February 27, 2010 – melclifford

Me Factor

February 27, 2010 2 Comments

While listening to the radio this morning I heard Mike Nesbitt a Northern Ireland Politician making a comment along the lines that all the children who will be born on the island of Ireland no matter what part of the island they are born on, each have a spark of creativity within them. The role of a Politician must be to take accountability to ensure that these sparks are allowed to grow and come through. This will be achieved by creating a better place for them to grow up in. Well said Mike – and I hope your objective will be met. I have often used the phase “If only we asked kids how creative they were instead of their age think of how creative we would be”. To focus on what is right and to deliver on it is vital for us all to create that future for our children. These children will be tasked as well with taking care of ecah other and the world they live in as we are today. Those that show creativity have always contributed in this world and have lead to our progress, no matter how small. Given the current state of politics on this island and the behaviour of many politician there is more of a chance that the words of Mike will not even reach the surface of any discussion among them. The “Me Factor” are the sparks that are encourage in Government and allowed to grow by the majority of our current politicians. This week again more and more people will loose their jobs and suffer hardship. There is not one piece of creativity within the Government. Except their “Me Factor” and we are ok and time will pass so let’s hope we get through it. So how will these politicians deliver on your objective Mike for the children of the future?

21 Days

February 27, 2010 2 Comments

It is said that if you do the same thing each day over a 21 day period it will become a habit. Giving something up like sweets, smoking or taking exercise, doing meditation or what I have done is to blog each day. So writing a blog every day should now be a habit of mine. I have noticed that it has become easier although there were times within the 21 day period I found it difficult to make the time or know what to write, but I succeeded. I have decided to continue writing and I have also decided from my own experience that when I get emails in each day from the same source, I tend to not open them and leave them for a few days our just deleted them. This I believe defeats my objective so I will continue to write blogs but I will not publish every day in the hope that you will welcome them more when you see them in your email inbox. So as I develop my new site and as I write I will publish. Thank you for following me and please feel free to comment anytime all views welcome – so let’s wait and see.

Your Mask

February 27, 2010 No Comments

Our internal and external worlds are a challenge to us all. Each day we protect, communicate, and project an external image of who we are and what we do in our world. Is the external image that we project each day the same internal image we have and want for ourselves? Matching both is difficult, because the ‘if’ word comes into play. If only I had this, if only I was more…. If only I had a better job….. if only I had more money. If is a small word that often becomes a major blockage in our world. Changing your mask can be fearful, one needs the inner strength to make a change. Remaining in the ‘as is’ may not be an option for you. The longer your internal and external world remain different the greater the gap will become. So. gently remove your mask and show the world your inner beauty. Only you can do this for you.

Your Dreams

February 27, 2010 No Comments

I came across this short piece and thought I should share it with you. The author is unknown. Nothing is as real as a dream. The world can change around you, but your dream will not. Responsibilities need not erase it. Duties need not obscure it. Because the dream is within you, no one can take it away.

Conflict – How do you respond?

February 27, 2010 No Comments

Why do some people love conflict? Why do some people avoid conflict at all cost? Where does a simple remark or comment of observation turn into a flash point of conflict? Does it depend on the individual who makes the comment or remark? Do you accept it from one person but not from another? Does it depend on what state of mind you are in when the comment or remark is mentioned? Should you avoid mentioning a comment or observation of behaviour that needs to be addressed – just to avoid a possible response that may end in conflict? The answer is no, as long as your intensions are meant as support for the person and it is being made for a positive reason. It is then up to the recipient to decide how to accept it. Meanings are in people not in words. Often a simple acceptance of the comment is the best course of action. A ‘thank you for mentioning it’ and a simple ‘sorry’ maybe appropriate. Sometimes we are just not aware of the impact or our behaviour on others. How we see ourselves and how others see us are often very different. So if you receive a comment or remark meant in a positive and supporting way it is up to you as to how you will respond. We may not see the positivism, or feel supported at that moment because of all of the questions I asked at the start. It may often be difficult to say but sometimes “sorry” goes a long way.

Laughter

February 27, 2010 No Comments

Even the word laughter brings a smile to my face. Remember when you last had a good laugh? Remember when you laughed with someone and you where in a place where it was not appropriate to laugh? During these times we might almost wet ourselves trying to hold in our laughter. Tears might run down our face and we might even get a pain in our side from laughing. I was reminded only yesterday by a colleague when we were having an interesting discussion about working with individuals who have a very positive attitude. He said, “When you look at children playing they are always laughing and as we get older we seem to loose this sense of fun and laughter within us in the workplace. As if there is something not right with just laughing out loud.” It reminded me of a saying I have used in the past while working with senior executive teams and that is, “Never loose the child within.” Thank you Brendan for reminding me.

Mistakes

February 27, 2010 No Comments

Stand up anyone who has not made a mistake in their life that they are sorry for. It is recognising that it was a mistake, accepting it and taking responsibility for ones actions, that counts. You maybe the only one who knows about the mistake, your circle of friends may only know, or the entire outside world may know all about it. None of us were made perfect and we all know internally what mistakes we have made and we will have to live with them. Forgiveness of oneself and others is a good starting place. Remember, “There is a crack in everything that’s how the light gets in.” – Leonard Cohen

Listen to your customers

February 27, 2010 No Comments

Keeping your customers and winning new customers is vital for your business growth. Why do your customers do business with you? Do you know? Well the one thing you must do is to ask them. Listen to them and then keep doing the things they say you are doing right – and try and do it better. Call one of your customers each day and ask them why do they do business with you and can you do anything better for them? You will find out more about your business and if your competitors go after your customers they will think twice about moving/ They will know why they stay with you. The next step is to make that call and ask that question. Listen and learn.

Values in Business

February 27, 2010 No Comments

Ask yourself, “Why am I working with the organisation I am employed by?” Or ask the question, “What are the values of this organisation, and do they match my values?” If within this organisation you happen to be responsible for leading the way and you are the CEO or owner can you answer these questions? Once answered, is there a difference between the values written down and the demonstration of these values in your workplace? If there is a mismatch what are you doing about it? For if you are an employee, CEO. or owner – you have the responsibility to make the change that will bring the values into line with each other. Too often I have seen weak leadership, in what people say are their organisation’s values and how they behave against these communicated values. Here are some values. They may not be perfect but who is? They may not be the most well written values, but does this matter? The important issue is that we live by them. Our Values are about: Having excellent communications with each other and our clients. Having the discipline, commitment, and determination to deliver for each other and our clients. Having care for our own personal growth in our business and personal environments. Having trust in our colleagues and building trust with our clients through honesty. Having and creating fun in all that we do.

Friendship

February 27, 2010 No Comments

We often talk about this friend and that friend and my friend and our friends. In Dublin City one might hear on the street or in a pub, “listen here my friend” which translates to be careful or else. What is your definition of a friend? I am not talking about people who you may just know. Can you count how many real friends meet your definition? If you have a real friend hold onto them and ask yourself what do you bring to this friendship. One thing not to bring might be to place your expectations on them, as you might be disappointed. I read this definition recently, by William Shakespeare. “A friend is one that knows you as you are, understands where you have been, accepts what you have become, and still, gently allows you to grow.”

Mel Clifford

Mel Clifford

Blog & News

Day: February 27, 2010

Me Factor

21 Days

Your Mask

Your Dreams

Conflict – How do you respond?

Laughter

Mistakes

Listen to your customers

Values in Business

Friendship

Mel Clifford