Change Agent News

Promoting Brilliance's Blog

noreply@blogger.com (Beth Wellesley) — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 22:25:00 +0000

Promoting Brilliance, Inc. is a career and collaboration development firm since 1995. Our services are fundamental to innovation and change initiatives. We work with individuals, groups, and organizations of all sizes; providing collaboration learning experiences and events, strategic off-site design and facilitation, career and leadership development, and individualized consulting services.

Beth Wellesley
(612) 824-0454
beth@promotingbrilliance.com

Linkedin Profile:
http://www.linkedin.com/in/bethwellesley

Become a fan on Facebook: http://bit.ly/4hdwV6
Follow us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/BethWellesley

We are located in the Minneapolis Southwest Neighborhood near Lyndale Farmstead Park, across the street from Theodore Wirth's historical home.

Promoting Brilliance, Inc.
4001 Bryant Avenue South
Minneapolis, MN 55409
http://www.promotingbrilliance.com

4 New Happy Hour Workshops: March & April 2010

noreply@blogger.com (Beth Wellesley) — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 22:25:00 +0000

Communicating for Career Success

WHEN
March 12, 2010 from 3-5PM

WHAT
Being a champion for your career success is vital today. Communicating and negotiating can be very challenging given the various interactive or in person formats available. Tools such as email, social networks, IMing, texting, even snail and voice mail present challenges on multiple levels where choosing the proper format can be a critical decision itself. Promoting Brilliance's Communication Workshop will help you articulate how you define career success and provide you with new insights and skills for communicating. You'll learn new skills you can utilize within your personal life too.

REGISTRATION
Please register at: http://www.zoomerang.com/Survey/?p=WEB22A4TRKRDYT. The cost of this workshop is $100.00, which includes materials.

PROGRAM DEALS
Remember our workshops are included in our individual career programs for any 2010 programs you are currently enrolled. Are you considering working with Promoting Brilliance? The cost of this workshop can be deducted from any future career development programs that you wish to engage in the coming year.

LOCATION OF THE HAPPY HOUR WORKSHOPS
Promoting Brilliance, Inc.
4001 Bryant Avenue South
Minneapolis, MN 55409
Google Map Link: http://bit.ly/2dkYiI

CONTACT
Beth Wellesley at (612) 824-0454, beth@promotingbrilliance.com or
Michael Peterson at (612) 824-0098, michael@promotingbrilliance.com

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Natural Networking for Your Style - Using Keyssential™ Insights

WHEN
Thursday, March 25, 2010 from 3:00-5:00PM

WHAT
Are you in transition, starting a new business, contracting, a new manager/leader or perhaps seeking career development or mentoring? Natural Networking provides highly beneficial networking success. Much of our focus and energy is given to the topic of networking skills, yet very little attention is placed on what you need to know about your natural style and what works effectively for your communication preferences. During this workshop we will explore the many ways Promoting Brilliance's Keyssential™ Insights can help you build a constructive, customized strategy that fits your style. We will make it simple and easy to apply to these networking solutions. Learn how to use Promoting Brilliance's find it inside--use it outside focus and discover what works naturally for you!

REGISTRATION
Please register at: http://www.zoomerang.com/Survey/?p=WEB22A9SSRSH9T. You can contact Beth Wellesley at beth@promotingbrilliance.com to reserve your space. The cost of this workshop is $100.00, which includes materials. This workshop is included in the program cost of any 2010 programs you are currently enrolled.

Are you considering working with Promoting Brilliance? The cost of this workshop can be deducted from any future career development programs that you wish to engage in the coming year.

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Put "Fun" Into Functionality for You & Your Team

WHEN
Thursday, April 8, 2010 from 3:00-5:00PM

WHAT
Learn how to Put "Fun" Into Functionality for You & Your Team using Promoting Brilliance's Drama Busting Program. Find and identify the effective tools to respond, re-purpose and re-focus your work and career related relationships. Learn how the career related dramas distract you and your team, making it too difficult to get create productive results. This Happy Hour Workshop enables participants to navigate future dramas and engender productive outcomes for themselves.

REGISTRATION
Please register at: http://www.zoomerang.com/Survey/?p=WEB22A9SRRSGN9. You can contact Beth Wellesley at beth@promotingbrilliance.com to reserve your space. The cost of this workshop is $100.00, which includes materials. This workshop is included in the program cost of any 2010 programs you are currently enrolled.

Are you considering working with Promoting Brilliance? The cost of this workshop can be deducted from any future career development programs that you wish to engage in the coming year.

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Career Insurance - The Realities of Relationship Development

WHEN
Thursday, April 22, 2010 from 3:00-5:00PM

WHAT
Promoting Brilliance recommends that you think of your career insurance as their investment in relationship building and development practices. This investment strategy includes support for your career growth, development, and transitions over time. Change is not predictable or self-selected, having solid professional relationships is the key to your career insurance. The Career Insurance: The Realities of Relationship Development workshop will present the necessary attitudes and practices for maintaining productive relationships in your career and at work. Join us at this exciting new workshop, it compliments our Natural Networking workshop program as well.

REGISTRATION
Please register at: http://www.zoomerang.com/Survey/?p=WEB22A9STWSHYE. You can contact Beth Wellesley at beth@promotingbrilliance.com to reserve your space. The cost of this workshop is $100.00, which includes materials. This workshop is included in the program cost of any 2010 programs you are currently enrolled.

