intertwine my husband’s fingers with what was left of my own. In almost every way, this is the story of a miracle.

I will never know how many others were gravely wounded along with me during the attacks’ first moments. The places where my fellow victims stood, more than a thousand feet in the air, have disappeared forever. When the buildings collapsed, they took with them thousands of lives, among them too many of my friends and colleagues. By the smallest of margins, I was given a chance to survive, and I decided, early that morning, that I would never give up the fight to live. I would never surrender.”

You may subscribe and encourage others to subscribe by clicking here.

© Betsy Jordyn and Lisa Martin 2011. All rights reserved.

September 5, 2011 – Issue #23

If life is a puzzle, then how are you playing your game?
Life is a like a puzzle. Sometimes the puzzle seems easy to solve and other times it feels like the pieces don’t fit together at all. And sometimes, the puzzle seems overwhelming.

We don’t always get to choose our puzzle pieces. We don’t choose financial issues, layoffs or difficult bosses. But we always have a choice in how we play the game. Do we dig deep and find the courage to stay engaged and keep going – or do we give up?

While it may feel like a relief in the short-term, the reality is that life will always become unmanageable if we avoid the game. Taking a breather is one thing. Checking out is another.

As hard as it is, do what you can to accept the puzzle pieces in your life and work with them to hone your skills as a master puzzle player. Being capable of handling whatever comes your way means you will become a resilient force to be reckoned with.

Survey Says
Contribute to the conversation.

Last week we asked – Why do we oftentimes struggle with feelings that we really matter? Your responses were equally distributed among the answers: we have a hard time accomplishing everything on our to do lists; we aren’t seeing our intended results in the time frame we want; our efforts seem to be rewarded with difficulties and challenges; our world is creating an epidemic of worry and anxiety.

You may subscribe and encourage others to subscribe by clicking here.

© Betsy Jordyn and Lisa Martin 2011. All rights reserved.