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Energize your day with the ENERGIZER newsletter!

SMALL—FAST—and WRITTEN WHEN THE MOOD STRIKES.

"What consultant worth her salt would be without a newsletter? It's a dandy little sheet, written when the mood strikes (which is at least quarterly). I protect your private information and will never, sell, rent or otherwise abuse what you have entrusted to me. And, of course, you can unsubscribe at any time! Unsubscribe instructions are at the bottom of the e-mail you received pointing you to this page."

So here’s the deal: I offer work-life balance programs. In fact—2008 kicks off with my programs being presented for a major hotel chain, a bio-pharm company, and a national association’s annual conference.

Winter 2008 Newsletter (Newsletter Archives)    

BOY, is my face red! In the Winter edition of The Energizer, (see below) I made a mistake. A HUGE mistake.

BOUNTY is a paper towel not toilet paper. I buy BOUNTY. I adore the Select-a-Size—the slickest idea for conservative use of paper. Plus Procter & Gamble is one of my most favorite clients.

Geez. Haste makes waste. So, as I learned in Catholic school: “Mea culpa, mea culpa, mea maxima culpa!”

P.S. Now all of you will be looking for where I use the word “bounty’. Maybe I’ve created a version of “where’s Waldo?”

You have to laugh. She provides a very different view of the official day of “winter”. Winter to some folks means cold days, bleak landscapes, hard ground, and huge heating bills. To others, it means snow angels, hot chocolate, blessed rain (at least here in drought-stricken Southern California) and hugs by the fireplace. One word—multiple images.

There’s power in having many ways to view a word, an event, a situation, or a person. I shudder to think the times I have wrongly interpreted an action or a statement and in that interpretation dismissed or even “dissed” someone. (Be honest—I’ll bet I am not the only one!)

So, now I’m starting my New Year’s 2008 with these two: The first is to work more diligently at finding viewing points—multiple ways to think about a situation. The second is to practice the discipline of detachment. It means to give up wanting things to be MY WAY or people to behave MY WAY. It means very much living in the now, giving it the very best I’ve got, and then letting go of the outcome. As my friend, Jane Handly says, “it means leaning into it and not forcing the river.”

Wishing you every blessing and benefit of a bountiful 2008. And bounty is more than the name of toilet paper. It’s the cup that is packed down and over-flowing with ideas, creativity, love, harmony, excitement, health, and financial serenity.

Warmly,

If Your Get Up and Go-- Got Up and Went...

Let’s face it: new years are not always “new”. Too often it feels like nothing more than a new calendar in which to write down pages of non-stop activities, project deadlines, social obligations, and commitments made by someone other than you.

SO stop! It’s time to plug into something that YOU choose—something that can renew your batteries and refresh your interest in work AND life. Unlike the bobble-headed figures that nod “yes” at every touch, you DO get to declare “time out” and place yourself first.

#1: Retreat to advance. Take yourself away for at least two nights and three days to a place for a silent retreat. Yes-silence! Forbid yourself from using the phone, the television, or the radio. It’s time to listen instead to the voices in your head that have been trying to get your attention for ages. Write what you sense. Think on paper. And make resolutions that speak to what matters most.

#2: Experience something far a field from your profession. Take a class or read a book that is NOT in your chosen line of work. Select something that piques your curiosity. The notion is to look for connections or ideas that might stimulate a new way of looking at your work or your life. Former elementary teacher Gail Wenos studied ventriloquism and discovered a new way to teach adults!

#3: Stretch yourself. If you take an exercise class once a month, try going two more times. If you cook the same food the same way, alternate with a new cookbook. One father saw himself as totally ill-equipped to ride anything that had less than four wheels. But he took motorcycle lessons with his teenage son and his sense of personal accomplishment grew along with the bond to his child.

#4: Practice your art every week. Everyone has an art. It might be hammering nails or singing in the shower. It might be designing a garden or counseling a friend. But it uses a talent you’ve got and when this talent is engaged, you burn brightly. You leave the time refreshed. Put this down as a personal “no matter what” on your day timer.

