Teambuilding During Meetings: How to Make It a Reality

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Hello, Ken Lear here!

Team building is an important part of creating a thriving work culture and an efficient team. However, it can become difficult to find a time when the entire team is free to participate in teambuilding exercises—so how are you supposed to bond with them? One trick you might try is taking advantage of the times you are all together, such as meetings, to hold teambuilding exercises and get to know your team.

Given that you’ll have a limited amount of time immediately before and after your meetings, your teambuilding activities should be short and effective. Below are a few examples of quick teambuilding exercises that are also really fun!

Two Truths and a Lie

This game allows you to get to know your team better in quite a few ways. The rules are simple: one nominated person will think of three things about themselves, two truthful and one a lie. Then, everyone else must attempt to pick out which of the three items is the lie.

This game is best played when the nominated person chooses ridiculous and unbelievable things for the game. Not only is this game a lot of fun, but it also allows your team to bond with each other and share exciting facts about themselves with the entire team.  

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Board Games

The short periods of time before and after meetings are perfect for playing one or two quick board games with the team. The biggest trick to accomplishing this without it devolving into a distracting exercise is to intelligently choose board games that are fast to play and where teamwork is present.

Keep in mind that there should be a set time limit for games, and that playing them isn’t appropriate before every single meeting. Most importantly, choose a game that can teach your team something that they can use in their work in some way. Some examples might include Checkers, Connect Four, Mancala, and Zombie Dice.

Just Talk!

It sounds obvious, but simply talking with your team can be one of the most effective teambuilding exercises. Try asking your team about their weekend, recent movies they have seen, or their hobbies and interests.

Think of this experience as similar to trying to make a new friend. Remember that you are still in a professional setting, but don’t be afraid to let your guard down and share a few chuckles with your team from time to time.

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6 Positive Quotes for Entrepreneurs To Live By

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1. “Whether you think you can, or you think you can’t -- you’re right.” – Henry Ford.

Venerated entrepreneur Henry Ford understood that it’s typically not external forces keeping us from achieving our dreams -- it’s our mindset. Do you think you can, or do you think you can’t?

2. “You don’t learn to walk by following rules. You learn by doing and falling over.” – Richard Branson

If you think about it, it’s true. Children are on their own when it comes to learning to walk and talk. They may get pushed in the right direction, but ultimately their success depends on their determination and ability to learn from their mistakes.

3. “I’m convinced that about half of what separates the successful entrepreneurs from the non-successful ones is pure perseverance.” – Steve Jobs

Take it from the founder of Apple: success is not given; it’s fought for. It’s a recurring theme in success quotes, and yet people give up on things every day. We can’t control every aspect of our lives, but we always have the choice to keep trying.

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4. "It is never too late to be what you might have been." – George Eliot

Life has a way of putting our dreams on hold as we take on the challenges of everyday reality. But like George Eliot says, there is no time limit for starting anew. Despite what some people might tell you, there’s no right time or wrong time to begin –there is only your decision to begin or not.

5. “The secret to my success is that I bit off more than I could chew and chewed as fast as I could.” – Paul Hogan

Anything can be done if you’re willing to learn on the fly. Once you’re as prepared as you can be, take the step into the unknown and adapt as fast as you can. You might be surprised what you’re capable of!

6. “Never, never, never give up.” – Winston Churchill

If you remember any of these quotes, remember this one. Churchill’s elegantly simple, five-word piece of advice should be tattooed on every entrepreneur’s forehead because ultimately, giving up is the only thing that can keep you from success.

Characteristics All Entrepreneurs Need

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Anyone can start a business, but it’s how that business is nurtured and grown that really makes or breaks it. After looking at several successful (and not successful) entrepreneurs, it’s clear that there are a few distinguishing characteristics of successful entrepreneurs.

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Passion

This is the most important quality of an entrepreneur – if you are not passionate about what you are doing, then why not work a normal 9-5 job? Figure out what your mission is when you create a new company and stick with it. This is what will drive you on days when you just don’t want to get out of bed.

The Openness to Learn

Just because you started your own business and are doing well, that doesn’t mean you know everything. Always be learning from those around you; whether they have had 50 years in the business or 2, a helpful tip can go a long way. Being an entrepreneur is not just a job – it’s a lifestyle. Be open to learning new things and trying out new ways to do business.

