Most of you have read or even listened to me talk about The Leadership Challenge and how I sing the praises of the Five Leadership Practices:
- Model the Way
- Challenge the Process
- Inspire a Vision
- Enables Others to Act
- Encourage the Heart
I usually speak to groups using the early space program and the Apollo 13 mission as an excellent example of these practices. We show clips from the movie and audios of JFK, but this time it was different.
This time we got first hand accounts of the mission and the trials and tribulations that were involved in the actual mission. This time we partnered with the commander on the mission Captain James Lovell.
At a conference in Las Vegas, NV commander Lovell shared with an audience of 260 the first hand accounts of his ordeal in space. TeamBuilders was honored to partner with one of America’s greatest hero’s tying back his experience to the Leadership Practices. As I listen to listen to him I could not help, but connect a lot of what he was saying to the books on business that we have all been reading to make ourselves successful.
When describing the situations and the outcomes of the mission he said that success was depended on three key factors.
1. Dealing with change - any organization or its members that cannot deal with, adapt to, and take advantage of change will not make it today. They obviously where not happy with change during that mission, but they also knew that complaining about it and hoping it goes away wasn’t going to fix it. Change is inevitable and change requires different solutions and different processes. As TeamBuilders has shared with many of you it’s about doing different to do more. We must Challenge the Process - The Leadership Challenge
2. Understanding the situation and doing something about it. - Hope is not a plan and when adversity strikes we have to dig dip and hit it head on. How many times in our business are we approached with challenges that impacted our business? We don’t hope to improve market shares, we don’t hope the economy is going to get better, but we Confront the Brutal. Yet Never Lose Faith - Good to Great
3. Commitment to a Common Goal - Regardless of rank or job function everyone new what had to be done and no one questioned when they were asked to do something. The goal was clear and the commitment was strong. Ego was checked and every action, decision and behavior was for the success of the Mission, which by the way changed…drastically. Commitment and Attention to Results - The Five Dysfunctions of a Team
So, what am I babbling about? We read, we go to self-improvement seminars, we go to team development and in house training, but do we understand why? I actually was asked in a session by a gentleman, “can we hurry up and get through this teambuilding stuff and get back to work”? All of this stuff is what makes us better when we get back to work and if it doesn’t then shame on us.
As I close this month’s letter I would to say how proud and impressed I am with our clients and the hard work you have out into just being better. I have seen so many of you grow over the past eight years and we at TeamBuilders are proud to have been part of that. I will leave you now with one simple thought and hat is the definition of a TEAM. Ask yourself if this is your group? Until next month…
A team is members of a diverse group of people who struggle for shared aspirations (a common goal) with measurable performance and accountability.
About the Author:
Nicholas D. Conner is Vice President of Program Development and COO of TeamBuilders. For nearly twenty years he has enjoyed sharing his experience and expertise with organizations that include small business to Fortune 20 Companies. His unique facilitation style combining humor with knowledge creates workshops that are both entertaining and insightful. Nick is one reason why TeamBuilders’ client list reads like a Who’s Who of global business.
EXPERIENCE AND EXPERTISE
Nearly twenty years of designing and facilitating sophisticated workshops in Team Synergy - High Performance Teams, Mergers and Acquisitions and Change, Leadership Synergy, Leading & Coaching for High Performance Teams and Self-Managed/Self-Directed Work Teams.
- Myers Briggs Type Indicator Level Eight Facilitator-MBTI, MBTI Step II, MBTI Executive Coaching
- Five Practices of Exemplary Leadership-Kouzes and Posner
- The FiveStar Team Performance Indicator
- Key Note Speaker
http://www.teambuilders.com
About a month ago, I was helping a friend collect meteorites. We picked out a grid pattern and started walking six to 9 feet apart with metal detectors looking for the iron-nickel meteorites which are quite common here on the Earth’s surface The grid is large and takes many days to even make a dent in it and each time we are able to collect some meteorites. One thing we noticed was that we would scare little rodents in bushes and they would take off running. Yet as we approached railroad tracks we noticed fewer and fewer rodents living there.
