WOW Word-Of-the-Week #460: Remarkable
May 29, 2013 by Susan Clarke · Comments Off on WOW Word-Of-the-Week #460: Remarkable
Remarkable – worthy of attention.
When was the last time you did something remarkable? How many people acknowledged and/or commented about it? How did it make you feel?
Once again I received another S T E V E ‘ S….3 – M I N U T E…. C O A C H I N G that I felt was perfect for the follow up to Vicky Oliver’s four tips on how to put on a happy face at work and smile all the way to the bank from the last two WOWS’.
Steve writes, Today’s Topic – PRINCIPLE: Remark-able
(Principles are basic truths that, when applied,
cause success to come to you easier and quicker.
Do people remark about you to others? Are you remark-able?
In a world which is increasingly an always-on, real-time, technology-based experience have you noticed what you value more and more?
It’s probably direct human connection.
A thread which runs through the profiles of outliers who disrupt society is that they share a sense of feeling disconnected, isolated, and have a need to rail against the ‘system.’
Disconnection is painful.
When you experience your life as being a part of a greater whole (yes, you are an instrumental part — the rest of us need for you to play!), when you feel connected to other humans, your life is better. Not because I say so, but because you say so. From the fortunate position of being a Coach I get to hear your stories.
You, and I, like feeling connected.
You effortlessly foster connection by being remarkable. When you show up, when you play, when you stumble and get back up, when you create whatever there is for you to create, people remark about you. They tell others. Your connections multiply and deepen.
This doesn’t you mean you must be the best ever, front-page, most-adored. It means only that you do You full on.
Remarkably, that’s plenty.
Coaching Point: Do you feel Remark-able?
— Copyright 2010 Steve Straus. All rights reserved. —
This week’s focus is on being remarkable. Do people often remark about you to others? Is your life better when you feel connection with others? What can you do that would be worthy of attention?
WOW Word-Of-the-Week #459: Subliminal
May 23, 2013 by Susan Clarke · Comments Off on WOW Word-Of-the-Week #459: Subliminal
Subliminal – below the threshold of conscious perception.
Do you believe your words and moods can have a subliminal effect on the people around you? Would you rather deal with an optimistic person or a pessimistic one? Do you find it hard to be cheerful in the face of challenges?
This week’s WOW is the follow up to last week’s featuring Vicky Oliver’s four tips on how to put on a happy face at work and smile all the way to the bank from the San Diego UT article titled, “Four ways to profit from being happy at work,” written by Henry DeVries, assistant dean for external affairs at UCSD.
2. Pepper your language with upbeat words and phrases. Words have a powerful, subliminal effect on others’ moods and impressions. Bosses and coworkers love dealing 
with pleasant, positive people. It’s easy to jazz up routing exchanges by adding words that convey a happy mood and upbeat energy. So, “I’d be delighted to” is much better than “Sure.”
3. Give yourself a daily pep talk. Write down 10 statements you’d tell your best friend if she suffered a career setback. For example, “You did the best you could,” or “Mistakes are great ways to learn.” When you don’t get the praise you deserve from an irascible boss, tell yourself, “That’s his problem, not mine.”
4. If you feel a complaint coming on, zip it. Complaining makes you feel worse, and it makes others around you feel worse too. Just as happiness is contagious, so is negativity. It you can’t figure out a way to say something constructive about a problem or challenge, then keep quiet. People who act positive are perceived as being positive.
Bottom Line: Even pessimists prefer optimists. Acting cheerful in the face of challenges will do great things for your career and professional reputation.
This week’s focus is on your subliminal message. Do you use upbeat words and phrases? When was the last time you gave yourself a positive pep talk? Are you able to keep complaints to yourself?
FUN-travel: Holy Land – Tel Aviv, Israel to San Diego – Day 18
May 20, 2013 by Susan Clarke · Comments Off on FUN-travel: Holy Land – Tel Aviv, Israel to San Diego – Day 18
The ABC’s of The Holy Land
A = Awesome
B = Bummer
C = Celebration
Trip Day 72 – Thursday, April 11 – Tel Aviv, Israel to Vienna, Austria to Washington, DC to San Diego
Jerusalem
- B – have to get up @ 2 am
- B – no wakeup call – fly out of bed @ 2:30
- A – 3:00 – taxi to airport right on time
- C – 3:30 – arrive & have tour guide to help us get our tickets & check bags!
- A – breeze through screening – Dead Sea mud packs & steel toed boots cause suspicion but once confirmed by us, not a problem
- B – now it’s hurry up & wait
- B – biz class lounge pretty so-so (after Emirates everything will look so-so I suspect)
- C – 6:20 am – plane takes off on time!
- 1st time flying Austrian Air
- B – 22 hrs to go before we get home
- 1st flight 4 hrs – turn clock back 1 hr
- 9:15 – arrive
- B – have to back thru security rescreening – so stupid!
- 9:35 – arrive gate
- A – 10:00 – start boarding
- A – 10:30 – plane takes off
- 2nd flight – 9 hrs
- A – nice sleeper beds & wonderful crew!
