Facebook, My Space, Linkedin, Twitter are all popular social networking tools. There seems to be no end to this growing trend. Some people think it's too much and could be keeping us away from other important activities. My opinion is each serves a unique purpose that can lead to relationship building, continuous learning, a good laugh and even some efficiency. But like all good things, it too can be abused and take people away from what's important like their families. Here are some reasons I believe they are good tools.
Linkedin - Everyone that knows me understands I am an avid user and fan of Linkedin. I view this tool as a way to stay in touch with professional colleagues, to advertise yourself or your business, to find business contacts, and to find answers to business related questions through the numerous professional groups found on this network. You can also look for jobs on Linkedin.
Facebook is a great tool to stay in touch with long lost friends. Simply create a profile, and your high school reunion committee will find you. This tool is dependant on an invitation being accepted by the other before the relationship begins just like Linkedin. Facebook is efficient for posting family information such as vacation pictures or your children's accomplishments. This is far more efficient than sending eMails and managing e:mail addresses. Facebook also contains professional profile information and groups that can be joined. Facebook is likely to replace Linkedin in the far future due to the higher number of users especially with the younger population.
Twitter is somewhat new to the social networking scene and very different from the others. It's not dependant on acceptance of invitations. Anyone can follow anyone. It's limited to a tag line of 140 spaces in each post. Businesses are now creating profiles which you can follow and read their headlines. You choose to follow those who you wish to follow whether this be friends, organizations, subject matter experts in any field, publishers or like minded individuals who share comments of interest to you. For instance I follow news publications and process improvement groups and individuals who are publishing articles, comments, blogs, etc. of interest to me. Interesting way to find information. Google...watch out!
Learning and keeping in touch are my primary reasons for using these tools. I find value in them because they are free, easy to use, and have huge payoffs. Once you are connected you will eliminate wasteful activities of maintaining contact lists and searching for people you use to know or work with. Not to mention, reading some of your friends' posts are a great way to laugh a little at the end of a stressful day. And we all need more laughter!
Thursday, March 12, 2009
Thursday, March 5, 2009
Recycle Tip 101
Who likes to take the trash out? Wouldn't it be great if we could do it less often? The answer is simple. Recycle. I was recently speaking to a friend of mine about this concept and after discussing a plan that would work in her home, she suggested I post it on my blog.
First, all paper products should be placed in a plastic tub placed in the garage or other conspicuous location. Newspapers, magazines, envelopes from opened mail, junk mail, cereal boxes, cookie boxes, etc. are all candidates for paper recycling. Flatten out your boxes to create more space in your recycle tub. Take the tub to the neighborhood recycle bins once a week.
For paper, such as mail, letters, bills, etc. that has sensitive information on it, you might consider investing in a high quality shredder which is also placed in the garage and empties into your plastic tub for recycled paper.
Plastic containers and canned items, once rinsed out, can go into a garbage can stored in your pantry or other enclosed area. Most neighborhoods will pick this up weekly outside your home if placed in the recycle trash bags purchased at the grocery stores.
Once you start practicing these great recycle habits, you will be happy about the reduced number of trips to the outside garbage can! Plus you're helping to save the environment.
First, all paper products should be placed in a plastic tub placed in the garage or other conspicuous location. Newspapers, magazines, envelopes from opened mail, junk mail, cereal boxes, cookie boxes, etc. are all candidates for paper recycling. Flatten out your boxes to create more space in your recycle tub. Take the tub to the neighborhood recycle bins once a week.
For paper, such as mail, letters, bills, etc. that has sensitive information on it, you might consider investing in a high quality shredder which is also placed in the garage and empties into your plastic tub for recycled paper.
Plastic containers and canned items, once rinsed out, can go into a garbage can stored in your pantry or other enclosed area. Most neighborhoods will pick this up weekly outside your home if placed in the recycle trash bags purchased at the grocery stores.
Once you start practicing these great recycle habits, you will be happy about the reduced number of trips to the outside garbage can! Plus you're helping to save the environment.
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Improving and Simplifying using Six Sigma
As a Six Sigma professional I have seen many uses of Six Sigma methodology and principles improve and simplify the quality of a process. Many of these concepts are Japanese terms since Japanese companies perfected the use of Six Sigma such as Motorola and Toyota.
For instance Kaisen is a way of thinking that small or incremental improvements can make a change for the better. Underscore the importance of small and incremental improvements in making improvements in any process. Process refers to a string of actions focused towards a goal or end result. Examples of processes are cooking dinner, health and fitness routines, or building an airplane. Muda is a Japanese term meaning waste or any activity that adds no real value. Six Sigma principles fight to reduce and and eliminate waste or all non value steps to any process.
Six Sigma doesn't have to be just about the corporation. We can use these principles to simplify and organize our home and life. Take small steps to organize and improve your household activities. Remove all steps in your process that add no real value to the end result. In another words, if you spend time on meaningless activities that serve no real purpose to your overall goals and well being, these could be considered wasteful and non productive.
It’s about becoming efficient and in busy households where time is limited, sometimes we need to be efficient to create more time to do the things we really enjoy like spending more time with our families. We don't have to use statistics to improve our lives, but it's about adopting a mindset or principles using this fast growing philosophy of Six Sigma.
