Business Energetix Blog

Chloes Chronicles Vol. V Number 4

Words of Business Wiz-dom

By: MizBizWiz

Meet Chloe, Business Energetix's Business Wizard; we call her MizBizWiz.  When Chloe joined us, we didn't realize the depth of her talents for noticing how stuff works but she has dazzled and amazed us with her ability to relate her observations to common business issues. Read on to see how she serves as a constant source of instruction and inspiration for exploring the challenges of management.

 

You are amazing! Awesome! Truly remarkable! Dazzling…genius! And so am I, but not necessarily in the same way.

I’m particularly smart when it comes to recognizing my friends at a long distance or letting my humans know that I want their attention. I’m masterful in my ability to be engaging.  Even when others don’t want to engage with me, they can’t ignore me because I keep trying until I get their attention.

I can count to three. I get three treats after my walks and three carrots for lunch. I’m amazed that most humans more than pint-size can count much higher than that.

You’re smart in other ways. You can form words and make different sounds than me. I’m limited to barking, whining, whimpering and a little laughing. You’re a communication genius when you want to be.

For nearly 30 years now (that’s 210 in dog years!) we’ve known about multiple intelligences. While that theory wasn’t applied to canines, it did describe the notion that people are smart in different ways, some with numbers, others using language, pictures, movement, music, inter-personal skills or nature. No single IQ test will capture all the different ways people may be smart.

If you’re a business leader, you can reach more customers if you use the different ways your employees are smart. Some of your customers want to know that you understand their inter-personal intelligence so tap the talent of your people-smart employees to speak that customer’s language. The same is true for your customers who will connect with you best through pictures and graphics. Put the numbers folks together and they’ll speak a language no one else quite understands.

Use your own particular brilliance to add value and drill down into the rich diversity of intelligence in your team to broaden your business’s appeal. It’s more fun and more productive.

What do you think about my business wiz-dom? Let’s talk—it’s your turn. Click on comments and tell me what you think. I’ll get right back to you.

Chloes Chronicles Vol. V Number 3

Words of Business Wiz-dom

By: MizBizWiz

Meet Chloe, Business Energetix's Business Wizard; we call her MizBizWiz.  When Chloe joined us, we didn't realize the depth of her talents for noticing how stuff works but she has dazzled and amazed us with her ability to relate her observations to common business issues. Read on to see how she serves as a constant source of instruction and inspiration for exploring the challenges of management.

 

 Here at Business Energetix we make celebration a regular business practice.  We don’t save up all of our energy for a once-a-year blow out on New Year’s Eve; we celebrate whenever there’s a reason, and I’m very good at finding reasons to celebrate.

Our frequent celebrations usually don’t consume a lot of time, unless it’s a really big achievement we’re commemorating. We just stop what we’re doing to recognize that we’ve completed what we set out to do. It may be a little project, like finishing this blog, but it still deserves attention for a job well done.

A little celebration is like an exclamation point that adds emphasis to a sentence. We get to stop for a moment, acknowledge the progress we’ve made in our chosen direction and then we’re ready to take on the next task or project.

When we’re feeling like we’ve got way too much to do, or we’re resisting doing something onerous, we can recall our achievements of the past and the fun we had celebrating them. That memory motivates us to take on the next challenge with a little more confidence that we can be successful once again.

We’ve mastered the art of the simple celebration. I always prefer that we proclaim our victory with food treats but sometimes we go for a walk, play in the yard or visit a friend. It doesn’t really matter what we do to celebrate—although, I think it’s always better with treats!—it’s just important that we give ourselves the credit we deserve for our work.

I bet you deserve a celebration today. What have you completed that merits a little merriment?

What do you think of my wiz-dom about celebrating accomplishments? Click on comments to tell me more about your celebrations. And, ENJOY!

Chloes Chronicles Vol. V Number 2

Words of Business Wiz-dom

By: MizBizWiz

Meet Chloe, Business Energetix's Business Wizard; we call her MizBizWiz.  When Chloe joined us, we didn't realize the depth of her talents for noticing how stuff works but she has dazzled and amazed us with her ability to relate her observations to common business issues. Read on to see how she serves as a constant source of instruction and inspiration for exploring the challenges of management.

 

 

I’m the resident wizard of fun at Business Energetix and it’s clearly the best part of my job!

I take it upon myself to interrupt when people have been working too long without a smile or a laugh. Sometimes, I roll on my back, squirm around on the floor a bit and sigh with delight just to draw attention away from the furled brows of concentration and stress. If that doesn’t work, I become more direct and push the keyboard tray under the desktop so they can’t keep working. Sometimes a wizard just has to be pushy to get people to pay attention to what they should be doing.

