Scraps of Wisdom. . .

Part I

Scraps of Wisdom
Business Truisms & Advice for those who toil in corporate world!

. . .lost wisdom gathered by Laura Bergells

Scraps of Wisdom. . . Part I

First Scrap
Its surprisingly easy to give a short oral presentation or even write an entire newsletter article, using only one of the following scraps. Give it a try. . . Use my scraps to jump start a story from your own life.

. . .lost wisdom gathered by Laura Bergells

Scraps of Wisdom. . . Part I

Its Like Tarot. . .

Take this presentation to a creative brainstorming meeting. Shuffle the deck and have people give a one minute story about the scrap they pulled.

. . .lost wisdom gathered by Laura Bergells

Scraps of Wisdom. . . Part I

Let the Scrapping Begin!

Click to begin. . . .

. . .lost wisdom gathered by Laura Bergells

Scraps of Wisdom. . . Part I

Effort does not Equal Results

Beware of shallow vision statements like: Effort Equals Results & Pride in our People. When selecting a company to work with, look for depth & intelligence, not slogans.
. . .lost wisdom gathered by Laura Bergells

Scraps of Wisdom. . . Part I

Effort does not equal Results

Working long hours doesnt prove anything without results.

. . .lost wisdom gathered by Laura Bergells

Scraps of Wisdom. . . Part I

Effort does not equal Results

Dont work for a company where you are paid for effort. Work where you are recognized for results.

. . .lost wisdom gathered by Laura Bergells

Scraps of Wisdom. . . Part I

Effort Does Not Equal Results.

If you spend all of your time at work, you are not hard-working. You are boring.

. . .lost wisdom gathered by Laura Bergells

Scraps of Wisdom. . . Part I

Effort Does not Equal Results

Do not work on weekends. Do not work more than 40 hours per week. Remember, we advanced technology so that we would have more time to evolve our consciousness.

. . .lost wisdom gathered by Laura Bergells

Scraps of Wisdom. . . Part I

Effort does not equal results

A happy employee doesnt necessarily make a good employee, but a good employee is a happy employee. Focus your efforts on good work.

. . .lost wisdom gathered by Laura Bergells

Scraps of Wisdom. . . Part I

Clients
Always learn about your customers, no matter what your job is.

. . .lost wisdom gathered by Laura Bergells

Scraps of Wisdom. . . Part I

Secretaries
Be nice to secretaries. Their job description, essentially, is to help people. Make it easy for secretaries to do their jobs.

. . .lost wisdom gathered by Laura Bergells

Scraps of Wisdom. . . Part I

Bosses
Dont let your guard down around your boss. Ever.

. . .lost wisdom gathered by Laura Bergells

Scraps of Wisdom. . . Part I

Overheard Compliments
Compliment somebody behind their back. Compliments heard secondhand have more credibility with the intended recipient.

. . .lost wisdom gathered by Laura Bergells

Scraps of Wisdom. . . Part I

Overheard Compliments
Compliment somebody everyday. Period.

. . .lost wisdom gathered by Laura Bergells

Scraps of Wisdom. . . Part I

Overheard Compliments
Everybody responds to flattery.

. . .lost wisdom gathered by Laura Bergells

Scraps of Wisdom. . . Part I

Simplify
Simplify everything. Your life, your home, your office, your desk, your processes, vision, policy, procedures. Everything.

. . .lost wisdom gathered by Laura Bergells

Scraps of Wisdom. . . Part I

Solutions
Dont take a problem to a meeting without a solution. Your job is to fix problems, not complain.

. . .lost wisdom gathered by Laura Bergells

Scraps of Wisdom. . . Part I

Change
Believe that change can happen.

. . .lost wisdom gathered by Laura Bergells

Scraps of Wisdom. . . Part I

Victory
There are no defeats. What some people see as defeat is actually a valuable learning experience. And that, as any cheerleader knows, is a victory.

