Self Improvement Site
On The Internet! Take the Self Improvement Tour
On The Internet! Take the Self Improvement Tour
Articles from Darcy Eikenberg | Selfgrowth.com
- Is It The Culture? Or Is It You? - by Submitted on Aug 27, 2011 from Darcy EikenbergAfter more than 4000 private phone calls were illegally hacked by News of the World reporters (causing a scandal that shut down the high-circulation, highly profitable newspaper) journalist Carl Bernstein quoted an employee who said that media baron Rupert Murdoch "invented and established this ...
Views: 606 - 4 Ways To Get Ready For Your Next Act - by Submitted on Aug 27, 2011 from Darcy EikenbergDuring a family vacation in and around Times Square, it was hard not to think about all who make their livelihood on the stage. While we enjoy the lights and hear the applause, it's still hard work for the actors every time the curtain goes up. Finding your next act is hard work, too, yet so ...
Views: 632 - The Four-Letter Words You Need To Use At Work! - by Submitted on Jun 29, 2011 from Darcy EikenbergThere's nothing like a good four-letter word, right? It can express an emotion and energy that's hard to get across any other way. And of course, the well-timed four-letter word can actually make an impact on everyone around you. Oh wait – did you think I was talking about swear words like ...
Views: 732(2 votes) - The Graduation Speech I Never Gave - by Submitted on Jun 29, 2011 from Darcy EikenbergCongratulations graduates! You’re saying goodbye to four years of academic challenge and entering the new world of work. Don’t shudder—this is going to be great. And we need you. Really—I’ll tell you why in a minute. But we need you to know a few other things first—things they didn’t tell you ...
Views: 765(2 votes) - How to Make Uncomfortable Your New Comfortable - by Submitted on May 03, 2011 from Darcy EikenbergWe spend a lot of time and money on comfort. We search for the right pillow, the right chair, the right shoes (although my stiletto-wearing friends will disagree with that one). And yet, many of the best things for us make us uncomfortable. The doctor's visit where we calibrate our health . ...
Views: 764(1 vote) - The Five Secrets to WorkLuck - by Submitted on Mar 29, 2011 from Darcy EikenbergWhen I left my long-time corporate leadership role to launch my own business, our team gave me a lovely set of candles, each with an inspirational word on it. I keep these in my office, rotating different ones to the front when I need its message most. So, on stressful days, “peace” is there to ...
Views: 647 - What To Do When There's Too Much To Do - by Submitted on Mar 15, 2011 from Darcy EikenbergI'll often say "I'd rather be busy than bored." But lately as I talk to my clients and audiences, it seems we could all use a little less "busy" and a little more boredom! As our economy and the seasons emerge from their own deep-freeze, we're juggling more than ever in our work and lives. ...
Views: 688 - How to Play Without Rules - by Submitted on Feb 02, 2011 from Darcy EikenbergHere in the southern U.S. where I live, we’ve finally thawed out from a week of solid (pun intended) ice covering the roads and sidewalks, virtually shutting everyone in for almost a week. The freakishly strong storm and lasting arctic chill seemed to give people permission to break some rules – ...
Views: 772 - The Five You Forgot to Thank - by Submitted on Nov 24, 2010 from Darcy EikenbergThe US Thanksgiving holiday comes and goes so quickly, so let's just assume we've done a good job of expressing thanks for the biggies: our families, friends, and close colleagues; the men and women serving and protecting our communities and countries; our farmers and factory workers providing ...
Views: 731(3 votes) - Are You a Follow-up Failure? - by Submitted on Nov 03, 2010 from Darcy EikenbergTrue story: A well-connected coach and career development expert volunteered her services at a large career fair. During the event, she worked with 26 job seekers individually and talked to maybe seven more. Each person she met took her card, and many scribbled notes on the back. The expert ...
Views: 876(5 votes) - Your Superpowers At Work - by Submitted on Sep 30, 2010 from Darcy EikenbergRemember when you were a kid, and you played superhero? You flung your red cape around your shoulders, and – wham-o! – you could use your powers to change the world. (Or maybe just the backyard.) And then you grew up, and tossed the cape in the closet. You zipped up your school clothes, ...
Views: 1090(7 votes) - Click Less ... and Connect More - by Submitted on Aug 27, 2010 from Darcy EikenbergHow many times have you walked into a meeting and noticed everyone heads down and fingers flying? This scenario is all-too-familiar in our workplaces, not to mention our homes. And we’ve accepted it as normal. In fact, I’ve heard arguments that our head-bowed, thumb-dancing behavior is the ...
Views: 779(4 votes) - Your Magic Wand at Work - by Submitted on Aug 27, 2010 from Darcy EikenbergIf you had a magic wand, what would you do to make your challenges at work go poof!? I recently asked members of my Community that question, and was surprised to see that their answers fell into three distinct categories: the personal, the powerful, and the possible. The Personal For many, ...
Views: 778(4 votes) - On Deck: Your Ideal Team - by Submitted on Jun 21, 2010 from Darcy EikenbergLegendary basketball coach John Wooden, who recently passed away at age 99, said, "The main ingredient of stardom is the rest of the team." (I suspect that hoops uber-superstar LeBron James is thinking the same thing as he debates his upcoming free agent move.) If it's true that the team's ...
Views: 744(9 votes) - The Art of Acknowledgement - by Submitted on Jun 05, 2010 from Darcy EikenbergOne of my clients said of her boss, “Just once, I’d like to hear her tell me what’s good about my work, instead of pointing out everything I didn’t do.” Sound familiar? Which brain cell warped making it so much easier to notice – and talk about – the bad stuff, while ignoring all the good that ...
