Wednesday, November 21, 2018
Thursday, November 08, 2018
Is Your Organization Committed to Mother Earth?
When was the last time you gave intentional attention to Mother Earth? Now, you may not be a Greenpeace card-carrying, Tesla driving person, but global attention is where we are mindful about our planet. We must commit our focus to this wonderful, limited resource we all share. Intentional global attention could be as easy as reducing waste, recycling more, driving less, or just lending a hand.
As a leader, you can influence your team to pay attention to global issues by setting the example. There are many ways you can leverage your organization to make things better in your neighborhood, community and the world around.
Start Recycling:
Consider something as simple as putting recycling bins next to the printer. Or, recycling waste in the lunchroom so people could dispose of glass and plastic appropriately.
Community Days:
Some companies are so committed to Mother Earth that they offer paid days off for employees to volunteer or contribute to a cause meaningful to them.
Leadership Retreats:
At your next leadership gathering, have a team building charity based activity. You could make it fun where teams are divided up and compete against each other for the greatest donation to their cause. Or, you could collaborate to help larger organizations such as Habitat for Humanity where you all pitch in to build a home for someone in need.
Sponsor Clean Up:
Sign up and commit to cleaning up a park, street or stretch of road near you. Get your team involved in the beautification project of that area. Allow time for team building events where everyone participates in caring for that area.
Ban Bottles:
I love how many airports are banning plastic water bottles from vendors. Perhaps you could as well. Instead, purchase metal or glass water bottles for your team members and encourage them to use the gift at work. Install water filling stations and create a contest for the team who drinks the most water. It’s a great way to reduce waste and increase the team’s well being.
Donate Locally:
Encourage your team to support and give to a local food bank. Ask people to bring in items for a collection to give to those in need. Another idea would be a contest of coat collections, shoes or clothing. Either way, you can make it fun enough where everyone will want to partake in the fun.
As a leader, there are many things you can lead to really pay attention to the planet and the resources and our community. Companies I’ve worked with like M.A.C. makeup allows people to take used products back into the store and receive a free lipstick. Brita filters incentivize you to return water filters and recycle them. Organizations like Max and Spenser have the opportunity to donate gently used clothing and exchange things. Places like Amazon will send you shipping labels to recycle things by using the box they send it to you in. There are so many organization who have embraced this.
In our book, we wrote a book called, Attention Pays, in the book there is a section on global attention, and how we are paying attention to our planet. What is one little thing you could pay attention to this week that might have a ripple effect across your team? Across your organization? In your community and ultimately on the planet?
You see, I believe that when we pay attention, attention pays. Want more ideas to inspire? Take a look at this video and share it with your team:
Go to Neenjames.com where you can download hundreds of articles for free that you can share with your team or use in your internal publications. Remember when you pay attention, attention pays.
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Thursday, November 01, 2018
Maintain a Healthy Relationship with Technology
How would you define your relationship with technology? I have to admit, I had to redefine mine. What I’ve learned is when we feel overwhelmed, we feel stressed, our productivity decreases and multitasking increases, and yet we don’t get anything done. And I realized that technology can be used for great things, but it can also be a massive distraction. We spend so much time on email and checking and every time someone asks something, we look it up on Google to find the answer for them.
Social media is for socializing. It’s not for surviving and I committed to making some changes to my digital habits to make sure I was paying attention to what really mattered. But I wonder if you need to make some changes to your digital habits, as well. So I thought I’d share with you a few things that worked for me and maybe a couple of them might work for you, as well.
Turn off notifications.
Notifications are a distraction and can steal away our attention from just about any moment. Mute notifications in your settings or merely turn the volume down on your phone. Change the apps on your home screen so you don’t see the number next to the icon tempting you to stop and read it.
Limit your devices.
Only use specific devices for certain tasks. For instance, use only your home computer to check social media. Make your work computer and smartphone off limits. If checking your profiles proves to be too tempting, install the Freedom app or some other website-blocking software. You can program your devices to block you from going to designated sites specific times of day.
Facebook feed eradicator.
If you find yourself wasting countless hours surfing facebook for news, posts and updates, get the Facebook feed eradicator. It’ll hide your homepage feed, and spare you the noise and clutter throughout your day.
Get smart apps.
Apps that help you focus and remain productive are a wise way to use technology. Meditation apps, napping apps and relaxation apps can streamline your thoughts and give you abundant energy. on my cell phone.
Install Slack.
Work on reducing the noise in your email inbox by getting a team instant messenger tool like Slack. These types of tools allow you to communicate directly with whom you need and get the answer quickly without waiting for the back and forth email requires.
Get Google.
Google products and apps are designed to work effectively and efficiently with each other. I use it for Gmail, Alexa, for messaging, the calendar and maps. Like many of you, the whole team is using the one system, which makes my life so much easier. I use something called Boomerang for Gmail, which is great because they can ping a message back to me or send a reminder and it helps me to keep my inbox really, really small.
Use technology to get healthy.
Technology can help you focus on what needs your attention, like your health and well-being. I bought a Peloton and while that may not seem significant, Peloton is a great technology company with an in-home spin bike and treadmill. They feature live classes or prerecorded classes you take from the comfort of your home. This saves you commuting time and helps you use technology to improve your health.
