If you are gathering around the water cooler (see yesterdays blog post) you might want to keep the noise level down. A recent study found that people are three times more likely to suffer heart problems if they work in a noisy environment for 1-2 years. See article here. Maybe that is the reason screaming bosses turn over staff so often!
A study conduced by the University of Western Ontario has found that water cooler chats amongst employees boots happiness, engagement and productivity. See Globe & Mail piece on this here. See now you have n excuse to discuss the latest hockey game!
So my first ever visit to Las Vegas has come to an end, three positive and negative reflections; Positives There is certainly not a shortage of visual stimulation, bright lights, shows, even the old game of people watching – many at no cost! Its interesting and often fun. The city and those working in the tourist industry know how to 'sell' Vegas, the customer service was good and people friendly… Read More »Would you like chips with that?
In my presentation yesterday at the Promotional Product Professionals International Conference, one of the challenges that promotional product professionals face, especially with access to global supply, is that many are able to source the same products at similar prices. So when competing in the market how do they differentiate? The usual answers for many facing similar challenges are: Drop the price my reducing margins or offer discount plans Quicker turnaround by holding… Read More »The Ultimate City of Promotion
As part of the continuing theme "Review Your Year With No Fear", there is still time to review 2010, just e-mail me paul @ charlesb32.sg-host.com and I will send you the first three lessons. The final lesson comes out in a few days and is more about looking forward to 2011, so I thought that this article, written by colleague Jamie Broughton of Footprint Leadership, was a great lead in… Read More »Resolutions Schmezalutions
When you are working on positioning your personal brand as the one of choice, you can adapt from these few choice reminders at Jonathan Salem Baskin's blog – Dim Bulb – The Night After Christmas blog post. And I could not resist this one from Dr Seuss – "And the Grinch,with his Grinch-feet ice cold in the snow, stood puzzling and puzzling, how could it be so? It came without ribbons, came… Read More »Review Your Year With No Fear – Branding Lesson 101
How do you feel at this time of year when people start to talk about new year’s resolutions? – Fearful, because you know that this year’s one fell by the wayside mid-January. - Excited , because it gives you a chance to kick off the year with a flourish. - Resentful, because you are going to feel pushed in to committing to something. Regardless of the emotions that come up, one… Read More »Review Your Year With No Fear – Lesson 1
2010 A YEAR OF FEAR? In my business 2010 has for me been a good year, on par with 2009, which was particularly pleasing as 2009 was my best since starting Square Peg over 7 years ago. But what has been even more fantastic this year has been seeing my wife Keri develop in to a very capable and successful business owner and leader. Last week I was so proud… Read More »Is Your Personal Brand Ready for 2011?
In the Toronto Star this past weekend was an entertaining and in some cases insightful look at the next council members. Each had been asked to attend a photo shoot and bring with them one or two objects that would show the electorate who they were. The new mayor and several councilors refused to attend or even respond, placing a trivial or perhaps fearful emphasis on the exercise. But this… Read More »Possession is nine-tenths of the law
Normally it would be expected that if you were caught asleep at your desk you would be disciplined, possibly even fired. According to recent studies having a nap at work might actually be productive, not just to give you a physical boost either. Studies have also shown that taking a nap will improve perceptual and motor skills, reaction time and alertness. Some companies such as Google provide nap rooms… Read More »Pardon the snoring – I am honing my skills