OLE HENRIKSEN 올레 헨릭슨 Truth Serum Collagen Booster Review by Careergal Skincare

 

OLE HENRIKSEN  Truth Serum Collagen Booster !

( 올레헨릭슨 트루스 세럼 )

“Potent vitamin C complex to brighten, smooth and help the appearance of aging”

For this week’s Careergal #SkincareSaturday Review, we are introducing our favorite dark spot reducing, freckles lightening, and  collagen boosting Truth Serum from OLE HENRIKSEN.  Infused with orange and green tea extract, the Truth Serum Collagen Booster is a great daily supplement to your skincare routine.

 

OLE HENRIKSEN TRUTH SERUM COLLAGEN BOOSTER

TEXTURE: Soft, gel-like texture so it doesn’t run down your face like water. Not greasy and absorbs fast!

SMELL: Bitter-sweet, Orange peel

KEY INGREDIENTS INCLUDE: Water, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Orange Fruit Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Euphrasis Offinalis Extract, Rosa Canina Fruit Extract, Grapefruit Seed Exract

BENEFITS:  This Collagen Booster serum really works great for people with dark spots and freckles. (ME!) It absorbs wonderfully onto your skin and leaves it feeling supple and moist immediately after.  There is a definite, noticeable difference in the reduction of dark spots / freckles after use within 3-4 months.  I would recommend using it as part of your night time routine, but I also like to put it on under make up (before moisture cream) in the morning.  Don’t forget to gently rub it onto  your neck as well – it truly helps maintain a youthful glow on your neck (those of you who have deep lines on your neck, you know exactly what I’m referring to!!!) and works well as a decollete cream.

 

TIP 1: Pump 2-3 drops of the Truth Serum Collagen Booster onto a facial sheet mask  of your choice and refrigerate for 5 minutes before putting it on your face.  It leaves your face feeling cool and refreshed and saves your dry skin from becoming a permanent desert of wrinkles!

TIP 2: After putting the Truth Serum on your face, wrap your face gently with the two palms of your hands (clean hands!!) and gently keep your cheeks wrapped for about 1-2 minutes.  This always helps in getting the serum absorbed into your skin better.  Then, continue with your regular skincare routine – hydrate with your cream, etc.

Overall:  To summarize, OLEHENRIKSEN’s  Truth Serum Collagen Booster is truly one of the best serums out on the beauty market today. We all know that collagen and vitamin C can do wonders for our skin (chewing down on carrots and kale), and the Truth Serum is a great supplement to boost the anti-aging effects of collagen and Vitamin C for our skin.   

Here’s a VIDEO of Ole Henriksen himself !!

How to Apply Ole Henriksen Truth Serum Vitamin C Collagen Booster by SEPHORA

It’s available in 2 sizes – 1.0 and 1.7 fluid ounce at Amazon or Sephora! 

Ole Henriksen Truth Serum Collagen Booster, 1.0 Fluid Ounce

AMAZON

 

Ole Henriksen  올레 헨릭슨의 정말 유명한 제품인 베스트 셀러 Truth Serum Collagen Booster! 미국에서는 대단한 인기 인데요 … 콜라겐과 비타민 C 로 특히 주근깨나 잔주름이 걱정이신 분들께는 최고의 세럼인거 같아요.  한번 꼭 써보시길 *^^* 가격은 좀 비싼 편이지만 그만큼 효과가 좋은것 같아요.

 

#skincaresaturday #careergalskincare #올레헨릭슨 #olehenriksen #트루스세럼

 

 

Top 10 Tips Guaranteed to Make You Happier and Wildly Successful in Your Twenties (20s)

 

Oh, How we WISH we knew this back then.

“Remember, your 20s only happen ONCE in a lifetime”

PART One: #1 through #5

We asked our Fearless Leaders in their Thirties (30s) – AKA my friends (thanks, girls!) – to take a trip down memory lane for some career advice and life lessons to share with their Fabulous Twenties (20s) counterparts.

Here’s a list of what they learned in their 20s, some things they wish they could have known back then, and why they think you’d be happier if you follow these 10 tips for success.

1.  Millenials, Be Fearless. #feelthehope

• Fear is the most debilitating and paralyzing enemy we had in our 20s. Fear of failure, being alone, being unlikeable, not meeting others’ expectations, and/or being embarrassed have all held us back at one point in our lives. The trick is to redefine fear in your mind. Understand that fear is a natural, common feeling and phenomenon for all of us (even the BEST of us!). “Fearless” in our books doesn’t necessarily mean that we never feel fear.   On the contrary, it means that we know what fear feels like – that knee-shaking, heart-stopping moment at some point in our lives.  “Fearless” to us means that we’ve learned to actually overcome it.  We’ve felt it, but we still kept going.  We pushed and pushed forward, no matter what, because we knew it was the right thing to do. And we did so with that idealism and passion of a Twenty Something year old.  So when you fear something or someone, understand that like all other emotions, fear does not have to define or drive the decisions you make in your 20s.

2. Work. Work HARD. Like, REALLY HARD.

• If you find yourself glancing over any get rich quick schemes or constantly updating yourself about who’s on the 30 under 30 list, know that nearly 99% of your success will be the direct result of nothing else but sweating it in your 20s. Overtime? Check. Volunteering on Weekends? Double Check. Part time school on evenings? Check. If you’re defining your work day as a 8 AM coffee to 4:59 PM let’s run out the door, we can guarantee that success will not come knocking on your door.  Work hard. Commit to ensuring that your work is a reflection of your best self and know that you will always be your own best advocate. From the shortest memos to the most complex program designs, own it! Yes, “work smarter, not harder” – we have all heard that phrase, but understand that nothing worth having in life will be handed to you. Throw away your sense of entitlement. If you truly want something, work for it and be ready to roll up your sleeves when opportunity knocks.

3. Be Ready to Welcome Failures – in ALL Aspects of Your life. 

• Failed relationships? Been there. Failed Career moves? Yup. Failed to pay the Credit Cards? Ouch! We have an Acronym to describe the not so glamorous days of our 20’s: FFOYF – Fall Flat On Your Face. No matter how smart, how beautiful, how gifted and special you are, the inevitable moment FFOYF will come. We realize that you’ve heard this a thousand times  already, but really, life is about being ready to learn from your failures and mistakes. (That’s the 1,001st time you’ve heard it, so know that it’s something worth remembering!) And we’re very sorry to say this, but sometimes, the harder you fall, the softer the blow on your long-term well being. (Think of it as the Universe practicing tough love for you.) Sometimes, we just had to trust that things were meant to break apart to fall into its ideal place.  And the only way we could ever run faster (or fly even), was by first learning how to get back up.  The important thing is that we recognized the reasons behind our failures and we promised ourselves to be better from it, not worse.

