Business
Win at Work
Winning at Working--The Most Important Commitment You Make
Commitments. Commitments. Commitments. They fill our days, our heads and our lives. Most of us are in the commitment business. Of course, that's not what we call it. At work, we're making commitments to customers, suppliers, bosses, coworkers and staff. At home, we're making commitments to family, friends, neighbors, community and organizations. Not to mention commitments to pay taxes, credit card bills, mortgages and car loans.
Mar 5, 2010 - 11:31:34 AM
Win at Work
Winning at Working--How About A Heads Up?
It didn't take long while on safari in Botswana, to begin to recognize the animal calls heralding a predator roaming in the area. What intrigued me was the pass-along path those calls took, from animal group to animal group. The shrieks of baboons, the trumpeting of elephants, the screams of francolins, the cries of impalas were picked up by adjacent animals and sent out for as long as the threat remained.
Feb 20, 2010 - 11:49:04 AM
Win at Work
Winning at Working--Fact or Opinion?
You ain't going nowhere, son. You ought to go back to drivin' a truck." What if Elvis believed this Grand Ole Opry manager's critique after his l954 performance? Or the Beatles listened in 1962 when Decca Recording Company responded, "We don't like their sound. Groups of guitars are on the way out."
Feb 4, 2010 - 11:55:31 AM
Win at Work
Winning at Working: Workplace Heists
Seated in the courtyard of a sports bar during a playoff game in the home city of one of the teams, it was an energetic crowd that Sunday. While we'd come for a quick bite to eat, we caught a glimpse of a play now and then as home-team enthusiasts roared their approval during the first half.
Jan 23, 2010 - 11:13:02 AM
Win at Work
Winning at Working--Making a Fresh Start
"How could that be?" I muttered silently as I reread the message. This was not a person I wanted to encounter as I returned from a holiday vacation filled with family, friends, and fun. And yet, there he was on my calendar. My first meeting of the New Year was scheduled with my nemesis.
Jan 10, 2010 - 7:25:01 PM
Win at Work
Winning at Working: Assessing Your Progress
I'm not a big fan of New Years resolutions. Sure I've made dozens of them, all with good intentions and a bit of magical thinking, believing this time the resolution will stick. Maybe a few have, but generally these wishful self-promises end up broken. And when that happens my self-esteem suffers.
Dec 28, 2009 - 11:41:57 AM
Win at Work
Winning at Working--The Next One
As a frequent conference speaker, I take advantage of other presentations when my schedule allows. So I was delighted, with three hours to spare before heading to the airport, to hear best selling author of "Built to Last," Jim Collins, address a group.
Dec 12, 2009 - 1:59:47 PM
Win at Work
Winning at Working: Maybe Scrooge Was Right
Thirteen percent. That number should make you pause if you manage staff, lead a group, or own a business. It's a number recently released from an on-line survey reported by Reuters.
Nov 30, 2009 - 1:45:22 PM
Win at Work
Winning at Working: Busy About
Once upon a time, a prince and princess lived in stressful palace, surrounded by a stressful village, inside a stressful land. They knew it was stressful because everyone said it was. Their parents, the king and queen, worked from sunrise to sunset hearing issues from their kingdom, weighing the requests, and appropriating the collective harvest to the people of their land.
Nov 12, 2009 - 5:51:27 PM
Win at Work
Winning at Working--Dangling Carrots Wilt
"Red tape. Infighting. Office politics. Employee morale. Can't get things done. Lack of communication. Layers of bureaucracy. Not valued. Rude, difficult people. Indecision. Lack of support. Inconsistency. No clear direction." These are sample answers from readers to a Winning at Working survey that asked about the biggest problems at work. And then we wonder, as supervisors and managers, why employees aren't motivated?
Nov 1, 2009 - 7:24:06 PM
Win at Work
Winning at Working - Carved in Granite
In the Black Hills of South Dakota, carved in granite, the six-story faces of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln and Theodore Roosevelt create a grand impression viewed from a distant, or standing on the national monument's viewing terrace. Visiting Mount Rushmore on vacation, I found the documentary of its making fascinating. Weeks later, one story stayed with me.
Oct 20, 2009 - 10:26:35 AM
Win at Work
Winning at Working: Time-Out
When young children misbehave, many parents, teachers and caregivers insist on a time-out. Think how much better your workplace would be if you initiated the same approach. No, not for your boss or coworkers, but for yourself.
Sep 30, 2009 - 4:54:42 PM
Win at Work
Winning at Working--The Art of Change
From the iron age to nearly the industrial age, blacksmiths prospered. Villagers needed plows, shovels, iron tires for wagons, nails and tools to build their homes, all of which the blacksmiths forged. They needed their horses and oxen shod and their tools repaired. Being a blacksmith was a sound professional choice.
