Our Next FREE Workshop at the Richmond Hill Library is on April 5, 2011

Lost your Job?  Hate your Job?

Discover what you want and go for it!

Have you been laid off once or multiple times? Are fearful that you may be laid off soon?  Do you feel stuck in your current career? Do you  want to change direction but don’t know how?  Are you ready to be proactive and make a plan for your life?

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 our 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!

"When one door closes, another opens. But we often look so regretfully upon the closed door that we don't see the one that has opened for us."

~ Helen Keller

When? April 5 from 6 pm - 8.45 pm

Where? Central Library, 1 Atkinson Street, Richmond Hill, L4C 0H5 (west/south corner of Major Mackenzie and Yonge)
Why? This is our contribution to serve the community

Please register @ the Library or via email at karin@karicosolutions.com.

Manufacturing Success Tips - How Flexible is Your Mind?

I constantly hear phrases such as, "I know that", "We have always done it this way", "I told them how to do it", or "We don't have time to try something new that may not work". I guess this is our "get it right the first time without making any mistakes mentality" but I vouch for making as many mistakes as we can, to learn from them and to get better and better as we move along. Take a look at why I think it is so important to have a flexible mind!

Manufacturing Excellence - Inspire, Lead and Succeed with INDEPENDENCE!

"You cannot build character and courage by taking away man's initiative and independence."
~ Abraham Lincoln

Why do you think some people believe that employees will be more productive when they are controlled?

Well, it is a sad reality that there are a lot of people who will work a little bit harder when they feel they are under the influence or control of someone else. However, you cannot possibly control people all day long and if you try to do that, it will only cause frustration and exhaustion for you because you won't see the expected results in the long run. There will always be enough opportunities for employees to slack off and do other things if their job doesn't have any real meaning or purpose for them and if they don't feel in any connection to you and/or the organization.

Thinking back to my years in the corporate world, I know that I did many things during work hours that I probably shouldn't have been doing. I surfed the internet, I did things from my personal agenda and many times I lacked drive and initiative.

Why? I was bored. I was not challenged enough and the majority of my managers were so busy with their own agendas that they simply didn't notice that I was capable of so much more. My brain got stagnant and I started to lose interest in giving my best every single day. Seriously, I don't think I was an exception, I am just very honest. 

Just because we are in the office doesn't necessarily mean that we are productive. Sometimes I get the feeling when people "work" 10 - 12 hour days it gives them a reason to convince themselves how productive they were. 

From my personal experience I know that working less is sometimes more. It's all about organizing and planning your day and accomplishing your tasks throughout the week to support your long-term goals.

So why do I think it is important to give people their independence on the job when they might misuse our trust? First of all, I really don't think that they will. 

Secondly, I don't know too many managers who have a regular conversation with their employees about honesty, integrity, character, the expectation of certain behaviours, and the importance of having their 100 % support. Most people don't know what the expectations of their managers are and if they have the perception that management doesn't care, they start doing the bare minimum. 

On the other hand, management seems to falsely assume that just because employees are getting paid, that they will automatically care enough to give it their all for their company's success.

Sorry that I have to be the one to break the news to you, but that's not how it works. 

It is about cultivating and inspiring people and not about controlling them. If you want to cultivate your team within your organization, you have to start changing your approach. 

Management has to set their own standards high and be aware that they function as a role model to their followers. They have to be aware that their employees are observing their actions and reactions on a daily basis. To be a leader you have to earn the respect of your people and this is only possible if you lead by example. 

Believe me, you don't have to "watch" your people, you only have to have a sincere interest to bring out the best in them.

1. Give them your trust and their independence
2. Have regular conversations with them
3. Treat them as adults and not like little children
4. Come from the mindset that you can learn from them
5. Let them take initiative and take their ideas to heart

If you put these simple suggestions into practice, you will start to awaken their spirit within. 

Manufacturing Success Tips - An Update on "How Can We Make Manufacturing Sexy?"

I believe many manufacturing leaders are not aware that they are not aware about the opportunities in this industry because they are too busy fighting fires every single day. It is my goal to help these leaders to recognize that they have choices and that they can actually create a new manufacturing era. In order to make this happen, the right mindset is needed. Get the latest update on my new book entitled "How Can We Make Manufacturing Sexy?"

