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Sunday, December 26, 2010

A Special Holiday Message From Karin

I find this time of the year be the perfect time for reflection. What are some of the questions that you will contemplate in a quiet moment? How can you carve out a little quiet time for thought and reflection?

There is a great saying by Confucius that I would like to share with you: By three methods we may learn wisdom: "First, by reflection, which is noblest; Second, by imitation, which is easiest; and third by experience, which is the bitterest."

Tuesday, December 21, 2010

Manufacturing Success Tips - Do You Reject The Status Quo?

Voltaire stated, "The best is the enemy of the good". Have you ever heard this saying? Have you ever considered the implications of this? Unfortunately, too many people settle for good enough in their life, at work and in business, instead of striving for excellence and perfection. How can you stand out against your competition if you don't constantly keep working to make things better than they are today? What holds you back? Fear, complacency or is it laziness? Please listen to my simple tips on how to reject the status quo, not only today but for the rest of your life!

Friday, December 10, 2010

Commemorative Speech by Dr. Shoichiro Toyoda, Honorary Chairman of Toyota Motor Corp., on the occasion of award of honorary doctorate by the Asian Institute of Technology

You may find this speach given by Shoichiro Toyoda on August 7, 2003 to be of interest as he discusses the importance of making things (manufacturing).
 

Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Mister President, Excellencies, AIT Trustees, Faculty members, distinguished guests, members of the 98th graduating class, Alumni, Ladies and Gentlemen


Congratulations to each of the graduates and good luck to you as you embark on new endeavors with your hard gained intellectual assets.
I am Shoichiro Toyoda of Toyota Motor Corporation. It is indeed a great honor and privilege for me to receive your honorary doctorate degree from the Asian Institute of Technology of world renown.

On this very honorable occasion, I would like to tell you something about my long-held views on the topic of "making things and developing human capability."

First, please allow me to say a few words about our Toyota Motor Corporation and the Toyota Group of companies. The Toyota Group was originated as a business called Toyota Industries Corporation, which was founded by Sakichi Toyoda, my grandfather. Subsequently, Kiichiro Toyoda, my father, who came to recognize the need to start and grow an automotive industry in Japan, established Toyota Motor Corporation. And at present, some sixty-six years after that historic start, working closely with its group of companies, Toyota ranks the third among the world's auto manufacturers.

About nine years ago, the thirteen companies in the Toyota Group jointly built and opened the "Commemorative Museum of Industry and Technology." This facility came about as a culmination of our strong desire to provide the general public with a space where they can "get in touch with, be acquainted with, and explore Toyota's mind and heart for making things". They can also view firsthand changes and advances in industry and technology, primarily in the textile-machinery and automotive sectors where our group has long been involved. When you have a chance to visit Japan and the city of Nagoya, I hope you would find time to visit our museum.

I have been told that Thailand is also very active in making the entire nation recognize the importance of "making things" and in improving levels of the nation's capability for "making things," through various grass-roots plans and programs. Her Majesty Queen Sirikit established the Support foundation in 1976 to support activities for making things.

In 1979, the Support Training Center for Traditional Crafts was opened at Chitralada Palace and many other similar establishments have followed, as I've been told. More recently, the Thai government has started a nation-wide program for the "One Village, One Product" movement, and I believe it is a very good and interesting scheme. If I can find time, I want to visit such training centers and observe firsthand your broad efforts to elevate your nation's mind and skill for making things.

We at Toyota have long cherished the idea that "making things" requires "developing human capability." Since it takes human beings to make things, naturally you would have to build human capability before you'd start making products. I believe that the same thing applies also to building services, building society, and building nations.

I have long been convinced that the capability for making things is the motivating force for the development of industry, the economy, and technology, and constitutes the foundation for any nation's growth. I can cite three reasons why it is important for us to focus on making things.

First, building of products is a great source of added value for the economy and society. The bulk of human endeavors in economic fields are revolving around useful added values, primarily in the form of making things.

