The Sykes Group's OnPoint

Success Lessons I Learned on the Way to NCAA Championship Game!

If you are a basketball fan like I am, then you have given up all your worldly goods other then your television set, and have been watching the NCAA Men's and Women's Basketball Tournaments, otherwise known as "March Madness." The best college basketball teams in the United States compete to play in the men's and women's NCCA Championship Game. The winner of that men's NCAA Championship Game played tonight and the women's NCCA Championship Games are declared the 2008 NCAA Men's and Women's Basketball Champions, respectively, and receives all the glory with this very special win.

As I watch NCAA basketball tournaments, I realized that the teams exhibited many success techniques that can easily be applied to your business, your career, and your life. The following are many of the success techniques you can use by watching the NCAA Championship Games tonight and tomorrow:

• Develop a Powerful Mission Statement for Success

• Visualize Your Goals for Success

• Create Passion for Success

• Practice, Practice, Practice for Success

• Organize Yourself for Success

• Learn from Every Setback

• Develop a Strong Sense of Team

To learn how to apply these success keys to your business, your career, and your life, go to Success.

You know where I will be tonight and tomorrow. I will be watching the NCAA Championship Games at 9 p.m. EST. May the best teams win!

NCAA+Championship+Game success men's+basketball goal+setting teamwork

March Madness is Here!

March Madness is here! I am not talking about the NCAA Men's College Basketball Tournament. I am talking about the free bonuses offered with our new success e-book, "Jumpstart Your Greatness!"

Find out more about this success system and bonuses at Success.

March+Madness success successful+people Jumpstart+Your+Greatness

Happy New Year and Let's Start Goal Setting!

Just a quick note to wish each of you a Happy New Year. We sincerely hope that 2007 was the best year of your life, and that 2008 is even better!

There have been a lot of changes at The Sykes Group in the past year, and we have many more great additions planned for the coming year.

In the next week we'll announce the beginning of "Jump Out the Gate in 2008" program, so stay tune!

P.S.-The following are some six quick tips to goal-setting:

1. Put Your Goals in Writing - Your goals aren't real unless you put in down on paper.

2. Make Your Goals Attainable - Realistic goals are attainable goals.

3. Qualify Your Goals - What exactly do you want to achieve?

4. Have a Time Frame - Forces you to keep track of your goals and allows you make corrections.

5. Develop a Strategic Action Plan - What exactly are you going to do to achieve your goals?

6. Make Achieving Your Goals Personal - Create meaning and passion for your goals.

For additional goal setting and success resources, go to Goal Setting.

goal+setting goal goals

The Secret to Living Your Dreams: Five Success Techniques to Achieving More Success in Your Life!

How many times in our lives have we said the following?

If I had more time, I would have acted on my dream...
If I didn't need this job, I would have pursued my dream of...
If only I had (you fill in the blank) ten years ago, I would have achieved my dream of...

I am sure you can add a dozen more "If I" dream statements. There are people going through life everyday working at jobs they hate, in situations they tolerate, and living a life that they disown because they settled for an "If I" mindset.

What is the secret between the person who is achieving his/her dream life and the person who is just wishing for a dream life? The following are five techniques for living your dream and achieving more in life:

1. Understand Your Options and Live Your Dreams
   We have options in our life. Do we follow the road everyone else is taking or do we travel the road less traveled to achieve our dreams? We have the option to look at life's challenges as a way to find creative solutions or to look at challenges as a negative barrier to achieving one's dreams. Take the positive option to develop yourself and achieve your dreams.

2. Fight Your Fears and Live Your Dreams
   Most fears we constantly think about and which sometimes paralyze us never happen. Yet we will spend 75-90% of our thoughts on our fears. F-E-A-R is nothing more than False Evidence Appearing Real. Get the facts and act accordingly. Let's "flip our mental script" and concentrate on the upside of any situation so that we can concentrate on achieving our dreams. Fight though your fears and build your courage to live your dreams.

3. Concentrate on Your Goals and Live Your Dreams
   If you are not living your dream, you are living someone else's dream. How do you make your dreams come true? Create and concentrate on your goals to achieving your dreams. Start with your main goal and then break this goal down into smaller pieces so that you can digest and act on these goals. Most importantly, write down your goals and keep them in a place where you can see and read them any time of the day. This is important because there will be times you will feel you are not achieving your goals and will need a "dream booster shot" to keep you motivated toward achieving your goals.

4. Eliminate Barriers to Living Your Dreams
   You need to eliminate barriers to living your dreams. This could be eliminating expenses, gaining knowledge, or gaining the technology for living your dreams. One of the biggest barriers to eliminate could be very close to you. This barrier to living your dreams could be your family, your friends, and your co-workers who create reasons why you shouldn't live your dreams. They may not even realize they are a barrier to your dreams by their words or actions.
   
   Some people are living in their own misery and want you to give up your dreams and join them in their misery. Remember, some people may not have high expectations for themselves, much less for you. So when you express your lofty dreams, they will look and speak to you expressing their low expectations for you. Break away from them and their misery so that you can live your dreams. Bond with people of like mind so that you can form a synergy and have a positive group of people who are helping each other and moving toward their goals and living their dreams.

5. Act on Your Dreams!
   Your dream will be just that...a dream unless you act on it. An amazing thing happens when you keep acting on your dreams. You will keep growing stronger and will become better prepared to achieve even more in life.

Take the time to apply these five techniques for living your dreams and you, too, will achieve more in life.

dreams dream the+secret self-help

The Secret to Living Your Dreams and Achieving Your Goals!

The secret to living your dreams? Do what you fear most. Watch this very inspirational video, focus on your goals, and achieve your dreams!

living+your+dreams the+secret goal+setting self+improvement self+help

Are You Building Your Foundation of Success: Six Secrets of Motivating Yourself for Success

Are you creating your foundation of success? Are you motivated to take on challenges that others are not willing to do? The following is a story of someone who did and achieved great success in his life and how you can, too!

There once was a young man who grew up in Crawford, Mississippi. His father worked as a brick mason building home foundations. Everyday after school and during the summers, this young man would help his father build foundations. It's not the most glamorous job by any stretch of the imagination, but it's an honest, backbreaking, and low paying job that put food on the table and paid the bills. The father would start by throwing bricks towards the son in the area where they would build a housing foundation. Under the hot, sweltering Mississippi sun, his son would catch brick after brick with his hands, day after day. While most other kids were enjoying their summers or working in less strenuous jobs, this young man was motivated to work long and hard with his father, while catching those bricks and building a foundation for success in more ways than one.

