Tag Archive for work habits

Why Communication Is Such An Important Life Skill

July 15, 2024 John Uncategorized No comments

banner supports communication

Why Communication Is Such An Important Life Skill

Communication skills have always been a most important life skill. And there’s no sign of that changing anytime soon.

Communication tower

Excellent communication skills can help take you far in your career. And your personal life.

It’s easy to think that this skill isn’t important due to advancements in technology. But it’s even more important since we use so much tech to communicate and learn.

Speaking in a clear way that’s easy to understand is a valuable tool. You can work at and perfect this like any other skill, but you have to put in the work.

In this article, GenuLines explains why communication is such an important life skill.

 

Good Communication Skills Improve Your Social Life

It should be obvious that being a good communicator would help to improve your social life. It can help you with all sorts of loved ones, from friends to significant others to family members.

When you have good communication skills, you often also have good listening skills. You might find that you’ll have fewer disagreements, dramas, and fights, too.

Effective communication helps you express your feelings in a clear and concise way. People are less likely to take offense at what you say.

You’ll be more able to get to the source of your problems instead of letting them linger or spiral out of control.

Good Communication Skills Improve Your Professional Life

This is a key trait of successful people. It’s a feature of good leaders.

When you lead you’re responsible for getting across what needs to get done.

Good Communication Skills Can Make You a Better Person

You reach conflict resolution in an easier way.

This goes a long way toward improving your friendships and relationships.

More and more electronic communication brings disregard and neglect of our communication skills. There’s a sort of irony in that you need those same skills to succeed in electronic communication.

There are challenges to working on your communication skills. But they’re worth it.

The payoff is that you’ll improve your relationships, your career, and your life on the whole.

JohnK 7-15-2024
chiforyourself.com

stick man hears about communicationOverheard: “The single biggest problem in communication is the illusion that it has taken place”

                                                            ~George Bernard Shaw

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10 Signs You’re On The Road To Success

November 28, 2022 John Uncategorized No comments

You’re serious about making your life a success. But is all that effort really paying off?

Today GenuLines looks at some indicators that help you answer that question. 

10 Signs You’re On The Road To Success

The meaning of success can be a bit tricky because it’s so subjective. Rarely do two people share the same exact experiences.
 
But there are certain milestones that are general enough to help give us a sense of direction.
 
success sign with purpose
 
 
These milestones help pick us up when times are hard, lift our morale. They serve as a reminder of how far we’ve gotten and how much we’ve accomplished.
 
They also act as a beacon to help guide us if ever we stray from our goals and objectives.
 
Here are 10 of the most common signs you’re on the road to success:

1. You have plans and you’re passionate about them

Most people think success is all about the goals. And while that’s true, the bigger part of success is having a framework.
 
Something that will help navigate you until you reach those goals. You don’t want to let others’ definition of success influence your vision.

2. You learn from your mistakes

Acknowledging your shortcomings can be tough. But looking at things from a wider angle will give you mental clarity.
 
You’ll be able to try things in a different way next time around. Plus, being able to adapt means you’ll find more creative ways and insights to achieve your goals.
 
And learning from others’ mistakes make gives you valuable knowledge from their experiences.

3. You strive for more

Having constant goals that you’re trying to reach is a sign that you’re motivated and excited about life. Seeing the future before it plays out is an important trait of successful people.
 
They know what they want and make plans to get it. And they treat obstacles as learning experiences.

4. You welcome feedback

Criticism can be harsh, especially as you get started. But you need to see it as helpful advice, instead of personalizing it. Use it as a guide to help improve yourself.

5. You spend your time wisely

Planning your schedule in an efficient manner helps you get as many things done as possible. You don’t often get sidetracked.
 
You’re focused and punctual. If you’re an early riser you get excited about what the day has in store for you.

6. You have initiative

You aren’t afraid to get your hands dirty, and work outside your comfort zone. You’re aware that no one will turn your dream into a reality except you.
 
So be willing to roll up your sleeves and jump right in. Always look for better and newer ways to achieve your goals.

7. You’re excited about learning new things

Be curious about everything. You’ll gain a little bit of knowledge that you didn’t have yesterday.

8. You work well with others

When you work well with others and play on each other’s strengths, you all come out winners. And best of all, you reach your goal faster and with better results.
 
One negative aspect of working with others is that it’s easy to assign blame. But confident people step up, take responsibility.
 
They work hard at finding an alternative solution. And they’re happy when others are successful

9. You know your weaknesses and strengths

Working to improve your weaknesses and polish your strengths is itself a sign of success. You exude confidence and a sense of inner stability.
 