What some digital habits that you may want to change? This year, look at your digital habits. Decide just one thing that you could change just today that would make a difference this week, which would have an impact on your month.
I’m still a work in progress and would love to hear your tips for managing technology. How are you redefining your relationship this year? It’s my goal to have people join an Attention Revolution where we truly pay attention to who matters, what matters, and how we pay attention in the world. I would love you to join me in the Attention Revolution. You see, I believe that distraction decays, but attention pays.
Share this video with your team members and help them redefine their relationship with technology.
If we haven’t connected on social media, let’s do it. You can find me on Twitter, LinkedIn, and Facebook. I also love you to comment below and tell me how are you going to redefine your relationship with technology this year? Remember, attention pays.
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Sunday, October 28, 2018
Thursday, October 25, 2018
Commit to Your Organization’s Health and Well-Being
What is your commitment to the health and well-being of your team?
As a leader, you have a responsibility to help those in your organization take care of their health and well-being. As an employer, there are many strategies available to help reduce stress, overwhelm and frustration in your employees. It doesn’t have to be a chore, rather fun and exciting for everyone to participate in doing.
Charity Events:
Consider challenging your team to sign up for charity events. 5K races, the Race for a Cure, or a charitable obstacle courses are a fun way to bond and get healthy together. If there isn’t something available, create one yourself. Challenge employees to lose weight, stop smoking, improve health and get moving. Have teams choose a charity of their choice to donate winning proceeds to.
Internal Contests:
One of my clients, Johnson Kendall Johnson is always promoting health and wellbeing. Internally, they host FitBit competitions with prizes that encourage people to stay focused on their steps, calories burned, activity and movement. What’s an internal competition you could host that encourages your team to take care of themselves in a fun way?
Conduct Seminars:
Consider hosting a wellness workshop. Ask your company’s insurance company to help host an event that promotes employees to check their blood pressure, pulse and body metrics. Search for other companies who focus on employee health and wellness. Many organizations would be delighted to provide lunch and teach your workplace concepts around stress management, meditation, breathing, healthy eating and prioritization.
Research shows us when employers are paying attention to their employees’ health and wellbeing, those team members feel more aligned to your brand. They feel more loyal to your company. They know you’re taking care of them.
What’s your commitment to your team’s health and well-being of your team? It doesn’t have to cost you anything, and yet that investment of your attention shows people they matter to you, because I believe that when you pay attention, attention pays.
Want more ideas? Check out my video on YouTube and subscribe to my channel.
Have we connected on social media? If not, let’s fix that. You can follow me on Twitter, or you can see my adventures on Instagram. Or, share articles with your team by downloading hundreds of articles for free at neenjames.com. Remember, when you pay attention, attention pays.
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Sunday, October 21, 2018
Commit to Giving Global Attention
When’s the last time you questioned your commitment to the world around you? Now, global attention might mean all kinds of things to you. When I was writing my book, Attention Pays, I shared in the book there’s really three ways we pay attention, personally, professionally, and globally. Global attention is important for all leaders to consider.
Now, global attention might mean very different things to you. I grew up recycling and committing to taking care of the planet. My grandparents had a farm. My mom grew up on the farm, and so I was closely aligned to those who survive and thrive off the planet. No matter whether you grew up on a farm, in the country or the city, we all owe our world and future generations a commitment to global attention.
If you’re a leader in a business, you can commit to global attention and get your teams involved as well. Consider these three things
Determine what your passion:
Perhaps your team could choose to support Boys and Girls Club. Perhaps you could direct your efforts overseas to helping generate support and assistance for international communities in need. Either way, by determining your passion as a leader, you can encourage your organization to provide incredible value to others. Your team will feel the sense of value they add to the lives of others and your shareholders will recognize your commitment for charity.
Encourage community:
One of my clients is Comcast. They do a phenomenal job in the U.S. of Comcast Cares Day where their employees go out and serve in their community. Not only does their effort elevate the brand, it also shows their employees a commitment to the community. Get your team together and determine how and who you can help in your local community.
Contribute Generously:
Maybe you can’t write a check for lots of money, but you can contribute your time. Consider serving on a board for something that you’re passionate about. Offer to do research, allocate resources, or volunteer your skills. Contemplate how you can give a percentage of your proceeds to a charity your team agrees upon.
With these three ideas, you can be more committed to global attention.
What’s important to you? If you don’t have anything, maybe now’s a great time to discover it. Maybe you want to invite your team to choose a charity that you all get behind. Chances are someone in your organization is passionate about something. It’s also worth discovering what maybe your family is interested in, and then getting together to see how you can help.
Want more ideas? Consider sharing this video with your team and start brainstorming ways you can commit to global attention. I believe when we pay attention, attention pays.
Follow me on Twitter at @neenjames or see my adventures on Instagram. See you there!
