“Change” is not a dirty word

Change has become a six letter dirty word these days as many of us have been subjected to the latest buzz words for describing it such as reorganization, downsizing, outsourcing, and synergy analysis. Although it may go by many different names the feelings are always the same; fear and anxiety. This is the time to decide whether the “Change” controls you negatively or positively.

Remember you can always react negatively, be normal and complain within the crowd. Often when put in this position individuals tend to stop, become depressed and decide to give in since they feel there is no hope.  So much drama but there really isn’t much time to make an impression. Corporate change is going to happen and your reaction is the only thing within your control.

Positively controlling your reaction will separate yourself not only for your management but in your mindset as well. When you start to look at how this new direction can benefit your career, open opportunities or allow you to move on to another company it changes the perspective entirely.  As with anything worth doing right this doesn’t come easily.

Preparing yourself in advance for these type of potential changes will put you in a better position for controlling your reactions when they do come. Do not be fooled as so many in the past have been thinking things corporately will be the same year after year. By advancing your skill set intentionally during the times of stability your company will benefit from a better equipped employee. This also strengthens your worth if downsizing is the chosen course both internally and externally.

Expanding your skill set, network and confidence level to perform in various roles will allow you to look at corporate changes as a vehicle to free yourself from the fears and anxiety others in your organization will endure. It may seem negative to prepare for the worst and hope for the best yet after it is done others will look to you as an example on how to react positively when changes occur in the future. 

Collaborations - The good, bad and the ugly!

Have you ever been included on a team, committee or board that is filled with like-minded individuals where when you worked together the end result was magical? The stars align, the project is a success and everyone is joyful throughout the duration of the process. Now this doesn’t occur very often but when it does you cherish it and even compare future collaborations against the experience.

Too often these teams, committee and boards do not leave you with this awe inspiring feeling. The emotions that can be felt most often include a variety of frustration, blocked, discouraged, outraged and even a twinge of depression. Who wants to be part of this type of operation at work, home or through a volunteer organization?

Collaborations like these can be avoided if an agreement can be made over roles, responsibilities, expectations and goals. Aligning the goals and roles in the beginning can eliminate stress as it reduces the ability to change directions in the middle of the operation. Accountability is attainable when the entire group is aware of responsibilities, expectations and the direction at the beginning.

When outlining these specifics realize that there really can only be one overall leader for any group project. Although one will lead overall each member of the association will be leaders in their own capacity. No role on a team, committee or board is unimportant but getting the correct people in the appropriate roles is very important!  

Once the correct people are in each role let them lead and magic will occur. It may not always be the way you would do it but if you support them the team will operate smoother ensuring that you come much closer to reaching your goal than through the negative feelings written above.

If you are participating in one of these positive teams be thankful and continue to enjoy the experience. If you in one of the negative environments, you can try to reset the perceptions by openly talking as a group and discuss the frustrations or discouragement that has been holding back the achievements. Sometimes this will work as long as the team members can avoid pointing fingers. Other times you have to walk away and promise to go into the next project with an open mind along with the learnings you gained from your past. 

Have ya ever...wanted to just be debtfree?

That is my want for today. Bills (electric, phone, cars, groceries, house etc.) all come in and I know I will never get out away from having some bills but I dream about being debt free - house and all. No longer do I want the fancy house (too big to clean anyway), or fancy car (insurance will go up)...all I want is to save money and pay off bills. Maybe I'm getting old, maybe I'm just maturing but whatever it is this is now my dream.

I still occasionally dream about winning the lottery and paying everyones' bills off and taking luxury vacations with the entire family but those are less frequent than before. Now I dream about writing the last check on our cars (which will come in less than 3 years) or screaming debt free on the Dave Ramsey's radio show. I don't think it is the economy as a whole that has pushed me this way because my views have been changing for several years now. It is just the fact that now I have to work, put up with all kinds of crap and there is nothing I can do about it. But if you are debt free, you don't have to or at least not as much. Or worry about being laid off, replaced or worse fired. Those are fears many of us have including me.

I guess it is true, you are slave to the lender when you have bills and Dave Ramsey always says he has never seen a house repossessed with a paid off mortgage. It is just very hard to get there, always uphill both ways but I'm sure it can be done. Others have won the battle so I will continue to press on as I get closer to the goal each time I pay off a little more of our bills.

New television program idea and maybe new column...

Wouldn't it be neat if there was a television show on where a woman worked at a radio station and each day she answered a different "Have ya ever" question to her listeners? So many topics you could use like "Have ya ever wanted to be rich?" or "Have ya ever wanted to tell your boss off?" Topics would be endless. Her callers could call with this life stories letting her know she wasn't the only one or even scarier maybe she was on this Have ya ever.

My "Have ya ever" topic for today will be...

Have ya ever wished there were more hours in the day? My day is filled with work, children, husband, bills and friends. And in a few short days graduate school as well. I would long to elongate my days so I can fill more successful and productive. No matter what I fill my day with whether it be spending time with the kids (at home, dance team or trying to make it to a Quick Recall event) or working extra it never seems to be enough.

Time slips by so quickly. Next month my daughter will be sweet 16! I want to stop the clock...it isn't time for her to be 16, I haven't had enough time with her and now she is going to start dating? I want her pig tails, overall dresses and shiny little shoes back as well. My son is growing up too, no more does he want the stuff animals or tons of hugs. Now it is video games and spending time with Dad. Thank goodness he is only 9, he still requests me for prayer and homework. But how long will that last?

So Have ya ever wished there was more hours in the day?

Commercials, scams and ambulance chancers posing as lawyers!

As I was working from home today I had the television on just for some noise. Being used to a house filled with two kids, a husband and our dog it is just not normal without loud shreaks and people talking. I think it would have been better in silence versus what I heard for the three hours it was on filling my air with nosense and scams.

Commercial after commercial was directed after the poor, down and out or the disabled. Offering everything from assistance for free mobility chairs to lawyers offering their own doctors for car accident victims. Remember they don't get paid unless you settle your claim. These ads were repeated over and over again driving me insane. They werne't selling a product they were roping in disabled people or men/women who have been in an acccident and need help. Real help, not the ambulance chasers that are on the television. If they aren't ambulance chasers they seem to come across that way with all their advertising.

I hope that the people who are watching these ads research these firms and companies before buying their product or services. I would hate for someone to get ripped off thinking that they are really doing the work for the best interest of the client. Advertising dollars don't come cheap so they are making money somewhere and it is probably off your reward from the insurance company.

Selling land near the Kentucky Speedway

You wouldn't think selling 3 acres of beautiful vacant land would be so hard. I guess its the economy but now is the time to buy not to sell. I've reduced the price to $18,500, I hope that helps. Trying to find someone who sees the beauty and invest in it is probably the hardest part of this process...that and not having it in my investment portofolio anymore.

I've posted it on craig's list...http://louisville.craigslist.org/reo/1000122661.html

Why is this so hard?

Is it Spamming or is it posting your opinion or expertise?

As a long time member of Helium.com and an author who has been published in travel and wedding magazines I have to say the select few who are calling Helium authors "Spammers" on sites like www.reddit.com are incorrect. I agree some authors try to put their whole portfolio on this site, which isn't the best idea. But for those of us who post only an article or two a day, this isn't spamming it is called posting.

Getting traffic to any site is the goal today for many writers. Like with this blog, the more traffic the better I feel and more money I hope to earn. How would it be wrong to want people to check out my articles on Helium, reddit or other sites? Everyone is looking for something from these articles whether it be traffic, money or recognition.