And who wouldn’t want to work with someone like that?

10. You’re tenacious and not quick to give up

Even when things aren’t going your way, you don’t see giving up as an option. You have goals in mind, and plans to follow to reach those goals and nothing can stand in your way.
 
You stay positive in the face of adversity, and you don’t settle for less.
 
JohnK 11-28-2022
 
Ostick man hears about successverheard: “Success is dependent on effort”
                            ~Sophocles
 
 
 
 
 
disclaimer for success
 
 
 

Relaxation Is An Important Part Of Mental Focus

June 13, 2022 John Uncategorized No comments

Tough times make tough conditions for relaxation. A calm mind helps you stay focused.

So GenuLines offers some ideas to keep you in the calm zone.   

Relaxation Is An Important Part Of Mental Focus

It sounds counterintuitive. But if you want to improve you mental focus, you need plenty of rest and relaxation.
 
In other words, it’s easy to overdo it, and work too hard, which can then lead to lapses in concentration and focus.
 
dog during relaxation
 
 
 

For Starters

Start out by doing what you can to get a good night sleep. Poor sleep makes it harder to concentrate.
 
And a couple of hours of sleep isn’t going to cut it.
 
Your brain needs long periods of rest to process information. This “makes room” for you to focus on something new the next day.

Late Nights

While burning the midnight oil may seem like a great way to get more done and stay productive, the opposite is true. Yes, you can power through a long night to finish a project every once in a while, but it isn’t sustainable for the long run.
 
Do it when you must, but get in the habit of getting good sleep the rest of the time. Your brain and your body will thank you.
 
Taking breaks throughout your work day is another good way to stay focused and get more done. Work hard in short bursts of time and then take little breaks.

Break Time

Go get a cup of coffee. Move around your work space for a few minutes.
 
Or enjoy a day dream and give your brain a short rest before diving back in.
 
This doesn’t have to be long. You can get big benefits from breaks shorter than five minutes.
 
Go chat to a coworker, or do something like filing or straightening up a few things on your desk.
 
Then get back to your most important task at hand.

Time Out

A few longer breaks throughout the day can be as important as short breaks. Every couple of hours, take a 30 minute or longer break and walk away from your desk.
 
Go to lunch, have coffee with a friend, or go for a walk outside.
 
This gives your brain time to process what you’ve done so far and gets you ready for the next couple of hours of work

Balance

Now, don’t forget to do something fun and completely work unrelated at the end of the day and on the weekends. We all need balance in our lives.
 
If you enjoy your work and you’re invested in it, it can be hard to unplug and not think about it for a while. Make a conscious effort to take time for rest and relaxation.
 
You’ll find you actually get more done in the end since you’re able to focus when it’s time to get back to work.
 
JohnK 6-13-2022
 
stick man hears about relaxationOverheard: “Every now and then, go away, have a little relaxation, for when you come back to your work, your judgment will be surer”
                                  ~Leonardo da Vinci
 
 
 
 
 
 
disclaimer for relaxation

Are You Committed to Excellence?

May 16, 2022 John Uncategorized No comments

You do your best every day to cover all of life’s bases. But do you include excellence?

Allow GenuLines to help you make it the centerpiece of your efforts.

Are You Committed to Excellence

Even if you’ve heard the phrase ‘committed to excellence’, do you understand what it means? The following quote is from Aristotle and defines what it is.
 
“Excellence is an art won by training and habituation. We do not act rightly because we have virtue or excellence, but we rather have those because we have acted rightly. We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act but a habit.” 
 
You can see that excellence is a habit, and you can solidify any habit. The best way to create a new habit is by setting yourself new goals and creating a plan of attack.

How you can do this

Picture of excellenceFirst you want to define your reasons, or why, for wanting to commit to excellence. Does this pertain to your business, your family life or for some other reason?
 
If it helps write down your reasons and your why for wanting to achieve this. 
There are some simple actionable steps that you can put into place.
 
 
 
Get into the habit of demanding more from yourself than customers or clients do of you. 
 
What you can do: 
 
               Give more value
 
               Over deliver
 
               Finish the work ahead of schedule
 
               Add a bonus
 
Here’s another way to project excellence in your business. Portraying a professional image.
 
Are your website, logo, brochure information, business cards well-designed and up to date? If not this is an area to improve upon. 

Service

Customer service is another area you can improve. Make sure you have a great customer service center, whether online or offline.
 
It’s very easy to set up online help desks today. Become known for quality customer service. Always respond to tickets in a timely fashion.
 
Never get angry at the customer, regardless of the situation. 
 
If you want to excel in your life you can start by attempting to put forth your best effort. If you do this consistently you will have that air of excellence surrounding you.
 
