Movie of the Week: Invictus
The perfect movie to demonstrate the importance of expecting a lot and taking a stand.
In this scene from Invictus (based on a true story), Nelson Mandela (played by Morgan Freeman), expects a lot. He expects the impossible. And he takes a stand. A surprising and unpopular stand. One he believed would eventually unite his people and make the impossible become possible.
Grab the popcorn and watch this 3 minute clip with commentary review by Kenneth Turan.
And then, if you haven’t seen the entire movie and don’t have time for it any time soon, watch this review by New York Post’s, Lou Lumenik, for deeper understanding. And watch the efforts to unite, to engage, to find winners. Read more
10 Tips from Losers
This weekly feature is for managers who don’t have time or don’t want to make time to read lengthy articles or even short paragraphs. We call it a Quick List. AKA – 10 by 10 on Tuesday. 10 ( ideas or tips or questions or steps or ways to Get 2 Goal or Be a Better Manager, etc) by 10 (AM – EST) on Tuesdays. Click here if you’d like to see all Quick Lists created to date.
This week, our list is from losers. But they aren’t really losers. They are just “disguised” as losers. Just think if you could find the winner – even the champion – in everyone on your team! How much more productive would your team be? What would happen to the bottom line?
Finding the winner in someone who is “‘disguised” as a loser is to me, one of the most challenging and rewarding experiences in management. It requires a lot of patience. And a lot of faith that there really is a winner in there somewhere. Read more
Quote of the Week: Expect A Lot
Managers can improve performance and get better results by making expectations clear. For an even bigger boost…
Do you have high expectations?
Of everyone on your team?
Before you answer, we hope you will read more about the power of expecting a lot: Read more
Working with a Bunch of Crack Pots?
How can you boost productivity and morale if you’re working with a bunch of crack pots? Read more
The Joy of Independence
Note: Originally posted in 2008; brought from the archives in honor of our independence, especially the type of independence that boosts productivity and morale. Happy 4th!
We crave it. We demand it. We fight for it.
We resent those who keep us from it.
Sometimes we get it before we are ready and we flail or fail with consequences from trivial to tragic.
And then sometimes – we resent the ones who gave it to us too soon.
Fight Dog Days with Ice Cream
Fight the dog days of summer by celebrating National Ice Cream Month. In the process, you can boost productivity, morale, the economy – even customer loyalty.
According to Wikipedia, July was designated as National Ice Cream Month by Ronald Reagan in 1984. He also declared the third Sunday in July (July 19) to be National Ice Cream Day. He stated that these two events should be observed with “appropriate ceremonies and activities.”
Wikipedia also stated that the ice cream industry provides thousands of jobs for United States citizens and generates annual sales of approximately 20 billion dollars.
So let’s stay cool, support our dairy farmers and all who sell ice cream.
Ways to celebrate with your staff:
Read more
Fighting the Dog Days of Summer
Many of you have been working hard to boost morale and productivity – trying to make the most of this tough year. And now – they’re here. At least for some of us. Those hot, sticky, summer days that Webster describes as “a period of stagnation or inactivity”.
The ancients believed that these hot, sultry days were caused by Sirius (Latin for the “Dog Star”), which rose just before or right at sunrise during this time of year. In an effort to appease the rage of Sirius, they sacrificed a brown dog at the beginning of Dog Days.
In 1813, John Brady wrote that the heat was so excessive that “the seas boiled, wine turned sour, dogs grew mad, and all creatures became languid, causing to man burning fevers, hysterics, and phrensies”. From Clavis Calendarium, by John Brady, 1813 (see title page and full excerpt below).
I see signs of both the ancient and modern definition of “dog days”. Stagnation, inactivity, sour attitudes, Read more
Presto! Project is Done!
You know that big project (or presentation or proposal) that’s due in two weeks?
The one you haven’t started yet?
I know. I know. You’ve been meaning to do it. But it’s going to take HOURS and there are so many other things to do. Read more
-
Quote Library – Quick Links
Articles By Category
-
