OVERINVEST IN PEOPLE by Jeffrey J. Fox from How to Become a CEO
Hire the best people. Attract, motivate, train, and reward the best people.

Companies that "save money" by only hiring people they can "afford" are headed to mediocrity in their industry…if they are not already there. It is better to hire one exceptional person at $60,000 than two average people at $25,000 each. Overinvest with emotional currency, as well. Give winners trust, independence, praise, freedom, encouragement.

Leaders of organizations know that people make things happen. They never forget this elemental truth. Without an army, a general is nothing. If the people in your organization support you, trust you, believe in you, and respect you, they will propel you to the top. But the people in the organization give back only what they get. They are mirror like reflectors. If trusted, they trust back. If respected, they respect back. Many executives fail because the other employees know their leader is insincere, dishonest, fearful or untrustworthy. People will accept intellectual, physical, cultural, even moral flaws in their leaders. But they will never accept an anti-people character.

Hire people according to the three "I’s":
"I" for integrity. First priority.
"I" for the "I can do it" attitude. Critical.
"I" for intelligence. If the person knows what they don’t know, or that they have to work 10 percent harder than a Ph.D., that’s intelligence enough.

Once you find this rare person, overinvest in her. She will know it and give you a great return on the investment.

People are not dumb. They are not in business to lose money or to make mistakes and enemies. All they need is a little wise investment.
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HIDDEN JOB MARKET SECRETS by Debra Feldman, the JobWhiz™
Networking is not just about finding a new career opportunity that isn't advertised. Networking is more than the hidden job market. Being an active, engaged professional is smart executive career planning. Networking can accelerate job hunting by bringing new challenges to a candidate's attention even before an employer officially acknowledges reorganization. Sometimes until a new resource is identified, no thought is given to a restructuring.. It all comes down to being at the right place at the right time. Thus, the more one networks and is connected, the greater the probability of a new career opportunities being made available through inside leads.

Relationships are key to successful networking. The trust and confidence that colleagues share play a major role in networking being an effective job search method. Credibility is definitely critical to a successful outcome for both the candidate and the employer. If a good relationship exists before the interest to collaborate, then the recruiting process is shorter, straighter and easier. In today's economy, the recruiting and hiring is often lengthy so making long term investments in good professional relationships can really pay off with a quicker hiring process for candidates already familiar with an organization and known to key company players. Moreover, the competition for openings is so fierce, that savvy networking may be the only way to win an advantage over the large numbers equally qualified candidates. If a prospective employee isn't networked, they are at a disadvantage.

What does it take for executives and professionals to succeed in the current environment?

1. Keep networking. If you recently completed a job search, stay in touch regularly with those you met. If you can't manage this, at least keep up with anyone with whom you felt a special affinity or sensed that you shared something in common.
2. The old school of long term employment, from graduation till retirement is a model that is out of date. Keep networking, because you are going to need these contacts to help you learn of new opportunities and vice versa.
3. Technology is changing at warp speed. To keep up with innovations and stay on the cutting edge, keep learning. Networking is an exchange of ideas and a learning experience. Keep networking.
4. The world runs on relationships. The more extensive and better quality your connections, the greater your advantage when it comes to finding out inside information, getting an early lead and being a part of the inner circle of knowledge. Keep networking.
5. In the final analysis, it is whom you know not just what you know that equals success. Stay in touch, be friendly, cooperate, and don't burn any bridges. Remember that networking is a two way street; it isn't called a circle of contacts for nothing. Keep networking.
6. While a large active network is advantageous, practicalities dictate how much time and effort can be devoted to being a good (see #5 above) networker. Be selective and cultivate relationships if they are better than average connections. Keep networking.
7. Establish networking as a priority. It is not just socializing. Information is exchanged that has value to both sides in the transaction. Keep networking.
8. Be on the lookout for ways to stay in touch finding relevant data to exchange, even an appropriate article, cartoon or person. Suggest that your network contact pass this along to their own network giving you exposure to their contacts that you don't know. Keep networking.
9. Networking with others in your industry probably is the best use of your job search time. Be clear on your objective which makes it simpler for someone to know how to help you.. You might be able to assist them now or in the future so keep networking.
10. Want to make a change in your career? The best way for that to happen swiftly is through a personal referral. Let your network spread the word and keep networking to expand your exposure to new opportunities in the unadvertised or hidden job market.

