What I’ve Been Reading

I’m almost finished reading, and it is a true page turner, The Office Rockstar Playbook by Debbie Gross.  Every page of my copy has highlights. Most pages have a sticky note or sticky arrow with information that is relevant to my career.  I highly recommend this book for new Admins as well as seasoned Admins such as myself.  Debbie writes like she is having a cup of coffee (or wine) with you, and acting as your personal mentor.  This book is a great and easy read as well as fantastic reference tool for your desk.  I highly recommend.  -Jackie 

Reprinted from today’s OfficeNinjas 

No, You Don’t Have to Wake Up at to Crush It [PRODUCTIVITY]
You’ve probably been told that successful people wake up at 4 am. Or was it 4:30 am? Or 5 am? It seems to change depending on who’s being interviewed. That’s because the truth is, successful people wake up when it’s right for them — they calculate what they want to get done and when, and set their alarms to help them achieve those things. Whether it’s before the sun comes up or well after, design your day so you can be your most productive self.
 
When Should You Include Others in a Decision? [DECISION MAKING]
Let’s be real: sometimes the best decisions do not require a group consensus. And sometimes they do. So, how do you determine when to make your own judgment call and when to open it up to a committee? This 22-minute video provides a framework for deciding who needs to be involved and when.
 
What To Do When Resentment Creeps In [SELF-CARE]
Resentment can be tricky to identify, but when it shows up, it’s a neon sign that something needs to be addressed, and swiftly. If that thing is left unchanged, the stress and unease it’s caused can become debilitating. Next time you feel resentful, notice what triggered that feeling, analyze why it’s getting to you, and take action. 
 
Magic for Your Spreadsheets (aka Conditional Formatting) [WORK SKILLS]
Spreadsheets are the ultimate organization tools, sorting endless amounts of data into neat rows and columns. But the more numbers, facts, and figures you have, the harder it can be to see anything but a wall of information. Enter Conditional Formatting. This tutorial will get you started on how to make important info pop.
 
Open Up Your Office for Innovation [COLLABORATION]
Don’t worry, you don’t have to knock down any physical walls to cultivate an environment of innovation. But you do have to start chipping away at personal walls and workflow dams already in place. Share something interesting about yourself, let people in on a project before it’s done, and take time to discuss failures. You may be surprised by the new pathways to innovation (and camaraderie!) that open up as a result.

What I'm Reading:

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I have this book and refer to it often. Get your Kindle Copy today!!! http://amzn.to/12VVCzT

The Choice is Yours - How to be Positive When things are Negative

Reprinted from "Keeping ON TRACK with Rhonda" Contact Rhonda Scharf, CSP, HoF 
Call Rhonda today about bringing customized, fun, and applicable training to your office or 
association meeting. 
 

 
A friend of mine bought a new condo recently. When we went to see it—and
it was beautiful—he pointed out everything that was wrong with it, and what he
didn’t like. Instead of focusing on the things that were right about the condo, he
focused on the things that were wrong about it.
 
Are you like that? Do you focus on the things that are right about what you have
and what you do, or do you focus on what you don’t have or don’t like about what
you have?
 
 
 
 
  
 
Tweet: Want to make your workspace healthier? Check out these 8 easy tips @RhondaScharf https://ctt.ec/TDcaW+
 
 
 
 
I see a lot of people who do that with their job. When I ask if they like their job, most people don’t gush about all of
the great things. They don’t say, “I love it! It’s so close to home; the boss is so pleasant and easy to work with, they
give us free coffee and a fair bit of flexibility.” Instead, I hear, “It’s pretty good, but I do have to work overtime,
which I’m not paid for. And I’m at the bottom of the list to get my vacation-time approved, which means I never get
prime time off like Christmas or summer, and I’m not sure I’ll ever get promoted here.” 
 
They focus on what is wrong with their job, not what they like about it. The same way my friend did with his new
condo.
  