Second, capability for making things induces and supports technological progress. Today, many Japanese argue for devoting ever more efforts to developing sophisticated kinds of fundamental technology. In many instances, however, this would tend to generate disregard and inattention toward the capability for making things, namely, development engineering and manufacturing technology. And I personally have grave concerns about this trend.

To begin with, technology cannot advance on a broad scale if you isolate basic technology from applied technology. These two aspects of technology must be present to work with each other, to stimulate each other, and to be fused into amalgam on occasions, while exchanging their respective needs and seeds between them, for ultimate advancement in both.

Third, making things is important because it brings excitement and joy to the people involved. Human beings are instinctively capable of perceiving beauty in products of high quality and high performance. You must not forget that the act of making things brings joy to your heart and such an act is enjoyable in itself. To exercise your mind, exert your limbs, and spend your time, all for the purpose of making new things, represent a process that you can find gratifying; and when finally the product is complete at the end of your mental and physical exercise, you will be naturally filled with a sense of joy and fulfillment.

Additionally, I would like to say that building products does build people, or help people grow. The issue we have to deal with is how to develop good people for making good products. We have to prepare people and help people develop themselves through the accumulation of experience by performing round and round of work day after day. In other words, we are building human beings by going through the process of building products; and skilful people thus developed can then rise up to yet greater product-building challenges. This is a continuous process of building human capability through OJT, or on-the-job training.

What is important here is the fact that building human beings means more than just letting them acquire necessary skills, know-how, or techniques.

When we say we "build people" at Toyota, it doesn't just mean that we have people skillful enough to build high-quality products on a timely basis. It also means that our people will have a strong sense of responsibility so that they abide by rules for safety and honor agreements made among team members for joint work; and it also means that every member of the Toyota organization is strongly motivated to improve oneself to aspire for ever higher skill levels.

Let me cite an example: We at Toyota have always been very attentive to what we call "Four S's." The four S's here stand for sifting, sorting, and spick and span. Thorough attention to them helps us identify glitches on shop floors and visualize troubles caused by overburdening, non-value-adding activity and unevenness.

We have made a full use of ideas and experiences of our people directly engaged in production so that we can eliminate problems arising out of disregard of the 4-S's in every part of our manufacturing operations; and as a result, we have been able to build and refine the Toyota Production System, including the "just-in-time" system which many of you may be familiar with. This type of down-to-earth approaches in manufacturing have helped us constantly improve our sensitivity to such factors as safety, quality, efficiency, and costs, and are inherited from generation to generation as the DNA, as it were, of Toyota.

Global competition is growing increasingly fierce, and we are right in the middle of it. For Toyota to maintain and improve its competitive capability as a business entity, it is crucially important that we find suitable ways to pass on our "management philosophy" firmly rooted in the idea of making things, to later generations of Toyota workers and also to share our philosophy with Toyota's local members outside Japan.

As part of the source of Toyota's competitiveness, we have selected and arranged sets of fundamental beliefs and approaches. In other words, sets of values and codes of conduct that will have to be shared by all members of Global Toyota, in the form of the "Toyota Way" for world-wide application.

Finally, allow me to add a few words about the "2005 World Exposition, Aichi, Japan," to be held near the city of Nagoya from March 25 to September 25, 2005. I am serving as chairman of the Exposition Association and I am grateful for Thailand's prompt decision to have its exhibits at the Exposition. By the end of July, we had a total of 115 countries and international organizations indicating their intentions to participate. This Exposition is centered around the theme, "Nature's Wisdom", and is planned to explore the relationship between Nature and human beings in the 21st century and to submit workable ideas for better linkages with Nature.

Our activities to make things, on which I spent some time in my speech today, will have to change so that they can be symbiotic with the natural environment, and their attendant impacts on Nature can be tolerably small. In this sense, the idea of making things has a great deal to do with the forthcoming Exposition, which is intended to serve as a broadcasting source of ideas on the direction of solutions to many grave problems facing humankind in the 21st century, such as energy and environment. The Expo will, I'm sure, also point the way for us on how to handle technology and how to make things in the years to come.