4. Learn as Much as You Can / Actively Seek Out Opportunities to Build Skills.

• Have a Coursera account? Log in. Udacity? DO it! Skillshare? What are you waiting for? Learn to knit, create illustrations, code, build websites, and otherwise build as many skill as you can and want. Ever catch yourself saying, ‘Oh yeah, that sounds interesting. Maybe I’ll do it.” Well, turn that “Maybe” into a “Must”, and you will be glad you did in your 30s. Any technique and/or skill that you pick up in your 20s will become a huge asset in your 30s.  Whether it’s volunteering to help out another team’s project or assisting a Manager to help launch his/her plan, be proactive in seeking out new opportunities for growth.

5. Be Your Own Best Friend.

• For us, this was the most difficult part of it all. In our 20s, we were so busy being critical of ourselves and so engrossed in the idea of trying to be a certain “Me” that we had to re-learn what it meant to feel comfortable in our skin again.  We can’t stress the importance of investing in who you are. Whether it’s taking up a hobby or relaxing by the beach for 30 minutes or having a glass of your favorite tea in the morning, don’t hesitate to set aside some time for you and you alone. And please do talk to yourself. (Ok, so maybe not in public.) Tell yourself it’s going to be great, that tomorrow is going to be awesome, and that everything will turn out okay in the end. To summarize, treat yourself the way you’d want to be treated by that Ideal Guy you’ve been trying to dream into reality. (We’ll touch upon this mega-important issue in Part 2, hoho!)

*****************************************************************************************************************************

Hope you enjoyed our humble Part 1 to thriving in your fabulous 20s.

Any comments or suggestions? Feel free to email us or leave your thoughts below.

<Careergal’s Part 1 from The 30 Something Girls’ Guide to Surviving, NO, Thriving in your Twenties ! >

#imwithher #feelthebern

Enchanted Forest Review: Stress Busting with Basford’s Coloring Book

Enchanted Forest by Johanna Basford

Quick Review of Enchanted Forest : “Inky Quest & Coloring Book”

Looking for an activity that doesn’t require too much brain power yet leaves you feeling accomplished at the end? Adult coloring books are becoming more popular than ever, and it’s become a staple of fun, creative, and stress reducing activity at home or at work.  Zen out by coloring these pages during your breaks and lunch time.

 

3 Reasons We Love This Book

1. Beautiful Illustrations

Basford transports you to an enchanted world with gorgeous illustrations.  Who wouldn’t want to color this dragon?!?!?

2.  Chance to Make it OURS

You can make this book completely yours (free rein on colors and for those of us who aren’t so great at illustrations – hey, it’s all laid out for us already.)  Autonomy and Creative Ownership is precious! Feel free to make it yours.

I felt no shame in designating a title for my enchanted self, either

3. Activities within Each Page

Each page comes with symbols that you can discover! If you are an investigative soul, unleash that Sherlock Holmes in you to find these hidden symbols.

 

 

 

Overall, the Enchanted Forest is a beautiful collection of illustrations that sends us back to our childhood dreams of princesses, dragons, and magical creatures.  It makes a wonderful gift for “adults” of  ALL AGES who love art and enjoy coloring.  

 

 

Enchanted Forest is available on Amazon Books

 

 

HERA 헤라 Cell Essence Cell-Bio Sync Review – 전지현 에센스

The highlight of my #SkincareSaturday – new, upgraded 2016 HERA Cell Essence from #AmorePacific has finally launched!  

And who better to adorn the benefits of its cell defining and moisture infusing qualities than Giana Jun (Jun Ji-Hyun) ?

 

from HERA.CO.KR

 

HERA  explains that “As we age, we experience a number of skin problems including dry, tight and rough skin with a gradual build up of dead skin cells. HERA carried out research on 129 Korean women and defined the core of these problems as Skin Desertification™. HERA CELL ESSENCE is a functional essence that prevents Skin Desertification while delivering moisture deep inside to leave skin clean, clear and flawless.”

Here’s my pre-2016 version, which I’ve been using religiously. I’m waiting for the upgraded bottle to arrive!

 

When you open the box, you will realize that HERA Cell Essence Cell-Bio Fluid Sync comes not only with the Cell Essence bottle, but a 30-day worth of double sided cotton pads! (Love!)

 

The WAVE Pattern for a Gentle Sweep

The MESH Pattern to help remove dust/oil, etc.

 

 

 

 The MESH Pattern is used in helping remove dust and dead skin cells while the WAVE Pattern is used for a gentle, softer sweep.

Crowned as one of South Korea’s best skincare regimen, HERA boasts a loyal following from women in their late 20’s and 30’s.   Its “mother” brand, Amore Pacific can be found at Beauty department stores, including Sephora, of course. Unlike Nature Republic, Faceshop, and other popular Korean brands, HERA is on the higher-end when it comes to price – about $75 US dollars for each essence bottle (30-day supply).

 

The bottle comes with a convenient measuring sign (dots!!), with each increment being 5 ml. The company recommends that you use 2.5 ml in the morning and at night, totaling 5 ml per day.

 

And here’s the HERA Makeup and Skincare CF ( commercial film / ad )with Giana Jun (Jun Ji-Hyun) in Seoul, South Korea! (Who knew a red turtle neck could look so good? Agree? )

 

 

 

If you are dealing with dry and bumpy skin, I highly recommend the HERA Cell Essence  for its instant smoothing effects. It truly is one of the best, if not the most often recommended Toners from Korean Skincare product lines.   Not only is this essence one of my all-time favorites in the category of must-have toner/essence, I think it trumps over the SK-II toner on many different levels, including price.

TIP: Store your essence in your refrigerator in the summer.  Soak your cotton pads with the essence, then leave on your cheeks for 5-10 minutes.  Not only does it give you a much needed moisturizing effect,  it helps to tighten your pores and assists in ensuring that your makeup glides with that dewy, porcelain effect.

 

 

Stationery Magic for Your Office- Best Ideas and Tips for Desk Accessorizing

Moroccan-themed colored glasses as pen holders ? (Love!)  The golden glitter trim adds that extra dash of glamour, which I appreciate wholeheartedly every time I want to leave my desk. (Inspire me!)

I remember falling in love with all the colors of this Northern African country.  The Marrakech souks were busy with shoppers and tourists, but most Moroccans were holding such glasses and leisurely enjoying their afternoon Mint Tea.   At every riad, mint tea was being served, along with a pile of …   SUGAR CUBES !!  *^^*

Trying to recreate this feeling at the office has been challenging (I can’t exactly have sugar cubes lying around), but I’ve come closer to it more than ever and seriously under budget.  (The trick is to buy one piece at a time when my husband is busy making “practical” purchases.)

