How to Be Productive: Stop Working
Filed under: HLN Spotlights, Health & Wellness, Inspiring Articles
How to Be Productive: Stop Working
Hey Women Entrepreneurs,
You know how I love to find wonderfully interesting articles written by very clever people, well here is another on by Margaret Heffernan | August 10, 2010. Again, I thought I would add my 2 1/2 cents worth of thoughts to this very intelligent article. Margaret’s thoughts are in black and mine are in gray.
Industrial companies put a lot of effort into “asset integrity” — which really just means protecting critical plants and machinery from damage and wear and tear. At companies like BP, it’s clearly more of an aspiration than a reality, but anyone trained in a manufacturing environment learns that asset integrity is a top priority. But what about service industries — companies where the only assets are the brains of the people who work there? Shouldn’t they worry about asset integrity, too? Astonishingly, most of them don’t. Instead, financial services, consulting, the law and even the medical profession perpetuate working hours where all-nighters are heroic, driving with jet lag is the norm and anyone who actually has lunch risks becoming lunch.Wow, not that we are encouraged to go the extra 26 miles, but haven’t you felt at times that people who aren’t working overtime, are real slackers.
But, they argue, we’re in the midst of an economic downturn, the worst recession in our lifetimes. Shouldn’t we all be working as hard as we can? Who has the luxury of time? What do you mean weekends aren’t for working? I certainly know that when I take a weekend off I feel guilty. After all in a small company, there is so much to be done. But then I realized they are probably using that same logic for large companies.
Well, for the last 100 years, every productivity study in every industry has come to the same conclusion: after about 40 hours in a week, the quality of your work starts to degrade. You make mistakes. That’s why working 60 hours may not save you time or money: you’ll spend too much of that time fixing the mistakes you shouldn’t have made in the meantime. That’s why software companies that limit work to 35 hours a week need to employ fewer QA engineers: there isn’t as much mess to clean up. Oh now I get it. Now I know why the computer geeks are playing most of the time. It keeps them sharp and creative. I need to slow down so that I can be sharper.
In a knowledge economy, where thinking and creativity are the raw materials from which products and profit flow, brains are assets. They need to be cherished, nurtured and protected, not abused. Leaders need to take seriously a century’s evidence that 1) overwork doesn’t make us productive, it makes us stupid, 2) looking away from a problem is often the best way to solve it, and 3) burnout is what happens when people are asked to work in ways that obliterate all other parts of their lives. I guess this means we really need to fan the flames of FUN and relaxation. This is very difficult for a struggling work-a-holic.
Also: we need to hammer the last nail into the coffin of multi-tasking. No, don’t take away my multitasking. It is the last great justification for those of us who suffer from severe ADD. We can tell everyone we are simply great multi-taskers and that is why we had to put the load of laundry in on our way to feed the dog, which reminded us that our child’s dinosaur costume for the play needed to be hemmed, so on our way to get the green thread, we stopped to water the plants, after-all – they are green. No, you can’t safely drive and hold conference calls, nor can you text while driving. And checking emails while in meetings means you may as well not be there. What modern businesses need isn’t distracted Blackberry addicts but human beings who haven’t forgotten the gifts of focus, concentration and mindfulness. Can’t you see my kids faces when next Christmas they open up boxes with words inside and I tell them I want them to have the gifts of focus, concentration and mindfulness?
When the cognitive scientist Dan Simons looked at the vast mountain of evidence that demonstrates the futility of multitasking, he was inevitably asked whether there were anything we could do to enlarge the capacity of our minds. The answer was an emphatic “no.” There are hard limits to what our brains will do, and no amount of Baby Mozarts or Brain Trainers will alter that. Practice, Simons says, will improve specific skills but not general abilities. Doing Sudoko will make you better at Sudoko; it won’t raise your GMAT scores. I did read a study that said that conversation with others, you know, interacting with real human being for just 15 to 30 minutes a day did more for keeping your brain active and fully functioning than math problems, Sudoko or even watching reruns of Seinfield.
Is there anything that truly enhances cognition? Yes, says Simons: exercise. Again with the exercise. You would think we were given legs to walk or something. Experiments by his colleague Arthur Kramer showed that walking for a few hours a week led to large improvements on cognitive tasks. Stretching and toning exercises had no cognitive benefits, (I could have guessed that seeing as how I have several friends who are serious body-builders) but aerobic exercise, which increases blood flow to the brain, did. Seniors who walked for just 45 minutes a day for three days a week showed better preservation of their brains in MRI scans. Exercise, Simons concludes, improves cognition broadly by increasing the fitness of your brain. Well there you have it. The knee bone’s connected to the frontal cortex and the ankle bone’s connected to the cerebellum. Okay, so the words don’t rhyme as well as the original but it is an important fact for us to consider.