You see, each time that young man caught bricks, he was not only making his hands stronger, he was building character and the foundation for success in his later years. With each brick he caught, he was even more determined to be successful in life. When he wasn't helping his father and going to school, he was pushing himself through football workouts to be better than any other football player. You see the young man's name is Jerry Rice, and he went on to become the most successful NFL All-Pro wide receiver of all time with the San Francisco 49ers. Some of you non-football fans may know him as a contestant from the television program, "Dancing with the Stars."

The following are the six success secrets that Jerry Rice used that can easily motivate you to achieve success in any aspect of your business, career, and life:

1. Motivate Yourself to See Opportunities in Every Challenge
   Jerry could have looked at the job of catching bricks as a chore that was a waste of his time. But he saw the big picture and made the chore more enjoyable by developing games out of the activities. Many times in life, we are thrown bricks and complain and miss the opportunity it presents to us. The person who can find solutions in the challenges they are faced with can write their own ticket for success. When you take on a challenge, it's preparing you for an opportunity in the future. You may not know when the opportunity is coming, how it is coming, or what the opportunity will look like, but it is coming; and will you be prepared? Embrace your challenges so you will be prepared.

2. Motivate Yourself to See That It's Normal to Experience a Little Pain
   As Jerry was experiencing the pain of catching bricks each day, this pain was actually building him to becoming a stronger person. Each brick was fueling Jerry's internal desire to be successful. Think of some situation at work, in business, or in life that was painful. Your pain may be an embarrassing moment, it may be a learning experience, and it may be a setback. How can you use this setback to motivate you to become more successful? We achieve success in our businesses, careers, and life when we develop the success tools of using our "pains" as a learning experience and a springboard to success.

3. Motivate Yourself to Take on Unpopular Tasks
   Catching bricks all day is not the most glamorous job in the world. Many times we are thrown bricks in life and avoid them like the plague. Volunteer to catch these bricks while others decline. This will allow people of influence to see your special skills and offer you opportunities for success. It is what I always say, "It's not what you know, it's not who you know, it's who knows what you know." When you volunteer to catch those bricks, you allow others to now know and see the special skills and talent you exhibit.

4. Motivate Yourself To Take Action
   Just the simple act of taking action will make you more successful than 98% of other people. Many times people are waiting for "just the right moment" or "more resources." Motivate yourself to take action where you are at today and make the appropriate corrections as needed.

5. Motivate Yourself to Go the Extra Mile
   Jerry Rice's off-season personal football workouts were legendary. He would train six days a week running five miles, along with running wind sprints up the steepest mountains in his community. He didn't need to do this grueling workout, but he wanted to be in better physical shape than any other professional football player. He went the extra mile to be the best.
   
   What are you doing to go the extra mile? Do you have a continuous learning program in place? Do you give of yourself to make your employees better? Do you give your clients something extra to show appreciation of their business? These are all opportunities to put you above the rest and to succeed in your business, in your career, and in your life.

6. Motivate Yourself to Create a Masterpiece
   Jerry Rice wanted to be the best professional wide receiver ever in football, and he achieved that title. He was motivated to pay the price to achieve that goal.
   
   Are you motivated and ready to create a masterpiece? Do you have a vision of what your business, career, or life masterpiece looks, feels, or sounds like? Are you willing to sustain the quality effort, attitude, and determination to create your masterpiece? What are you willing to give up in order to achieve your masterpiece? Until you are ready to answer these questions, you can't lay the foundation for achieving your masterpiece.
   
   After you answer the above questions, create S-M-A-R-T-E-R goals as your roadmap for success. If it's not on paper, your goals don't exist. Be motivated to create, write, and act on your goals.

Follow these six success secrets and you, too, will be motivated to lay the foundation for your success.

motivation motivate bricks+of+success foundation+of+success success motivate+yourself

Motivate Your Employees to be Healthy and Fit!

Motivate your employees to be healthy and fit everyday! Today is National Employee Health and Fitness Day. When you motivate your employees to be healthy and fit, your organization will benefit in the following ways:

• Increased energy and productivity

• Increased self-esteem and self-worth resulting in better personal, sexual, and work relationships

• Decreased heart problems (look at the passing of Yolanda King at age 51 from heart failure)

• Lower health insurance costs

• Better customer relationships

• Increased bottom line

Need I say more?

We are working with the Hampton Roads American Cancer Society to bring awareness to the ever increasing challenge of cancer, high blood pressure, and diabetes. Overall it is a big concern and especially in the African American community where the cancer, high blood pressure, and diabetes rates are substantially higher than other ethnic groups. Please click on the following link for additional information on the free African American Men's Health Forum coming to Norfolk, VA and information on other programs to keep everyone healthy:

Get motivated, go give someone you care about "the boot," and encourage them to see their doctor, eat healthy, go to the gym, ride their bike, or simply take a walk around the block or building. You will be amazing how simple it is to get started and the benefits are enormous.

National+Employee+Health+and+Fitness+Day running healthy activities fitness Hampton Roads American Cancer Society

Happy St. Patrick's Day! - Eight Secrets to Creating Your Luck Everyday

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

St. Patrick's Day is associated with having luck as in "the luck of the Irish." Well, you don't have to wait until St. Patrick's day to create your own luck. Everyday has a pot of gold waiting for you. The following are eight secrets to creating your own luck and receiving your pot of gold everyday:

• Expect the best and prepare for the worst

• Develop a pleasing personality

• Seek knowledge and understanding

• Take action and make things happen

• Develop your goals and move toward them and others will help you

• Appreciate every blessing and challenge

• Create balance in your life

• Look at every setback as a learning experience

Apply these secrets in your life and you too will achieve success and everyday find your pot of gold!

Success St.+Patrick's+Day luck Positive+Attitude luck+of+the+Irish Goal+setting

December 29th is Tick Tock Day! Are You Mastering Your Time Management Skills?

Tick tock, tick tock, time marches on as we see the end of 2006 and the beginning of 2007. Are you ready? How well do you management time?

Benjamin Franklin said, "If we take care of the minutes, the years will take care of themselves." One minute. It doesn't seem like much. However, never underestimate the cumulative effect of each minute we live.

Let's suppose, for example, a minute is worth one penny. You see a penny lying on the street but pass it by because it is hardly worth the effort of leaning over to pick it up. But suppose you began to double that penny each day for a month. At the end of a week, you would only have sixty-four pennies. I know that's not much but at the end of a month you would have 536,870,912 pennies. Translated in dollars, that's $5,368,709.12.