Sure, they’re meant for great tea, but it couldn’t hurt to use these glasses as stationary pieces for your office.  After all, the mint here just doesn’t taste the same. Coupled with my latest twig colored pencils ($3.99 for the bundle thanks to World Market), they make the best centerpiece for any desk.

Any thoughts on cute/fancy/inspiring office stationery and where to purchase them?

Here are my list of favorites (I could spend hours just browsing!):

Modcloth

World Market

Fallindesign

Daiso

Stay Hungry. Stay Foolish.

“Have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary.” -Steve Jobs-

 

One of the most beloved commencement speeches belong to Steve Jobs, who reminded the graduating class of 2005 to “Stay Hungry. Stay Foolish”.

Beginning this Monday with a perfect reason to stay hungry and ending it with a bold reminder that  “everything else is secondary”.

#motivationmonday #leadership #stevejobs #motivationalquotes #tech #inspire

 

Leaders- Why We Shouldn’t Hide Behind Texts

As more and more Millennials enter the workplace, especially as first-time Managers, we may fall into the dangerous pit of texting feedback to employees.

Rather than taking the time to talk to employees in person (you mean we have to look at these people!??!?!) to tell them how great their performance has been so far, some leaders choose to … text.

(TEXT: You’ve been really great so far. I think you’re doing an awesome job! Thank you for all the hard work you’ve been doing! I want you to know how talented you are and how much I appreciate your hard work.  REALITY: I am literally sitting 5 feet away from you, but I will take the time to send long texts instead of walking over to talk to you. Because you know, that’s like way too much trouble for me. You’re so not worth that 5 ft. walk.)

And even worse, some leaders choose to have difficult conversations with their employees over text. (Warning: This behavior is the EQUIVALENT of breaking up with someone over a text!!! And I have yet to hear of a “break-up over texting” that’s gone well.)

So what’s really wrong with texting here?

First, however, it’s important to note that there is absolutely nothing wrong with the act of texting your boss and/or your staff; it’s HOW you use the medium that matters.

Texting can be a wonderful tool for providing brief status updates or even for relaying simple, short messages of gratitude (Thanks for helping out earlier!).  Also, it can be a great tool to communicate simple messages and to share information or updates when speaking on the phone isn’t an option.

However, under no circumstances should texting be the go-to medium for providing important critique or for resolving conflict.

And here’s why:

Your INTENT can be LOST through the way in which the message is RECEIVED

 

 

As many of us may already know, intent is a tricky and elusive thing. We intend to say “great”, but at a certain point during our conversation, “great” can be reduced to “barely meeting expectations”. We’ve all been there before – either as managers or as staff- where you feel misunderstood and wonder how your grand intentions can be taken in such a damaging way.

As leaders, one of our most important commitments to our teams must be that we’re always willing and open to clarify our intent. (Ever heard of the art of persuasion? Trust me, you’ll need it as a Manager.) Texting is not the best medium for clarifying your intent, and hence, it should never be used to provide important feedback, such as critique on behavior or recognition of a job well done. (Text me to let me know that you’ll be 10 minutes late, not to tell me that we’re 10 days behind on the budget deadline!!) Remember that as a manager, it will not always be about your INTENT, but more so about the way in which the other person RECEIVES your message.

And to the managers who keep track of how many times you’ve recognized staff over texts or emails, we ask that you please stop keeping track because NONE of those recognitions have ever really reached your staff. And soon (hopefully), you’ll find out why.

Establishing a connection is key when you deliver your intent to another individual, and texting just isn’t the best medium for setting the stage for a real, human connection. Please save the important conversations for in-person meetings – well, unless you have to manage from overseas. Unless there is a logistical barrier (having to walk out of your office does not count as a barrier), start the new year by establishing renewed “human” connections with your staff and/or your boss- let them hear your enthusiasm when you say that they’ve done a “wonderful job!” Let them hear your apology instead of making them wonder whether you really meant it this time.

Take a brief pause to first think about how your intent will be received. Is texting your intent really the best way to deliver your message?

Start there, and it will be a new year in #Millenial management.

 

Happy Holidays and Happy Leading!

‘Tis the Season to Eat Together

 

Ever heard anyone complain about having to eat lunch (bah humbug) with his/her boss? Sure, you did. Whether it’s the dreaded (or celebrated!) company holiday party or a one-on-one (because we all know it’s a meeting, not really lunch), many find themselves a little short of appetite with the thought of eating with the boss.

Fortunately for me, I’ve had bosses who

1) Really just wanted to eat – why talk about work when we’re eating? Are you insane?

2) Personally took the time to get to know me

3) Knew how to connect with me so that we can always have an honest conversation

4) Understood my appetite for sweets, even when it made me sick afterwards

 

I enjoyed speaking to them, receiving feedback (negative and positive), and MOST importantly, spending time with them, because I knew that in the bigger scheme of things, my bosses were personally invested in my success. (Or… I was always an incredibly narcissistic and optimistic individual. Take your pick.)

They were invested in the success of the organization but also in the idea of how my skills do and will continue to add value to the team. These are the bosses you meet along the way who help shape the leader you will become tomorrow. You look back and wish you could have done more to help solidify their vision.

Unfortunately, for some people, the thought of sitting face to face with a boss for any longer than I can say “bon appetite” can make them want to visit Chi-pot-e.coli.

And this is very bad news, indeed.

 

According to a recent article in the Harvard Business Review, “cooperative behavior … was considerably greater – about twice as high – among team members who ate with one another than among those who didn’t”. The article explores the research by Kevin M Kniffin and his team at Cornell University, which argues that there is a “deceptively simple method” for building more cohesive teams.

This simple method is to simply “encourage teams to eat together”. (Eat and you shall receive!)

After all, we live in a time where many employees find no value in “mundane” company gatherings, and most company events are seen as “Dilbertesque symbol of managers’ wrongheaded attempts to create intimacy among employees.” (HBR, December 2015) You’re welcome – I’ve added a link to define “Dilbertesque” for those who may need to google it – anyone born in the 90s?!

Needless to say, it’s evident that such types of gatherings whether it’s over lunch, a company cook-a-thon, or coffee, are important and maybe even “extraordinarily meaningful” in building collaboration.

Yes, lunch and breaks are meant to be “our time” or personal time.

But there is great value in investing your time to sit down with your boss and to ask the most important question of all, “hey boss, how are you?” Humanize the process.

And so in return, there is tremendous value in sitting down with your staff to ask them how they’re doing, to put a face to that email signature, and to understand what makes your staff thrive at work. (Do you know what makes your staff happy? And bad managers, please take heed: this is not your chance to invite employees out to “fish” for info or use personal information against them at a later time. Use that time, instead, to go seek out a therapist.)