Having a positive lens on life is a choice. You can choose to see what is working well, or you can choose to see what
isn’t good enough.
 
“We don’t see things as they are, we see them as we are.” ~ Anais Nin
 
When I pointed out to Phil that he was focussing only on what was wrong with his new condo, he immediately
back-pedaled and said he wasn’t trying to be negative, he was being humble. He didn’t want people to think he
had a perfect life, a perfect home.I choose to see what is right about my life. I’ll bet you want to see that too but
don’t always know how.
 
Now, just so you know: no one really thinks your life or your job is perfect. We are all aware that there are things
that are not exactly the way you want them to be. You don’t have to point out what is wrong with your life, to other
people. We all know that the lovely, perfect images we see on Facebook aren’t a well-rounded look at your life, or
anyone’s for that matter. 
 
And to Phil’s point, it’s true that we shouldn’t brag about what we have or what we do, either. I wouldn’t want Phil to
say, “This is the best condo in the city. It is far better than your house, or anyone else’s.” Any more than I would
want a friend to say, “My company and my job are better than yours!” 
 
Choosing to look at the positives in life isn’t always easy, but it is something most of us can work on.
 
1. Force yourself to find one positive thing for every negative thing you naturally see. For instance, if you are
frustrated that you are on the bottom of the list to get your vacation approved, find something positive about that,
like the fact that an off-season vacation would be less expensive and less crowded. If you don’t like that your
workspace cubicle is in the open, you could, instead, focus on the fact that that allows you to create better
relationships with your co-workers. 
Recognize when you say something negative, and force yourself to find something positive too. Some of your
answers will make you laugh, and some you won’t believe, but it will help you get in the habit of seeing the bright
side of things.
 
2. Keep a positive environment. There is so much negativity in the world these days that it is very hard to stay
positive. Someone is always complaining about the weather, the government, the price of oil, or the cost of living.
Spend time with positive people and have positive conversations. Motivational speaker Jim Rohn famously said that
we are the average of the five people we spend the most time with. Are you spending time with people who are
positive and who see the good things in life, or are you spending time with negative people who seem to be stuck in
the muck? 
 
Ask yourself who the three most negative and three most positive people in your life are, and consider how much
time you spend with them. Are you with more positive people than negative people or vice-versa?
 
Think about where you get the bulk of your information (social media, online news, television, etc.), and really
examine it to see if your news feeds are sending you more negativity or positivity. Adjust as required.
 
 
 
3. Learn to breathe and refocus when things go wrong. Just because you weren’t successful in keeping a positive
mind and attitude once doesn’t mean you are always going to be that way. Catch yourself when you stray, take a
deep breath and refocus to be more positive.
 
Traffic is something that many people find frustrating; drivers often have a hard time staying positive when they’re
in the middle of a traffic jam. You may find that you are listening to the (typically negative) news while you’re driving,
that you’re frustrated because you’re not going the speed limit, and that you’re worried you’re going to be late to
wherever you’re going.
 
Take a deep breath. Forgive yourself for starting to panic. Refocus. Find a positive in the negative: traffic is slow
because of construction, and that construction will soon make your route much better. Also, construction is a lot
better than someone having had an accident—at least no one got hurt and everyone is going home tonight.
 
Staying positive, even in negative situations, won’t always be easy. Sometimes it won’t even be possible. But even if
you are successful only half the time, you will be 50 per cent more positive than you were before you tried. 

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The Journey Begins

My name is Jacqueline (Jackie) Leib and I am a wife, mother of two wonderful men, and a Certified Administrative Professional (CAP) who is out to change the world!  How I am going to do this . . . I am not sure.  I just know I need to try.

I want to share with you the “non-traditional” life I have lead, both professionally and personally, in hopes of inspiring you to become all that you can be.

Please join me in finding the good in all things and helping each other to grow.  We have got this!!!!

Jackie

 

Good company in a journey makes the way seem shorter. — Izaak Walton

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