The value we place on each minute of every day will have a cumulative impact on the remainder of our lives.

Take the time to improve your time management skills. For additional time management information, go to Time Management.

time+management

October 3-9 is "Get Organized Week." Take time to organize yourself to achieve more success in your business, your career, your life!

Take time learn how to be more productive, less stressed by listening to my recent interview with organizing expert Brian Hill, His clients in the leaders in business, government, newscasters, and actors and actresses.

He was recently on the Martha Stewart sharing his unique secrets with Martha discussing how to be more productive in life.

Please click on the following link to listen to our interview: Organize

Today is "Write Your Own Headline Day!"

Today is "Write Your Own Headline Day!" Be your own newspaper, letter, radio or television news. Instead of reading other people's headlines, live your own headlines. The great thing about creating your own headline is that you don't need to wait until 6 or 11 p.m. to "get the full story" because you are the story. The following are some headlines to give you a few ideas:

Manager (your name) Motivates Team to New Level of Success!

(Your name) Wows Customer with Outstanding Customer Service Techniques!

Business Leader (your name) Creates a Fun Environment While Exceeding Goals!

(Your name) Creates a Lasting Moment With Daughter/Son!

(Your name) Helps Stranded Motorist on Highway to Safety! (This happened to me yesterday)

High School Freshman (your name) Makes the Right Decision!

We are creating exciting headlines everyday by creating positive moments. Go out and write your own headlines!

Enjoy International Time Out Day!

April 17th is International Time Out Day.

Remember when you were a child and your parent(s) asked you to take a "time out?" Your parent was really asking you to think about the consequences of your actions and come up with better actions.

As an adult we need to take a time out. We race from one activity to another caught up in the "rat race." Sometime we may have a difficult time finding the answers we need to solve a problem.

Maybe we find ourselves cutting our conversations with others short while multitasking with two cell phones, the laptop, and the blackberry. Because of this our relationships at work and home suffer.

Take a Time Out!

Climb off the rat race for a few minutes and invest in you. You will find greater peace of mind, you will find better solutions to your challenges, and you will develop better relationships.

Do the following for ten to fifteen minutes:

1. Go to or create (turn off your radio, TV, cell phone, etc.) a quiet place. Get away from distractions.

1. Close your eyes.

2. Slow your breathing.

3. Think of something you would enjoy doing. This could be a hobby, take a vacation, play sports, interact with friends or family, etc.

4. Concentrate on the positive feelings and confidence you receive from these thoughts.

5. Think about a challenge you need solved and let the answer come to you.

6. Open you eyes and you will be better prepared to handle your world.

Happy Time Out Day!

THE 12 RULES OF TIME

I appreciate Jim Estill, Chief Executive Officer of SYNNEX Canada Limited and author of the Time Leadership blog, for allowing me to publish his great time management article. The following are valuable tips that will help anyone accomplish their goals in half the time:

By Jim Estill

My business experience has taught me one true thing: That maximizing your productivity, happiness, peace, or impact can best be accomplished if you clearly understand the 12 Rules of Time.

1. Have goals
   Being more efficient with your time is irrelevant if you don't know how you want to spend it. In managing time, the compass is more important than the clock. Know where you want to go and spend your time on the things that get you there.
   
   Many people spend energy trying to be more efficient without first doing what's important: setting goals. It's like being lost on your way to a new city. Driving faster doesn't help if you are going in the wrong direction. Figure out what direction to go in and head that way.
   
   Once you've prepared it, your list of goals will reveal what is important to you.

2. Analyze how you spend your time
   It is always good to know how you're spending your time right now. You can track this by setting a timer to go off every 15 minutes; whenever it sounds, write down exactly what you are doing. Alternatively, divide your day into 15-minute blocks and record each activity you do.
   
   Once you have your time logs, examine them. How do they compare to your goals? Are you spending time where your priorities are?

3. Keep a to-do list
   This sounds too simple, but it really is the basis of all time-management systems. Your to-do list can be electronic, on fancy paper, bound in a notebook or loose-leaf. The key is to have everything you want to accomplish on one list. My to-do list might have a one-line item on it, such as "write annual report," which refers me to a much larger file or even a file box on that item.

4. Prioritize your list
   Once you have the list, determine which are the important items. Mark these with a highlighter, a red pen, or in any other way that makes them stand out.
   
   I sometimes find my to-do list is too big. Every item on the list calls out "pay attention to me!," even though most of them weren't highlighted as important. In these cases, I take a blank sheet of paper and cover my to-do list and write down only the three or four most important items. Those are the ones to focus on.

5. Control procrastination
   I use a number of tricks to break any lingering tendencies to procrastinate. For instance, I happen to like having a hard copy of my digital to-do list. I reprint it every few days as new items are added and completed ones dropped. It is at these times that I look for the items that I've marked as high priority, but which are just not getting done.
   
   People often say I have great self-control. In truth, though, much of it is environment control. I control my environment to eliminate things that I might use to procrastinate. Take games off your computer, for example, sell your TV, and get rid of the busywork jobs that you use to avoid the important tasks.
   
   I have developed one effective habit that has helped break me of procrastination: "Do the worst thing first." At the beginning of every day, I do the one task that is causing me the most stress, and that I haven't been getting done. Sometimes I just give it a quarter of an hour - based on the theory that I can stand just about anything for 15 minutes. Frequently it is this short thrust that breaks me through.
   
   If I still find myself procrastinating, I review my reasons for setting a goal. To create extra motivation to complete a task, I strengthen the reasons why it should be done. Similarly, many people reward themselves for completing a job.

6. Organize
   Organization and time management are linked. I find that I get important things done when I have all the tools I need to perform the job.
   
   The opposite of organization - chaos, clutter, disorganization - generally leads to busy work. If your desk is piled high, every piece of paper says "look at me." You can end up doing a lot of work without ever getting to the important stuff.

7. Delegate
   One way to expand your time is to get others to help you with it. The key to delegation is to hand off any tasks that someone else can do significantly faster or more easily than you can.
   
   If you're protesting that you don't have anyone working directly for you to whom you can delegate tasks, no problem. Consider delegating to a peer, a superior, a supplier, or even a customer. Treat delegation like networking: who in your network would be best for the job?
   
   In some cases you will need to invest up-front to train someone so he or she can take over a task from you. The long-term savings are usually worth the up-front time and costs.
   