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Saturday, October 20, 2018
Monday, October 15, 2018
Friday, October 12, 2018
Why Profit First, by Mike Michalowicz, is a MUST Read
If you are looking for a really great business book to prioritize profits
, author Mike Michalowicz, has the answer. In his new book, Profit First, Mike talks about transforming your business from being a cash eating monster to a money-making machine.
This book kicked my butt! His assessments provide a quick step-by-step guide of the focus you need to drive profitability. Regardless of your business size, you’ll benefit from his methods. I also love that he references the need for discipline to be focused and create systems to help you remain focused and attentive on what matters most.
If you haven’t read Profit First, I highly encourage you. You’ll be ah-mazed what you’ll learn by Mike Michalowicz. Pick it up, you’ll be so glad you did.
Need more convincing? Take a look at my YouTube video review and share it with a friend. When you’re done, head over to my website to read about other books I recommend for any new or experienced business professional.
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Wednesday, October 10, 2018
Tuesday, October 09, 2018
Personal Commitment: Pay Attention to Your Marriage and Partnership
I am celebrating my 29th year of marriage. That’s right! When I think about the length of our personal commitment, I reflect on what was required of us both to make it work. What I realized is three things necessary for us to be more personally committed to our relationships, partnerships and spouses.
Create Dates
Create routine dates. Have a regularly scheduled date night with your significant other. Maybe it’s a virtual champagne or wine date. Maybe it’s a movie date or a meal you share together. Perhaps it’s to go on a walk or a bike ride. Whatever you do, schedule the opportunity as something to excitedly await. I still date my husband of 29 plus years. It helps keep us focused on each other, helps us meet each other’s needs and it’s a great way to ensure we have time scheduled to truly connect and converse – even when things are otherwise hectic.
Undistracted, Undivided Attention
When you’re spending time with your partner, put away technology. Leave the phone at home. Nothing can spoil the moment like a work-related call, email or text. Ensure you give undistracted, undivided attention to those you love. This helps you listen more intently and focus on what they have to say. It will help you make a deeper, more genuine connection that is meaningful and lasting.
Say Thank You Often
Never take your partner for granted. Find ways to say thank you regularly. If they put out the trash, help you with a meal or even just grabbed you some water. Whatever it may be, say thank you. A unique and unique way to also acknowledge your partner’s efforts is to leave thank you notes. If you travel for work, hide post-it notes around the house. As silly as it may seem, it will be something they appreciate while you’re gone.
Want more ideas? Check out my YouTube channel and watch this video below:
What would you add to this list? Write your comments down here below. Let’s connect on social media. Follow me on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Pick up a copy of Attention Pays, with hundreds of strategies to apply personally, professionally and globally.
I am so excited to see how you’re going to use these strategies to be even more committed to where you pay attention. I believe that when we pay attention, attention pays.
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Friday, October 05, 2018
Brandscaping by Andrew Davis: Book Recommendation
Are you looking for a really innovative marketing book that’s going to challenge the way you think? The book, Brandscaping by Andrew Davis, has been called game-changing by so many rock stars in the marketing world.
This book is full of ideas on how to grow partnerships and grow your business. It looks at marketing in a very different way, using content as currency.
What I loved was his philosophy of pulling and tapping into resources like internal, money, facilities, even your intellectual property. I also love that this book talks about, how to start small, but think big.
If you haven’t read this book, I would highly recommend you do. If you aren’t following him on social media, I would encourage you to do that, as well.
Brandscaping, brilliant book by Drew Davis, check it out. Need more convincing? Check out my video on YouTube and share it with those you believe would benefit from this book.
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Tuesday, October 02, 2018
Everyone Needs Rest and Recovery
Have you ever met someone who wears ‘busy’ like a badge of honor?
When you ask how they are, their response is “crazy busy.”
Stop it.
Stop wearing crazy busy like a badge of honor. It’s crazy town, and when you do it, it makes you look like you’re out of control. It’s not helpful. What you really need it to schedule rest and recovery. That’s right. Paying attention to you personally means being committed to rest and recovery. It will actually make you a better leader. Rest and recovery time helps you increase accountability, increase productivity and ultimately increase profitability.
Here’s how to achieve rest and recovery necessary for better focus and attention:
Schedule Recovery Days
When you have a big upcoming deliverable, meeting or project due, schedule recovery days to take afterward. Schedule it in in advance to ensure you take it. Mark your calendar to avoid the temptation of accepting meetings and other work-related requests. Scheduling vacation time or recovery days is also a great motivational way to help you remain focused knowing there will be downtime afterward.
Use PTO and Vacation Days
However, your company allocates days and PTO, take the time off. Stop being so proud of the fact you don’t take vacation, or believe you’re a martyr whose company can’t afford to do without you for a few days. That’s nonsense. That doesn’t serve anybody and it certainly is not role modeling what you want for your team. Everyone looks to you as the leader to set the example on this matter. Perhaps you can’t take all your PTO at once, but could schedule mini vacations or long weekends. You could also consider making a long weekend even longer with an extra day or two off. Another idea during the summer is to encourage your team to have summer hours, leaving a little earlier and taking Friday’s off.