For instance Kaisen is a way of thinking that small or incremental improvements can make a change for the better. Underscore the importance of small and incremental improvements in making improvements in any process. Process refers to a string of actions focused towards a goal or end result. Examples of processes are cooking dinner, health and fitness routines, or building an airplane. Muda is a Japanese term meaning waste or any activity that adds no real value. Six Sigma principles fight to reduce and and eliminate waste or all non value steps to any process.
Six Sigma doesn't have to be just about the corporation. We can use these principles to simplify and organize our home and life. Take small steps to organize and improve your household activities. Remove all steps in your process that add no real value to the end result. In another words, if you spend time on meaningless activities that serve no real purpose to your overall goals and well being, these could be considered wasteful and non productive.
It’s about becoming efficient and in busy households where time is limited, sometimes we need to be efficient to create more time to do the things we really enjoy like spending more time with our families. We don't have to use statistics to improve our lives, but it's about adopting a mindset or principles using this fast growing philosophy of Six Sigma.
Thursday, February 19, 2009
The Lost Art of Thank You Notes
In the electronic world we live in, we have simply lost the fine art of a hand written thank you note. We have also missed the true value of it's simplicity. Think about it. How welcoming is it to receive a handwritten note in the mail along with all the other depressing bills and solicitation offers you receive on a regular basis? A hand written thank you note is a way to add a personal touch which will always be remembered and appreciated by your clients, friends, or prospective employers. The fact that it's handwritten will add value to the recipient, especially if it's heartfelt.
It's not that complicated in the electronic age we live in to do this. Simply have a supply of thank you notes, stamps and return address labels and away you go with your thank yous to anyone who did something nice to you, whether it was a birthday or holiday gift or a gesture by someone who interviewed you or better yet, the secretary who organized the interview for you. Anyone who has helped you along the way, or has purchased your services will remember your sincere thank you note and may even refer you because you stood out. Its a great way to build a connection or build a personal brand, by setting yourself apart from those that send computer letters or don't send letters at all. Its a simple strategy for business owners, job seekers or anyone receiving a service or gift. It's also a great technique to teach your children in an age when this practice is becoming a lost art.
It's not that complicated in the electronic age we live in to do this. Simply have a supply of thank you notes, stamps and return address labels and away you go with your thank yous to anyone who did something nice to you, whether it was a birthday or holiday gift or a gesture by someone who interviewed you or better yet, the secretary who organized the interview for you. Anyone who has helped you along the way, or has purchased your services will remember your sincere thank you note and may even refer you because you stood out. Its a great way to build a connection or build a personal brand, by setting yourself apart from those that send computer letters or don't send letters at all. Its a simple strategy for business owners, job seekers or anyone receiving a service or gift. It's also a great technique to teach your children in an age when this practice is becoming a lost art.
Friday, February 13, 2009
Purging and Simplifying
No matter where you are in life, regular purging and organizing is necessary to reducing clutter and more importantly stress! All of us have things in our home that we no longer use or want. Purging these items on a regular basis will keep you organized and stress free. The areas that have the most potential for purging are toys, closets, drawers and cabinets. If you get overwhelmed at the thought of all this, take it one step at a time, or one drawer at a time.
When purging toys, get your children involved. Tell them you need their help on which unused toys you should give to charity to help other children who don't have as many. They will love to help with this fun project and they learn to give at the same time.
When purging in your closets, use a 12 month rule. If you haven't worn it in the last 12 months or it hasn't fit you in the last 24 months, purge it! Only keep items that fit this rule if they are unique and special items that you want to keep for a wedding, special occasion, etc. The purged clothes can be given to consignment stores, charitable organizations or someone you know who needs them. It will make you feel good when you see how much they appreciate it.
Purging cabinets for medicines and canned or packaged pantry goods not used in 12 to 24 months is often needed too. Look for unused items in your kitchen cabinets like sippy cups or baby bottles when the youngest child in your house is far beyond that stage. Review plastic cups and storage containers to see if you can get by with less.
Another great way to handle your purged items it to have a garage sale. Garage sales are great ways to make some extra spending money. Getting the kids involved to help with the sale teaches them about organization and the value of money.
If you get in the habit of purging on a regular basis, you will be amazed at how much more space you have. Now you can find the things you often couldn't locate in all the clutter!
When purging toys, get your children involved. Tell them you need their help on which unused toys you should give to charity to help other children who don't have as many. They will love to help with this fun project and they learn to give at the same time.
When purging in your closets, use a 12 month rule. If you haven't worn it in the last 12 months or it hasn't fit you in the last 24 months, purge it! Only keep items that fit this rule if they are unique and special items that you want to keep for a wedding, special occasion, etc. The purged clothes can be given to consignment stores, charitable organizations or someone you know who needs them. It will make you feel good when you see how much they appreciate it.
Purging cabinets for medicines and canned or packaged pantry goods not used in 12 to 24 months is often needed too. Look for unused items in your kitchen cabinets like sippy cups or baby bottles when the youngest child in your house is far beyond that stage. Review plastic cups and storage containers to see if you can get by with less.
Another great way to handle your purged items it to have a garage sale. Garage sales are great ways to make some extra spending money. Getting the kids involved to help with the sale teaches them about organization and the value of money.
If you get in the habit of purging on a regular basis, you will be amazed at how much more space you have. Now you can find the things you often couldn't locate in all the clutter!
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