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Ideas for Impact

Inspirational Quotations #165

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Without leaps of imagination, or dreaming, we lose the excitement of possibilities. Dreaming, after all, is a form of planning.
—Gloria Steinem (American Feminist)

Remember that time is money. He that can earn ten shillings a day by his labor, and goes abroad or sits idle one half of that day, though he spends but sixpence during his diversion or idleness, ought not to reckon that the only expense; he has really spent, or rather thrown away, five shillings besides.
—Benjamin Franklin (American Political leader)

You cannot dream yourself into a character; you must hammer and forge yourself one.
—James Anthony Froude (British Historian)

True friendship is like sound health; the value of it is seldom known until it is lost.
—Charles Caleb Colton (English Angelic Priest)

The strongest principle of growth lies in human choice.
—George Eliot (Mary Anne Evans) (English Novelist)

To achieve more and better results, more resourcefulness is as important as more resources.
—Tony Alessandra

It is time for us all to stand and cheer for the doer, the achiever—the one who recognizes the challenge and does something about it.
—Vince Lombardi, Jr.

If a job’s worth doing, it’s worth doing well.
—Common Proverb

It takes courage to live a life, any life.
—Erica Jong (American Novelist)

If you ever get a second chance in life for something, you’ve got to go all the way.
—Lance Armstrong

It is time for us all to cheer for the doer, the achiever – the one who recognizes the challenge and does something about it.
—Vince Lombardi (American Sportsperson)

If it’s worth doing,
it’s worth doing well.
—Seth Godin (American Entrepreneur)

Know that although in the eternal scheme of things you are small, you are also unique and irreplaceable, as are all your fellow humans everywhere in the world.
—Margaret Laurence (Canadian Novelist)

Michael Dell’s Email Practice

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Michael Dell is the founder, Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of Dell, Inc. [NASDAQ: DELL], a leading computer-hardware business. Michael started his company at age 19 out of a dormitory room at the University of Texas at Austin. Last year, the Forbes magazine estimated Michael Dell’s net worth at $15.5 billion and ranked him ninth in a list of the 400 richest Americans. Michael Dell, currently 41, is the primary benefactor of the Michael and Susan Dell Foundation, a charitable foundation that focuses on children’s education and health programs in the United States, India, and other geographies.

In an essay entitled “Secrets from Successful CEOs,” author and investor Mark Breier identifies Michael Dell’s email communication style. This essay is part of the book “Leading Authorities in Business,” edited by Marshall Goldsmith and James Belasco.

Michael Dell’s Email Practice

Michael Dell understands that the key to email is keeping the exchanges fast and short. He replies to nearly every message in several hours. He raises brevity to an art, never sending a three-word answer when a single word (‘yes,’ ‘no,’ ‘thanks,’ or ‘sorry’) will do. He reduces clutter by copying only those who really need to see a copy, and he delegates ruthlessly via email: “I’m copying Jane Smith on this. She’ll follow up with you by two this afternoon.” Keeping emails fast and short facilitates action—and results.

Call for Action

Email is one of the most efficient—albeit often misused—forms of communication. For higher productivity with your email, focus on these essential steps.

  • Be as succinct as possible. State the objective of your email in a meaningful subject line. Explain the context and describe what you expect from the recipient at the earliest point in the body of the message.
  • When replying to emails, include just enough of the thread or any preceding communication to help the recipient understand the context. When attaching supporting material—a report or a project proposal, for example—include an excerpt or a relevant summary in the body of the message.
  • Copy only those “who really need to see a copy.”
  • Re-read your composition before sending the message. Anticipate any supplementary information the recipient could use to take action on your expectations. Include additional references if necessary.

Attention to such details during composing emails can help your recipients grasp the intent of your communication and facilitate prompt action and quick results.

Credits: Michael Dell’s photo courtesy of Dell, Inc.

