Appreciation For WorkCowboy Poetry
This is a poem by Bryce Angell; he is a cowboy poet. Angell was raised on a farm/ranch in the St. Anthony, Idaho area with approximately 75 head of horses. Horses remain an important part of Angell's life. Angell shares his poetry with Cache Valley Daily every Friday.
I am posting Bryce Angell's poem in this blog. Source: https://www.cachevalleydaily.com/news/archive/2019/05/24/cowboy-poetry-appreciate-your-job/#.Xy8aYShKjIW Appreciate Your Work
My father always told me
“Being lazy is a crime. So, when you’re out there on the job show up and be on time.” His lecture was so familiar that I’d memorized each word. And listened so intently for advice I hadn’t heard. He said: “The Great Depression left its mark as you can tell. Back then a job was ‘bout as scarce as snowball fights in hell. And if you found a job, you’d be the lucky one for sure. Others weren’t as blessed, and they were hungry, tired and poor. But some would rather go without, than being on the dole. Welfare was a nasty word. Yet, hunger took its toll. So, when they saw their little ones with nothing left to eat, they’d humbly ask assistance, head down looking at their feet. The desperate men would ask if there was work that they could do to pay for any food or clothes, or bill that might be due.” And then my father said,: “You young ones don’t know how to work. Your parents hand you everything which drives me plumb berserk. Next time you’re on the job and feeling like you’ve got it tough. Just take this little test and, yes, for you it might be rough. Skip a meal and visualize there ain’t no food for free. Your job’s what keeps you eating. Then try skipping two or three. An empty belly makes a man appreciate a meal. Remember while you’re working how your stomach made you feel. Your job is what you make of it. So, try to make it last. You’re better off than all those men who grew up in the past. And when you’re out there on the job. Show up and be on time. Demonstrate some interest if you plan to make a dime." BRYCE ANGELL
Ideas For Employee Appreciation
Praise and rewards can do wonders to bolster an employee’s self-confidence and morale. No one can deny the effect praise and recognition can have on people. Even with your family at home, there are many ways you can reward people for a job well done.
When you praise someone, you let them know you’re aware of their hard work. You acknowledge they’ve put forth a great effort to accomplish something and you’re celebrating with them for their accomplishment.
How To Reward People For A Job Well Done
As with genuinely praising an employee or family member when they’ve done well, there are other ways to reward them without having to spend money.
Reduce The Supervision
Some people are happier and do much better work when they’re allowed to work on their own. Giving an employee more freedom can be an excellent reward.
Give Them A New Title
Job titles don’t always have to mean more money. Sometimes receiving a title means more than getting a few more dollars in their paycheck. It shows that you’re pleased with their work.
Publicly Recognize The People Who Do Their Job Well
At your next staff meeting, present that person with a certificate. Create a bulletin board in the staff lounge that has photographs of honored employees to continue to recognize them for their good work.
One of the best ways to publicly praise an employee is to write them a LinkedIn Recommendation. Consider Discount Coupons
During the pre-Covid life, this could mean free passes to the movies theaters. Considering the new normal, you may consider a prepaid card for shopping.
Use some of these ways to reward people for a job well done. Not only will your team enjoy their job and the workplace much more, but you’ll find they’re more productive as well. Recognize and reward a job well done and your company will ultimately reap the benefits.
Tips To Stay Motivated
Most of us need a little boost every so often.May be you need to figure out how to stay motivated while working from home. May be it has nothing to with working from home. Perhaps you need to figure out how to stay motivated after a setback.
In any case, this report includes powerful tips to stay motivated. It also includes 3 actionable steps you can take right away and a list of suggested reading for those people who are looking for even more information. All I Want To Do Is Sleep No Motivation
Do you ever wake up in the morning, and the last thing you want to do is get out of bed? How about the mornings when you wake up, hop out of bed ready to take on the world? What's the difference between those two scenarios? Motivation.