We started to discuss this phenomena and offer plausible explanation; when you are in the middle of nowhere looking for meteorites you have hours to discuss various issues. Some of our conversations are quite in depth and perhaps I should buy a digital recorder to save them. In this discussion we determined that little varmints, critters and rodents had innately evolved senses of Earth trembling and had adapted to stay away from such areas. This makes sense because of cataclysmic evolutionary theories. Those groups which lived near rumbling areas and stayed would eventually be wiped out by volcanic activity over millions of years, those which fled lived to continue to breed further generations. So to explains the behavior of animals prior to Earthquakes.
So then Trains on Railroad tracks make rumblings, which might lead to a couple of things? Scare the animals and send them packing, thus less time to breed or keep them away as their innate senses would be telling them that such area was seismically unsafe? Now then an experiment should be done with data and thermal sensors to detect the number of animals, which had moved on due to the railroad tracks. In our ad hoc observations we determined the amount of little rodents living in the areas within 1-3 miles to be about half that of other areas not near railroad tracks.
In our observations we also determined that since there are less rodents to eat other species that perhaps they would thrive near railroad tracks. We did see a slight increase in some insects yet also found fewer of others near railroad tracks. Things like mosquitoes were less, we thought this due to less animals to suck the blood from to breed the next generations and lay their 400 eggs. We found some vegetation to be greater right near the railroad tracks, probably due to the barrier providing a collection pool of water for the plants, right near the railroad tracks were more mosquitoes perhaps coming from livestock on trains and then laying eggs in pools of water nearby.
It appears that railroad tracks change the eco-system slightly and certain species are not interested in living near them, while others seem to flourish having less predators and less competition for food. Oh indeed we did find some meteorites on this day and came to a better understanding of life on Earth and how every thing relates to everything else. Please think on this.
“Lance Winslow” - Online Think Tank forum board. If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; www.WorldThinkTank.net/wttbbs/
Turning your dream to Reality-Buying in the Caribbean
Buying a home in the Caribbean is something many people only dream of. A little determination and, some financial resources can easily make this dream become a reality. Those who buy real estate in the Caribbean do so for many reasons these include:
• A place to spend your retirement
• A purchase for investment purposes
• A second home as an ideal getaway
• To escape the rat race for a slower warmer pace of life
• To Return back home
Before you take that big step here are a few tips to keep your dream a reality, Generally your purchase will fall into the following categories
A home in a developer’s planned “community.”
A villa or other single-family home.
A time-share or condominium in a share format.
Here are a few more tips:
• Don’t rush.
• Get familiar with the island and the type of properties you’re considering.
• Research the residency rules for non nationals
• Know the people and the lifestyle.
• Get advice from a reliable source
• Select a reputable local lawyer
• Use respected real estate agent
• Don’t let yourself be pressured by a pushy salesman.
Planned communities are springing up on Several Caribbean islands. These communities offer many amenities and the convenience of a planned setup. Some offer special medical plans for the retired .They’re often quite luxurious and offer prestigious items such as big-name golf courses. Some properties are ready to move in; others you may need to build. Work with the developer; find out how long the building process will take and where and how the materials will arrive.
The Lakes Barbados is one such community
Caribbean Islands still offer value for money. Of course, the sky’s the limit here - you can spend as much as you want to! But the fact is that you don’t have to drop a fortune to get a liveable home. The home could also be used as rental property for one or more weeks a year, when you’re off-site, and make money to help pay off the cost. Always be careful to choose a well-established agency to assist you if you decide to offer your home for rent. Understand local ways of doing business and local property conventions; in some cases, titles are leasehold rather than ownership. A good lawyer and established real estate agent are your best defense and safeguard.
We can put you in touch with reputable and agents for most islands.
No matter what type of home you choose in the islands, I know you’ll be happy with your choice if you observe the guidelines and always remember the old caveat, “Let the buyer beware.” Take precautions, educate yourself, get good advice and soon you’ll be enjoying your own personal space on your favourite island!
Nicholas Marr
Director Marr International Ltd a UK based property marketing company
http://www.homesgofast.com
In recent years, the value of the trace mineral selenium to overall health and well being has come to light. Many vital health benefits have come to be associated with maintaining sufficient levels of selenium in the body and recent study indicates that this mineral can play an important role in protecting the body from serious disease and illness.