Are you considering working with Promoting Brilliance? The cost of this workshop can be deducted from any future career development programs that you wish to engage in the coming year.

LOCATION OF THE HAPPY HOUR WORKSHOPS
Promoting Brilliance, Inc.
4001 Bryant Avenue South
Minneapolis, MN 55409
Google Map Link: http://bit.ly/2dkYiI

CONTACT
Beth Wellesley at (612) 824-0454, beth@promotingbrilliance.com or
Michael Peterson at (612) 824-0098, michael@promotingbrilliance.com

Giving, Gaining & Growing Respect

noreply@blogger.com (Beth Wellesley) — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 22:24:00 +0000

It seems workplace related stress and frustration has been intense over the past 12-18 months and people want to know how they can make things better for themselves and others. When I ask my clients what they want to experience more of in 2010 one resounding theme is clear: respectful, effective interactions with peers, managers, leaders as well as customers and clients.

The key to giving and gaining respect is to set the tone for productive, collaborative communication. You can do this by valuing and practicing the following in your daily interactions:

- Be objective
- Be diplomatic (and at the very least civil)
- Be empathetic
- Be inclusive

It is as simple as deciding you will incorporate these into your daily thinking and check-in with your progress. Below are simple ways you can put into practice basic principals for growing respect in your daily communication.

- Use "I" statements to share your perspective, experience and responsibilities. Examples include "I am responsible for...", "I believe that ...", or "I am concerned about..."

- Avoid "I" statements that promote superiority or exclusivity, which includes "I am right because...", "I know more about....", or "I was the only one who..."

Additional ways you can give and gain respect:

- Avoid using the directive word "You" at the start of a statement. It sets a tone that can sound like blame is being assigned to the individual(s) who is being addressed. All of which can promote non-productive and defensive reactions.

- Use "My" statements to communicate your individual responsibilities or perspectives, and avoid using "My" to create possessiveness or ownership when working with other adults.

In other words it is safe to say: "My responsibility is..." or "My perspective is that...". However, avoid saying "My team..." if you are speaking with your direct reports or staff. Instead, try starting your statement with "Our team...". It is more inclusive of others and respects each person's membership in the team no matter what role or history with the organization.

Today's work environment requires a focus on staying present, which is the key to giving, gaining and growing respect. The recommendations we've suggested have a low cost, high impact investment for building respect and trust which will provides people with sustainable dividends. These suggestions also work well in both work and personal life, making it easy and straightforward to practice, engage and definitely utilize.

Networking Is A Form of Career Insurance

noreply@blogger.com (Beth Wellesley) — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 22:23:00 +0000

We will be presenting recommendations for building and improving career insurance to reach your career goals for the short and long-term.

People who are not naturally drawn to professional networking often tell me they don't realize how important it is until they lose a job. In light of the social networking buzz this topic is in the process of evolving and changing as well. Tools like LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter are great if you are utilizing them with a specific purpose. They also have advantages and disadvantages like any technology.

Although online networking sites provide a highly efficient way to cultivate contacts, they are not a replacement for personal interactions. Face-to-face meetings build rapport and relationships in a way that electronic communication cannot replicate. Continue to meet new people in-person even when you land your ideal "job". This can be a blind spot for many people. It's smart to build a wide, diverse range within your network. In other words, going beyond your field, industry or area of expertise to meet and get to know people.

Focus on helping others when you network. I keep hearing about how people have become more self-centered because of social media and less engaged in diplomacy or non-dramatic communication. It's practical and wise to authentically introduce people, offer a reference, offer solutions and, or even volunteer. It will come back to you, if you believe in what you are doing.

Many people are working longer hours than ever, especially due to the shrinking teams over the past year. Those who are working tell me they have little time to network or return calls and emails from people seeking their time for networking. I recommend putting one date aside on the calendar for 1-2 hours each month to follow-up with those folks by phone. They will understand and appreciate your follow through.

Remember to thank people as often as you can. Gratitude has sadly been neglected more recently due to economic stressors and people's demanding schedules.

Career Development Tops Survey List

noreply@blogger.com (Beth Wellesley) — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 22:23:00 +0000

Career development prospects top the criteria for job candidates considering a new employer:
- 40% said the potential for career development is the most important factor when choosing a new boss.

- Followed by 21% seeking work-life balance

- 15% stated innovative workplace

- 12% indicated competitive pay and benefits

NOTE: Survey results published by Right Management Inc. in January 2010.

Promoting People's Brilliance - February 2010

noreply@blogger.com (Beth Wellesley) — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 22:22:00 +0000

New Business Announcement - Imprint Photo Books
Promoting Brilliance client, Stephanie Nichols recently launched a new business Imprint Photo Books. They specialize in personalized photos books which are professionally designed, printed on archival quality paper, bound and custom hardcover bookbinding, all at a very affordable price. Learn more at: http://www.imprintphotobooks.com

Having difficulty managing heavy finance or accounting workloads? - Call NumberWorks
They are experts at matching accounting and finance contract candidates for interim or special projects. Contact Christina Tibesar at 612.230.7100 who will address your specific needs or learn more at: http://www.numberworksllc.com/.