Care about asset integrity? Get out of the office and go for a walk. And make sure the people who work for you do, too. Since I first read Margaret’s article I have made my husband get up and walk with me everyday. He is definitely getting stronger, but the asset integrity, well, we are still working on it.
Dawn L Billings is the author of over 20 books and hundreds of articles on parenting, relationships, entitlement and networking and an ardent advocate for womens and children’s issues. Dawn is the CEO and Founder of The Heart Link Womens Network, Trova Women Business Directory and Trova Small Business Directory, The Heart Alliance.com international women’s networking organization and online community, and the creator of the new parenting toy/tool called Capables. In 2008 Dawn was selected by Oprah Magazine and The White House project as one of 80 emerging women leaders in the nation. Find out more and buy Dawn’s books To learn more about women networking check out our videos
What was your favorite toy and what did it mean to you?
Filed under: HLN Spotlights, Inspiring Articles, Parenting
What was your favorite toy and what did it mean to you?
by Dawn is the CEO and Founder of The Heart Link Womens Network, Trova Women Business Directory and Trova Small Business Directory and The Heart Alliance.com international women’s networking organizations and communities.
As many of you know I have been in moving h**l over the last couple of months. I have shared many of the traumas of the moves from both Oklahoma and Atlanta to Mesa, AZ, but I haven’t shared the Awwwwwwh moments. I am just now recovering from my heat exhaustion, don’t move in the hottest part of summer (actually don’t move at all) but especially in the hottest part of summer. When I wasn’t busy using what few unboiled brain cells I had left to think of creative ways to prevent my body from combusting from excessive heat exposure, I was packing furiously. One of the wonderful things about packing a home that you raised your children in is that you get to rediscover treasures from the past.
While cleaning out my son’s boxes from the attic, I had a “Toy Story” experience and found myself melting both figuratively and literally as I opened the boxes to decide what to keep and what needed to find a new home.
I found my oldest son Tony’s Donald Duck. Oh how he loved Donald Duck. I also found his “Baby” which was the name of his baby blanket that he was never without. Donald was no longer white but rather a dingy gray with part of his sweet eyes scraped off from being dragged everywhere my small child traveled.
I also found Diny, that was the dinosaur stuffed animal that my youngest son Corbin was never without. These precious stuffed animals were not toys. They were living members of the family.
I carefully packed them and brought them to Arizona where my now 31 year-old Tony and 22-year-old Corbin lit up at the site of them. It doesn’t matter how old we are when we are reunited with an old and dear friend. The site of their best friends caused each of their eyes to glow with emotion.
The majority of toys from their childhood have long since been given away to younger cousins, eaten by new puppies or sold at garage sales, but not Donald and Diny. They are with our family for the long haul and actually are the inspiration for me creating the Capables, the new parenting tool and toddler toy that helps parents teach their children they are truly capable of greatness.
How cool that I can keep the legacy of love and connection going from my children to their children and now children around the world.
What about you,? Do you ever find yourself longing for a certain stuffed toy from your past? Share stories about your favorite friends as well.
Dawn L Billings is the author of over 20 books and hundreds of articles on parenting, relationships, entitlement and networking and an ardent advocate for womens and children’s issues. Dawn is the CEO and Founder of The Heart Link Womens Network, Trova Women Business Directory and Trova Small Business Directory, The Heart Alliance.com international women’s networking organization and online community, and the creator of the new parenting toy/tool called Capables. In 2008 Dawn was selected by Oprah Magazine and The White House project as one of 80 emerging women leaders in the nation. Find out more and buy Dawn’s books To learn more about women networking check out our videos
Nominate The Heart Link Network
Filed under: Business for Women, HLN Spotlights, Inspiring Articles, Networking
Hi women entrepreneurs! This is Laura Wells, President of The Heart Link Women’s Network.
Those of you that know me, know how passionate I am about the Direct Selling industry. I love helping a woman go from “I don’t know if I can do this…” to “I can do ANYTHING I set my mind to!”
Direct Selling consultants especially, need to understand that women do business with those that they like and trust. Direct Selling consultants who build relationships at a Heart Link Network event are setting the foundation for business to take place naturally. When she gets “linked” and develops relationships, her business grows!
Before Dawn recruited me to be the President for The Heart Link Network, I was a top performer with a direct selling company that focused on kitchen-tools… I was with that company for about 8 years.