Selenium is especially important in the body’s ongoing battle against free radical damage. In the body, selenium is the source of selenoproteins. Selenoproteins are essential anti-oxidant enzymes that plays an important part in protecting the cells from the damage that unchecked free radicals can do. Some research has associated free radicals with certain types of heart disease and cancers.
In addition to their important role in the control of free radical damage, selenoproteins also serve to strengthen the body’s natural immune system and also helps to produce anti-bodies. For the thyroid to perform at its best, selenium level at the body should be at the proper levels. The thyroid is responsible for many aspects of health including the body’s metabolism. It has also been found out in some studies that this mineral is effective in acne treatment and some also indicates that it may be useful in repairing chromosome damage. It is thought to counteract heavy metals and other contaminants that find their way into the body, as well as to help in the prevention of unwanted and dangerous blood clots.
Deficiency in selenium can have a variety of significant health consequences. Indeed, researchers have found three debilitating diseases that are directly related to serious selenium deficiency. These include Myxedematous Endemic Cretinism which leaves the victim severely and irreversibly mentally retarded, Keshan Disease which leaves selenium deficient children with an enlarged heart that often does not function properly, and Kashin-Beck Disease which causes osteoarthropathy, an illness that causes the clubbing of the digits of the hands and feet plus enlargement of the extremities.
The amount of selenium provided by plant sources depends a good deal on the quality of the soil the plants were grown in. Thus, poor soil will yield plants that may not provide the expected levels of this important mineral. That means that those who follow a vegetarian diet, particularly a vegan diet which uses no animal products whatsoever, must be especially vigilant in making sure that they get enough selenium in their daily diets. A dietary supplement that contains selenium is a safe and sure means of seeing to it that the diet is not lacking in this important nutrient.
Selenium is a trace mineral which means that the body needs relatively small amounts of it. In the same way that too little intake of these mineral can cause serious health problems, taking too much selenium can also cause health problems. Large amounts can be toxic and can lead to a disease called selenosis. Symptoms include gastrointestinal upsets, hair loss, white blotchy nails, and mild nerve damage. It is therefore necessary to keep selenium supplements, like any other dietary supplement or medication, kept well out of the reach of children at all times.
Dietary supplements have an important job in overall health and well being but they must be treated with the respect that their powerful properties demand. Always take supplements according to the accepted dosage recommendations unless you have specific and personalized alternative dosage instructions from a qualified health care provider.
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Note: This article may be freely reproduced as long as the AUTHOR’S resource box at the bottom of this article is included and and all links must be Active/Linkable with no syntax changes.
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Charlene J. Nuble 2005. For up to date links and information about Vitamins, please go to: http://vitamins.besthealthlink.net/ or for updated links and information on all health related topics, go to: http://www.besthealthlink.net/
The telephone has been a mainstay of society since Alexander Graham Bell first developed the technology.
Telephony has been rapidly changing over recent years, though, as the internet and digital technology open new areas for it, and expand the ways in which we can talk to one another.
Digital Phones
One of the first breakthroughs in telecoms was the advent of digital phones.
Known as DECT phones - Digital Enhanced Cordless Telecommunications - this offers cordless technology and allows different users to share to the same frequency.
This meant that digital phones literally broke the cord that kept people attached to their phones. You could have a handset and wander around the office while talking to someone, and keep the phone with you wherever you were, so long as it was relatively near the room with the receiver, without having to dash through rooms at the faint sound of ringing.
Of course, you could already do this with mobile phones - but the big difference was in the pricing: DECT phones allowed you to make and receive phone calls based on a landline tariff so you were find to use 0800, 0870 and 0845 numbers more accessible for customers, while mobile phones tied you to much higher priced network tariffs.
Teleconferencing
The next big step in office telecoms was teleconferencing over the internet. No longer did you need to leave the office to meet with staff, clients, or other associates - and you did not have to just make telephone calls either. Now you could be seen face to face and set up virtual conferencing rooms online.
Webcams and conferencing software were obviously the big openers for this change, but it has taken a while for this to filter into more common use as the rate of broadband use has significantly increased its share in the market for internet connectivity.
VoIP
VoIP has been the biggest recent change to office communications. Instead of having to use a landline or mobile to telephone people, you can now use the internet for telephony instead.
Not only that, but the calls are often either free or very low rate when made over the internet.