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Inspirational Quotations #164

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It often requires more courage to dare to do right than to fear to do wrong.
—Abraham Lincoln (American Head of State)

One cannot get through life without pain … What we can do is choose how to use the pain life presents to us.
—Bernie Siegel

Logic will get you from A to B. Imagination will take you everywhere.
—Albert Einstein (German-born Theoretical Physicist)

One of the most tragic things I know about human nature is that all of us tend to put off living. We are all dreaming of some magical rose garden over the horizon—instead of enjoying the roses that are blooming outside our windows today.
—Dale Carnegie (American Author)

The secret of joy in work is contained in one word – excellence. To know how to do something well is to enjoy it.
—Pearl S. Buck (American Novelist)

We are face to face with our destiny and we must meet it with a high and resolute courage. For us is the life of action, of strenuous performance of duty; let us live in the harness, striving mightily; let us rather run the risk of wearing out than rusting out.
—Theodore Roosevelt (American Head of State)

It is more rewarding to watch money change the world than watch it accumulate.
—Gloria Steinem (American Feminist)

To love what you do and feel that it matters—how could anything be more fun?
—Katharine Graham (American Publisher)

There is never time in the future in which we will work out our salvation. The challenge is in the moment; the time is always now.
—James Baldwin

Personal Spaces for Social Interaction

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Personal Spaces for Social Interaction

We regard the physical space around our bodies as personal territories. Subconsciously, we consider ourselves the center of a series of invisible bubbles—each bubble representing a comfort zone. American anthropologist Edward Hall defined four personal spaces in his classic book ‘The Hidden Dimension‘ (1966.)

  1. Intimate space for interacting with significant people and for hand-shaking, whispering, etc. with friends and acquaintances—touch to 1.5 feet away
  2. Casual space for interacting with close friends—1.5 feet to 4 feet away
  3. Social space for interacting with acquaintances—4 feet to 12 feet away
  4. Public space for interacting with relatively anonymous people—further than 12 feet away

Personal Spaces Represent Comfort Zones

Personal Spaces Represent Comfort Zones The distances associated with the comfort zones above depend on one’s cultural upbringing. During an interaction, the nature of the interpersonal relationships and/or the context of interaction may affect comfort zones too. Consequently,

  • Personal spaces are larger for two strangers in a conversation.
  • Women tend to have smaller personal spaces when interacting with other women.
  • Westerners tend to require larger personal spaces. People from India, China and other Asian cultures are used to crowded cities, packed public busses, and such—hence, they are more comfortable standing close to other people.
  • Two individuals in an argument expect each other to be as far as possible. If one of them moves closer, the other person may interpret this move as a sign of aggression.

Significance of Personal Spaces

The significance of this concept of personal space is obvious: we feel uncomfortable if a person enters a space that we do not desire him/her to be in.

  • During hand-shaking, do not get too close to the other person. Being within the other person’s arm-length ensures you are within his/her personal zone, and out of the intimate zone.
  • Stay within the friendly zone if you want a casual conversation with a celebrity.
  • When talking to or walking with somebody else, if the other person backs away a little, it is likely that you are encroaching his/her comfort zone. Be mindful of the other person’s requirements—do not try to close the gap.

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Inspirational Quotations #163

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Anything’s possible. You can be told you have a 90% chance or a 50% chance or a 1% chance, but you have to believe, and you have to fight.
—Lance Armstrong

Nurture your mind with great thoughts; to believe in the heroic makes heroes.
—Benjamin Disraeli (British Head of State)

Happiness grows in our own gardens, and it is not to be picked up in strangers garden.
—Voltaire (French Philosopher)

We must learn to reawaken and keep ourselves awake, not by mechanical aid, but by an infinite expectation of the dawn, which does not forsake us in our soundest sleep. I know of no more encouraging fact than the unquestionable ability of man to elevate his life by a conscious endeavor.
—Henry David Thoreau (American Philosopher)

It may be doubtful, at first, whether a person is an enemy or friend. Meat, if not properly digested, becomes poison; but poison, if used rightly, may turn medicinal.
—Sakya Pandita

What was any art but a mould in which to imprison for a moment the shining, elusive element which is life itself.
—Willa Cather (American Novelist)

Death is a challenge. It tells us not to waste time… it tells us to tell each other right now that we love each other.
—Leo Buscaglia (American Motivational Speaker)

To be idle is a short road to death and to be diligent is a way of life; foolish people are idle, wise people are diligent.
—Buddhist Teaching