I would very much like to produce this Expo 2005, the first one to be held in this century, to be a forum that is enjoyable, full of dreams, and be memorable. In closing, let me say that I would be very happy to have many of you, who are here with us today, come to visit us at the Exposition near Nagoya in 2005.

Thank you, again, for this great honor, and I wish the Asian Institute of Technology the best of luck and good fortune in the future.

Thursday, December 9, 2010

Manufacturing Success Tips - Can You Manufacture Passion?

When was the last time you woke up in the morning and were excited about getting to work? Are you passionate about what you do every day? Do feel a sense of pride in your work? Without it, it's hard to stay motivated. There are things we can learn and there are things we can't learn. Can we learn to be passionate? Can we manufacture passion? Here is my take on it. Please take a look!

Wednesday, December 1, 2010

Manufacturing Excellence - Inspire, Lead and Succeed with DECISIVENESS!


Decisiveness is a characteristic of high-performing men and women. Almost any decision is better than no decision at all. 
~ Brian Tracy


Are you a great decision maker? 
How do you make decisions? Do you have to do a lot of research? Does not having “enough information” hold you back from making timely decisions? Do you make spontaneous decisions based on your gut feeling? Do you ask for input from your employees before you make decisions that impact them? Do you have the reputation as someone who likes to pass the buck when a decision doesn't turn out as it should have? 

We are all different and that's a good thing but I believe it is important to acknowledge how we make our decisions and consider if we can make improvements in this area. When it comes to my decision making skills, I have to say that I’m pretty decisive. When I have to make a decision my natural instinct is to go head and like Nike says "just do it". I mainly rely on my intuition and my gut feeling. Having said that, speed is only good when it is combined with clarity. I tend to be impatient with people who don't make their decisions as quickly as I do but I have gotten a little bit better with that. Over the past couple of years I have learned to appreciate how beneficial it is when I take the time to get the opinion of others first so as not to put the cart before the horse. 

I sincerely believe that our information overload is a decision killer. If you think you have to know everything before you make a decision, you will never make one or by the time you do, it is already too late. With the power of the internet we live in a very fast paced business environment and we have to find a way that combines our sense of urgency with the ability to make clear and timely decisions. 

In the corporate world the lack of decisiveness is, unfortunately, very apparent. Have you ever received an email from someone who also cc’d just about everyone else just to cover themselves? If this is the case in your company, you are most certainly dealing with trust issues throughout your organization. If people are afraid to make the wrong decision, they either avoid it altogether or they try to cover themselves whenever they can. That's simply human nature and that's also the reason why we see so many blame-storming sessions in our corporate environments.  

Decision making skills can be learned but if FEAR rules the emotions, it can really hurt the business and it many cases it has. Fear causes inactivity and it usually takes our eyes of the target. If we become more concerned about ourselves than about anything else, it may be important to discover the basis of your fear. Usually, it is never as bad as it seems. In fact, it has been said that fear can be "false evidence appearing real". Being fearful does not necessarily have to be a bad thing if we are aware of it.  I think we should be fearful at least once a day because this is a sign of progress. If we never feel uncomfortable and nervous about a decision we have to make, it means that we have settled for mediocrity. 

If you want to be a more decisive person you have to first know the difference between the decisions that will make a difference and the ones that won't. Don't be afraid to get constructive feedback from the people around you. They may talk behind your back anyhow, so you may as well benefit from their insights by letting them speak with you directly.

Decisiveness is not only a skill, it is also an attitude. Make the decision to be decisive and you will be! 

Saturday, November 27, 2010

Manufacturing Success Tips - How Do You Eat An Elephant?

Haven't we all experienced situations that totally overwhelmed us? The key is to take any daunting task and break it down into smaller, more manageable chunks. The answer to the famous riddle: "How do you eat an elephant?", provides us with the right answer: "One bite at a time." I invite you to watch my video for tips on how you can avoid the painful consequences of biting off more than you can chew.

Friday, November 19, 2010

Manufacturing Excellence - Inspire, Lead and Succeed with HAPPINESS!



