June 2021

YOUR HEALTH

Long before a techy gadget, I have been a proponent of Fit Bits: quick little exercise moments that can make a big difference. We have all the best intentions to get some exercise in but life happens. I’m not one to waste any time as I am high on the Utilitarian scale, and my Fit Bits might just be the ticket for you!

• While you let your hair conditioner soak (some say up to 3 minutes), do some dips on the shower bench or wall push-ups. Try 15 each and do it twice.
• When you are out walking the dog, do some lunges. Lunges with a high knee or side leg kick are killer.
• Sitting and watching TV? Stretch your upper body, back and legs.
• Talking on the phone? Stand up and walk around.
• Traveling on a bus or airplane? Practice the 10/10/10 breathing technique: inhale for 10 seconds, hold for 10 seconds and exhale for 10 seconds. It’s an amazing stress buster!
• Waiting in line at the grocery store? Do some squats! We are past worrying about what other people think, right?
• When running errands, park your car as far away as you can to get the extra steps.
• Take the stairs when possible.
• Watching kids play? Join them! Jump, twist, run and move.
• When typing at your computer or composing a text, sit up super straight and contract your abs. Work on that posture any time you can!
• When cooking at the stove, stand on one leg for 10 seconds then switch.
• While lying in bed reading, do leg lifts: left then right, 15 each leg.

 You may have your own Fit Bits and that is great! Any little bit of exercise, movement, and stress management we can do is helpful. The key is to remember not to wait for perfect or a lot of time. Fit it in when and where you can.

YOUR LIFE

I heard someone say that life is full of trials to overcome to provide us the opportunity to grow and become better. As someone who is an overcomer, I can appreciate the saying; however, not everyone is able to view challenges as growth opportunities. Some get stuck looking at what they lost, allowing bitterness to take root.

Bitterness is a cousin to anger, and both can fester internally causing physical, mental, emotional and spiritual illness. Bitterness is sneaky. It starts as simply being annoyed, frustrated or disappointed. Life certainly has plenty of let downs and set-backs, but it is what we do with the emotions that matters. Do we process them in a healthy manner, or do we stuff them? Worse yet, do we feed them with more negativity?

If we aren’t careful, the hard times are all we see. We are wounded and feel defeated, and we become blind to the blessings that surround us. There by the grace of God go any of us! For me, it is why I spend a lot of time out in nature so that I am reminded of God wherever I look. For others, it might be art or poetry or spending quality time with loved ones. What’s important is that you know what feeds your soul and keeps the cancer of bitterness at bay.

We all have bad days, but don’t let the hiccups ruin the wonderful life you have been given. Each and every day is a gift, and there is plenty of good to be seen, heard, felt, touched and tasted if we will open up our hearts to it. If you are struggling to see anything positive, BE it! Don’t wait on someone else because as you give, you will be blessed.

YOUR CAREER

As a recruiter, I am saddened by how companies handle the hiring process. Their job posts say how they value their employees, yet at the offer stage, they low ball the candidate and try to get someone as cheap as they can. The working relationship begins at the offer stage. What you say and offer here sets the stage for the employee’s attitude moving forward…and they haven’t even stepped foot in your facility yet!

Why on earth would you want to leave a sour, bitter taste in a person’s mouth before their first day? I get that budgets must be kept, but if you can’t pay what is fair, you have bigger issues. I’ve said it before, and I will say it again: fair is fair! You don’t have to pay the highest salary, but you most certainly need to be competitive.

One of the mistakes being made is applying a one-size-fits-all approach to every candidate. Your candidates may have similar resumes, but there are those who stand out. They have done the extra work, gained expanded experience or obtained high education you seek. The top tier of your candidate pool should not be paid the same as the lower level.

Put your money where your mouth is! If you want the best, pay for it. Don’t dink around and try to undercut someone. If you do, they are already looking for the next gig in their mind…and you wonder why your turnover is high!?

As a consultant, I will get to the root of your issue and help you set policies and procedures in place to hire the best people from the offer letter on. Give me a call.

MONTHLY FEATURE

Turn your tragedies into victories with my book, Defy Your Diagnosis: Overcome Any Obstacle with the FIT Life Formula.  The principles outlined in it saved my life mentally, emotionally, physically and spiritually. I prayer is that you, too, will be an overcomer and defy your diagnosis!