How to excel at the ultimate oxymoron: a recession-era corporate holiday party

How to Excel at the Ultimate Oxymoron: a Recession-era Corporate Holiday Party

Today I’d like to share with you my thoughts on the upcoming holiday season and that most complex event: the corporate holiday party that coincides with an economic meltdown.

Despite the weak economy, or perhaps because of it, most companies in the U.S. plan to carry on with their holiday parties. As a leader in attendance at this event, it’s important to strike a tone that is festive without appearing to lose sight of the larger context. Remember that all eyes are on you, even in non-office settings — perhaps even more so in non-office settings where your behavior will be seen as «the real you.»

Corporate holiday parties remain one of the weirdest hybrids of work and play that I have ever experienced. They’re a veritable minefield in which if you perform well, absolutely no one will remember you, and if you perform poorly, everyone will remember you for years to come — for all the wrong reasons. In the spirit of ensuring the former and not the later, I offer these tips.

How to Get in the Right State of Mind

As a leader, if you’re stressed and fearful, your feelings will leak out no matter how hard you try to appear confident. The more you feel freaked out, the more people around you will feel freaked out, no matter how hard you try to hide it, so you’ve got to go to the source.

Whenever you feel fearful, focus your attention on the vision for the company, on positive steps the leadership team is taking to lead the organization through the recession.

I sat in on a senior staff meeting held by one of my clients earlier this week and he was absolutely inspiring. He told his team, «We have to plan for the worst, but we also have to plan for the success that will follow this downturn — because when it comes back, we will see absolutely enormous demand.» While acknowledging a rough current situation, he was also reassuring his team that he saw a bright future for the company.

Now, I’m not suggesting that you discuss the prospect of lay-offs or plant closures at the holiday party! However, do keep your mindset positive in the coming weeks so that whenever you are surrounded by employees, that positive energy rubs off on them and your upbeat attitude is authentic.

How to Choose Your Attire: This Year, It’s Easy

This year, even if you are doing well, it’s a good idea to dial down the bling a notch or two.

— Leave the gold Rolex at home. You don’t have to wear a Swatch, but please be cautious about flashing a $30,000 timepiece to people who are worried about getting laid off, paying their bills, and other basic needs.

— For the female executives, this is an easier year for corporate party attire than last year, since a more classic, subdued look is appropriate to the economic climate, as well as to your role as an executive. Choose from the many options out there, or go full-on recession-chic by wearing something already in your closet.

— I always greatly admire a woman with the guts and style to wear an elegant tuxedo to a corporate event, but only try this if you have great style and the confidence to pull it off without showing off. Corporate parties are about reinforcing teamwork, not about individual stars outshining the rest of the pack.

— There’s no need to be downright drab. It’s a party after all. Wear a little bling if it’s your style. Just don’t take it as far as you might in boom times.

All bets are off if you work in the entertainment industry. If that’s the case, take everything I’ve written and ignore it.

And Now, for the Part You Really Don’t Want Me to Tell You…

If you’re as outgoing as I am when stone cold sober, just imagine how goofy you must look after a few drinks. A general guideline — you can probably handle about half as much as you think!

Particularly limit yourself to one or two drinks during cocktails, since there’s more to come with dinner.

This tip applies even if your superiors are stone-cold blottoed. That promotion or transfer you may want will in part be based on your good judgment in a variety of settings. No, it’s not fair, is it?

How to be a Great Conversationalist — a Pain-Free Approach

Nobody really cares what you do for a living or what projects you’re working on. Yet, in American culture, like work-a-holic lemmings we instinctively ask, «What do you do?» This is a particularly sensitive subject this year as many employees and spouses at the event may be recently laid off or anticipating the ax coming down soon. Don’t let party conversations turn glum by opening with shop talk. Make this party a chance for people to forget about their problems for an evening.

Become the greatest conversationalist they’ve ever met in their entire lives by not asking about work. Try, «What interests you outside of work?,» «What are you doing these days for fun?,» «What are your kids up to?,» or anything else that invites conversation on a subject of interest other than work.

