Posts Tagged ‘5 Cool ideas’

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The Perfect Apology — 5 Cool Ideas for saying “I’m sorry”

Monday, April 22nd, 2013

The perfect apology?

The perfect apology?

Reprint this article free of charge!  Just include a link to www.MichaelAngeloCaruso.com 

It’s not easy to apologize–especially if you really mess up.

The alleged Boston bomber may be in custody, but the drama won’t be officially over until the young man is tried, convicted, and has an opportunity to apologize to the people he hurt.

Fast forward:  The apology won’t be good enough.

Even famous people get practice in the art of saying, “I’m sorry.”

Tiger Woods, Mel Gibson, and Lance Armstrong, are just a few of the famous people who have had to apologize recently.

None of the apologies were taken very seriously.

Tiger Woods gave a very public mea culpa when he exposed the world to the underside of his marriage and his sexual habits.  The media statement proved that the perfect apology is beyond the grasp of the golf perfectionist.  Most people felt his speech suffered from too much stagecraft.

Mel Gibson is an actor, but the thespian wasn’t very convincing when it came time to say, “I’m sorry” for his racial rants.

Lance Armstrong lied repeatedly about using performance-enhancing drugs to win bicycle races.  His public apology to Oprah was lacking in countless ways.

 

Why it’s so hard to say “I’m sorry”

china flag michael angelo caruso blog lying

China's flag

A while back, the United States Air Force shot a Chinese fighter pilot out of the sky. The pilot had flown too close to an American aircraft and did not respond to radio warnings.

The unfortunate incident occurred during peace time, yet the United States did not apologize until months after the event.

When official condolences were finally issued, the language was stiff and cloaked in qualification.  Political analysts surmised that U.S. diplomats felt that an apology framed in remorse would somehow be an admission of guilt.

In the business world, warring departments, feuding workers, and militant customers can make an apology just as challenging.   Image management and legal exposure often come into play, as well.

Here are 5 Cool Ideas for words that heal at work and at home.

 

The perfect apology

1. Be convincingly sympathetic.
A person’s greatest need is to be understood.   Of course, the best way to be convincingly sympathetic is to actually feel sympathy.  When apologizing, find time to listen to the people involved, even if you don’t necessarily agree with them.  Try not to be defensive.  This shared time is a great opportunity to stage an apology, but not if you’re argumentative.


2. Let people be “right,” even if they are wrong.

In our hyper-competitive society, many people are infatuated with being “right.”  Being right can be complicated because what is “right” for one person may not suit another.  Of course, in order to be “right,” someone has to spend time and energy proving someone else “wrong.”

When apologizing, it’s important to validate the other person.  Allow that person to cultivate and defend his or her opinions.  If you must argue, find ways to take yourself out of the argument by offering non-biased documentation to support opposing views.


3. You can apologize without admitting guilt.

The Merriam-Webster Dictionary lists three definitions of the word “apology.”  The most commonly used meaning is “an admission of error or discourtesy accompanied by an expression of regret.”  But an apology is also “a formal justification” such as a defense or an excuse.  The apology is a lost art.

Years ago, attorneys began winning court cases by depicting apologies as an admission of guilt.  An apology is not about admitting culpability or even involvement.  After all, I can tell an employee, “I’m sorry you’ve been so sick,” without actually having caused the illness. 

If an employee takes a few days off due to a death in the family, you are certainly within your bounds to say something like, “I’m sorry for your loss” without being implicated in the death.


4. You can apologize without the other person apologizing.

“Please forgive me.”  These three words will put you on the fast track to healing, especially if they are delivered directly following your apology.  The words “please forgive me,” put the onus on the other person to set aside his or her resentment and anger, but does not obligate him or her.


5. The perfect apology should be repeated when necessary.

Remember the shampoo label directions when using “please forgive me.”  Repeat when necessary.  Try this bit of language the next time you have to apologize:  “I want to take complete responsibility for the bad things that have happened between us. I’m very sorry and would like to start over.  Please forgive me.”  Only say it if you mean it.