My first experience with Direct Sales was when I got invited to a kitchen-tool party. I was 23 years old, and I will admit… I had to be DRAGGED there. I had heard from friends about these types of parties and a few of their bad experiences. I imagined a sales consultant holding customer’s car keys hostage until a purchase was made.
My friend said she’d go WITH me and that the “kitchen lady” would be cooking a dessert. Well that did it! Hey – I’m from the South, what do you expect? If you cook, I will come!
I arrived and sat in the back corner. While I was chatting with the people around me in the living room, I looked up at the front where there was a display of kitchen tools on a table. The kitchen lady started making the Banana Split Pizza… brownie for a crust… chocolate syrup, banana and strawberry slices… oh-my-goodness. She explained what she was doing step-by-step in a fun way. Before I knew it, the pizza was made. That was it? It was so simple!
I was hooked. I got my kitchen KIT and was so excited – like a kid at Christmas. I didn’t know what half of the stuff was supposed to be used for, but yay! Fun toys! My supportive mother-in-law purchased a bunch of stuff, and so did her friends. I survived!! I succeeded! Well, I won’t mention how many crusts I burned. Or how many times I accidentally put sugar in a recipe that called for salt. Or the time I literally BLEW UP my hosts microwave and chocolate went ALL over her kitchen counter, in her stovetop, and stained her cabinets. Good lord. Did I mention to you that I’m also extremely clumsy? I am so glad that the company I was with carried insurance on their consultants mishaps… I am pretty sure they implemented that policy when they received my consultant agreement.
When I moved to Texas I joined another company, and was very successful with that company as well, by immediately applying the same principles. With both companies, I led training calls for consultants. People do business with those that they LIKE. We support our friends in their endeavors. Women are naturals at nurturing.
The Heart Link Network is designed to help women in business create those REAL relationships with each other; The Heart Link Network is a marketing tool for women to connect with each other in an atmosphere where they can feel safe, warm, and comfortable sharing who they are “behind the business card”.
So why am I sharing this with you. I would really appreciate your support…
Direct Selling News.com is looking for 100 people/companies that are enhancing the growth and perception of the Direct Selling model of doing business. They are looking for 100 people/companies that are making a positive difference for direct sales consultants, and who are making it possible for direct sales consultants to grow their business. I believe The Heart Link Network definitely fits within this category!
Heart Link Network events are the perfect venue for Direct Selling consultants to show who they are, share their passion and their excitement, and make lasting connections. Please help us by nominating Dawn Billings, our Founder and The Heart Link Network as one of the 100.
We really appreciate your nomination. It only takes a couple of minutes. Here is the link:
http://www.directsellingnews.com/index.php/site/nominate/
Thank yo, we truly do appreciate your help and support.
Sincerely,
Laura Wells, President of The Heart Link Network
3 Reasons Why Business Books Are Bad for You
Filed under: Business for Women, HLN Spotlights, News & Events
3 Reasons Why Business Books Are Bad for You
I read this article by Dave Logan | August 25, 2010. He teaches at USC and both of my sons are USC graduates. I have to admit, I really enjoy his writing style. Although he gets a little cranky about business books, he has a unique perspective on their value. I have my own perspective so I have included comments within his original article. Dave’s articulate and carefully thought-out words are in black mine are simply gray.
I read more business books than anyone I know, which is ironic because I can’t stand most of them. That’s not to say I hate all business books — after all, I’ve written one — but 95% go on one of two lists: “if you don’t know this already, you should be working at the DMV” and “if you do these things, your company will become the DMV.” Okay, you have to confess Dave is clever. But consider the DMV’s strategy. They don’t want us there. They have to deal with us. They are not attempting to grow their business, they simply want the end of the day to hurry up and get here. I am now going to use a story that Dave might decide has a complete lack of insight, but here goes anyway.
I just recently moved to Arizona and had to register my car. They have their customers seating set up in a circle so everyone can feel very uncomfortable looking at each other. As a recovering shrink it made me want to break into “group” mode and start asking everyone how they felt about the long wait, and bad drivers license pictures, but I would have been interrupted by the loud speakers that kept announcing the numbers we were instructed to take as we entered. The last time I took a number I was in line for ice cream and it was much more fun. Anyway, back to business, although uncomfortable, this DMV was kickin tires and takin names (pun intended).
Back to Dave’s articulate thoughts: A cynical view? I don’t think so. Here’s why.
