This timely topic is the easiest bar bet ever

October 24th, 2011 by Michael

Daylight saving time Michael Angelo Caruso BlogWant to win an easy couple of bucks?

Introduce the term “Daylight Savings Time” into a friendly discussion.  Then, ask “Wait a minute–is the proper term, ‘Daylight Savings Time’ or ‘Daylight Saving Time?’

Most people feel the term flows better with the extra “s,” so be prepared to take the opposing view in a friendly wager.  Try not to be too smug when you collect.  Heehee. 

The official spelling is Daylight Saving Time, not Daylight Savings Time.

“Saving” is used here as a verbal adjective or a participle because it modifies “time.” The term Daylight Saving Time would be more grammatically correct as “daylight-saving time.”


So what’s the confusion?

Daylight Savings Time is now in common usage, which makes it a rather common mistake.

Of course, the phrase Daylight Saving Time is inaccurate, since no daylight is actually saved. “Daylight Shifting Time” would be a more accurate name, but good luck instituting that change.

During DST, clocks are turned forward an hour, effectively moving an hour of daylight from the morning to the evening, giving us the opportunity to enjoy sunny summer evenings by moving our clocks an hour forward in the spring.

Most of the United States begins Daylight Saving Time at 2:00 a.m. on the second Sunday in March and reverts to standard time on the first Sunday in November.


Why does it have to be so complicated?

I wish I lived during the old days, when people had more time.


Want more time management skills?

Time management remains one of our biggest challenges.  To maximize your time, you must learn to prioritize and say “no.”  Learn more from Michael Angelo Caruso’s audio program, Gain One Hour a Day—Time Management That Pays, which contains dozens of practical tips for better managing time.

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Hard ass, Steve Jobs, softens us up

October 8th, 2011 by Michael

Steve Jobs Michael Angelo Caruso blog Steve Jobs was not known as a sentimental softie, yet his passing is still a tender memory for people all over the world.  Clearly, his death has gotten a lot of us to think about how we spend our lives and what we do with our time.

Humans are creatures of habit. We are more likely to do things we’ve done before than to try something new. We drive the same route to work every day, park in the same spot when we get there, and eat the same types of lunches from week to week.

This “routine-groove-rut” is exactly the kind of patterned behavior that prevents us from making new memories.  Here are 5 Cool Ideas on how to create new memories.

5 Cool Ideas for Creating Memories

From www.MichaelAngeloCaruso.com

1.  Living in the past doesn’t create memories.  
People who dwell on the past often develop a victim mentality about life.  Victims perceive life to be a series of negative occurrences because of things that have happened to them.

Their attitude seems to be “People have always taken advantage of me, so I’m not interested in meeting new people.”  Old scripts can be keeping you from enjoying new material.

2.  Invite new memories by rewriting your slate.  
John Locke Michael Angelo Caruso blogImprinting is a series of repetitive life lessons that help us determine our view of the world, including our self-concept. Most of us are indelibly imprinted early in life.  Philosopher, John Locke wrote that, as youngsters, our minds are “tabula rasa” or a blank slate.  Early on, people write on our slates, helping us create memories.

Some of us have trouble writing over those old memories.  When you can rewrite your slate, you can easily add new memories.  Computer experts might describe rewriting your slate as overwriting your disk.

3.  Accept that new invitation.  
George Herbert Walker Bush michael angelo caruso blogA female friend of mine was jogging when she encountered a group of strange men. The men identified themselves as secret service agents traveling with then President George Herbert Walker Bush.  My friend told me that the agents invited her to run with the President and his entourage the next morning.

She passed on the offer.  I asked her why she declined such a unique opportunity and my friend said, “I guess I didn’t feel like it.” Doing new things avails us to new memories, so make it a habit to step out of your routine.

Memories are generated by a process behavioral psychologists refer to as “experiential learning.”  New experiences, of course, are a form of imprinting, which helps us to create memories. Routines do not promote newness.