 

Want more communication tips?

5 Cool Ideas book michael angelo caruso

5 Cool Ideas book

Author and motivational speaker, Michael Angelo Caruso, has a free newsletter with tips on how you can be an even better communicator at work and at home.

Subscribe to his 5 Cool Ideas at www.MichaelAngeloCaruso.com

You can also order Michael’s popular 5 Cool Ideas book, which is jam-packed with hundreds of ways to improve your life at work and at home. 

The Oscars? Been there, attended that

Thursday, February 21st, 2013

Oscar statue michael angelo caruso blogIn 1998, I went to the Academy Awards.  It was amazing!

I still smile every time I think about what was probably a once-in-a-lifetime event for me. 

The Academy Awards may be the most prestigious happening on the planet.  It’s a very difficult ticket to come by.   Championship hockey fans will tell you that getting a date with Stanley is much easier than getting one with Oscar.

The Academy Awards are so exclusive, that you must be invited.    

How did I get invited? Well, as they say in Hollywood, “it’s who you know.”

 

It’s who you know

Michael Angelo Caruso Oscar academy awards blog

Joe and me in 1998

My younger brother Joe, who knows a lot, is a business consultant with some interesting West Coast clients. 

In a nutshell, Joe impressed who he knew with what he knows and the Academy offered him four tickets to the Oscars, just like that.    

Joe and I have done some interesting things together.  We’ve climbed cliffs in Hawaii and toured the country in a rock band. 

We’ve even taken baths together, although not recently.  When Joe called me with an invitation to the Academy Awards, I knew that we were in for another adventure.    

The phrase, “I’m going to the Academy Awards,” is a great conversation starter.  Americans are fascinated with Hollywood and the film industry’s biggest night. 

Before leaving for LA, I telephoned a female friend who lives there.  I was in the habit of calling Robin before visiting southern California.  She wasn’t good about returning my calls.  This time, I left a voice mail saying, “Robin, I’m coming to LA to attend the Oscars.  Let’s try to get together.”  

This time, she called back within five minutes.    

Joe invited two of his friends to round out our foursome and we all met up in Los Angeles and convened at an exclusive hotel in Santa Monica called Shutters on the Beach.  If we were going to do the Hollywood scene, we would go top drawer. 

Shutters’ expensive room rates certainly play a role in keeping the common folk from getting too close to the celebrities.  The hotel had booked extra security to keep the lobby free from autograph hounds and paparazzi.

Shutters on the Beach doesn’t look ostentatious.  The entrance has a circular drive that is too small for limousines to negotiate without making a couple of passes. 

The hotel’s marketing department definitely wants you to appreciate the building’s proximity to the ocean.  They didn’t, for example, simply name the hotel “Shutters.”  There are two types of rooms at the hotel:  “ocean-view” and “non-ocean view.,”

 

The hotel was packed with Hollywood types

Spike Lee Michael Angelo Caruso blog

Spike Lee

We saw actors Peter Fonda, Robert Duvall, and John Turturro, who had his family in tow. 

Joe met director Spike Lee, who gave my brother a valuable tip on where to get the best cell phone signal. 

There were probably dozens of directors and producers milling about, but we did not recognize everyone.  It was a heady scene and we quickly got used to saying “hi” to everyone—just in case the person was “somebody.”    

The night before the Oscars, we went to dinner at an exclusive restaurant called Ivy at the Shore, which had apparently hired the same marketing firm as Shutters on the Beach. 

Seated at our corner table, we had a good view of the room and immediately spied Joan Rivers having dinner with a gentleman friend and another couple, which turned out to be former Miss America, Mary Anne Mobley and her husband Gary Collins. 

Joe went over to pay his respects.  Later, we saw Gregory Hines do the same.   

 

Hollywood is a full-service community

Ugly Man Hot Girl Michael Angelo Caruso blogIndeed, Hollywood people are “beautiful” people and they have the means to enjoy themselves. 