Thinking about your health in 2010? - Organic Divas.com
What we put on our skin goes makes a difference. The Founder of Organic Diva, Ann Garrity shared her story at St. Thomas' First Friday luncheon on Feb 5. She is truly inspirational. Learn more about the topic of healthy, safe personal care products at: http://www.organicdivas.com

New Retail Business - Guild Design Collective
Twelve amazing people have formed a collective to create a unique, fun retail shop with handmade jewelry, cosmetics, gifts, antiques, as well as new and vintage clothing, Check them out at 4414 Excelsior Boulevard in St. Louis Park open Tuesday through Saturday's from 11AM to 6PM. Learn more at: http://www.guildcollective.wordpress.com

Enjoy Fresh Organic Veggies in 2010 - Hay River Farms
Farmer Jim Bruns is now accepting vegetable customers for the 2010 season. Veggie drop off sites are located in St. Paul, Minneapolis and at Target's corporate offices; running from July through October. Sign up and learn more at: http://www.hayriverfarm.com

10 Ways You Can Work With Promoting Brilliance in 2010

noreply@blogger.com (Beth Wellesley) — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 01:10:00 +0000

10 Ways You Can Work with Promoting Brilliance in 2010

1. Get engaged and set priorities with our Career & Life Blending™ programs.

2. Join us on Jan 15 at our first Happy Hour workshop in 2010, featuring Keyssential™ & Mapping Out Your Year.

3. Subscribe to NetRayne™ and receive a workshop pass for 2010. Learn more at: www.netrayne.wordpress.com.

4. Schedule a 2010 Career Planning and Development session with Beth Wellesley.

5. Design your career transition strategy utilizing our Career Renovations™ program and services.

6 . Improve your communication and presentation skills with Communication Brilliance & Presentation coaching.

7. Become a more effective leader/manager, by growing strategic confidence using our Leadership Brilliance™ programs.

8. Utilize our consulting services to align your key business partnerships and career relationships.

9. Re-energize your own role, team environments, or perspectives by retaining our coaching and consulting services.

10. Refer someone to Promoting Brilliance and spread the glow!

NEW 2010 Service for Professionals

noreply@blogger.com (Beth Wellesley) — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 18:28:00 +0000

NetRayne™
A knowledge transfer and professional networking subscription service for individuals who want to create connections for their brand.

What is NetRayne?
NetRayne keeps you informed and connected when you need to stay focused on your primary goals. Learn more at: http://netrayne.wordpress.com/

These customized subscription services provide an umbrella to protect you from the torrent of information that is made instantaneously available and on a scale that makes it almost unintelligible. NetRayne helps individuals gain knowledge to effectively navigate the streams of information available and make the choices that matter to you and your business.

We provide a broad spectrum of information and personal introductions that fit individual needs. Subscription services include:

- Focused content delivered in the virtual format of your choice
- Networking resources, events and targeted introductions
- Information pertinent to current and future markets
- Workshops, seminars and webcasts

Who subscribes?
Small business owners, consultants, contract workers, and individuals who want to grow their network effectively and efficiently.

Who is NetRayne?
We are a hub for thought leaders, who provide the spokes for connecting individual audiences, as well as providing targeted, timely streams of knowledge transfer. We are a solution for creating value within the social media landscape.

What is our vision and mission?
Our mission is to move information to knowledge and our vision is to ultimately attain wisdom pertinent to the individual.

What is the cost?
The subscription price is only $300.00 for 2010. If these services do not fulfill your expectations your subscription fee will be refundable.

How do I sign-up?
We can meet with you as well as provide you with sign-up survey in order to customize your NetRayne experience. You can enroll by completing our online survey: http://www.zoomerang.com/Survey/?p=WEB229QC745EZP.

Promoting People's Brilliance - December 2009

noreply@blogger.com (Beth Wellesley) — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 18:25:00 +0000

Love the Urban Junket's t.o.t.e. Collection—Made from recycled water bottles!
You must see what's new with the Urban Junket's canvas coated tote bags. Check them out at http://www.urbanjunket.com. And if you join their mailing list on their website you will receive an electronic coupon for your first online order. Urban Junket gives $1 from the sale of each t.o.t.e. bag to carbonfree.org. to help mitigate the emissions created in the production and transportation of their bags. Way to go!

Shop Apiary Design—Vintage Calendars and Stationary
If you are still looking for the perfect gift for someone look the Apiary Design online shop at: http://www.apiarydesign.com. Molly Woodland's new 2010 calendars are really lovely and make a wonderful gift. Apiary Design products are beautiful and they will definitely inspire you to write and send to those near and dear to your heart.

Need help getting and staying organized? Contact Collaborative Assistants, Inc.
Are you busy professional that needs help personally or professionally with administrative duties such as correspondence, meeting or event planning, and PowerPoint presentations? Collaborative Assistances works efficiently for you. Contact Darcy Jones, she is an experienced executive support professional. You can reach her directly at (612) 655-7302 or djones626@yahoo.com

Get ready for 2010 with TMW Partners—Providing bookkeeping support.
Are you a small business or busy individual seeking help with your bookkeeping or operational projects? TMW Partners is a great resource for you. Do you need help getting organized and prepared for tax season? Contact Linda Bueckers of TMW Partners. She is an excellent resource and experienced with QuickBooks. Reach Linda directly at (763) 244-5943 or linda@tmwpartners.com and learn more at: http://www.tmwpartners.com

Part 2 Digital Natives & Immigrants

noreply@blogger.com (Beth Wellesley) — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 18:20:00 +0000

By Michael Peterson

When a US Airways plane landed in the Hudson River in January, the first picture appeared on Twitter. In June, Twitter users were mourning Michael Jackson before major news outlets reported his death. And, last month, as much of the nation was riveted by images of a balloon believed to be carrying a 6-year-old boy, every twist and turn was tweeted and re-tweeted instantaneously, drowning out just about everything else on the site.

