Job Killing You?

Readers Digest in their January 2008 issue has an article titled "Is Your Job Killing You?"  The article focuses on how high stress can bring about a heart attack.  People who are returning from the holidays to super-stressful jobs are at serious risk, particularly if they have already had one heart attack.  Canadian researchers tracked 972 people for six years after their first attack.  When those people returned to a high-stress job they experienced a second heart attack twice as often during the following two years as less-stressed workers.

Their advice is to try to avoid or prevent stress before it intensifies.  As I recommend in Sanctuary, they suggest some exercise or even seriously considering entering a cardiac rehab program.

Some of the quick tips Dr. Mehmet C. Oz in the article recommends include taking your stress out on a small ball such as a squeeze ball.  Throw it, bounce it, squeeze it and play with it until you feel better.  Give yourself a mini massage by taking your shoes off and rubbing your feet, bending your toes, ankles and arches to ease tension.  Or you can massage her hands.  Leave the office for some time or reflection.  And lastly, maybe get some flowers for your desk.

I won’t be writing another blog entry until January 2.  Have a wonderful Christmas and a Happy New Year!

P.U.R.E.

How PURE is your hiring?  P.U.R.E. stands for Previously Undetected Recruiting Errors according to someone I was speaking with this week.

I’ve got some one new client lately who is experiencing great surprise when a new hire is starting.  Their behaviors are not what was expected.  Of course, this client is NOT using our Talent Assessments.  If he was, then he would have a much better understanding of what to expect.

Another client has 1/3 of their workforce unmotivated and a possible flight risk.  Once again, they need to leverage our Talent Assessments to learn how to better engage their people.

This is one time in life where you to NOT want to be PURE.  Purchase our Talent Assessments get us involved in your hiring process.  If you hire 50 people this year and we save you from one bad hire, then you have paid for the entire cost of the assessments AND you will save yourself hundreds of hours and additional money wasted on hires that do not work out.

A Step in the Right Direction

Shareholders to vote on top Aflac execs’ pay is the title of an article in the Money section of USA Today yesterday.  It explains how Aflac will become the first public corporation in America to allow shareholders to approve or disapprove their company’s executive pay.

This is a step in the right direction, although it falls far short of my recommended simple solution for executive pay on October 15th of this year.

The problem is the Aflac vote is non-binding.  If the shareholders vote says the company is paying too much there is only a commitment to sit down with major shareholders and see what changes they would like to recommend.

Change is coming in America involving executive pay.  It going to take years, but let’s keep the heat on.

Don’t Worry

Do we worry too much at work?

We are having a great year and we have a number of large projects pending that can positively change the lives of thousands of people.  I think about these opportunities a lot.  You might call it worry.

I am involved with a small group of men in a spiritual transformation group, led by Father Thomas of the St. Columba Church and Retreat House in Inverness, California.  Last week when we met Father Thomas encouraged us to occasionally open our Bible randomly to read a passage of Scripture that comes to us first.  It is typically only a few verses.  His premise is this gives the Lord an opportunity to speak to us through that passage.  It’s an interesting exercise and not as random as fortune telling.  One reason is the Bible does speak to our lives, whether as a person of faith or a casual reader.  It is a book of historical stories that provide a perspective on how to live life.

I have three places where I have inserted notes or prayer lists in my Bible.  Yesterday morning I opened my Bible intending to open it to one of the places with notes.  Usually I do this with no problem, however, yesterday I was surprised to open my Bible to a passage on worry (Matthew 6:25-34).  Being reminded of Father Thomas’ encouragement rather than turn the pages to where I had originally intended to go, I read and Reflected on that passage.  I have been worrying a bit because I am so passionate about the projects we have pending.  And of course, as a parent, I can feel a burden for my kids and other family members who are facing some of life’s challenges.

It was a good time of study and Reflection.  Then I went on in my day.

At 9:52 a.m. I received an email from a good friend of mine, Carl Lundgren (sent from HomeWord).  I’ve heard this message before from a secular study.  See most of Carl’s email below.

Lessons from Brother Jeremiah

Author: Jim Burns, Ph.D.

Parents, one of the greatest legacies you can leave your children is the gift of knowing how to keep life in perspective - become time goes by so fast!  Brother Jeremiah provides us with some thoughts that can help us maintain the life perspective we all need!

As a family read the short story below and then discuss your feelings about what author learned from his experience

Brother Jeremiah was at the end of his life when he reflected on his many years of Christian service and wrote:

If I had my life to live over again, I’d try to make more mistakes next time. I would relax. I would limber up. I would be sillier than I have been this trip. I know of very few things I would take seriously. I would take more trips. I would climb more mountains, swim more rivers, and watch more sunsets. I would do more walking and looking. I would eat more ice cream and less beans. I would have more actual troubles and fewer imaginary ones. 

You see, I am one of those people who live prophylactically and sensibly and sanely, hour after hour, day after day. Oh, I’ve had my moments and if I had it to do over again, I’d have more of them. In fact, I’d try to have nothing else. Just moments, one after another, instead of living so many years ahead each day. I have been one of those people who never go anywhere without a thermometer, aspirin, and a parachute. If I had it to do over again, I would go places, do things, and travel lighter than I have. 

If I had my life to live over, I would start barefooted earlier in the spring and stay that way later in the fall. I would play more. I would ride on more merry-go-rounds. I’d pick more daises. 

How does your family rate? (Have each family member answer these questions and then discuss the answers.)

1. Does our family have enough play time?
2. If I were to die today I would look back and say “I wish our family would have ________________ more.”
3. What regrets might you have years from now about how your family spends its time? As a family make a plan so that there are no regrets in the years to come.

Is this a coincidence?  I doubt it, but you are welcome to have your own opinion.  I encourage you to Reflect on whether you are worrying too much in your life.  To demonstrate true leadership, maybe there are some adjustments to make.  Maybe we can help you leverage the Success With People system to manage your time better.

Don’t worry… be happy (as the old song goes).  Have a GREAT day!