So start building that relationship with your staff, your boss, and your coworkers – one bite at a time. It will be well worth your time, and it can come with a great meal and perhaps even a friendship that you will come to appreciate.

 

Happy Holidays, everyone!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Reminder for the Working Dead – Wait Before You Hit SEND! How to Stop Responding Right Away to Upsetting Emails

I think we’ve all been down this road before.

You receive an email from someone and your first impulse is to start typing, “Dear Idiot to whom I have responded 10 times and have gotten nowhere on the same topic, which by the way, I don’t really care about. ”

Okay. Yes, as the WorkingDead, we have every right to be zombie mad.

Like a virus taking over, your mind is filling up with what I call “anger bubbles” that are about to burst any second now.

And the best thing you can do at this moment is to hum. Yep, try it. Go ahead… hum to you favorite tune. Distract yourself in any way possible to find your composure before responding. Heck, you may choose not to respond until tomorrow.

The point is, I’ve learned that there is no reason to feed into your frustration or anger by responding immediately to an upsetting email. (that and I tend to make grammatical errors on angry responses. Look how you upset me!! Look at all these typos!!)

When you try to respond in an agitated state, your brain is working through all those anger bubbles to arrive at what really matters – communicating your thoughts effectively.

And what happens to an otherwise well-formed thought once it goes through these anger bubbles? Well, it varies from person to person, but the end result is rarely ever constructive.

So just a friendly reminder to us all:

To create a more positive and friendly work-environment, lets make an effort to walk/hum/snack/doodle/think before we (happily) hit send.

Treats , not Tricks!

Don’t Let Meetings Demoralize Your Team: Meeting Planner Tips for Every Leader

So just how exactly can you avoid having demoralizing meetings?

Each meeting should aim to model these four key elements: Purpose, Preface, Discussion, and Decision.

Lets call this meeting model PPDD, dangerously close to PTSD, I know, and for a good reason.

Bad meetings can leave your employees feelings like they have the stomach flu (or any other unforeseen medical emergencies) each and every time you call a meeting.

“In a recent Harris poll, sponsored by the online collaboration company Clarizen, 46 percent of respondents said they’d prefer to do almost anything else instead of sitting in a status meeting. Seventeen percent said they would choose to watch paint dry. Eight percent said they would opt for root canal.” (Source: Inc)

 

As much as I love watching my DIY paint project come to fruition, some of the worst meetings I have attended have been the notorious “status” meetings or as we call it, the “check-in” or “routine” meetings. (Paging employee #1. What’s your status, over? Employee #1 checking in, over. Just let me do my job, over.)

So the next time you have the urge to call a meeting, don’t forget to address everything on PPDD prior to scheduling one. If you cannot answer the Purpose and the Preface without having to say “just because” or “because I feel like we need one” (your feelings are very wrong!), you probably should reconsider calling everyone into a meeting.

 

Each of the four key meeting elements addresses at least one important question.

 

Purpose – Answers WHAT.

What are you hoping to address at the meeting and what issues are you trying to resolve? What is the end result you hope to accomplish?

 

Preface – Answers WHY.

Why is it imperative that you address the issue with your team? Is this something that must be addressed immediately?

 

Discussion- Answers HOW.

How do we solve the problem, make adjustments, or move forward with an existing plan? How are you going to tackle challenges, improve performance, and keep your team motivated?

 

Decision – Answers WHO.

Who has the expertise to address your WHAT, WHY, and HOW? What are the responsibilities of each team member in implementing ideas and plans from Discussion?

 

Once you are able to formulate concrete answers to the Purpose and Preface, aim to tackle both Discussion and Decision during the meeting. Each employee should leave the meeting with a clear understanding of all key points covered during Discussion and Decision.

 

Here’s an example of a well-established PPDD. At the end of the meeting, each person should be able to agree on the details of all four key elements:

 

P – Creating marketing materials for our new program. Content must be updated within the next few weeks.

P – There is an opportunity to market our new program at the next meet-up in 3 weeks. By then, the group must come up with ideas for web and user interface design, downloadable materials, and flyers

D – The website is outdated and we need our new program information visible on the landing page. According to analytics, our blog has the most views from our target audience – the blog should be utilized to attract more following.

D – Larry will work with Lara on flyers and downloadable content for the website by next Thursday. Jack and Dorsey will work on updating company blog by next Wednesday.

 

Just to give you an idea of how a meeting can go wrong, here’s an example of a PPDD flop:

 

P – There’s a meet-up in a few weeks. We should have a meeting to discuss what we should do.

P – There is an opportunity to market our new program. Someone should do something, so lets talk.

D – The website is outdated and we need new program information visible on the page. Why is no one handling this? It should have been taken care of last month! By the way, how is the open house event coming along? When will we expect to have a company get together?

D – That was a great discussion.   Lets plan to meet next Wednesday since there’s a meet-up in a few weeks. We should have a meeting to discuss what we should do.  Is everyone free to meet next Wednesday?

 

A bad meeting, therefore, lacks specifics in both the Purpose and the Preface and then ends the meeting by repeating the Purpose in the Decision process. The result is one or both of two unfortunate scenarios:

Everyone leaves the meeting frustrated or confused without a clear sense of his/her responsibility in addressing topics discussed. More meetings are necessary to address the real task at hand, possibly leaving important goals to be met very last minute or the entire topic is postponed, creating a consensus among employees that “nothing gets done”.

If we wish to rely on meetings to address challenges, create solutions, and to move our teams forward, perhaps we first need to address the ways in which we plan and execute our meetings.

 

Happy Leading!

Motivation Monday: Celebrate “I” but Don’t Forget “US”

“We are CactI, because we know what it means to be a CactUS”

Happy Monday! Here’s to another week of celebrating our individuality while learning to lead as a team.

#mondaylaughs #dowhatyoulove #lovewhereyouwork #cactusfordesks

 

#motivationmonday #teamwork #webelongtogether #funnyquotes #ifplantscouldtalk

Careergal Skincare Review: Must Have Face Mist & Spray from Avene and Korean Skincare – Nature Republic, FaceShop, and Reorom

Whether you’re under the sun a lot or stuck in an air-conditioned office all day (sometimes all night, depending on how badly you want that promotion), if there is one thing you need in your makeup bag, it’s your favorite Face Mist or Spray.  Well, unless you don’t wear any makeup at all – then good old H20 will suffice. But for the 99% of us, including this Careergal,  this is the only way to keep ourselves feeling somewhat refreshed (and sane) after 12 hour workdays or overnight work days (girls got deadlines to meet, so bring on the mist).

Here are four different types of sprays I like to use:  Avene Eau Terhmale Thermal Spring Water (From Paris- great for AM), The FaceShop Bee Venom Solution Mist (From Seoul – great for AM), Reorom Hydra Secret Spray Serum (From Seoul-after Make Up), and Nature Republic Argan 20 Essential Toner (From Seoul – great for PM, before bed).

