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SMALL—FAST—and WRITTEN WHEN THE MOOD STRIKES.
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Update From Eileen
First-I am well, happy and frankly overwhelmed by the number of calls and letters that came as a result of my last newsletter which relayed my medical emergency and the “angels” who came to my rescue. I feel like Sally Fields at the Academy Awards when she mused with wonder, “You like me, you really like me!”
Thank you all for your concern. I am, as my mother would say, “fat, ragged and sassy” and ready to grab all the gusto I can out of this New Year.
So, how goes your entry into this odyssey of a year? (Odyssey DOES seem to fit 2001, um?) I love the notion of a long, adventurous journey. My year began with the acquisition of a new little traveler to accompany me: Keaton Noam Elvins, born January 2 to my son Todd and daughter-in-law Lisa.
That the baby waited until the New Year to make his grand entrance has particular significance for me. Here’s why. I like to begin each year focused on a single word rather than a multitude of resolutions. My 2001 operative word is “expansion”. How wonderful that the first expansion came on the home front! Now I can concentrate on all of the other ways I want to expand: I want to expand my mind and work, expand my circle of friends, expand my circle of influence, and expand my soul with thoughtful moments, joy-filled experiences, and compassionate encounters.
So think of me when you want to “expand”. And please hold a good thought for the expansion of my new book into the marketplace. Footnotes: Life Lessons Learned Backpacking is making the literary rounds in New York!
Until the next time, may we all love the journey and stay well!
Doing Well by Doing Good
Trend Letter’s special December issue on what to expect in 2001 reported a continued drifting toward a kinder, gentler world in which the “winner take all” mentality gives way to sharing of the wealth. It’s turning out that being a good corporate citizen and steward of the Earth is better for the bottom line than not being socially responsible.
Corporate social responsibility takes many forms: donating computers, providing funds for after-school programs, offering paid employee-volunteers for community programs, giving grants to develop drugs for “orphan” diseases, cutting pollution, reducing waste, making earth- friendly products and measuring environmental progress.
But there’s much more to be done to stem the growing number of working families in the U.S. living at a poverty level. Concern for a growing economic divide has given rise to speculation that a widening gap would result in civil unrest. Experts on crime point to Brazil as an example. Brazil accounts for 40% of the murders in Latin America and an enormous gap between rich and poor is seen as the root cause.
Trend Letter predicts that the economic divide will be the single most pressing issue in the 2004 presidential campaign. Sure makes me think about what my small company can do to be both socially responsible and create opportunities for others to gain financial benefits.
Yahoo for Yahoo!!!
My website has recently been added to the “Motivational Speakers” directory in the Yahoo! search engine. Some of you may know that Yahoo! is the number one search engine in the United States and that it has become increasingly difficult to get listed in Yahoo! We even received the rare compliment of being added to the directory within forty-eight hours of our request. It normally takes seven days! There are NEW pictures in the news site and more articles.
Retention Remains Top Employment Issue
Despite a downturn economy, the top priority in 2001 continues to be hiring and retaining employees and ensuring the continued development of core competencies through ongoing education and training. An aging workforce coupled with a declining birthrate worsens the problem.
The solution: actively encourage older workers to stay by offering plumb assignments, a chance to experience a different part of the business that piques their interest, more time off, opportunities to mentor younger workers or less stressful jobs.
The solution for younger workers: offer perks from day care to stock options, to time-off for volunteer activities to portable retirement programs. But remember, the single most requested perk is company-funded education and training. This includes everything from tuition reimbursement to conference attendance.
Lastly, all of the perks in the world will not overcome a toxic workplace. That has nothing to do with the EPA and chemicals, but rather the chemistry of people. A healthy workplace creates a total employment experience that respects employee’s abilities and ideas, offers career growth opportunities, provides for collaboration and fun, and helps people find meaning in what they do.
MUST READ BOOKS:
This is the year for adventure. So let me start it off with these two books:
The Way of Adventure; Transforming Your Life and Work with Spirit and Vision, Jeff Salz, Ph.D, John Wiley 2000.
Jeff is a colleague, an anthropologist, and a wild guy for climbing mountains in South America, looking for vanished civilizations, and treading the corridors of corporate America. Not only are his narratives spellbinding, but his metaphoric extensions into everyday life offer much food for thought. Get it!
Shackleton’s Way, Leadership Lessons from the Great Antarctic Explorer, Margot Morrell and Stephanie Capparell, Viking, 2001.
This is one time I must admit, I have not read the book. I am carrying it on my next long airplane ride. But I trust the wisdom of another colleague, Danny Cox, who rides high in leadership circles. Anyone who can lead 27 men for two years on a stranded ice flow and keep the motivation going MUST have much to say to all of us. E- mail me and let me know what you think!
Aging Parents: Potential Energy Drain?
Baby boomers face a growing reality: the need to care for both children as well as aging parents. A recent survey for 128 CEOs around the country showed that 48.8% have been or are currently a primary caregiver for an aging parent. Such activities can have a moderate to severe impact on the ability to run personal and professional lives. Some tips:
- Stop trying to do it all by yourself.
- Identify all resources in your area and use them.
- Develop a support network of people who know the situation and can help.
- Consider joining a caregiver support group. The nonprofit Children of Aging Parents (CAPS) maintains a list of various support meetings throughout the country.
- Schedule regular time off to rest and recuperate.
- Differentiate between realistic and unrealistic demands. Know what you can do and let the rest go.
- Say thank you for the gift of life your parents gave you. Now it is our turn.
DAFFY DEFINITIONS:
carcinoma (n.): a valley in California, notable for its heavy smog
flabbergasted (adj): appalled over how much weight you have gained.
gargoyle (n.), an olive-flavored mouthwash.
Overview and Contact Information
Is life leading you instead of you leading a life?
Is work working you instead of you doing the work?
You’re not alone! It’s the challenge of our times.
From business leaders to rank-and-file workers, the competitive 24/7 world of heart-stopping change has left many feeling in need of new tools to answer these questions:
- How do I engage more of my talent and that of the folks around me in meaningful work?
- Why is it that resiliency is a word I think of only with rubber bands?
- Why does it seem that we compete more with each other than the competition?
It’s tough when the rate and pace of work leaves you feeling disconnected, unheard, and certainly not aligned to produce results that matter in the long run.
Then there’s the issue of joy. Flat out joy. You don’t want “work” to become exclusive of play. Leave your spirit and heart at the door, and it’s hard to be creative and productive. You want to be connected with people who respect you and vice versa. You want to do good work— no, make that GREAT work– in the bargain. You want to spend your time in a place that lets your spirit soar and your talent shine. My joy is in helping individuals and organizations rediscover the joy of living and the joy of satisfying work.
If you want results that go well beyond the bottom line—contact us. Since 1980, we’ve been engaging the human spirits of individuals and organizations. Now—it’s your turn.
Call 949-496-8640 or send email eileen@eileenmcdargh.com
McDargh Communications
(949) 496-8640
Eileen@EileenMcDargh.com
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