All weekend, we saw slovenly men being escorted by stunningly pretty women.  How does this happen? Just kidding; I know how this happens

We’ll never know for sure, but while I was having breakfast at Shutters one morning, an attractive young woman entered the hotel restaurant and the maitre d’ went about trying to seat her.

Periodically glancing over the top of my outstretched newspaper, I noticed that the pretty woman declined three tables before she eventually accepted a table adjacent to mine.  When the maitre d’ offered her the chair behind me, she again demurred and chose a chair directly beside me.

In the land of “who you know,” strangers are in the habit of talking to each other.  Restaurant tables in SoCal are situated close together and it’s not unusual to meet seven or eight people during dinner. 

By contrast, people in New Jersey are only likely to speak to you if you crash into their car or bowl a 300 game.  

Anyway, within five minutes, the pretty woman at the table next to me offered me a massage, which may go a long way toward explaining how beautiful women are seen with unseemly men during Oscar week. 

In an ironic instance of life imitating art, the “pretty woman” next to me was a prostitute.      

 

Two degrees of separation

Shutters on the Beach Michael Angelo Caruso blog

Shutters on the Beach

I passed on the um, massage, but since I was spending some time with the beautiful people, I decided to treat myself to a manicure. 

Women have known for a while that having someone hold your hand for half-an-hour is a good thing.  I agree and visited the Manicurist on the Beach at Shutters the morning of the Academy Awards ceremony.

“I don’t want to put pressure on you,” I said, in a kidding way.  “But I need an excellent manicure because I’m going to the Academy Awards tonight.  You will do good job, won’t you?”

“Why don’t you ask Bruce Willis?” she smiled sweetly.  I made a mental note to do just that.  

As she worked, the manicurist casually mentioned that she was doing Joan Rivers’ nails at Joan’s daughter Melissa’s house the next day.  “Really?” I said.  “I had dinner with Joan at Ivy’s last night.”  Well, I ate dinner at the same restaurant as Joan River the night before. but I was already starting to talk like Hollywood people.

At three o’clock in the afternoon, Joe, his other two friends, and I assembled in the hotel lobby for a toast and a photo opportunity. 

 

Men and babies should be photographed right after they are dressed 

Shrine Auditorium Los Angeles Michael Angelo Caruso blog

Shrine Auditorium

Donning a tuxedo is a major production. 

The problem lies in the sheer number of accessories.  Women have the Accessory Thing down pat.  Men have trouble remembering to wear a belt. 

Tuxedos come with a twelve-point check list that includes suspenders, a cummerbund (let’s see, do the pleats face up or down?), studs, cufflinks, a bow tie, and special shiny shoes that have to be black and have to match.  To make matters worse, all the accessories for this West Coast event had to be packed in advance.

I can’t tell you how challenging those button studs can be after a few vodka martinis.  The boys and I toasted our good fortune and sauntered out to the waiting Limousine on the Beach.  The sun was still shining brightly and it seemed strange to be wearing evening clothes so early in the day. 

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences had invited us to a reception at a suite in Century City and we would head to the award ceremony from there.  

At the pre-party, we had cocktails with various industry types, but alas, no celebrities.  We met a gentleman who did voice-overs for the television show NYPD Blue and had our pictures taken next to a six-foot version of the Oscar statuette. 

We also met a couple of “fillers.”  Fillers have the interesting task of rushing into the auditorium to sit in celebrity seats when the stars go to the rest room.  

We headed back to the limo for the ride to the awards presentation, which was scheduled to start at six o’clock in the evening at The Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles.

 

Sometimes the customer is responsible for his own “WOW” experience

Michael Angelo Caruso Oscar academy awards blog limo

My brother Joe and me in limo on way to Oscars

Rounding the corner at Figueroa and West Jefferson Boulevard, I saw the most amazing sight.

We were in a parade of dozens and dozens of limousines.  It turns out that one doesn’t drive to the Oscars in one’s Volvo.

