Best Places to Work Awards

I read in the Florida Trend magazine today who in FL was chosen as "best places to work" for 2010.  Companies were broken down into three categories - Large companies - 250+ employees; Midsized companies - 50-249 employees; Small companies - 15- 49 employees.  There was a common theme showing up in many of these companies.  The employees are energized,  allowed to show their creativity, appreciated, valued and given responsibilities that together as a team creates success.  Some of the companies really have even created a fun place to work. They don't necessarily pamper the employees (quote from the magazine) but more importantly they value their employees and find creative ways to do so.

Bacardi U.S.A. is one of the companies in the "large company" category.  The company believes in moving people around to get new experience and contribute regardless of your position.  They also offer some nice perks such as a gym, free lunch for employees and paid health insurance to name a few.

Studer Group, a consulting company in the hospital field (medium size company), employees are encouraged to bring new ideas to the table; they rate each other as employees on how well they are each doing and they share the results with all employees; they also value flexibility.  Some of their quirks are 48-hours a year to use  for working in the community; adoption allowance for qualifying employees, etc.

Creative Space, a PR company (small company) values transparency including in the accounting department; value flexibility when it comes to work schedules; technology - every employee gets a laptop and cell phone to use in the office and at home.

The bottom line in all of these examples and in general - these companies rely on their employees' strengths, give them flexibility (which is very important for the younger generations), have created respect and a sense of team in their settings. Employee retention and loyalty are embedded in these types of environments.

Hopefully more and more companies will see the importance of creating similar cultures such as the companies who made this list. The payoff is higher morale, higher employee retention, more success in their business model and a healthy work environment.  These are the companies I love working with as they see the value in their people.

Update on Being in the Present Moment

Well, it's been 24-days nows since I have been making a conscious effort to stay in the present moment.  Studies show that it takes about 21-days for a change in habit to stay with you.  I have to agree here as I am able to access being in the present moment, daily, even hourly.  If I catch myself in a thought away from where I am, I simply take 3 breaths and I am back in the present.  What I have noticed is I have a tendency to sing a song in my head a lot so I am now writing down what those songs are - this is very interesting!!!!!  I also noticed that I am so much more calm and I am seeing things I normally haven't seen.  Examples include:  while driving back from West Palm Beach this morning, I drove Federal Hwy vs. the interstate.  I saw such fabulous old buildings, especially restaurants that have been there for a long time - lots of Mexican food, Cuban, Haitian, deli, diners, etc.  When I stopped on an errand in Boca Raton, I noticed the cool eye glasses a sales lady (I always deal with) had on and she said she has worn them for 20 years. Where am I taking this - I am more calm, less worried, finding clues and inspiration from ordinary things that cross my path and enjoying the experiences more.  I know it serves me well to continue this awareness as I grow my business and live my life in balance, for this I am grateful.

The Value of Being in Nature

I recently returned from Frisco, Colorado where I spent five days with great friends. Frisco is in the mountains in the ski area west of Denver.  You actually have to drive through Frisco to get to Breckenridge which is a bit more well known.  Because I practice living in the present moment, it's easy for me to drink in my surroundings, see the beauty of wherever I am and Be with the people I'm with. Thus, I noticed a lot of beautiful parts of Colorado in the summer: flowers everywhere - in flower boxes, hanging from street lamps, in the fields; flowing water; still water; beautiful mountains everywhere and wild animals like elk, mouse, deer, fox, chipmunks, beavers, etc.  I also noticed how people love to be outside biking, walking, hiking, boating simply Being with nature.  They are healthy for the most part and enjoy their lifestyle. I also noticed how people embrace the Green initiative, especially recycling and taking care of the environment.  There is a lot to be said of taking time out of our busy lives to enjoy places like this.  Colorado is a great place to visit and appreciate the gifts of nature and laid back living. But, you don't have to go out to Colorado to absorb your surroundings.  There are many places around the country and close to home to experience the same type of needed peace, we just have to take the time to do it.

 I coach many leaders and successful business people who are not really good at balancing their life or knowing when to slow down to relax and enjoy people and places in their life. This awareness is vital to the long-term health of people both mentally and physically.  I ask my clients to find some activity that they love doing or did in their past or something they have always wanted to do that is fun and relaxing and to figure out a way to integrate it into their lives.  Simple things like reading a book while lying in a hammock, sitting on a patio, being at the beach or just taking a walk with nature with or without music, riding a bike, cooking - just something simple but so beneficial to their well being. I know one of my purposes is to introduce this concept to hard charging people who have lost the joy of appreciating this life, mind and body we were born with.

The Art of Silence

Silence - the part of life that brings me inspiration, peace and awareness.  I have been actively living in the present moment these past couple of weeks and it is becoming easier and easier to stay there simply by breathing when my mind starts to be too active.  Multi-tasking is very easy for me and because of this, I have to consciously not get caught up in it.  By breathing, I get back to the calmness of the moment and think more from my heart instead of my head.  How does this serve me?  I am able to see the small things in life that I normally completely miss and I am finding that I don't feel bored if I have free time.  I'm OK with it and don't feel like I have to find something else I should be doing.  Example:  yesterday after I finished a great book, "The Last Lecture" I was sitting in a comfy chair in our bedroom.  Outside on the patio wall were a group of mockingbirds.  They were simply perched together and exploring their surroundings.  It was really fun just watching them.  They did not sense a human being in their space so were busy checking out our neighors patio - maybe a future nest location?  The point of this discussion, if you are reading this, try to incoroporate into your being the art of living in silence - it will serve you well.

The Importance of Giving Back

You find your most balanced and successful self when you are in the service of others.  When I am coaching with a client who is stuck and not happy with aspects of their lives that lack peace and balance, I recommend to them to get involved with a non-profit.  When we are helping others in some capacity (not just giving money) the selfless person discovers compassion, satisfaction, appreciation for life and gratitude.  So, if you live your life at a frantic pace and never are able to shut down that energy, find a cause that is dear to your heart and get involved.  You will find new things about yourself that you may not have known before and you'll probably start prioritizing what and who are important to in your life and change some habits.

Being vs Doing

I use the Enneagram Assessment tool to create awareness around personality traits that my clients will discover about themselves which impacts change.  I am a "7" - "The Enthusiast" with a theme of "I love life and want to experience it all!"  This is a good thing but I also have a tendency to have one foot into the future anticipating what's next vs in the Now where there are clues to opportunities and inspiration which will help me on my journey. Typically I move very quickly in action and thought and a lesson for me is to purposelly slow down and be present.  That is what I am practicing as I write this and as I proceed with my day.  So what is the Being vs the Doing?  If I don't allow myself to feel sadness or frustration when they appear and instead rush into "next" I am more in my head - doing vs. in my heart -being which really is where we find our greatest joy and inspiration. Who knows I may find something totally unexpected that I need in my life and I am open to those possibilities.