This will rub off on other people and they’ll begin to view you in a different light. 
 
JohnK 5-16-2022
 
stick figure hears about excellenceOverheard: “Excellence is to do a common thing in an uncommon way.”
                                    ~Booker T. Washington
 
 
 
 
 
disclaimer for excellence
 
 

Trouble Staying Focused? This Might Help

December 13, 2021 John Uncategorized No comments

Your focus needs to be laser-like. But for some reason it tends to wander. These few reminders from GenuLines will help keep you on the beam.

Trouble Staying Focused? This Might Help
We all have days when we’re struggling to stay focused on our work. One of the first things you should look at is distractions.
 
Various things and people can keep us from concentrating and getting work done. Let’s look at what shape and form these distractions may take and what you can do to lose them.
 
kids focus 
 
Then we’ll look at how you can get back to staying focused.
 
Physical Distractions
First the obvious. There can be all sorts of things that distract you in your office, or around your desk. This could be your phone blinking each time you get a new social media alert or email.
 
It could be your email program on your laptop notifying you of incoming messages. It could be your phone ringing, or that pile of files sitting on the corner of your desk that you know you need to deal with.
 
If you’re working at home it could also be that sink full of dirty dishes. Or the washing machine beeping to let you know it’s finished.
 
The key here is to realize that you’re in control of your work space. Turn your phone to silent and stick it in a drawer, or lay it upside down while you’re working.
 
Turn off the phone’s ringer, and either deal with the files now, or stick them in a drawer until you can take a look at them. Cut out the physical distractions as much as possible.
 
Then work on staying focused and getting your work done. The key here is also to make a conscious choice of when to deal with things that tend to interrupt you.
 
Distracting People
People who show up and distract you can be a little harder to deal with. You need to work with others.
 
You want to cultivate friendships. And there are times when you have to deal with a family situation, no matter how big a work deadline you have looming.
 
Setting expectations helps. So does making it clear that there are times when you need to shut your office door.
 
If you can set aside a time and make a schedule of sorts. Let people know when you must work without interruption.
 
At other times having an open door can help. This works well with co-workers, but also with family and friends.
 
Mental Distractions
Last but not least there are mental distractions. They can be the trickiest to keep at bay since there’s not a lot you can do to shut them out completely.
 
Thoughts will pop into your head and do their best to distract you. It helps to keep a notepad nearby.
 
You can jot those thoughts down. Later you can go back and check on things after you’re done with your task.
 
For example, if you’re worried if your check cleared, make a note.
Then get back to work.
 
Check your online bank account during your break.
By writing it down, you don’t have to worry about remembering to do it.
 
JohnK 12-13-2021
 
stick figure hears about focusOverheard: “Focus does not mean saying yes, it means saying no”
                                ~Steve Jobs
 
 
 
 
 
disclaimer for focus

Why Mental Focus Is Crucial For Success

October 18, 2021 John Uncategorized No comments

Focus can become a casualty during times like these we’re living in. Important things can fall through the cracks. 

So with that said GenuLines reminds you that focus is key to getting the results you want in life. 

Why Mental Focus Is Crucial For Success

Mental focus is one of the most important skills when it comes to success in any area of your life. To focus means to concentrate on a particular task or problem for a period of time.
 
picture of brain focus
 
 
It’s something you can get better at with practice. For now, let’s look at exactly why mental focus is crucial for success and how it can help you get things done.
 
Focus Keeps Distractions At Bay
Distractions are all around us. You sit down at your desk and end up checking email.
 
You browse through Facebook. Or you get lost on YouTube watching video after video.
 
We get distracted by new projects. Or things that need to be taken care of around the house or the office, and of course by family members and coworkers.
 
With all these distractions it’s a wonder we get anything done. There’s always something else that demands our attention, or a fun new project we’d rather be working on.
 
This is where your focus can make a huge difference and help you get things done. Focus is like a pair of blinders.
 
It helps you concentrate on the task at hand until it’s done.
 
Focus Keeps You From Making Mistakes
You make fewer mistakes when you’re not always distracted. You give full attention to whatever you’re working on.
 
The mistakes come when you’re not engaged and immersed in the task you’re working on.
 
To turn this around, concentrate on your work. If you do make mistakes you’re more likely to catch and fix them.
 
The end result is a better quality product, no matter what you’re working on.
 
Focus Helps You Get More Done Faster
Have you ever worked on a tight deadline? Let’s say you have to finish a report or write a blog post before you can head out to lunch to meet a friend.
 
You become dialed in (thanks to that looming deadline). Now tasks that would usually take you half a day you’re doing in 30 minutes.
 
