| Whew!
This last month has been quite a whirlwind. Publishing
a book, speaking at conferences in Atlanta and San
Francisco, conducting local workshops here in Phoenix.
Celebrating a milestone birthday. Which milestone,
you ask? Let’s just say, I’m now eligible
for an extra 10% savings at Ross on Tuesdays! Where
did all those years go?!? Didn’t I just get
out of college a few years ago? NOT!
Then, I was recently appointed as
Membership Chair of the Arizona Chapter of the National
Speakers Association and elected as Chair Elect
of Gabriel's Angels. (And I wonder why I stay so
busy). With all this excitement, I was approaching
the edge of sanity, but the last couple of days
have been almost normal again.
Spring in Phoenix this week has
actually felt like what I remember of spring in
other parts of the country - warm, but not sizzling
temperatures. I’m really looking forward to
this long holiday weekend so I can relax and have
some fun!
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| Message
From the President
REMEMBERING OUR HEROES |
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 As
we prepare for the parties, shopping and BBQs
of this Memorial Day weekend, let’s also
remember to squeeze in some time to pay homage
to the people who have given their lives in service
of our country.
Both
of my fathers (I was adopted
when I was an infant and so had both a biological
and adoptive dad) served in WWII. I was thinking
that WWII had been dubbed ‘the war to end
all wars’, but was surprised to remember
that this moniker was actually appointed to WWI.
So why have we had so many wars since? Hhmph -
don’t get me started…
One
dad served in the Army; the other in the Navy.
I have pictures of them in their uniforms when
they were in young and dapper. Both were fortunate
to return home safely from their tours of duty;
many of our veterans didn’t have that chance.
Probably
because my mom had worried and prayed her way
through my father’s tours through Europe,
D Day and VE Day and the big homecoming really
meant something to her. I remember celebrating
Memorial Day as a child when it was a more patriotic
holiday. We celebrated with picnics and BBQs for
sure, but it seems we also dedicated more time
to veteran parades and other celebrations in their
honor.
If
you’re interested in the history of Memorial
Day, you can read more about it at www.usmemorialday.org.
For those of you who have served in the armed
forces or who have loved ones who have served,
my deepest appreciation to you and yours.
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| Feature
Article -
HOW DO YOU REPLICATE YOUR STAR PERFORMERS? |
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Have you ever had a dream employee? One you wanted
to replicate 10 times over? What was it about
them exactly that made them stand out above the
crowd? Suppose you could scientifically figure
out what makes those stars tick, what makes them
good at what they do – innate behaviors
and competencies they possess – and then
use that information to screen applicants and
identify which ones are most likely to be top
performers in specific jobs.
Jobs
are different, as are people. When you match people’s
skills, abilities and attitudes with those most
required for specific positions, you improve the
chances that those people will excel, enjoy their
jobs and stay with them longer. By keeping your
retention rates high, you save money and improve
the performance of your organization.
If
you’ve interviewed or hired people in the
past you’ve probably noticed that some people
are great interviewers and others aren’t
and those interviewing skills don’t always
translate to performance on the job. When you
have a clear picture of success traits for a particular
position and understand competencies individuals
bring to the workplace, you can have a match made
in heaven. You’ll be able to make brilliant
hiring decisions and coach people (and teams)
to be brilliant performers.
If
you think this might have some application to
your work environment, give me a call at 602 454
7787 or send
me an email.
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Feature
Article -
ARE
YOU TOO YOUNG TO RETIRE? |
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I
remember about ten years ago sitting in Leadership
California’s Annual Issues Program being
struck by a comment made by one of the speakers.
She told the group of assembled women executives
that, “By the year 2010, over 50% of our
post-retirement income would come from working”.
That
comment rocked my world and sent my head reeling.
How could that be!?! I thought (at the time) that
the whole point of retirement was NOT working.
My parents died relatively young so they worked
until they died. Yet I knew my mother would have
spent her retirement years playing bridge every
day…all day.
The
concept of retirement however, is shifting dramatically
and that Leadership California speaker was one
of the first people I heard to publicly address
at least a part of that shifting trend.
According
to Liz Pulliam Weston, people who reached the
age of 65 in the mid-1930s were expected to live
another 12 or so years, post-retirement. Since
that time, our life expectancy has increased about
5 years. When you think about it, that’s
not really a substantial increase. However, I
believe the major shift that has occurred has
been in the mindset and attitudes of the huge
swell of ‘baby boomers’ that are approaching
retirement.
In
the United States, when Social Security was launched
in 1935, the determination of age 65 as the ‘official’
retirement age was largely a function of practical
decisions based upon two factors: the prevailing
retirement age of the few private and 30 state
old-age pension funds that existed at the time.
The decision was later confirmed by actuarial
studies showed that using age 65 produced a “manageable
system that could easily be made self-sustaining
with only modest levels of payroll taxation”.
(www.ssa.gov/history/age65.html)
In
a recent article in The AZ Republic, staff writer
Claire Bush said, “Many employees at retirement
age are anything but ready for the rocking chair.
Some are on their third, fourth or even fifth
careers.” Some of this continued work ethic
is brought on by financial necessity. The pension
funds of our parents’ generation have been
replaced by 401(k) plans, which required a more
disciplined, self-generated savings approach during
the maximum earning potential years. Many people
are now faced with the harsh reality of not having
saved enough on their own and not being able to
depend upon Social Security to take care of them.
On
the other hand, many people approaching retirement
now, are yearning to devote their remaining years
on the planet to work that they enjoy –
work that gives meaning to life. Whether they
need to work to maintain their lifestyle or want
to work to remain productive and fully engaged
in something, they aren’t thinking about
just aimlessly puttering around the house.
So
the question is, what will you do once you “retire”?
(Click to Read More) >>> |
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| Performance Improvement
Partner™ PIP Tip |
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Want
to have a more engaged workforce?
Aim people toward work they love.
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Turnover
costs
too high?
Dramatically
improve your recruiting
efforts and find the right
employees for your
jobs fast!
Call
602.454.7787 for a free
consultation.
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I've
found some wonderful products
for transformed and transforming
minds at this web site, www.ConsciousOne.com.
Check them out. I think you'll
like them.
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Book Loretta |
Loretta is available for speaking engagements
on a variety of topics:
- Leadership
- Conflict
resolution
- Improving
business results
- Much
more
Call
602.454.7787 or 877.436.4278, or e-mail
loretta@emharv.com
now to inquire about how she can unlock
and harvest the wisdom residing within
you and your staff. |
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Upcoming
Events
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| New
Dates!
Leadership
that Transforms & Delivers,
coaching teleclass – Wednesdays, May
31, June 14, 28, July 12, 26, Aug. 9, 1-2
p.m. PT
Sign
up here
Leadership that Transforms &
Delivers, Hispanic Employee
Pgm Mgrs & Fed Women Pgm Mgrs, Phoenix,
Friday August 31.
Call 602.280.8842 for more information
Are
You Too Young to Retire? introductory
TeleClass
Wednesday,
June 7th, 2006 4pm PT
Spaces Limited -
Reserve
Your Spot Here
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