I remind the people here that they’re at their best when they’re relaxed and enjoying what they’re doing, rather than all tightened up, fussing over something that’s not going well at the moment.

Have you ever seen a dog with worry lines? Even my buddy Mandy, who makes a kinda worried look with her eyebrows when she wants people to throw the tennis ball for her, is really just getting people to stop stressing and start playing with her. We dogs get it—work ought to be fun!

If you’re not lucky enough to have a wizard of fun in your workplace, allow me to share some of my wiz-dom:

~  Think fun. When you smile, you just can’t hold those troubling, negative thoughts at the same time.

~  Picture fun. Place photos or souvenirs of fun times in your work space and remember the experience.

~  Have fun. Make a point of doing something fun every single day at work.

Both the people and the dogs around you will work with you better when you have more fun. Try it—I’m sure you’ll like it as much as I do.

What do you think of my wiz-dom about fun? Click on comments to tell me more about what you’ve done to make work more fun. And, ENJOY!

Chloes Chronicles Vol. V Number 1

Meet Chloe, Business Energetix's Business Wizard; we call her MizBizWiz.  When Chloe joined us, we didn't realize the depth of her talents for noticing how stuff works but she has dazzled and amazed us with her ability to relate her observations to common business issues. Read on to see how she serves as a constant source of instruction and inspiration for exploring the challenges of management.

 

 

Have you heard the old adage, “You can’t teach an old dog new tricks?” Well, on behalf of the canine nation, I want you to know that we are offended by that proverb!

 

I’m living proof of the ability to continue to learn. Just in the last few months I’ve learned several new ways to get more treats by obeying new commands. I don’t always like to stop what I’m doing and follow Marti’s directives in order to get those goodies but I’ve learned that the reward makes it worthwhile.

 

When humans invoke that adage about learning new tricks, I think they’re just making excuses for resisting change. Learning new things can be uncomfortable because it’s unfamiliar and confusing at first. Like just this morning, I went to my vet for my yearly booster shots and my doctor had a new office with new computers. Everyone was confused about where to find the keyboard and where the documents were printing. They were uncomfortable but they kept their sense of humor and muddled through. And, I was fine with it, as long as they didn’t lose the cookies.

 

It seems to me that the humans that like to learn have the most fun of anyone. They may not like everything they try, but they still give it a try before deciding they don’t like it.

 

So, here’s my question for you: When was the last time you learned something great from inside of your comfort zone? Stretch yourself—try something new. You can teach old dogs new tricks! Just think of the treats you’ll get.

 

Let me know what you think about learning new tricks. Click on comments below to share your own lessons learned from choosing to be a learner.

 

Chloes Chronicles Vol. IIII Number 8

Meet Chloe, Business Energetix's Business Wizard; we call her MizBizWiz.  When Chloe joined us, we didn't realize the depth of her talents for noticing how stuff works but she has dazzled and amazed us with her ability to relate her observations to common business issues. Read on to see how she serves as a constant source of instruction and inspiration for exploring the challenges of management.

 

 

Happy end-of-summer! Did you miss me last month? I took my own advice and had a vacation to re-charge my batteries and clear my mental cobwebs. Even a business wizard needs an occasional respite to stay sharp.

 

I spent a few days playing with my buddies at the kennel, while Marti took her own vacation. We both had a great time with our friends, away from work and thinking about entirely different stuff. I came back with some new insights about my work-life and I’m making some changes. Here’s what I learned:

 

·   It’s fun to be with my “tribe.” These dogs understand me and I don’t need to explain to them why I get territorial sometimes or how important treats are. We can pick up our game where we left off days before, as though there had never been a break. Having time with my tribe allows me to relax and be myself.

·   Play is good. Running around, being chased by my buddies, playing keep-away with the tennis ball—all good stuff that makes me feel happy and optimistic. I’ve added an evening romp in the yard to my daily routine just for the fun of it, just to end my day on a positive note.

·   Work is fun too. Bringing laughter and play into business makes me more creative. I love my business wizard role and I get to do what I do best everyday. That’s fun and I appreciate it.

 

I hope you had a great summer vacation, a time out of your regular routine to get a new perspective on your work. How did you benefit from your time away from work? Remember to bring fun to work everyday!

Let me know what you think about my vacation lessons. Click on comments below to share your own lessons learned from taking a break from work.

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Chloes Chronicles Vol. IIII Number 7

Meet Chloe, Business Energetix's Business Wizard; we call her MizBizWiz.  When Chloe joined us, we didn't realize the depth of her talents for noticing how stuff works but she has dazzled and amazed us with her ability to relate her observations to common business issues. Read on to see how she serves as a constant source of instruction and inspiration for exploring the challenges of management.

