Excellent example of communication
Who would have thought it was possible to make the safety advice before take off funny and engaging? Well, take a look at what Air New Zealand have done
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Every wondered how best to communicate information?
Do you ever find yourself wondering how to present your information in an interesting and engaging manner? Or do you find yourself in stuck in a Bar Chart rut or think that Mind Maps are mind blowing? (If you don’t know what they are take a look at the element Mi) Then take a look at what the guys and girls at the Visual Literacy Organisation have created. Not only do they give us a fantastic example of how complex information can be represented, they also give us a reminder of all the main methods of doing so in the form of a periodic table. http://www.visual-literacy.org/periodic_table/periodic_table.html
I love the element ‘Lm’, the learning map! What do you think?
Welcome to Monday Morning: Listening
Listen! Or your tongue will make you deaf
Cherokee saying
Thought for the week
Most of us view listening as a passive form of activity, a time when we can formulate our next question, prepare our next line of attack or even daydream. Listening is in fact a very active skill, involving focusing our attention and concentration on the individual doing the talking. When listening is done in this way, the listener is looking to understand what is really being said, picking up the non-verbal cues ? what hasn't been said ? and the underlying emotion of the speaker.
Challenge for the week
What kinds of conversation would benefit from active listening? Would your sales results or personal relationships improve? Do you think you would have less need to ask co-workers to repeat themselves?
Welcome to Monday Morning: What Do You Want?
The trouble with many plans is that they are based on the way things are now. To be successful, your personal plan must focus on what you want, not what you have
Nido Qubein
Thought for the week
This is a simple enough question ? or is it? Given the increase in consumer spending, we could think that what we really want is more shoes, cars, clothes and handbags! Are these things a fulfilling reward for all our hard work?
Challenge for the week
What do you value? What do you think you will want tomorrow, next year, in five years' time?
Welcome to Monday Morning: Pay-Play Balance
If you love what you do, you will never work another day in your life
Confucius
Thought for the week
Tradition has it that we get paid for work but not for play. The difference is that work is something we don't enjoy and is full of effort, and play is something that is effortless and fun. But when we love what we do, our work is no longer work to us, it becomes play!
Challenge for the week
What kinds of activities do you find enjoyable and effortless? When was the last time you lost track of time doing something you loved? What were you doing?
Welcome to Monday Morning: The Childish Mind
Children share with geniuses an open, inquiring, uninhibited quality of mind
Chauncey Guy Suits
Thought for the week
As we become older we gather knowledge, information, ideas and concepts. We take on beliefs and attitudes, most of the time unconsciously. Then most of us surround ourselves with co-workers and friends who share similar knowledge and mindsets. It comes as a shock when we meet people who disagree with or contradict us, and we often act defensively, rather than embracing the opportunity to question and refine our knowledge and mindsets.
Challenge for the week
Do you surround yourself with people similar to yourself? Do you tend to read the same newspapers and magazines and follow the same radio or TV programmes? In what small way could you challenge your knowledge and mindsets this week?
Welcome to Monday Morning: Good Humour
You can turn painful situations around through laughter. If you can find humour in anything – even poverty – you can survive it.
Bill Cosby
Thought for the week
Good humour can be considered a tonic for mind and body and recent research has shown it to be an excellent antidote for anxiety and depression. Indeed, we could consider it to be a business asset as it attracts and generates good relationships and can improve office moral.
Challenge for the week
What kind of humour do you enjoy? Is there a humorous story or joke that you could share with a colleague or friend this week?
Can you say no to something today to get what you want tomorrow?
Take a look at this video showing these kids working really hard to resist eating a marshmallow. Continue reading…
Welcome to Monday Morning: Creativity
If you want creative workers, give them enough time to play
John Cleese
Thought for the week
The dictionary describes creativity as having the power to bring something into being. This sounds pretty amazing, and indeed it is. In our businesses and work places creativity can be used to originate new ideas, concepts, processes, structures, ways of solving problems and generally gain us more of our market share.
Challenge for the week
How would you or your organisation benefit from the creative touch this week?
Discounted software for charities and non-profits
We have been working with a few charities in the Yorkshire area and I have to say I am shocked to find they don’t know about the discounts on offer when buying software and services! Have a look at this website:
Most registered charities and certain non-profit organisations qualify for heavily discounted software from quite a number of providers so I wanted to share the discounts that are available. I have picked out a few choice packages from their price list and compared them to the standard pricing on the internet from a typical supplier.
| Product | Retail Price | Discounted Price | % Saving |
|---|---|---|---|
| Microsoft Windows 7 Professional (32 or 64bit) | £ 158.62 | £ 5.88 | 96% |
| Microsoft Office Professional 2007 | £ 269.60 | £ 12.93 | 95% |
| Microsoft Small Business Server 2008 Premium Edition | £ 1,101.22 | £ 45.83 | 96% |
| Symantec Endpoint Protection (10 licenses) | £ 291.38 | £ 43.48 | 85% |
| Cisco 520 Wireless Router for ADSL | £ 437.09 | £ 58.75 | 87% |
All the prices include VAT as IT supplies and services still attract VAT even for charities 🙁 But what fantastic savings!
So if you are a charity looking to invest in technology to help you raise money and connect with your donors and clients use this service and save yourself a pile of money! If you want some help gathering your thoughts contact me.