Hundreds of long black cars slowly rolled down the avenue.  Thousands of people stood at the curb on both sides of the street, many holding cameras and video recorders.  Everyone was hoping to catch a glimpse of Jack Nicholson or Cameron Diaz.    

Have you ever tried to look inside a limousine with tinted windows? 

It’s impossible to see anything.  Suddenly, I realized that I was attending a once-in-a lifetime event and no one could see me.  I quickly lowered my window and said, “I want to be with my people!” as I reached out to wave. 

Crowds on both sides of the street waved back! 

This was too much fun.  I stuck my head out to get a better view.  Dozens of disposable cameras flashed.  The throng screamed! 

At our best guess, about 75 people looked at my photograph the next day when they returned from Photo Hut.  Squinting at my unfamiliar mug, they no doubt asked, “Who’s that guy?” and “Why did I take his picture?”

The excitement was mounting to fever pitch.  We exited the vehicle and stepped onto a luminous red carpet that seemed to be three inches thick.  Television crews had flooded the area with artificial light, which gave the bustling scene a surreal atmosphere. 

A public address system announced celebrity arrivals and we tried to take everything in, but there was just too much activity.  Everyone was wearing black.  It seemed as if every other person was working security.  We were continually herded toward the entrance to the auditorium.    

It was our first time attending the Academy Awards but everyone knew what to do.  Mortals were to stay to the left of a velvet rope.  Celebrities were escorted to the right side of the rope where television reporters interviewed them. 

Paparazzi and media representatives leered from a grandstand on our left.  I never knew cameras could be so loud.  We learned that there is a pecking order for entering the auditorium and that the bigger stars enter last.  We heard that Madonna was scheduled to enter after everyone else arrived.  
 

For every Tom Cruise, there are 1,000 Ernest Borgnines

Ernest Borgnine michael angelo caruso blog

Ernest Borgnine

On the way into the auditorium, we met actor Jeremy Irons, a fairly big star by most standards.  The fact is that for every “hot” celebrity in Hollywood, there are 1,000 “has-beens.”  In other words, for every Tom Cruise, there are 100 Ernest Borgnines.  So we met Ernest Borgnine.  And his lovely wife, Tova.   

The Academy Awards show is broadcast live, so the audience was frequently prompted to applaud host Billy Crystal and the other presenters.   It didn’t take us long to catch on to the rhythm of the commercials and such.  Wide-screen images helped people in the balcony see the action up close. 

The best place to people watch was in the large room adjacent to the auditorium where beautiful people gathered to have a cocktail and catch the action on a pair of large screen televisions.  It was the ultimate fashion show.  Cleavage was everywhere.   

The Titanic movie was nominated for 14 awards that night and it won 11 of them.  Home viewers had the distinct advantage of being able to channel surf or make a trip to the fridge whenever the pit orchestra played the Titanic theme song, My Heart Will Go On.  We had to listen to it every time.  If I never hear that song again, it will be too soon.  

When the four-hour event was over, we slowly walked out of the auditorium and found our limousine with the help of a walkie-talkie the driver had given us.  Starving, we found dinner around 11 p.m. and relived the magic of the day.  

Ever since attending the Oscars, I’ve been especially nice to my brother Joe.  For this, I should be nominated for an Academy Award. 

I guess that in the back of my mind, I’m still hoping that a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity will happen again.

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About the author

Present like a Pro DVD Michael Angelo Caruso

PLAP DVD

Michael Caruso is the author or the 5 Cool Ideas book series and the Present Like a Pro DVD.  He is also author of Dear Michael Angelo—A Father’s Life Lessons to His Son, an audio book on the value of legacy. 

Contact Mr. Caruso at www.MichaelAngeloCaruso.com or 248-224-9667.

I hated Spam when I was a kid; still do

Wednesday, September 5th, 2012

spam can michael angelo caruso blog marketing

Spam can

Canned meat was dubbed with the unfortunate brand name of “Spam” over 75 years ago.