 

Happy summer! I love this time of year. I can lie on the warm patio pavers until I feel toasty warm and then saunter over to a shady spot in the grass and cool off for a bit, all the while, keeping an eye on the neighborhood to see what my peeps are up to.

 

Summer gives me an opportunity in my MizBizWiz role to point out one of the big pitfalls and possibilities for business leaders—vacation. It’s a pitfall because companies aren’t always prepared for employees to take time off to relax and re-charge their batteries. I know lots of businesses are short-handed right now and trying to stretch the staff to cover the work with someone on vacation can be frightening. But, don’t even think about cancelling vacations—yours or that of your team members! It’s disastrous for your business, not only because it destroys team morale but it will also compromise your business results.

 

There are several benefits for both the individual and the business when employees take time off to rejuvenate and refresh. We need a break in our routine if we’re to stay at our best.

1.      When we change our routine, we can see new options for solving problems that had seemed insurmountable before.

2.      Our relaxed brain makes connections that aren’t possible under stress and fatigue.

3.      Physical rest and relaxation restores our unconscious processes, the place where creativity thrives.

 

Encourage your team to take time away from work and come back refreshed and ready to reach new heights. At Business Energetix, we’re all about helping people to be their best at work and a great vacation is one way to discover new potential for success.

 

What do you think about my suggestions?  I’d love to hear from you—argue with me, praise me or challenge me—please, just don’t ignore me!  Click on comment below and tell me what you think about this observation.

Chloes Chronicles Vol. IIII Number 6

Meet Chloe, Business Energetix's Business Wizard; we call her MizBizWiz.  When Chloe joined us, we didn't realize the depth of her talents for noticing how stuff works but she has dazzled and amazed us with her ability to relate her observations to common business issues. Read on to see how she serves as a constant source of instruction and inspiration for exploring the challenges of management.

 

 

 

Today I want to tell you what I learned recently about taking care of myself. It’s too bad I had to learn this the hard way.

 

I got sick last week after spending a couple days with my peeps in the kennel. Not that dreaded cough, but a fever, chills, aches and pains. Yuck! The only thing I wanted to do was snuggle in my bed and sleep around the clock. I didn’t even eat and if you know me, you know that means I really was sick ‘cause I love to eat. 

 

I take my work as a business wizard very seriously and I thought Business Energetix couldn’t possibly run for a day or two without my astute observations. So, I tried to go for my walks and I dragged myself to the office, thinking I could contribute a little bit, even if it wasn’t my best. Do you ever do that—try to work when you’re not really well?

 

In spite of my dedication to the company, I was totally worthless on those days. Nothing made sense to me and I really didn’t care what happened. It was only after I saw the doctor and got those tasty pills that I could get myself engaged in the business again. I had to take care of myself before I could help anyone else, no matter how hard I tried.

 

I know that humans talk about that all the time, how important it is to take care of you so you have something to give to others, but they don’t always listen to their own wisdom. I see them push themselves to work when they’re totally depleted and then they wonder why things don’t work out. Duh! What’s wrong with you people? Would you try to drive your car when it was out of gas? You deserve to be treated at least as well as your car.

 

Learn from my lesson on self-care and build your resources before you try to expend them. Take care and be well.

 

What do you think about my suggestions?  I’d love to hear from you—argue with me, praise me or challenge me—please, just don’t ignore me!  Click on comment below and tell me what you think about this observation.

Chloes Chronicles Vol. IIII Number 5

Meet Chloe, Business Energetix's Business Wizard; we call her MizBizWiz.  When Chloe joined us, we didn't realize the depth of her talents for noticing how stuff works but she has dazzled and amazed us with her ability to relate her observations to common business issues. Read on to see how she serves as a constant source of instruction and inspiration for exploring the challenges of management.

 

 

Being a business wizard can be hard work.  Even though I’m naturally talented in observing things, it’s tough to figure out what’s most important now. When I try to pay attention to everything, it wears me out. Sometimes there’s just so much stuff going on—know what I mean?

 

I get some help. Marti uses commands like “focus” and “leave it” to direct my attention.  I notice that humans have deadlines and schedules to help them, but sometimes it just takes more structure. After working on this for awhile, I think I have some helpful suggestions for you.

 

 

When I want to get my 15 hours of beauty sleep each day, I have to be somewhat flexible about where I do that.  I need to eliminate the noise and distractions so I can snooze peacefully, and that means moving from one quiet place to another.  When the sun is out, I like to lie on the warm patio pavers but if it gets too noisy or hot outdoors, I have to move to a cooler and quieter place to eliminate those distractions.  So, look around or listen for a moment and see what distractions you could eliminate so you can pay attention to the most important thing, right here, right now.

