Working Wednesday: Learn to Assess Motives

There are probably many wonderful, kind-hearted people in your workplace.  Individuals who simply want to do the best job they can for the benefit of the organization.  Unfortunately, there are probably others who do no fit that description.

It's important to assess the motives of your coworkers.  You can do this through interactions and observations.  Pay attention to how they keep their word, how dependable they are, how they treat coworkers and how consistent they are in various situations.

This is important because most of us need people at work we can talk to when we are having a bad day.  This is not daily venting but the occasional need to discuss a stressful situation either at work or at home.  If you talk to a genuine, kind and honest coworker, your conversation will remain between the two of you.  He or she may offer help or suggest other resources.  If you pick the wrong person to have this discussion, he or she may use the information against you.  It may get twisted and spread around the office.  This gossiping may be done as a way for the person to appear in-the-know or to potentially hurt your career.

You may also want to consider someone's motives at work when you are selecting a coworker to ask for help or to write a recommendation.  You need to know who you can trust and who you should keep at an arm's length when dealing with personal or important issues.

You can't avoid those who may take advantage of the situation but you can be more guarded in your interactions with them.

Never Become So Much Of An Expert....

Emergency Kit Series: Pain Reliever

My husband and I are generally healthy but we do get headaches from time to time.  In an emergency, there is a chance we may get some bumps and bruises.  I've decided to include a bottle of pain reliever in the kit for those reasons. I already had an extra bottle so it was another "free" addition.

Emergency Kit Purchases So Far:
Container ($22)
Water ($4.68)
Towels (Free) 
Blankets (Free) 
Radio (Free)  
Toilet Paper (Free) 
Pain Reliever (Free)

Highest Appreciation

Happy Thanksgiving

I hope that everyone has a chance to pause for a moment today and be thankful.  

Merriam-Webster defines thankful as being 'conscious of benefits received.'  I believe so many of us feel we offer thanks but are not conscious of all the benefits we have.  We forget that things as simple as running water or a roof over our heads are not guarantees. We often forget that we should offer thanks for them. 

My husband and I are fortunate to get to have Thanksgiving meals with both of our families.  I am thankful for all of the food we have access to and, more importantly, all of the people we will get to share it with.

Working Wednesday: Be Kind and Helpful

For many people work is stressful.  It's easy for stress to manifest itself into unkind words or unhelpful actions.  For example, it's easy to not spend the five extra minutes it may take to answer a coworker's question because you are too busy.

There may be times when you just can't escape from a schedule of meetings or tasks to help someone.  There may be times when you need to rush to make a commitment and don't get to wish a coworker happy birthday.  However, those times should be the exception and not the rule.

There are many benefits of being kind at work.  The first is that you never know when you will really need that encouraging talk or detailed explanation.  The more you are there for the others, the more they will be there for you.  Another reason is that the more people see you as helpful and kind, the more they will support you when you want to take on a new project or go for a promotion.  

While this post is specifically about kindness at work, I would encourage the same principles to be applied in all areas of life.  There are many benefits and reasons to do so besides the few listed here.

Regret for Wasted Time

Emergency Kit Series: Toilet Paper

This week I added a roll of toilet paper to the kit.  I put it in a plastic bag so it wouldn't get wet, if the disaster was water related.  Besides the obvious use, the toilet paper could be used for minor cuts or to help dry small objects.

Emergency Kit Purchases So Far:
Container ($22)
Water ($4.68)
Towels (Free) 
Blankets (Free) 
Radio (Free)  
Toilet Paper (Free)

Future of Present Decisions

What Not to Eat

Through conversations with friends and the media, I knew there were foods to avoid during pregnancy.  For example, I had a friend who really missed hotdogs.  I also saw a t.v. show recently where they talked about avoiding sushi. 

When I thought about it, though, I didn't actually know what foods to avoid completely and what should be limited.  I decided to do some research. 

I'm sure there are various opinions on these foods.  I've listed my sources at the bottom of this post, in case anyone wants to read more. I'd also welcome any additional information on the subject.

Foods to avoid:

• Swordfish
• Shark
• King mackerel
• Tilefish
• Any raw fish or seafood 
• Smoked seafood
• Undercooked meat
• Processed meats such as hotdogs, sausage or deli meats (may be safe if cooked until steaming hot)
• Refrigerated meat spreads
• Raw poultry that has been pre-stuffed (may be safe if cooked from frozen state)
• Eggs that are not fully cooked (including eggnog, raw batter, hollandaise sauce and caesar salad dressing)
• Unpasteurized dairy products
• Brie (unless labeled pasteurized)
• Feta (unless labeled pasteurized)
• Camembert (unless labeled pasteurized)
• Blue cheese (unless labeled pasteurized)
• Mexican-style cheeses, such as queso blanco, queso fresco and panela (unless labeled pasteurized)
• Unpasteurized juice
• Unwashed fruits and vegetables
• Herbal tea
• Alcohol
• Raw sprouts

