Happy New Year! Lemon Meringue Pie Anyone?

Well, we made it through another holiday season and into the beginning of another new year – personally and professionally. Ever the time for new budgets, new goals and, of course, our personal self-improvement resolutions! Before I continue, let me say that you are a terrific person who’s doing the best you can with what you have right now. It’s been a difficult few months out there for all of us and we need to remember that we will be fine…patience, perseverance, positive...

The wild economic ride and ensuing changes during the last few months of 2008 brought change and choices to all of us in one way or another with some more drastic than others. Whether it was change you chose or change that chose you, the effect can be draining on our personal power source. How are you doing? How are your employees doing? Have you asked them? Talked with them “P2P?”

January is also a time for personal reflection. As I approach another birthday (January 9), I don’t waste too much energy thinking about my chronological age! It’s only a number and I’m just glad to be here! I think of my Dad (Carl) who died in 1976 at age 60 and Mom (Jane) who died in 2001 at age 88. I inherited their deep faith, “positive attitude DNA” and their determination to make “lemon meringue pie out of life’s lemons.” There’s so much more to do…
Just like you, I have experienced life’s changes and choices – some I made and some that chose me - changes in residence, geographic relocation, divorce, single parenthood, job changes, job elimination, job betrayals, downsizing, kid’s coming and going, finishing my education while working full-time, elderly parents’ declining health, starting my business…and the list goes on. Some of you may have heard me say, “I used to be six feet tall, look what happened!” And now cap it off by saying, “I’m on the grow again!”

When life happens and a “perceived negative event” occurs, sure, I go through the stages of grief, anger, and the rest, just like you do. What I’ve learned to say (and believe), is “Everything happens for a reason.” I ask myself "what can I learn from this (adversity) situation? What do I need to do now to keep going? What’s out of my control?” Instead of burying my head in the sand just waiting for time to pass and playing the “victim” role, I take a lesson from Jane and Carl’s play book! Let the dust settle, think about what’s happened, the role I played in it, what I can do differently, pick up the pieces, pray a lot for guidance (the real Power surge), get moving and get to work! I give myself a “Power Surge!” What about you? Are you a “Power Surge” or a “Power Drain?”

Either way, You Are Your Own Power Source!

The Power Surge - Self-Empowerment – is relying on your own inner power and actively working through the adversity, which helps ease the pain and frustration. Positive Self-Talk and action are the antidotes for negativity and plant the seeds for success! The power to make your life anything that YOU want it to be is inside of you right now!

Power Up! Take Control! As we begin another year – both personally and professionally – let us remember that, in addition to setting new goals and understanding the financial aspects, effective leaders/managers understand the three key traits they need to possess to achieve results through people are objectivity, empathy, and self-awareness. It’s all about “P2P” and the importance of including in their high priorities, the employees – the people who are really driving their organization.

We know from history that economic downturns and recessions have tested the ability of leaders across the globe – in all sectors and in all industries. We learned that there are no easy answers! Including a “people strategy” (P2P) in your business plans is a wise move because, without them, the plans would not be fully executed.

Keep Your Power! Come out of your office; interact with your employees, your co-workers, your customers, your suppliers/vendors; increase communication; talk (face-to-face) with the people – they make your business work each day; seek their input; show your authenticity and human-ness! It’s all about “P2P”!

Your attitude and behavior have a direct affect on bottom-line results, either positively or negatively. Think about how you are affecting your employees, co-workers and the workplace environment…

Are you a “Power Surge” or a “Power Drain?” Either way, You Are Your Own Power Source!

Let’s “turn up the dimmer switch” in 2009! Lemon meringue pie, anyone?
Happy New Year!