Views: 2169 - Breaking the "Busy" Bias - by Submitted on Mar 27, 2010 from Darcy EikenbergDon't misunderstand – I am a fan of being busy! There's nothing better than doing work you love . . . work that makes a contribution and creates results . . . and work that feeds your brain, heart, and soul. If you're busy with that, congratulations! You're unique. For many of us, though, ...
Views: 690(1 vote) - Finding Innovation Inspiration - by Submitted on Feb 26, 2010 from Darcy EikenbergLet's pause for a moment to celebrate three unique innovators who died this year: Curtis Allina, Art Clokey, and Walter Morrison. What--you haven't heard of them? I bet you know their creations well: Pez, Gumby, and Frisbee. I dare you not to grin when saying those three words! Pez, ...
Views: 1313(6 votes) - Ten Talent Wishes for 2010 - by Submitted on Jan 23, 2010 from Darcy EikenbergIt's my privilege as a leadership coach to work with and speak to many ambitious, hard-working and energetic people. They're often the up-and-coming talent, the get-it-done gang, and the backbone of a company's next generation of success. But they want more. They want to be heard--and they ...
Views: 692 - Caution! Pilgrims at Work - by Submitted on Jan 23, 2010 from Darcy EikenbergIf you're picturing pilgrims as those black-and-white clad Puritans who came over on the Mayflower, you're not alone. That's the image that comes to mind for most of us. But lately, I've been noticing a trend --that when we look hard enough, we're surrounded by pilgrims at work. With ...
Views: 714 - The Real Gifts to Give - by Submitted on Jan 23, 2010 from Darcy EikenbergA few months ago, I really looked forward to this December, deciding I'd take full advantage of the holiday season. I wanted to make a gingerbread house; I wanted to linger in new stores and find creative, surprising gifts; I wanted to bake cookies for my wonderful neighbors. But my ...
Views: 713 - How to be More Like My Dad - by Submitted on Jan 23, 2010 from Darcy EikenbergAfter sharing advice my dad gave me with one of my coaching clients, the client sighed and said, "I wish I could be more like your dad." I smiled and moved on, but the thought stuck in my head. How would someone become more like my dad exactly? Would they really want to be? (Mom, you can't ...
Views: 728 - Motion of Emotion - by Submitted on Jan 23, 2010 from Darcy EikenbergI have a milestone birthday fast approaching. I used to get emotional about birthdays, but not anymore. Maybe it helped to hear my grandmother Muz (who lived to be 91, and who I miss every day) tell me "Birthdays are better than the alternative." Even if you're not celebrating a milestone ...
Views: 865 - Playing in No-Fail Mode - by Submitted on Jan 23, 2010 from Darcy EikenbergWhat would you do if you knew you could not fail?" I've always loved that quote. But faced with day-to-day challenges of serving my clients, running a business, and volunteering in my community, I can certainly struggle to live that brave philosophy consistently. You too, huh? But my ...
Views: 965 - Questions to Quelch Conflict - by Submitted on Jan 23, 2010 from Darcy EikenbergTimes of extreme change--such as those we're living in now--create extreme opportunity. They also create extreme conflict. Opportunity we love; conflict, well, not so much. It's not that conflict is bad--in fact, by challenging the status quo, conflict can help generate fresh new information ...
Views: 898 - How To Stay Sunny When The Sun Isn't Shining - by Submitted on Jan 05, 2010 from Darcy EikenbergAs the seasons change from summer to autumn, there's an attitude change in the air, too. Some of it is good stuff, as we get re-focused on our goals and on wrapping up this year with success on our terms. But sometimes fall comes with that same sad squawking sound that the geese make--the ...
Views: 717(1 vote) - The Place to Invest Now - by Submitted on Jan 05, 2010 from Darcy EikenbergMany people are scared to invest now, with the market up and down. Too bad no one can predict the future. This uneasiness may make you wry of financial investments, but it gives us plenty of opportunity to look at the hottest place to invest now--you. It's time to invest in your knowledge, ...
Views: 699(1 vote) - The Antidote to Fear - by Submitted on Jan 05, 2010 from Darcy EikenbergI started thinking about the four-letter words being tossed about are intense . . .F-A-I-L . . . C-U-T-S. . . D-O-W-N . . .B-A-N-K . . . and those don't even include the more, ahem, "colorful" ones I know you're using. In my opinion, the mack-daddy of four-letter words is F-E-A-R. If there ...
Views: 947(1 vote) - The Three Smartest Things You're Not Doing At Work Yet - by Submitted on Jan 05, 2010 from Darcy EikenbergWhat's keeping you from doing the smart things you already know how to do? Someone asked me that a couple weeks ago, and I've been mulling it over ever since. After all, if we a) know it's smart, and b) know how to do it, and c) we're smart, then why don't we d) do the smart things?? ...
Views: 683(1 vote) - Your Six Special Self-Marketing Tools - by Submitted on Jan 05, 2010 from Darcy Eikenberg"Reinvention is the new black," said my friend Melissa. The fact that we were having this thought-provoking chat real-time over Facebook provides more evidence that we are certainly living in a time when everything's being reinvented--even conversations between friends. Many of us are ...
Views: 1412(1 vote) - The Ten People You Need at Work - by Submitted on Jan 05, 2010 from Darcy EikenbergIf our workplace was a book, it'd be filled with intriguing, fascinating characters. Sure, we meet our share of evil villains. But we also connect with folks who are ready to support us in all different ways--including some ways you may not expect. These are the people you need at work. As ...
Views: 720(1 vote)