Define Motivation
Motivation is what compels us to set goals, and more importantly - drives us towards them. Below is a snapshot of how Motivation is defined at Dictionary.com:
Motivation Synonym
Thesaurus.com suggests the following list, each as a motivation synonym.
Self Motivation Tips
Read the tips below and use them to learn how to tap into the power of motivation.
1. Know What You Want What is the point of motivation if you don't know what you want? Without having a clear vision of exactly what you desire, you won't be able to build up enough motivation to get through the obstacles you are sure to face. 2. Know Why You Want It This step is just as important as knowing what you want. Why do you want to reach specific goals? What will it mean to your life? Think about all the people in your life that you don't want to let down. These are the "whys," and they are essential. 3. Set Goals That Excite You It's beneficial to set reasonable goals that are easy to reach. I would never suggest stopping that. However, it can also help to set some relatively wild or audacious goals. These goals might seem out of reach right now, but the allure of reaching them in the future might motivate you in the present. 4. Track and Measure Your Results Tracking and measuring your progress is key to motivation. Learn about using tools to use to measure your goals. When you can actually see your efforts paying off, your motivation will naturally rise. If you don't track and measure, how else will you know if you are making profess? 5. Reward Yourself If you are tracking your progress, make sure you reward yourself at least once daily. Rewarding yourself will ensure that you stay motivated. You are more likely to keep plugging away when you can see that reward getting closer and closer. 6. Use Your Social Circle Building accountability through your social circle is a great idea. When you have a big goal you want to achieve, let the people in your life know. Besides them potentially helping you along the way, it will also make you more accountable. The funny thing is, we are more likely to let ourselves down than our loved ones. Revive your network and leverage the power of connecting with others. 7. Fake It Not feeling motivated or energetic today? Try faking it. This tactic won't work all of the time, but it could help you get through a slow morning or two. Pump yourself up with some music. Chug some coffee. Jump around if you have to. Anything to make yourself feel a bit more energetic. 8. Take Action Have you ever sat down to work, and you just couldn't get started? Sometimes all it takes to give your motivation a little boost is to accomplish one simple task. Pick the single, most straightforward thing you can do towards any of your goals and do it. Most likely, this will motivate you to take on the next challenge. 9. Find Your Inspiration People get inspired by different things. If you want to maximize your motivation, then you need to figure out what inspires you. Maybe it's a specific type of music. Perhaps it's a view from your house. It could be a motivational speaker or celebrity. Find out what inspires you and schedule some time to immerse yourself in it each day. YouTube is a great resources. Search for motivational videos. Actionable Tips
Suggested Reading
Best Online College Programs
Getting a college degree online has become a very practical reality, as we continue to move on through the worldwide COVID pandemic. Today there are countless options for getting yourself an online education, depending on your specific needs and goals. If moving on up is on your list of priorities, then an accredited degree may facilitate the process for you significantly.
Below are some key points to review when trying to identify the best online college programs that will suit your plans. Be clear about your needs
Different people have different needs for getting an online education. Before you begin looking at universities, do some introspection to determine what kind of education you seek, how you can schedule your online education to fit into your routine, how much time and effort you are prepared to spare and whether it is personal fulfillment or career advancement that you aim to achieve through the course. Chances are high you will have to leave your comfort zone behind.
If your new degree is related to your career, it will become even more significant next time you negotiate your salary, or next time you think about getting the raise you deserve. Investigate your options
The internet has an abundance of online education offers for every conceivable purpose. So take the time to gather information about the options that suit you. Most schools provide free information kits on their education programs that can help you get a better idea of what’s in store if you choose to enroll with any of them. You have the option of conducting searches according to the type of courses you are interested in and college rankings. Make sure you have a clear idea of the program being offered before you invest your hard earned money and time into any one of them.
Be wary of scams
As with all offers on the internet, there is no dearth of scams that you need to be wary of when doing your searches for the right course. If you’ve heard about a course through a spam e-mail, steer clear of it. Fake degrees and credentials are plentiful and you’ll only be wasting your time, effort and money if you are not careful.