4.  The present is sometimes too predictable.   
People who only think about the present condition are so caught up in routines that they cannot seem to try new things.  In their determined effort to maintain status quo, they resist new opportunities, thus stifling the creation of new memories.

5.  Live as if you don’t have much time left.  
Impresario, Steve Jobs, urged us to not live other people’s lives. Do what you want to do.  Do it now.  Sociologists have discovered that people near death have an overwhelmingly common regret about their life.  They usually regret not trying more new things like traveling to foreign countries and meeting more people.

What have you always wanted to do? What would you do this year if you knew it would be your last year? Use the answers to these questions as incentive to generate new memories.
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More from Michael on his great blog.

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Don’t veer for deer

September 29th, 2011 by Michael

deer driving michael angelo caruso blogI’m speaking in Jamaica and brought some reading material on the trip.

My September/October issue of AAA Living magazine features an interesting article on the dangers of “deering while driving.”  It got me thinking about how humans handle problems.

Apparently, there are 1.5 million car-deer collisions annually.  The magazine states that the crashes kill some 150 people.  These accidents aren’t healthy for the deer, either, as hardly any of them are wearing safety belts.


Here’s a surprising driving tip

The article lists three ways to avoid an unwanted wildlife encounter:

1)  Stay alert.  Deer are the most active at dawn and dusk.

2)  Deer travel in herds.  If you see one animal, there are probably many more nearby.

The third piece of advice is rather surprising:

3)  Don’t veer for deer.  Experts say that swerving is much more dangerous than hitting the animal.  Veering could easily introduce oncoming traffic or an unforgiving bridge abutment into the equation.


Sometimes, it’s best to face a problem head-on

Michael Angelo Caruso blog problem solvingThe “don’t veer for deer” lesson is a good metaphor for other types of problem-solving.

Of course, it’s always a good idea to stay alert for communication problems related to customer service, marketing, and such.  And yes, these problems often “travel in herds.”

Lots of us try to avoid problems by ignoring them, procrastinating or even denying the problems exist.

Yet, in many cases, it’s best to confront the problem head-on.  Face the problem as if you would position yourself directly in front of a camera.

Let the conundrum collide with your personal life or your work routine.  This will create a unique opportunity to uncover a solution.


More resources

For more safe driving tips, visit www.AAA.com/SafeDriving.

To get more tips for solving problems, listen to my Creating Success Habits audio CD.

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Women’s lib, my butt

September 27th, 2011 by Michael
Actress, Erin Cummings, second from left, and friends Michael Angelo Caruso blog

Actress, Erin Cummings, second from left, and friends

Sure, women have come a long way, baby, but the glass ceiling hasn’t even been scratched, let alone broken.

Women hold more MBAs than men, but are employed in fewer executive positions for far less money.

The Troy Rotary Club of Michigan–I’m going to be President next year– is honoring Troy business women and women everywhere with its second annual Troy Business Woman of the Year Awards luncheon on Wednesday, October 5.

Detroit-area folks are welcome to attend and nominate.  Here are details.


Troy Rotary Business Woman of the Year Awards!

Mark Mullin Troy Rotary Michael Angelo Caruso blogThe Rotary Club of Troy will honor a number of women business leaders at a special luncheon on Wednesday, October 5th, 2011.

We’d love for you to participate in the “Troy Rotary’s Business Women of the Year” event as a nominee and/or an attendee.

We’ll interview the awardees to learn their business secrets and also hear from our guest speaker, Denise Roberts from Sales Partners.

Nominees must work in Troy, Michigan. Applicants or those who nominate the applicant should submit three-paragraphs explaining their accomplishments in noteworthy community involvement and business during the last 12 months.

Send your information to Linda K. Weaver at lkweaver@wowway.com.

Troy Rotary will take make a determination based on these accomplishments.

The luncheon will take place at the award-winning Bank of America building at 2600 Big Beaver Rd. (16 Mile Rd.) just east of Somerset North.  We enjoy fabulous food and the view of the outdoor fountain is magnificent most of the year.  Plus, there’s almost always an interesting guest speaker.