Best of all, the end result is often better than your usual work. Now you’re focused and are getting into the flow.
 
And things seem to come together with almost no effort.
 
JohnK 10-18-2021
 
Stick figure hears about focusOverheard: “If you want to live a long life, focus on making contributions.”
                              ~Hans Selye
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
disclaimer about focus
 

Boost Your Motivation Skills In 5 Steps

May 31, 2021 John Uncategorized No comments

Motivation seems to work on its own schedule. One day you’ll have it and the next you won’t 

Consider connecting the motivation “dots” with this GenuLines list of motivation boosters. 

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Boost Your Motivation Skills In 5 Steps

Hard times are mile markers on the road to a life of fulfillment and achievement. The toughest of these markers to deal with tends to be motivation.

Motivation booster

 

 

The following 5 helpful steps are in no particular order. They’re intended to boost your motivation and drive to reach your goals.

1. Know Your Why

When you set out toward your goal you have an ideas of why you’re doing it. But as you do the work you may start questioning this why.

And there WILL be days in which you feel less motivated than others. Keep the why in front of you so you can get up from your falls and keep pushing.

2. Know Your Direction

Extreme motivation can cause you to put your head down and work like a maniac. Sometimes this mindset helps you.

But you’ve goy to keep some sense of direction. Big goals rarely consist of point A and point B.

Instead, keep in mind a general outline of each step toward your destination. So yes, keeping your nose to the “grindstone” is good.

But looking up every now and then to adjust your direction helps, too.

3. Allow Small Victories

If you don’t enjoy small successes in pursuit of your target you’ll run out of gas before you get there. Enjoy your journey.

Take some time to reward yourself when you pass one of the (often many) small steps along the way.

4. You Versus You, Not You Versus Them

This step is especially important. Your goals are YOUR goals. Letting other people’s pursuits dictate what you strive for is a slippery slope.

If you want to make a comparisons make it to the person you were the day before.

5. Controlled Tunnel Vision

Consider this: your target goal likely involves only one facet of your life. And your life must not stop while you pursue it.

Your motivation and energy will focus on the biggest victory you’re after. This is true whether this goal is career, athletic or more personal,

In any case make sure you honor all facets of your life that will get you there. Balance is always key.

Don’t let the rest of your life fall to the wayside while you chase one dream!

JohnK 5-31-2021
chiforyourself.com

 

Stick figure hears about motivationOverheard: “People often say that motivation doesn’t last. Well, neither does bathing — that’s why we recommend it daily” 

                                           ~Zig Ziglar

 

 

 

disclaimer for motivation

 

Teaching Kids About Routine Through Chores

September 10, 2019 John Uncategorized No comments
Chances are you don’t think much about your daily routine. Your kids probably don’t think much about routine, either.
 
But in this article, GenuLines looks at teaching about routine while getting some things done around the house!
 
 
call to action for routine
 

Teaching Kids About Routine Through Choresdishwashing routine

Give kids their chores and you can expect to hear some moaning and groaning. Even if you tie the chores to an allowance.
 
They’ll be happy on payday, but not thrilled to know they have to work for the bucks.
 
 
 
 
 
But, giving your kids chores teaches them much more than work for pay. Often there are considerations that go with the chores.
 
For instance, they’ll have to check the oil before using the lawnmower. They’ll have to make sure the mower has enough gas.
 
And, of course, they’ve got to know how to start it.
 
If weed-whacking is part of the job they’ll need to learn that that comes first. Kids will also learn they have to do their chores on a regular basis. 
 
This routine instills in them the idea of a work ethic. Sticking with the mowing example, the kids will most likely have to do this once per week.

Easy does it

Even tasks that seem easy and don’t need a routine will have some sort of process. For instance, before kids load and run the dishwasher they’ll have to rinse some of the dishes.
 
They’ll have to load the machine in a way that none of the wash load breaks. Then, they load the soap dispenser and turn on the machine. 
 
It’s a process much like any other.
 
You may not have thought about this but video games can teach kids about how to use routines to their benefit. Many of the games go through sequences and steps for advancing to the next round.
 
Knowing these steps keeps the game fun and interesting. 
 
School sports for kids mean coaches and drills. These drills teach them the techniques needed to win games.
 
You can think of those as routines.
 
They’re meant to help the kids use the skills when they’re playing the game. The more they do the drills, the less they’ll need to think about what to do when they start playing.
 
The routines kids learn from their chores will carry through to their adult life. When they start their working life, they’ll be well versed in processes and routines.
 