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THE SOLUTION COULD BE AT YOUR FEET by Ricky Jaros (career empowerment facilitator for CareerTEAM)
One of the most forgotten areas of personal fitness is the footwear we choose. Many years ago as a professional ski instructor, I was introduced to the value of custom-made insoles. Even though I was a very accomplished skier with no imperfections in my stance, I still greatly benefited from a simple pair of corrective insoles that were created at a local sports shop.

The simple facts are that no foot is really perfect and no two feet are really a matched and balanced set. One foot is always slightly bigger, stronger, or more agile. In many cases foot differences or imperfections can be quite noticeable. Problems that occur from this range from simple balance issues to excruciatingly painful body issues. Yet, the vast majority of foot imbalance and imperfection can be overcome, at least to some degree, with easily found shoe inserts or styles of footwear.

Why oh why then do so many people suffer the aches and pains associated with the wrong type and configuration of footwear? Well… one argument of course is "fashion." I hear many people say they’ll suffer most anything to look good. I find this particularly odd because I have never considered anyone with a look of pain or discomfort on their face as "in fashion." I’d expect people who truly feel good about how they look to be… call me crazy here… happy.

If we are not happy or at least upbeat how can we then expect to sell ourselves, and/or what we do, to others?

Start by answering these questions:
- Do you often remove your footwear?
- Do you wear different footwear to and from work and then change?
- Do you wear different footwear to go some distance to a meeting or if you will be on you feet for a longer then the usual length of time?
- Do you need to rub your feet for more then a minute to get them feeling refreshed?
- Do you have leg pains when sitting or sleeping?
- Do you get lower back pains after being on your feet?
- Do you start to walk differently or have joint pain after being on your feet for some time?
- Do your feet feel discomfort in your footwear?
- Can you comfortably walk barefoot after wearing your footwear?

These are just some of the indications that you are most likely hurting yourself with improper footwear or at least footwear set-up.

Aside from causing you to express a poor attitude due to pain, you may also be doing permanent damage with improper footwear. Problems may be as simple as calluses at first. However, most will ultimately lead to foot deformities. When the feet begin to deform, in any manner, it creates a cascading effect that travels up the body. Knee and hip problems now begin to occur. The back can become unaligned and the spine injured. Neck, shoulder, and yes, even arm problems can occur - All from a simple lack of care for the feet.

Avoiding damage is as simple as going to any good supermarket or pharmacy or sports store. There are a number of people who can help and there are literally hundreds of very simple to use products that can be placed in your current footwear. There are even ways to change the lacing on footwear to help correct problems.

The solutions could fill a whole other article but I most want you to think of how this affects your business life. Poor health, even minor problems, can substantially affect mood and performance. If you are trying to promote yourself or a product this can cause a profoundly negative outcome. If foot problems can go on to affect so much more of the body wouldn’t it be wise to address them? If, in most cases, problems are so easy to correct for, only a foolish person would chose not to at least try.

Proper footwear does not have to be unfashionable. It’s not just worn by high-end athletes. It can actually help to prevent very serious and all too common problems throughout the body. Finally… if it can add to your confidence and put a smile on your face, why would you even consider doing without such a valuable business tool?

Think about it – your feet, perhaps your whole body, will thank you.

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FOUNDATIONS ARE CREATED IN THE BEGINNING by David Niven, Ph.D., from The 100 Simple Secrets of Great Relationships

Relationships are like the planets – they move forward, but they keep returning to the same points. Relationships tend to orbit around their origins. If those origins were trust, love and respect, then that will be the universe of that relationship. Without those positive values and feelings in the early part of the relationship, a sure foundation will be harder to establish.

When it comes to love, Shawn doesn’t take any chances. Instead of entrusting her romantic destiny to Cupid’s arrows, the twenty-eight-year-old from Tampa believes in a more scientific approach. Shawn has turned to textbooks and tests and a marriage preparation course to guide her two-year relationship with her boyfriend.

"When we’re going on long car trips, I pull out my book and start discussing the chapters with him," she says. "At first he thought I was weird, but it has helped us examine the weaknesses in our relationship and to grow stronger."

Shawn says, "The best part is that we’ve been creating healthy habits from the start. Instead of letting a problem develop, and then having to try to undo some harm, we’re trying to prevent problems and instill good communication. It’s a lot easier to talk about something and head it off than it is to have to go back and undo something that has been going on."