My Mom used to make school lunches with Spam (its name a combination of the words “Spiced” and “Ham”) and back then, there were no fancy flavors.   

Spam is a canned precooked meat product made by the Hormel Foods Corporation, first introduced in 1937.

The labeled ingredients in the classic variety of Spam are chopped pork shoulder meat, with ham meat added, salt, water, modified potato starch as a binder, and sodium nitrite as a preservative. 

You may be surprised to learn that this concoction is a very popular product.  On average, 3.8 cans are consumed every second in the United States.

There are now several different flavors of Spam products, including the original flavor, hot and spicy, Jalapeno, less sodium, Spam lite, oven roasted turkey, hickory smoke flavor, and even Spam spread.

A while back, another kind of SPAM was invented. No one except bad guys liked this new brand of spam. (more…)

5 cool ideas for meeting your goal

Wednesday, August 8th, 2012

not to do list michael angelo caruso blogLife is full of distractions.

Sometimes these diversions are good, but most of the time, they just pull us away from what we should be doing. 

I teach presentation skills.  Every client I’ve ever had could be a better speaker if they just practiced their presentation more.  But people get distracted by PowerPoint and modeling ineffective communication techniques.

Goals in and of themselves are not always difficult.  But focusing on one big goal and seeing it through to completion can be quite challenging, if one is distracted. 

While most of us regularly make a “to do list,” we might do better to create a “not to do list.”

 

5 cool ideas for meeting your goal

1.  Study your desired goal for one hour a day.  There’s no shortage of books, white papers, magazine articles, podcasts, YouTube videos, etc.  Within a few months, you’ll be an expert.  Achieving your goal will be much easier when you actually know what you’re doing.

2.  Get in better physical shape.  Even if your goal has nothing to do with athletic performance, you’ll gain increased energy, better stamina, and more confidence.

3.  Network like crazy.  Associate with others who are connected to your goal.  Seek out people who share your goal, ideally people who have already achieved something similar.  Connecting with these folks will almost guarantee more opportunities and a faster learning curve. 

4.  Approach your goal differently.  History tends to remember people who take the road less traveled.

5.  Work toward small victories.  Keep your eyes on the big prize, but be ready to celebrate small victories. 

 

All great achievers share one skill — the ability to focus

Miguel Cabrera get things done michael angelo caruso

Miguel Cabrera

The Olympians you watch on TV completely dedicate themselves to their event, dedicating thousands of hours to practice, training, and conditioning. 

The great Michelangelo was once asked how he created the statue of David.  He said he didn’t focus on the form of the statue, or the texture or the dimensions.  He said he focused on what to carve away from the block of marble.

Thomas Edison was known to lose all track of time–and days–when he was inventing.

And Miguel Cabrera, the Detroit Tigers slugger, is also an expert at getting things done.  Tigers manager, Jim Leyland, says that Cabrera has the unique ability to “relax and concentrate at the same time.”

 

Want to republish this article?

You may reprint this content on your website, blog or in your newsletter at no charge.  Simply send us a message stating your intentions.

 

Be more successful in 21 days!

Michael Angelo Caruso personal improvement guaranteeBehavioral psychologists say that it takes the average person about 21 days to make or break a habit. 

Statisticians remind us that 73% of the all people consider themselves above average. :-)

That being said, it should be easy for you to experience success regarding an important goal in the next three weeks providing you make the right changes to your routines and habits. 

One habit that always delivers is the consumption personal improvement information products.

Listen to Michael Angelo Caruso’s Creating Success Habits to collect on sweet success in short order!

5 cool ideas for dealing with critics

Tuesday, July 3rd, 2012

Teddy Roosevelt Michael Angelo Caruso blog dealing with criticsPeople who make presentations are like human targets.

It’s so incredibly easy to sit in the audience and criticize another person’s speech or presentation.  Critics and other types of Monday morning quarterbacks sometimes offer useful information, but don’t ever let them get you down or keep you from doing your thing. 