Something to Look Forward To
At the beginning of the year, plan trips and time off throughout the year. Consider also scheduling personal hobbies, trips and adventures as something to look forward to as well. These little nuggets of fun can keep you excited and focused on something not work-related to encourage you to maintain high levels of energy and focus throughout the year.
Want more ideas? Check out my video and then subscribe to my YouTube channel for more ideas and ways to pay attention to what matters most.
Three ways you can build in rest and recovery. What would you add to this list? Write your comments down here below. If we’re not connected on social media, let’s do that. Follow me on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Pick up a copy of Attention Pays, with hundreds of strategies to apply personally, professionally and globally. As a leader, you role model how others will look for what you do for rest and recovery. It is my belief that when we pay attention, attention pays.
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Talk Triggers by Jay Baer and Daniel Lemin Ensures You Pay Attention to Word of Mouth Marketing
You know how much I love to read. It opens your mind, creates great ideas and really engages you in greater thinking. I recently had the opportunity to read a book that grabbed my attention, called Talk Triggers.
Written by two ah-mazing speakers and experts in their field of powerful and relational marketing, Jay Baer and Dan Lemin, it reminds you to pay attention to your relationships and leverage referral marketing. They believe word of mouth marketing works and in their new book, launching today, they share why.
They share four talk triggers in this book: being remarkable, relevant, reasonable and repeatable. There are some fantastic contextual models in this book, which you know I love!
Make sure you get your hands on Talk Triggers. It’s a brilliant book, easy to follow and great to share. I highly encourage you to follow both of them on Twitter at @daniellemin and @jaybaer.
If you want to grow your business through referrals and word of mouth marketing, get your hands on Talk Triggers. You will be so glad you did.
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Learn more about how they book can help you by watching my book review.
Finally, subscribe to my YouTube channel and connect with me on Social Media. I can be found on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook and Instagram.
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Saturday, September 29, 2018
Tuesday, September 25, 2018
Pay Attention to Your Health and Wellbeing
Do you ever struggle to pay attention to your health and wellbeing? We all have good intentions, right? But sometimes it’s a little more challenging. It’s definitely an ongoing challenge for me. One thing I’ve come to realize is that we have a responsibility to ourselves as much as we do to everyone else in our life. We are professionals, parents, spouses, friends, caretakers, providers and more. Too often, we put everyone else’s needs above our own, resulting in stress, overwhelm, exhaustion and frustration. Our health suffers as does our frame of mind. When we don’t prioritize our mind, body and spirit, everything suffers. In order to unleash our best self every day, we must pay attention to our wellness.
There are three strategies that I decided would be helpful to me, and thought they may be for you as well.
Create Habits:
When it comes to being attentive to your health, start first by creating solid habits. I know we hear this all the time, but maybe one of your habits is that you’re not sleeping as well as you want, or maybe you’re stressed all the time. Consider meditation. Use apps to help you relax, clear your mind and ease your body.
Consider scheduling your sleep. Make a commitment to be in bed by 10 o’clock three nights a week during the work week. What are some habits you can create that will allow you to focus on your health and wellbeing?
We’ve always heard it takes 21 days to make a habit, but science says otherwise. It actually takes greater than 60 days to form a new habit. Whatever you choose to do, be mindful and intentional. Give it your devoted energy and see if over the course of 60 days it becomes a habit.
Create a Routine:
Just like we have habits we’re trying to create, can you create a routine? Best way to form new habits is to do them at the same time every day. For instance, if you want to start meditating, perhaps you do it first thing in the morning upon waking. Or if you want to get fit, consider making a new workout program your routine upon waking. I found that creating routines in my life makes it a little easier for me to pay attention to those important aspects.
For example, when I travel I always leave my workout gear right beside my bed, so I literally have to step over it if I don’t wanna do. I do the same thing at home. My workout gear is packed beside my bed so that the first thing I do is put it on so I can’t talk myself out of working out.
Accountability is a key driver in creating routines and habits. Being mindful of your eating routines, the amount of time you spend away from your desk, and your sleeping patterns are all part of well-being attention. What are some routines you could create to stay healthier?
End Technology Addictions:
This is so much easier for me to say, but much harder to do. Challenge yourself to leave your cell phone behind. If you go for a walk, head to the gym or do anything that allows you to give attention to your wellbeing, turn off technology. Allow yourself to escape the information overload and the need to be accessible to everyone all the time. Give your mind and your energy a break.
Want more ideas? Tune into my YouTube channel and take a look.
Three ways that are simple but not easy to focus on your health and wellbeing: create habits, create a routine, and remove technology addiction. What would you add to this list? Write your notes down below or send me a note directly.
If we’re not connected on social media, let’s fix that. My social media details, if you wanna follow me on Twitter, well I’m @neenjames. If you prefer what I get up to, my adventures are always online on Instagram, especially if you like stories. But if you would like a copy of Attention Pays, you can find it wherever your favorite books are sold, or you can go to neenjames.com. You see, I believe that when we pay attention, attention pays.
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Tuesday, September 18, 2018
Become a Responsible Global Citizen
Are you a responsible global citizen?
