Happy 2011!

Happy 2011!  I wish for you all the joys of a new beginning.  Oh, it’s just a date but we’re in charge of our destiny.  Here are some tips to Start Being The Best You:

1.      Do not dwell on your past.  It’s over.  Run forward.

2.      Be in charge of your future.  You’re writing the book of your life.  How do you want it to finish? 

3.      Forgive people who have hurt you.  They have moved on and forgotten it.  You should too.

Stay in touch with God.  One cannot walk this life alone.

Whew, we made it!

Whew, we made it!  Now we gear up for the new year with resolutions.  The Miami Herald article in January, 2010 says that of the 40-45% of people who make New Year's resolutions or goals, only 75% are able to keep their resolutions past the first week. That means that one quarter of people who make New Year's promises do not have enough will power to stay true to themselves for seven days. Here are some tips to Stop Setting Unrealistic Resolutions:

1.      Set goals that you believe are attainable in a reasonable time frame.

2.      Set goals that you want to accomplish - not what someone else wants you to accomplish.

3.      Set goals that will be fun to see results.

4.      Set goals that make you happy.

Read more at Suite101: New Year's Resolutions May Be Hard to Keep: Difficult to Fulfill Promises Made at the End of the Year http://www.suite101.com/content/new-years-resolutions-hard-to-keep-a185460#ixzz14el5wJLy

Happy Holidays to everyone

Happy Holidays to everyone. 

1. Absorb the joyful time with family and friends. 
2. Pause and watch the amazement of children.
3. Drive safely and enjoy the view.
4. Reflect on the reason for the season.

Five Days and counting

Five Days and counting.  How could it be here so fast?  Seems like we just put the decoration in storage.  This week, I would like to suggest you think of your health and nutrition.  The media would lead us to believe women gain 5-8 pounds during the holidays.   Health experts say it is more like one pound. Really?  Well, then why do my clothes get tight before the first of the year?  Here are some tips to Stop Eating Yourself To Sickness:

1. Eat a protein filled snack before going to a party or family gathering.  You will feel full and will truly not be as hungry upon arrival.

2. Face the fact that all tempting, fat and sugar filled foods end up on your thighs.  Eat just enough to get the flavor and don’t over indulge. 

3. Yeast makes you swell.  Period.  If you want to not have tight clothes – eat nothing white until after January 2^nd. You’ll be delighted with your decision!

4.  Enjoy the fruits and nuts of the season.  They are all good for you.

When is the last time you laughed?

When is the last time you laughed? Women never have time to laugh anymore because we are in Holiday Mode and like robots we do what is required.  Laughter is left off the list of things to do.  Here are some tips on Stop Frowning and Turn That Frown Upside Down:

1.  Find humor everywhere.  Even the craziest thing that happens to you this season will be hilarious in two weeks when you tell the story.

2.  Hang out with funny people.  Who needs sadness and doom this time of year.  Select only funny people to associate with during the season.

3.  Find humor in yourself.  Let’s face it – we do some dumb things!  So laugh about it  instead of having negative self talk. 

4.  Bring humor into your home.  Everyone deserves some cheer this year!

Women, make a list of gifts you would like for yourself.

Women, make a list of gifts you would like for yourself.  How often have we received a dust buster and it was the most thoughtful gift of all we received?  We somehow think “They’ll just know.”  T  h  e  y don’t know anything!  Here are tips to Stop Receiving Pitiful Gifts:

1. Be selfish and ask for specific things you will not buy for yourself.
2. Be aware of different price ranges and make the list using various prices.  You’ll get more that way!
3. Be alert to sales on the items you want and let your family and friends know.  Hey, you’re saving them money, right?

Be thankful for all you receive. 

A word from our sponsor

A  n  d,  now a word from our sponsor.  If you are having a tough time deciding on a gift for a friend, why not consider a CD of my seminar, Superwoman: Are You Invincible? Here’s some tips to Stop Being Unbalanced:

1. Remember, you can say no without guilt.   Practice.
2. Remember, you are the only one who thinks those crazy thoughts in your head. Hit the delete button to old thoughts and hurt feelings.  Cleanse.
3. Remember, usually the one tipping the scales toward imbalance is YOU. Breathe.
4. Remember, you think you’re always in charge of everyone else.  Maybe so but ask yourself, “How am I doing taking care of myself? “ Value yourself more.

