scraps of wisdom
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Scraps of wisdomTRANSCRIPT
. . .lost wisdom gathered by Laura Bergells
Scraps of Wisdom. . . Part I
Scraps of WisdomScraps of Wisdom
Business Truisms &
Advice for those who toil in corporate
world!
. . .lost wisdom gathered by Laura Bergells
Scraps of Wisdom. . . Part I
First ScrapFirst Scrap
It’s surprisingly easy to give a short oral presentation or even write an entire newsletter article, using only one of the following “scraps”.
Give it a try. . . Use my scraps to jump start a story from your own life.
. . .lost wisdom gathered by Laura Bergells
Scraps of Wisdom. . . Part I
It’s Like Tarot. . .It’s Like Tarot. . .
Take this presentation to a creative brainstorming meeting.
“Shuffle the deck” and have people give a one minute story about the scrap they pulled.
. . .lost wisdom gathered by Laura Bergells
Scraps of Wisdom. . . Part I
Let the Scrapping Begin!Let the Scrapping Begin!
Click to begin. . . .
. . .lost wisdom gathered by Laura Bergells
Scraps of Wisdom. . . Part I
Effort does not Equal ResultsBeware of shallow vision statements
like:• “Effort Equals Results” &• “Pride in our People”.
When selecting a company to work with, look for depth
& intelligence, not slogans.
. . .lost wisdom gathered by Laura Bergells
Scraps of Wisdom. . . Part I
Effort does not equal Results
Working long hours doesn’t prove anything without results.
. . .lost wisdom gathered by Laura Bergells
Scraps of Wisdom. . . Part I
Effort does not equal Results
Don’t work for a company where you are paid for effort. Work where you are recognized for results.
. . .lost wisdom gathered by Laura Bergells
Scraps of Wisdom. . . Part I
Effort Does Not Equal Results.
If you spend all of your time at work, you are not hard-working.
You are boring.
. . .lost wisdom gathered by Laura Bergells
Scraps of Wisdom. . . Part I
Effort Does not Equal Results
Do not work on weekends.Do not work more than 40 hours
per week.Remember, we advanced
technology so that we would have more time to evolve our consciousness.
. . .lost wisdom gathered by Laura Bergells
Scraps of Wisdom. . . Part I
Effort does not equal results
A happy employee doesn’t necessarily make a good employee, but a good employee is a happy employee. Focus your efforts on good work.
. . .lost wisdom gathered by Laura Bergells
Scraps of Wisdom. . . Part I
ClientsClients
Always learn about your customers, no matter what your job is.
. . .lost wisdom gathered by Laura Bergells
Scraps of Wisdom. . . Part I
SecretariesSecretaries
Be nice to secretaries. Their job description, essentially, is to help people. Make it easy for secretaries to do their jobs.
. . .lost wisdom gathered by Laura Bergells
Scraps of Wisdom. . . Part I
BossesBosses
Don’t let your guard down around your boss. Ever.
. . .lost wisdom gathered by Laura Bergells
Scraps of Wisdom. . . Part I
Overheard ComplimentsOverheard Compliments
Compliment somebody behind their back.
Compliments heard second-hand have more credibility with the intended recipient.
. . .lost wisdom gathered by Laura Bergells
Scraps of Wisdom. . . Part I
Overheard ComplimentsOverheard Compliments
Compliment somebody everyday. Period.
. . .lost wisdom gathered by Laura Bergells
Scraps of Wisdom. . . Part I
Overheard ComplimentsOverheard Compliments
Everybody responds to flattery.
. . .lost wisdom gathered by Laura Bergells
Scraps of Wisdom. . . Part I
SimplifySimplify
Simplify everything. Your life, your home, your office, your desk, your processes, vision, policy, procedures. Everything.
. . .lost wisdom gathered by Laura Bergells
Scraps of Wisdom. . . Part I
SolutionsSolutions
Don’t take a problem to a meeting without a solution. Your job is to fix problems, not complain.
. . .lost wisdom gathered by Laura Bergells
Scraps of Wisdom. . . Part I
ChangeChange
Believe that change can happen.
. . .lost wisdom gathered by Laura Bergells
Scraps of Wisdom. . . Part I
VictoryVictory
There are no defeats. What some people see as defeat is actually a valuable learn-ing experience. And that, as any cheerleader knows, is a victory.