Nearly 25 years ago, my husband and I lived in Australia. We saved enough money to go explore the Great Barrier Reef. As we dove in the water, we were surrounded by coral, fish, and colors I’d never seen. It was one of the most magnificent things ever.
Fast forward to one year ago. We went back to the exact same place we visited all those years ago. We got into the water at the outer reef, where we’d been 25 years earlier, only to become heartbroken as we saw something else entirely. All of the beautiful coral was bleached white. The marine life was very few.
Global Warming – Yes or No?
Now, whether you believe in global warming or not is irrelevant. 46 scientists have said the bleaching of the Australian Barrier Reef is from heat waves created in the water. What we once knew as beautiful, colorful and full of life is now no more. Never again will generations after us get to embark upon the same experience.
We have a responsibility as global citizens to pay intentional attention to the planet on which we live. Now, maybe you are not about saving the planet. Maybe you don’t care about the oceans, but chances are you have an awareness of global attention. Many organizations have committed to prioritizing their surrounding communities. It could be that you want to pay specific attention to the community you serve.
As a speaker around the globe, I have chosen to take part in the National Speakers Association. This organization has created the National Speakers Association Foundation to help speakers in time of needs such as natural disasters, health issues and crises. What can you become a part of to help others, to help your community and to aid in the world around us?
Inspiring global attention
There are so many ways that we can easily be better global citizens with the resources we have. In 1987, Ian Conan was sailing around the world on a solo yacht race. One thing that got his attention was the amount of crazy pollution in the ocean. He came back to Australia and he decided to create Clean Up Australia Day. Now that very first day, I remember volunteering to clean up in my community. It seems crazy that you would get people to take a day off from work and clean up rubbish and trash. But it worked!
Fast forward today and you’ll find it still ongoing. Ian and Clean Up the World partnered with global alliances where 30 million people in 80 different countries participated in that very first year. One man’s vision just to start cleaning up the waterways became this ripple effect that has come across the planet.
I wonder if there’s one thing that you could do as a global citizen and start paying attention to. Maybe there’s one particular charity in your local community that your business would like to get behind. Maybe as an individual, there’s one particular passion you have for a charity where you could donate time in lieu of money.
We have a responsibility to take care of the planet that we are gifted with, to pay attention so that other people may enjoy it and their attention might be invested in these wonderful resources we have. I want to challenge you to become a conscious, intentional global citizen and pay attention to what matters around you.
Want to know more? Check out my video on YouTube and subscribe to receive updates on new videos full of tips and techniques to pay attention to what matters most personally, professionally and globally.
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Friday, September 14, 2018
Tuesday, September 11, 2018
Prioritize Personal Attention for Family
Friends are the family you choose for yourself. No matter what shape, size or location of your family, it means different things to everyone. It’s a very cool encompassing term. In my case, my family is spread all over the globe. While I live in the US, most of my relatives live in Australia. We have adopted our American friends and neighbors. No matter if your family is blood-related or really close friendships, it’s important to pay attention to those relationships and commit to investing in them routinely.
There are three ways to be more committed to a family focus:
Establish Traditions.
Now in your family, you might have dinner together at a certain time of the week, or year. Or maybe you do something special for your holidays. Perhaps you celebrate someone’s birthday ina particular way. Establishing family traditions gives everyone something to look forward to. It creates amazing memories and provides great memories for when you’re not together.
Create Daily Tasks.
That’s right. What could you do daily to remind your loved ones they’re important to you? Perhaps you could send a text message saying you’re thinking of them. Or, it could be as simple as calling someone or face timing. Megan, my best friend, is an amazing mother. She is someone I admire who runs multiple businesses. In addition to it all, she is a mentor to many by investing time in the education of others. Best of all, she is the mother of two of my beautiful goddaughters. To ensure she remains engaged with her family, she’s created daily routines to help her daughters prepare for each day of school. She pays attention to their meals by planning ahead and ensuring they always eat together as a family. This is a tradition lost by many families in the chaos of school, work and commitments. Daily tasks can help create routines so you can spend less time working and more time focusing those that matter most to you.
Schedule Connection Points.
Consider the easiest ways you can connect to various loved ones. For instance, my husband and I speak every day on the phone, no matter where on the planet we are. We’ve had a rule for 29 years of marriage that we connect on the phone, no matter what. Perhaps you could connect over FaceTime with distant family, or text messaging with friends. Either way, be mindful of how to best connect with various family members so you stay in touch. Consider Folding Time in your day, such as calling a family member while driving to and from work. Perhaps you could send a little not first thing in the morning to someone you care a great deal for. Maybe write little notes for your children to pack in their lunches when they head off to school. Either way, give intentional attention to those you love with little connection points that shows how much you care. It’s one of the greatest gifts you’ll ever be giving someone, is the gift of being present.
When it comes to paying attention personally – focus on your family. Establish traditions, create daily routines and schedule connection points. Want more ideas? Watch this video for inspiration!
Let’s connect on social media. You can follow me on Twitter or see my adventures on Instagram where I share stories every day. If you haven’t checked out neenjames.com, go and find out more about our latest book, Attention Pays. I’m so excited to hear what you would add to this list. How can we focus on family more, whatever family looks like for you?
