THE GOOD NEWS ABOUT WORK

Volatire, the French philosopher, once stated: “Work spares us from three evils: boredom, vice and need.” Boredom: Working in a dental office is the perfect cure for boredom. Every day, we see – and help – a different group of patients. When closing time arrives, we know that we have alleviated their pain and anxiety, sending [...]

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CONSCIOUS, CONSCIENCE and CONSCIENTIOUS

A message from Terry: No, this isn’t a list from the opening round of the National Spelling Bee. And it isn’t a question from the vocabulary section of the SAT Test. Instead, focusing on these three C words can help you improve your “grade” as a team member. CONSCIOUS comes from the Latin “to know,” and [...]

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THE POWER OF AN “INDEX CARD” – PART 3

A message from Terry:  Don’t forget to think outside the box when it comes to the term “index card.” Once upon a time, it referred to a three-inch by five-inch piece of heavy paper stock. These days, it can just as well be an electronic message on your computer, a hand-written Post-It note, a notation [...]

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THE POWER OF AN INDEX CARD – Part 1

A message from Terry:  The spoken word is little more than shaped air, and a thought is even less substantial than that. Nevertheless, the right thought or string of spoken words has the power to discourage, infuriate, delight or inspire us! With just a little effort, we can harness the power of other people’s wit [...]

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THE FOUR-POINT PLAN

A message from Terry: Do you want to be rich, healthy, happy and an expert in your field? If so, here is advice from one of America’s founding fathers, Benjamin Franklin: “Be studious in your profession, and you will be learned. Be industrious and frugal, and you will be rich. Be sober and temperate, and [...]

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Under Promise – Over Deliver

A message from Terry:  Sometimes, the best pieces of advice are the hardest ones to follow. Consider the following bit of wisdom from Tom Peters: Formula for success: under-promise and over-deliver. For many people, this is simply common sense. But for well-meaning team members with a strong urge to please – (and you know who [...]

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It’s Your Duty to be Happy

“There is no duty we so much underrate as the duty of being happy. By being happy we sow anonymous benefits upon the world.” Robert Louis Stevenson A message from Terry: Gee, a tough homework assignment, huh?  Go forth and be happy!  Sometimes, it’s just that simple. But the world isn’t always a happy place. [...]

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LET THE CALENDAR HELP

A message from Terry: There’s a certain magic to all things new.  That ‘new car’ smell. The unblemished sheen of a new pair of shoes. The promise, each September, of a backpack of new school supplies. And, for all of us, whatever our age or phase of life, the arrival of a crisp New Year, [...]

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THE PERFECT GIFT

A message from Terry: Next to our own home, the place where we spend the most time – day to week to month to year – is at the office. And, in a very real sense, our co-workers become our second family. From that point of view, why wouldn’t you want to make every effort [...]

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THE ACCOUNTABILITY TOOLKIT

“A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds.” Ralph Waldo Emerson A message from Terry: Days, weeks or even months ago, you and your team identified a problem, discussed possible solutions, agreed upon a plan and put it into action. For a while, things improved…but now the ‘solution’ seems to be causing as much [...]

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