First, most business books use stories to cover over their complete lack of insight. This week, I read a galley of a book that I hope will never come out. After some catchy anecdotes about hero CEOs, it advised, among other things, that leaders figure out what’s really important, then do those things. It went way out on a limb by saying that great leaders are remarkable at forming relationships. And (are you sitting down?) the best leaders are honest when a strategy isn’t working.
Are you kidding me? How about we add that true leaders can dress themselves, use full sentences, and bathe before work. What Dave might not be considering is how often people need to be reminded of the important basics. “You should brush your teeth and floss twice a day.” “You should not allow your small children to play in traffic.” (Teenagers, well that’s another article) Everyone knows how to lose weight. The rules are very basic. The secrets aren’t secrets at all. Cut down the garbage we put in our mouths, increase the amount of fresh fruits and vegetables, eat less, exercise more – there you have it, but that doesn’t stop the market from being flooded with diet books. People probably own more diet books than they do fluffy business books. There you go Dave, another article – 4 Reasons Why Diet Books Make You Fat
Second, the stories themselves often highlight the wrong message. Here’s an example. I mentioned Zappos in a talk I gave, and Tony Hsieh, the CEO, was kind enough to endorse my work. Now I get lots of emails asking for an introduction to him. Hey, I would love to meet Tony too. I love the name Tony, it is my husband’s name and I named my oldest son Tony. I guess we are not very original are we? But since I have two Tonys, will that help my chances of getting introduced to Tony Hsieh? I almost never pass them on. Why? Because Tony, like me, is tired of repeating what no one ever hears: the Zappos story isn’t about Tony. It’s about a group of people that aligned on the same vision of what that company could become and pulled it off by sacrificing, working hard, and participating. If people copy only Tony’s actions, they won’t end up with a Zappos; they’ll end up bankrupt. Okay, I have to agree, nothing great ever happens in a vacuum. No great man or woman does anything alone. But I would still like to meet Tony Hsieh.
Business success isn’t a checklist, and that’s the implied message from many business books: do these things and you’ll be the hero. Business success is a dance: with the market, employees, investors, customers, landlords, and creditors — not to mention spouses and kids. I love Dave’s dance analogy. I was a ballroom dancer in my early days when my thighs were not jello and gravity had not abused other important parts of my body, but I digress. Business success, or any success, as Dave suggests, is a dance. When dancing two people need to keep a balance of positive tension, control, self-responsibility, and coordination in order for the dance to be strong and beautiful. Both partners need to do their job full out and know they can depend on their dance mate. How wonderful our relationships and our businesses could be if we remembered these important dance truths. Hey I have an idea, let’s campaign for Dave to be on Dancing with the Stars.
Third, most business books are air sandwiches: empty in the middle. One of my mentors told me to read the first and last chapters of a book, because everything in the middle is either stories or takeaways so simple that watching Mr. Rogers is a better use of your time. I’m too obsessive-compulsive to follow this advice, but in 95% of cases, it would be better if I had. One of my friends, Larry Winget (talk about a character who definitely needs to be on Dancing With the Stars) told me that no one reads past the first 50 pages of a book, if they get that far. I have often wondered if I wrote a 250 page book and only had copy on the first 50 pages and the last 20 pages, how many people would really ever find out there was nothing in the middle. If I had more time in my life to waste, I would try this experiment and find out.
Business leaders need a reboot on the ideas that make organizations run. Is your time best spent reading business books, or talking with people with radically different ideas? Put down the business book and go interact with ideas that challenge you, frighten you, or piss you off. Okay, I have to confess this is my favorite part of Dave’s article. This is a real call to action. In fact I think Dave should write a new book and every page of the 100 pages or so should have this one paragraph repeated on it. They say people learn by repetition. This would be a best seller for sure.
People often ask me what the best business books I’ve ever read are. Here’s my list: The Odyssey, Atlas Shrugged, and Ender’s Game. None are about commerce or strategy. Read The Odyssey to understand character, purpose, and discovery. Read Atlas Shrugged to clarify your own position on how the political economy should run. And read Ender’s Game for how genius and leadership pull people in opposite directions. (Two of the three are well written — you can figure out which is the outlier.)
None of these books have takeaways, or to-do lists. None preach. They will make you think.
Anyone brave enough to venture into these waters with me? What are your favorite non-business books that teach you a lot about business? Yes, I do have a recommendation. I think anyone who wants to learn about business and great leadership should read a fable I wrote entitled, The Perfect Heart. No lists, no outright preaching, but definite take aways about how to use the best gifts and talents of everyone to make a kingdom the kind of kingdom that meets the needs of all of its citizens, while allowing excellence of each individual. Oh by the way, the heroes in the fable are female. Yep, not a lot of fables with female heroes, but I promise you will enjoy this one. If you would like a copy just email me at dawn@theheartlinknetwork.com or visit my website www.DawnBillings.com. All proceeds go to women and children charities.
