INVEST IN YOURSELF by Robert Finkelstein

You know any good investments? I do. I always do. My answer, “Invest in yourself.”

This is a lifetime investment and it can pay immeasurable dividends. Ask yourself what you do to create a wealthier you…and I’m not talking about money.

If you want to be rich, try some of these investment strategies.
1. Read – Find books that stretch your imagination, challenge your way of thinking, raise your bar and lead you down a path of growth and transformation. Don’t forget to turn of the TV in the background.
2. Exercise – Talk to your doctor. Get a report card. Design a fitness routine that’s appropriate for you and one you’ll stick to. I’d recommend finding a workout partner too. Remember, no pain, no gain.
3. Diet – Again, talk to your doctor. Find out what’s missing and what you might have too much of. You got one body. I suggest you treat it right.
4. Manage your time – Over the last few weeks, I’ve offer some great tools. Re-read them. Keep a journal. Stay organized and on task. Make the most of your day, every day. The feeling of accomplishment is very satisfying.
5. Your Time – Whatever time during the day you can dedicate exclusively to you, make it happen. Perhaps it’s a lunch break, could be your commuting time, you decide. What time is it? Tend to you.
6. Expand your network – This couldn’t be easier. With all-too-addicting social networking websites like Facebook and MySpace, you can find the ones that appeal to you, your interests and career. Of course, the old fashioned, meeting in person, social groups is always nice. Whatever you preference, get to work on that network.
7. Education – As the Managing Director of a seminar company, I’m a big advocate for continued education. Do your research. Find seminars, trainings, online programs and night classes that expand your world. Knowledge is so empowering.
8. Invest in someone else – Take care of yourself first, and when that’s on track, share your transformation and learnings with someone else…and then someone else…and then…. You get the idea.

These are just a few simple ideas. You probably have lots more.

**RING** The market just opened. Start investing!

If you have any questions or comments,
please write them below or email me at Robert@RobertFinkelstein.com.

Building Rapport

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, “Lead By Example.” Regardless of your position in a company, be a rapport builder. Quite honestly, it’s easy to do and the benefits far out way the alternative. Being liked is not a bad thing, and that doesn’t mean you can’t be a tough manager of a team. What it does mean, is that to you, it’s not all about work all the time. Your relationships, in and out of work, are what will determine much of your success.

Here a few great ways to build rapport…and put smiles on faces.
1. SMILE more often
2. Don’t forget to use these very important words: Thank you, Please, Good morning, Goodbye
3. Take no one for granted
4. Acknowledge birthdays and special occasions, and when necessary, tragedies as well
5. Watch your language, keep it clean
6. Lend a helping hand when able
7. Don’t speak about other employees behind their back
8. Try to confront issues and not the person
9. Take time to talk to the team, individually if possible
10. Be approachable; doesn’t have to be all the time, but find the time
11. Don’t play favorites

Pretty simple, wouldn’t you say?
Now smile…you’re building your rapport.

If you have any questions or comments,
please write them below or email me at Robert@RobertFinkelstein.com.

In Who Do We Trust?

Some people are very trusting. Others, because they’ve been burned, require a whole lot of effort before they’re willing to let someone in again.

Call me naive, call me crazy, or don’t call me at all, but I generally like to believe that most people come from a good place. Most are not out to get ya. That being said, I’m no pushover either. So I decided to make a list of the some of the telltale signs of someone you just might want to reconsider going into business with, lending money to, or handing over the keys to your new car.
1. Those who blame you for everything, even when they clearly carry some of the responsibility
2. Those who never let you off the hook
3. Those who are chronically late and don’t apologize
4. Those who push their work on you
5. Those who are too busy to help you
6. Those who never return the favor
7. Those who feel that their ideas are always superior
8. Those who don’t look you in the eye
9. Those who always want to work with their vendor, their friends…and not yours
10. Those who seem to have an excuse for everything
11. And above all, those who rarely do what they say they will

Remember: “Trust everyone, but cut the cards.”