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Thursday, September 06, 2018
Tuesday, September 04, 2018
Start with Community When Caring for Mother Earth
How do you pay attention to the planet? It starts with your community.
In our book, Attention Pays, we talk about how we pay attention in the world, personally, professionally, and globally. Personally, it’s about who deserves your attention and being thoughtful. Professionally, it’s about what deserves your attention and being productive. Globally, it’s about how are you paying attention in the world and being responsible, and a contributor.
There are three ways to raise global awareness so everyone feels a sense of ownership and responsibility in caring for our world. Now you don’t have to be a Green Peace carrying, Tesla driving, crazy environmentalist person. Rather, tiny little things we can do to pay attention make a BIG difference. (By the way, I love Teslas. I think they’re one of the sexiest cars on the planet, but I digress…)
Start a recycling program.
At work, place a bin near the printer so paper isn’t wasted. You could also start a recycling allocation in the lunchroom where people can sort out the recyclable trash. At home, make a place for a recycling trash can. To make it more fun and get more involved, start a recycling contest at work between floors or within departments. Create a community fundraiser where you collect bottles and cans to cash in for charity. Either way its easy to start a recycling program.
Choose a charity in your community.
What is important to you? Perhaps you have a very global awareness and want to assist with poverty. Or, maybe you want to help needy children in other countries. Perhaps, you want to care for what’s happening with endangered animals. Either way, start in your community. Think about how you could instantly make an impact, even if small. Maybe it’s working to help your local homeless shelter, a soup kitchen, a church or a community program. Paying global attention starts where we live. It’s in our home, our work, and our community. So, choose a charity.
Join a community event.
Become a business invested in community aid. One of my clients, Comcast Cares, has a program where each day a team helps people wherever they are needed. They may create gardens, or clean up littered areas. They’ve helped build schools, paint and create murals too. One way to start cleaning up the world is start close to home. By focusing on your community, you begin making an impact on your life and the life of those you live among.
Could you create a recycling program? Consider donating to a charity or get involved in a community events. What would you add to this list? I’d love to hear your ideas below.
Let’s connect on social media. You can follow me on Twitter or Instagram for all the stories I post each day. If you haven’t got yourself a copy of Attention Pays, you can find it where your favorite books are sold or you can go to NeenJames.com and download hundreds of articles you can use for free. Let’s take responsibility of our planet and the resources on it. When you pay attention, attention pays.
The post Start with Community When Caring for Mother Earth appeared first on Neen James.
Thursday, August 30, 2018
Commit to Your Educational Development
What are you doing to stay current and relevant as a leader? This is a question that so many leaders ask me, no matter what company I’m serving. How do we pay attention to our own educational development when, as leaders, we spend so much time working on everyone else? It doesn’t matter whether I’m working with the CEO of a major media company or an HR director of a pharmaceutical com. We’re constantly looking for ways that our leaders can stay current and relevant.
I think if we’re paying attention personally, it means we need to also look at our own educational developing and being committed to developing our skills, which means we have to schedule time and we have to pay attention.
Attend industry conferences.
What does your company offer that you might be able to attend? As a professional keynote speaker, there’s an organization called the National Speakers Association. I know. Go figure. A whole room of speakers. It’s crazy. But it’s so much fun. There seems to be an association for everything on this planet. What is your association? I even spoke for the American Society of Association Executives. That’s right. There’s an association just for people who run associations. I would encourage you to look at your industry conferences and see what would be a great way for you to attend, and allocate your time for the sessions to network and expand your horizons.
Schedule time for continuing credit.
For many of the clients that I work with, whether they’re accountants, lawyers, HR professionals, they need to do a certain number of CUs or continuing credits so that they can get their educational level higher. What’s your commitment to yourself? Are you an entrepreneur and you want to just set yourself a target of how many things you want to learn? Being able to schedule time and being deliberate in where you focus your time an attention will help you with your education and also help you stay relevant as a leader.
Listen and Learn.
Listen to podcasts and audiobooks. Tune into TEDx talks. Listen to your mentor. Seek training programs. Either way, just listen. Pay attention and listen. If you’re a person who commutes regularly, maybe podcasts would be great for you. Short on time? It only takes small increments of time to watch a Ted Talks. If you love to listen to books, maybe that’s a great way for you to increase your education. We have made available Attention Pays on a Kindle, and some people want the audio version. I’m working on that. But what are some ways that you can really listen to the advice of others and have that part of your regular development plan?
When I was in corporate, I made sure I attended every program that I was allowed to attend. I made sure I connected with my version of the internal university and scheduled myself on courses with my boss’ approval.
When I decided to do my MBA, I did that part-time while I was working full-time. In my own profession now, I make a point every week of reading new books, exposing myself to new podcasts, and listening to new Ted Talks. I love being able to participate in social media conversations around development, and it’s kind of the profession that I’ve chosen.
How are you staying current and relevant? How are you paying attention to your own development and committing your time, your attention, and your energy?
Do you know someone seeking to develop their skills and learn more professionally or personally? Share this video with them, or better yet, this post!