If you want to be happy, be.  
~Leo Tolstoy



I would generally consider myself to be a very happy person and I believe that most people who know me would confirm this. However, happiness is a very broad term. I think happiness means different things to different people. What does it really mean to be happy? 

When you have money to buy everything you want?
When you are successful?
When everything always goes your way?
When you are healthy and full of energy?
When you have a balanced work and family life?
When you have great friends in your life?

Webster defines happiness as a state of well-being and contentment. 

I know that I went through very difficult and challenging times in my life but I have to say that I am blessed with great optimism. Even at the worst of times I never lost my sense of happiness. I honestly believe happiness is a choice. You either want to be happy or you want to be miserable.
Have you ever noticed that some people tend to complain just about everything? 
My grandmother always used to say that people get the face they deserve when they get older. As I get older, I want the wrinkles on my face to reflect joy, happiness and contentment. I think that's what we should wish for, all Botox and plastic surgery aside. 

So why do I believe it is so important to bring this feeling of happiness to the workplace?

I think that many people are simply not aware how much their attitude and level of happiness affects the people around them. It's not surprising that when I observe a team in an organization, the team members are a direct reflection of their supervisor or manager. 
If the leader of the team is generally a kind, optimistic and happy person (obviously we all have bad days), the people on the team will behave and perform totally differently as opposed to being in a team with a miserable team leader.

I know it is not always possible to be happy because there will always be circumstances that can make us feel frustrated, sad and a little bit down. However, I do believe that everyone should focus a little bit more on what they themselves can do in order to make a positive impact in their work environment. 

Wouldn't this world be a better place if we would all give it our best shot to pursue happiness?

Monday, November 15, 2010

Manufacturing Success Tips - "Nice to Have" or "Must Have"?


Have you ever thought that everything in life is about perception? How important do we perceive something to be? Is it a "nice to have" or a "must have"? Most companies already recognize that the performance and productivity levels of their employees is not even close to where it could be. Yet, it seems their level of pain and frustration is still not strong enough to do something about it. Do you know that hourly employees could maintain their job (that is, not be fired) by only working 20 to 30 % of their ability? Isn't this shocking? Don't you think it is time to take some action?

Friday, November 12, 2010

Our Next FREE Workshop at the Richmond Hill Central Library is on November 16, 2010

We have scheduled our next workshop "Layoff During Difficult Times - The End or a New Beginning?" to give back to our community.

Did you lose your job?
Are you fearful and stuck, looking for guidance?
Are you ready to be pro-active and make a plan for your life?
Do you need help identifying and setting your goals?
Do you want a confidence boost and create more self-awareness?
Do you know someone who lost their job recently?
Do you want to move forward and find the right job for YOU?
Are you thinking about self-employment?

We can help! We provide a supportive and positive learning environment and empower people to achieve their full potential and realize their dreams. It is all about taking action and taking 100 % responsibility for your life and for your results!

Sometimes it's tough to stay positive considering all the fears and insecurities we have to deal with. However, we have learned from own experience that attitude is everything and it is our goal to communicate to YOU how you can turn a positive outlook in your job search into action.

Come and join us! It's time to sign up.....

Our commitment to you is to give you positive energy, a lot of new ideas and a fantastic workshop without any investment for you, except your time. If you give us your commitment to participate, please do not let anything prevent you from attending. It will be well worth your time and effort.

This attitude alone will separate you from others who are looking a job. I firmly believe, how you do anything is how you do everything!

"The only things that stand between a person and what they want in life are the will to try it, and the faith to believe it's possible."
- Rich Devos

When? November 16, 2010 from 6 pm - 8.30 pm
Where? Central Library, 1 Atkinson Street, Richmond Hill L4C 0H5 (west/south corner of Major Mackenzie and Yonge)

Tuesday, November 9, 2010

Manufacturing Success Tips - You Have To Be Little To Belittle!