Foods to limit to 12 oz a week:

• Shrimp
• Crab
• Canned light tuna (limit albacore tuna, chunk white tuna and tuna steak to no more than 6 ounces a week)
• Salmon
• Pollock
• Catfish
• Cod
• Tilapia

Foods to limit to doctor's recommended amount:

• Vitamin A
• Caffeine

Sources:

Mayo Clinic

Foodsafety.gov

Working Wednesday: Keep Your Resume Updated

Always keep your resume updated.  You never know when you might be asked for it when someone is considering you for a position either within your current company or at a different one.  It's also very helpful to add new responsibilities or projects as they are given to you.  You probably think you'll remember a major accomplishment but the details may escape you later.

It is important to be careful of where and when you  update your resume.  Don't print your resume and leave it on the community printer at work.  Even if you are not planning on using it in the near future, it may be perceived that way if it is found.

You Will Face Many Defeats in Your Life

Emergency Kit Series: Radio

This week I added a radio to my kit.  I had a weather radio from before so I utilized that.  I also included an extra set of batteries for the radio.


Emergency Kit Purchases So Far:
Container ($22)
Water ($4.68)
Towels (Free) 
Blankets (Free) 
Radio (Free)

Autumn

How Long Do You Need To Try?

Before I started researching pregnancy, I had assumed it was fairly easy to get pregnant.  I heard stories about unplanned pregnancies on a regular basis.  This led me to think there was a high chance of getting pregnant any time you didn't use protection.

I was wrong.

According to WebMd, for most couples who are actively trying to conceive there is only a 15% to 25% chance they will become pregnant in a given month.  There are several factors that affect this number like age, illness and the length of time trying. It's not uncommon for a healthy woman under age 35 to take up to a year to become pregnant.  

Working Wednesday: Represent Your Company Well

When you are in public and can be associated with your company in any way, act appropriately.  Some of the ways you may be associated with your company are:

• Wearing clothes with your company logo
• Having a parking permit hanging from your car's mirror
• Recently been interviewed by the media on behalf of your company

It is important to be especially careful about making negative comments about your company (regardless of if you could be identified).  Especially in smaller towns, those comments can spread quickly.  Also, don't do anything that you don't want people at work to find out about.  Your career could be ruined if the wrong person is offended by your behavior, even if that behavior does not occur at work.

When You Sacrifice in Marriage

Emergency Kit Series: Blankets

We live in an area that gets pretty cold in the winter so I  wanted to include a blanket for both my husband and I.  We had some extra blankets that I used so this was another free addition to the kit.

Emergency Kit Purchases So Far:
Container ($22)
Water ($4.68)
Towels (Free) 
Blankets (Free)

One Year

This weekend my husband and I are celebrating our one year wedding anniversary.  It has been a year full of precious moments and struggles. Our relationship has evolved and grown so much in only a year that I can't wait to see what the future holds!

I Wish I Had a Reset Button

A few weeks ago I wrote a post about all the negative thoughts I have on a daily basis.  I have been trying to not let myself be consumed with these unproductive thoughts.  It has been a struggle for me.  

 

I came across two bible verses this week that have helped me in this journey that I wanted to share. 

 

"I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well." Psalm 139:14 

I've been made the way I am for a reason.  There is a reason for any characteristics I perceive as flaws.  The things I don't like about myself could be the very thing God intends to use in me.  He made me in a way that was wonderful for him and his works.   

  

"Therefore....let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles.  And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith....." (Hebrews 12:1-2)

The negative thoughts hinder me from pursuing Jesus with perseverance.  When I'm bogged down with negative feelings about myself I can't 'run the race' that was set for me.

I wish I had a reset button.  One that I could push when I had negative thoughts about myself and have them suddenly replaced. But I don't....so I have to undertake the slower process of manually resetting them though perseverance and prayer.  

 

Becoming a more positive, self-confident version of myself is important, though, and worth the effort.  It will help me be a better (future)mother, wife and child of God.

 

Working Wednesday: Take Advantage of Opportunities

There will probably be times in your career where you get asked to attend (or even present at) a conference, to have dinner with a group of executives or lead a new project.  Whenever you chose to do something new and challenging, it is a chance to shine.  It is a chance to show how great you are at what you do.

It can be difficult to accept every invitation, especially if you are already have difficulties with a work/life balance.  I understand that.  I was once told, though, not to measure my success at achieving a balance based on a day, week or month.  One extra evening away from home will probably not destroy the balance.

Before you turn down a new opportunity because you are too busy, think through how the time commitment could pay off the long run. 

Invest in Marriage