Please pay for lunch at the door– $15 cash or check per person.  (Your second lunch with Troy Rotary is no charge!)


Directions to Troy Rotary

Maureen McGinnis Michael Angelo Caruso blogHead west on Big Beaver so you can turn right onto Lakeview Drive between Somerset North and Bank of America.  Make an IMMEDIATE right into the first driveway.  This will take you into the guest parking lot.  Leave a few extra minutes to clear bank security at the front door.

This map may help:  http://tinyurl.com/TroyRotaryInvitation

Please be there a few minutes before noon on October 5 so you can network with Rotarians and guests.  Call Michael Caruso at (248) 224-9667 for more information

Bring your camera and lots of business cards and we’ll see you soon!  You will enjoy our fun members and they will enjoy you!


Nominating is easy!

Troy Rotary is honoring a number of Troy Business Woman at a special luncheon on Wednesday, October 5th.  You may nominate someone you know, ask someone to nominate you or nominate yourself.

Nominees must work in Troy and must be present to win.  Please provide the following information and submit to Linda K.Weaver at lkweaver@wowway.com by September 27.  Questions?  Call Michael Angelo Caruso at (248) 224-9667.


Info on nominee

You may copy/paste and e-mail info to Linda, above.


Requested info

Name of nominee _______________________________

Phone number _________________________________

E-mail address _________________________________

1.  Please tell us about your background as a business woman:

 

2.  Briefly list your business achievements during the past 12 months:

 

3.  Rotary is a community service organization.  Please tell us about any volunteer work you’ve done during the last year.  This includes “after hours” activities such as charity work, community projects, etc.

_______________
Thank you!

We hope to see you at the October 5th luncheon at the award-winning Bank of America building at 2600 Big Beaver Rd. (16 Mile Rd.) just east of Somerset North.  We enjoy fabulous food and the view of the magnificent outdoor fountain. Lunch is $15 cash or check per person and your second lunch with Troy Rotary is free!

 

What if women ruled the world?

Of course, neither gender needs to “rule the world.”  We’re all together in this.  Still, it’s nice to honor area business ladies for a job well done!

 

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5 cool ideas for remembering names

September 16th, 2011 by Michael

Michael Angelo Caruso name badgeI once earned a speaking engagement by impressing Roxanne Gibbs, editor of The Nation, then a prominent Barbados newspaper.  I first met Roxanne and five of her friends in a banquet buffet line.   Later, she recounted that I remembered all of their names after the meal.


5 Cool Ideas for remembering names

1.  Use a system you can rely on.
People who use a memory device called mnemonics remember Pat’s name because she is wearing purple, but may struggle to recall Pat’s name when she wears brown.  Try to remember a person for who they are, rather than what they wear.

2.  Use “cluster imprinting” to learn names.
The goal of cluster imprinting is to imprint your brain with the person’s name eight to ten times within three minutes of meeting them.  Listen to the person say his or her name.  Then you might say “Catherine, it’s nice to meet you.”  You’ve now heard her name twice.

3.  Repetition is a form of practice.
After being introduced, you might say “Catherine, is that Catherine with a ‘C’ or Katherine with a ‘K’?”  The person could answer “‘Catherine’ with a ‘C’.”  Now you’ve heard the name five times and visualized it at least once.  If someone approaches you and Catherine, offer to introduce the new person. “Catherine, do you know Tom? Tom, this is Catherine.”  Now, you’ve been imprinted with Catherine’s name seven times.

4.  Practice remembering the name right up until you say “goodbye.”
When it’s time to excuse yourself, you might say “It’s been nice meeting you, Catherine,” which makes the eighth time your brain has been imprinted with her name.  You are not likely to forget “Catherine.”

5.  Use interval training to achieve total recall.
Try to recall the name at several intervals during the next 24 hours, stretching the time span for each attempt.  Another form of interval training is to review rosters and registration lists before and after the meeting.

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5 Cool Ideas book Michael Angelo Caruso blogThe above article is an excerpt from Michael Angelo Caruso’s book, 5 Cool Ideas available from Edison House.

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