bachelorette should use her work skills when weeding through the candidates!

The social media-savvy Bachelorette Ali Fedotowsky should follow her brain as well as her heart when weeding through the potential husband candidates. The way I look at it, it’s a similar process as finding the perfect new employee or client.

You have to force yourself be keenly judgmental, observant, and analytical, but above all, be true to yourself and your instincts.

1. How do they speak about previous relationships? You wouldn’t hire someone who spoke harshly about their previous employer without taking any blame; why would you want to be around someone who talks negatively about previous love interests? It shows immaturity, lack of responsibility or a love of gossip. Either way, move on, Ali!

2. Enthusiasm and passion. You have FIFTY guys in the house. It’s time to go big or go home. To prove they are here for you, they need to be assertive and not afraid to politely ask to speak with you in private to get one-on-one time. The ones who get kicked off and complain like whiny babies because they “didn’t get enough time” are just using their time unwisely or being a pushover to more eager-to-meet-Ali guys.

3. Just because someone looks great on paper doesn’t mean they will work in the long-term. If there is something about them that irks you, don’t wait to second-guess yourself, get them outta there! (It could be something as telling as their career choice, or as trivial as their lack of eye contact or annoying laugh.)

4. On the same note, have you ever met someone, thought you knew them, but then met their friends and were completely shocked at how much you must have misjudged them? Friends and contacts of a person can explain a lot about a person’s lifestyle and interests. Ali is a social butterfly in real life and needs a man who can keep up and get along great with other guys. She should steer clear of drama-causers and attention-getters who care more about TV appearances than quality time. And when she hits hometowns, she should specifically ask to meet their group of friends to see if she can envision a life in that circle of friends.

5. Communication skills are a must! While they may be a good match on dates in exotic faraway lands, Ali needs to evaluate whether each potential husband shares her values and holds her interest on a boring night at home. I know the show would drop ratings if they had do more “normal people” things like grocery shopping, cooking at home or working out, but these are situations that tell a lot about a person’s compatibility and character. If it’s raining, does he drop you off and then park the car? Does he like to cook or order take-out every night? Is he a remote control hog and/or a weekends-dedicated-to-sports-only kind of guy? And if so, does that bother her? What does he REALLY like to do in his free time? (Or is he a workaholic like her?)

These are just a few quick things off the top of my head. I was rooting for Ali last season, but I think she played her cards right for a [strategic] second chance at love. It’s always more fun to be in the driver’s seat.

At a risk of sounding like a straight-to-DVD Nancy Drew movie title, I often wonder what the deal is with the famous sub shop and its fickle apostrophe.

The teensy little punctuation mark is small in size, but immensely powerful in its ability to completely alter a word’s meaning. Rumor has it the yummy sandwich used to be officially called “Quizno’s,” so perhaps some of them still have old signs they have yet to replace.

Not sure about the rest of the country, but in Florida, I have seen large shop signs for “Quiznos Sub,” “Quizno’s Sub,” and even a “Quiznos Subs.”

Does the company offer franchises the freedom to choose, or do the owners just not get the memo passed down from corporate?

What do you think – is Quiznos an extremely flexible company, or negligent (perhaps apathetic) when it comes to brand consistency?

Everyone has a ‘final straw’ moment: mine was when I rushed to check my bombarded e-mail, spilled coffee on my desk, and nearly drenched a pile of papers that had been eagerly anticipating some highlighter and red pen action all week. Poor papers – they weren’t getting action that day, either.

Strong organizational skills take time, practice, and unfortunately do not come easily for many right-brainers. Even though they tend to need it the most, with certain traits (supposedly) linked to Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD). 

Everyone tackles daily tasks in their own unique way; however, there may be some tactics to help channel your creativity and organize your workflow. 

The Action Method is an intuitive approach to productivity, designed to help creative thinkers push their ideas into action. Based on the power of capturing and managing “Action Steps” (tasks you need to complete), Action Method ensures nothing falls through the cracks, and ideas are accomplished.