What are the support services
Different online courses have different support services to offer their students. Many offer services like tutoring, reference links, library access, technical assistance, discussion threads, interaction with fellow students and a variety of other features. Depending on the kind of study aids that are likely to benefit you, make your choice based on the kind of facilities you can avail once you enroll for a course.
Look for accreditation
Accreditation of the school or institute that you enroll in, is of vital importance. After all if the reason you are pursuing further education is to advance your career, the degree you will be earning needs to be recognized by your employers or prospective employers.
ACCREDITED ONLINE COLLEGE COURSES
There is a wealth of information available online regarding many different aspects of the education process, including how to apply for financial aid, how to choose the right college and more. Since the spread of COVID-19 and the worldwide pandemic, almost everyone is seeking to earn their degrees completely online. What many students fail to research however is the accreditation process, which is incredibly important .
An accredited degree entails that you’ve received a certain level of quality in your education. There are many “diploma-mill” type schools on the internet that promise you’ll receive original degrees in half the time of a traditional learning institution. It has been reported that they make these claims in an attempt to enroll you. More often than not, you may be left with a degree that hasn’t been through the proper accreditation process. What’s more, all of the money and hard work you spent getting the degree is for naught, because a degree that isn’t accredited isn’t recognized as a legitimate proof of your academic endeavors. Properly accredited online diplomas ensure a student is receiving the type of quality education that is the standard among colleges and universities both online and offline. What’s more, accreditation holds educational institutions accountable for their actions, as well as ensures confidence. Holding original degrees that have been fully accredited by the proper governing boards ensures that your hard work has paid off, and will continue to do so in the future. What’s more, employers and other learning institutions will accept your degree without a problem, even if it’s been obtained online, provided it’s been accredited. Accreditation is highly important for students for several other reasons as well. For example, students who wish to apply for financial aid can only do so if their school is properly accredited by the correct educational boards. Additionally, in order to transfer your credits to another educational institution that’s accredited, you have to receive a degree from an accredited school online. Original degrees are the only universally accepted proof of educational merit, and employers may question those who failed to receive a degree that was accredited. Many potential students fail to understand the importance of accreditation. They are misleading into believing that all online degrees are the same, however, this is extremely far from the truth. Fake or instant degrees are virtually worthless in the eyes of employers. Not only are they a waste of time, they are also a waste of your hard earned money. The bottom line is that you must do your research thoroughly before committing to any online college, and ensure that the degree you will obtain is properly accredited through the correct state or regional boards. Doing so will save you a lot of money, time and hard work in the long run.
Sharing The Home Office With Your Spouse
Does your house seem smaller since the pandemic started? Many families feel more cramped with 2 adults working at home, especially if you need to share your workspace with your partner.
This may be the first time you’ve seen their work habits up close or counted how many dirty coffee cups they leave behind in their wake. Even if you’re used to having an office mate, it’s a different experience when you don’t say goodbye and go your separate ways at quitting time. Protect your relationship and your productivity by mastering the modern rules for couples who share a home office. Try these tips for setting up your workspace and interacting with each other. Setting Up a Home Office for Two
Etiquette for Sharing Your Home Office
There are many advantages to working from home, and the trend will continue long after lockdowns and quarantines end. Learning to share office space will help you and your partner to enjoy your relationship and your remote work experience.
Using tools to measure your goalsHow to measure your goalsThere are several ways to measure your goals, ranging from simple to complex and free to expensive. Sometimes it makes sense to spend money on tools, but when setting goals for your own purposes, keeping it low cost makes sense.