. . .lost wisdom gathered by Laura Bergells
Scraps of Wisdom. . . Part I
WaitingWaiting
When waiting in a lobby, don’t just sit. Explore, read, talk - - - use this time to learn.
. . .lost wisdom gathered by Laura Bergells
Scraps of Wisdom. . . Part I
ShoesShoes
Wear comfortable yet attractive shoes. Keep them clean at all times.
. . .lost wisdom gathered by Laura Bergells
Scraps of Wisdom. . . Part I
Telephone NumbersTelephone Numbers
Carry important phone numbers with you at all times.
. . .lost wisdom gathered by Laura Bergells
Scraps of Wisdom. . . Part I
DeadlinesDeadlines
Don’t be late. Apologize if you are, and be prepared to accept consequences.
. . .lost wisdom gathered by Laura Bergells
Scraps of Wisdom. . . Part I
Missives from on HighMissives from on High
Re-organization memos grandly outline sweeping changes in the company.
Remember the adage, “same old horses, same old glue.”
. . .lost wisdom gathered by Laura Bergells
Scraps of Wisdom. . . Part I
Missives from on HighMissives from on High
Vision and mission statements are not nearly as important as knowing what to do when you show up for work.
. . .lost wisdom gathered by Laura Bergells
Scraps of Wisdom. . . Part I
Missives from on HighMissives from on High
Executive memos are political fantasies. They have little to do with reality. Real change is always due to an outside force.
. . .lost wisdom gathered by Laura Bergells
Scraps of Wisdom. . . Part I
Missives from on HighMissives from on High
Employees always know what’s really going on. The internal information in an executive memo is hardly a surprise. The rumors are usually true.
. . .lost wisdom gathered by Laura Bergells
Scraps of Wisdom. . . Part I
Missives from on HighMissives from on High
The business should shape the organization, not the other way around.
. . .lost wisdom gathered by Laura Bergells
Scraps of Wisdom. . . Part I
Missives from on HighMissives from on High
Real activity takes place between the lines in the org chart.
. . .lost wisdom gathered by Laura Bergells
Scraps of Wisdom. . . Part I
OfficeOffice
Stay out of the office as much as you can. Be with customers or prospects.
. . .lost wisdom gathered by Laura Bergells
Scraps of Wisdom. . . Part I
WashroomWashroom
Don’t be seen taking magazines into the executive washroom.
. . .lost wisdom gathered by Laura Bergells
Scraps of Wisdom. . . Part I
WashroomWashroom
Beware of a false sense of importance. When you think you’re too busy to use the washroom, ask yourself if two minutes of work is really worth risking your health.
. . .lost wisdom gathered by Laura Bergells
Scraps of Wisdom. . . Part I
TimeTime
Treat time as if someone is paying you for your contribution. Someone is.
. . .lost wisdom gathered by Laura Bergells
Scraps of Wisdom. . . Part I
Business CardsBusiness Cards
Carry business cards with you at all times. Give them out freely.
. . .lost wisdom gathered by Laura Bergells
Scraps of Wisdom. . . Part I
Phone CallsPhone Calls
Never leave a phone call unanswered for more than 24 hours.
. . .lost wisdom gathered by Laura Bergells
Scraps of Wisdom. . . Part I
ClothesClothes
Wear timeless, classic clothes. Wool, silk and cotton are natural favorites.
. . .lost wisdom gathered by Laura Bergells
Scraps of Wisdom. . . Part I
AmbiguityAmbiguity
Life is uncertain - develop a high tolerance for ambiguity.
. . .lost wisdom gathered by Laura Bergells
Scraps of Wisdom. . . Part I
AmbiguityAmbiguity
Avoid dotted-line reporting relationships.
. . .lost wisdom gathered by Laura Bergells
Scraps of Wisdom. . . Part I
BrainstormingBrainstorming
Write down your best ideas before they get lost in the shuffle of all the good ideas!
. . .lost wisdom gathered by Laura Bergells
Scraps of Wisdom. . . Part I
BrainstormingBrainstorming
Don’t tell people that their ideas are bad, especially if you don’t have a better one.
