Praise Behavior, Not People, for Best Results

I was given a great insight into the skill of praise yesterday. It’s going to make me a better manager of talented people — and maybe a better father. Perhaps it will work for you too. MN and I were talking about a problem you sometimes encounter when you praise “too much” or “too often.”…

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The Truth About Office Gossip

What is more fun than hearing about the misfortunes or misdeeds of a fellow worker? Does life in the office offer any sweeter revenge than seeing a nasty boss or surly subordinate get his comeuppance? None — and that is a memory you can (and will) carry with you forever. Office gossip is like junk…

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Why You Need Professional Management

I was talking to someone the other day about how many people you can manage well. Experts say it is six, seven, or eight. My own experience confirms this. At times, I’’ve had more than a dozen people reporting to me — and it wasn’’t good. I was not able to stay on top of…

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Start Your Little Black Book Of Powerful Contacts

Your Rolodex and/or address book contains all the numbers you may eventually need to call. But you need another book — a very special book — to keep vital information on your power system. Your power system comprises all the powerful people you know who can make a positive difference in your future. They are…

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Six Degrees Of Seperation

“Almost all of our relationships begin and most of them continue as forms of mutual exploitation, a mental or physical barter, to be terminated when one or both parties run out of goods.” – W.H. Auden Every time you meet someone, you are given a chance to make a connection that can do you some…

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Another Good Reason You Need A Lifelong Income

ETRs don’t believe in traditional retirement. We think it’s a mistake to count on the government – or even the value of savings – when it comes to our future well-being. The cost of living is always increasing, as are the ways our wealth is taken from us. Personal taxation now claims half or more…

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This Is A Great Time To Pick Up Bargains

If my crystal ball isn’’t fooling me, we can expect to see the stock market down for some time. More importantly, businesses are failing – and will continue to fail – at an unprecedented rate. Some of these are good businesses, short on cash. We’ve talked about the importance of owning your own business. This…

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Get Up Early Tomorrow

My son, LSF, has many extraordinary talents and all the peccadilloes you’d expect from a 20-year-old going to school in New Orleans. Every time I see him, as I did this holiday, I’m impressed by his intelligence and good nature. He is more and has more than I was and had at his age. Still,…

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Why You Should Write Down Your Goals

I felt uneasy when I first recommended that you write down your life goals, master plans, and yearly, monthly, weekly, and daily task lists. Since I disagree with much popular wisdom about success, it wasn’t easy to suggest something that virtually all success gurus support. But since I had done this myself for so many…

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Get to Work 15 Minutes Earlier

Holy cow! It’’s Thursday, and you’’re still with me! You are now in the top 90 percentile. Nine out of 10 promise makers have dropped out and you’’re still standing. I see a very bright year ahead for you! Today, we are going to make your job easy. I want you to figure out, on…

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Promise #8 For The New Year: To Make 50 New Contacts

Did you go over your list of resolutions last night? And again this morning? Great! You’re getting better and better! You now rank in the top 15% of the promise-making population. You are definitely going to have a good year! Today, you are going to promise yourself that you will make your future life a…

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