Follow-up questions help, too. («You do scrapbooking with your friends. I didn’t realize that was a group hobby. How did you become interested in it?» «So your teenagers are budding Emo-Punk t-shirt designers. Wow. I’ve never heard of that. Tell me more.»)

Introduce yourself to every person at your table, and talk with each of them at some point during dinner, including the spouses, who will speak highly of you forever simply because you steered the conversation away from endless droning on about the office.

Bonus points if you remember names and introduce people to each other. Here’s a great trick for remembering names. My husband swears by it. As soon as you are introduced, say the individual’s name, as in, «Pleased to meet you, Kate.» Then use it two more times early in the conversation. The repetition makes it stick in your head.

And Now for my Favorite Tip for a Sit-Down Dinner

When you sit down next to the CEO, avoid eating his or her food by remembering that your bread plate is to the left and your drink is to the right. Cue yourself by forming an «o» with your index finger and thumb. On the left hand, this forms the letter «b» for bread, and on the right hand, the letter «d» for drink.

Try it now. See? Nifty, huh?

Don’t worry about getting caught doing this. It’s a great conversation starter. For example, the person next you just might say, «Ah, I see you read Traveling Light…»

How to avoid the "poof, gone

How to Avoid the "poof, Gone!" Syndrome — Use Systems That Work for You

I learned for myself years ago that I have «Poof, Gone!» Syndrome.

Many of my clients do too. If you’re like most busy professionals, the thought of sitting in meetings with consultants, or in day-long workshops to learn How To Be More Productive is not the highest item on your priority list.

You’d rather explore new ideas, create products and services, develop a new relationship, or work with your clients… and the wrong tools and systems divert our attention and we loose track of what we’re trying to accomplish.

In conversation with one of my clients this week, Sarah’s trying to find the perfect tool, the best system, the most productive way to stay focused on her goals and achieve them… and her biggest concern is that she’s ‘supposed to’ keep herself organized with a specific system so she stays on track. I understand her concern.

I relieved her of that tension. The fact is: It Depends.

To be successful in business, you must have systems in place. And the world is filled with systems ‘guaranteed’ to keep you focused, on track, and roaring ahead to success.

Since the mid-1980s there have been a flood of systems — everything from cute little cards that go in your shirt pocket, sophisticated computer systems that ‘ding’ to remind you of your next item on your calendar, and enormous expensive ‘organizers’ that every single thought, meeting and commitment are captured in.

You can even use your organizer to bench press during meetings to keep your upper body tone!

There are just 2 problems they don’t mention in fine print on the cover of the latest books, or the advertisements for workshops and other productivity tools. The reality is those systems are NOT meant for everyone! And, once people pay for them, they feel trapped into using them even if they don’t work well for them!

They’re meant for the people who that particular tools or approach works for. Take me for example: I want to see my entire week at a glance, so that I can change and update it anywhere, anytime. That means using paper-based calendars that show my entire week, not just the day, and that I can write note on. So PDAs don’t make me happy. If I have a busy day and everything doesn’t fit on one screen… «Poof, Gone!»

The organizer system worked when I was in corporate environments, going from meeting to meeting, assigning and keeping track of multiple complex projects… but that’s not the work I do now, so it’s waaaay overkill!

And color-coded file folders perfectly labeled and stacked in a rack are the same as «poof, gone» for me!

I use ‘kangaroo’ pouch folders (product 515 from www.walshenvelopes.com) and now several of my clients do as well. They’re designed so that I can see the top 1/3 of the items in each pouch. I can cram things that relate to the topic or project in the same folder without them slipping out, stack them in a single pile, or line them up like a row of cards where I can see the top 2 inches of each down the side of my desk.

I can grab one to take with to a meeting as well. When I’m done with them I empty and reuse them or use the holes at the top of the pouch to fasten them in classification folders and put them in storage.

There are two keys to using a system that improves your productivity.

1 — Systems Need to Be Useful

And «useful» changes. Sarah isn’t planning on taking the plan to her bank. The good news is she doesn’t have to write a formal business plan to keep her business on track.

She works out of an office that no client will ever enter, so she doesn’t need a system that looks good for the public, she needs one that makes her personally more effect. Period.

