The Blog - Where Business Collides with Human Nature

This survey says 71% of employees are dissatisfied and looking for a new employer. What might seem apparent as an easy fix would be to improve the skills and knowledge, to be more “hirable”.

Working and taking classes simultaneously should be simple enough. Cut out a little TV, hide the Xbox, stay healthy, ignore home maintenance for a while and get a study buddy. Do not tell the boss about any interest in self-improvement, taking classes and the commitment to study… the boss would likely not appreciate your goal of “escaping” from the company. (Or so you tell yourself)

Full time students have a similar issue but in reverse. It seems the whole day is taken up by classes and studying. How would anyone have the time to also be an intern, have a job or even do volunteer work in an industry of interest?  (Some like to drive an Uber or Lyft with flexible hours, but that too takes time.)

No time to study --- have to work.
or
No time to work --- have to study.

If you think it is time to get out of the trap, improve your skills and do not expect magical handouts, get ready to invest in studying. (And maybe for a few letters behind your name.)

If you are a student and see the writing on the wall of the future trap you too will fall into, get ready to immerse yourself into work that gives you experience.

Whether you are a professional or a student, leadership development, becoming a PhD, a journeyman electrician, or an amazing insightful awesome consultant... it takes more than just showing up.

This infographic may be helpful.

"Working and Studying Together, Can it be Done?"

You may celebrate Christmas or you may celebrate for many other reasons in December. Saying "Merry Christmas" or "Happy Holidays" is your choice and as it comes from the heart, you make someone's day. 

Christmas (Holiday) cards in the snail mail can be a delight. They can be artistic, thoughtful, relevant, and include photos to show 'the latest' status.  I love those pop-ups cards!  It takes time to lick a stamp, an envelope and manage to get them in the mail. In our new world of digital, a Christmas card in the mail is more valuable than ever. (Not everyone agrees though, as you will read here.)

Then email became the mechanism of choice. Anyone can send out an image with a few words to millions of people, in an instant, at a very low cost.  And so companies small and large do just that.  The Christmas (Holiday) card email is a task and the staff checks it off as done.

Some will pay to use a tool like eCards2go but it takes more work and more cash. Jacquielawson.com has been around since 2000 and brings some unique creativity to holiday (Christmas) cards but again, it is difficult to click one button to send to many. 

Fortunately, stock photo websites have a plethora of Christmas (Holiday) images. You can get generic greeting images or an unusual photo to bring a smile.

To help consider the how and why of Christmas holiday emails, here are a few notes and resources.

“Anyone can do it” – is probably true. “Anyone” can be a great success selling MLM products, while singing on American Idol, be a bestselling author, or be successful after being rejected on Shark Tank.

Is it possible to get 1,000,000 purchases of a product?  Possibly, but the list of considerations below have to line up perfectly and good karma will be needed.

The get rich quick plan to sell 1,000,000 may require:

20,000,000 views at 5% conversion = 1,000,000 purchases
  or
10,000,000 views at 10% conversion = 1,000,000 purchases

What does it take to investigate, search, dig and 'spy' for new information  about a prospect? AeroLeads has an answer that looks promising.

Search and Add prospects and leads at AeroLeads to get their Verified Email addresses and Business Phone Number. Find business emails of decision makers with title, location and company emails with phone numbers, address etc.

Dr. Oz has talked about it and Wikipedia offers information about Chronotype and  Circadian Rhythms. You can find a quiz here to learn about your specific Chronotype. While you have heard people say they are a "night owl", there are actually four different Chronotypes:

Dolphin, Lion, Wolf and Bear.

Which are you?

By understanding your chronotype (or the chronotype of your staff), you can adapt and improve your energy levels, improve relationships and 'get more done'.

According to clinical psychologist and sleep specialist Michael Breus, your genetics can tell you when it’s the perfect time to do just about anything.

Try using some of the tips and techniques listed below to power through your energy lows and come back out on top. (though I am unsure about a giggle break and watching kitten videos.)

In 1961 a band auditioned for a Decca Records deal. Decca Records rejected them , saying "guitar groups are on the way out" and "The band would have no future in show business,". That band was the The Beatles.

In 2003 a group of friends came together to start a gaming company. They made 51 games with no luck. Their 52nd game was Angry Birds.

Failed at business eight times, Milton Hershey founded the Hershey's which is now one of the largest chocolate manufacturers in the U.S.

He was rejected by Eddie Bond when the 18-year old Elvis Presley auditioned for his band. Eddie Bond 'advised' Presley to stick with driving trucks 'because you're never going to make it as a singer'. Shortly after, Presley recorded his first single.  The rest is history.

What does it take to overcome failure? Hope, faith, belief... these are important, especially when failure feels imminent. This video might inspire you to have a little more faith in yourself and fuel your inspiration:

What is blogger outreach?  

It’s the process of developing a communication strategy that helps you reach out to bloggers with strong influence online for the purpose of promoting your content to their target audience.

Outreach programs can be tedious and some say "take too much time". As a result, software tools such as Ninja Outreach, BuzzStream and BuzzSummo that help to reduce the amount of time to research may help.

• There is an excellent article about Outreach Plans on Moz >
  
  
• There is probably no better resource about Outreach Planning available anywhere than what PageOnePower offers here >

If you believe in something enough, you will risk your very reputation to hit the mark, accomplish a goal and achieve success.  You may believe your idea is worth a million dollars or possibly believe that "everyone" is out to get you.  Your may believe that you can sell 10 million widgets... though you have not yet sold even one.

The truth is out there and you want to believe... 

But first, human beings typically learn what to do next by following the crowd.

Getting paid for your knowledge and wisdom may be an attractive path.  You have the expertise, a history of success and believe: “Knowledge empowers so learn and teach”. There is now a long list of options to create and sell courses online.

What you are looking for is a specially designed software system referred to as “Learning Management System” (LMS). A Docebo report anticipates that e-learning will grow to a $50 billion industry this year, thanks to double-digit growth in Africa, Asia, Eastern Europe, and Latin America. With hundreds of vendors, however, choosing an LMS isn't a simple task.

A SWOT analysis is a strategic planning method used to evaluate the Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats involved in a project or in a business venture. It involves specifying the objective of the business venture or project and identifying the internal and external factors that are favorable and unfavorable to achieve that objective.

The technique is credited to Albert Humphrey, who led a convention at Stanford University in the 1960s and 1970s using data from Fortune 500 companies.

A SWOT analysis must first start with defining a desired end state or objective. A SWOT analysis may be incorporated into the strategic planning model. Strategic Planning, has been the subject of much research.

Is this your skill? MacGyver is now in the Oxford English Dictionary. Possibly you are hoping to recruit someone with MacGyver skills for your team.

Shorter loose definition: (verb)

Make or repair something in an improvised or inventive way, making use of whatever resources available.

Longer loose definition: (verb)

To assemble, or cause to be repaired or completed, an object, device, machine, or project from available items and resources. These items and resources usually seem common, ordinary and mundane. Where others would assume one needs a manufactured part or tool by design, a person with MacGyver skills use resources and tools in ways significantly different than their intended use.

Translation: (verb)

To handle a difficult situation through improvisation using only available materials (Which might appear to be an impossible activity). 

Guru is a buzzword in business and internet marketing you may use to describe someone.   Or maybe it is a term you use to describe yourself. 

Interestingly, the word guru originates in Sanskrit. 

- Gu indicates darkness.
- Ru indicates destruction.

A guru is considered "a dispeller of darkness".

Anyone able to shed light (dispel the darkness) on a topic for another might be considered a guru.