Sep 17, 2009 - 3:46:42 PM
Win at Work
Winning at Working: Workplace Ladder Fuel
Maybe you received the email offering cash in exchange for testing the Microsoft/AOL email tracking system. Or you heard that theaters were using subliminal advertising to increase sales of popcorn and soft drinks. Maybe it was the "buy one, get one free" Porsche promotion that caught your attention, or the warning that reusing plastic water bottles is unhealthy since components breakdown and are ingested.
Sep 4, 2009 - 1:48:39 PM
Win at Work
Winning at Working--Building Performance Trust
You can have outstanding ideas, yet never leverage them into winning at working results. That's because the secret behind those ideas lies in performance. Yours.
Sep 2, 2009 - 1:52:18 PM
Win at Work
Winning at Working--Two-Sided Answers
The room was lovely, the bed inviting, the architecture interesting, and the philosophy appealing. That was my impression as we checked into a newly minted green-hotel in a resort town where we were eager to spend time relaxing.
Aug 20, 2009 - 5:45:15 PM
Win at Work
Winning at Working--Too Many Maybes
Workplace decision-making often reminds me of a "Peanuts" comic strip I saw where Lucy and Charlie Brown were discussing their New Year's resolutions. "I'm going to be a changed person next year," Charlie tells Lucy. "That's a laugh," Lucy replies. "You'll be wishy-washy." "Well," Charlie says defensively, "One day I'll be wishy and the next washy."
Jul 23, 2009 - 4:52:50 PM
Win at Work
Winning at Working--Big Hat, No Cattle
I did exactly what the magazine wanted me to do. I bought it solely for an article featured on the cover. But when I got it home and started searching for the piece I wanted to read, I couldn't find it. The headline drew me in, but hidden behind other features was an article with a different title that sort of, kind of, talked about the topic. I felt cheated.
Jul 10, 2009 - 6:51:19 PM
NFIB
Cap and Trade Means Lights Out for Small Businesses
Get ready to pay a whole lot more to keep the lights on.
Jul 7, 2009 - 3:29:44 PM
IRS News
Check Withholding to Avoid a Tax Surprise, IRS Advises
AUGUSTA, MAINE -- With 2009 nearly half over, the Internal Revenue Service reminds Rhode Islanders that there is no better time to check their 2009 federal income tax withholding levels to make sure they do not face any surprises when returns are due next spring.
Jul 7, 2009 - 2:49:28 PM
Win at Work
Winning at Working--Choosing A Path
Reading in the airport while waiting for a flight to Houston, a housekeeper was tidying around me when approached by another facilities employee. After a few minutes of easily overheard chit-chat, she received coaching from her now apparent supervisor.
Jun 29, 2009 - 5:20:13 PM
IRS News
Prepare for Hurricanes by Safeguarding Tax Records
AUGUSTA, MAINE -- With the 2009 hurricane season now underway, the Internal Revenue Service encourages individuals and businesses to safeguard themselves by taking a few simple steps.
Jun 26, 2009 - 11:42:00 AM
Win at Work
Winning at Working--It Takes Time
The story goes that after one of Ludwig van Beethoven's performances, several people were offering him their congratulations, when one woman commented, "I wish God had bestowed me with such genius." "It isn't genius, madam, nor is it magic." Beethoven replied. "All you have to do is practice on your piano eight hours a day for 40 years."
Jun 9, 2009 - 6:36:05 PM
Business
USDA's Farm Service Agency County Committee Nominations Start June 15th
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced today that farmer and rancher candidate nominations will begin on June 15, 2009, for local Farm Service Agency county committees. The nomination period continues through Aug. 3, 2009, with elections taking place this fall.
Jun 9, 2009 - 1:19:32 PM
IRS News
IRS Launches Tax Return Preparer Review; Recommendations to Improve Compliance Expected by Year End
AUGUSTA, MAINE -- IRS Commissioner Doug Shulman announced that by the end of 2009, he will propose a comprehensive set of recommendations to help the Internal Revenue Service better leverage the tax return preparer community with the twin goals of increasing taxpayer compliance and ensuring uniform and high ethical standards of conduct for tax preparers.
Jun 8, 2009 - 12:02:34 PM
AAM
Don't Toss that "Chery Bomb" Over Here: Why the U.S. Must Block the Import of Unsafe Chinese Cars
If you enjoy Chinese products such as poisoned dog food, lead painted toys and toxic drywall - have we got the car for you!