As major events unfold, Twitter, Facebook and other similar services are increasingly becoming the nation’s virtual water coolers. They spread information quickly, sometimes before the mass media do, and their ricocheting bursts of text and links become an instant record of Americans’ collective preoccupations.

One key area that appears to have been affected is the power of reflection and the ability to incorporate reflection as it impacts decision making. Having access to instant information can create an impulse to instantly assume that we understand completely what is occurring rather than taking a moment to think “What does this mean to me or anyone for that matter”?

It’s no wonder that the pundits and investors are salivating over the prospect of an effective way to search this information. Twitter, of course, has its own search engine. But others with names like OneRiot, Collecta and Topsy are also vying to become the Google of real-time search.

For all-the buzz, however, one question remains unanswered: How does the rapidity of access to information affect thought process for understanding?

For Digital Natives speed is value when it comes to learning curves. One only has to play a multi-level video game to understand that, get blown up, squashed or devoured too often and you are done. Message to player: Learn quickly or perish. For Digital Immigrants this process is frustrating and of little interest. Note: Not a great share of market in gaming is held by the over forty crowd.

No one doubts that helping users find fresh, up-to-the-minute content on the Web is valuable. What is not yet understood is how this format will affect strategic thought process and ultimately impact formulating wisdom around emerging concepts?

With advertising dollars driving the social media machines it will be very interesting to see how humanity will re-configure how brain function adapts to speed thinking. This style of thinking is greatly enabled by real time search engines, far surpassing the traditional search engine methodology we are now so familiar with.

Traditional Web search is a business that practically mints money, and for two reasons. First, without Google, Yahoo, Bing or Ask, the Web would be an inscrutable jumble of bits. These services are so vital that they are used more than 450 million times a day in the United States alone, according to comScore.

Second, and equally important, search advertising is probably the most effective form of marketing ever invented. Because search queries telegraph a user’s intent with precision, they make it possible to match people with the right ads at the right moment.

If real-time search is ever to achieve the same kind of magic, it needs a large volume of queries and the same ability to match users intent. This is bound to happen as more users of Twitter and other social media formats make this their primary method of communication with friends, family and associates.

Google wants the Twitter data primarily because its mission is to be comprehensive: Google wants to organize all of the world’s information, including the Web’s fleeting real-time conversations. This level of comprehensiveness keeps people searching on Google. It could comprehensively change how we reflect and assess what is occurring and how we relate to those occurrences, as well as how we communicate these events to others.

Growing Engagement & Loyalty As The Market Turns

noreply@blogger.com (Beth Wellesley) — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 05:06:00 +0000

Today many organizations and leaders are interested in understanding what is required for employee engagement, satisfaction, retention as well as loyalty. Research indicates that there will be a number of organization’s experiencing employee turnover as the global economy and job markets recover, especially if these organizations are not tending to employee career feedback and development needs.

Recent national surveys indicate employee retention results are more about relationships with leaders than with the actual work. In fact one survey reports that people leave positions more than 75% of the time because of their relationship with their direct reports or managers not because of their actual work responsibilities or duties.

Gallup Inc. conducts thousands of interviews and surveys every year to help employers identify work place engagement. They have published the 12 Elements of Great Managing for employers that best predict what employees are seeking. You can find an overview of these elements at: http://bit.ly/4a9cV6

Employee engagement and loyalty is built on respect for people’s overall well being, the ability to acknowledge people’s good work, care for and impact an individual’s career development path, and the provision of resources in order for people to meet or exceed the expectations of their responsibilities. Loyalty and engagement can be cultivated without motivating people through entitlement programs.

At Promoting Brilliance, Inc. we know that loyalty and career fulfillment begins with respect for individuality how individual needs impact learning, performance, engagement and career development. We have designed two individual coaching and development programs: Leadership Brilliance™ and Career & Life Blending to address the individual needs of an organization’s employees. Both of these programs provide a reflective process to support individuals as they design, strategize, implement, deliver and champion necessary leadership and career development plans. Promoting Brilliance programs create easy to use and apply formats that give individuals the responsibility to design their leadership and career paths in ways that collaborate with and meet the needs and expectations of their direct reports and organizations.

Leadership Strategies For Virtual Work Environments

noreply@blogger.com (Beth Wellesley) — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 05:01:00 +0000

According to the International Data Corporation, the mobile workforce in the United States, which has been the largest percentage of mobile workers in the world, is set to become 73% of the nation’s workforce by 2011.

New strategies for managing a virtual workforce are required for leaders, which begins by embracing these competencies for their own development. Promoting Brilliance, Inc. recommends developing a new vision of your leadership that incorporates communication and collaboration strategies to fit your virtual working relationships. Here are a four key leadership strategies listed below:

1) Consciously create opportunities to build relationships with your people and between colleagues. This may require some innovative strategies and applications, such as developing in-person group meetings, facilitating off-sites or time to learn more about each person's strengths, work histories, plans, and communications styles or preferences. You may also use other technologies such as video conferencing or Skype for regular, one-to-one meetings.

2) Create communication agreements that people will practice and respect within their work groups. Decide how you are going to use your technology as a group that will best serve your projects, clients and even meet individual needs. Make sure this includes the your communication tools, such as text messaging, email, phone, and meetings. For example, too often email is utilized to leave a communication trail as well avoid or escape difficulties or communication conflicts. Today, even people who are sitting on the same floor in office environments are too often using email when it would be better to discuss something face-to-face.