2 — Systems Need to Be Used

And so back to ‘business plans.’ I used computer-based documents and systems for years… when I needed to share that information with other people it worked great!

Yet, when I laid out the new plan for my personal business last year, the moment I closed the document on the screen, or printed it out and put it between other documents… you guessed it, «Poof, Gone!»

I tried the project style To Do list in a spreadsheet. It was fabulously detailed, organized and complete. And «Poof, Gone!»

Then I used flip chart pages taped to my walls and created a «sticky note business plan» with six colors and 3 sizes of Post-It® Notes. I was able to keep track of my business goals and plans and activities with a quick glance. Every single one got done.

Sarah’s giving it a try this week. I’ll let you know how it goes.

Don’t get vested in a system just because you invested in it! Just as I’ve changed and adapted the tools and systems that I’ve used, I encourage you to take a fresh look at whether the formal tool or the «sticky note life» is the one that fits you best today.

Find the systems that work best for YOU, rather than the purveyors of specific systems. It’s a permanent cure for the «Poof, Gone Syndrome!»

Leaflet printing: inspiring instant and effective promotional results

Leaflet Printing: Inspiring Instant and Effective Promotional Results

While the television, newspapers and internet are the most preferred mode of advertising by business organizations, leaflet printing still tends to remain unparalleled with its power to attract the attention of the customers instantly, cost effectiveness and ease of production. The personal touch and eye catching simplicity of the leaflets induces customers to avail the services or take on the offers of the company will immediate response. The promotion of your business or the announcement of a new product or offer becomes more real and authentic with leaflet printing.

Design your leaflets in accordance with your promotional objectives

Before you get on with the leaflet printing, it’s imperative to clearly explain the leaflet printing company about the objective you desire to achieve through them. Once the expert designers are enlightened about the goal with which the leaflets are to be printed, they engage in brainstorming sessions to ideate the most innovative and creative ideas to get the message across the targeted customers perfectly and effectively.

Utilize the online mode to search the best leaflet printing company

The internet has made the wok easier, simpler and convenient for people all across the globe. Earlier when you have to roam around searching for the best store or printing company to get your work done or purchase any item, now you can easily accomplish the task within the confines of your office. Searching for appropriate printing company is a piece of cake. You can explore the websites of the companies, browse through their catalogs and then choose the best company which has all the qualities, technologies and the art to accomplish the most effective leaflet printing within your budget and keeping in mind your stipulated deadline.

Think Out of the league for best results

As people are bombarded daily with hundreds of leaflets by various companies with the same motive of increasing their sales and brand awareness, being different and unique is imperative if you want to present yourself as more superior than your competitors. With the help of a unique slogan, well structured content, vibrant colors, enticing layout or magnificent images you can get an edge over your competitors and enable the ideal leaflet printing which is not only affordable and easy to design but also highly effective possessing the power to change the mind set of people!

How to cold call with integrity — the way we’ve always wanted to do cold calling

How to Cold Call With Integrity — the Way We’ve Always Wanted to Do Cold Calling!

You probably never tell potential clients your real goal in calling them, but you don’t need to. They’re already aware, because we’re all sensitive when the phone rings and it turns out to be someone we don’t know.

In the old traditional training, we learned the latest techniques for making a sale. We talk to «prospects» rather than with people. And we «guide» conversations along rather than letting them unfold naturally.

The way we do this sometimes might even be called a bit manipulative. After all, we’re relating to another person while holding an ulterior motive of making a sale.

Where does honesty and integrity fit into this scenario? Well, most of us honestly believe in our product or service. But beyond that, we carry a somewhat artificial persona when we’re cold calling. We talk with people for the primary purpose of making a sale, and we’re not really interested in them or their world.

Doesn’t this make you feel uneasy at times? It does to me.

So let’s discuss some ways we’ve been trained in the traditional sales mindset that feel artificial and dehumanizing, and ways we can overcome them.

1. We intrude upon another person uninvited, with the goal of making a sale

It’s against our nature as human beings to create uncomfortable situations. We have a natural instinct for courtesy and connection It’s usually hard for us as regular people to call uninvited, because on some level it feels discourteous.