Have you ever been treated like a child? Dealing with people who put you down can be a painful experience. Sometimes the scars can even last a lifetime. Do you want to be the person responsible for doing this to other people? I am convinced that these people hurt themselves more than others in the long run. Wouldn't it be so much better to earn the respect of your team in different ways? Here are some simple tips!

Friday, November 5, 2010

Manufacturing Excellence - Top 10 Ways To Make Manufacturing Sexy!


This is Volkswagen's "Transparent Factory" in Dresden and this is probably as sexy as we can get.....

Please watch this inspiring video:

Isn’t North America the land of endless possibilities? Where is the spirit, the drive and the ambition to make things happen? Hasn't this country always been able to  overcome obstacles? There is no doubt that manufacturing is essential for our economy. We need pro-active leaders who want to create something new and exciting. 

Please see my "Top 10 Common Sense Insights" to Make Manufacturing Sexy!  
  1. Possibility Thinking - shift from a cost to a quality mentality.
  2. Positive Mindset and Attitude – do we have the drive to make it happen or do we make excuses and get hung up on the little things?
  3. Innovation and Creativity – how creative and innovative is our workforce allowed to be?
  4. Global Advantage and Diversity – incredulously not too many companies seem to take advantage of this huge competitive edge.
  5. Tap into the Unused Brainpower of the People – isn’t it mind-boggling that people cannot reach their full potential because very few managers know how to bring out the best in their people?
  6. Education and the Willingness to Learn and to Grow - discover the power of asking the right questions. Learn to listen and pay more attention to the people who do the job every day.
  7. Show Respect – don’t treat employees like little kids – you have to be little to belittle.
  8. Shift from Blame-storming to Brainstorming Sessions.
  9. Promote Inspirational Manufacturing Leadership Successes in Manufacturing Journals, Magazines and Newspapers – let’s talk more about people instead of machines and tools.
  10. Create a 2011 Manufacturing Calendar – have pictures of employees who have the most cost-saving sexiest ideas. 

I think we need to realize that we are in a competitive global manufacturing economy. We need to compete. We can’t keep assuming that just because we’ve won most of the time, we’re entitled to keep winning. We have to keep working at it, to keep getting better plant by plant and worker by worker. That’s how winners stay on top.

There are two economies at the moment that have weathered the super-recession well because they make things and export them. The first one is China because they are cheap. The second one is Germany because they are good.

The question is what route North America will choose to go?

Manufacturing Success Tips - Do You Know Your "WHY"?

What is your motive for what you do? Have you ever thought "WHY" you do what you do? What is it that drives your organization? What is it that drives you as a person? If an organization does not know "WHY" they do what they do, it is very difficult, if not to say impossible, to create a sense of excitement, pride, and fulfillment within their employees. This is where employee engagement begins and it is a given that engaged employees actively strive to contribute to the success of their organization. If people understand the "WHY", the "HOW" becomes easy. Please take a look!

Friday, October 29, 2010

Manufacturing Excellence - Inspire, Lead, and Succeed by TAKING ACTION!

If I applied myself as much as I procrastinated... Wow! That would be powerful! I need a nap just thinking about it! :-)


Sound familiar? Don't we all know it? The problem of procrastination... Why is it so difficult to take action? Why is it so difficult to try new things? There are 3 reasons that come to mind:
  • Fear
  • Perfectionism
  • Complacency
I have to admit that even though most people who know me would describe me as very action oriented, there are many times when I get so frustrated with myself because certain tasks take me longer than they should because I simply can't get my act together. It can also happen that I don't get started on a new project because I either don't have a deadline or there is enough time to meet this deadline. Yes, I am a self-declared "deadline-junky".

Sometimes this happens because I don't have my priorities straight, sometimes it happens because I simply don't like the task, sometimes I lack self-discipline and more than once I catch myself simply being lazy. Humans are funny that way but I guess we have to constantly continue to work on ourselves to improve our natural tendencies. There is no point in coming up with excuses. I take action to improve my inaction by asking myself the question, "Karin, how can you overcome this obstacle and how can you do better, starting NOW?"