3) Cultivate learning, career development, and mentoring opportunities for people. Loyalty, trust and culture are built on investing in people’s development. Making time for career development as well as creating opportunities for people to meet others outside your immediate organization who can support learning and development opportunities demonstrates authentic interest in the people you are managing and leading.

4) Become a Collaborative Co-Leader who believes in leadership for the time—this means giving others the opportunity to lead for a specific time on a project or initiative, which allows others to lead and collaborate with you.

Promoting People's Brilliance in November 2009

noreply@blogger.com (Beth Wellesley) — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 05:00:00 +0000

Shop Apiary Design Vintage-inspired Stationery for Your Holiday’s
Apiary Design products are available at select, retailers nationwide as well as their site at: http://www.apiarydesign.com. Molly Woodland launched Apiary Design in 2006 as a personal commitment to lure the modern world back to the thoughtfulness of the handwritten word.

Creative. Artistic. Unscripted. Studio Starfish—the way your photos should be.
Studio Starfish is a new boutique photography studio specializing in unique wedding images and modern portraits that reveal your personality and tell the true story of you. Schedule your session before December 7 and you’ll receive your photos in time for Christmas. Mention “Promoting Brilliance Inc.” and receive a box of 25 custom press-printed cards for FREE (a $50 value)! Call 612.817.6566 or visit http://www.studiostarfish.com for more information.

Uncommon Gardens—a wonderful little garden store in Southwest Minneapolis
You’ll find everything you need to beautify your world inside or out at this inspiring garden and gift store. Don’t miss Winter Fest on Saturday, November 21 from 11:00AM-3:00PM. Enjoy special discounts as well as free cocoa, cookies, while watching demonstrations on easy winter decorating ideas for pots, window boxes, wreaths, kissing balls, garlands and more. Located at 5750 Lyndale Ave South, Minneapolis and on the web at: http://www.uncommongardens.com

Career & Life Blending Tips

noreply@blogger.com (Beth Wellesley) — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 20:51:00 +0000

Daily Bright Spots & Other Useful Tips

Observing Daily Bright Spots
People who have worked with Promoting Brilliance, Inc. know that we advocate for observing your Daily Bright Spots. This practice makes you aware of the many ways your day is going well and all of the good people and experiences you are creating, manifesting, and allowing into your work and personal life. Take note daily for 2-3 weeks and you will experience a subtle difference, many people tell us that it lifts their mood and makes them more confident. One thing is for sure—living in the Midwest this time of year as we experience less day light—it helps to observe and acknowledge the bright spots in your day!

Cause The Pause
Today more than ever people are looking for ways to find time and space to get in front of things. I often hear this as, “I need time to be strategic and innovative” or “ I need to make time for planning for next year” or I want to have more space weekly for creative thinking so I can develop something new.” At Promoting Brilliance we’ve coined the phrase—cause the pause. It is up to you to make time and space for this and there are many ways to do this. When you start out and want this to become a habit or a regular practice I do recommend that you plan it in your calendar like any other meeting. Simply schedule time for it. Consider your best time of day or a personal offsite. Remember we do offer these services at Promoting Brilliance as well. We invite you to cause the pause regularly.

Working & Sustainability
Many of you are working longer hours than ever before and yet you are often grateful because you know the current fear of being laid off. It’s important to consider sustainability with regard to the topic of how much you are working. If your boss is asking you to work less so you don’t burn out—listen! However, you may need some thing to help change your habit of logging back on after dinner night after night. Creating a change can begin by replacing your habits with something new. You may want to sign up for a class in the evenings 1-2 nights a week, there are lots of options like cooking classes, photography, or even a book club. The point is to create something new that will be energizing to you. I’m often told by many of my clients that they end up being a better professional or even solve problems while they are enjoying the change they have created.

Natural Impacts & Self-Trust
Doing something different naturally creates tension, anxiety and even fear. If you are experiencing these when you consider changing your lifestyle, approaching a project differently at work, interacting with someone in a different way, taking on more responsibilities and leadership or even looking for a new career opportunity—know that it is 100% natural to experience any of what we think of the more negative emotional experiences. 100% natural is not often popular, but know it is normal. All of this combined with the uncertainty that we have collectively been facing it is no wonder that people are dealing with stress and worry. Consider this: What brings you back to center? Where do you experience confidence? How do you cultivate trust and self-trust? Tell yourself and mean it—I can do it well!

If you are interested in learning more about Promoting Brilliance’s Career & Life Blending Programs or workshops please contact Beth Wellesley at (612) 824-0454 or beth@promotingbrilliance.com.

Living In A Bi-Polar Digital World

noreply@blogger.com (Beth Wellesley) — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 20:36:00 +0000

By Michael Peterson

The youngest members of our workforce today are all "native speakers" of the digital language of computers, video games and the Internet. The most useful designation I have found for them is Digital Natives.

Those of us who were not born into the digital world but have, at some later point in our lives, become fascinated by and adopted many or most aspects of the new technology are, and always will be compared to them, Digital Immigrants.

The importance of the distinction is this—As Immigrants learn to adapt to their environment, they always retain, their accent, that is their foot in the past. The digital immigrant accent can be seen in such things as turning to the Internet for information second rather than first, or in reading the manual for a program rather than assuming that the program itself will teach us to use it. Today's older workers were socialized differently and are now in the process of learning a new language.

