Problem solving is one of life’s most critical skills. It keeps us out of trouble and enables us to succeed. It’s a critical skill to instill continue honing for ourselves and to instill in our staff and our family members. Whether it’s training others to solve problems, addressing personal challenges or working on your strategic plan, problem solving is essential. You KNOW things don’t go exactly as we plan or expect.
Some of the key tasks for problem solving are honestly facing reality; thinking creatively and thinking ahead about what could go wrong; always keeping the end goal in mind when selecting solutions; and choosing “right” not “easy.” You could also reframe like Eli Lilly when their Prozac patent was expiring. One author uses the term “Just Skip It,” but Eli Lilly’s solution of awarding prizes instead of hiring is just reframing. Now, read how Richard Branson creatively solved his seatback video problem on this link (6th paragraph).
Whether you rethink, retrain or reframe, may your problem solving be successful!
Karen Justice
President
I expect 2012 to be full of great discoveries and accomplishments. The world is ready for some positive occurrences.
I know we’ll see them in mentoring programs and successful social services. I know our WBN members will create and accomplish some terrific occurrences and deeds this year. I believe we will all see positive events and accomplishments in our individual lives.
I believe a scientist somewhere will announce wonderful news. I believe a population of people somewhere will make great strides to more healthful, less stressful lives. Perhaps, our news industry will increase their involvement in reporting the good news that really does fill our lives on a daily basis.
May you have a happy new year – literally!
Karen Justice, President
P.S. Don’t forget to register for the Membership Kickoff Celebration on January 18th.
Two icons of the holiday season, the Dreidel and the big red Christmas ball, remind me of our busy holiday lives. Like the Dreidel, we are constantly spinning and we are guilty of juggling too many balls in the air. As women business owners and managers, we often have the increased responsibilities of year-end office details, as well. Increased expectations, usually imposed more by ourselves than others, add to our already full To Do lists.
In this season of giving, I suggest that we give ourselves a gift; the gift of downsizing our To Do lists. We can reduce our list at work. (Our associates, vendors and customers are probably distracted by the spinning and juggling in their own lives.)
I plan to reduce my list at home: Homemade is delightful when it doesn’t come garnished with stress and exhaustion. I’m buying more already made things and engaging more family members in creating them. That has multiple rewards! Good times and good vibes are better than the perfect whatever every time.
When we aren’t spinning or juggling, it’s lots easier to find balance. At every Steps to Success event, we hear a lot about finding balance in life. I hope that’s one of your holiday gifts – even if it’s only size Small.
Effective organizations require a lot of volunteer hours behind the scenes. Keeping the organization focused on meeting the mission, ensuring and enhancing member benefits, engaging increasing numbers of members, and on and on. Setting the stage and making it work takes effort. Since November is a month of Thanksgiving, I want to express my thanks for the current board and committee members, as well as the women who have served in the past and brought us to where we are.
I could never rank them, so alphabetically, a big “Thanks” to Debbie Bennett, Heather Bodner, Be Cranford, Judy DeLuca, Lisa DiSciullo, Patsy Ensminger, Jeannie Fawley, Cori Fedina, Eileen Foley-Breck, Lori Follmer, Whitney Hahn, Jeanne Hall, Jane Helm, Paula Jagemann, Devina Mahapatra, June Melvin, Shabri Moore, Jeannine Morber, Lynn Ott, Karen Pelton, Amy Pujols, Janice Rockwell, and Sue Schneider. And thanks to all the continuing members who have helped sustain the Women’s Business Network of Frederick.
A crystal ball won’t facilitate business planning. However, a liquid crystal display (LCD) screen and a search engine can produce some strategically valuable information.
Patricia Martin, one of my favorite marketing forecasters, shares some interesting information in a recent e-newsletter. She referenced a story on digital marketing being used in public places as interactive storefronts, public touch screens, etc. Read more