Some mists/sprays are better to use after putting on makeup (some actually helps in setting the makeup on your skin) and some are better to use as a toner for your bare skin (either in AM or PM).

 

Avene – 5/5 diamonds !!!

Highly recommended (I bought as many as I could carry in my suitcase when I was in Paris last fall.) French drugstore super-star!!!  You can spray these on right after you take a shower in AM, come back from jogging, and/or when your skin feels tight from dryness.  I usually use this BEFORE putting makeup on.  It’s soft, subtle, beautifully rich but light texture.  Check it out – Avene Thermal Water

 

THEFACESHOP – 4/5 Diamonds !!

Very subtle, sweet-smelling mist, reportedly made with Royal Jelly extract. (See benefits of Royal Jelly here) THEFACESHOP is great for cost-conscious shoppers.  Great for AM or PM use.  I wouldn’t recommend it for after makeup, because it can get a little sticky and it’s not as absorbent as Avene.  But if you’re not ready to invest more than $15 on a mist bottle, this one is a great grab. I believe they have repackaged the product since I last made my purchase, but you can easily purchase these on Amazon: http://amzn.to/1DsdVpG

 

 

REOROM – 5/5 Diamonds !!!

Reorom is the reason I really started my love affair with mists. (This mist makes your skin GLOW) This bottle is like an elixir of magical minerals that just keeps my makeup intact for 10 hours straight.  Unlike other mists/sprays here, you DO NOT need to pat your face after spraying this on. In fact, I recommend that you DON’T touch your face after you put this on.  This mist is what really helps your makeup to set onto your skin; spray it on in a circular motion (after eyeshadow/lipstick, etc.)  and let it air dry.  Unfortunately, these are nearly impossible to find unless you live close to an Asian/Korean cosmetics store in the U.S or you have someone in Korea who’s nice enough to ship it to you.  Here’s the website: www.kgclifengin.com . It may pop up on Ebay from time to time as well.

 

 

NATURE REPUBLIC – 4/5 Diamonds !!

From none other than my favorite brand,  NATURE REPUBLIC  !!  Containing argan oil, this mist works as a toner for your face.

I believe Nature Republic has an entire line of Argan Oil products.  This spray is one of them.  I enjoy using this spray after taking a shower at night – it sprays on thicker than Avene or THEFACESHOP products, and feels much more suitable for bedtime.  Spray it on and pat dry onto your skin after  2-3 minutes.  On nights when you’re too tired/lazy/pressed for time for your regular bedtime skin-care routine, skip everything else and just spray this toner on. (It keeps your face moist throughout the night)

TIPS!

1. Summer nights can be hot!! And humid, depending on where you live.  Feel free to leave these sprays in the refrigerator to keep them COOL.
2. Recycle!  Almost all of these sprays/mists come in containers that can be recycled.  Please don’t forget to “skin-care” our beautiful planet as well.

#미스트  #네이쳐리퍼블릭  #한국화장품

Brain Teaser Questions for Job Seekers – Tips on How to Answer Odd Interview Questions

So I wanted to share some pretty random, totally legal, and wildly interesting interview questions I’ve come across. (Some I answered well; some I answered with “uuuummmmmmmmmmmmm ….” Yup. It happens. It happened to me three times in a row at one interview. What came after can only be described as feeling like I had carried my car back home on my right shoulder. ) To be very honest, I’m not so certain that these questions are a be-all end-all measure of one’s creativity or critical thinking skills, but some companies do rely heavily on these questions to select from a pool of equally qualified candidates.

There is no right or wrong answer; but you must be ready to dazzle and to inspire!  In order to do this, you must train and re-train your brain. 

Best Finger Food for Parties – How to Make Charcuterie Plate

Hosting a small party for your work colleagues or friends?

Want to impress without being overwhelmed with catering costs or investing time for cooking?

Then let them eat Charcuterie (shar-kytuh–ree) !

In simpler terms, it’s a party platter made up of cheese, nuts, bread/crackers, fruits, vegetables, and cured meats/sausages, arranged beautifully with a French flair. (Bon Appetit!)

Here’s what you’ll need to create these mouth watering, gorgeous to look at, totally instagram-ready platters:

1. MEAT! In thin slices! (must)

Cured meats, salami, sausages should all be on your radar. (Some people prefer to go to a local deli, but the grocery stores will always have a wide selection, so no worries.) Typically, people recommend at least 3 selections of meat – your guests will appreciate the variety.

2. Anything pickled (optional)

Olives are always an excellent choice, but I’ve also seen pickled baby carrots and red onions. There’s no such thing as a “must-have pickled “ list. Be as creative as you like. And don’t slice anything!! Serve them “whole”. Baby dill pickles are fine, but no slicing or dicing! (Don’t make them look like the pickles that go on hotdogs!)

3. PATÉ (optional)

Paté is a “mixture of cooked ground meat and fat minced into a spreadable paste” (en.wikipedia.org). The creamy texture allows you to spread it on your bread or crackers like it’s some sort of meat lover’s substitute for fruit jam.  All the more reason to spread some more onto those crackers!

4. Fruits & Vegetable (must)

Fresh vegetables can be tossed on to the plate (like garnish) at the end (spinach, baby arugula, etc.), but definitely try to add some fruits like cherries or grapes on the board as well. It brings nutritional value to your plate, in addition to the natural, beautiful colors that these berries can bring.

5. Spreads & Nuts (optional)

Fruit spreads are always a good idea for a charcuterie board. Apricots, blackberries, blueberries – I prefer apricot or orange fig, but you be the judge. These spreads always pair well with the meat and crackers on your board. And nuts! I’d stay away from peanuts (I know quite a few people who have peanut allergies), but I’ve yet to meet someone allergic to almonds or walnuts …. (eat at your own risk)

6. Grilled Bread and Crackers! (must)

The bread doesn’t have to be grilled, but it’s a nice extra touch for the party. Try serving a variety of crackers on the board – from whole grain to rye, maybe even ones with flax seed!

And Voila! You’re done!

No cooking involved. And everything should be served on the platter/board, but you can always choose to serve the bread/crackers separately if there isn’t enough room.  Pair with some great wine and you’re ready to impress with your gorgeous platters.

#partyplanning #charcuterie #cheeseplatter by @clarakim811

Feel free to subscribe if you like these ideas and would like to see more!

Happy hosting!

DIY Party Decoration Ideas – Macarons as Christmas Ornaments

Macarons (Sometimes called the “French Macaroons”) are great for parties because they add so much COLOR to your decorative flair.  I recently came across a great idea to use Christmas Ornaments for arranging these delicious and colorful treats.  These fillable, plastic balls can be found easily online http://amzn.to/1Vy8LMx or at your local arts & craft stores (Michael’s, Jo Ann, etc.)  