#5: Throw out what weighs you down. Read only those things that are meaningful to you. Can the clutter as well as the people who are the constant complainers and gripers. Ditch the weight of unnecessary purchases and their financial burden. Give clothes you haven’t worn in over a year to Goodwill . Remember, every ounce counts.

New Study Suggests Employers Can Do More to Enhance Work-Life Policies

Three-fourths of Employees Want Organizations to Offer Work-Life Training.

The majority of today’s employees believe work-life balance policies are important when considering whether to take or quit a job; yet, many workers lack confidence in their current organization’s support of work-life policies, according to survey results released in December by WorkLifeBalance.com, a global leader in work-life balance education and management training.

Three-fourths of workers want their employers to provide training of practical skills to help improve their work-life balance, suggesting that organizations can further enhance their work-life programs to support key business objectives, such as employee retention and productivity.

Here’s a newsletter you MUST have

It’s from Berrett Koehler Publications—smart, hip, all about books, and events, and easy to read and FUNNY. The BK Newsletter: it’s enlightening, and it’s free – isn’t that good enough! Go on, subscribe by going to http://www.bkconnection.com/newsletter.asp

Websites You Should Know About

Photography for everyone: www.serenity5.com

Carrie Wolak has created just a lovely site for showcasing not only her photography but for allowing you to upload and create products with your own work. It can be put on magnets greeting cards, clothing, puzzles, and many other products. You’ll find her work under the fine art photography section: landscapes, seascapes and flowers are her specialty. Check it out. VERY creative.

For all of us menopausal women: www.menopausegoddessblog.org

Must Read Books

Welcome to the McDargh Clan!

• Gaylord Hotels
• Novo Nordisk
• San Diego Chamber of Commerce
• Orange County Assoc. of Legal Administrators
• American Nursery and Landscape Association

Read and REAP—or Weep. You decide

The International Association of Business Communicators has listed the non-financial reasons why workers leave their jobs. (And remember, some people “leave”—it’s just that their bodies remain.)

#1 Opportunities for advancement – 28%

#2 Work-life balance – 23%

#3 More interesting work – 20%

#4 Shorter commute – 9%

#5 Better benefits – 4%

#6 Better perks – 3%

#7 Closer to family – 3%

A Note from Francesca

Happy New Year from NY!

My name is Francesca Esposito. I have been Eileen's "virtual assistant" for about 2 years. I manage Eileen's NY office. I have over 20 years of office experience and have been assisting or managing corporate, and/or small businesses in a variety of industries for several years. I have a B.B.A in Marketing, and I am a Paralegal.

In addition to working with Eileen, I also own my own business, Assistant ToGo®, Inc- www.assistant-togo.com and have been happily & successfully providing office support to many businesses and firms on an as-needed basis.

Anyway, I just wanted to take this opportunity to share with you how blessed I feel for being able to work with Eileen, and to share in her life. She has been such a wonderful client! We have truly gone beyond that of just a client/assistant relationship.

Eileen has taught me much about balancing work/life relationships. This has really helped me with being able to better balance the running of my business and to enjoy precious quality time with my family.

I am so excited to start another year working with Eileen. I am looking forward to hearing more raves from the people that I know she will help to make positive changes in their lives too!

If you need to quote an expert or are looking for stories on:

• Tangible solutions for work/life balance
• Executive retreats with high-impact results
• Resilient self leadership and leadership of others
• How professional
• How professionals can pursue meaningful work for a life of rewards
• Case studies of how real businesses are positively impacted when communication improves

Let's connect!

I can help you to-

• Facilitate executive retreats with high-impact results
• Develop self leadership skills to help lead others
• Offer tangible solutions for work/life balance
• Inspire professionals to grow their talents and connections with others
• Allow your participants to tell THEIR truths with compassion and encouragement
• Empower your group to build resilience and take action
• Encourage professionals to pursue meaningful work for a lifetime of rewards