. . .lost wisdom gathered by Laura Bergells

Scraps of Wisdom. . . Part I

Waiting
When waiting in a lobby, dont just sit. Explore, read, talk - - - use this time to learn.

. . .lost wisdom gathered by Laura Bergells

Scraps of Wisdom. . . Part I

Shoes
Wear comfortable yet attractive shoes. Keep them clean at all times.

. . .lost wisdom gathered by Laura Bergells

Scraps of Wisdom. . . Part I

Telephone Numbers
Carry important phone numbers with you at all times.

. . .lost wisdom gathered by Laura Bergells

Scraps of Wisdom. . . Part I

Deadlines
Dont be late. Apologize if you are, and be prepared to accept consequences.

. . .lost wisdom gathered by Laura Bergells

Scraps of Wisdom. . . Part I

Missives from on High

Re-organization memos grandly outline sweeping changes in the company. Remember the adage, same old horses, same old glue.

. . .lost wisdom gathered by Laura Bergells

Scraps of Wisdom. . . Part I

Missives from on High

Vision and mission statements are not nearly as important as knowing what to do when you show up for work.

. . .lost wisdom gathered by Laura Bergells

Scraps of Wisdom. . . Part I

Missives from on High

Executive memos are political fantasies. They have little to do with reality. Real change is always due to an outside force.

. . .lost wisdom gathered by Laura Bergells

Scraps of Wisdom. . . Part I

Missives from on High

Employees always know whats really going on. The internal information in an executive memo is hardly a surprise. The rumors are usually true.

. . .lost wisdom gathered by Laura Bergells

Scraps of Wisdom. . . Part I

Missives from on High

The business should shape the organization, not the other way around.

. . .lost wisdom gathered by Laura Bergells

Scraps of Wisdom. . . Part I

Missives from on High

Real activity takes place between the lines in the org chart.

. . .lost wisdom gathered by Laura Bergells

Scraps of Wisdom. . . Part I

Office
Stay out of the office as much as you can. Be with customers or prospects.

. . .lost wisdom gathered by Laura Bergells

Scraps of Wisdom. . . Part I

Washroom
Dont be seen taking magazines into the executive washroom.

. . .lost wisdom gathered by Laura Bergells

Scraps of Wisdom. . . Part I

Washroom
Beware of a false sense of importance. When you think youre too busy to use the washroom, ask yourself if two minutes of work is really worth risking your health.

. . .lost wisdom gathered by Laura Bergells

Scraps of Wisdom. . . Part I

Time
Treat time as if someone is paying you for your contribution. Someone is.

. . .lost wisdom gathered by Laura Bergells

Scraps of Wisdom. . . Part I

Business Cards
Carry business cards with you at all times. Give them out freely.

. . .lost wisdom gathered by Laura Bergells

Scraps of Wisdom. . . Part I

Phone Calls
Never leave a phone call unanswered for more than 24 hours.

. . .lost wisdom gathered by Laura Bergells

Scraps of Wisdom. . . Part I

Clothes
Wear timeless, classic clothes. Wool, silk and cotton are natural favorites.

. . .lost wisdom gathered by Laura Bergells

Scraps of Wisdom. . . Part I

Ambiguity
Life is uncertain develop a high tolerance for ambiguity.

. . .lost wisdom gathered by Laura Bergells

Scraps of Wisdom. . . Part I

Ambiguity
Avoid dotted-line reporting relationships.

. . .lost wisdom gathered by Laura Bergells

Scraps of Wisdom. . . Part I

Brainstorming
Write down your best ideas before they get lost in the shuffle of all the good ideas!

. . .lost wisdom gathered by Laura Bergells

Scraps of Wisdom. . . Part I

Brainstorming
Dont tell people that their ideas are bad, especially if you dont have a better one.

. . .lost wisdom gathered by Laura Bergells

Scraps of Wisdom. . . Part I

Acronyms
1. Dont use acronyms. 2. Dont invent any more!