Long-term studies of relationships find that the negative feelings expressed in the first year of a relationship can affect not only whether that relationship will continue on into the future but also whether or not it will be a happy relationship years later. (Huston Caughlin, Houts, Smith and George 2001)

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THE REFLECTION OF INFLECTION by Lawler Kang
There are particular and pivotal points as any process unfolds: the changing of seasons, relationships of all sorts, watching your kids lengthen, to the growth and success of your work and business. It could be first frost, making the decision to move in together or nix the whole thing, pushing your daughter off on two wheels instead of four, reaching that commanding height of knowledge and experience that makes you the expert, or assembling the right (and impassioned) team to take your organization to its next level.

Some of these inflection points are subtle and can seemingly happen at will, while others can be targets or goals to varying degrees. Regardless of their origins, the important thing to realize is that these points inescapably litter our lives. You can run and hide, but they will inevitably find you, far better than most direct marketers. This is not a bad thing either; after all, what is Life without the challenge of change? Yes, we probably all yearn for that settled state where everything is under our control, hurricanes don’t happen, and the markets perform exactly as we desire; this control, unfortunately, only exists in scenes depicted in mail-order catalogues.

Rather, I urge you to use these jumps of the curves as opportunities to reflect on where you are and where you are going; change pushes possibility. I’m sure you can relate to these concepts. Do you remember when you were first able to pedal without training wheels? When you gained the ability to zoom around your neighborhood like all those bigger kids, the horizon-less freedom and unadulterated/unsupervised enjoyment that surely lay in store? Yes, it probably took more than a few bruised or bloodied knees and more courage than what you weighed back then to pull it off. But you did it and the realizations were priceless!
The key point here is that it is only by challenging yourself – removing those training wheels – that you progress. The wheels of your training have been whirring around you for as long as you can probably remember – high school, college, perhaps grad. school(s), random certifications, accreditations, etc. and it is not to say that this training is neither bad nor required to help you on your way and put you in the position to be able to finally think beyond those potentially constraining circular loops.
What I am suggesting is that the next time you stub your toe on a point of inflection, don’t focus on the pain of hitting it; be happy that you reached it, relish in the opportunities that spring from it, and be sure to thank yet gracefully discard whatever training wheels you no longer need.
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THE FLIP SIDE
Each month "The Flip Side" will feature a fun or anecdotal idea, a tasty recipe, a student success story or some other human-interest piece. This month: Boomerang facts

• 35,000 years ago Australians evolved the boomerang as the penultimate hunting and magic weapon. Now it is a sleek sports tuned instrument acting more like a miniature airplane/gyroscope/homing pigeon whose tuning and wind ways make it the most astonishing sport of flight.
• The USA won the first "America's Cup" vs. Australia in 1981 - shocking the world and stunning the Aussies who thought they owned the sport. The Yanks have won more than half the cups since.
• Following the 1994 US win in Japan, Dr. Barnaby Ruhe, US Team Member and Coach, displayed the cup and his boomerang magic on Jay Leno, Sabado Gigante, Dominica In, Ripley’s Believe it Or Not, That's Incredible, and other media events.
• Like Olympic Decathlon, boomeranging has varied events to test different skills of speed, distance, time in the air, and x-factor tricks.
• Boomerang technology has taken off to include space age materials like carbon fiber wrapped over tiny air bubbles to make a stealth glider boomerang.
• Thirty teams from around the world will whirl their boomerangs in Northern Japan at the 2006 World Cup. The Swiss and Germans and French are front-runners with the Americans.
• Dr. Ruhe, the master of the ZEN BOOMERANG method, says 'the thrower is the target," and, "what you throw out is what you get back." ... Much like karma

For more information about the sport of boomerangs, visit the United States Boomerang Association web site at www.usba.org.
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DID YOU KNOW?

• China…AD 1391 - The Bureau of Imperial Supplies began producing 720,000 sheets of toilet paper a year, each sheet measuring two feet by three feet. For use by the Emperors.
• USA…1857 - New Yorker Joseph C. Gayetty produced the first packaged bathroom tissue. It was named "The Therapeutic Paper".
• Did you know that there are 206 bones in the adult human body and there are 300 in children (as they grow some of the bones fuse together).
• The 52 bones in your feet account for one quarter of all the bones in the body.
• The most dangerous animal in the world is the common housefly. Because of their habits of visiting animal waste, they transmit more diseases than any other animal.
• The first electronic digital computer (called ENIAC - the Electronic Numerical Integrator and Calculator) was developed in 1946 and contained over 18,000 vacuum tubes.
• The most telescopes in the world are reported to be in Tucson Arizona.
• The Cereal Bowl of America, Battle Creek Michigan, produces most cereal in the U.S.
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