Nurture your mind with great thoughts; to believe in the heroic makes heroes.
—Benjamin Disraeli (British Head of State)

Salvation of the Dawn
Look to this day,
For it is life,
The very life of life.
In its brief course lie all the truths
And realities of your existence;
The bliss of growth
The glory of action, and
The splendor of beauty;
For yesterday is but a dream
And tomorrow is only a vision,
But today well lived makes
Every yesterday a dream of happiness
And every tomorrow a vision of hope.
Look well, therefore, to this day.
Such is the salvation of the dawn.
—The Bhagavad Gita (Hindu Scripture)

Happiness grows at our own firesides, and is not to be picked in stranger’s gardens.
—Douglas William Jerrold (English Dramatist)

Ethel Romm on Building Consensus

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Building Consensus for Decision-making

Ethel Grodzins Romm was the President and CEO of NITON Corporation, a maker of scientific equipment. NITON is currently part of Thermo Fisher Scientific (NYSE: TMO.) Ethel is an accomplished engineer, entrepreneur and author.

Guy Kawasaki features Ethel Romm in his book ‘Hindsights: The Wisdom and Breakthroughs of Remarkable People.’ In her interview for this book, Ethel emphasizes the need for leaders to build consensus instead of enforcing their will.

Ethel Romm on Building Consensus

“Business is a garden of forked paths, and when we can’t agree on which one to take, then I make the call. There are occasions when you have to say, ‘I’m the president, and it’s got to go this way,’ but that’s the weakest appeal of all.”

“If it’s everybody’s decision—if everyone has helped to make it, or talked you out of something—then we’re all rowing together. Bosses say, ‘Go!’; leaders say, ‘Let’s go!'”

Sometimes, it is difficult for managers “to see why or how they are inefficient. They believe that they are succeeding—after all, nobody mutinies. They fail to understand that when you are the boss, everyone salutes you and follows your orders, regardless of your personality.”

“Thus, they are misled into believing that their meanness or callousness is keeping everyone in line. They can easily get the idea that if they don’t command, control, and coerce, the place will fall apart. The feedback is all wrong.”

Call for Action

Building Consensus for Decision-making Quite often, members of a team may realize that they have very little influence on the decision-making process and withdraw from active participation. However, the team buy-in on the decision to ensure prompt follow-up on expected contributions. Building consensus as part of the decision-making process, therefore, is one of the core team skills—for team members and team leaders.

Listen to every idea offered during a team conversation. Do not ignore or sidestep any ideas or concerns. Do not criticize or show objection. Instead, seek clarifications and discuss: “That is a great idea. And, one of the challenges we will face is…. How shall we work around that? What if we modify…? How about…?” Differences of opinion are natural and expected. Work on reaching decisions by building on the agreements.

As Dwight Eisenhower said, “Pull the string, and it will follow wherever you wish. Push it, and it will go nowhere at all.

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Inspirational Quotations #162

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A wise man is superior to any insults which can be put upon him, and the best reply to unseemly behavior is patience and moderation.
—Moliere (French Playwright)

Never tell people how to do things. Tell them what to do, and they will surprise you with their ingenuity.
—George S. Patton (American Military Leader)

Difficulties strengthen the mind, as labor does the body.
—Seneca the Younger (Lucius Annaeus Seneca) (Roman Philosopher)

None are so hopelessly enslaved, as those who falsely believe they are free. The truth has been kept from the depth of their minds by masters who rule them with lies. They feed them on falsehoods till wrong looks like right in their eyes.
—Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (German Poet)

We become what we think about all day long. The question is, ‘What do you think about?’
—Wayne Dyer (American Motivational Writer)

One can make a day of any size, and regulate the rising and the setting of his own sun and the brightness of its shining.
—John Muir (Scottish-born American Naturalist)

Unless commitment is made, there are only promises and hopes … but no plans.
—Peter Drucker (Austrian-born Management Consultant)

The hopeful man sees success where others see failure; sunshine where others see shadows and storm.
—Orison Swett Marden (American New Thought Writer)

Act as though what you do makes a difference. It does.
—William James (American Philosopher)

Physical Well-Being for High Performance

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In an article entitled “The Making of a Corporate Athlete” in the January, 2001, issue of the Harvard Business Review, authors Jim Loehr and Tony Schwartz describe executives as “corporate athletes.” They explain the concept of recovering energy to bring the body, emotions, mind and spirit to a peak form and thus sustain high performance over the long haul.

