I’m an active member of LinkedIn, and on Monday of this week I decided that I wanted to see what opportunities were in the Dallas, TX area (I live in a suburb.)  I  enjoy the work I'm doing and the people I work with, they are all great.  So everything is good

Background:

Because currently every Monday I wake up at 3:00 am and leave for the Airport by 4:00, to go to my job in another State. I stay there until Thursday evening or Friday. I get the impression that the family doesn't want to move, although they said they would and they are supportive.. 

So here’s my oops!

So I’m on LinkedIn and since I wanted to look closer in the Dallas area, I decided to upgrade my membership to Premium, which indicates that I am currently looking for other career opportunities. 

Which I am, however, apparently when you do that it sends out notification to all of your connections and informs them of this.

So after I upgraded, I started getting emails from friends and colleagues asking me what happened?  “Are you still currently employed?”  Each time I received one I thought to myself sarcastically, “that yeah currently I’m employed.”    After each email I had to explain that, yes I am still with so and so, and yes I am still employed.

Although I must admit, I did receive some nice leads for opportunities in the Dallas area.  Go Cowboys!

Almost forgot… Make sure you connect with me on LinkedIn

To your success,

With the depressing things happening in the economy, employees are in a slump about their lives. Some will also be depressed because of the ways things are going for them and this depression can severely affect their lives in general especially the work that they put in. Because of this,, it is important for managers to take care of their employees’ wellbeing and increase their motivation levels.

It may not be easy doing this but it can be done. It is possible to create a positive and motivated environment even at these times of economic hardships. Here are some of the things that you can do to get your people to stay motivated and on task.

1. Give them rewards.
One of the best and perhaps easiest ways to motivate people is to give then rewards for a job well done. People are basically materialistic and they want something concrete for their efforts. This is especially true now that people want resources in addition to what they are already earning. Rewards are also instant things that they can easily connect with their achievements and efforts.

You can tie up monetary rewards for instance with their performance levels. Those who have perfect attendance or those who are never late can also be given rewards for their efforts. You can reward a lot of things, not just achievement.

2. Give them words of encouragement
There are some people who do not really care about the material gains. What they mostly care about is to know that they are doing a great job. You can reward them by words instead of material things. Praising is perhaps the less expensive thing that you can do to boost the morale of your people. Besides upping the level of motivation, you will also be creating a more together and bonded atmosphere in the company. People who praise their people are better looked up to as managers as opposed to those who do not say anything or those who only have disparaging remarks.

3. Interact with them
Being a manager, people will see you as something beyond their reach. Some will even see you with awe in their eyes. Reaching out to them and talking to them will be a great treat for your employees. This is especially true if you do not do this often. The shock effect will give your employees a certain feeling of togetherness and belongingness that they need to feel good about themselves and their jobs. Besides, with the boss talking to them, they will certainly feel more confident and more able to perform on the tasks given to them. After all, who would not want to be able to talk to the boss as if he or she is just a friend.

Motivation is an important aspect in business. The level of motivation that your people have will affect the performance that they will put in for their work. Ultimately, their performance will affect the company’s production level. Having well-motivated people is something that you should not let slip by the radar. If you want to really perform well in the market especially at these times when survival is important, take a look at your employees.

They may not be as motivated as you would want them to be. By increasing their motivation levels, you will basically ensuring the survival of your company.

One secret to better performance and better yield in business is to keep your employees energized. This can be done by increasing your employees’ level of motivation.

Motivation plays a big role in production and in the long run the success of a company. In fact, the motivation level of the leader or the manager of a company is a crucial factor in the success of any venture, whether it is a social project or a business.

When people are motivated to do something, they are more creative. They are energized to do their jobs and are not easily frustrated. People who have high levels of motivation will be able to work on tasks non-stop and when that is finished, will be able to do other tasks immediately. These are the people that are often called workaholics because they seem to have an endless stream of energy to their jobs.

This the reason why managers often try to motivate their people through various techniques. There are some who go directly and offer monetary rewards while there are others who keep it simple and subtle by promoting employees. But there are other ways to motivate people besides the promise of more money and a higher position. Here are some of them.

1. Praise them
Words of praise especially coming from the boss are incomparable rewards that people will always treasure. Remember that people want to be respected and recognized for their work. When they are praised by the people that they consider their leaders or those that they respect, they will be able to perform better. They will also be happier and their confidence levels will go up. Confident people are more energetic and are more creative because they are more trusting of their abilities. They are not afraid to be vocal about their ideas and are not afraid to take risks.

2. Give them the time
Who does not want to speak with the boss? Giving time for a little chit chat with your employees will give them a sense of belongingness in the company. It will also make them more amenable to your decisions. You should foster an open environment in your office where people can go to you and say anything they want without fear of censure. This is actually great for small companies who are starting up and are in need of fresh ideas.