If you have any questions or comments,
please write them below or email me at Robert@RobertFinkelstein.com.

Teamwork Makes It Easier by Robert Finkelstein

Let’s start this off with a line from one of my favorite childhood movies, Chitty, Chitty, Bang, Bang…
“Teamwork, can make a dream work, if we all pitch in and try.” I couldn’t say it any better.

So how do you foster teamwork in your workplace? Here are a few suggestions that will definitely help.
1. Create team problem solving sessions.
2. Respect everyone’s ideas and opinions.
3. Help others whenever it’s appropriate.
4. Increase time for the team to be together inside and outside of work.
5. Lead by example.
6. Improve your communication with the team.
7. Take interest in the team, aside from just business.
8. Reward progress and teamwork.
9. Anticipate concerns and problems. Be proactive.
10. Have fun!

“It is amazing how much you can accomplish when it doesn’t matter who gets the credit.” That’s what teamwork is all about.

If you have any questions or comments,
please write them below or email me at Robert@RobertFinkelstein.com.

Decide Not To Decide by Robert Finkelstein

How many decisions do you make at work that probably could have or should have been make by someone else? If you’re dedicated to managing your time more efficiently, then it’s time to let some decisions go.

If you’ve assembled a strong team, then you need to empower them to make most of the decisions. Establish their guidelines and limitations. Once those are in place, step away. Remember, “don’t sweat the small stuff.” Delegating projects that require a minimal amount of your attention can be placed in the team’s capable hands. They’ll come to you when they need to…I can assure you. Assuming they’re doing a good job, then gradually, they’ll do that less and less.

Use the additional time you now have wisely. As with all the time management tools I’ve suggested, the intention is to improve your business and the balance in your life.

Remember, make it clear what decisions still rest in your hands. The big ones – perhaps financial targets, policies, hirings, promotions, business strategies and alliances. You know your business best.

You decide…what to decide.

If you have any questions or comments,
please write them below or email me at Robert@RobertFinkelstein.com.

Pareto’s Principle by Robert Finkelstein

The 80/20 Rule. If you look at your business, do you find that 20% of it really accounts for 80% of the results? Give or take a few percentage points, that’s probably the case.

Prioritize! I mentioned that before, but how are you determining what’s more important than something else? Ask yourself this question. Make sure you are focusing on the tasks that will yield the greatest results for your business. Don’t abandon the others. Prioritize wisely.

Work smart on the right stuff.

If you have any questions or comments,
please write them below or email me at Robert@RobertFinkelstein.com.

Open Door Policy by Robert Finkelstein

It’s great to have an “open door policy,” but it might hit you on the way out. As one who has managed teams of 5 to over 500, I highly recommend taking a look at how available you make yourself throughout the day. I used to have a constant flow of people in and out of my office. One person jokingly suggested I install a ticket dispenser at my office to help manage the line that often existed.

It’s one thing to prioritize…it’s another to schedule your day. Take into consideration your “prime time” and what you need to be doing during that time. Make sure you take that into consideration when planning your day. What I’m suggesting is designating times during the day to do all that you’re responsible for. By focusing on one area at a time, and not allowing distractions to interrupt your attention, you will definitely help you complete it much quicker.

Here’s a short list, in no particular order, of some of the things you might want to consider scheduling:
1. Read and respond to emails
2. Open letters
3. Meet with you team
4. Work on projects
5. Make and receive phone calls
6. Conduct meetings in your office
7. Have meetings outside the office
8. Take time for yourself / Breaks

Having an “open door policy” to your work day will severely reduce your productivity. Take into consideration that when you implement structure to your day, your team may not like it at first. If they felt that they always had access to you, they may initially be put off by the change. When it’s that time of your day when you’re available to your team, make sure you are. Trust me, once they see how productive you’ve become, how focused you are, they’ll want to do the same. Work with your team to create a structure that works well for everyone.