. . .lost wisdom gathered by Laura Bergells

Scraps of Wisdom. . . Part I

Strategy
Never say, Its not my job.

. . .lost wisdom gathered by Laura Bergells

Scraps of Wisdom. . . Part I

Presentations
If you want to lose your audience, show them slides with columns of numbers. Refuse to tell them a story about the meaning of the numbers.

. . .lost wisdom gathered by Laura Bergells

Scraps of Wisdom. . . Part I

Presentations
Do not read your speech or presentation. Instead, read your audience.

. . .lost wisdom gathered by Laura Bergells

Scraps of Wisdom. . . Part I

Meetings
Do not attend more than two meetings a day, or else you will never get any real work done.

. . .lost wisdom gathered by Laura Bergells

Scraps of Wisdom. . . Part I

Office
Leave the office building at least once a day.

. . .lost wisdom gathered by Laura Bergells

Scraps of Wisdom. . . Part I

Paradox
Manage the paradox of being fully committed to where you are, while remaining open to other opportunities.

. . .lost wisdom gathered by Laura Bergells

Scraps of Wisdom. . . Part I

Acronyms
If TQM, CIP, CRM or any other new acronym doesnt produce measureable results within a year, dump it.

. . .lost wisdom gathered by Laura Bergells

Scraps of Wisdom. . . Part I

Success
The most interesting people I know are successful.

. . .lost wisdom gathered by Laura Bergells

Scraps of Wisdom. . . Part I

Problems
Work on problems, not symptoms. Morale is never a problem, it is always a symptom. No company should ever have a morale officer. If they do, its a sign that they are going down the toilet.

. . .lost wisdom gathered by Laura Bergells

Scraps of Wisdom. . . Part I

Hobbies
Try to make your hobby your lifes work.

. . .lost wisdom gathered by Laura Bergells

Scraps of Wisdom. . . Part I

Performance Evaluations
Performance evaluations take place every day, not once a year.

. . .lost wisdom gathered by Laura Bergells

Scraps of Wisdom. . . Part I

The Company Party

Part I: Always attend the company party. (sigh) Part II: Never get drunk at the company party. (sigh)

. . .lost wisdom gathered by Laura Bergells

Scraps of Wisdom. . . Part I

The Company Party

Be specific when you order a drink. Name the label.

. . .lost wisdom gathered by Laura Bergells

Scraps of Wisdom. . . Part I

Speaker Phone
A conference call, driving, or a broken neck are the only 3 reasons for you to use a speaker phone.

. . .lost wisdom gathered by Laura Bergells

Scraps of Wisdom. . . Part I

Manners
Dont treat people as if they have died when they get laid off.

. . .lost wisdom gathered by Laura Bergells

Scraps of Wisdom. . . Part I

Power
Lord Acton was wrong. Power doesnt corrupt. The illusion of power is the result of corruption.

. . .lost wisdom gathered by Laura Bergells

Scraps of Wisdom. . . Part I

Nepotism
The owner can produce children in his own image, but alas! These children have no light of their own. Together, parent and child hold the infinite reflection of opposing video cams. Tunnel Vision.

. . .lost wisdom gathered by Laura Bergells

Scraps of Wisdom. . . Part I

Advertising
Being creative is merely compulsory. In advertising, the audience is essential and the offer is everything.

. . .lost wisdom gathered by Laura Bergells

Scraps of Wisdom. . . Part I

Advertising
Copy is King - Design is Queen. Together, they rule. Jingles and special effects are court jesters. They live to serve their masters.
. . .lost wisdom gathered by Laura Bergells

Scraps of Wisdom. . . Part I

About the Author. . .

Once upon a time, Laura Bergells worked at a bunch of corporations. Now, she works with people.
Need perspective?
Contact Laura Bergells. phone: 616-241-5195 email: laura@maniactive.com

. . .lost wisdom gathered by Laura Bergells