Once you fill up these clear balls with macarons, either hang them up around the room or spread them across the table for people to grab!

Happy Macaron-ing and thanks for stopping by #Atelier!

 

Managing People You Don’t Like (Let’s Face it. We Can’t Like Everyone We Work With)

From www.dreamacareer.com

In a perfect world, everyone on your team is a star player with a fantastic attitude and a go-above-and-beyond willingness to get the job done. Unfortunately, I and many other young managers have found ourselves losing sleep (because we want our people to succeed! Help ME help YOU) over a few “bad apples” we need to motivate (the person we have that dreaded “Help ME help YOU” conversation with). Remember how when we were captains during PE time and there’s that ONE kid nobody wants on the team? (Of course, it wasn’t me. Um…yeah, of course, like NEVER.) Maybe you were that one kid or maybe you were the captain faced with the decision of having to, reluctantly, choose this person. And everyone is whispering in your ear, “No. Not him. No no no!! We’ll lose.”

Well, unfortunately, I have learned that this situation wasn’t exclusive to my middle school PE time. For better or worse, it followed me well into management and beyond.

So how do we work with employees that we (or anyone else on the team) just can’t seem to get along with? How do we avoid having the awkward “hey listen, sorry but we need let you go” conversation from ever taking place? And is there anything we can do to help these individuals succeed?

1. Is It Behaviour or Attitude? There’s a Difference.

I’ve always been an advocate of “Hire Character. Train Skill.” You can hire the right personality and train this person with the necessary skills for the job. And most of the times, s/he will soar like an eagle in no time. They are smart, witty, eager to learn, and most importantly, pleasant to work with. People with a bad attitude, no matter the depth of their knowledge or the strength of their skills, are going to damage your team. And it’s your responsibility as a leader to address this problem as soon as possible. As a manager, it’s important and necessary to distinguish between behavior that can be re-learned or changed with mentorship from a bad attitude that will most likely take a lobotomy (#thereisaidit) to change. Understand that attitudes are incredibly difficult to change. (I understand that we want to change people. And believe me, a few can. But change is a two way street. We simply can not hold onto people hoping and believing that they are capable of this grand change when all facts point to something else.) I have seen many great managers who faltered (I have even witnessed a few coworkers become physically ill from the stress) at having to “manage” a negative-attitude employee. If it’s an attitude problem that shows no signs of improving (this person is apparently not on the lobotomy waiting list), you must have that difficult conversation (I’m sorry. We need to let you go). The sooner you address this issue, the better. Your team will respect you for being a decisive manager and appreciate your support for the growth of the team.

2. People Who Just “Don’t Get It” or the “Oddball”

Ok, I admit. All managers do have their favorites. Some managers like driven, ambitious individuals who love to challenge your ideas, and some managers like deep philosophical types who like to analyze, calculate, and work independently. Some managers love both! What’s important to remember as a manager is that you cannot allow these personal preferences get in the way of you appreciating true genius. I may be very vocal and enjoy working with those who are vocal like me and isn’t afraid to engage in debates. But this preference shouldn’t take anything away from the shy and quite (and fabulous) employee who isn’t as vocal about everything s/he does.   Ever heard someone say, “s/he just doesn’t get it”? In office politics, we may hear this a lot about those who seemingly can’t jive to the office groove. But if you’ve ever been a manager, you realize that your team-building skill is the ultimate test of your leadership capabilities. (Everybody, PLEASE just get along! PLEASE!)

This is where your mentorship is needed. Whether it’s a pow-wow session on every Monday morning, individualized meetings, or team-building cook-off events, it is your responsibility as a leader to build and design this team! Celebrate individualism while maintaining a team atmosphere. Show respect at all times. Do not, under any circumstances, engage in gossip or any type of behavior that reinforces the “yeah, that person is a weirdo” attitude in your employees. Don’t allow bullying to happen at your workplace. Adults (and sometimes we act like children) can fall into the trap of “group mentality” where an otherwise great staff can be ostracized for harmless but odd/different behavior. (Hey c’mon, we can’t all be the same. Let the person be.) Create an inclusive environment where you openly address the differences, but be firm on the fact that everyone on the team is an equal part of the other.

3. Is it ME??!!!?? It CAN’T be Me…

The most dreaded question of all. Is it ME? Am I the dreaded boss or the employee that everyone just hates to work with? So what happens now?

We’re quick to point out the fault in others, but sometimes, it’s difficult to see the faults in our own behaviors. If you’re really the person that everyone dreads to work with, it’s time for some deep (go to a mountain top and zen out) self-reflection. Ask yourself how your behavior (or attitude) is damaging the team and/or your reputation. Sometimes, honesty may be the key. Have an open conversation with your manager or your colleagues. Be genuine in your approach and remember that you must WANT to change.   Ask your coworkers to immediately point out when you’re being disrespectful, negative, or otherwise disruptive. Seek support and understanding. Let your team know that you genuinely want to help the team thrive, and that you want to be a part of that success. And stay committed to this promise. Perhaps you don’t even realize that you’re being negative, and you need (it’s painful, but trust me, it’s for your own good) someone to point it out to you. And most importantly, don’t be afraid to apologize (Managers, yes, you- don’t be afraid to apologize). Being able to admit one’s mistakes is a wonderful skill to possess.

You will realize that just as in all human relationships, communication is central to establishing a great environment. Every team is a unique make-up of its individual genius. Practice it, communicate it, and build a team that can agree to disagree.

#LEADERSHIP #Millenialmanagers #getalong #teambuilding

What is Essential is Invisible to the Eye

It always puzzles me how some of the best lessons in life still come from a simpler time when I peered under the bed for furry legged monsters (mom!!! you forgot to vacuum under my bed!!) and held my breath to wish upon a “shooting star” (I’ll put $50 on that it was just a plane).  One of the more important traits of people I have observed is just how little we can know of each other. I’m guilty of noticing all too quickly that I gained a little weight, that a coworker needs to buy a new tie, and that my friend needs to fix her lipstick; but it’s not so easy to discern that my coworker is juggling two jobs as a single dad or that my friend is suffering from a broken relationship.

Somehow, it was easier to “see” people when monsters and such were still under my bed.

It makes me wonder if sometimes the best way to analyze, quantify, and understand what truly matters is to listen to an old Fox that visited me with his Little Prince many years ago. #reflection #justanotherthought

What is Essential is Invisible to the Eye

It always puzzles me how some of the best lessons in life still come from a simpler time when I peered under the bed for furry legged monsters (mom!!! you forgot to vacuum under my bed!!) and held my breath to wish upon a “shooting star” (I’ll put $50 on that it was just a plane).  One of the more important traits of people I have observed is just how little we can know of each other. I’m guilty of noticing all too quickly that I gained a little weight, that a coworker needs to buy a new tie, and that my friend needs to fix her lipstick; but it’s not so easy to discern that my coworker is juggling two jobs as a single dad or that my friend is suffering from a broken relationship.