3. Involve them with the decisions
Another way to motivate your employees is to get them into the votes. This is especially true for major decisions that will involve them or which will factor in their lives. It is important that you also ask them what they think. Giving them the right to say their piece and to vote for something will give them ownership of the business and we know that people tend to perform better or do more for things that they own. Make the business your employees’. Create that feeling of belongingness and oneness. You will have smoothly operating business.

4. Let others know
Posting achievements in a bulletin board will give employees the motivation that they need to strive more. Besides the feeling of competition even if there is none can fuel the blood of some. Let others know of what other people have already achieved. It will set a great example that may be they will be following. 

In this recession, one of the most challenging things is for a business to stay afloat. If you read the papers or turn on the television, there are reports of companies closing down and a lot of people being laid off. Such news is very disheartening and as an owner of a business, you have to know how to motivate your employees or be part of the statistic.

So how do you motivate your employees in these hard times? Well the first thing you have to do is talk to them so they are aware of the current financial status of the company. The bad news like sales are down is an eye opener because they know that the company is on a verge of collapse but there is hope.

The hope is what you and they must work together for otherwise, your business will crash and they will be out of work. This begins by setting a goal and then coming up with a plan of action.

Perhaps the best solution is to cut cost and that means finding cheaper suppliers and reducing expenses. Keep in mind that letting a few workers off is another option but you need these people so don’t axe them.

Another way is to come up with realistic goals like how much you should make in a month so your employees will get paid and the business is still profitable. As the owner of the business, you have the final say in these matters but it wouldn’t hurt to also let your employees come up with their own plan of action and meet the same goals.

All work and no play will make things dull. To spice up things, add some fun into it by coming up with a rewards scheme which always inspires employees to do more.

You don’t have to give a plaque of appreciation or something with monetary vale. What you can do is offer these people a free day which means a “day-off” from work apart form the leaves that they are entitled to. Don’t forget that the day off should be given with pay which makes it more interesting to get.

Since this is something that every employee may not be able to accomplish, find a way to reward everyone as well for all the work they have put in. A good idea will be to host a barbecue at your place or a fun day where everyone is given free passes to a local amusement park. Remember these are just ideas so try to find a rewards scheme that is within your budget.

The success of your business depends on the men and women that work for you. So you know how things are doing and they are up to date with what is happening, it will also be a good idea to hold a meeting once a week.

While you are there, buy donuts and coffee. At the same time, give them the floor so they can air out their concerns. Who knows, they may even have a few ideas which you have never thought of before.

Employee motivation is something you must have in order for your business to stay afloat. Doing that is not going to be easy but it can be done with their help.

Many would agree that sports photography is probably the most exciting—not to mention the most difficult—of all the practices of lens work today. Aside from the fact that it hones the skills of the photographer in taking moving shots, action or sports photography can also serve as a motivation for a person to get into any type of sports there is. 

Nevertheless, before you get into this type of photography, you should be prepared with all the works that you will have to face along the way. Sports photography usually include shots taken during the game or while the subjects are in their respective field, it is a must that the photographer must be able to “freeze” moments during the actual event. This is why sports photographers should be equipped with the right photography equipment, trained with enduring tenacity, and fueled with an overwhelming desire to capture each moment and emotion at their best.

Another thing that one should look out for in this type of photography is that it involves so much speed and action, photographing the subjects or players would require more than the usual knack for good angles but also the strength to endure physical limitations during the shoot.

Getting motivated to different sports by taking moving shots

Most photographers would agree that it is inevitable to get motivated to get into any sports if you are an action photographer. This is because you have so much exposure in the different fields and you might want to feel the triumph or defeat any athlete goes through.

Many would agree that the best thing about sports photography is that the photographer—aside from enhancing a skill such as freezing a single moment that contains pure and raw emotion and share it with the public in print—is that he or she become motivated to get into sports.

Most people who get into action photography are motivated to get into a particular sport because of the exposure on the sports themselves. If you are into photography and quite interested in taking adrenaline-pumping shots, you should familiarize yourself with different kinds of sports first. Since each sport varies, the styles and techniques used in capturing and freezing each moment also vary.

If you are already in the field taking photos, it is necessary that you have a brief background about the sport you are covering. Knowledge in the fundamentals of coaching style, sport rules, and players will help you identify their most interesting angles. It is also a must to identify your “safety” (a shot that is easy to shoot and can be published if you don’t get good photos all throughout).

The basic sports that photographer use as a motivation include baseball, basketball, football, soccer and hockey, volleyball, golf, track and field, gymnastics and figure skating, and motorsports and other racing events.

More often than not, the people who use action photography as a motivation to sports are already seasoned photographers. Because of their dedication to their craft, a part of them would want to partake on what’s going on. Although this is true, it does not mean that newbies could not try. If you are one of those people, always remember that if you will be using action photography as a motivation to sports, you should prepare yourself to the strict guidelines needed in order to be a successful sports photographer.

It is Saturday afternoon and I’m in the process of reading Rich Schefren’s report, The Attention Age Doctrine, and I must say that my brain is starting to hurt and yet I’m excited at the same time.  I’m only 22 pages into the report but the information provided thus far is giving me a feeling of optimism of what the future holds.

