Staying ahead of the pack

By the time we hear about new ideas or trends it's probably too late.

Remember when we were all told to write articles like "7 reasons to buy such as such"?  Now everything I read seems to have been based on this golden rule - except now it's boring & the gold has turned to tin...

Companies like Saatchi & Saatchi try and stay ahead of the pack.  When all other companies seem to be going green, they are talking about blue.  But they are also working on the next colour!

In New Zealand we have a lot of sheep - but it doesn't mean we need to follow each other like a flock of sheep.  The challenge is to play our game by our rules & change them every now & then to keep the relevant.

I'm sorry

Often in times of conflict an apology is all that is needed to diffuse a situation.

An employee can apologise on behalf of a workplace, rather than apologising for something they have personally done.  I remember doing this when I worked for the Railways & the person complaining consoled me by saying "It's OK, it's not your fault".

Likewise, it's possible to say sorry that a situation had occurred.  Again, it's not taking personal responsibility but acknowledging the disappointment of an event.  This is useful if each party blames the other.  An apology can open the door to constructive dialogue.

Finally, if you are responsible - fess up & apologise - fix it - learn from it - and then move on positively!

My 4 top diet tips

Water - A glass of water before a meal can fill the stomach & leaves less room for over-eating

Brush teeth - Changing habits like brushing teeth after a meal rather than before bed can stop snacking after meals.

Leftovers - Leaving food on your plate can create a feeling of control over the food.  Parents may have drilled in negative messages of starving children or making the cook feel bad by leaving food.

Exercise - A work out is a great way of burning calories.  It also creates healthier eating patterns.  Careful not to cut back the calories too quickly while the body adjusts to the additional exercise.

The logistics of dying

When I saw some of the challenges my mother-in-law had to deal with, caring for her husband at home  who is terminally ill with a brain tumour, I searched for a solution to help with communication.

I thought there must be a tool that can assist with communication.

When I couldn't find anything, I developed a sheet that can be laminated & used to make communication easier.

The sheet deals with the basics such as:

• What day it is.
• What the meals will be.
• When visitors will be welcome.
• What events will be taking place that day.
• Any notes.

The second page is a device to help with communication when the patient has difficulty with verbal communication.  It has letters, numbers, words and a scale to indicate responses.  

If you know someone who could benefit from this idea, please feel free to use it.  If you have any suggestions for improvements, please let me know.