Buckle up for 2010

Economists say 2010 will be little better than 2009.
They also forecast 19 of the last two recessions.
Here’s my challenge to you — and me.
Lets treat 2010 as the best year of our lives.
That’s not unrealistic. It’s simply our attitude.
If we see doom and gloom, that’s what we’ll get.
I’m no Pollyanna. But I have loads of attitude.
Positive attitude. I’ll share that with you in 2010.
So start planning now. Take all day Jan. 1.
List your major frogs (big projects) for 2010.
You should have at least four or you aren’t trying.
Assign one to each quarter. List your action steps.
Assign one step to each week.
Make a commitment to see that it gets done.
If you’re in my area, here’s an invitation.
Join us Jan. 13 to hear what seven experts think.
They will forecast their own ideas on 2010.
They’ll discuss how to handle major challenges.
How to take advantage of major opportunities.
It will be at the Lexington Conference Center.
5:30 p.m. for networking, 6 for the program.
We’ll also hear from top small business owners.
They’ll reveal their own success strategies.
To comment, please click “comment” below.
I’ll see you next year.

Frog eating made easy

Time starvation erodes your productivity.
Ever felt completely drained of energy?
John Zenoni called it “stripped clean as a sapling”.
Most of your “to do” list not been touched?
Here are three tips to help you manage the muddle.
1. Just close your door.
Put a sign on it: “I’m busy. Come back later.”
Lock the door to keep the Time Bandits out.
Don’t let these jerks steal your day.
Work at home? Tell the kids you’ll be busy.
“Draw me a picture, honey, or write me a story.
“Give me an hour, then we’ll go shopping.”
2. Put everything in your in-box.
Nothing gets lost that way. Quit hunting.
Just sort the in-box and you’ll find it.
In fact, prioritize the in-box.
Put the really important stuff on top.
That way, you get to it at the start of the day.
3. Tackle the big frogs first.
Mark Twain advised swallowing a frog each morning.
If you’ve got two, swallow the bigger one first.
Mark meant tackle the big payoff projects first.
That's when you’re fresh and ready to work.
Don’t let the little stuff bog you down.
To share a time saver, click on “comment”.
For more time savers, email me.
My address is JerryBellune@yahoo.com

More time for yourself

Time starvation is one of life's great frustrations.
Top CEOs may have lots of executive assistance.
But even they don't have enough time for everything.
Working women have it worse than men.
They have to meet the needs of jobs, families, homes.
They shop, pay the bills, do the house and yard work.
They chauffeur kids to soccer practice, music lessons
Then they prepare dinner. They're exhausted by bed time.
Here are three solutions:
1. Make a written list of your priorities each day.
Many people suffer because they have no plan to follow.
Without a written plan, you're flying blind.
Nobody's memory is that good.
2. Schedule more time for each project.
Most people load up their list and then are frustrated.
They just can't get it all done.
Everything takes more time that you think it will.
If you figure it will take 15 minutes, make it 30.
Then if you finish early, take a 5-minute coffee break.
3. Learn to say no.
Most of us have more requests than we can handle.
It's OK to say "Sorry, but I just don't have time right now."
It takes discipline to do it.
It takes high self-regard to do it without feeling guilty.
If it's easier for you, say, "Let me think about it."
Often you won't be asked again.
After you've said "no" a few times, it gets easier.
Just do it.
To share a time saver, click on "comment".

Delivering bad news

I interviewed a forensic death investigator yesterday.
Laura Grimes-Gould is a former CIS investigator.
Now she works for our coroner investigating deaths.
She determines how, when and often why someone died.
It must be fascinating work if some times grisly.
Particularly if a body is already decomposing.
That’s not the toughest part of Laura’s work.
She has to tell their loved ones that they are dead.
Not by phone. Laura goes to see them in person.
She and her boss, Harry Harman, feel this is important.
It must be done with compassion and respect for the family.
If the family is out of state, Laura calls the coroner there.
She arranges for someone to tell the family, with compassion.
Many of us can identify with what Laura has to do.
I remember the first time I went to get a dead boy's photo.
The authorities had not yet notified the boy’s mother.
I was the one who brought her the bad news.
Delivering bad news isn’t fun. But it must be done.
You may have to discipline your child. Use compassion.
You may have to discipline an employee. Use compassion.
You may have to fire an employee. Use compassion.
Whatever you must do, follow Laura’s example.
Show compassion and respect for the other person.
To leave a comment, click on “comment” below.
P.S. An invitation for readers in the Lexington area.
Our annual Chronicle Open House will be Saturday.
Come by 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. for food and holiday cheer.
It’s at our office, 131 Swartz Rd., Lexington.
We're just off U.S.1 near the Lexington library.
I’ll be glad to autograph any of my books for you.
They make great Christmas gifts. Hope to see you then.

Love what you do

I had almost forgotten this story until lunch the other day.
Joe Pinner, known to millions as Mr. Knozit, made me think of it.
Joe has spent most of his life in broadcasting and loves it.
"I've never had to work a day in my life," Joe says.
As a young reporter, I wrote about a cleaning lady.
She was retiring after 30 years at one of the local TV stations.
Cleaning potties isn't my idea of a fun career.
But this lady loved being around broadcasting people.
They were just local folks but to her they were stars.
At a retirement party, she was asked how she felt on retiring.
"I'm sure going to miss show business," she said.
To her, what she had been doing was important to the business.
Without clean potties, who would want to work there?
Here's the point: If you clean potties, makes them the cleanest.
If you're in show business, make it the best show in town.
Love it and you'll never work a day in your life
To leave a comment, click on "comment" below.
P.S. An invitation for those of you in the Lexington area.
Our annual Chronicle Open House will be Saturday, Dec. 19.
Come by 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. for food and holiday cheer.
It's at our office, 131 Swartz Rd., Lexington, just off U.S.1.
I'll be glad to autograph any of my books for you.
They make great Christmas gifts. Hope to see you then.