There are hundreds of examples of the digital immigrant accent. They include printing out your email; needing to print out a document written on the computer in order to edit it, rather than just editing on the screen; and bringing people physically into your office to see an interesting web site, rather than just sending them the URL. I'm sure you can think of one or two examples of your own without much effort. My own favorite example is the phone call asking, "Did you get my email?” Those of us who are Digital Immigrants can, and should, laugh at our accents and ourselves. What does dial a number mean anyway?

But this is not just a joke. It's very serious, because the single biggest problem facing us today is that our Digital Immigrant managers, team leaders, and bosses who speak an outdated language (that of the pre-digital age), are struggling to connect to a population that speaks an entirely new language.

Digital Natives are used to receiving information really fast. They like to parallel process and multi-task. They prefer their graphics before their text rather than the opposite. They prefer random access (like hypertext). They function best when networked. They thrive on instant gratification and frequent rewards. They prefer games to "serious" work.

Digital Immigrants typically have very little appreciation for these new skills that the Natives have acquired and perfected though years of interaction and practice. Gaming has changed how Digital Natives think—they are vigorously retraining their brains in newer ways, many of which are diametrically opposed to older ways of cognitive formation. Digital Immigrants hold a belief that Digital Natives have short attention spans. They do—for the older ways of communicating—they do not have short attention spans for virtual interactive medias, such as gaming, Facebook, Twitter, and You Tube.

One key area that appears to have been affected is the power of REFLECTION and the ability to incorporate reflection as it impacts decision making. I will have more on that topic in the next newsletter.

Effective Use of Email Correspondence

noreply@blogger.com (Beth Wellesley) — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 20:27:00 +0000

Working with fewer resources this year has created more pressure and stress for many professionals, and some of the signs of this stress are leaking into our daily communications. These recommendations may serve as reminder or be news to you, whatever the case remember you are in charge of how you communicate using the varied tools we have at our disposal. Use them wisely to develop productive, respectful working relationships.

Let’s begin with the When Not To Use Email Correspondence:

#1: Avoid using email communication when differences of opinions, perspective or an out right conflict is occurring. #2: Avoid using email communication when the topic is sensitive or of a confidential nature.

If email correspondence is utilized when these types of situations are occurring it can be counter productive and worse yet cause unnecessary drama. In many cases, it causes further misunderstandings that result in a break down or loss of trust.

What to consider before sending an email?

- Do not use email to discuss or communicate confidential topics.

- Communicate complaints or dissatisfaction directly with an individual. It is ineffective sending complaints about individuals to third parties via email. Give an individual the respect of a phone or face-to-face conversation. The opportunity to clear up a misunderstanding is very important in promoting collaborative communication.

- Communicate highly complex information or subject matter that involves a number of details through other means. A telephone call, face-to-face conversation or meeting can reduce misunderstandings.

- Negotiations usually need back and forth communication. If you find yourself responding more than two times on the same topic, choose an alternate form of communication.

- Write your message in whatever word processing software you have available first to avoid spelling and grammar errors.

- Avoid sending emails when you are frustrated, upset, overly stressed. Wait until you are objective and back on center.

What are some basic email writing tips?

- Think of the subject line as the headline of an important news article.
- Place the most important statements in the first paragraph.
- Keep paragraphs short for easy reading.
- Use sub-topic headings when you have a lengthy message.
- Utilize numbers or bullets to organize and simplify your message.
- Request an action or invite your recipient to provide further information in order to complete a task.
- Re-read email messages at least once before sending, if you can read it out loud that really helps.

Communication Brilliance™ & Presentation Coaching

noreply@blogger.com (Beth Wellesley) — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 20:17:00 +0000

If you or your organization is interested in improving your presentation and communication competencies, Promoting Brilliance offers Communication Brilliance™ & Presentation Coaching services.

This program includes an on-line assessment process to pinpoint your learning and development needs. This process can involve gathering feedback from your trusted colleagues, direct reports, partners, as well as internal and external customers. If you are interested in learning more about Promoting Brilliance’s Communication Brilliance™ & Presentation Coaching or our other individual coaching programs and workshops please contact Beth Wellesley at (612) 824-0454 or beth@promotingbrilliance.com

Promoting People's Brilliance: October 2009

noreply@blogger.com (Beth Wellesley) — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 20:10:00 +0000

Shop Award Winning Toys @ Manhattan Toy Company
This coming holiday season buy local from Twin Cities based toy company, Manhattan Toy. Choose from their award winning toys including Automoblox®, Groovy Girls®, Whoozit® and a variety of new unique products such as The Kreechers Klub™. Find the perfect gift for the kids in your life at: http://www.manhattantoy.com/. Plus receive free shipping on any order $25 or more. Just enter promo code FREE@$25 at checkout.

