John Ploetz Bloggin

Attitude is the key ingredient to create a consistent ability to succeed. You need to strive to improve yourself to “You 2.0”, a person who works to reach a higher level each day. It isn’t enough to win to succeed. Your goal shouldn’t be how do I best those around me. You succeed by learning with each task you do or with each interaction you have with others. At the end of the day can you look back and say yes I learned something valuable, something new, today. I may not have closed that sale or finished that project but what did I learn about myself or about those that I came in contact with today. Ten steps I will try to do every day:

I will learn something new each day. The key to learning is maintaining an open mind.
I will apply something new I learned recently today.
I will take a step forward and not two steps back. If you’re not learning you’re not moving forward.
I will spend 5 minutes each day at the end of the day and ask myself what did I learn today.
When I go into a meeting or sales call that is similar to one I did previously, I will take the time to think about what I learned last time and apply it this time around.
I will remember that no two situations are ever the same, but I will focus on adapting, using the tools I have previously learned to meet the challenges of the new situation.
I will willingly accept the challenge to improve, always maintaining a positive attitude.
I will prepare myself to adapt to new situations.
I will use learning to expand my comfort zone, looking to learn about areas that I am not familiar.
What I learn I will share. By sharing you fine tune what you have learned and get used to including what you have learned in your daily routine.

Keep these ten simple ideas in your mind every day. They are the key to succeeding, to moving forward, to improving, to learning, to becoming You 2.0.

Interested in other “Becoming You 2.0” steps, then purchase Be the New 2.0 You!

John Ploetz

5 Feb, 2014

John Ploetz Bloggin

You only have so many hours in the day. You want to make sure you get time to drink that cup of coffee or that diet soda and have time for a mid morning break to see if there are any donuts or bagels left in the break room. Plus you don’t want to still be at the office past midnight. You want to keep your life on track with a reasonable daily schedule. Here are some thoughts on using your day wisely so you don’t have to stay on the treadmill all day long.

E-mail management. Don’t become a slave to your e-mail account. Most people can waste up to half their day with an unorganized e-mail account. To start, leverage the management of your e-mail account by organizing it through your smart phone. For additional tips on organizing your e-mail account go to – http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2012/02/21/how-to-clean-your-inbox_n_1285511.html
Organize using a planner. Figure out the most efficient way for you to track meetings, tasks and other events. Use what works best for you, but keep it simple. The system you develop, whether it’s electronic, manual or a combination, must be one you will use and use consistently. Your smart phone is the best place to start. If you need an organizer app for your phone, go to http://thenextweb.com/apps/2013/08/16/12-of-the-best-calendar-apps-available-for-your-android-smartphone-today/
Organize your life. It’s all about planning the day in advance. Sure things change quickly as the day gets going. But, start your day out with an outline of your mind. Take a moment before you start your day to think through what you need to get accomplished. Write it down or save it in your smart phone.
Be realistic in what you can accomplish in a given time frame. You know what you can get done on a daily basis. Don’t over commit yourself with appointments and projects that you have no hope of finishing. Balance out each day when scheduling in advance with the right mix of meetings and tasks that you will have the energy and focus to complete.
Manage your distractions appropriately. You know what level of distractions you can handle to successfully complete any task. Take time to eliminate distractions (hold calls, close doors, get out of the office) so you can focus on the task at hand.
Maintain antivirus and anti e-mail spam software. You don’t want to think about it. Most offices have it covered on their work computers. If you are doing work at home, though, make sure you’re covered there as well. An infected computer can really slow you down. Check with your IT person at work for suggest ions on what to do to cover your computer from viruses and e-mail spam. You can get more info at – http://betanews.com/2013/11/28/the-best-tools-for-removing-malware/ and http://download.cnet.com/windows/spam-filters/
Make sure to get breaks. You need a break to recharge your mind and refocus. A quick walk or a ten minute meditation session can be just the thing to get your mind back on track.
Make sure to eat regularly. Don’t skip meals. Starting off with breakfast you need to fuel up your body and mind to run efficiently throughout the day. Some thoughts on healthy eating – http://www.fitness.gov/eat-healthy/how-to-eat-healthy/

The sooner you make these changes the sooner you’ll have a more organized and productive day. That should free up time to start that exercise routine you wanted to begin or give you extra time to relax at night with a good book, and a bowl of ice cream.

John Ploetz

29 Jan, 2014

John Ploetz Bloggin

Some people would love to star in a TV reality show. But the workplace isn’t the proper place to star in a reality show. To stay on track for job security and potential promotion you need to maintain the correct profile at work. You need to stay out of the daily drama that has the potential to swallow you up if you aren’t on your guard. There are some common sense steps everyone should take to keep them out of the potential chaos of office politics. Here are my top ten:

Keep personal matters out of the work place. Gossip isn’t a hobby you should take up. Keep conversations on business matters.
Make it your business to stay out of other people’s business. Definitely show genuine concern about the workers in your workplace, without prying into others’ personal matters.
Keep in mind that anything you say even in confidence can and may be told to anyone in the workplace. If you don’t want information spread in the work place don’t divulge it to anyone.
A work friend today may not be a work friend tomorrow. Relationships can change quickly, be prepared. Don’t bare your soul if you don’t want it potentially opened up to the entire workplace.
Keep a positive attitude. Perceptions about people are usually built in less than 60 seconds. Your positive attitude can deflect the potential for people to develop negative perceptions about you.
Always listen more than you talk. Avoid misunderstandings by first understanding the full extent of the issues being discussed. Remember once you’ve spoken it’s public.
Don’t be afraid to bring up business related topics or suggestions. You add individual value when you bring up quality information and ideas. Just make sure you present it in a clear unbiased manner so you don’t offend other coworkers. Saying to your supervisor, “The shipping department is inefficient.” is not clear and unbiased. Saying, “I’ve come across some interesting new shipping software that can streamline the shipping process. Can I provide you with more details? What do you think?” is clear and unbiased.
Don’t talk about politics or other controversial issues at work. Religion, gun laws, or right to life issues should be kept off the discussion plate, unless they are part of what you do as part of your job description.
Be aware of people’s space and don’t over step their boundaries. Take time to get to know your coworkers to get a feel for what they want to talk about and what topics they consider to be personal and off limits. Each person has their own boundaries.
Always maintain professional decorum. Humor, joking and light conversation has its place in the workplace in moderation. Always make sure that comments aren’t made that ridicule, demean or negatively affect another coworker.

Keep in mind that the work place is just that a place to get work done. Always maintain an air of professionalism, keep defined boundaries, and think before you disclose information to others. Save your personal persona for your day off.