Q-Tip It!Written by Maureen Killoran
Back in 1920’s when Polish-American entrepreneur Leo Gerstenzang invented cotton swabs as a safer way to clean his baby’s ears, he called his product “Q-Tip.” Actually, his first name-choice was “Baby Gay” – but that didn’t sell, so by-now familiar name emerged. Mr. Gerstenzang chose “Q” for Quality . . . and he must have been on to something, because Q-Tip has become a household word (and we’ve developed a whole ‘nother set of connotations for ‘Baby Gay.’) Which made Q-Tip a good choice for an acronym that’s going ‘round in motivational workshops these days: Quit Taking It Personally! I have a jar of those little white-tipped tools on my vanity, and every morning they remind me to use this quick-and-easy stress reduction technique: Q-Tip It! - The traffic jam or flat tire, or keys that get locked in car are not part of a plan to ruin your day. Q-Tip It – Quit Taking It Personally!
- The keys that can never be found are just inanimate objects, and there is no moral value attributable to being able to find everything anyway. Q-Tip It!
- The computer that freezes just when you’ve got an important report to print really IS just a stupid machine. Take a deep breath and repeat maxim about accepting things you cannot change. Above all -- Q-Tip It!
- The supervisor who wants everything done yesterday has a problem with time management and scheduling. You’re more likely to find a constructive way to deal with this of persistent stress situation if you Q-Tip It!
| | Sorry, What's Your Name Again?Written by Eric Plantenberg
You're at an event and a prospective client you have been hoping to work with for a while introduces herself. You shake her hand and no sooner does handshake than - whoops! Her name vanishes into thin air. You could not remember name if somebody paid you. Frustrating? Embarrassing? Costly? Yes, yes, and yes. Let's explore reasons and resources to eliminate this and other memory challenges. Dale Carnegie, in his all-time bestseller How to Win Friends and Influence People, says, "the sweetest sound in world is sound of a person's own name." Even though most professionals recognize this, it is undeniable that most people are plagued with forgetting names at one time or another. How could something so simple be so tough? The top reason for memory challenges is that most professionals have never learned how to train their recall abilities. Everyone has ability to make huge improvements in his or her recall ability. Rather, it is a "trained" and "untrained" memory. Your recall is not a talent - it's a skill that can be learned and improved. If you want to improve your recall of important client information, points to cover in presentations, answers to objections, technical information, and other critical data, try some of simple strategies below to improve your memory skills. Remembering Names 1. Slow down and listen. Names that you forget immediately you never heard at all. The first 15 seconds of a relationship are most critical - so when meeting someone new, make sure to stop, clear your mind, and invest a few seconds just paying attention. It saves time and frustration. 2. Repeat name aloud...two or three times. Do not overdo it, but when someone says her name is Mary, for example, introduce yourself by saying: "Mary?" Then you will know you heard it correctly. "Nice to meet you Mary." Be conversational but conscientious about your introductions. Using somebody's name within first few seconds of you meeting locks name into your mind - plus it makes a great first impression.
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