Social Media 101 for Small Business Owners and Individuals
Should your business be on Facebook? Is Twitter important? Find out what you need to know (and what you don't) about social media marketing for your business or your career from Natalie Greve at Spot On | Smart Business Marketing. Contact Natalie at (612) 805-9749 or natalie@spotonsearches.com. Mention Promoting Brilliance for special rates. Learn more at http://nataliegreve.extendr.com/

Maiden Minnesota 2009
This special event celebrates locale female business owners and their products. This year’s event takes place on November 5, 2009 from 5-9PM at The Graves 601 Hotel - Minneapolis. Find out how to buy tickets at: http://maidenminnesota.blogspot.com

La Chaya Bistro
Yum! Yum! This amazing neighborhood spot features flavors from the Mediterranean and Mexico. Make reservations online and learn more about their hours and menus at: http://www.laychaya.com

Gluten Free Bakery & Market
Who said living gluten free means living without flavor? Madwoman Bakery & Market, located at 47th & Nicollet Avenue South in Minneapolis, makes wonderful breads and delightful teacakes! Learn more about this unique bakery alternative at: http://www.madwmanfoods.com

Promoting People's Brilliance: September 2009

noreply@blogger.com (Beth Wellesley) — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 17:06:00 +0000

Service Support for Small Business Owners and Individuals
Are you seeking help with your small business bookkeeping, administration or operations projects? Perhaps you need help keeping up with your family bookkeeping duties or need to get organized and prepare for the next tax season? Linda Bueckers of TMW Partners is an excellent resource and she is experienced with QuickBooks. Contact Linda directly at (763) 244-5943 or linda@tmwpartners.com Learn more about TMW Partners services at http://www.tmwpartners.com/index.html

Growth Through Volunteerism
Promoting Brilliance client, Linda Rasch, grows new farmers through her volunteer work with the Minnesota Food Association. This nonprofit trains beginning farmers in sustainable, organic vegetable production so that one-day they can own their own farms. You can support this important work and learn more at: http://www.mnfoodassociation.org

Energy producing foods for your Career & Life Blending needs:
- Think Products
These wonderful products have 20 grams of protein and also contain no sugar or gluten. You can purchase them on-line at Amazon or find them locally at Lund’s or Kowalski’s markets. Find out more about their products too at: http://www.thinkproducts.com/index.php

- Farm Fresh, Organic Vegetables
This summer our family enjoyed fresh, organic vegetables each week from Hay River Farms, run by Jim Bruns. We signed up for a weekly share in March or April and received fresh produce from July through October. Jim sends a newsletter each with week with cooking tips and interesting stories about what’s happening on the farm. You can contact Jim at hayriverfarm@gmail.com or learn more at: http://www.hayriverfarm.com.

- Free Directory of Organic Food Resources
Here’s a link to the Minnesota Department of Agriculture’s free directory: http://www3.mda.state.mn.us/mngrown/

Biography of a Modern Day Healthcare Hero: Dr. Paul Farmer
Mountains Beyond Mountains: The Quest of Dr. Paul Farmer, A Man Who Would Cure The World, by Tracy Kidder

New Service Delivery Options

noreply@blogger.com (Beth Wellesley) — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 17:05:00 +0000

Walk & Talks
For nearly two years we’ve offered sessions that incorporate walking with our individual and small group consulting sessions. We have amazing resources available to us to incorporate this format with the Peace Gardens, Rose Gardens, and Lake Harriet walking trails nearby. If you’ve never experienced the Elf House (see photo) on Lake Harriet, Beth would be happy to show it to you during a walk & talk session. Let’s activate your goals with this new format; you can reach Beth Wellesley at beth@promotingbrilliance.com

Personal Off Sites
We can create a unique offsite experience for you that will help you focus on your career and/or life blending considerations. We can design this unique time to include our walk & talk format as well as time in our offices to brainstorm, innovate, strategize, and formulate plans for your leadership vision, current change or transition strategies, career and life blending priorities, current transition or change, learning and development plans, or collaboration and communication planning. Contact Beth Wellesley at 612.824.0454 or beth@promotingbrilliance.com to discuss an opportunity for your customized, personal off site.

Skype Sessions
Promoting Brilliance is offering individual career and leadership sessions via Skype. This works well for people living outside the Twin Cities in Minnesota as well as for professionals too busy to meet in-person. Ask us for more details about this option at 612.824.0454 or beth@promotingbrilliance.com.

Finding Your Career Fulfillment

noreply@blogger.com (Beth Wellesley) — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 17:03:00 +0000

Promoting Brilliance is dedicated to helping people master career fulfillment. I’ve been asked on a number of occasions if is it possible today to find career fulfillment given all of the economic and organizational challenges of this past year? My response is---yes! In some ways it is even more possible—because it is the perfect time to follow our motto—find it inside and use it outside. The truth is if you identify what matters to you in your career and life now—you are making yourself ready to respond effectively to the uncertainty of our times and strengthen your confidence to navigate further change.

Our career, leadership and collaboration programs and services focus on fulfillment, sustainability, innovation and economic performance. Because we work with individuals and organizations we are also often asked what types of people or organizations work with Promoting Brilliance?

Who Works With Promoting Brilliance?
Below is a summary of the qualities and identifiers that individuals, managers or leaders often possess when engaging our services and programs.

- Professionals or people interested in a professional career (students through retirement)
- People who desire aligning their values and interests with their work and/or work environment
- People seeking strategic innovation, inspiration and insight for their career and life
- People experiencing subtle to significant change in their career or organizational direction
- People willing to financially invest in themselves as well as their work related and non-work related relationships
- People who value communication and the alignment of communication with decision-making (both self-communication and with others

Keyssential: Style Related Solutions for Stress

noreply@blogger.com (Beth Wellesley) — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 17:02:00 +0000

Dealing with stress today can be unique to your personality facet strengths. Consider these stress types as a way to help you find new approaches for finding humor and a way to move your stress into productive alternatives. Here are some examples of overstressed Keyssential Facets and how to work with them differently:

Worst Case Scenario Imaginers
Let go of the worst picture or story you are creating in your highly active mind. Find new ways to relax using mediation, yoga, or walking. If traditional seated meditation make you fidget take try something that occupies your attention such as chess, dancing or imaging the best-case scenario. Breathing exercises can also help draw your attention away your stress.