Dawn L Billings is the author of over 20 books (mostly fluff) and hundreds of articles on parenting, relationships, entitlement and networking and an ardent advocate for womens and children’s issues. Dawn is the creator of the new parenting toy/tool called Capables. And CEO and Founder of The Heart Link Womens Network, Trova Women Business Directory and Trova Small Business Directory, The Heart Alliance.com international women’s networking organization and online community. In 2008 Dawn was selected by Oprah Magazine and The White House project as one of 80 emerging women leaders in the nation. Find out more and buy Dawn’s books To learn more about women networking check out our videos
Women Networking Gifts – BIRDS of a FEATHER
Filed under: Business for Women, HLN Spotlights, Inspiring Articles, Marketing Tips, Networking, Relationships
Women Networking Gifts – Birds of a Feather
By Dawn Billings, Founder / CEO of The Heart Link Women’s Network
When I was younger my mother used to tell me that “birds of a feather, flocked together.” I was not particularly interested in the meaning behind the saying at the time but I have come to realize that your life and the things that you are truly dedicated to, show up in who you are associated with and who you choose to spend your time and life energies around.
In 2008, I had the great honor to be chosen as one of 15 “Women of Achievement” in the state of Georgia by the YWCA. As I read my name associated with the other extraordinary women I was humbled.
Dawn Billings, CEO and founder of the Heart of a Woman and the Heart Link Network; state Rep. Charlice Byrd (R-Woodstock); state Rep. Sharon Cooper (R-Marietta); Lillian Darden, executive director of Foundation of Wesley Woods; Nancy Desmond, CEO of the Gingrich Group/Center for Health Transformation; Helen Goreham, Cobb commissioner; Anne Hancock, regional representative, U.S. Department of Education; Vickie Haney, vice president of Bank of North Georgia; Denise Harden, vice president, commercial banking, SunTrust; Kimberly Paris, development officer of the WellStar Foundation; Holly Walquist, Marietta councilwoman; and Julie Whitehead, chief engineer, C-5M, Lockheed Martin.
As I stood next to these women, my only desire was to be worthy of their association. Read more
Professional Women Networking Tip: 4 from The Heart Link Network
Filed under: Business for Women, Inspiring Articles, Marketing Tips, Networking
Professional Women Networking Tip: 4 from The Heart Link Womens Network
by Dawn is the CEO and Founder of The Heart Link Womens Network, Trova Women Business Directory and Trova Small Business Directory and The Heart Alliance.com international women’s networking organizations and communities.
My fourth professional networking tip is to listen as though your business depends on it, because it does.
Professional networking is a developed skill. At first, don’t focus on selling. Instead focus on listening. I know that you intend to use networking as a way to increase your sales, thereby building your business, but one of the worst things you can do is to overwhelm a person when you first meet them with YOUR sales pitch. No one likes to be sold. They want to be understood, listened to and cared about and then, they have room in their hearts to hear what you have to offer.
When you meet women networking for the first time, use it as an opportunity to learn. One of the best ways we learn is by listening.In fact we learn twice as much by listening, that is why we have two ears and only one mouth.
Everyone loves to talk about them, even if they are shy. Give a new acquaintance a chance to teach you about them. Listen. Get to know them. Don’t try to sell them anything. Rather, begin by giving them something everyone wants; to be listened to. This may sound like a colossal waste of time, but I assure you, it is the best time you will ever spend. Once a person feels listened to, they become much more open to listening and learning about you.
Women small business owners need many opportunities to share what they are passionate about, women entrepreneurs can often feel fragile because the weight is all on their shoulders. So when you are attending a professional networking event, listen carefully to the other women business owners and you will discover, they are just like you and you know YOU want to be listened to . . . right?
Dawn L Billings is an ardent advocate for women’s and children’s issues, the author of over 20 books and hundreds of articles on parenting, relationships, entitlement and networking. Dawn is the CEO and Founder of The Heart Link Womens Network, Trova Women Business Directory and Trova Small Business Directory and The Heart Alliance.com international women’s networking organizations and communities. In 2008 Dawn was selected by Oprah Magazine and The White House project as one of 80 emerging women leaders in the nation. Find out more and buy Dawn’s books To learn more about women networking check out our videos
