Tomorrow Will Arrive……Eventually. Be Ready.

Don’t do today what you can put off until tomorrow….That is the procrastinator’s creed.   Don’t put off to tomorrow what you can do today …….the creed of Strong Type A personalities. What about you and I…the average man or woman who is a Sometimes Type A, sometimes child, sometimes teenager?

No matter what, you KNOW that tomorrow is going to arrive, eventually.   Some things can be put off, but not avoided altogether.  Some things cannot be avoided or put off, no matter how much we try to not acknowlege them.  The harder we try, the harder they will hit us.  Taxes, health problems and our children becoming teenagers are the top three things we like to avoid but just cannot.  Those of us who are self employed, need to put aside money for our taxes.  it is hard…so very hard.  It is there, it would pay bills and maybe cover a much needed holiday away too.  So how do you not spend it?  It is calling your name.  But save it we must.  Or pay a much higher  price later on.

Health problems can often be eliminated when you go to the doctor early, when symptoms appear and for your annual check up.  As for teenagers, well the harder we fight our children’s independence, the harder the struggle will be.  We raise our children so that they will become adults, but so many parents want to skip that middle step….the years between 12 and 25.  Why 25 and not 18? I raised three children and at no time did a magical leprechaun come to my house on their birthdays and transform them literally overnight.  Age 18 has been deemed by bureaucracies as adulthood, but if I am the only one who never was visited by that leprechaun, I feel pretty hurt.   So I will assume I am not alone.  The teenage brain does not really develop good reason until it reaches age 25, and it truly only begins there.  That is not to say that some teens and young adults are not mature.  Some are far more responsible and mature than some twice their age.  These are the exception.  Some people NEVER grow up, never take responsibilities and accountability as a part of life. Some women will laugh now and start listing men who have not grown up, in their opinion.   To be fair, why do we expect anyone….man or woman…..to grow up if they are not taught how or if it is expected too young.  Yet that is what we want them to do….skip  that step of the process and wake up magically touched  on their eighteenth birthday……….and eliminating the 12 to 18, skipping right to the maturity of 25 years of age.

Back to the topic….if you will excuse my having gone off on a tangent.  Being ready for the tomorrow that will inevitably arrive.

I have already mentioned that you need to stay on top of your health issues.  A minor cyst today, when dealt with immediately, will always have been just a minor cyst.    Ignored, it may be a pre cancer or malignant growth.

Taxes are also something you need to stay on top of.  More than any single topic, it is likely that this will give you more heart palpitations than anything else.  Get to know a good accountant.  And find yourself a trustworthy and reliable financial planner.  Someone who can show you legitimate and accessible  tax shelters. Someone who understands tax implications for you and your family should something happen to you and who is equipped with the knowledge to ensure your secure future.  At this time of year, many programs are advertised which tout themselves as being your tax solution, as if one glove will fit all.  Leveraging, RRSPs, TFSAs, etc etc are on signs everywhere.  Are they all right for you?  Is life insurance an alternative to RRSPs (Canada) /  401K (USA) or the other way around?  Only when you talk to a qualified financial planner will you really know. Take  advantage of this time of year to start building a relationship with your financial planner. If you already have one, but are not sure he or she is doing all they can for you, talk to another one.  A meeting should not cost you anything except some time and it is time well spent, a solid investment in your tomorrow.  Be ready for tomorrow….and  be grateful that it arrives.  The alternative is deadly….

Contact me at myfuture@unleashtheknow.com for your financial future

Leadership Principle number 12

As we come near the end of the key leadership principles which are the foundation of the Leadership Program developed by UnLeash the KNOW, we take a look at the value of laughter that a strong leader will encourage and enjoy.  Laughter has long been associated with lower blood pressure, more endorphins and a generally healthy work and home environment.

Humour and laughter breaks down walls and opens communication.  Humour should never offend anyone no matter who is in the room or who may walk into the room at any time.

Laughter shared at the office or in any public  never be offensive to anyone who may walk in the room.  Whether it is a particular word or the theme or target, keep in mind that you do not know a person’s previous experience, their background or sensitivities.  A leader will ensure that no one will be offended in what should be a light relaxed moment.  An environment where there is no laughter, can be uncomfortable, tense and less productive.   Offensive humour is equally counter productive and may even lead to union or legal action.

Few things will bond people like a shared laugh.  Remember the punchline and forget the stress, even if just for a moment each day.

Leadership Principle number 7

As referred to in previous posts, one vital element in leadership, is acknowledging that we are human beings, working with / for and serving other human beings.   We ALL have our strengths and our weaknesses,  Characteristics  and personalities tend to fall into one of several categories which leads to many types of communicators,  One size does not fit all, even in the workplace.  None of these types of communication styles precludes professionalism or ethical behaviour,  Leaders, however must be aware of these facts and, to be fully effective, must demonstrate a degree of efficiency in each of the ways.  It does require knowing those that you are leading.  It requires understanding them.

Demonstrate that you value your colleagues / team members / family members / friends as human beings as well as sources of information and labour

We all want our fair pay for the work we do.  When we start a new job, generally speaking, we are pleased with the pay and feel properly rewarded for the tasks ahead.  So why does this become less effective as time goes on?  Why do we begin that search for the next job or begin to slack off in our duties?  More often than not, it is because we do not feel valued,  Professionals do not need a daily pat on the back nor reinforcement for doing our job,  However even the most seasoned professionals appreciate the acknowledgement for going above and beyond, for consistent effort and for being a positive influence at work,  The simple act of a genuine smile, a good morning, a thank you goes a very long way to a stressed or overworked employee.  A leader who only finds fault and points out the negative, will never establish a team of loyal employees who put out their best effort everyday.  Burn out and extended stress leave are relatively new phenomenon in office environments.  Never before were employees feeling that they were on duty 24 / 7 thanks to the increasing use of smart phones.

I was in one job, one that should have been exciting and so fulfilling, but which became intolerable after ten months.  I was on call 24 / 7 for ten months straight.  I worked an average of 75 hours per week, sometimes as many as 100 hours in a week.  i did not get extra pay, time off or bonuses.  More importantly, I never heard “good job” or “thank you” or “I appreciate your extra effort and dedication to the job”.  I heard about all of the things I did wrong in my boss’s eyes, but no positive or encouraging words.  The organization promoted theories such as putting the right person on the bus, moving from good to great and various other leadership concepts,  This was the corporate talk.  It was not the corporate walk however.

These same values and leadership practices should be applied equally in your personal life.  Too often we focus on our work environments and take our family and friends for granted.  While I speak here about the workplace, do not neglect those who are most important to you.

Say thank you.  Give a hug when appropriate,  Ask a person how he or she is and actually listen to the answer.  Do not just hear the words, listen to them.  Read body language and facial expressions.  They will teach you alot more than any words will tell you.  Be sensitive to people around you who may be going through an exceptionally difficult time and be as flexible as possible to allow him or her to work through the problem without adding further to their stress by making them feel invaluable,  It builds loyalty, reduces sick days and will create an environment of respect and hard work.  Be human, Be a leader who is so equal that you stand head and shoulders above all others.