As Teddy Roosevelt said:  It’s not the critic who counts.  The credit belongs to the person who is actually in the arena. 

Roosevelt, of course, was a great speaker.  As a United States President for eight years he certainly had more than his share of detractors.

Here are 5 Cool Ideas for coping with the people in who try to make you look bad.

  (more…)

The team improves right after the leader does

Friday, February 24th, 2012
Michael Angelo Caruso leadership training

Michael Angelo Caruso training in Jamaica

I’ve had the pleasure of delivering leadership keynotes, seminars, and training sessions for almost 15 years.

It doesn’t matter which companies I speak to–health care, manufacturing, insurance providers …

Everyone knows that you must invest in your work team.

It’s one of the best ways to achieve competitive advantage and something called leadership succession.  So here are some provocative ideas to help your people be the best they can be.


5 Cool Ideas for effective leadership

1. The team improves right after the leader does.
Enough said.

2. It’s true that if you train your employees, some will leave.
Training can be expensive and it never seems to be finished. Sometimes you’ll spend time, energy, and money grooming employees only to have them leave your employ. This is a far better scenario than not training your people and having them stay.
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Special discount for this cool leadership CD

Michael Angelo Caruso Leadership Training Getting People to Do StuffHere’s a special discount for Michael Angelo Caruso’s audio CD titled, Getting People to Do Stuff. This recorded teleseminar is my most popular program ever.

As usual, Michael’s program is packed with useful tips and entertaining anecdotes.

This CD features many inspirational leadership stories, including the true talk of a flight attendant who used a specific leadership technique to influence a group of terrorists trying to hijack her plane!  Hint:

The story ends quite well.
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3. Motivation remains a mystery to many leaders.

Uncle Aristotle said it first. Later, Sigmund Freud published his famous “Pain/Pleasure Principle”, which states that two basic things motivate people:

a) The anticipation of pleasure

b) The avoidance of pain. Strong leaders use both hot and cold water to motivate and as usual, the magic is in the details.

4. Leaders should not solve problems for direct reports.
When a leader becomes known as a “fixer,” the team stops trying to solve its own problems and brings all its issues to management.

5. A leader’s greatest skill is the ability to speak to groups.
Sure, we like leaders who can compose well-written memos. Yes, it’s important for leaders to read budget reports. But the ability to think and speak on your feet can make or break a career.


See you soon?

Let me know when you’d like me to speak to your company on the subject of leadership. I’ll help make your team even stronger.
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Michael Angelo Caruso leadership training

Michael Angelo Caruso

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Would Lincoln have used a Mac or a PC?

Wednesday, February 15th, 2012

Abraham Lincoln bustSteven Spielberg’s terrific movie, Lincoln, is an odd-on favorite to win an Academy Award this year.  We’ll see. 

Meanwhile, in honor of President’s Day, the third Monday in February, here are 5 Cool Ideas on how Lincoln would have used a computer.

1.  Imagine real-time Civil War reports.
Would Abe have preferred a Mac or a PC?  Lincoln was a man of letters, but might have preferred the Mac for its superiority in handling photos and video as he monitored the Civil War.

2.  Video is the best way to get the word out. 
If he had the use of video and YouTube, Lincoln might not have needed seven debates to defeat Stephen A. Douglas during their senatorial race in 1858.  His whiny voice would not have played well, but the Lincoln wit and charisma would have been on full display.
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Presentation training at Michael’s home

Do you ever give presentations? Of course you do!  Everything is a presentation.

Join Michael Michael Angelo Caruso in his home for some very effective speaker training.  This program is only offered a couple times a year.   He’ll feed you twice and give you his insider secrets for giving powerful presentations.  You’ll learn to:

- Be comfortable and natural when you speak
Give a one-slide PowerPoint presentation

- Conquer nerves forever
Get promoted quickly

- Improve sales numbers
Perfect the “trial close” to be sure listeners are with you

- Use body language that persuades like magic
- Get people to do stuff

- Do 6 key things in the first 5 minutes of every talk
- And much more!