If you haven’t picked up a copy of Attention Pays, do it now! You’ll learn great strategies for you and your team to pay attention to what matters most at work and in life. At NeenJames.com, you will find hundreds of articles you can download for free, and you can also subscribe to our newsletter there. I believe that when you pay attention, attention pays.
The post Commit to Your Educational Development appeared first on Neen James.
Monday, August 27, 2018
Thursday, August 23, 2018
How to Pay Attention to Your Mind, Body and Spirit
Do you pay enough attention to your body, mind, and spirit? Consider these three ways to pay attention to the body you have, the mind you’ve been gifted with and also your spirit.
Or, are you too busy working to prioritize those things that matter most: your health and well-being?
Body – Make an appointment
Exercise, healthy eating, sleep and rest are critical for our bodies to operate effectively and efficiently each day. They are the essential tool we need to do our best work professionally and personally. It’s easy to come up with excuses to put your body’s needs last, and yet we need to switch that priority because they do matter! Start off first by creating a standing, no-excuses appointment for yourself. Choose your method of body focus, whether it means stepping out of the office for a walk, to have lunch, creating an appointment or to workout. Maybe it’s creating an appointment with your doctor for the checkup that you’ve been meaning to have.
In my case, there’s certain things that I love to do, to treat myself as well. And so I make sure I schedule appointments with those. My personal trainer is Jennifer Jacobs – a fabulously fit professional who also teaches cycling classes for Peloton. I have a regular appointment that takes priority on my calendar. She helps hold me accountable to my fitness goals when I may otherwise give myself excuses to skip.
No matter what you schedule your time for, commit to it as you would a client appointment, doctors appointment or meeting with your boss. No excuses.
Mind – Fuel your thoughts.
Can you make quiet time where you read something that inspires you? Maybe the paper or a professional journal. Either way, really consider what you are doing to grow your mind and develop the way you think. Consider blogs that might challenge you, articles or white papers you may enjoy reading. Either way, make reading a priority. Set aside 15 minutes a day at first to develop the habit. Soon or later, you’ll find yourself reading more frequently for longer periods of time.
Spirit – Your soul is a temple.
Spiritual might mean all kinds of things to all sorts of people. It might mean church, a temple, community, or maybe charity. I encourage you to consider doing something daily to feed your spirit. Perhaps it’s lighting a candle to bring serenity to your space, or writing in a gratitude journal to help focus. It might be saying 10 things you’re grateful for the moment you wake up, or perhaps it’s prayer or meditation. Consider getting involved in a charity, using your skills and talent to help benefit them.
Three ways you can pay attention to your body, your mind, and your spirit, so you can unleash your best self.
Know someone who could use inspiration to pay attention to their health and well-being? Consider sending them a link to this blog or have them watch my video:
If we’re not connected on social media, let’s fix that. You can follow me on Instagram, and all the stories and adventures that I share. You can follow me on Twitter. If you haven’t got yourself a copy of Attention Pays, we talk about how do you pay attention personally, professionally, and globally. So get your hands on a copy of this book as well. I’d love to hear what you would add below, so please share with me, how do you pay attention to your body, your mind, and your spirit.
I believe that when we pay attention, attention pays.
The post How to Pay Attention to Your Mind, Body and Spirit appeared first on Neen James.
Monday, August 20, 2018
Saturday, August 18, 2018
Drive member experience: 5 Ways to create members for life
Every Association wants to create members for life, Right?
Unfortunately, not EVERYONE is paying enough attention to that very big cog in their business engine.
I recently ran across this quote from former CIO and Senior VP of Dell, Jerry Gregoire, “The customer experience is the next competitive battleground.” (I know you don’t call them customers in the association world.. but you get it). Isn’t it time to pay even more attention to your member experience?
When was the last time you looked at what YOUR members are experiencing from a lens OTHER than your own? It’s an important question to ask yourself and your team if what you really want is to not only compete in our world today. You know the old saying, “good news travels fast, but bad news travels faster?” It’s never been truer than it is in a world where social media is front and center and consumer tolerance for less than perfect is slim to none.
So, what can YOU do to ensure that your members are raving fans and stay that way for the long haul? How can you make sure when their membership renewal notice comes they are excited to rejoin? How can you encourage your members to be great referral partners for you?
Step ONE – pay ATTENTION to what matters.
Step two – follow these five strategies:
- Get out in front of social media. What are people saying about your association? Have you checked Yelp? Twitter? Facebook? Trip advisor (if you’re in the hotel or travel industry supplying association executives)? Are people saying good things or bad? Are you responding to comments? Likes? Forwards? Reviews? Are you reading the information with an open mind and looking for every little way you can improve the experience your members feel when they interact with your association? Every bit of information is valuable. Remember these wise words from Bill Gates, “Your most unhappy customers are your greatest source of learning.” I loved how ASAE used their app to engage attendees at their annual event before they even arrived in Chicago.
- Mystery shop or blind call your association head office. There are services everywhere that are experts at analyzing the member experience of associations. From sending in mystery shoppers to cold dialing your membership department to testing your technical team. This can be illuminating on so many levels. It’s easy to get myopic when it comes to our own team and what we believe to be an amazing experience, and often, your staff is on the money in terms of service and standards. But it never hurts to check in with an outsider’s perspective now and again to see what’s really a true member experience so you’ll know what to tweak and change.
