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Name of author Rick Baker, P.Eng.

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Thought Tweet #628

by Rick Baker
On Dec 12, 2012

Thought Tweet #628 Problems wave eagerly at me...huge flags of action & opportunity.

 

The Thinking Behind The Tweet

Some leaders take every day and situation as it comes...with a strong belief they can handle things as those things arise.

Some leaders are risk identifiers & risk managers. Problems jump out at them, waving huge flags. Sometimes the flags are red; sometimes the flags are green; always, the flags demand attention and thought.

To some degree, the differences in leaders are innate, 'natural-born' differences. To some degree, the differences are planned, developed skills & strengths.

Link to some thoughts on optimism vs pessimism.

 

 

Thought Tweet #610

by Rick Baker
On Nov 16, 2012

Thought Tweet #610 We ought to avoid the "Negative Society"

 

The Thinking Behind The Tweet

We can choose to avoid or choose to limit our exposure to negative situations, experiences, and people.

Bad news does not have to make good news.

Criticism has no right to reign.

Nero should not have fiddled while Rome burned.

Thought Tweet #598

by Rick Baker
On Oct 31, 2012

Thought Tweet #598 If you're in the dark, don't make light of things.


The Thinking Behind The Tweet

Optimism, Pessimism, & Realism... how do you find the right overall balance and the right strategy for the situation at hand?

Some thoughts:

  1. Overall, be Optimistic: look for the bright side, consider the possibilities, be around and listen to others who are enthusiastic. Optimists live happier lives.
  2. Place realistic bounds on Optimism. Despite what they say about big, hairy audacious goals - BHAGs are not for everyone. And, often, over-zealous optimism injures other people.
  3. Pessimism demotivates. If you are naturally pessimistic...think before your share your views and your body language.
  4. Leaders - anticipate situations. And plan for situations...of course not all situations - but some. Recognize some people handle stress well and some folks handle stress poorly.

 

What a Negative Mob out there!

by Rick Baker
On Oct 23, 2012

There's a lot of negative stuff out there!

Bad news makes good news. Bad news sells. Crimes and unfortunate accidents get lots of air time. It seems we receive news in a ratio of 5 doses of bad news for each dose of good news.

The reality TV craze shows us an unending string of personal difficulty: interventions, biggest losers, mental illness, fallen celebrities, and workplace dysfunction. As we are exposed to all these poor folks, those less fortunates, we receive regular breaks in the form of TV commercials. The TV commercials show us many new remedies for regular aches and pains and also many new physical and mental diseases we have never heard of. Some of the remedy side-effects described in these commercials are mind-numbing. And, the rule seems to be 'no statement of a long list of nasty side effects then call your doctor'. In effect, we are being trained to contact our doctors to request medications for ailments that people choose not to name on TV. Negative stuff!

Video games and movies, thanks to exceptional special effects and relaxed regulation, are delivering buckets full of violence, blood, & gore.

We live in a continuous bombardment of readily-available information.

And, those who deliver that bombardment make sure it contains a very heavy dose of negative stuff.

Over time, the assault of the Negative Mob affects us...some more than others.

Tags:

Attitude: Creating Positive Attitude | Beyond Business | Optimism & Pessimism

Thought Tweet #577

by Rick Baker
On Oct 2, 2012

Thought Tweet #577 Give credit where credit is due...and make your payments too.

 

The Thinking Behind The Tweet

Realism: Lack of money is the root of lots of evil.

Pessimism: if you receive a pat on the back, check to make sure your wallet is still in its place.

Optimism: the cheque's in the mail.

Tags:

Humour | Optimism & Pessimism | Thought Tweets

Optimistic to a fault...

by Rick Baker
On Sep 28, 2012

Many entrepreneurs are optimistic to a fault. This is a common side-effect of an entrepreneurial spirit and it is encouraged by expert advice that goes something like: throw caution to the wind and have big, hairy audacious goals. Success, if achieved too quickly and without enough struggle, can also fan the flames of unrealistic entrepreneurial expectations.

Entrepreneurs' unrealistic expectations can fuel all sorts of business problems. Business problems are to be expected; it is impossible to build without encountering problems; it is impossible to grow without struggle.

Regardless, certain types of business problems are unreasonable, unnecessary, and counterproductive. Certain types of business problems make work...actually, they make fake work. These problems take the form of distractions, fire-fights, and wild goose chases.

Distractions: Regardless of claims to the contrary, people do a poor job of multi-tasking. Focus and concentration are important facets of work-action and distractions reduce both. So, distractions increase errors, which lead to fix-up work, inefficiency and ineffectiveness.

Fire-fights: Few people excel during workplace emergencies. Strings of workplace emergencies - extended fire-fighting actions - create excessive stress and bad decisions. People change when they experience stress...they really change when that stress is sustained over long periods of time.

Wild Goose Chases: Some people are optimistic to a fault. They believe anything and everything is possible. They place ill-conceived demands on others without consideration of the human reactions linked to those demands. They de-spirit people.

Distractions, fire-fights, and wild goose chases are unnecessary problems in business.

When these unnecessary problems are caused by the owner-entrepreneur...well, that's inexcusable.

Tags:

Entrepreneur Thinking | Optimism & Pessimism | Solutions & Opportunities

Copyright © 2012. W.F.C (Rick) Baker. All Rights Reserved.