This will be an unforgettable day for you and a lot of fun, too!

Present Like a Pro at Michael’s home is limited to only four people, so register today!  It’s the same training he’s given to celebrities, politicians, and CEOs, but available to you at a fraction of the price.  Click the above link for more info and to register.
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3.  You don’t need Powerpoint to leave a lasting impression. 
Edward Everett Michael Angelo Caruso blogLincoln didn’t need Powerpoint to deliver his Gettysburg address.  Elegant and brief, the 272-word speech was given without a bullet points, a fancy handout or even a microphone. 

A man named Edward Everett spoke for two hours prior to Lincoln on that November day in 1863.  No one remembers a thing he said.  (Read Everett’s speech here.)  Lincoln spoke for two minutes and made history.

4.  The computer can save lives.
There’s no telling how much sooner the Civil War would have ended, if Lincoln has used e-mail to communicate with his Generals.

5.  The computer is a very helpful search tool.
It took authorities 12 days to hunt down Lincoln’s assassin, John Wilkes Booth.  In the Computer Age, photographs and video of Booth would have been widely circulated via the Internet.

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Michael Angelo Caruso blogThe above article by Michael Angelo Caruso is available for republication on your blog, website, and in your newsletter.

Simply send a message stating your intent through Michael’s website.

5 cool ideas for starting a team

Saturday, January 28th, 2012

Assembling a team can be challenging when team members have different backgrounds, unique personal agendas, and unrelated methodologies.  If it is difficult to get busy people to sit at the same table, it can be much more challenging to get a team emotionally centered.  Here are 5 Cool Ideas to get teams started.


5 Cool Ideas for starting a team

1.  A meaningful quote can provide solidarity and purpose. 

We know that a picture is worth a thousand words, but what is a word worth?  Well, a word can be invaluable if it helps center a team on a theme.  A special word can unify and educate.  Introduce a word every day and over time, people will increase their vocabularies.  Share a combination of words like a quote or a song lyric to cultivate passion and a sense of team spirit.

2.  Workers relate better when they learn about each other.

Elton Mayo, founder of the modern day Human Resources department, taught us that workers have a need to feel like they belong.  A sense of belonging sets the stage for employee retention, loyalty and a general sense of espirit d’corp.  Have team members share something about themselves that no one else knows.  This process is fun and builds rapport like no other exercise.

People will offer the most interesting information as they try to entertain and make each other laugh and think.  You can do this exercise every week for a month and it will never get old.

3.  Have a look at the past. 

Have everyone bring a childhood photo to work.  Scan the photos into a presentation and have fun guessing who is who.  Tell stories about the photos and enjoy each other as you discuss things that have nothing to do with work.  Then, get down to business.

4.  Group reading can establish work themes team and teach lessons. 

Many work groups participate in book clubs.  Team members come to work a half-hour early one day a week to discuss a book that everyone is reading.  Take turns having everyone recommend a book.

5.  Present one Cool Idea a day.

Get the ideas from my 5 Cool Ideas book series.  Use the books to present one cool idea or a 5 Cool Ideas topic before every meeting.  The idea should be related to the task at hand.  Ideas will spark other ideas.

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Michael Angelo Caruso team buildingThe above article is available for republication on your blog, website and in your newsletter.  Simply send a message stating your intent through Michael’s website.

Learn more about the 5 Cool Ideas books at www.MichaelAngeloCaruso.com.

Invite me to your celebrity dinner?

Tuesday, December 6th, 2011

Check out the fun dinner Larry King threw for his celeb friends. Then, check out my throw down to you and win a cool prize.


What’s Larry King’s doing in “retirement?”

Well, “The King” has a new gig.  He has celebrity friends over for dinner.  It’s all to promote his new television show.  CNN Presents: A Larry King Special: Dinner with the Kings airs at 8 p.m. ET Sunday.

