February 2009

Major Snow Storm Hits Virginia Beach!

Major snowstorm hits Virginia Beach, VA...well not exactly.

The unpredictable happened! It finally snowed in Virginia Beach for the winter. It snowed on my daughter's school snow makeup day. This is the snow makeup day for the day it was predicted to snow, January 20th, but didn't.

You see, a light dusting of snow in our area equates to a major snowstorm elsewhere. Look hard and you can see the snow in the pictures. When it is predicted to snow, we closed down schools, delay military base openings, and practically close down our area. However, this snow had no effect on our area.

You never know...go figure.

Create a Great Day!

Has This Ever Happened During Your Conversations?

"It is impossible to overemphasize the immense need humans have to be really listened to, to be taken seriously, to be understood. Listen to all conversations in our world between nations as well as those between couples. They are for the most part dialogues of the deaf." - Paul Tournier-Swiss Psychiatrist

That happened yesterday. I did this at the gym yesterday. I was exercising at the gym when I ran into the gym director. I wanted to have a conversation with her for the longest time. The conversation went like this:

Ed: "Hey Taryn!"

Taryn: "Hello Ed!"

Ed: "How are you doing today?"

Ed: "I need to talk with you for a couple of minutes."

Taryn: "Sure Ed, I just need to check on my ride."

If you noticed, I didn't wait for Tayrn's answer to, "How are you doing today?," before going into my conversation and "my wants." How many times have you had this happen to you? How did it make you feel? Or maybe, you did this to someone else?

Great communication skills involve two-way communication that is respectful. My sure you are checking yourself during the conversation so that both parties have a mutually beneficial conversation. Two great resources to enhance your communication skills are the following:

Enhance Your Conversation

Bite Your Tongue! 10 Ways to Be an Effective Listener

Has this ever happened to you at work, home, or with friends? Share your story with us.

P.S.-I apologized to Taryn when I met with her and we had a very production conversation.

The Secret to Successful Goal Setting for Changing Times: Seven Steps to Achieving Your Dreams

Have you noticed that you've experienced much change over the past year, months, weeks, and even days? Your situation may have changed due to the challenges presented by these changing times, and you may ask yourself if you have achieved your goals of the past year. How do we go about starting our goal-setting activity with all of this change happening around us?

The following seven goal-setting steps will help you successfully implement your goal-setting and achieve your dreams in the future in these changing times:

1. Successful Goal Setting Requires Thinking About Your Goals
   You are told how to think and what to think about each and every day. From when we get up in the morning until we go to sleep at night, television, radio, personal computer, family, friends, managers, and colleagues tell us how to think, feel, and act.
   
   Invest time fifteen minutes to an hour to think. Turn off all the external distractions, go to a quiet place (home, park, etc.), and think about your goals and how you want to accomplish them. Think about how you will feel when accomplishing them.
   
   Your goal-setting thinking session should also include how you will benefit from these changing times. What special skills do you have or need to acquire to take advantage of these changing times?

Read the rest of your goal setting techniques at Goal Setting Success

What to Learn How the Internet Can Bring More Success to Your Business or Career?

What to learn how to use the internet to increase opportunities for you? Then listen to the Feb. 2nd National Public Radio program "HearSay with Cathy Lewis" as I share ideas on how you can use the internet to create opportunities for you. Here is the listening information:

Within Hampton Roads: 89.5 FM

Outside Hampton Roads or if you want to listen through your computer: http://www.whro.com/home/publicradio/whrv/localprogramming/hearsay/

If you enjoyed the program, please e-mail the station and let them know at info@whro.org