For instance, use a spreadsheet when first starting out. Many people use spreadsheet to measure their productivity at work. Most people associate Microsoft Excel with spreadsheets, and that costs money. However, there are free alternatives, such as Open Office Calc. The Open Office suite of products is available on multiple operating systems. This software is fully functional and compatible with Microsoft products. The best part is it is free. Sometimes, you will need more sophisticated tools. For instance, when you work on multiple projects simultaneously and there may be dependencies associated with some of the goals, you’ll need to have a better method than a spreadsheet to manage these. This is also true when you have multiple people that you need to measure their contributions to the projects. While you could use spreadsheets for this, they are not meant for collaborative activities. The reporting features are lacking in a spreadsheet program. A program such as Microsoft Project gives you more control over these types of features. Other factors to consider when measuring goals is workflow. When someone on your team updates a document, you want the whole team to know about it simultaneously. Otherwise, you will need to constantly coordinate changes to documents or other assets within the project. This can become a full-time job by itself. As most of us continue to work from home, it is also helpful to keep up with the best tech gadgets to work from home. Another factor is time management. It may help to brainstorm about time management apps with the team to find out do time management apps help your productivity. Even if you have all the tools for working and managing remotely, keep in mind the tool should not be used as a means to run the projects for you. They have their uses, but the responsibility rests with you, or the project manager. Also, you have to consider some flexibility in the measurement as not every item will go according to plan. You may need to make some adjustments along the way. At the end, with or without the help of tools, it is important to have a personal list of good habits to have - high performance habits. Being too rigid with the plan can cause problems within a team. Strict adherence to a tool will make the projects rigid, by definition. On the other hand, you do need some ways to accurately measure the goals as you are moving on up. It’s a delicate balance that requires compassion as well as firmness. When choosing a tool, try to get your team involved, so they know what to expect. This isn’t always possible as some companies already have solutions implemented. If this is the case, you will need to manage the expectations of the team and provide any training and assistance needed to make the tool work for them. As you move along, remember the 10 best practices for managing remote teams. Remembering best practices will always make the projects move along more smoothly. How To Get Promoted6 Tips For A Faster PromotionSo, you’ve been working in the same position for over a year and no one has said anything to you about a promotion or increase in pay. There could be many reasons for a company not giving you a promotion or a raise and some of them are valid, such as a downturn in the profits of the company or even your own job performance. However, not all companies are suffering downturns. If your company is thriving but you still haven’t gotten a raise, there are many things you can do to get noticed - in a good way - by your company superiors and move along the promotion process. Strategies To Help You Move Up The Ladder
14 Habits That Make You a More Valuable EmployeeHow To Be A Valuable Asset On The JobMaking yourself more valuable to your employer leads to a more successful career. More opportunities open up when you have a resume that stands out and a reputation for being a team player. You’re likely to enjoy more job satisfaction too. A productive workday is bound to feel more gratifying than watching the clock until it’s time to go home. While individual bosses and companies will have their own priorities, there are some qualities that are appreciated in just about any workplace. Take a look at this checklist of habits that make you a valuable asset on the job. Increasing Your CompetenceYour performance plays a big role in how much value you contribute at work. Learn about high performance habits. Dedicate yourself to making a consistent effort and delivering high quality work. These strategies will help you to increase your competence:
Working Well with OthersSoft skills matter too. They’re the kind of traits that can make you someone who others enjoy working with.
