You know that thing you've been thinking about for weeks? Talking to friends about, reading up on. Asking for advice, and turning it over in your head. The thing - idea, challenge, decision - that just keeps coming up.
So, what are you waiting for?
Perhaps you're scared. Things might change, or the result might be bad. Perhaps you just don't want to - waiting is more comfortable, or taking action seems like too much. Or, maybe you aren't sure what the first steps are.
Whatever it is, make a decision. This is the first step - just because you've been thinking of doing something doesn't mean you should. So sit down, think it through and decide.
And then, follow through. Either do it - take a step, begin, make progress; or do not - put it out of your mind and move on.
Stop talking. Just do it.
Monday, May 23, 2011
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
Women On Top
We've all heard the stats... less women then men in the workforce, in management. Women work more in the home, even when they work full time jobs.
In this video from TED, Sheryl Sandberg, COO of Facebook, looks at some of the reasons why - and suggests what can be done about it.
Good stuff, though I am inclined to wonder about the story beyond the numbers of women in a particular role. For instance, how many women want to work in management, and aren't? How many women are qualified to hold a particular position, and don't? Are there things we can be doing - beyond encouraging women to stick it out, focus on their jobs, become invaluable - that would increase the balance of genders and perspectives in our businesses and workplaces?
What do you think?
In this video from TED, Sheryl Sandberg, COO of Facebook, looks at some of the reasons why - and suggests what can be done about it.
Good stuff, though I am inclined to wonder about the story beyond the numbers of women in a particular role. For instance, how many women want to work in management, and aren't? How many women are qualified to hold a particular position, and don't? Are there things we can be doing - beyond encouraging women to stick it out, focus on their jobs, become invaluable - that would increase the balance of genders and perspectives in our businesses and workplaces?
What do you think?
Sunday, May 8, 2011
I'm watching you...
If you choose to tell me, even without really trying, I can know everything about you. If you choose to tell, we can all know what you had for dinner, what time you go to bed, what colour your hair was 3 years ago and the real reason you were late for work yesterday.
If you choose to put this information on Facebook, Twitter, your blog or out there some other way, a simple Google search will find it - or may not even be required, if we are connected in these spaces so that I get notified every time you post.
Yes, there are also ways this information is posted with less action on your part - newspaper articles, other people's blog posts - but for most of us, sharing about ourselves is a choice. The difficulty this leads to, as I see it, is not privacy necessarily (though this is important - guard your information and don't share more than you would want a stranger to know). Rather, one large challenge is to ensure that the person you portray yourself to be - kind, professional, jealous, hard-core partier, etc - must be congruent across each of these channels. And more than that, must be congruent with the person you are in real life.
Email your office to say you're sick and staying in bed today? Well then you'd not only better watch that you don't see any colleagues at the grocery store, but also ensure that you're not posting about a hard workout or great lunch with a friend on any social media.
Or, just had a major fight with a friend? Best not to air out your frustration in Facebook statuses and tweets... not only might that friend see your posts, but other friends will begin to wonder what you might post about them.
Social media need not be scary, or invasive. But just like any other communication, be careful with. One rule of thumb to consider: if you wouldn't say it to friends in a coffee shop loud enough for strangers to hear, then don't post it online, anywhere.
If you choose to put this information on Facebook, Twitter, your blog or out there some other way, a simple Google search will find it - or may not even be required, if we are connected in these spaces so that I get notified every time you post.
Yes, there are also ways this information is posted with less action on your part - newspaper articles, other people's blog posts - but for most of us, sharing about ourselves is a choice. The difficulty this leads to, as I see it, is not privacy necessarily (though this is important - guard your information and don't share more than you would want a stranger to know). Rather, one large challenge is to ensure that the person you portray yourself to be - kind, professional, jealous, hard-core partier, etc - must be congruent across each of these channels. And more than that, must be congruent with the person you are in real life.
Email your office to say you're sick and staying in bed today? Well then you'd not only better watch that you don't see any colleagues at the grocery store, but also ensure that you're not posting about a hard workout or great lunch with a friend on any social media.
Or, just had a major fight with a friend? Best not to air out your frustration in Facebook statuses and tweets... not only might that friend see your posts, but other friends will begin to wonder what you might post about them.
Social media need not be scary, or invasive. But just like any other communication, be careful with. One rule of thumb to consider: if you wouldn't say it to friends in a coffee shop loud enough for strangers to hear, then don't post it online, anywhere.
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