March 2014
Beating the Madness!
There are truly only a few sporting events that where even the most non-involved and clueless become true diehards. March Madness is one of those, but only when referring to “the whole grail” – the bracket pool. I don’t know of anyone who doesn’t fill out a bracket (some more than one, or maybe even 2)! Even I, who hates, betting or competing will at least guess and fill one out!  The real issue becomes, how do you put together a WINNING bracket?
Here are a few tips from a novice, but that I have understood to be true and quite helpful (better late than never since we’re heading into the sweet 16, but definitely will have you ahead of the game for next year!). Most people regardless of college attendance or not, most likely have a favorite team.  They have probably followed them throughout their season and feel fairly confident they know the team’s stats. The reality is that more likely than not their favorite team is most likely not going to “win it all”. There are exceptions, the higher “your team” is seeded, the greater the likelihood for them to make a run at it.
Facebook Users: Friendly and Trusting
Are you an average social networker? If so, you have about 229 Facebook friends, according to a recent Pew study, Social Networking Sites and Our Lives.
Just who are these “friends?” The average list includes:
• High school friends: 22 percent
• Extended family:12 percent
• Co-workers:10 percent
• College friends: 9 percent
Immediate family: 8 percent
• Voluntary groups: 7 percent
• Neighbors: 2 percent
And chances are you trust these people, and people in general. The study found that “a Facebook user who uses the site multiple times per day is 43 percent more likely than other Internet users and more than three times as likely as non-Internet users to feel that most people can be trusted.”
Only those who will risk going too far can possibly find out how far one can go.
—T. S. Eliot
The Perfect Solution
How do you address dilemmas in your life? Is there a way to find a solution to two conflicting problems?
An employer once offered the following scenario to some candidates for an important job:“You are driving along in your car on a wild, stormy night. You pass by a bus stop, and you see three people waiting for the bus: One is an old woman who’s obviously very ill; another is a close friend who once saved your life; the third is the perfect mate you’ve been looking for your whole life. What do you do?”

The options are obvious: You could pick up the old woman and possibly save her life; you could offer a ride to your friend to repay him (or her) for once having saved you; or you could invite your perfect mate because you may never find him or her again.
The best candidate gave this answer: “I would give the car keys to my friend and ask him take the old woman to the hospital. Then I’d stay behind and wait for the bus with the woman of my dreams.”
Learn how to brand yourself—all smart managers are doing it
A smart manager understands the concept of ‘branding’—and why it works—and has learned that employees will work harder when they are acknowledged, appreciated, and understood.
What happens when you walk into a room?

  • Are you aware of how your employees see you?
  • Do you know how your employees experience you?
  • Have you taken the time to create a successful brand of yourself?
A smart manager understands the concept of “branding”—and why it works—and has learned that employees will work harder when they are acknowledged, appreciated, and understood.
Here are some questions managers must ask themselves:

  • What is your brand?
  • How do you present yourself to employees?
  • Are you able to easily influence others?
  • Have you developed a reputation that is admired, respected, and trusted?
To be respected, admired, trusted, and promoted in the business world, it’s important that managerscreate trustworthy brands for themselves.
Yes, just like Starbucks or Target or any other corporation, a smart manager creates a brand that is easily recognized by all. If you want to get the most from your employees, you must learn how to sell yourself—and all the qualities you possess—and turn those qualities into your own living brand.
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