This makes VoIP a very accessible way of making calls generally, and with software such as Skype you can connect with other business associate/clients/workers simply, easily, and with little hassle.
The Future
One thing is clear about the development of telecoms - it’s getting cheaper, and easier, to talk with people.
Not only that, but with digital technology and the internet, comes the promise that one day making calls on video using streaming media, will become as common as a voice-only calling is nowadays.
The world is getting better connected - the future for business communications can only get better.
Brian G Turner is an communications advisor with PMC Telecom, and also runs online libraries of DECT telephones and headsets made available in the UK.
Having a home based business can bring you a lot of benefits, like never having to drive to work, being your own boss, and setting your own work hours. However, you are still running a business, so you need to follow the laws for having a home based business Australia. One aspect of your home based business Australia at which you need to look closely is your taxes.
When looking at your taxes for your home based business Australia, you should first consider if what you are doing is a hobby or an actual home based business. A home based business Australia is one in which the business is operated at home (most of the business is carried out at the home of the owner) or the business is operated from home (the business does not own or rent the home of the owner). However, what you may think is a home based business Australia may really be a hobby if you do not include what you earn from your activities in your assessable income or you do not claim any deductions for expenses associated with your activities.
If you do find that you are running a home based business Australia, then you should examine the structure of the business to make sure it is the right structure for your home based business Australia. Consider if you are truly running a sole trader, partnership, trust, or company, as your home based business Australia will be taxed differently depending on how your business is structured. You want to make sure you are paying the appropriate type of tax for your home based business Australia. If you are not sure, you should sit down with a tax or small business professional to avoid over or underpaying your taxes for your home based business Australia.
Once you know what type of home based business Australia that you are running, you will also need to register you business. It may be a good idea to discuss your home based business Australia with a professional, as you will need to know what tax obligations you have. There are three basic tax obligations like the Goods and Services Tax (GST), Pay As You Go Withholding (PAYG), and the Fringe Benefits Tax. You may also need to obtain an Australian Business Number for your home based business Australia.
Should you have a specific type of home based business Australia, you may need to obtain licenses or local approvals to run your home based business Australia. Check with your local or state officials to see what is required for your home based business Australia.
Should you choose to sell or close down your home based business Australia, you will need to contact the Tax Office to make sure that certain tasks are taken care of. For instance, you may need to cancel your ABN and other registrations. You may also need to make adjustments to your GST final activity statement, calculate a capital gain or loss, and even lodge final tax returns.
Knowing how to handle your home based business Australia taxes is important to the success of your home based business Australia. Making sure you have the right type of home based business and that you have registered your home based business Australia are first steps in moving toward your success in your venture.
Download the Free Quick Start Workbook (Free $97 Value!) and receive valuable tips, strategies and techniques designed to grow a very successful Home Based Business.
Copyright © Charles Fuchs is an established Six Figure Income earner and one of the top online marketer’s. He specializes in helping people start their very own Christian Home Based Business on the internet.
There are several reasons to start an online business.
You hate your job or boss.
You want to make more money.
You want to spend more time with loved ones.
You want more freedom.
You love the Internet.
If you are like me, it’s likely all of the above reasons you are considering an online business. If you have been considering an online business, you probably get overwhelmed by the amount of information. You may even be a little suspect of the many offers out there. I don’t blame you. Imagine it the number of email offers as well as teleseminars represented the number of people at you door, you could not get to your car!
I believe the best way to achieve success online is to build confidence and momentum by gaining small steps of accomplishment. I’m sure that you have seen claims of making $10,000 in a week or something similar. Sure it is possible, but not likely next week. To get to that mark, you will need to make $10, then $100, and then $1000 a week.
If you are just starting, you should invest only a small amount of money and gain some success while learning. There are many affordable options. Here are some of the things you should look for in a package:
Help with Traffic: You need a legitimate way to get qualify preferably targeted traffic to your site.
Conversion: Advice to turning your web traffic into sales is key to your bank account. Sales copy help can save time and make money.
Consider eBay: Ebay is an excellent & easy way to start online because of the tremendous traffic & structure eBay provides.
Web design- you may know html or you can find templates to enhance your sites appearance.
Automation- time is money to everyone. Make sure time-consuming small task are automated by a system in place.