Try these techniques to strengthen your soft skills:
Position yourself to stand out in any field. Being recognized as a valuable employee will help you to manage your career and achieve your own definition of success habits. Grit MeaningIf you choose Perseverance, Self-Discipline, and Passion as three different traits and combine them together, you have just built a new characteristic and it's called GRIT. Many teachers, psychologists, and other professionals now believe that having grit is more important than having a high IQ score, fine genes, or the highest grades. And thus, grit continues to build momentum. What is GritPut in basic terms, grit is perseverance and passion for meaningful, long-term goals. It’s the capacity to continue to persist at something you’re passionate about and to persevere even if obstacles get in your way. This is the type of passion that’s about commitment and direction, not infatuation or intense emotion. With this type of passion, you’re able to remain committed to tasks that are boring, difficult or challenging. Not only that, but grit is about perseverance and self-discipline too. To define perseverance, I'd say it means sticking with it and continuing to work hard, even if you experience failure or difficulties. Grit is incredibly important in life because it drives our success and achievement. Being naturally talented and smart is great, however, if you want to truly thrive and do well in life (and who doesn’t?) you need to be able to persevere. Without grit and resilience, talent can amount to nothing but unmet potential. It’s only when you put in effort that your talents become skills that can lead to success. What Is ResilienceLet’s look more closely at resilience. To define resilience, I'd say it is being able to recover from even the most difficult of life’s events. It is your ability to cope with adversity, withstand it and, when you fail, to bounce back and carry on growing, even when life takes a downturn. Resilience isn’t a trampoline. You won’t be up one moment and down the next. Rather, it’s more like a mountain climb with no trail map. It will take strength, time and support from others. You’re sure to experience many setbacks on the way. Eventually, though, you’ll get to the summit and be able to look back and see the distance that you’ve traveled. It’s important to note, though, that resilient people will still experience emotional upheaval, suffering, and stress. While it’s common to equate being resilient with being mentally tough, instead, demonstrating resilience means working through that suffering and emotional pain and coming out the other side stronger and more positive. Resilience is vital since it gives you the strength you need to process hardship and overcome it. If you lack resilience, you’ll be overwhelmed too easily, and can be tempted to adopt unhealthy coping strategies to get through the tough times. Resilient people, on the other hand, can tap into their own support systems and strengths when it comes to overcoming challenges and working through problems. Resilience comes in two forms. Emotional resilience allows you to tap into your own optimism, even if you’re trying to cope in a crisis. Meanwhile, physical resilience is your body’s capacity to adapt to a challenge and to recover more quickly. Both are helpful when it comes to overcoming adversity. The good news is that resilience isn’t a trait that’s fixed in place. You can bolster or even build resilience in yourself by changing your behaviors and patterns of thinking, helping you to find more inner strength. Grit and Resilience In The WorkplaceOne obvious situation in which grit and resilience are vital to success is in the workplace. Most of us have wondered from time to time why this or that person is so successful in their work. It’s important to understand that their success doesn’t come from their intelligence, their talents, or even their willingness to work for extra time or take on more commitments than are strictly necessary.
In the modern workplace where rivalry, strict deadlines, staff cutbacks and organization change are all commonplace, this type of success relies solely on the individual’s ability to not just cope, but to know how to stay motivated after a setback. When you encounter the inevitable challenges, you’ll encounter in the workplace, you need to be resilient and bounce back. The workplace will always present several stressors to its employees. So, how can you become more resilient at work? It’s important to be aware that resilience is actually just a skill, and like other skills, it can be learned and improved with practice. A resilient employee can build strong relationships and connections with others. These are high-quality relationships that are characterized by several features, especially effective communication. Resilient workers who have positive working relationships do everything possible to help others to become successful at work since they’re team-players aiming for a win-win situation with all their fellow employees. A resilient employee will also nurture the working network they’ve forged, building trust consistently with other people and fostering positive emotions with other employees. The modern workplace is typified by stress, and with internet access and cutting-edge technology, work is constantly present in our lives. A resilient worker can manage this stress effectively, preventing it from becoming detrimental and overwhelming. By engaging actively in self-care, nurturing themselves when they experience stressful times, a resilient employee can avoid burnout. A further characteristic of resilient employees is that they are true to their real selves. They behave in ways that align with their personal beliefs and values. Essentially, they demonstrate grit in their determination to achieve their challenging and ambitious goals, whatever obstacles they encounter. A gritty, resilient worker perceives their work as meaningful