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.

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?

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?

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)

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!

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:

http://www.flixxy.com/high-tech-car-factory.htm

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!