   After delegation, remember to thank appropriately. You might think people would resent being delegated to, but exactly the opposite is true. People like to be asked, especially if it is to do something that they're good at.

8. Master efficiency tricks
   The best trick I have found is "The Power of While." What can you do while you drive? While you walk? While you clean? While you watch TV? I am a huge audio tape advocate and frequently listen to tapes while I am doing something else.
   
   Being a techno person, I love all the organization software out there that allows me to keep my contacts, to-do lists and appointments. I also use gadgets such as cellphones, wireless e-mail, and personal digital assistants. Good use of technology can save you valuable time.

9. It's OK to say no
   Saying "No" can be the most powerful time tool you can master. When someone asks you to do something, ask yourself how important this is. Does it help you achieve your goals? Is this a task you would be better at than most people? Don't always look for reasons to get out of things, but be strategic about what you take on.
   
   This doesn't mean that I always say no when asked to help out. But if I do say no, I am always polite and tactful, and try to suggest someone else who would do the job well.

10. Focus
    Committing 100% focus and concentration on one task at a time can be very powerful. Eliminate distractions. Focus on the task. When you're properly organized and prepared, when your energy and power are high, you can often complete a task in 20% of the time it would take when you're distracted or open to interruption.

11. Build your efficiency bank
    High efficiency is not possible if you don't look after yourself. Eat right, exercise, sleep well and drink moderately. Mom knew best: all the things she said were good for you just happen to be best for your efficiency, too.
    
    I also believe meditation can be a great way of building your efficiency. It could be transcendental meditation, Zen, or just finding a way to get into a relaxed state that lets you focus on the task you have to do. No matter how you do it, recharging your batteries gives you the power to do more during the times you need to be at your best.

12. Take care of yourself
    It isn't possible to be "on" all the time. Take the time you need to look after yourself - body and soul - so that you can reach peak efficiency when you need to. Have a list of things you like to do. Find out what activities energize you, and spend more time doing them. This will give you the power and energy to be more productive when you return to work.

Finally, a word of advice. If after reading this far you're feeling a bit overwhelmed, I suggest you go back to Rule 1 and add peace (contentment) to your list of goals. Time management is not about adding stress; it is about giving you the time to be the person you really want to be.

Romance Your Goals: Seven Secrets for SMARTER Goal Setting

It's that time of the year when you are motivated and ready to take on the whole world. You know you need to set goals, but in the past you have set goals with mixed results. However, this year will be different. This year you will be S- M-A-R-T-E-R to romance your goal setting.

Romance your goals? What am I talking about? Think about a great romance you are experiencing or did experience. What makes or made your romance great? Passion. Well, we are going to create passion for your goals by applying these techniques so that you will achieve more in life.

The following are seven secrets to romance your goals for success:

Read more...

Ed Sykes and Joy Fisher-Sykes Featured on NBC News as Mentors of Young Leaders

Ed Sykes and Joy Fisher-Sykes were featured on the WAVY-TV 10 (NBC affiliate) program, Wednesday's Child, for their volunteer work mentoring the community's young to become leaders. The program, hosted by WAVY-TV 10 news personality, Don Roberts, ran a series called "Where in the World is Wednesday's Child" seeking to find out what happened to children in challenging situations mentored by Ed Sykes and Joy Fisher-Sykes during 1996. Don Roberts featured Ciara the young child mentored by Joy. Ciara now nineteen years old, is an art teacher in a local school and is preparing to go to college for law.

It has been very rewarding receiving telephone calls from indivduals wanting to know how they can volunteer or start their own programs. Even with our busy travel schedule, we continue to volunteer our time to teach children leadership, team building, and communication skills through the Toastmasters Young Leadership program.

Make your Dreams Come True/Make Your Mark/Blame Someone Else Days!

It's funny that January 11th is "Make Your Dreams Come True Day," January 12th is "Make Your Mark Day," and January 13th is "Blame Someone Else Day." Believe it or not these are real holidays.

I believe that if we don't sit down and plan your goals and act on them you won't achieve your dreams. If we don't achieve our dreams we won't make our mark in life, work, and the community. Many times if we don't achieve our dreams and make your mark we often put the blame on someone or something else. See how the days are connected?

Here are some resources to make it easier for you to achieve your dreams and leave the blame for someone else:

Free Articles

• Five Secrets to Creating a "Goal" Medal Life - Part One

• Five Secrets to Creating a "Goal" Medal Life - Part Two

• 10 Action Steps to Motivate Yourself to Great Accomplishments

• Connect the Dots! Your Roadmap for Success

• Adversity: Your Seed of Greatness (Three Secrets to Using Adversity to Become Great)

• The Greatest Gift of All - The Gift of Empowerment

So let's achieve our dreams everyday and make our mark!

Want to Accomplish More of Your Goals in 2006?

What do Brian Tracy, Jim Rohn, Chris Widener, Tony Alessandra, David DeFord, and Ed Sykes have in common?

These achievement experts have joined forces to provide you with a "roadmap of success" in 2006 and beyond in a new innovative achievement book! Whether you want to achieve more in your business, career, family, community, this will give you the easy-to-follow secrets to achieve your dreams.

Read more...

Connect the Dots! Your Roadmap for Success

Recently, Steve Jobs, founder of Apple Computer and Pixar Animation Studios, gave a commencement address to the graduating class at Stanford University. He talked about creating passion, life and death, and "connecting the dots." The dots were events in his life, many challenging and many positive, which led to his many successes. He shared with the audience that being fired from Apple Computer, the computer he founded, he was able to step back and develop the idea for Pixar Animation Studios. By achieving the great success at Pixar, he was eventually asked to come back to lead Apple Computer. This eventually led him to spearhead the launching of one the most revolutionary products of the 21st century...the iPod. He feels that he would never have achieved his successes without his failures and setbacks. He was able to connect the dots to see how it all added up.

So I ask you, "Have you connected your dots?"

Here are five reasons why taking the time to connect the dots will give you a roadmap for success in your life: Read more...

Lance Armstrong Rides Off into the Sunset

Just like the perfect movie ending, Lance Armstrong set out to accomplish his goal of winning seven consecutive Tour de France races...and achieved his goal.

After overcoming cancer he became even more focused, determined, goal oriented and trained harder than anyone else. As a result he is considered the greatest cyclist of our time. Also, he has made us more aware of cancer and what we can do to help eradiate this terrible disease through his humanitarian efforts.