Ikea and Office Max have tons of trendy items to spruce up your workspace. For those who don’t feel like getting up from their computer, the possibilities are endless.

Fun ways to organize your desk:

http://www.jarsofcute.com/2009/03/modern-desk-organizers/

http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=965

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=22368294

http://www.organizedliving.com/category/office/desk+accessories.do

When organizing your desk, you may come across old ideas that never lifted off the ground. Don’t be too hard on yourself. As my friend and colleague Steve Spalding noted in his recent book, All the Little Things, “There isn’t just one good idea or five or ten, there are an infinite number of good implementations and it is up to us to recognize that our job is not to find the diamond in the rough, but to find the perfect fit for us. The idea that lines up with our strengths and uses our talents to their best advantage.”

There are also many other gems in the above book – please check it out and let me know if these ideas help harness your thoughts and take action. Get back creative control from your own worst enemy…yourself.

Our attention is completely and utterly divided these days.

thanks ikea, for awesome pic

If you are married or in a relationship, face it.

Some days you spend more time with your laptop/phone/twitter whale/TV remote/ [insert other technological device] then you do with your significant other.

We read while we eat, we write while we listen to music, and we even talk while we drive (unfortunately). In fact, right at this very moment while I am writing this, I am also paying my bills online and chatting away online.

A.D.D.? Maybe. Isn’t there another word for it, though? Hmm…What was it…?

It actually used to be a “plus” on resumés and proudly announced in interviews along with its other buzz word pals, “team player” and “fast learner.” A glorious, responsible-sounding four-syllable word.

Ah yes, now I remember. Multitasker.

Now when I hear it, it reminds me of sharp, overly long nails pounding on a keyboard, or a silver spoon clanking against a cereal bowl. Not appealing at all.

Multitasking is absolutely necessary to keep up with the news and information that snowballs every day. From actual breaking news like the Hudson River incident to trivial virals that make people giggle like “Thumb Boy,” there is complete information overload –should you choose to accept it.

Multitasking is so completely engrained in our daily routines. With the unstable economy, employers have been asking employees to wear more hats than usual. Ten job descriptions now cram into a single position. Priorities shift and stuff slides, sometimes off the desk and into the trash can.

My point being: pretty much everyone should be able to call themselves a full-fledged, law abiding citizen of multitasking county. It’s a no-brainer; it’s a given. Some say part of a survival tactic few years ago in which you either swam or sunk into the hole with the other ten people who don’t know what Twitter is or how one can survive without a landline phone.

What employers should start asking, or start looking for is not the ability for prospective employees to multitask, but the ability for employees to actually Focus. On. One. Single. Task. At. Hand.

Can they get the job done, exceed expectations with a great attitude AND maybe complete the assignment before the initial project due date? Can they bring more pros/cons and insight to the table, leaving plenty of time for revisions and edits? Do they hit every possible story or design angle, uncover every stone or financial obstacle and communicate potential problems and prepare backup plans? Do they exhaust all resources to confirm the assignment is “the best they can do,” each and every single time? These wonderful qualities are all side effects of the person’s stellar ability to purely focus.

(P.S. It’s amazing how many times someone will hesitate, then go back to their desk to redo an assignment when you innocently ask, “so, this is the best you can do, right?” My old boss used to do it to me all the time – trained me well!)

So, as you can clearly see, I have come to think of multitasking as the nemesis of focus. Multitasking whispers evily in focus’s ear, “psst-have you checked facebook today? Maybe someone commented on your status.”

It can’t hurt to make a to-do list in the morning, whether you enjoy scratching through items on good old fashioned paper or prefer Google tasks and dashboard stickies. Turning your IM message to away, letting the office manager know you are busy and shutting your door also helps give the hint that you are busy and just may help reduce distractions.