Jun 4, 2009 - 1:28:13 PM
IRS News
IRS Offers Summer Tax Tips
AUGUSTA, MAINE -- Before you start a summer job, take a vacation – or a "staycation" – or send the kids off to camp, the Internal Revenue Service wants you to know that certain summertime activities may qualify you for tax breaks. The IRS also advises that you can avoid problems at tax time by addressing certain issues now.
Jun 2, 2009 - 12:14:52 PM
NFIB
Forcing Small Businesses to Offer Health Insurance Will Kill Jobs
Congress is about to take up legislation that would have profound and long-lasting effects on 17 percent of our nation's economy—our healthcare system.
Jun 2, 2009 - 12:07:41 PM
Win at Work
Winning at Working--Leveraging Your Future
A friend's hairstylist saw her bookings drop as the economy fell, ultimately losing her job at a salon. But when my friend asked her if she'd be willing to make a house-call to style her ailing mother's hair, the stylist saw an opportunity. Ultimately, she launched a specialized in-home business and now makes more money than she ever did.
May 28, 2009 - 2:20:29 PM
IRS News
IRS Accepting Applications for Low Income Taxpayer Clinic Grants
AUGUSTA, MAINE -- The Internal Revenue Service announced today that the 2010 Low Income Taxpayer Clinic (LITC) grant application process is now open.
May 23, 2009 - 10:39:34 AM
IRS News
IRS Announces Withholding Adjustment Option for Pension Plans and Provides Taxpayer Education
AUGUSTA, MAINE -- As part of a wider outreach effort to educate taxpayers about the benefits they will receive under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, the Internal Revenue Service today released new withholding adjustment procedures for pension plans.
May 15, 2009 - 10:12:43 AM
Win at Work
Winning at Working-Progress Trumps Perfection
In the late 17th century, Lord Chesterfield, an English writer and politician, wrote to his son, "Whatever is worth doing at all is worth doing well." Three hundred years later, we still heed this advise from the fourth Earl of Chesterfield. Yet doing it well doesn't mean doing it perfectly. The 21st century workplace requires more than doing something well.
May 14, 2009 - 3:08:26 PM
IRS News
IRS Reminds Small Tax-Exempt Organizations to File e-Postcards
AUGUSTA, MAINE -- The Internal Revenue Service today reminded many small tax-exempt organizations to file their annual electronic informational return with the IRS by the May 15 deadline.
May 7, 2009 - 10:22:44 AM
NFIB
Breaking the Small Business Bank
As small businesses struggle to keep their heads above water, some in Congress want to push them back down. An effort has begun in Congress to expand the Family Medical Leave Act into a program that would force small employers to provide up to 12 weeks of paid leave to all workers.
May 4, 2009 - 1:23:42 PM
IRS News
E-file Hits Record 90 Million; More than 30 Million Returns e-Filed by Home Computer Users; Nearly 373,000 Mainers E-File
AUGUSTA, MAINE -- The Internal Revenue Service announced today a record 90 million tax returns were filed electronically this year, led by a big increase in people using home computers. Locally, nearly 373,000 Mainers filed electronically.
May 1, 2009 - 9:52:29 AM
Win at Work
Winning at Working--The Echoes Heard at Work
Coward. That word, along with others less printable, popped to mind when I heard a story about a friend's son. It turns out, he learned he was no longer employed via a text-message to his cell phone on a Sunday night. The brief message from his ex-boss informed him that his last work day had been Friday.
Apr 30, 2009 - 3:59:29 PM
Business
USDA Sets Date for Soybean Request for Referendum
BANGOR, MAINE -- The U.S. Department of Agriculture has announced that it will offer soybean producers the opportunity to request a referendum on the Soybean Promotion and Research Order (Order), as authorized under the Soybean Promotion, Research, and Consumer Information Act (Act).
Apr 28, 2009 - 10:56:52 AM
IRS News
IRS Tips for After April 15
AUGUSTA, MAINE -- Tax day has come and gone for most people, but your dealings with taxes may not be done. IRS spokesperson Peggy Riley offers these tips for handling some typical after-tax-day issues.
Apr 28, 2009 - 10:53:45 AM
IRS News
Low Income Taxpayer Clinic Grant Recipients Announced - Local Maine Organization Receives Grant
AUGUSTA, MAINE -- National Taxpayer Advocate Nina E. Olson announced that the Internal Revenue Service has awarded almost $9.5 million in matching grants to Low Income Taxpayer Clinics (LITCs) for the 2009 grant cycle.
Apr 26, 2009 - 7:49:07 AM
IRS News
Energy-Saving Steps This Year May Result in Tax Savings Next Year
AUGUSTA, MAINE -- The Internal Revenue Service today reminded individual and business taxpayers that many energy-saving steps taken this year may result in bigger tax savings next year.
Apr 25, 2009 - 9:30:44 AM
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