Want to acquire the skills of a champion? Read the following articles:

• Five Secrets to Creating a "Goal" Medal Life - Part One

• Five Secrets to Creating a "Goal" Medal Life - Part Two

My hat goes off to you Lance Armstrong. May your results be even more fruitful after cycling.

Take Time to Create a Life Balance Sheet for Success

It's important from time to time that we sit down and honestly assess our lives. Doing so allows us to make an honest determination about where we are now and where we want to be in the future. When we're assessing our finances, we prepare a financial balance sheet. On it we list our debits and credits so that we can determine our bottom line. What if you wanted to determine the state of the life you lead? How is it, or is it not, serving you? The answer is simple - prepare a Life Balance Sheet. Much like a financial balance sheet, list all of your lifestyle debits (choices that detract from balance) such as the following:

• Maintaining relationships that drain you

• Constantly whining, griping, or complaining

• Inability to say no

• Always expecting the worse

• Being ungrateful

• Unwilling to listen effectively

• Forgetting to mind your manners

• Taking others for granted

Next list your credits - ways you live your life that support and honor you. Anything positive you count as a credit - no action is too big or too small. Below are a few credits that add to your life's bottom line.

1. Smile - not just at people you know, but especially at those you don't

2. Give to others without expecting anything in return

3. Do one thing outside of your comfort zone that improves the quality of your life

4. Allow someone to merge into traffic - even if they didn't wait their turn

5. Compliment a salesperson/clerk on a job well done

6. Use the good crystal and china other than for a holiday

7. Be honest about what you need to be happy

8. Read to a child

9. Dance to your favorite music

10. Place your neighbors' newspaper right outside their door

11. Call someone just to say "hello" and to see how they are doing

12. Buy a co-worker a cup of coffee or ice cream cone

13. Walk barefoot in the grass

14. Tell someone "I love you"

15. Learn one new thing every week

16. Every day acknowledge at least one thing in life for which you are grateful

At least once a month, create a Life Balance Sheet. Take a look at your Life Balance Sheet at least once a day. This will empower you, at a glance, to realize how wonderful life can be and allow you to make lifestyle adjustments as necessary. Remember, a great life is yours to create. Go create a fabulous life!

Take Time to Be Successful!

The great dividing line between success and failure can be expressed in five words: "I did not have time."

As a reminder, here are five quick tips for effective time management:

1. List and prioritize weekly objectives.

2. Make a daily "to do" list and prioritize it by A-B-C.

3. Devote primary attention to your A's.

4. Handle each piece of paper only once.

5. Continually ask, "What is the best use of my time right now?" and DO IT!

Are You Expecting Success?

February is International Expect Success Month. You should expect success every day of the year. This month is a great time to recharge your success batteries and refocus on the success you expect and deserve in life.

To help you recharge those batteries, take time to read and applied the success techniques from the following articles:

• Five Secrets to Creating a "Goal" Medal Life - Part I

• Five Secrets to Creating a "Goal" Medal Life - Part II

• The Greatest Gift of All - The Gift of Empowerment

• 10 Secrets to Motivating Yourself to Great Accomplishments

• Goal Setting Secrets to Jumpstart Your Life

• Delegate to Accelerate Success

So take the time and expect success!

10 Action Steps to Motivate Yourself to Great Accomplishments

Let me ask you this question, "Are you motivated to achieve great accomplishments in your life?" The following are ten action steps you can apply today to achieve more success in your life:

1. Positive Affirmations
   Our subconscious mind is a wonderful tool for success or failure. It will do what we tell it to do. It all depends on what thoughts we feed it. So why not feed your inner mind with only positive thoughts. The following are some examples of positive affirmations you can feed your inner mind for success:
   
   • "Today, I will win because I have faith, courage and enthusiasm."
   • "I see failure only as a signpost on my road to success."
   • "When I feel stress, I will relax and release my stress before I take on my next task."
   • "I always write down my priorities, thinking of my responsibilities. I may not get everything done, but I will do the most productive thing possible at every given moment."
   • "I am a winner, I work for a winning organization, and because of my contribution and cooperation we will keep on winning."
   • "Today, I will see opportunity in every challenge offered to me."

2. Positive Language
   Recent research has come out that 75% of daily conversation is negative. Whether it is the words we use or the body language, we need to communicate in a positive manner all the time.
   The following are some examples of how you can turn negative words into positive communication:
   
   • Instead of saying "problem," call it "opportunity."
   • Instead of an action being a "failure," describe it as a "learning experience."
   • Instead of "I have to," say "I choose to." This gives control for your actions back to you.
   • Instead of saying, "There’s nothing I can do," say, "Let’s look at our alternatives."
   • Instead of saying, "That’s just the way I am," say, "I choose a different approach."
   • Instead of saying, "He makes me so mad," say, "I control my own feelings."
   If you notice, by using the positive response, you have control over your actions and life.

3. Exercise
   A Gallup survey found the following among men and women who have taken up exercise recently:
   • 66 percent report a more relaxed life
   • 62 percent a new surge of energy
   • 55 percent less stress
   • 51 percent better looks
   • 46 percent more confidence
   • 45 percent better love life
   • 44 percent greater job satisfaction
   • 37 percent more creative on their jobs
    

   These are great motivators to exercise! Next time you feel demotivated, give your body a workout. Recent research reports that as little as fifteen minutes three times a week has profound effects. Get moving. Get motivated.

4. Take Risks
   We all live our lives in comforts zones, avoiding risky situations, avoiding the potential to fail. It’s real safe for us. But in order to get ahead of your competition and master the ongoing change in your life, you must go out of your comfort zone. Start one step at a time. Try that little new thing, that different approach. It could be as simple as taking different routes to and from work. Once in a while I like to "take the road less traveled" to stir up my creative juices. Then, keep stepping out of your zone. It may seem uncomfortable at first. But the more you do it, the more it will seem natural and you will see an increase in your creative juices and opportunities you never thought about before.

5. Positive Reading
   Read about the lives of successful people. Make sure you read only those people that embrace the timeless values that make them truly successful through the ages. Not the "success today, scandal tomorrow" success stories that we are experiencing today. People like Herb Kelleher of Southwest Airlines, Fred Smith of Federal Express, Mary Kay Ash of Mary Kay, Benjamin Franklin, Abraham Lincoln, Mahatma Gandhi, and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. are good examples. These are people who overcame enormous challenges, created real value for others, or changed other people’s lives for the better.