 

My second strategy is to have a plan and persist in spite of discouragement. I want to go for a walk every afternoon so I make my request known by resting my chin on Marti’s leg and looking up at her with my pretty pleading eyes. If that doesn’t work, I push the keyboard tray aside so she’ll stop working. And, if she tells me to “wait”—I hate that command!—I sit on her foot so she can’t get away without me. See how my persistence pays off? 

 

I hope you’ll try my suggestions.  If you eliminate distractions and persist with your plan, I think you’ll figure out what are the most important things to do and accomplish more than you might otherwise.

 

 

What do you think about my suggestions?  I’d love to hear from you—argue with me, praise me or challenge me—please, just don’t ignore me!  Click on comment below and tell me what you think about this observation.

Chloes Chronicles Vol. IIII Number 3

Meet Chloe, Business Energetix's Business Wizard; we call her MizBizWiz.  When Chloe joined us, we didn't realize the depth of her talents for noticing how stuff works but she has dazzled and amazed us with her ability to relate her observations to common business issues. Read on to see how she serves as a constant source of instruction and inspiration for exploring the challenges of management.

 

 

A couple months ago, I told you that I was working on my “soft” skills, like getting along with others.  There’s nothing soft about this—it’s hard work.  If it weren’t for the treats involved, I’d probably give up.

 

Marti and I are building my listening skills before we move on to the more difficult behaviors.  I thought I was a listening expert—my hearing is way better than that of humans and I can pick up noises that people can’t even hear.  I thought listening was one of my strengths but I’m learning that hearing is only the beginning of listening.

 

The hard part for me is focusing on just one thing at a time and giving it my full attention.  When Marti tells me to do something, I hear her, along with all the other things competing for my attention.  I’m checking out whether there other dogs around, people I want to greet, cars going by and the gazillion other things going on.  Do you ever do that?  Try to pay attention to one thing but have all this other stuff competing for your eyes and ears?

 

I’m supposed to stop talking and watching everything else.  Marti says, “Focus” and I need to look at her and not the other dogs in the park.  I try to do both at the same time, but she won’t give me a treat until I focus on her exclusively and watch for the next cue.  That’s the hard part, giving my full attention to what we’re working on at that moment, when there are all these distractions around me.

 

Do you ever have a hard time listening?  Do you pay full attention to the person speaking to you?  How do you focus on one person when your brain is moving faster than they’re talking?  And, if you’re the teacher, are you using enough treats?

 

I want to get good at this so I can get more treats.  Do you have any suggestions that will help me? 

 

What do you think about listening skills?  I’d love to hear from you—argue with me, praise me or challenge me—please, just don’t ignore me!  Click on comment below and tell me what you think about this observation.

 

Chloes Chronicles Vol. IIII Number 2

Meet Chloe, Business Energetix's Business Wizard; we call her MizBizWiz.  When Chloe joined us, we didn't realize the depth of her talents for noticing how stuff works but she has dazzled and amazed us with her ability to relate her observations to common business issues. Read on to see how she serves as a constant source of instruction and inspiration for exploring the challenges of management.

 

 

I’m sending a big shout out this month to Bonney Brown, Executive Director of the Northern Nevada Human Society, for her article in our local newspaper.  Ms. Brown described research finding that animals have a sense of humor. 

I can only speak for the canine cohort when I say, “Well, of course we do.  Do you have any other explanation for why we live with humans?”   You people crack us up!

 

It would be dreadful to have no humor, particularly at work.  We wouldn’t trust each other as much or work together as well.  A humorless work place would be tense and less productive—and, way less fun.

 

Some folks don’t understand how to use humor well.  They mistake sarcasm for humor and end up hurting others’ feelings.  Or, they’re rude, insulting or offensive and try to disguise it as humor.  If someone’s feelings are hurt, it’s not funny, no matter what you intended.  Humor should never be at someone else’s expense. Laughing at others or making fun of them—that’s just mean, not funny.

 

When humor works well, it creates a pleasant shared experience, one that builds a bond between people (and animals).  Humor allows us to explore issues with a lighthearted approach and less defensiveness.  Humor even helps us think more creatively.

 

Laughter reduces stress and lowers blood pressure.  And, it feels good…like a tummy rub from the inside out. 

 

I have to go now. I’m going to go put one of my toys by Marti’s feet and when she stands up, it’ll squeak and she’ll jump about a foot—that’ll be a riot.  I’m smiling just thinking about it.

 

What do you think about humor in your work place?  I’d love to hear from you—argue with me, praise me or challenge me—please, just don’t ignore me!  Click on comment below and tell me what you think about this observation.