Obsessive Observers
If you’re yelling at others—please stop. Try something different that is a healthy alternative to intensity you are experiencing. Use some of your competitive drive by participating in a sport or doing something physically active outside. You don’t have to compete just stay active and be lively. Perhaps you create something that you find visually attractive or beautiful by gardening, painting, decorating, or improving something for yourself and others like fighting hunger or improving your golf swing.

Disenchanted Explorers
When you stop running away the problems will stop chasing you. Take action now, perhaps you can find the support of a friend or expert to get you organized and ready approach things from a pragmatic view point. Brainstorming can be creative if you commit to taking action to carry out your plans. Switch gears and visualize your steps, write them down and follow your own steps with the map you’ve created.

Survival Thinking Experiencers
If you find yourself overwhelmed with concerns about the future or your ability to stay on top of things, stay positive and remember how talented you are, be confident that with your ability to cope in the past. Make room and time for your favorite stress-related activities such as: cooking, reading, napping, exercise, time with your family or friends. If you have slipped out of your healthy habits be kind to yourself and remember you can schedule time for self-care. It’s time to make yourself a priority by going back to the basics: get enough sleep, eat healthy and stay active physically.

Emotional Brilliance @Work

noreply@blogger.com (Beth Wellesley) — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 17:00:00 +0000

Today it is especially important to understand self-trust as and how this relates to your ability to build trust with others. It begins with being present. It also means being open and giving value to the process of learning, practicing and strengthening your Emotional Brilliance™. This may require a commitment and discipline. The practice of strengthening your Emotional Brilliance is vital for the changes you are experiencing today, this relates to personal changes as well as those you may experience within business enterprises, work environments, educational organizations, and communities.

Use these recommendations listed below to develop a practice for developing your Emotional Brilliance. Remember this means giving yourself permission and time to:

- Stay present—don’t look too far back our too far ahead
- Reflect about your current experiences
- Consider the truth of your emotional experience during this reflection time
- Identify your emotions as they come up
- Do not judge your emotions or assign a label such as good or bad
- Avoid reacting to your emotional experience, slow down your process if need be
- View your emotional experience as a component of your perspective, not the end all be all
- When you express yourself, practice expressing your emotions from an observational view
point, this means one that is objective and compassionate to yourself and others
- Integrate the wisdom of your emotional language with your choices

Emotional Brilliance: Expanding Self-Trust

noreply@blogger.com (Beth Wellesley) — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 16:57:00 +0000

Emotions are a language. They are necessary for self-understanding. Emotions are not facts. The value of the language within our emotions is not good, bad, positive, nor negative. These are simply labels we have assigned to emotions in order to express our opinions of our experience or our beliefs about a particular situation. Avoid judging your emotions in this way. Why is this an important topic to explore? Because self-trust is vital when your goal is to lead and manage others effectively.

Our emotions are signals to let us know something is happening and they provide an opportunity to learn something about ourselves or find out something significant or unique about ourselves. They are natural builders and personal messengers that can help you strengthen relationships with others as well as yourself.

Trust starts from within; being committed to growing trust with yourself and others begins with having your own relationship with self-trust. Let’s explore the emotional brilliance of fear and how it is often the other side of the coin for trust, safety and even fun. When you experience fear or a lack of safety these emotions may be telling you it is time to look at how you define safety? Trust? Or even faith? It could be signaling you to take a risk and open up to new possibilities, or to consider what you care deeply about and how these emotions are manifesting attention to what you care about. Fear could be nudging you to stop limiting yourself and support your vitality.

Ask yourself the following questions to learn more you safety, fear and fun interact with our ability to experience and maintain self-trust:

- Are you willing to listen to yourself and witness your thoughts and feelings?
- Can you objectively understand your current situation?
- What fears or concerns do you need to acknowledge for yourself currently?
- What fears or changes are you possibly avoiding?
- Are you imagining the worst types of possibilities? Explain.
- Where and how is trust and self-trust playing a part in your current situation?
- How can you grow more self-trust?
- How could fun and humor support you now?
- What can you do to promote a sense of safety as well as fun or humor for yourself now?
- How can you be more compassionate with yourself or others so you can trust your ability to deal with the current circumstances?
- How can your own values support your next steps and choices?
- What is your priority?
- What do you need to reflect on next?

Promoting People's Brilliance: August 2009

noreply@blogger.com (Beth Wellesley) — Sat, 19 Sep 2009 03:03:00 +0000

Fabulous Art
I know so many talented people and I wanted to tell you about a local artist, Connie Kroskin. I can't help but promote her brilliance. You can preview her work at: http://www.conniekroskin.com

A Great Read
Feeling like you can't afford a vacation? Read The Geography of Bliss by Eric Weiner. You can find out more on his website at: http://www.ericweinerbooks.com/content/index.asp

10 Healthy Lunches Ideas You Can Take To Work
In case you were wondering there are "grown-up lunch" ideas available, including recipes and a grocery list to make it easier. You can find this link at: http://www.webmd.com/food-recipes/features/cheap-and-healthy-brown-bag-lunch-ideas-for-grownups