Practices for Renewing Physical Energy

Physical Well-Being for High Performance The authors consider physical well-being as fundamental to the high performance state of an executive. Here is a (paraphrased) list of six healthy practices they recommend for renewing physical energy.

  1. Eat multiple small-meals a day. Eating just one or two meals a day with long periods in between may slowdown metabolism.
  2. Never skip breakfast. Eating breakfast early in the morning helps maintain metabolism during the morning.
  3. Eat a balanced diet.
  4. Reduce the consumption of sugars. Sugars represent empty calories and cause “energy-depleting spikes in blood glucose levels.”
  5. Drink at least 1.5 litres (four 12-ounce glasses) of water every day, even if you do not feel thirsty.
  6. Exercise regularly. The authors recommend “three to four 20- to 30-minute cardiovascular workouts a week, including at least two sessions of intervals—short bursts of intense exertion followed by brief recovery periods.”

Call for Action

Renewing Physical Energy In the face of ever-increasing demands to perform, deliver and excel, both at work and outside, it is easy for us to ignore our physical well-being; most of us do.

Critically examine your current lifestyle and fitness level: your eating and sleeping habits, your relaxation and entertainment choices, and, your commitment to physical and brain exercises. In consultation with people around you, viz., family, friends, bosses and physicians make the right choices to adopt a healthy lifestyle. Pick physical activities that work for you and you will enjoy. Get to and stay in the ‘Zone’.

Presentation Skills #4: On Handouts

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Handouts or takeaways can enhance the core content of a presentation or speech and serve as sources of information for reference and recall. Here are a few guidelines to consider for distributing handouts.

  • As a general guideline, do not distribute handouts prior to a presentation if the audience is likely to become absorbed in the handouts and ignore your verbal presentation. For instance, if you are training college students on interviewing skills, consider distributing your handouts after the seminar.
  • When the audience is likely to be more serious or needs to study charts or illustrations to participate meaningfully, do distribute your handouts before commencing your presentation. Your audience can follow along your verbal presentation and make notes on the handouts.

Handouts for Pre-reading

Quite often, handouts may also serve as pre-reading material to help the audience study the content beforehand and prepare for your presentation. Suppose that you will lead a presentation for approval of a new steering wheel design. If you distribute a PowerPoint file with illustrations and key features of your new design, the electronics, dashboard, manufacturing and assembly teams can review your design ahead of time. This facilitates brainstorming and informed decision-making during the design approval presentation.

Survey your Audience

Survey the audience prior to your presentation. Depending on the nature of your audience and the purpose of your interaction, distribute handouts when appropriate.

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Inspirational Quotations #161

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Treat a man as he is and he will remain as he is. Treat a man as he can and should be and he will become as he can and should be.
—Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (German Poet)

Change before you have to.
—Jack Welch (American Businessperson)

If you want to look like the people next door, you’re probably smothering yourself and your dreams.
—Clive Barker

You can’t use up creativity. The more you use, the more you have.
—Maya Angelou (American Poet)

If you obey all the rules, you miss all the fun.
—Katharine Hepburn (American Actor)

In the blood of the martyrs to intolerance are the seeds of unbelief
—Walter Lippmann (American Journalist)

Genius is 1% inspiration, and 99% perspiration.
—Thomas Edison (American Inventor)

Genius is 99 percent perspiration and 1 percent inspiration.
—Thomas Edison (American Inventor)

In time of danger it is proper to be alarmed until danger be near at hand; but when we perceive that danger is near, we should oppose it as if we were not afraid.
—Hitopadesha

Enthusiasm is one of the most powerful engines of success. When you do a thing, do it with all your might. Put your whole soul into it. Stamp it with your own personality. Be active, be energetic, be enthusiastic and faithful, and you will accomplish your object. Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (American Philosopher)

Speech is silvern, silence is golden; speech is human, silence is divine.
—German Proverb