Now get back to work. Reading blog time is over.

If you have any questions or comments,
please write them below or email me at Robert@RobertFinkelstein.com.

You’ve Got Email by Robert Finkelstein

“You’ve got mail. You’ve got m–. You’ve got–. You’ve g–. You–. You–.” Luckily, my computer doesn’t talk to me, because if it did, it wouldn’t get the chance to finish the sentence. I used to get well over a hundred business emails a day. Add in the personal and the span, and the number more than doubles. Let’s just consider the business ones, shall we? Short emails, long emails and a whole lot of attachments. So if I receive 100 emails and spend an average of five minutes on each, including reading and digesting the attachments, and formulating a response…that’s 500 minutes!! Doing the math…YIKES…we’re talkin’ 8 hours and 20 minutes. Correct me if I’m wrong, but that doesn’t leave much time for anything else…and that will drive you CRAZY!

So how do you manage your emails? Do you manage it at all?

I’ll cover different aspects of managing your daily emails in more detail in future blogs. Here are a few thoughts to get you started, in no particular order.

1. Can anyone screen your emails for you? If so, I recommend having them printed.
2. For emails with ongoing concerns, write them on your To Do List.
3. Try not to read the same email more than once.
4. Explore programs like iDictate to record emails.
5. When you’re done with an email, move it to a subfolder (which you should create for each incoming email contact). Don’t leave it in your Inbox.
6. As an Outlook user, you can select a color associated with a particular email contact. When you receive an email from that person, the font will be colored. Helps in prioritizing.
7. Train those who write you. If you don’t, people feel like they have permission to write you all the time, and for the most inane things. Educate them on how the subject line should read, how frequently they can write or cc you, and what to consider a priority,
8. One of my most important suggestions, after you consider the ones above is to manage your time on emails. Designate specific times during the day when you do emails. Create an auto-responder that lets everyone your availability…and stick to it.

“You don’t have mail. You’ve got time to do other things.”

If you have any questions or comments,
please write them below or email me at Robert@RobertFinkelstein.com.

Break It Apart by Robert Finkelstein

So you’re energized and you’ve prioritize…now what? You have to get started. Some of the items on your To Do List might be very simple and quick. If possible, take care of those right off the bat. Gotta love crossing items off that list. But that only lasts for so long…and then comes the big project. Well, as my title suggests…break it apart. Some call it the “Swiss Cheese Process.” Poke holes in it. Cut it into manageable, bite-sized pieces…or smaller sub-tasks. You might find that these need further prioritizing. This will help make the project far less daunting. As you eliminate these smaller tasks, you’ll gain momentum and feel a sense of accomplishment.

Start chipping away at that iceberg, and you’ll soon have just a bunch of cubes.

If you have any questions or comments,
please write them below or email me at Robert@RobertFinkelstein.com.

Prime Time or Down Time? by Robert Finkelstein

In the last blog, I wrote about maintaining your energy throughout the day by eating healthy and staying fit. I did that for two reasons, 1. Because it’s a good idea, and 2. Because if you don’t, you’ll have to be much more conscious of your “prime time.” No, I’m not referring to what’s on TV from 8 to 11. Trust me, most of it’s garbage. “Prime time” is the time of day when your energy is high, you’re focused and able to complete the more challenging tasks. Odds are that’s about the same time of day, every day, unless your routine has changed. If you’re among those who come out of the gate strong, but tire near the finish line, you need to recognize that’s a pattern of yours. Once that’s done, you’re actually on your way to victory.

You see, if you can become aware of the time of day when you’re a force to be reckon with, and apply yourself 100% during that time, you will plow through those A or #1 priorities on your To Do List faster than you can say, “Boss, I deserve a raise.” Don’t wait until the afternoon, when you’re fading to attack the most important items of your day.

Do your toughs tasks during your “prime time” and you’ll be done…
in no time.

If you have any questions or comments,
please write them below or email me at Robert@RobertFinkelstein.com.