- Create focus groups. Pull a group of your active members together and ask them for feedback on what’s working and what’s not. Let them know your goal is to continuously elevate and improve their member experience.
- Walk a mile. Ever hear that saying, “walk a mile in someone’s shoes”? When was the last time you purchased or experienced something from your association? From start to finish? From phone call or web portal, all the way to product in hand or service met? It can be quite enlightening.
- Review your communications. Listen to your voicemail lately? Read your signature line? Hear your outgoing association messages? Update your website? Take a look at your business cards? Did you put all that together in 2000 and haven’t changed it since? Our “signatures” in all the different communication forms they come in have affected the member experience.
When you brainstorm ideas to create an innovative, elevated member experience, that creates members for life, consider these ideas (just remember I shot this video for those of my clients who call them customers LOL… I know you call them members):
Lastly, take away this thought from Jeff Bezos, CEO of Amazon, “We see our customers as invited guests to a party, and we are the hosts. It’s our job every day to make every important aspect of the customer experience a little bit better.” Yes, Jeff! He’s got a perfect idea. Make your association a party people want to keep attending friends. They’ll be members for life when you do. I’d love to hear from you! Share your ideas with us here!
If you will be at #ASAE18 in August, let me know – let’s meet up! I am sharing a session on how association executives can use contextual models to get (and keep) member attention and also use them as tools to share why people should join your association.
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Tuesday, August 14, 2018
Defend Against Distractions and Overcome Your Email Obsessions
According to McKinsey, 28% of a person’s workday is spent checking email. That’s over one-quarter of your entire business day! It’s a wonder any of us get anything done.
Other studies show 26% of employees admit email is their number one distraction. Implement these strategies to defend against email distractions:
- Invest time in 15-minute increments. According to the University of British Columbia, limiting your reading of email to three times per day reduces stress and distractions by 47%, ultimately boosting productivity and focus. When you check email, only spend 15 dedicated minutes on it at a time. Set the timer on your phone to answer as many as you can in that concentrated period of time. As a result, you’ll give email your undivided attention at specified points throughout the day. In the end, it will save you hours of scrolling and prevent distracted, half-answered emails.
- Don’t reinvent the wheel. Create custom email templates to quickly and thoughtfully respond to regular or repeated requests.
Defend Against Email Distractions
- Use the latest apps to do the work for you. Go to neenjames.com/extras for my favorite Attention Resources to help you implement these email defense systems:
- Unplug from the unwanted. There are apps available that will unsubscribe you from unwanted subscriptions filling up your inbox.
- Block it out. Use a distraction management app to block social media sites and incoming messages. It’s the Internet version of a Do Not Disturb sign and ideal for creating uninterrupted time.
- Create shortcuts. Smart apps create shortcuts for regularly used responses, words, and templates.
- Bounce back. A nifty app allows you to bounce emails back to yourself when you want to answer them and schedule delivery for another time.
- Leverage your out of office message. If you have an assistant, leverage your out of office message by sending email requests to your assistant. Then, invite people to contact your assistant in your absence. Be sure to provide the best contact information. Imagine what you could do with your attention if your assistant were able to handle even 25% of your inbox. Better yet, you can leverage your out of office message to generate attention and show you are being thoughtful with your response. See the examples shared in the call-out box for more.
Remember, most emails you receive are requests from people who ultimately want your time and attention to accomplish their objectives. Email is an important tool. When used well, it assists communications. If not managed, it kills productivity. Don’t be the leader who gives half-responses. Worse still, a boss who sends emails full of spelling errors or emoticons. Be an influential communicator. I challenge you to dedicate the next 24 hours to being intentional with every email response.
The post Defend Against Distractions and Overcome Your Email Obsessions appeared first on Neen James.
Thursday, August 09, 2018
Next: Thoughts About Tomorrow You Can Talk About Today
As a leader, I have the next book for you to read. The book is actually called Next. I know. It’s written by one of my most favorite thought leaders in the world, and his name is Matt Church. Get your hands on a copy of this book called Next.
Now, Matt is famous for so many books that he’s written, and one of my favorites still remains his Amplifiers. But in this book, he truly is one of the global thought leaders on how we can really talk about things that are going to happen tomorrow, today. 21 chapters, well written, that are filled with models, ideas, commentary, discussion ideas, Specifically, questions as a leader you can then have conversations with your team.
Next by Matt Church is one of the best books I’ve read. If you really want to thrive during a time of incredible disruption, if you want to truly lead your team, check out this book called Next by Matt Church. You’ll be so glad you did.
If we haven’t connected on social media, let’s fix that. You can follow me on Twitter @neenjames. You can watch all of my adventures on Instagram where you can download hundreds of articles for free, and I also wrote a book called Attention Pays. If you haven’t checked it out, go there. But please, do yourself a favor. Pick up this book called Next by Matt Church. Like I said, you’ll be so glad you did.
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