6. Positive Visualizations
   Condition yourself to paint your vision for success. One of the best ways to do this is the following:  
   • Go to a quiet place in your home or elsewhere. Turn off all radios, televisions, etc.
   • Find a comfortable chair and get into a relaxed state of mind.
   • Start thinking about one goal you want to accomplish. Remember, visualize as if you are already accomplishing this goal.
   • Visualize taking all the necessary steps to successfully complete these goals. The better your visualization, where you can actually see, feel, hear, and touch your vision, the more real it is to you.
   • Visualize any challenges to your successful completion of this goal and how you will eliminate this challenges.
   • Visualize how good it feels to complete this goal. Visualize what benefits it will bring to you, your family, friends, co-workers, etc.
   Enjoy the moment!
    

   Important: If you don’t take time to see it, it won’t happen!

 

7. Think Big
   See the big picture in everything we do. So much of our time is wasted dealing with the unimportant things in our lives (what that person said or did, the driver who cut us off this morning, and activities which don’t add value to our lives, etc.) that we forget about the big picture. We were put on this earth to make a difference. We make a difference for our families, our communities, our organizations, and for ourselves. All of our actions must be put into action with this concept in mind. Think a little bigger today than yesterday, and you’ll create a better future tomorrow. Thinking big leads to great actions. Thinking small leads to small results.  So Think BIG!

 

8. Set Goals
   The fastest way to fail in life is to not set clear goals. Set goals in the financial, family, health, spiritual, and career areas. Your goals must incorporate the SMART techniques or else it’s just a "conversation in the park."  
   • S for specific
   • M for measurable
   • A for attainable
   • R for realistic
   • T for time-based
    
   For example, you might have a goal of achieving $2 million for retirement in twenty years. After doing your research, a SMART goal would be the following:
    

   "I will acquire $2 million dollars for retirement by 2024. I will do this by contributing $20K, or $1667 per month, to my various retirement funds each year. Of the $20k each year, $2k will go to my IRA, and $18K will go into my organization’s retirement program."

    

   Remember the most detail you can add, the more realistic your goal becomes.

 

9. Positive Appearance
   Super achievers are very careful about their appearance and their movements. They know that looking good translates into feeling good. Billy Crystal, of Saturday Night Live and movie fame, once played a character that was known for saying, "It is better to look good than to feel good." What he was really implying was the "fake it until you make it" concept. In other words, if we are feeling down, then think positively and your mind will tell your body to follow suit and act positively. Also always dress the part of an achiever. Model the dress, actions, and behaviors of someone who is successful and embraces the long term values of successful people. This will also tell your mind that I am an achiever.
    

   Don’t let that be the deciding factor on being motivated. You can easily distinguish those who are motivated from those who are not motivated just by looking at their appearance and their movements. The motivated move forward, onward and upward with confidence.

 

10. Helping Others
    Develop an obsession to help others. Share your special talents without expecting a reward, payment, or commendation. And above all else, keep your good deed a secret.
     

    You know what, it you apply the helping techniques to others, it will automatically come back to you tenfold in a number of ways. First, the enjoyment of knowing that a special talent you had made someone else’s life better. Second, because you didn’t seek it, word will spread about you and your deeds. This will be translated into unexpected riches and opportunities. Third, you will gain a new level of confidence in knowing that you can make a difference. Super achievers find motivation and meaning by helping others.

   

Want to learn how to be a motivated achiever? Click here to find out how our leadership, attitude, goal setting, and achievement workshops can help you stay motivated. Click here to read our articles on motivation, attitude, leadership, goal setting, etc. Call us at 757-427-7032 or e-mail us at info@thesykesgrp.com.

5 Secrets to Gaining Credibility with Your Team for Outstanding Results

Towers Perrin, the corporate benefits consulting firm, surveyed over 1000 American workers and found the following:

 

• Only 51 percent of all workers trust their organizations to tell the truth in employee communications

• Only 48 percent of all workers with more than five years of tenure believe their companies are honest in their employee communications

• Only 44 percent of all workers over age 50 trust their organizations to tell them the truth in employee communications

 

Organizations then wonder why worker productivity decreases, employee loyalty is at an all time low, and human resource situations increase. Your employees see everyday, at least in their eyes, the following:

 

• Record profits, yet massive layoffs

• Hearing how important they are, yet having their jobs outsourced

• Experiencing changes to their jobs, yet not being asked for their ideas

• Being told how they are doing a great job, yet being yelled at for mistakes in front of colleagues

 

No wonder there is tension in the workplace. When I work with organizations, the following three concerns are the ones usually express:

 

"My supervisor, manager, etc., doesn’t know how to communicate with me."
"I am the last to hear about bad news."
"He/she never asks me for my ideas."

 

Because of these concerns, there is a divide, professionally, emotionally, mentally, and physically between the employees and their supervisor/manager, etc., which leads to lost productivity.

 

The following are five secrets that will increase your credibility with employees and produce outstanding results for your organization:

 

1. Be Honest
   You owe it to your employees and to colleagues to be honest. Tell your employees exactly where they stand within the organization. Be positive, yet don’t sugar coat it. Once your employees know where they stand, use this as a stepping stone for improvements and solutions you can work on together.

2. Be Consistent
   Be consistent with your communication among employees. You will lose credibility with employees if they see you communicate differently with different employees concerning the same situations. For example, if you berate an employee (which I’m sure you would never do) for a mistake, yet say nothing to another employee for the same mistake, you will lose credibility.
   

   Also, be consistent with the way you communicate your moods. Remember, if you project a professional manner, no matter the situation, your employees will emulate your behavior.

3. Communicate Bad News ASAP
   There is nothing worse for employees than hearing bad news from human resources, shareholders, the news, friends, family, and even their religious leader, but not from you, their manager. The biggest reasons I hear for not telling employees are the following:

   "Management asked me to keep it secret."
   "I don’t have all the facts yet."
   "I don’t think the employees can handle the bad news."

   Well, guess what:
   
   • Employees always find out about bad news (sometimes before their supervisors/managers, etc.).
   • Employees always appreciate when you share whatever information you have with them as long as you are honest with them.
   • Employees can take more than you think if you are sensitive to their concerns and express these concerns with them.
   Will some of them be unhappy in the short run? Some employees may not be happy; however, they will respect you as a manager that respects them and keeps them informed of all news, good or bad.

4. Give and Receive Constant Feedback
   Employees want feedback on, "How am I doing?" By giving constant feedback, you are developing a bond of trust that improves the performance of your employees.
    