Attitude- online business is simple, but not easy. You are sure to have some frustrating moments and a positive attitude will do wonders for you.
Affiliate- maybe you need helping selling your product or service. Perhaps you can sell the product or service of others. Maybe both. Affiliates are a great way to expand sales.
Search Engine Position- although it could take some time, getting placed at the top of search engines could bring all the traffic you can handle.
Marketing advice- participate in forums & read what various experts are saying so you can effective marketing you web site.
Ezine- publishing ads in online magazines (ezines) can bring in quick sales.
Banners & Pop-ups/ unders- when use correctly can bring efficient.
Blog- Learn to use web log to express your opinion & position yourself as an expert.
Protection- various tools can be used to protect your web copy, links, & code so others can not easily copy your success.
There you have it. The most important thing is to get started & avoid procrastination. All of the items you need can be found at www.ebook-depot.info . Check it out and get started.
Carl Williams
www.ebook-depot.info
support@ebook-depot.info
www.ebook-depot.info
Relate both of everybody’s predominant leisure actvities and what you’ve got is something that’s termed a sportsbook. Seriously, what could possibly be more ingenious? If you picture a gathering of sports enthusiasts clapping to support a given chosen club, and regularly antes will be fixed in tandem with the ruckus. Aspiring to participate in of the action, bystanders recurrently strive to foreknow who will prevail the upcoming competition. At the end of the day, this is set to turn into a nice and amicable competition termed sportsbook.
Learn the best las vegas sports wagering tips at this hot web venue today.
Granted that it admittedly may easily seem obsessive but in actual fact sportsbook wagers is actually solely an entertainment and to bond with friends. Here, you’ll be able to bet a a minute budget of kitty and all the same enjoy yourself. Beyond this, here are various remarks to help you get started sportsbook wagers.
To place a bet, I would advise you go to a sportsbook, which is a place that admits sportsbook. In the US, you will find four states to do sportsbook wagers in a legit manner, but if legality is no concern, you can do it wherever assuming you can determine a bookie AND happen to be legally an adult. On the list of sporting contests you can bet your money on are professional including college football plus basketball, professional baseball, professional hockey, including betting on both horse and dog racing. You’ll have a choice of wagering on the global combined score of a contest or game, when exactly a given contester will go under, and even if a coin toss in a contest or game will land heads or tails.
The sportsbook provider confide in number to aid you judge which club you may suppose will prevail. There’s the balance, i.e. points lead pertaining to a disadvantaged competitor presumed to be beaten by a specific number points. This constitutes the odds maker’s acknowledged routine of enabling fair antes for a sportsbook. By way of an example we can bet money on a side presumed to be beaten and and all the same make money on the wager assuming the competitor takes a licking by a specific number of points.
Why not have a shot at it and have a lot of fun at one fell swoop? But safeguard you won’t get overwhelmed and spend your total retirement fund on a whim! After all, you will certainly end up filled with remorse for the rest of your life!
A conventional race course by and large consists of an extended portion of straight road on which the starting marks are to be found. The pit lane, where the Formula 1 drivers stop for refuelling & tyres during the motor race, & where the F1 constructors operate on the F1 cars prior to the Formula 1 motor race, is customarily to be found in parallel to the starting grid. The layout of the remaining parts of the race track differs substantially, even though in some instances the track is designed in a clockwise way. Those couple of tracks that do go anti-clockwise (C181& so have mainly left-handed turns) may cause F1 drivers health issues owing to the enormous amount of sideways forces generated by Formula One machines pulling their body in the opposite direction to normal.
A numerous number of the circuits currently in operation are uniquely built for racing contests. The modern street race circuits are the Circuit of Monaco & Melbourne, Australia though races in other countries come and go (For Example, Las Vegas & Detroit) & suggestions for such races are time and again discussed ? most recently London and Beirut. Several other tracks are also fully or partially laid out on normal public roads, such as Spa-Francorchamps. The beauty & love of the Monte Carlo Formula 1 grand prix are the important explanations why the course is still in use today, since it’s believed not to meet the rigorous safety rules forced on other courses. Three-time Formula 1 World champion Nelson Piquet notably portrayed driving in Monaco as “like riding a bicycle in your living room”. For all the latest Formula 1 Racing News go to F1Tribute.com today.