 Email our office at laura@laurahamilton.com and we will be your elf this year. For $10 per CD you can help women in your life to turn in their red cape for a more balanced lifestyle!

With the holidays just around the corner

With the holidays just around the corner, many of you rush frantically from mall to mall, for internet site to internet site searching for the perfect gift for your loved one.  Here’s some advice to Stop The Madness:

1. Think gift cards.  And, don’t go from store to store to get them.  Go to Walgreens, CVS or your grocery store.  They have multiple choices from department stores, to gaming stores, to music downloads, to Bass Pro Shop. Just make one stop, pick up 14 gift cards and you’re done.  My favorite gift card is a VISA card because people can use it anywhere.

2.  Don’t tell people you did the above.  Let them think you went to multiple stores.  Women, we talk too much and reveal things that need to be kept to ourselves.

3. Everyone loves a gift card.  Get over yourself for not driving yourself nuts by excessive, stressful holiday shopping.

If you love to shop  - good for you.  Be sure to have a complete list prepared before you leave the house and don’t vary on the gifts listed. It saves time and money to stick to the plan.

Let me talk to you, Ms. Griswold

Let me talk to you, Ms. Griswold.  Do you really need to have the biggest display this side of the Mississippi?  Here’s some advice to Stop Over-Decorating:

1.      If you have not used decorations in more than two years, donate the unused ones to organizations that will benefit from your gift.

2.      If you do not hosting events at your house this year minimize the decorations. 

You don’t have to be Martha Stewart every year.

3.      Just like with your wardrobe, have core colors. It simplifies decorating and makes adding to the decorations yearly easier.

4.      It’s most cost effective to purchase new decorations and cards the week following the holidays to use next year.  Somehow, they are prettier when they are 50-75% off.

Superwoman

For this month’s blogs, I have chosen a topic dear to my heart, Superwoman. This marks the 25^th year I have been teaching, revising, updating and researching for one of my most popular seminars Superwoman: Are You Invincible? For you that are not familiar with this session, I teach women how to get over trying to be perfect and just do the best you can!  It is a fun packed, information rich session for women only. 

Women always complain they never have enough time.  But we have all the time there is.  We get 24 hours.  That’s it!  The problem with women is we try to get 28 hours out of the 24 limit.  Here are some tips on Stop Wasting Your Time:

1.      Stop trying to train your family to do things your way, uh, the correct way.

They love you but not that much to do things exactly as you want.

2.      Stop being everything to everyone. They aren’t doing anything for you.

You know why?  Because they wouldn’t do it correctly, according to your right point of view.  Thus, you’ve trained your family to stop helping at all.

3.      Lower your expectations.  You won’t get your feelings hurt so often.

Stop insisting on being perfect.  You’re not perfect and neither is anyone else.

Have you ever thought your family might like to be on your priority list

Have you ever thought your family might like to be on your priority list and not just an after thought?  So often we are acutely aware of every client need but we fail to see the needs for our  family.  Here’s some tips on Putting Family On The A List:

1. When making your list of things to do for the day include a specific timeframe for “family only” activities.

2. Always meet your commitments with the family just like you do with customers.

3. Follow through with promises.  You are always watched by your kids and spouse for keeping promises. You are the role model for your children to learn responsibility.

4. Imagine your family’s happiness when they know they really count in your busy life.

Personal phone calls at work are a major concern for employers.

Personal phone calls at work are a major concern for employers.  With cell phones and Facebook, employees waste 35% of their work time on personal matters.  Now, how would you like to sign an employee’s paycheck knowing they have only given the company 65% of their day?  Here’s some wise Advice for Social Media Addicts:

1. Don’t look at your personal Facebook on the job, period.  Now if you suffer from withdrawals-develop a schedule to check it only twice a day.  

2. Are you really that important that you have to that connected?  Focus on work.  That is why you are getting paid.

3. Remember just 5 years ago we actually went hours before getting a return call or receiving an email reply and we still provided met customer and co-worker needs.