JohnK 9-10-2019
chiforyourself.com home
 
 
stick man learning routineOverheard: “Routine, in an intelligent man, is a sign of ambition.”
                                   ~W. H. Auden
 
 
 
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Photo Image by LaterJay Photography from Pixabay
 

 

 

 

 

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How to Handle Being Laid Off

July 9, 2019 John Uncategorized No comments
Being laid off sucks! As a broadcaster for many years, I experienced this over and over again.
 
Read on for the GenuLines look at ways to deal with layoffs.
 
 
call to action for being laid off
 

How to Handle Being Laid Off

You wake up every day and think about what you’ll need to do when you get to work. Once you get there you feel overwhelmed, but you know it’s good to have a job that pays the bills.
 
man laid offThis time, your boss calls you and several other coworkers into a conference room. A Human Resources person is at the meeting, too.
 
Then, your boss gives you the news that you’re losing your job.
 
 
 
 
Image by www_slon_pics from Pixabay
 
Your first thoughts are how are you going to pay the bills? Do you have enough money to cover your expenses for the next several months?
 
Where will I find a new job?
 
Even when you find something, it could take months before you end up starting it.
 
Don’t panic
Losing your job is a blow. But, it’s not the end of the world.
 
You’ll find something.
 
Or you may feel the urge to start an online business. It’s never been easier or cheaper to get something going.
 
Of course, taking that route isn’t an instant path to riches. It still takes work.
 
Don’t spend too much time on what happened with your job. Instead, focus on how you’re going to rectify the situation.
 
That focuses your energy and lessens the chance of having gaps in your work history.
 
Avoid crutches
Getting fired moves some people toward drugs and alcohol. It’s easy to get hooked, and once you do, it’s challenging to overcome the situation.
 
It could lead to you postponing your job search. Worse, you will likely alienate your family and friends.
 
Contrary to popular belief, alcohol is a depressant. If you’re pessimistic about your situation, it’ll drag you down even more.
 
Cut back on spending. Don’t rack up credit card balances that can reach unmanageable levels.
 
If you’ve saved some money for emergencies, use it instead of hitting up the credit.
 
If you find yourself strapped for cash, make sure you pay your mortgage or rent before other bills. You don’t want the bank hounding you or foreclosing on your property.
 
You can negotiate the payment terms on other bills.
 
JohnK 7-9-2019
 
stick figure is laid offOverheard: “Keep doing some kind of work, that the devil may always find you employed”                                                      
                                                ~St. Jerome
 
 
 
 
 
disclaimer to deal with being laid off
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Project Into Your Future: Appreciate the Small Stuff

June 11, 2019 John Uncategorized No comments
crystal ball to projectSuppose you had a crystal ball. You gaze into the ball, and it starts to reveal your life for the next twenty years.
 
It’s showing your future. How would it look?
 
 
 
 
Today GenuLines takes a “look.”
 
 
call to action for projecting

 

Project Into Your Future: Appreciate the Small Stuff

While there are no definite ways to peer into the future to date, you do have some control over the process. There are random events that will be beyond your control.
 
Unfortunately, some of them will be unpleasant. But, there’s a lot you can do to shape your future.
 
The point of the exercise is to try and determine if you appreciate the small things in your life.
 
A look into the crystal ball
Are you spending time with family or friends? Or are you working long hours and not interacting with anyone?
 
If you keep your focus on making money, you may look back on your time and wish you hadn’t. There’s much more to life than work.
 
At some point, the company could turn you loose. They may replace you with someone younger and less expensive.
 
You aren’t as important to them as you make yourself out to be. Everyone is replaceable.
 
People do need to work. You have to be able to provide for your family.
 
But, you need to have a balance between work and spending time with your family and friends. Work and money are things you can always manage to find.
 
Family and friends are irreplaceable as is the time you spend with them.
 

Opportunity knocks

Another reason to spend time with people is they can also present you with opportunities. For instance, you may not like your career, but you stick with it because the money is good and it’s steady work.
 
As you interact with other people, you may hear about opportunities for work that you’d much prefer. This kind of thing happens quite often.
 
If you spent the majority of your time at your job, you would never discover these opportunities.
 
Of course, you don’t want your friendships to be dependent on the opportunities they provide. Yet, friendships often lead to forming new ventures.
 
That’s a natural part of the process.
 
But don’t pick your job on the basis of forming close friendships. In time some co-workers can become good friends.
 
Just remember that these relationships are professional.
 
JohnK 6-11-2019
 
stick figure ready to projectOverheard: “We should all be thankful for those people who rekindle the inner spirit.”
                       ~Albert Schweitzer
 
 
 
 
 
disclaimer to help us project
 
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