Somehow, it was easier to “see” people when monsters and such were still under my bed.

It makes me wonder if sometimes the best way to analyze, quantify, and understand what truly matters is to listen to an old Fox that visited me with his Little Prince many years ago. #reflection #justanotherthought from www.dreamacareer.com

When Passion Calls: Fly on Your Magic Carpet

True passion knows no limits, no time, and no fear.  And still it waits for you, thinking, ‘one day, truly, she will  fly with me.’   

So may your carpet take you to Maine, to Spain, to Santiago’s pyramids, and over the roses of a certain Little Prince.

 

Reflection:

 

I created this infographic series to remind myself of all my childhood wonders and aspirations.  With my busy schedule, I find it rare that I go to bed with a book! (Reading before bedtime has become a luxury for me.)  It’s rather unfortunate, since some of the best lessons in life came from the stories that my parents read to me before bedtime.  And sometimes, I honestly wonder if this world would be a much happier place if we all had parents who read to us before we went to bed.  Simple as that.  As we grow older, perhaps it will be our children who will read to us before we go to bed.  And after we’re long gone, the stories will remain, waiting to be read from one generation to the next.

There’s something very magical about reading – nothing else in the world can informs us, challenge our thoughts, push our creative limits, and introduce us to different worlds like reading can do.

 

You Have a Magic Carpet: Follow Your Passion

True passion knows no limits, no time, and no fear.  And still it waits for you, thinking, ‘one day, truly, she will  fly with me.’    So may your carpet take you to Maine, to Spain, to Santiago’s pyramids, and over the roses of a certain Little Prince. #writewithme #imaginewithme from www.dreamacareer.com

Don’t Dig Up in Doubt What You Planted in Faith

So often throughout the day, we are paralyzed by our own doubts and self-defeating thoughts.  Time to remind ourselves that very often so, nothing great was ever accomplished by doubters, but only by dreamers and believers.

Don’t give up. Continue doing what you love and trust in your abilities to grow what you planted.

#MotivationMonday

Motivation Monday: Great Quotes from Great Leaders – Lao Tsu

“Watch your thoughts; they become words.

Watch your words; they become actions.

Watch your actions; they become habit.

Watch your habits; they become character.

Watch your character; it becomes your DESTINY.”

Our thoughts influence our actions, and our actions forge our habits.  And our habits determine our character, which in turn determines the destination of our dreams.  Choose your thoughts wisely. For they will lead you to your destiny!

Motivation Monday: Great Quotes from Great Leaders – Eleanor Roosevelt

Great minds discuss ideas.

Average minds discuss events.

Small minds discuss people.

Sometimes, it takes a great mind to remind us of the power and magnitude of our collective thoughts.  After all, everything begins in the mind, and Eleanor Roosevelt reminds us that the transformative power of innovation and social impact can only be realized with a passionate exchange of our thoughts and ideas.  Don’t underestimate the power of your thoughts!

Great Quotes from Great Leaders

Sometimes, it takes a great mind to remind us of the power and magnitude of our collective thoughts.  After all, everything begins in the mind, and Eleanor Roosevelt reminds us that the transformative power of innovation and social impact can only be realized with a passionate exchange of our thoughts and ideas.  Don’t underestimate the power of your thoughts!

Love Accessorizing? DIY Display for Your Necklaces!

If you are like me, then you love to accessorize.

There’s nothing like having a statement necklace that shouts, “this is who I REALLY am” to go with your favorite, simple blouse.  I enjoy wearing solid colors to work, which makes accessorizing even more fun.

And to save myself time (and money, because I have a bad habit of losing my jewelry – they’ll eventually turn up behind my cabinets when I move), I started using a very simple and cost-effective way of keeping my necklaces organized and ready for selection on busy mornings.

Items Needed:

1. Cork board! (choose a size that can reasonably hold all your necklaces that you regularly wear to work) 23 x 17 will work for most of us – you can purchase one from $10-$20 on Amazon.com or at any office supply stores.

2. Push pins! Make sure you buy the ones with at least 3/8-Inch Point, 1/2-Inch Heads so that your necklaces don’t slip off the pins – you can purchase one for about $2 on Amazon.com or at any office supply stores.

You can choose to hang the board up on the wall by your closet or simply put it on top of your drawers, desk, etc.

What’s really neat about having a display board of all your necklaces, whether they’re cheap, expensive, simple, or colorful, is that it’s so much easier for you to coordinate what you want to wear for that day.

Hope you’ll try this little technique – trust me, it’ll make you smile just by looking at it.

Happy Organizing!

Infographic on How Sleep Affects Your Productivity at Work: Sleep Your Way to Success

Are your dark circles getting in the way of being more focused at work?

A restless night can affect your productivity in numerous ways.  Science shows that getting an ample amount of sleep hours may be just as important as proper diet and exercise.  Sleeping well not only helps you to recover physically, but it enhances your cognitive abilities – boosting your memory and helping you to focus at work.  If you want to get ahead in your career, a good night’s sleep should be on your top priority list.

Why You Should Look for a NEW Job TODAY

How do you know when it’s time quit or to look for different opportunities?  And is there such a thing as a GOOD reason for leaving your current job? When you’re not growing professionally or personally, and you don’t have a sense of purpose in the role you have at the company, it may actually be a good idea to keep that resume updated.  Here are 5 great reasons for seeking out other career opportunities.

Benefits of Keeping a Journal: Start Empowering Your Ideas Today

Starting a journal can have a powerful impact on the way you organize and meet your goals.  Journaling can be a great tool for increasing creativity and productivity in both your personal and professional life.  Here are some reasons why you may want to pick up that pen and start a new journal!

HOW TO IMPRESS AT A JOB FAIR

Going to a Job Fair can be intimidating, especially when you don’t know what to expect.  With so many candidates competing for the attention of all those recruiters, how can you stand out from the crowd and make sure you hear back from the companies?  Here are 6 tips that can help you impress those recruiters at a Job Fair.  Happy Job Hunting!

Hiring Spree in Los Angeles County: Come Meet More than 80 Employers !

Registration for this event is FREE for all job seekers.

Come meet more than 80 employers face to face at our 5th Annual “SPRING INTO SUMMER” Hiring Spree. This year’s job fair will be in the city of Carson on April 15th! See flyer for exact location and time.

Some big name employers this year include Starbucks, Bestbuy, Chipotle, Jiffy Lube, Cinemark, Metro, See’s Candies, and more! We have representation from various industries, including  retail, hospitality, medical, construction, and government.

