Be Social, Get Success

Content Creation, Productivity and Virtual Services

New Beginnings

by

Today is October 1st and a beginning of the Ultimate Blog Challenge.    It is a challenge to create 31 blog posts during the month of October.   I don’t have to post every day, can skip a day or two and do multiples on other days, but the goal is to create 31 different posts during the month. This is a real challenge for me since I have been lazy in regard to my blogging habits of late.   I have made a few other things my priority and since mid-July haven’t been posting much.   But I plan to make up for lost time.
If you are interested in participating in the Ultimate Blog Challenge, you can sign up at www.ultimateblogchallenge.com. 
I like challenges.  They help to motivate me and propel me forward.   I participated in a similar challenge earlier this year and did great the first half of the month and then didn’t do so well the end of the month.  Hope to do better this time.
This is a new beginning.  A chance to improve and let my creativity flow.  It is also a chance to help some other people and maybe even inspire someone else to try the challenge.  I like beginnings, they give me hope and a fresh outlook.
Change is something many people dislike.   I read the many posts of people complaining about recent facebook changes.  Even the smallest change was met with complaints.   I must be a strange one…because I sort of like change.    I like figuring it out and unraveling the mystery.   I guess that is why I’m in a job that deals with a lot of change and often I’m the person pushing the change.   When things are constantly changing, life is never boring.  Tiring, but never boring!
How do you feel about challenges?  How about new beginnings?   What are you feeling on change?
Please take a minute to respond and share your thoughts.

6 Smart Ways to Make Sure Co-Workers Don’t Waste Your Time

by

Do you ever have co-workers or employees that just drop by your office to chat?  Time is precious.  Once it is gone, you can’t get it back.  So you have to make the best use of what you have.  Don’t let people take advantage of your time.  Do people truly need to talk or do they just “want” to talk?  This doesn’t mean you never have time for others, it just means you limit the time you give away or let others take, especially when you are busy, on a deadline, or a tight schedule. 
Some tips to help you accomplish this.
1.   Be polite, but say, “I would love to chat, but I’m on a tight schedule today.  Can we make an appointment tomorrow” or whenever it is convenient for you.  If it is important the person will schedule.  Most likely they will say it wasn’t important and forget about it.
2.  Close your door if you have one.
3.  Hang a “Do Not Disturb” sign on your door or desk.
4.  Keep a pile of papers on the extra chair in your office so people don’t just make themselves at home.
5.   Keep writing or typing when someone walks in, listen but make sure it looks like you are concentrating on something.
6.   Don’t answer the phone.  It will move your focus elsewhere.  Whatever the person has to say, they can tell voice mail.  People are always much briefer when talking to a machine than a real person. 
Try at least one of these tips out today and let me know if it makes a difference.  If you have a tip to add, please list it in the comments.