4. Look up when you are walking and try to speak to people. Others are tired of dodging self absorbed people in hallways and on the street who can not keep their eyes on anything but the equipment they have in their hands.

So you have a long winded caller and they will not stop talking

So you have a long winded caller and they will not stop talking.  Why, they don’t even take breaths!  What to do?  They just don’t have a clue we are busy.  Here are some tips on Eliminating The Long Winded Caller:

1. Interrupt them and get the immediately back on the subject

2. Tell them you appreciate the story about XYZ but you have two minutes before a meeting.

3. When you call them – tell them you only have 5 minutes to chat so you need to make it quick.

4. Call them when you know they are away from their desk or gone home and leave a voice mail

You know who else wastes your time?

You know who else wastes your time?  Co-workers!  Everyone has at least one coworker that has to need to chat with you at the most inopportune times.  You have tried to hint you are busy.  You have even told them this is not a good time.  You have even walked out of your own office and they have followed you.  Wassup with that?  Here are some tips for Getting Rid of The Pests:

1. Close your door if you have one.  That’s why they are hanging on their hinges.

2. Move your desk to not face the door. If you face traffic you are the one inviting interruptions.

3. When they walk in – stand the entire time they are in your office. It helps, really.

4.  If you have a cube and they hang over the edge of your walls – put chalk along the edges and they will soon learn they get messy when they invade your space.   If that doesn’t work –shattered glass works miracles!

Guess who wastes the most time in a work environment?

Guess who wastes the most time in a work environment?  Managers!  Managers interrupt staff every 6-9 minutes. And, the poor admin are interrupted every 2-3 minutes.  No wonder we can not complete tasks!    Here are some tips to Prevent Others From Wasting Your Time:

1. Stop the “gotta minutes?”  It interrupts co-workers’ train of thought and productivity.  Save up the interruptions to a minimum of only three times daily.

2. Remove the chairs from your office if you can.  The chairs serve as an open invitation for people to take a break in your workspace.

3. When constant interrupters visit – stand up the entire time.  It gives the impression that you are busy.

4. Encourage appointments.  Usually by the time the appointment arrives, they have already solved the problem.

One would think in this day and age

One would think in this day and age, that people would know how to use a phone, right?  Often we are still mistreated on the phone because people think if we can’t see them they can just behave in any manner.  Here are some tips to being for Telephone Professionalism:

1. Cut the small talk.  It wastes everyone’s time.

2. Plan the call for ease of conversation and focus. 

3. Come to a prompt close once business has been completed.

4. Cut off long winded callers by interrupting them while gently guiding them back to the subject.

Texting is a dangerous way of communication

I think Texting is a dangerous way of communication.  First, it takes away the importance of interpersonal communication.  Second, it leads us to believe everything is urgent.  Third, it’s leads us to think we are indispensable.  Here are some tips for Proper Texting Techniques:

1. Each text does not have to be answered immediately.  If you are employed, it might be wise to only text business related things during working hours.  Employers are evaluating the amount of time employees are texting.

2. Turn off the text during productive times in the day.

3. Do not text while driving, in a meeting, at a funeral, in church or during job interviews.  Oh, you laugh!  These take place daily.

4. If you have a constant texter – tell them their thumbs will be broken if they do not stop now!

Welcome to Laura Hamilton Seminars’ blogs!

Our goal is to provide informative blogs to enhance your knowledge of the chosen topic of month.  This month we will feature Time Management.

When I started in the professional speaking business in the 80s as a motivational speaker and trainer, I worked with Bill Brooks at The Brooks Group. We conducted Time Management Seminars …long time management sessions!  We usually did three (3) days, eight (8) hours daily to enrich participants’ lives.  Actually, I think we numbed them into time management robots!  Apologies to those who sat through the long sessions!

I have found that time management principles never change – technology does.  People rarely have a good grip on their skills.  Here are some tips for Effective Emailing:

1. In everything time management, always think, do I:    Do It  -  Delegate It  or  -  Dump It

2. Delete unwanted, spam, and non-essential emails before you open any others. – Dump It!

3. Flagging can be used as a delaying tactic instead of taking immediate action – Do It!

4. If the email needs to be forwarded to another person – Delegate It!