We can change that by changing our goal. What if our goal is not to make the sale, but to find out if we can help someone? This shift makes us more relaxed. And it keeps us in harmony with personal integrity.

2. We project ourselves as personable and friendly, while also holding an ulterior motive for securing a sale

There’s an inner conflict with integrity when we find ourselves using our connections with others for self-gain. So we can bring ourselves back into honesty and truthfulness by shedding ulterior motives entirely.

We do this by focusing on whether we can provide something that will benefit another person. We find out if they have a problem we may be able to solve. And if it turns out we can’t help with our product or service, we graciously accept the outcome.

By being honest and not playing a role, we find ourselves really liking what we do. And when our «ulterior motives» are simply non-existent, people are more open to trusting us.

3. When we meet someone new, we immediately talk about ourselves and what we have to offer

It’s actually not normal for us to start an interaction by launching into a self-focused monologue. As regular people, this just goes against our grain. Common courtesy dictates that initial conversations be dialogues, not monologues.

In normal conversations we would feel self-absorbed if we primarily talked about ourselves and what we have to offer. Yet in the traditional cold calling situation, it’s an accepted «norm.» We’ve been trained to read a script, follow a strategy, or give a sales pitch.

This really isn’t the way we’d like to relate to people, but it’s the way we’ve been taught.

We can break out of this artificial game of sorts by just being ourselves. Integrity and truthfulness means being authentic. We begin cold calling conversations with a natural focus on the other person. We find out their needs, and respond with genuine interest.

4. We «rev up» in an artificial way, hoping to carry the potential client along with us into a sales process

When we «pump ourselves up» with enthusiasm, it feels somewhat fake. It’s not our normal way of being, and it throws us out of integrity.

And we also appear artificial to potential clients. They become wary of possibly being maneuvered into a sales situation.

If we can navigate a cold calling conversation without such games, people will sense we’re trustworthy. They react warmly and unhesitatingly to a conversation that feels natural to them, and especially if it revolves around their issues rather than our agenda.

So how do we approach cold calling in the most truthful way? We stop being «salespeople» and become human. We engage in an honest dialogue rather than a monologue. We look for ways to help others, and we’re comfortable knowing that our product or service may not be an honest «fit» for them right now. And we stop playing roles, especially the «high enthusiasm» game.

This is what I mean by bringing integrity back into selling. It’s unbelievable just how rewarding both personally and professionally this can be.

John musca law background

John Musca Law Background

John Musca
Florida Drunk Driving Statistics

n Florida, the percentage of alcohol related fatalities peaked in 1983, while the actual number of alcohol related deaths peaked in 1986 and the lowest number of drunk driving deaths occurred in 1997. In 2006, out of all traffic fatalities, 29% involved a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.08 or higher, with 959 fatalities, which was a big drop from the year before.

All 50 states in the US now apply two statutory offenses to operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol. The first (and original) offense is known either as driving under the influence (DUI), driving while intoxicated/impaired (DWI), or operating while intoxicated/impaired (OWI). This is based upon a police officer’s observations (driving behavior, slurred speech, the results of a roadside sobriety test, etc.)

The second offense is called «illegal per se», which is driving with a BAC of 0.08% or higher. Since 2002 it has been illegal in all 50 states to drive with a BAC that is 0.08% or higher.
Year

Florida alcohol fatality stats
John Musca Law
It is important to note that the Florida drunk driving statistics, as shown above, include data from individuals who were in an alcohol-related crash, but not driving a motor vehicle at the time. The U.S. Department of Transportation defines alcohol-related deaths as «fatalities that occur in crashes where at least one driver or non-occupant (pedestrian or pedalcyclist) involved in the crash has a positive Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) value.»

The fatality rates shown above refer to the number of people killed in all traffic accidents and, separately, in alcohol related traffic accidents, per 100 million vehicle miles traveled.
John Musca

Criminal status of DUI laws in Florida

In Florida, 1st and 2nd offenses are misdemeanors, 3rd or subsequent offense is a 3rd degree felony. Citation:§§316.193 & 775.082(2)

Sources for Florida drunk driving information and statistics

US Dept. of Transportation, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 12/02
(2) National Conference of State Legislatures, 2004