by Michelle Geromel | Human Capital, Productivity
I was recently talking with one of my 1-on-1 coaching clients about imbalances in their team, and how that had negatively impacted their best and brightest people. Our best resources deserve to be elevated and honored for their loyalty, commitment and rock-star status. But often, especially when we are so busy doing the day to day, they are not. This includes hiring the best person for the job – period. There is a lot of talk these days about doing the opposite. And honestly, that isn’t going to net you the best outcomes. I’m not saying don’t cast a wide net, with open arms for all possibilities. But let’s make sure we hire based on capability, not something else (including desperation). Because when we hire for other reasons, everyone suffers (including your new hire). The other part of this equation is: If you allow sub-par resources to remain sub-par (by refusing to help them reach their potential; refusing to manage them and give them direction; refusing to give heart-centered accountability and definitions of success people crave; or refusing to admit you made a hiring mistake) then you will loose your best people. I know in the past few years, there are pockets of our economy where employers were desperate to have anyone work for them. However, to state the obvious – desperation is never a good long term strategy. And while it is understandable in the moment, that energy will harm a business faster than anything else. Yes, that can mean some difficult conversations and difficult actions. Yes, that can be painful in the short term. And yes, a...
by Michelle Geromel | Human Capital
There is a lot of talk these days about Male Energy. And unfortunately a lot of that talk makes it sound like to have Male Energy is “wrong.” And that the only logical energy to possess is Female Energy. The logic is a little off. The reason for wars, the greed of SOME corporations, and oppression of women is that there was/is an imbalance in the world right now. Where there is and has been for thousands of years too much male energy, and not enough female energy. This doesn’t make Male Energy wrong. It just is pointing out to us, that there is a current imbalance in the world. The is a lot of Yang/Male Energy being exonerated and yet Ying/Female Energy has been suppressed and not honored or encouraged. And so I suppose it is only natural that some people in an attempt to tip the scales to be more balanced, have completely gone off the deep end. And are blaming Yang, Male Energy for all the ills of the earth. It is a lack of balance, and a lack of Ying, Female Energy being allowed to CO-EXIST that is the reason for these issues. In my opinion, there is nothing “wrong” with Male Energy. Just like there is nothing “wrong” with Female Energy. The world needs both. And men – actually do need more Male Energy than Female Energy. And women – we need mostly Female Energy, but mixed with a little Male Energy. (Hence the dot in the middle of each side of the Ying/Yang symbol filled with the opposite side of the spectrum.) Women...
by Michelle Geromel | Goal Setting
Less than a year ago, a client of mine was laughing at the idea of having a social media strategy. But after having an open mind enough to implement the first half of the social media strategy I suggested for him, here?s what he has to say. ?After working with Michelle for about 6 months a revenue stream that was previously 20% of our business has increased to become 75% of our business revenue. At the least cost ever for advertising & marketing.? I might add that this revenue stream was the one that got his juices flowing and made business fun. And so through his changed marketing strategy, he was able to focus more of his time and energy on the side of his business he enjoyed the most. And at the end of the day, isn?t that what most entrepreneurs want? I first got into social media as a way to promote my art. The art market has really changed in the past 5 years. And the way most artists made their money has changed as well. With gallery after gallery closing their doors, unable to cope with the recession and changes in buying habits of their clientele I wanted to find a way to feel more at-cause over my sales. Social media has allowed me to do just that. And now the overwhelming majority of my sales come from online sources (between 85-95% of my revenue annually). All thanks to Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and YouTube. All driving sales to both my independent websites as well as online art retailers. And of course my consulting work, is...
by Michelle Geromel | Goal Setting
As busy business owners and key executives, we often feel indispensable to the business. And while this is probably a very accurate representation of reality, we still need to find time to take off an allow ourselves to unplug. There are a myriad of studies regarding this topic. And while I?m sure most everyone is aware of them, still a large portion of entrepreneurs and executives find themselves working 7 days a week. Why do we do this to ourselves? I think because we forget why time off and rest are so important. If you are in the group – here?s a list of 5 key reasons why taking time off will actually help your business and you. 1) We get hooked on the adrenaline rush that comes with needing to get the team, or a project, or the company over a hump. And when that time is over, we are so use to that temporary high that comes with working around the clock, that we continue to do so even when it is no longer necessary. A good doctor will point out that we will burn out our adrenals this way. Which will lead to weight gain, decreased sex drive, and overall fatigue. 2) We need sleep. Everyone?s body is different. And men typically need less sleep then woman. But generally, everyone needs somewhere between 6 and 8 hours a night. Without sleep tasks that take use 30 minutes can now take hours. So if you want to maintain key analysis skill, and quickly and efficiently make good decisions and crunch numbers quickly, get some rest. 3) Recharged...
