The Work/Home Environment

Things do not happen for a reason; it only seems that way after we have made our own opportunity

Over the last thirty years we have seen dramatic changes take place in the world, from the definition of the family, to the definition of the workplace. We have seen major technological changes that have impacted the way we communicate in business and in our personal lives. While all this has been happening, we have seen the population of the United States increase to over 300 million people. We have also seen our population become much more diverse, with immigration adding millions to our number and diversity to our social and work environments.

With the technological advances in wireless, computers, and robotics we have seen an increasing dependence on "screen" communication displacing "eyeball-to-eyeball/one-on-one" direct communication. We now communicate more by screen. Ironically, our desire to connect intimately with others in order to elevate self-esteem has been magnified significantly. We have become accustomed to communicating from a distance while craving the need to be individually recognized and appreciated.

The end result of all of these changes (which certainly would take more than a book to define) has brought businesses and individuals to a point where there is more to do than we have the time to accomplish.

The impact over the last twenty years from the emergence of women in more business leadership roles has been huge. As a result, we have a wider, more rounded, thought-provoking, creative, and exhilarating perspective in the work environment today.

The "good old boy" environment has been challenged, and even though not entirely replaced, is not the foundation of all business cultures today.

With each new generation entering the workforce, there is a new psyche that continues to evolve. We are beginning to see the work/home demands increase as the need for more quantity and improved quality scribbles the line between gender responsibilities and work/home responsibilities. With 24/7 communication capability enhancement, the line between work and home continues to get grayer. We are now advancing to more of a work/life integration acknowledgment which looks at the achievement of balance at another level.

We have evolved with a more diverse population as a whole into a world made smaller by a global economy. Enhanced communication technology and improved travel has resulted in worldwide mergers and acquisitions. For many, trying to slow down uncontrollable increased responsibilities and distractions has become an all-consuming challenge.

With this perpetual change there is one thing that continues to stay the same. It is the desire of people to feel a sense of control while maintaining and sustaining some measure of self-esteem. Alphonse Karr said in 1849, "The more things change, the more they remain the same." This may apply more today than it did in 1849.

We have begun to see a thirst for finding a way to get the most out of everything we do while finding a way to enjoy what we do at the same time. As much as things have changed over the last thirty years, both socially and in the business environment, basic individual needs have not changed. Purpose, enjoyment of others, and responsibilities with redeeming value are still high priorities.

We are constantly told that the value system has been overturned and that ruthlessness and deceit have replaced respect, integrity, and a good work ethic. Nothing could be further from the truth.

We are continually fed through headlines in print, the Internet, and on television news that doing the right thing the right way no longer applies. It is not true.

We are led to believe that the world is overrun with cynics, and that cynicism and skepticism are the new creed. We are led to believe that doubt should be the first reaction when interacting with another individual or when receiving any form of communication.

All of the above-mentioned phenomena may certainly have some basis, but this feeling of despair and acceptance will certainly not advance an individual's success in any facet of his or her life. Nor will it help you achieve any sense of enjoyment.

The messages in this book are not only important individually. Practicing them as a whole will help produce long-lasting relationships, purpose, and success in every facet of your life.

There is a way to approach work, home, your health, and to appreciate yourself along with others. There is a way to get through the obstacles and challenges and circumstances that you face on a daily basis and come out on top. There is a way to continually move forward and attain a higher level of satisfaction. There is a way to build a network that opens more opportunities than you could ever imagine. There is a way to get in control and get the most out of life.

The next fifteen chapters are a brief and viable summary of the approaches and values you can use to achieve more enjoyment in everything you do. They will help you gain a sense of control in a world that on the surface seems to be twirling out of control. The 15 Ways discussed in these chapters will also help you better achieve collaboration in the work environment, along with aiding in the creation of a better micro-work environment.

A Positive Perspective

A positive perspective does not insure success; it improves learning, which is a prerequisite to success

Have you ever been around people who see the negative in everything? The first thing you will notice, beyond them being a great prophesier when it comes to their own destiny, is that most people do not enjoy being near them. It is no coincidence that their "sky is falling" mentality always turns out to be true for them. The reason for the sky always falling is that they self-consciously do everything they can to make sure things fall apart — and as such, they do.

If these negative-thinking individuals put as much thought and effort into focusing on positive achievement, they might be amazed at the good results they achieved. The first Way to Take Control of Your Destiny in Business and Life is to have a positive perspective.

This key Way can lead to better collaboration because most people enjoy working closely with people who bring a positive perspective to any project or discussion.

As a general manager in a growing industry for many years, I had a market manager who reported to me who used negativity to the limit in his perspective. When I would make my weekly call to him or visit him for a few days, his negative view on how things were going or...