The first episode features Conan O’Brien, Tyra Banks, Shaquille O’Neal, Seth MacFarlane, Jack Dorsey, Quincy Jones, and Russell Brand.  (You don’t recognize the name, “Jack Dorsey?”  He invented a little thing called “Twitter.”)

Larry King and his wife Shawn asked celebrity chef Wolfgang Puck to assemble a five course meal and the cool guests supplied the fun and laughs.

larry king

The first such dinner showcased Wolfgang’s classics, including Spago’s signature smoked salmon pizza with dill crème fraiche and caviar, mini burgers, sesame miso cones filled with spicy tuna tartare, and a whole wild king salmon the chefs filleted on-site in the Kings’ kitchen.


Let’s have our own celebrity dinner

Well, we can at least have fun making a guest list, right?

Plan a celebrity dinner for you, five famous people, and me.  Post the invitation list, the menu, and whatever else you think might impress me as a comment below or on one of my Facebook pages.

Cool Ideas book Michael Angelo CarusoThe most appealing guest list will get a copy of my 5 Cool Ideas book, 2nd edition and over-the-top kudos from yours truly.  Enter here or on my Facebook public figure page.

 


It’s the thought that counts

Michael Angelo Caruso blogOf course, this type of dream dinner will only be make believe, at least this time around.  But winner of this contest will win a cool prize and get some attention from me when I announce the results December 12 here and on my Facebook page.  Meanwhile, let’s have some fun considering the guest lists that are submitted.

Thanks in advance for the invitation.  Good luck!

5 cool ideas for staying in control

Thursday, July 21st, 2011

Michael Angelo Caruso 5 cool ideas staying in controlEverything we do has rewards and consequences.  You can control various forms of this pleasure and pain if you understand the linkage between thoughts, emotions, behavior and reward.

Thoughts, for example, usually lead to emotions.  Emotions drive behavior.  Behavior determines reward.  Do you have complete control over your own thoughts, emotions and behavior? Here are 5 Cool Ideas for being in control.

1.  Own your own stuff and be in control.  Miguel Ruiz writes in his book The Four Agreements that we need to control our own thoughts and emotions.  When we own our own stuff, we can limit others’ control of our stuff.

2.  Own your thoughts. Controlling your own thoughts is based on the concept of free will, which means that you are responsible and accountable for your own thinking.  Not to put thoughts in your head, but this seems like a “no-brainer,” doesn’t it?

If, for example, you study the odds of winning the lottery and decide that you have a very slim chance of winning, you will probably decide not to play.

3.  Own your emotions, including sadness. Thoughts help determine emotions.  If you decide not to play the lottery, you will probably not feel like buying a ticket.  Being in control of your emotions doesn’t mean that you cannot cry.

At my mother’s funeral service, I wept like a child–and I was in complete control of my emotions.  I was in control because it was totally appropriate to cry under those conditions.  To the contrary, if your mother dies and you don’t cry, you may not have control of your emotions.

4.  Be 100% responsible for your behavior. Emotions drive behavior.  In our lottery example, if you don’t feel like purchasing a ticket, you won’t win the lottery.

Of course, no one can make you buy a lottery ticket.  No one can make you do anything you don’t want to do, if you own your behavior. In almost every situation, a person has options.

If a wife insists that her husband quits bowling because Tuesday night is scouting night for their son, the husband has at least two options.  The husband could quit bowling and then hold his wife in contempt because she made him quit.  Another option is for the husband to quit bowling and be happy with the behavior that allows him to spend more time with his son.

5.  Own your stuff and you will own your reward. Believing we don’t have control over our behavior makes it easier to blame others for our own failure.  People who take ownership of their thoughts, emotions, and behavior almost always enjoy more control.

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Control is a form of success

If you’re interested in having more success in terms of money, health, and relationships, check out Michael’s one-hour audio CD titled, Creating Success Habits.  It comes with a 30-page e-book on the same topic.

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