I’m balancing trying to keep my 5 year old entertained and trying to focus and understand what this report is saying.  My wife is at work trying to play catch-up and my 12 year old is helping me with my focus.  I’m fortunate that she (my 12 year old) is such a great kid!

I am now on page 34 and I am getting into the meat of this report and find it absolutely refreshing to read and understand.  Up to this point the information I’ve read has not provided an epiphany, but rather a reminder of what is going on in our global society.

Trust me; I’m not discounting this information.  It has helped me put the current state of our situation in perspective and laying the ground work for what lies ahead.  And this is critical to take the next step or align yourself to be successful with your own business.

The Information Age and Paralysis

So here we are…we’re in the information age and it has never been easier to garner the information you need to be informed, or to take action or to capitalize on what we know (or have learned) or is it?

Too much information has increased our unfortunate result of making bad decisions, according to Rich Schefren.  And this leads to adverse effects on our business and personal lives.

The law of diminishing returns comes into play.  The more information we gather then less likely we are to be able to take action, resulting in analysis of paralysis.  The result all of this information has on me is contrary to this thought,  but just as damaging.

Let me explain…

Here’s how it goes.

I discover a new approach to marketing or a new approach to design and I apply it to my business.  So far so good right…

The difference is instead of “analysis paralysis”, I deal with “action and reaction cycling.”

Hey I think I just made up a new term to describe my ability to take action without understanding or allowing the changes to take hold.  Basically, I implement quickly, without allowing the changes to take hold of my business and have the desired effect on my results.

This is also a result of too much information…

Bottom-line, is that information can either lead to “analysis paralysis” or “action, reaction cycling.”  Of course, people that can balance the two are probably the most successful.

But my reality (and yours too, I bet) is that all of this has an adverse effective on my quality of life.

Page 48 and the “Interruption Age"

I’ve noticed that I beginning to stray from my original intention of discussing Rich Schefren’s report, The [tag]Attention Age Doctrine[/tag].  I guess that’s a focus issue that ironically is caused by what Rich is talking about in this report.

But I digress…

Ok, on page 49 it hits me…”that’s my life!”  Man can I relate.  Not to say that page 1 through 48 aren’t true to me or that this information is meaningless, this is not the case at all.  It’s all led up to this point, the point that it all hits home. 

I agree with everything I’ve read thus far, but being an [tag]entrepreneur[/tag] and faced with what is described starting on page 49 has almost caused me to throw in the towel and go back to work for the corporation.

But in the end this won’t make me happy.  I’m a creator, a builder of sorts.  That’s my mindset and no matter where I am doing my thing, it will require a solution to the problem coined by Rich as the “Interruption Age.”

Technology and the Distraction Vortex

Our technology is advancing at an alarming rate.  And with it so is our ability to be distracted or interrupted.  It’s scary if you recognize it.  Here’s an important point.

When you’re an entrepreneur you’re writing the check for this cost.  If you’re an employee, then your employer is writing the check.  Big difference.  And because of this, I believe that the entrepreneur is more in tune with the damage that this is causing.  Why?  The result is directly affecting his or her pocket book. 

The employee, on the other hand pays in other ways, such as reduced benefits offered, lose of job due to outsourcing, etc.

So, what is the net result?

The more you allow the distractions to happen, the lower your [tag]net worth[/tag] will be.

I just made a huge jump from distractions to financial wealth.  If you read Rich’s report he does a nice job connecting the two.

Have you read this report yet? 

If not I’ve posted the details of how you can easily get his report and for free, on my business blog.  Check it out at Rich Schefren: The Attention Age Doctrine.

Have you heard of LinkedIn?

It’s a great website that allows you to keep up with business contacts, network and share information.

….you can view my profile on LinkedIn if your interested in additional information.

Recently, I was doing a search for old contacts and I stumbled on an old colleague of mine.  She wasn’t in my network so I decided to reach out.

Normally the process works by sending a nice respectful note and asking them to join your network.  Once they read their note they can decide to accept or decline the offer.

I am going to share with you what NOT to do on LinkedIn.

So, I send a very friendly and professional note to this person (She was the VP of HR at a company I had worked for in the past), approximately a month ago.  I hear nothing back.

But then one day I log into my email account and notice I have a request form this person, asking me to forward on their job opportunity to somebody in my network. 

Here’s were it gets interesting.  This person is now head of her organization and she doesn’t even have the decency or the business acumen to send me a hello, long time no talk email.  Just a note to the person in my network.

This is exactly how you do not want to conduct business through LinkedIn.  It is rude and unprofessional.

You would think that she had more sense.

Now that I think about it, she was trained from an organization that didn’t value people and I guess the apple doesn’t fall too far from the tree. 

This is the age of web 2.0, a time when effective social networking is key.

So, when using [tag]LinkedIn[/tag] to build your network make sure you present yourself professionally.  It goes a long way!