This year, we will also host a free resource fair in addition to career development workshops on topics such as Social Media Strategies for Job Seekers.

Come join me and our Hiring Spree Committee to find your next job !

Register online at : Hiring Spree

For Tips on How to Prepare for a Job Fair, Click Here: How to Impress at Job Fair

Happy Job Hunting!

Mirror Mirror on the Wall: Why I Need You to Say, “I LOVE ME”

 

When was the last time someone told you that he/she loved you?

How about the last time you told yourself that you loved YOU?

We use the word “love” casually in so many different ways: I love that book! I totally love that movie! I love mint-chocolate chip ice cream! (I really do.)

And yet, when I ask people to say, “I love ME”, almost everyone stares at each other uncomfortably, as if I just asked them to do something highly inappropriate.

The question on their minds is: “Is it OK to say I love ME?”

And my answer is Yes, Yes, and YES!!!

I work in a welfare-to-work program where all of my clients have faced or are still facing numerous barriers to employment and self-sufficiency.

All of them are single parents, and mostly single moms living under the national poverty level. Some have had devastating struggles with substance abuse, domestic violence, and mental health. Some are homeless. Some struggle with various learning disabilities. Some have grown up in abusive homes or foster care systems.

But when I ask them why they are in my program to learn and to find employment, most of them answer, “because I want to better my life for my kids. I love my kids.”

As with any parent, my clients’ devotion to their children is immeasurable.

But for so many of them, the “mirror exercise” is the toughest activity in our curriculum. Most of them will refuse to participate or try to laugh it off and walk away.

And so when I ask them, “ How can you be a motivator and a great educator for your child if you cannot learn to love yourself?”

They answer, “because I love THEM, and I don’t need to love myself. I’m not where I want to be in life.”

We forgive those we love and sometimes we suffer silently in anguish when people we love hurt us. And yet, we are not as forgiving or readily accepting with ourselves.

Sometimes, we learn to forgive and learn to love another person as who they are – flaws and all, and yet we fail to learn to love ourselves as who we are. We have a tendency to pick out all of our flaws and analyze each flaw, ever so systematically, and perhaps even categorize each flaw into different sections like body image, finances, intelligence, humor, even popularity.

Think about all the ways you tell yourself you’re not beautiful or unworthy every day. You may be doing it without even realizing it.

I tell my class that love begins with the word “ME”.

“I love you” has a subject and it is “I”.

It starts with “I”.

Just like success begins with “I can”.

Yes, it’s important to recognize our shortcomings and to work on them, proactively. However, it is one thing to recognize our flaws for the sake of self-development and another thing to put ourselves down in a cycle of negative thinking.

So stand in front of a mirror, even on your worst days.

And tell yourself, it’s ok. I love you.

Yes, you can. Say it out loud!

Plan, Organize, Divide & Conquer: Why Leaders Must be Great Organizers

In my time as a young manager, I’ve quickly come to realize that one needs to become a grand master of organization to lead a team through change, to communicate your vision with clarity, and to put ideas into action.

In a time of Evernote, Google Calendar, Dropbox, and numerous other apps and platforms designed to help us better manage our time and to better organize our thoughts, why are people still struggling to keep tasks organized?

Because organization is a skill. And like many other skills that go hand in hand with organization, it takes time and practice.

Here are 3 basic ways you can start mastering your skill:

1. Understand that Not ALL Work Can Be Organized with Technology

No, I’m not insisting that you stick to a paper calendar. But creating your own organizer or planner does have its benefits, especially with work that requires you to be creative and flexible.

How: In a notepad of your choice, outline the week ahead. Use markers, post-its, stickers, and highlighters – anything that can help you keep track of your ideas for any upcoming projects.

Benefit: In the process of outlining your week, you will not only remind yourself of all the tasks that need to be worked on, but you will be able to better prioritize the ideas/tasks that need your immediate attention.

2. Find a Program or an App that Works Best for YOU

Because much of my correspondences take place online, and I spend a huge chunk of my time traveling from meetings to more meetings, I like to organize everything on my phone. I’ve learned that it is the best way for me to keep my tasks prioritized while also having a concise calendar of events at the tip of my fingers.

I am what one may call an “APP-LOVER”. Apps work for me, because I need a program that can help me organize my tasks without having constant access to a desktop.

How: Dedicate one whole screen to your calendar. Whatever platform you may use (outlook, google, yahoo, etc.), make sure you sync your calendar to the one you have on your phone. You can also opt to set up an alert, which will alert you to all tasks that need your attention prior to the due date.

Benefit: Minus the times you step away from your phone (I must admit it – this is very rare in my case) your calendar screen will help you remember the important deadlines and appointments.

3. De-Clutter, Make Space, and Learn to Let Go

Ever seen a coworker with files from a client who visited him 20 years ago, just in case the client revisits him? Or someone whose desktop screen looks like a Jackson Pollack painting?

At a certain point, we need to just let it go. Literally.

Much of our organization skills stem from our ability to make space to work that matters now and in the coming days. Change is inevitable on all levels of every organization.

How: Set up a recycling day. Dedicate at least a day to cleaning out clutter (including paperwork, decorations, broken equipment) to make room for the work that really matters and beckons your attention. If you MUST hold onto files from 20 years ago, create a DropBox or a Google Drive account, specifically dedicated to old files that you most likely will not need, except under extreme circumstances. And yes, ok – you never know. Extreme circumstances can occur. Maybe.

Benefit: You won’t be losing anything, just in case, and you will be happier knowing that these files are safely stored away while your desktop is clear and ready for fresh new tasks. By de-cluttering your office space, you will give yourself a daily visual of what organization should, essentially, look like. And for those that love to decorate, it will give you a chance to reinvent your workspace.

Hope this helps! And remember, as with all skills that can be mastered, practice and patience will be your greatest allies.

Happy Organizing !

Don’t Let Meetings Demoralize Your Team: Meeting Planner Tips for Every Leader | Dream a Career

So just how exactly can you avoid having demoralizing meetings? Each meeting should aim to model these four key elements: Purpose, Preface, Discussion, and Decision. Lets call this meeting model PPDD, dangerously close to PTSD, I know, and for a good reason. Bad meetings can leave your employees feelings like they have the stomach flu (or any other unforeseen medical emergencies) each and every time you call a meeting. “In a recent Harris poll, sponsored by the online collaboration company Clarizen, 46 percent of respondents said they’d prefer to do almost anything else instead of sitting in a status meeting. Seventeen percent said they would choose to watch paint dry. Eight percent said they would opt for root canal.” (Source: Inc)

Source: Don’t Let Meetings Demoralize Your Team: Meeting Planner Tips for Every Leader | Dream a Career