I know that I am sometimes too hard on myself but these are the principles that I teach, so I need to practise what I preach. How can I have expectations of others if I don't set my own standards high? I have always believed in walking the talk if I want to see other people follow my lead.

Taking action and initiative combined with taking ownership and responsibility is something that I would like to see more of in today's corporate world.
Wouldn't you rather move forward instead of moving in circles?

It seems to me that many people are fearful of making mistakes because that's the culture their top management team has created. The Executive Team makes the decisions, various levels don't trust each other and everyone else is waiting around to get told what action to take, instead of using their own brain. When people are fearful they would rather make no decision at all instead of risking to make a wrong one. If you work in a company of "non-decision-makers", it is very difficult to take action and the bigger the corporation, the more difficult it becomes.

Something else that holds people back from taking action is perfectionism. These individuals do a lot of research, they over-think and they rarely get anything going because it will be never good enough.  I am not at risk for this one. Once I get started, I am really good at dealing with the risk that comes with it because in my mind "nobody and nothing is perfect". That's why I would rather do something instead of nothing and make improvements along the way.

Last but not least we have to deal with complacency. This is a dangerous one because it is so easy to get sucked into a complacent mode. Unfortunately, many of us have created habits that don't serve us well and we have started to live our lives on autopilot. How sad is this? Most people don't like change and there is still the "if it ain't broke, don't fix it - attitude". However, if we would all think like this, there would be nothing new under the sun, there would be no inventions and no progress in the world. The truth is that we all have something important to give but we have to allow ourselves to discover what it is. Sometimes we are not even aware that we have to take action to make changes for the better.

Jim Rohn used to say, "Don't let your learning lead to knowledge. Let your learning lead to action."

What are you waiting for? Stop waiting for the perfect moment, do your part and take action because imperfect action is better than perfect inaction.

Manufacturing Success Tips - Connect With Your Connectors

Looking back at all of the layoffs in 2009, I believe that companies got rid of many great employees and they didn't even realize it. Did anyone consider who the people are who have to stay for the long-term benefit of the organization; or those who really should go because they poison the work environment; or what about those who would be instrumental in getting the organization to the next level? Was it just a numbers game? Every company has natural leaders and they don't necessarily have a title. There are people who are natural connectors and these people are critical to the success of any company. Connectors have people skills and they easily get to know their fellow employees, their challengers, the missed opportunities and much more. These people usually know more about the company than the President or CEO. Would you like to know more? Please tune in!

Thursday, October 21, 2010

Manufacturing Excellence - Inspire, Lead, and Succeed by IMPROVING YOUR RELATIONSHIPS!

 Assumptions are the termites of relationships.
~ Henry Winkler

Isn't it so true that in the race of climbing the ladder of success we often neglect the things that matter most, the relationships in our life?

How much is it really worth if you have everything that money can buy but the relationships with your loved ones are in turmoil, your friends are long gone because you never had time to connect with them, and you don't seem to get a grasp on how to build better relationships with your employees and/or co-workers?

If our relationships at home are not going the way we would like, some of us may shut down and get frustrated and carry these issues to work. In addition, if we have difficulties building relationships at work, we may find it to be "mission impossible" to accomplish the things we want to accomplish, which also leads to frustration.

There is no denying it, relationships are important in our personal and in our professional life. To some people building relationships comes easily and is very natural. Thank goodness I am one of them. For others, it pushes them out of their comfort zone because they simply don't feel comfortable engaging in small talk in order to connect with people.

I am sure you will agree that it takes a lot of hard work and effort to not only maintain but enhance the various relationships that we have in our life.

The question is: Why is it so difficult?
Miscommunication?
Personality differences?
Cultural differences?
Different values?
Lack of time?
Not having our priorities straight?

While I think it is a mix of all of the above, I also think one major thing is that we always tend to make assumptions as to what others are thinking. In our head we already know how the other person will act or react. Well, at least we think we know.