. . .lost wisdom gathered by Laura Bergells
Scraps of Wisdom. . . Part I
AcronymsAcronyms
1. Don’t use acronyms.2. Don’t invent any
more!
. . .lost wisdom gathered by Laura Bergells
Scraps of Wisdom. . . Part I
StrategyStrategy
Never say, “It’s not my job.”
. . .lost wisdom gathered by Laura Bergells
Scraps of Wisdom. . . Part I
PresentationsPresentations
If you want to lose your audience, show them slides with columns of numbers. Refuse to tell them a story about the meaning of the numbers.
. . .lost wisdom gathered by Laura Bergells
Scraps of Wisdom. . . Part I
PresentationsPresentations
Do not read your speech or presentation.
Instead, read your audience.
. . .lost wisdom gathered by Laura Bergells
Scraps of Wisdom. . . Part I
MeetingsMeetings
Do not attend more than two meetings a day, or else you will never get any real work done.
. . .lost wisdom gathered by Laura Bergells
Scraps of Wisdom. . . Part I
OfficeOffice
Leave the office building at least once a day.
. . .lost wisdom gathered by Laura Bergells
Scraps of Wisdom. . . Part I
ParadoxParadox
Manage the paradox of being fully committed to where you are, while remaining open to other opportunities.
. . .lost wisdom gathered by Laura Bergells
Scraps of Wisdom. . . Part I
AcronymsAcronyms
If TQM, CIP, CRM or any other new acronym doesn’t produce measureable results within a year, dump it.
. . .lost wisdom gathered by Laura Bergells
Scraps of Wisdom. . . Part I
SuccessSuccess
The most interesting people I know are successful.
. . .lost wisdom gathered by Laura Bergells
Scraps of Wisdom. . . Part I
ProblemsProblems
Work on problems, not symptoms.Morale is never a problem, it is
always a symptom. No company should ever have a morale officer. If they do, it’s a sign that they are going down the toilet.
. . .lost wisdom gathered by Laura Bergells
Scraps of Wisdom. . . Part I
HobbiesHobbies
Try to make your hobby your life’s work.
. . .lost wisdom gathered by Laura Bergells
Scraps of Wisdom. . . Part I
Performance EvaluationsPerformance Evaluations
Performance evaluations take place every day, not once a year.
. . .lost wisdom gathered by Laura Bergells
Scraps of Wisdom. . . Part I
The Company PartyThe Company Party
Part I: Always attend the company party. (sigh)
Part II: Never get drunk at the company party. (sigh)
. . .lost wisdom gathered by Laura Bergells
Scraps of Wisdom. . . Part I
The Company PartyThe Company Party
Be specific when you order a drink. Name the label.
. . .lost wisdom gathered by Laura Bergells
Scraps of Wisdom. . . Part I
Speaker PhoneSpeaker Phone
A conference call, driving, or a broken neck are the only 3 reasons for you to use a speaker phone.
. . .lost wisdom gathered by Laura Bergells
Scraps of Wisdom. . . Part I
MannersManners
Don’t treat people as if they have died when they get laid off.
. . .lost wisdom gathered by Laura Bergells
Scraps of Wisdom. . . Part I
PowerPower
Lord Acton was wrong. Power doesn’t corrupt. The illusion of power is the result of corruption.
. . .lost wisdom gathered by Laura Bergells
Scraps of Wisdom. . . Part I
NepotismNepotism
The owner can produce children in his own image, but alas! These children have no light of their own. Together, parent and child hold the infinite reflection of opposing video cams.
Tunnel Vision.
. . .lost wisdom gathered by Laura Bergells
Scraps of Wisdom. . . Part I
AdvertisingAdvertising
Being creative is merely compulsory. In advertising, the audience is essential and the offer is everything.
. . .lost wisdom gathered by Laura Bergells
Scraps of Wisdom. . . Part I
AdvertisingAdvertising
Copy is King - Design is Queen. Together, they rule.
Jingles and special effects are court jesters. They live to serve their masters.
. . .lost wisdom gathered by Laura Bergells
Scraps of Wisdom. . . Part I
About the Author. . .Once upon a time, Laura
Bergells worked at a bunch of corporations.
Now, she works with people.
Need perspective?Contact Laura Bergells.phone: 616-241-5195 email: [email protected]