   Remember, your employees are always doing something well. Make sure you come from a positive position of improvement when giving feedback. Let your employees know that you appreciate their efforts and the difference they make each day.

    

   Also make it "safe" for employees to give you feedback. Let them know that no one is perfect (I know we think we are) and that you value their feedback to make the work environment a "win-win" situation for all involved. Teach your employees how to give feedback, both positive and constructive. Remember, as a leader, you are constantly developing your employees for the next level.

5. Ask for Employee Solutions
   People go to work to succeed, not fail. Employees also go to work because they want to make a difference at their job. One of the best ways for employees to feel they are making a difference is to involve them in the solution creation process.
    

   Make asking for solutions from your employees an ongoing process. Whether during staff meetings, one-on-one sessions, etc., make it safe for employees to develop their own solutions. If given the opportunity, your employees will come up with solutions that are innovative, proactive, and in some cases better than any solution we can ever develop.

    

   To motivate your employees to create solutions, you must do the following:

    
   • Give them credit for the solutions
   • Create reward systems for solutions
   • Make it easy for them to communicate solutions
   • Massage solutions for positive results
    

   Very importantly, if employees share a solution with you, please, please, please, give them feedback ASAP. You will lose employee credibility if they think you don’t care or are taking credit for their ideas.

 

Apply these techniques now and you will gain credibility and increase productivity with your employees while developing a high performance environment that achieves outstanding results.

 

Source: Towers Perrin, Enhancing Corporate Credibility-Is It Time to Take the "Spin" Out of Employee Communication? January, 2004

  

Want to learn how to build a powerful, self-directed, high producing team employees? Click here to find out how our workshops can help you lead others to the next level. Click here to read our other articles on motivation, team building, and goal setting, etc. Call us at 757-427-7032 or e-mail us at info@thesykesgrp.com.

---

Ed Sykes is a professional speaker published in the areas of leadership, change management, customer service, motivation, and teamwork. He works with business and government organizations who want to reach the next level of success and individuals who want to perform at their best. You can email him at esykes@thesykesgrp.com, call him at (757) 427-7032 or visit his Web site at www.thesykesgrp.com.

5 Goal Setting Secrets to Jumpstart Your Life

Another year is upon us and you have your list of resolutions or goals you want to accomplish in the upcoming year. It’s time to plan your goals so that it’s not just another conversation this year, but a focused plan for success. I will share with you five goal setting techniques guaranteed to help you achieve more out of life. Use the goal setting techniques listed below to help you achieve your targets:

1. Be SMARTER with your Goals.
   Make your goals:
   • Specific
   • Measureable
   • Action-oriented
   • Relevant or realistic to your situation
   • Time-bound
   • Encouraging
   • Rewarding
   For example, "I will increase my sales by 15% compared to last year." Be as specific about your goal as possible. "I will start my own catering business" is a lot stronger than "I want to go into business for myself." Challenging goals are motivating. Set goals that will push beyond what you usually think you can accomplish. Remember to set a deadline. A goal without a deadline is simply a dream. Attach a realistic yet challenging deadline for accomplishment and post this where you can review it regularly.

2. Visualize your goals.
   Take 15 minutes in the morning and 15 minutes just before you go to bed; find a quiet place; close your eyes and relax, and visualize yourself actually achieving your goals. Remember the more senses (sight, sound, smell, taste, etc.) you can involve, the more real your visualization becomes. I ask during my seminars, "Have you ever had a dream that seemed so real that you woke up in the middle of it?" Well the reason for that is the subconscious mind is at work involving all of those senses to trick you into believing the dream is real. Well, you don’t have to wait; work at visualizing your goals today.

3. Phrase your goal in the present tense and assume success.
   Don't say, "I want to." Say, "I will." This subtle technique tells your subconscious that you have already achieved your goal, which means it will work at helping the goal become a reality. It will attract the people, places, and situations you need to achieve that goal.

4. Put your goals in writing.
   This simple act helps you clarify your goals and will allow you to visualize them more effectively. I recommend that you record each goal on a separate index card and review them twice a day – once in the morning (when you first wake up) and again before you go to bed. Post index cards where you spend the most time; on the bathroom mirror, on the frig., on your nightstand, etc. This process reinforces your goals, acts as a reminder, and drives your goals deep into your subconscious. In fact, this is one of the most powerful strategies you can use to achieve your targets.

5. List the benefits you intend to receive by achieving each goal.
   This will keep you focused and strong, particularly when you face the inevitable roadblocks and barriers. In June, when I chose to lose 20 pounds, I listed 12 benefits, and when I had the urge to put butter on my veggies or help myself to a second serving of food, I would review this list to help me get past that craving. I lost the 22 pounds and two inches around my waistline to date. I think I will go for another 10 pounds. This was not a diet, just a lifestyle change. The more benefits you can list for your goals, the more motivating those goals will become.

So my challenge to you to is to take the time to plan your goals. Start with one goal and visualize it, write it down, and act on it. As I always say, "If you don’t invest the time to set goals then someone else will do it for you. And I guarantee you won’t like their goals." Invest the time, start today!

Want to learn create goals to achieve more? Our Achieve Your Dreams Now! Teleclass, Team Building, Life After Downsizing, Time Management Techniques for Success, and How to Give Powerful Presentations programs can help you achieve more in life. Call us at 757-427-7032 or e-mail us at info@thesykesgrp.com.

---

Ed Sykes is a professional speaker published in the areas of leadership, change management, customer service and teamwork. He works with business and government organizations who want to reach the next level of success and individuals who want to perform at their best. You can email him at esykes@thesykesgrp.com, call him at (757) 427-7032 or visit his Web site at www.thesykesgrp.com.

Five Secrets to Creating a "Goal" Medal Life – Part II

Recently, Joy and I had the pleasure of speaking at a conference of Educational Office Professionals in Baltimore, MD. The other speakers included Ms. Deborah Phelps, mother of six-time gold medalist in the 2004 Summer Olympics swimmer Michael Phelps, and Agatha von Trapp, the 91-year-old daughter of Captain and Maria von Trapp, the family on which the movie "Sound of Music" was based. To say the least, there were a variety of subjects discussed that day.

 

As I listened to Ms. Phelps describe Michael’s achievements, I realized that his story had many of the secrets of success mentioned in my September article, Five Secrets to Creating a ‘Goal’ Medal Life.