Helpful sites:

http://www.davecheong.com/2006/08/14/18-ways-to-stay-focused-at-work/

http://www.dumblittleman.com/2007/09/how-to-focus-your-mind-on-project.html

http://www.care2.com/greenliving/8-tips-to-focus-your-mind-how-to.html

http://www.myprivatecoach.com/myPrivateCoach/articles/Tips_Focus_Coach_free.php

http://blogs.bnet.com/teamwork/?p=265

http://www.bizzia.com/slackermanager/5-practices-to-sharpen-your-focus-at-work/

No matter how many lists I throw at you, it may not help. Everyone has their own unique way of getting into their focus zone. Try out a few things and once you find what works, stick with it.

I have worked on it a lot and now I am almost too focused at work. Unfortunately, I get so into my work that I almost forget to eat or use the restroom! I am super competitive though, and like to get things done fast – see my previous post for more info on prepping your brain for quick thinking.

I’d love to hear your thoughts and comments on the subject. How do you focus at work and resist the urge to do a million other things at the same time?

The competition is fierce out there, no matter what your industry.

From designing an illustrious billboard or scripting a masterpiece of a press release, to innovatively cutting [the right] corners so you stay “in the black” this quarter… one thing remains certain: creativity is a must-have these days, not a luxury.

Creativity block?

Ever leave a brainstorming meeting in the morning, only to have your mind flooded with great ideas later that day, when you are cruising with the windows down and music blasting? It’s just as inevitable as thinking of the perfect ‘comeback’ to a bully an hour after he leaves. Sometimes, it’s unavoidable. But other times, you may be able to tinker with fate by psyching yourself out long enough to plan a preemptive “creativity block” attack.

Try this:

When a client or supervisor requests a brainstorming appointment, request a meeting agenda prior to discussing the project at least three days in advance. Think about the basic project goals for a few minutes, stew over the concepts, and then force it out of your mind. Chances are, random yet relevant ideas will creep their way into your head a day or two later. Whether you were triggered by a song on the radio, the latest reddit post, or a snide comment your barista spewed this a.m., you’ll still have plenty of time to structure your thoughts and prep for the meeting.

While I want to save some good stuff for later, it’s been way too long since I made a lovely list. And I love lists. So, below are a few classic creative quickies:

- Poem journals
- Dream notebooks
- Visual storyboards – Joe Duffy-style http://www.duffy.com/
- Making a home made gift for someone you love (extra points if you have never attempted that particular item before.) I am trying a blanket right now, and so far it’s me: zero, needles: 57. But it will be worth it.  And also recently, created my first YouTube-esque video that is a spoof of a favorite spoof. Just think of the thing that person is very excited about at the moment, pop culture or otherwise, and see how you can “make it your own.”
- Balderdash or Scattergories. These games get your mind going like no other. Don’t knock ‘em til you’ve tried ‘em.
- Reading Shock Therapy. If you typically swoon over Nicholas Sparks romance novels, try to get a thirst for Twilight. If you usually dig humor books like Stephen Colbert, see how quickly you can solve a mystery novel. Switch it up as often as you switch shampoos, and you may be pleased with your shiny new ideas
- Attend those cocktail hours or movie nights that are slightly out of your inner circle. Before declining, ask yourself “why not?” You can learn something new and inspiring every day, if you pay attention. Often in the least likely of people.
- Take a mini notebook attached with a pen with you everywhere. I mean, everywhere. Recently, I captured an idea while cycling at the gym. Had I not recorded it then and there, it may have escaped entirely, since we tend to second guess ourselves about what is “worth” saving or repeating. If you keep your random ideas in this little notebook, you can refer back to it from time to time.

Intimidated that you won’t be able to top your last victory? Thanks to Zen Habits, I found this insightful video on Elizabeth Gilbert, author of Eat, Pray, Love. The last half is my favorite:
Elizbeth Gilbert on Nurturing Creativity on TED, Zen Habits

Ironically, a little bit of insomnia and this post topic inspired the concept of a regular AMUSEing Fridays ~ Weekly Creativity Ideas piece. Here’s to hoping it’s a good omen!

I have pages, doodles and post-its filled with creativity musings, but please feel free to share your own comments, thoughts and musings on the subject.