Last fall I wrote to two school districts about teaching an adult education class called Introduction to Macs. I call it my own "Tale of Two Cities".The first town wrote back to me in about 20 minutes, and dismissed my...
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Shave Your Head and Start Over
When it comes to business, sometimes, "shaving our head and starting over" means throwing out old practices completely and starting fresh with something knew.I was asked last week what was the meanest thing I ever said to someone.A few years...
Breaking The Breaks Up
Q: My staff is lethargic after about 5 hours of selling during an 8 hour shift. What can we do to improve productivity and improve their morale?A: For any 8 hour shift, I like to give 2 30-minute breaks instead...
Food for Thought – Human Resources in Restaurants
I spoke to my class today about my recent experience at a restaurant where I was served by a well-trained, confident, and competent bartender assisting probably 30 guests with a smile and with great follow-through. Meanwhile, at the same time,...
The Wealth of Ages
A well-run organization will have people of all ages working with one another sharing ideas and best practices. Having a wealth of experiences along with new ideas and create opportunities for both new perspectives and new learning experiences for all.The...
Unpaid Days Off That Work
I was at a BBQ this weekend and a friend mentioned to me about a furlough going on at their workplace - 1 unpaid day off three times per year. The friend was very enthused about the idea however, because the three days...
Job Fairs – Are They Effective? (Part 2 of 4)
Previously, I mentioned 4 common comments I hear about job fairs:1. The people that are working the tables don't care.2. All the jobs at these fairs are cold-calling jobs.3. I already have a job, why should I go to a...
Job Fairs – Are They Effective?
Feedback from my students and clients of late has been that job fairs don't do anything for them. Some of the reasons for this that I have heard include:1. The people that are working the tables don't care.2. All the...
Old Timer’s Day and Heritage in the Workplace
One of the most important aspects of creating a culture (or maintaining a culture) in your organization is having a legacy to leave behind, or respecting those who used to call your place of work home.One of the examples from...
Perennial Malcontents and Pretend Activists
Do you have someone in your organization who constantly is displaying a "woe is me" or "I don't like this" attitude? Perhaps you have a perennial malcontent on your hands. Do you have someone who likes to stir up everyone,...