So how can you immediately start to improve the relationships in your life? The following tips are true for business and true for life.
          Be Aware
First of all you have to be aware that things are not as they should be and that you have to do something about it. Things will only start changing once you start taking the first step in the right direction.
          Focus on Yourself First
What are some things that you can do to improve your relationships? Perhaps you have to pick up the phone? Perhaps you have to have a conversation with someone and apologize to sort things out? Perhaps you have to share how you feel about a certain situation with someone in order to be able to move on? If a conversation doesn't go the way you want it to go, ask yourself, "What could I have done differently?"
          Focus on the Positive Aspects of the Other Person
Usually we tend to focus on what we don't like and we dwell on it. It's always the other person's fault. Did you know that we judge others by their actions but we judge ourselves by our intentions? Why not try it the other way around to give the whole conversation a positive spin?
          Set Relationship Goals
What is the ideal outcome for you? How would you like your relationships to be? At home, set relationship goals together with your partner and children. At work, work out a code of honour that keeps you and your team committed to the standards you've set together. 

Whether your relationship is with your spouse, family member, child, friend, supervisor, manager, customer or co-worker, you want to make your interpersonal relationships positive, supportive, clear, and empowering.  
If this is one of your main goals, you will see the difference that this will make in your life. If you want your relationships to be better, you have to be better!


Tuesday, October 19, 2010

Manufacturing Success Tips - Be Curious Instead of Furious!

Have you ever noticed how curious little kids are?
They ask one question after another and sometimes we don't have an answer. A little embarrassed we mumble, "well, that's the way it is". Kids have no fear of the unknown. When they learn to walk, they try, they fall, and they try again..... because failure is not an option and they are curious to see the world from a different perspective. Take a look how we can shift from furious to curious!

Thursday, October 14, 2010

Our Next FREE Workshop at the Richmond Hill Central Library is on October 19, 2010

We have scheduled our next workshop "Layoff During Difficult Times - The End or a New Beginning?" to give back to our community.

Did you lose your job?
Are you fearful and stuck, looking for guidance?
Are you ready to be pro-active and make a plan for your life?
Do you need help identifying and setting your goals?
Do you want a confidence boost and create more self-awareness?
Do you know someone who lost their job recently?
Do you want to move forward and find the right job for YOU?
Are you thinking about self-employment?

We can help! We provide a supportive and positive learning environment and empower people to achieve their full potential and realize their dreams. It is all about taking action and taking 100 % responsibility for your life and for your results!

Sometimes it's tough to stay positive considering all the fears and insecurities we have to deal with. However, we have learned from own experience that attitude is everything and it is our goal to communicate to YOU how you can turn a positive outlook in your job search into action.

Come and join us! It's time to sign up.....

Our commitment to you is to give you positive energy, a lot of new ideas and a fantastic workshop without any investment for you, except your time. If you give us your commitment to participate, please do not let anything prevent you from attending. It will be well worth your time and effort.

This attitude alone will separate you from others who are looking a job. I firmly believe, how you do anything is how you do everything!

"The only things that stand between a person and what they want in life are the will to try it, and the faith to believe it's possible."
- Rich Devos

When? October 19, 2010 from 6 pm - 8.30 pm
Where? Central Library, 1 Atkinson Street, Richmond Hill L4C 0H5 (west/south corner of Major Mackenzie and Yonge)

Wednesday, October 6, 2010

Manufacturing Excellence - Inspire, Lead, and Succeed by KEEPING YOUR WORK-LIFE BALANCE!


"Whenever people ask me what the biggest difference between North America and Europe is,  I always say: "North Americans live to work and Europeans work to live." As much as I love what I do, I think I owe it to my clients to refresh my mind every once in a while so that I can give 100%. Whenever I spend time in the Austrian mountains I experience magic. I admire nature's beauty and think about life and all of a sudden everything I worry about becomes so meaningless."
 ~ Karin Lindner


I just returned from a wonderful trip to Austria and I feel that I would like to share some of my insights about work-life balance. It always makes me smile when people ask me, "So you have your own business and you're going on a 2 or 3 week vacation?". Well, isn't this one of the perks of having your own business, being able to create what you want to have?