 

Let’s go over these five secrets again and see how you can apply them:

 

1. Create Passion with Goal Setting
   Ms. Phelps mentioned that Michael, after competing in the 2000 Summer Olympics, was excited about the experience. Michael told her he wanted to compete again in the 2004 Summer Olympics. He had that burning desire to compete and win. So they sat down, developed goals, and mapped out a detailed plan for his success.
    

   What do you have passion about in your career, your life? Have you put pen to paper and developed goals to achieve what you want in life?

 

2. Believe in Greatness
   Once Michael had competed in the 2000 Summer Olympics and held his own, he now believed he could win the swimming events in the 2004 Summer Olympics; not only win, but shatter world records. He visualized standing on the center stand with the gold medal around his neck. He visualized what winning the gold medals would look like, how it would feel, etc.
    

   Have you visualized your “goal” medal life?

 

3. Create a Mastermind Group
   Ms. Phelps said that once Michael set his goal, she (a single parent), his older sisters, Michael, and his long time swim coach, Bob Bowman, came together to develop a cohesive team for success. This was Michael’s mastermind group. This group was devoted to removing barriers and helping Michael achieve his dream. Bob Bowman provided the technical expertise; and Ms. Phelps and his sisters provided the financial, emotional, and family support to keep Michael focused on his goals. They kept him focused on his goals while removing any distractions.
    

   Who is your mastermind group?

 

4. Embrace Challenges
   Michael’s challenges began before his first Olympics. He was a son of divorced parents. Yet, he never used that as an excuse. After the 2000 Summer Olympics, his challenge was how do I become a gold medal athlete?  He took a hard look at himself and received feedback from his mastermind group concerning how to make his weaknesses his strengths, and how to make his strengths the best in the world. He attacked those weaknesses with gusto everyday in practice.
    

   When was the last time you asked the question, "How can I improve my skills to become the best?"

 

5. Never Give Up!
   Ms. Phelps joked with the audience that as a mother, Michael’s style of swimming made her crazy. You see, Michael, is a "comeback” swimmer." In most cases, he is behind in his races. Then at the last moment, with a burst of energy and an iron-willed belief he will win, he comes from behind to win the race. He believes that he can win every race as long as he is in the pool. He never gives up on his belief that he can win.
    

   Do you believe that you can win every race?

 

As Ms. Phelps left the ballroom, we embraced; and she wished me the best. As she walked out the door, I thought that the Phelps family is truly living a "goal" medal life…and you can too.

 

Start today. Apply these tips and you too can have a “goal” medal life!

Do you want to learn create goals to achieve more? Click here so you will learn our Mastering Your Attitude for Positive Results, Team Building, Life After Downsizing, Time Management Techniques for Success, and How to Give Powerful Presentations programs can help you achieve more in life. Call us at 757-427-7032 or e-mail us at info@thesykesgrp.com.

How to Set Boundaries and Say No

We are constantly bombarded daily with requests for our time. While helping others can be very rewarding, at the same time we can feel distraught about constantly obligating ourselves to others while not fulfilling our own needs. We can feel distressed about constant commitments to do things we simply don’t have the time, energy or desire to do.

At times, we may immediately feel the urge to say no, but instead lose our courage, and concede yet again. The question is why? Is it because:

• You fear you won’t be liked or feel a strong need to please everyone

• You have to always keep the calendar full so you feel needed and important

• You undervalue the need for down time and forget simply not wanting to do anything is a legitimate reason to say no

• You would rather not deal with the consequences of saying no and all the feelings that come with it.

Setting boundaries and saying no is taking personal responsibility for your well-being. This requires you to clearly speak up, and specifically ask for what you want. Your decision to say no to requests from family, friends, and co-workers doesn’t have to be filled with feelings of uneasiness and guilt. It fact, it’s important you remember the decision to say no is strictly a personal choice – yours!

Whether at work, with family, or friends, you can say no with diplomacy, tact, and respect. Here some ways you can embrace your personal power and assert your right to say no.

Be sure you have all the facts
Before making a commitment, be sure you have a complete understanding of exactly what’s being asked of you. You may feel confused because you just don’t have enough information to make a decision. You have the right to ask as many questions as necessary.

Ask yourself "Is this a unreasonable request?"
When someone makes a request, he or she is usually tuned into "WIIFM" (What’s In It For Me). People are not necessarily concerned with whether or not a request is in your best interest. If you feel hesitant, trapped or otherwise uncomfortable – go with your gut and say no. These uneasy feelings probably indicate saying yes isn’t best.

Take Your Time
There is no law that says you have to immediately obligate yourself to someone when asked. Take your time before you make a final decision. Simply say "I need time to think about this. I’ll get back to you."

Set goals
Setting your goals will make it easier to say no. Establishing priorities makes it easy to decide how much time you can devote to others without sacrificing your own needs. You will be more comfortable declining requests that conflict with your priorities.

Speak up - without excuses or apologies
When you have all the facts and decide say no, say no calmly and firmly. An assertive tone of voice, body language, and eye contact lets others know you are serious and definite in your decision.

Don’t be meek. Say no directly without excuses. Excuses make you appear as if you aren’t in control of your decisions. If you say "I’m sorry but…" this only weakens your stand. If you have decided saying yes is not in your best interest, no apology is necessary.

What if they won’t take no for an answer?
If someone won’t take no for an answer, repeat your position. Maintain your stand and don’t allow yourself to be manipulated or strong armed. No means no and you have the right to stand by your choice.

Feel good about your decision to say no
Feel calm, confident, and comfortable with your decision to say no. Be secure knowing it’s enough to say no simply because you just don’t want to.

Remember, learn how to say no is a win-win situation for everyone.

Click on the "comment" link below and share your thoughts with us.

To learn how to "Set Boundaries and Say No" go the following links:

• Fall into Success 2004 Empowerment Workshop Series

• How to Master Challenging People in Difficult Situations

• Assertive Communication Skills Workshop

Call us at 757-427-7032 or e-mail us at info@thesykesgrp.com.

Joy Fisher-Sykes is a professional speaker published in the areas of communication, time management, and teamwork. She works with business and government organizations who want to reach the next level of success and individuals who want to perform at their best. You can email her at jfsykes@thesykesgrp.com, call her at (757) 427-7032 or visit her Web site at www.thesykesgrp.com

Publishing Guidelines: You are welcome to publish the following articles and newsletters in its entirety, electronically, or in print free of charge, as long as you include our full signature file at the end of each article for ezines, and my Web site address in hyperlink for other sites. Please send a courtesy link or email where you publish to info@thesykesgrp.com.