- C – Duval-Leroy French Champagne & Australian Norwood Shiraz Cabernet
- 1st course – serving cart choices – Mediterranean crayfish salad – prosciutto/parmesan/asparagus – Austrian style sushi/fresh horse radish – creamy celeriac salad/caramelized pears – chicken breast/oriental couscous – crispy crab cakes/avocado mango salad
Lebanese Border at Rosh Hanikra Grotto
- 2nd course – creamy cauliflower soup
- 3rd course – traditional cheese dumplings
- 4th course – serving cart assorted cheese & exotic fruit
- 5th course – Viennese apple strudel
Jerusalem
- B – have seen most of the movies
- A – get some sleep
- 2:25 pm – arrive Washington Dulles
- A – breeze through customs
- C – God Bless America!
Wadi Rum Tented Camp
- B – United lounge just so-so
- 5:15 – board plane
- A – 5:45 take off – plane is on time
- C – 8:00 pm – arrive San Diego
- C – our bags are off first!
- 8:30 – arrive home!
Wadi Mojib Tea Stop, Jordan
FF – (FUN-fact) – The service and the food on Austrian Air were like flying in 1st class in the 90’s!
Yuval
- Holy Land Recap: We were really impressed with Jordan. The sights, experiences, and the people were great. Israel was very progressive and modern with wonderful food.
- Hotels were all over the board from Beresheet Isrotel being the best, closely followed by Movenpiick. Blue Hotel (more like a hostel with tiny rooms) & Isrotel Gamin (room not bad, just the service) being the worst. Boutique hotels included Arthur and the Rothschild.
- We had Ali as our driver (not a guide) the whole time in Jordan. While he did not speak fluent English he was very professional and competent. We felt very safe with him. We had Colin the first four days in Israel. Frankly, we could have shortened that to two days. The Dead Sea is a must but not during Passover! Yuval was one of the best guides we have ever had. He had a Master’s degree and was very knowledgeable on history and religion. He was also very objective.
WOW Word-Of-the-Week #458: Profit
May 15, 2013 by Susan Clarke · Comments Off on WOW Word-Of-the-Week #458: Profit
Profit – an advantageous gain or return; benefit.
Do you believe you can profit from something without making money? Does it pay to do good deeds? Have you ever benefited from helping out a co-worker or your boss?
Henry DeVries, assistant dean for external affairs at UCSD, wrote a San Diego UT article titled, “Four ways to profit from being happy at work.”
He writes, “Does it pay to smile? A study of recent MBA graduates found that optimistic people get hired more quickly than their less-optimistic peers. Plus happy workers were more likely to get promoted.”
“Being happy on the job improves your reputation,” says author Vicky Oliver: “Optimism also makes you more resilient, able to adapt to new situations, and solve problems faster: Happy employees get better feedback from bosses and peers. And they enjoy more job satisfaction because work doesn’t feel boring, difficult, or unpleasant.”
Oliver is an image consultant in Manhattan and has authored five bestselling books on personal branding, etiquette, and career development. Her latest book is, “The Millionaire’s Handbook: How to Look and Act Like a Millionaire Even If You’re Not.”
This week’s WOW will feature the first of her four tips on how to put on a happy face at work and smile all the way to the bank.
1. Wear your “rose colored glasses” to work. For every disappointment, find a lesson. Try to see a positive aspect in situations that don’t turn out the way you intend. For example, maybe you didn’t get the job, but you got your foot in the door at the company, making it easier to go back next time. Maybe you didn’t talk to the most important person at the cocktail party, but you talked to the second most important person.
This week’s focus is on profit. Are you in the process of looking for a job? Do you want to make sure you keep the one you have? Do you think it pays to smile at work? Have you ever found a good lesson based on a disappointment? How would it feel to look for the positive in a situation that didn’t turn out the way you intended?
FUN-travel: Holy Land – Tel Aviv, Israel – Day 2
May 14, 2013 by Susan Clarke · Comments Off on FUN-travel: Holy Land – Tel Aviv, Israel – Day 2
The ABC’s of The Holy Land
A = Awesome
B = Bummer
C = Celebration
Jaffa
Trip Day 71 – Wednesday, April 10 – Haifa to Tel Aviv, Israel –sunny, not – high, 80’s
Tel Aviv
- 7:15 – wake up
- B – more lukewarm cappuccino – what is with these machines?
- :00 – breakfast included @ Cantina restaurant next door
- A – spicy egg/tomato skillet w/bread, cheese, Israeli salad – more of too much food
- A – HOT cappuccino – yeah!
- 10:00 – tour starts by walking to…
- 1st stop – 10:30 – Independence Hall – residence of first mayor – now a museum w/original microphones used when Ben Gurion declared the independence of Israel on May 14, 1948
- 2nd stop – 11: 15 – Old Jaffa City walking tour – dates to 20th century BC making it one of the world’s oldest ports
- 3rd stop – lunch of schwarma – meats on a spit roasted all day – shaved off into pita w/salads & sauces – VG!
- 1:00 – back to hotel to pack
- 7:00 – dinner @ Cantina – pizza
FF – (FUN-fact) – Independence Day is celebrated in April with parades and concerts. This year it was on April 15th and in the Jewish calendar a holiday begins on the sunset of the previous day.
Not so FF – Just realized that we saw no parks in Jerusalem, jammed full of people & buildings.
Tel Aviv