Last month I decided to pick up a joke book of some type in memory of my mom. She usually had a funny story or joke for just about any occasion. She enjoyed reading through joke books or watching funny videos. I can't recall a day that she didn't laugh and many people said time and time again that as she struggled with her health for 10 years, her laughter is what kept that time frame from being shorter.
One of the magazines she always read was Reader's Digest. So, when I saw Laughter, The Best Medicine II by Reader's Digest I decided this is what I should read. I've casually worked through it and found many of the stories enjoyable, but more than anything it's brought back memories of mom. I can hear her laugh as I turn each page.
Find a reason to laugh today. If you can't, buy a joke book.
Think Hour
I recently read in several places, including the last book I read The Encore Effect, that a person should spend focused time on thinking. Perhaps even an hour a day. This is what successful people do.
The exercise of thinking should be done while doing nothing else. Not while you are taking a walk, not while you do the dishes, not while you drive home from work, rather thinking should be an act that is done in a place where you can just sit and think with no distractions.
This idea made me think...what if companies offered employees a "think hour?" Give them a place to go and think for one hour without any distractions. I wonder what the return on investment would be. Even if you only have 10 employees, that would be 50 hours of solid thinking a week. What if you gave them all one topic to think on? Imagine what might be accomplished or what new things would emerge.
What do you think?
The exercise of thinking should be done while doing nothing else. Not while you are taking a walk, not while you do the dishes, not while you drive home from work, rather thinking should be an act that is done in a place where you can just sit and think with no distractions.
This idea made me think...what if companies offered employees a "think hour?" Give them a place to go and think for one hour without any distractions. I wonder what the return on investment would be. Even if you only have 10 employees, that would be 50 hours of solid thinking a week. What if you gave them all one topic to think on? Imagine what might be accomplished or what new things would emerge.
What do you think?
The Encore Effect
I was privy to receive a galley copy of The Encore Effect by Mark Sanborn. The book is scheduled to be released on September 2, 2008. Mark Sanborn is veteran speaker and author of The Fred Factor and You Don't Need a Title to be a Leader. If you're in business or work with the public in any way, you should have all three of these titles in your library. They're short and packed full of motivation and inspiration.
About the Book
Mark Sanborn challenged me to become "remarkable" in everything I do. When a person becomes remarkable and delivers remarkable performances, they are asked for an encore performance. Mark does a great job of addressing performances that are not just events that happen on a stage. His advice hits home with your performances that are done on a daily basis. By performing well in front of your customers you'll get an encore in the way of them returning to your store. By performing well in front of your coworkers, you'll get an encore in the way of more rewarding work.
There's no question that Sanborn is capable of getting an encore. That's why this book is so credible. He shares several of his own experiences of success and even failure that will inspire you to become remarkable yourself. You really should buy this book. I would order it today so that as soon as it is released it will be shipped to you.
Now, it is ironic that as I was reading this book, I actually had to give a presentation. I was near the end of the book when the presentation took place. I had finished the chapter on being prepared and I even took action to prepare - but it wasn't enough. The presentation flopped. Everything about it just went downhill from the start. Thankfully, I was reading Sanborn's book and was reminded that it happens, but I also learned from his book why it happened. It wasn't just a failure to prepare. It was more than that. You'll have to read the book to understand what I am talking about.
This really is a good book. I'll be talking about it more. Pre-order it right now!
About the Book
Mark Sanborn challenged me to become "remarkable" in everything I do. When a person becomes remarkable and delivers remarkable performances, they are asked for an encore performance. Mark does a great job of addressing performances that are not just events that happen on a stage. His advice hits home with your performances that are done on a daily basis. By performing well in front of your customers you'll get an encore in the way of them returning to your store. By performing well in front of your coworkers, you'll get an encore in the way of more rewarding work.
There's no question that Sanborn is capable of getting an encore. That's why this book is so credible. He shares several of his own experiences of success and even failure that will inspire you to become remarkable yourself. You really should buy this book. I would order it today so that as soon as it is released it will be shipped to you.
Now, it is ironic that as I was reading this book, I actually had to give a presentation. I was near the end of the book when the presentation took place. I had finished the chapter on being prepared and I even took action to prepare - but it wasn't enough. The presentation flopped. Everything about it just went downhill from the start. Thankfully, I was reading Sanborn's book and was reminded that it happens, but I also learned from his book why it happened. It wasn't just a failure to prepare. It was more than that. You'll have to read the book to understand what I am talking about.
This really is a good book. I'll be talking about it more. Pre-order it right now!
More from the Food Service Industry
If you read my recent customer service stories about Burger King and McDonald's, you might wonder why I would talk about these things. Does this tiny little blog matter? Would Burger King or McDonald's ever notice what I have to say? Maybe not. But I bet people listen to Seth Godin when he talks about Whole Foods and Verizon.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)