With the power of internet, email and Skype the world has become so connected and there is nothing I couldn't do (if I feel the need) while I am away, except delivering training in person.

Having balance in your life is important. I realize that we live in a fast paced business environment and that we have to do more with fewer resources. However, I firmly believe that it comes down to proper organization and planning of your days, weeks and months in order to get the most out of your life.

You have to look after yourself first, your health, your family and your well being, otherwise you will eventually find yourself overwhelmed, non-productive and disillusioned in your job. This level of frustration will carry over to your family life and your level of happiness. 

It is a sign that I am fully relaxed when I can't remember the PIN of my debit card anymore.... and believe me, this number is easy. :-) However, I have to say that I probably have a special gift of being able to switch into total relaxation and vacation mode while I am away. I don't know too many people who can do that. I also always sleep well even when I have a lot on my mind. My convincing statement before I go to bed is: "There is enough time to worry about that tomorrow. My sleep is more important right now." I have learned to prioritize what's important. 

Unfortunately I know a lot of people who are held hostage by their work schedule and daily agenda.  They cannot exercise the flexibility of making both, their personal and professional life fulfilling. Having a fulfilling career and a lot of money does not mean anything if you have health issues, are in terrible shape, have family problems, no time for hobbies, or no time to spend quality time with family and friends. It is important to strive for abundance and this can only be achieved when you have balance in your life. 

How would you feel when the day of your retirement comes and nobody is there to enjoy it with?

It is an unfortunate fact that many employers don't realize how powerful and beneficial it would be for the company's well being if their employees would take the time to relax, unwind, and quiet their mind. Creativity and productivity would skyrocket and the amount of mental and other illnesses would certainly decrease.

I don't think that it is my job to convince you. You have to learn for yourself. You have to experience it for yourself but I do want to leave you with an inspiring movie by Linda Ellis and perhaps you may take at least some of it to heart.

Manufacturing Success Tips - Attitude - A New Language to Learn?

It has been said that "attitude is a little thing that makes a big difference...". Often discussed but not too much done about it. It is easier to address people's lack of measurable outcomes than their behaviour. That's why we live in a society of mediocrity. Wouldn't it be better to try our best every single day? We have to reinforce, reinforce, reinforce because humans are creatures of habits and habits are not broken easily. Don't you want to be the best? Don't you want to help your people to become the best? Do you want to know how? Take a look?

Sunday, September 12, 2010

Our Next FREE Workshop is at the Richmond Hill Central Library on September 14, 2010

We have scheduled our next workshop "Layoff During Difficult Times - The End or a New Beginning?" to give back to our community.

Did you lose your job?
Are you fearful and stuck, looking for guidance?
Are you ready to be pro-active and make a plan for your life?
Do you need help identifying and setting your goals?
Do you want a confidence boost and create more self-awareness?
Do you know someone who lost their job recently?
Do you want to move forward and find the right job for YOU?
Are you thinking about self-employment?

We can help! We provide a supportive and positive learning environment and empower people to achieve their full potential and realize their dreams. It is all about taking action and taking 100 % responsibility for your life and for your results!

Sometimes it's tough to stay positive considering all the fears and insecurities we have to deal with. However, we have learned from own experience that attitude is everything and it is our goal to communicate to YOU how you can turn a positive outlook in your job search into action.

Come and join us! It's time to sign up.....

Our commitment to you is to give you positive energy, a lot of new ideas and a fantastic workshop without any investment for you, except your time. If you give us your commitment to participate, please do not let anything prevent you from attending. It will be well worth your time and effort.

This attitude alone will separate you from others who are looking a job. I firmly believe, how you do anything is how you do everything!

"The only things that stand between a person and what they want in life are the will to try it, and the faith to believe it's possible."
- Rich Devos

When? September 14, 2010 from 6 pm - 8.30 pm
Where? Central Library, 1 Atkinson Street, Richmond Hill L4C 0H5 (west/south corner of Major Mackenzie and Yonge)