Manufacturing Success Tips - How Do YOU Handle the Customer Challenge?

We've all been told that the customer is always right. This is certainly not always true but what can we do to work together with the customer to make it right? I believe a customer perceives value on the full service experience. If we don't know how to effectively communicate with the customer and if we don't have the skills to educate the customer how the relationship should be, it will be a never-ending battle. The customer expects outstanding customer service and you expect the customer to be more reasonable. Is there a way to handle the customer challenge? Take a look!

Manufacturing Excellence - Should We Buy US Made Goods?

Is it time to take some responsibility for the future of our country and the future of our kids?
Let me know what you think!


http://abcnews.go.com/ThisWeek/video/made-america-us-manufacturing-labor-goods-economy-business-1306924

Our Next FREE Workshop at the Richmond Hill Library is on March 8, 2011

Lost your Job?  Hate your Job?

Discover what you want and go for it!

Have you been laid off once or multiple times? Are fearful that you may be laid off soon?  Do you feel stuck in your current career? Do you  want to change direction but don’t know how?  Are you ready to be proactive and make a plan for your life?

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!

"When one door closes, another opens. But we often look so regretfully upon the closed door that we don't see the one that has opened for us."

~ Helen Keller

When? March 8 from 6 pm - 8.45 pm

Where? Central Library, 1 Atkinson Street, Richmond Hill, L4C 0H5 (west/south corner of Major Mackenzie and Yonge)
Why? This is our contribution to serve the community

Please register @ the Library or via email @ karin@karicosolutions.com.

Manufacturing Success Tips - Do You Think Your Workers "Have It"?

If you were to speak with any of the top athletes in the world, they would all tell you that there are certain things that are a must in order to stay on top of their game. What are these things? Mindset, positive thoughts, beliefs, vision, training, and coaching. Why is it different in business? Do your employees "have it"? What can you do make sure that they do? Take a look!

Manufacturing Excellence - Inspire, Lead and Succeed with an Appreciation for DIVERSITY!

"Diversity: the art of thinking independently together."

~ Malcolm Stevenson Forbes

Have you ever noticed that it is easier to complain about what we don’t have rather than appreciating what we do have?

Isn’t it true that we would rather complain about current circumstances instead of being open-minded enough to see what could be?

What would you think if I told you that by changing your perspective, you would be able to see things that you couldn’t see before? 

How about taking a deep breath, slowing down, standing still for a moment and focus on the good things you have and the opportunities you can create in your current business environment. What a concept if this would work! Look at the good instead of the bad.

Many organizations extol their employees as their greatest asset and it's true, your employees can either make you or break you. If a company has the right people, then its strategies will be in sync with the realities of the marketplace, the economy, and the competition. One thing is certain, if you don't get the people process right, you will never fulfill the potential of your business.

In my line of work, I meet different people from different backgrounds, religions, cultures, who have been raised differently with different personality styles, different age groups, both men and women, all the time. As a result, I have not only learned to embrace diversity, I see it as an incredible opportunity to create a completely new dynamic within our organizations.

I have adopted a mindset that I can learn something from every person I meet. When I have people attending my workshops, regardless whether they are management, supervisors, team-leaders, or shop floor employees,  I always put a 10 on their forehead, thinking that they will show a sincere interest in what I have to say. I want to learn from them and they can learn from me. That’s my intention. I believe in them and I see it as my job to increase their energy level and bring out the best in them. I believe that most people want to do a good job, they want to be involved, they want to contribute to society, they want to learn how to be better in what they do, and they would like to learn new tools on how to become a better person in general.

Isn’t it mind-boggling that most employees can never reach their full potential because very few managers know how to bring out the best in them?

If you want to discover the brainpower of your people and help them to get better at what they do, you have to pay them respect. This means to make them feel valued, appreciate the diversity they bring to your team, to ask great questions and listen to what they have to say by giving them your undivided attention. If you respect your employees through sincere face-to-face conversation and listen to what they have to say, you will be amazed at the impact this will have.