and, thanks to this mindset, they feel their work will achieve an outcome that is valuable. This equips them more effectively to cope when work is stressful. Even with a resilient mindset, employees will experience stress at work. But, a key characteristic of such workers is that they monitor their thought patterns when under duress and identify the patterns that impede their chance of success. Resilient workers are also adaptive and flexible, ready to cope with change in the workplace. So, how can you develop more resilience and grit in your working life? Take a positive stance – this allows you to adapt more effectively to adversity, giving you more control over your working environment. Putting motivation and energy into your work will build personal resilience. Having emotional insight – with emotional insight, you can be more aware of the emotions you’re experiencing, and whether they’re positive or negative. You’ll also be able to consider the impact of your behavior and reactions on yourself and others. Developing balance – personal resilience is achieved through a healthy work/life balance. You need to take the time to recuperate, unwind and relax so you can bounce back from stress. Fostering spirituality – finding purpose and meaning in your work and believing it contributes to a greater good buffer the negative effects of stress. Becoming reflective – if you can be in tune with your emotional reactions and feelings, this helps to protect you from the negative effect of stress. An awareness of your potential triggers will allow you to prepare effectively and gather the necessary resources so you can bounce back in the face of adversity. Why Would You Want to Hire a Coach? Coaching, in its modern format, has been around since the late 1990’s. People still think of it as something new, but in reality, coaching has been around for millennia. There has never been a period in mankind’s history where coaches did not exist. Sure, it might have looked a little different, but coaching is as old as the hills. Modern day Coaching may be more refined and a lot more commercially viable, but the principles remain the same. What Does a Career Coach Do?May people are trying to find a career coach. Coaches have the skills and knowledge to advise, support, and encourage their client. Career coaches help their clients to:
A career coach also has the ability to remain detached from the issues at hand. Consider the wise words of Albert Einstein:
Time Is MoneyIn the modern era, in life and business, time is money. There’s an ever-increasing amount of cooperation and collaboration going on both in businesses and in peoples’ private lives. We need to figure things out almost on the fly these days while dealing with different time zones and cultures. Everyone has their own unique issues to handle alongside everything else that needs to be accommodated, and then there’s the technology we all use to connect with everybody and everything. Life is definitely more complex today and it certainly seems to be speeding up every time you turn around. It doesn’t take long before we begin to have thoughts of overwhelm and burnout on our minds. The question we need to ask ourselves is this: “How long can I justify spending time and money on this issue trying to figure it out for myself, knowing what Albert Einstein said about problem solving?” If having a Coach could save you time and money, it would be ridiculous NOT to hire one, wouldn’t it? Throughout history, every King has had an Advisor (Coach) in every culture. Every military leader has had a Strategist (Coach), every World Class Athlete has had a trainer (Coach), and every Entertainer has had a Manager (Coach). Who Hires a Career Coach?The only conclusion we can draw from the history of Coaching is that the people who hire a Coach fall into two camps:
Many people will say that they want to change themselves, their life, their job, or their circumstances, but in real terms, they are fearful of change. They delay, procrastinate, and make excuses. They lack self-confidence and the drive to follow through. It’s human nature. It’s what ordinary people always do. People who hire a career coach are not ordinary people. They are inspired and have vision. They embrace change and are prepared to get fully engaged in making positive changes in their life. Plus, they don’t want it to take forever! They have a sense of urgency, and they want someone they can lean on, confide in, use as a sounding board, and rely on to help them make the inevitable tough decisions that they can see on the horizon. People hiring their first coach are often racked with pessimism. They think, “What if I waste my money?” Consider that, before you hire a coach, you’re already wasting time, which is the same as money, and you lack the resources to resolve the issues at hand. It would cost you less to hire a coach and find out first-hand and NOW how unbelievably useful a coach can be. People who are hiring their second or subsequent coach have no pessimism. What they are looking for is the perfect fit for them and the circumstances they find themselves in. Within reason, money is not the issue and they never think about the possibility of wasting it. Their main concern is finding the RIGHT coach and then hoping that the coach they choose has a spot left open where they can be accommodated, and can they start today? Is Hiring a Coach Right For You?Maybe. Maybe not.
If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, perhaps a coach can get you moving in the right direction to help you create the life you desire - and sooner rather than later.
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AuthorMandy Fard is a Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW, CMRW) and Recruiter with decades of experience in assisting job seekers, working directly with employers in multiple industries, and writing proven-effective resumes. Archives
May 2024
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