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Resourcefulness

Any new business owner knows that the first couple of years can be tight – so learn how to make the most out of what you have. Does the intern you hired happen to be amazing at math? Have them help you balance the budget instead of just filing. Use the connections you’ve made in college and your career to get better deals on services or find the perfect employee for an open position.

Perseverance

We all know the saying “Rome was not built in a day,” and the same holds true for new businesses. There will be obstacles and there will be hard times; you just need to get through them. Think of your mission and why you started this in the first place. If 10 financial backers turn you down, don’t fret – you’ll eventually find at least one that won’t. It might take some tweaking and changes along the way, but it will happen. That’s the nature of a startup. Remember to be kind, keep in touch with people you meet and things will eventually come through if you continue to persevere.

Time Management Tips

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Hi, I'm Ken Lear.

Managing your time at work and in your home life is essential. Managing your time is all about “working smarter, not harder.” Putting in a 10-hour day doesn’t mean you necessarily were productive. Could it have been done in 8 hours? Managing time isn’t about doing as many tasks as possible. It’s about simplifying how you work, doing things faster, and feeling less stressed.

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Keep Track of Your Tasks

Whether this be on your phone, a calendar, or a checklist – make sure these are documented somewhere. If not, there is always the chance you will forget one or two things on your list.

Complete the Most Important Tasks First

When you start working, identify a couple of tasks that have to be done that day. Instead of putting them off till later, work on them now. You never know what troubles may come up.

Learn to Say “No” When Needed

Sometimes we feel obligated to say yes to a task our supervisor gives us, but if you simply just don’t have the time, say “no.” You should be only be taking on new commitments that you know you have time.

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Focus on the Task at Hand

If your email keeps popping up (and it’s not important) – ignore it. Every time you check a new email or go on Facebook, you are losing focus on the task at hand. Put your phone away, log out of Facebook, and turn off your music if that distracts you.

Assign Time Limits on Projects

Instead of working on a project till it’s done (unless of course there is a deadline) give yourself a time limit. There is a good chance that after 2-3 hours of working on the same project, you’ll need a short break to recharge.

Target to be Early

If a task is due at 2:00, try and be done before 1:55. There is a good chance something will come up that will make things take a bit longer. For appointments, strive to be early. For your deadlines, submit them earlier than required.

Set Reminders

If you have a meeting, set a calendar reminder for 15 minuets beforehand. If you have a project due in a couple of weeks, set a reminder for a few days before.

Finding a Job You Love

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Ken Lear here.

A famous Confucius quote reads, “Choose a job you’ll love and you’ll never have to work another day.” This is something that most people believe in, but don’t take the steps to make it a reality. No job is worth it if you’re not happy or satisfied with the work. It can be difficult to find and lock down a job that you will love, but it is also very worth the effort. To find that job, you must be able to have a sense of where you want to be headed in the future. Finding meaning in a career is of utmost importance to a happy life. Here are three things you can do today to find a job that you can have a real passion for:

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Find a Company with Similar Values

It’s tough to love your job when the company you work for does not practice the same values as you do. From environmental awareness to employee appreciation, finding a company that does the things you think a company should is significant. This is imperative: no one can be happy with a job when they are aware they heavily disagree on the values the company presents.

Look to the Future

When taking a new job, think five years down the line. Is this a job you will be satisfied with? Will it keep you motivated? Will it help you get where you need to get?  Looking down the line with your job is a great way to see if it will be worth your time. If this job is not going to get you where you need (and want) to go, you may have to look elsewhere.

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Talk with People Who've Figure It Out

It doesn’t hurt to ask those who love their jobs how they were able to do it. Most will tell you that they figured out what they were passionate about and pursued it. This is the underlining fate that you must understand to get a job you love: passion will always triumph money or power. Talking with others will allow you to see that its possible to find a job you love. You just need to put in the effort and time to find out what your passions truly are.

The 5 Best Fictional Entrepreneurs

My name is Ken Lear and I’m an expert on all things leadership, business, and entrepreneurship.

As a film and novel buff, I have been able to see as many movies regarding entrepreneurship as I can. The subject of entrepreneurship is great inspiration for a story that can be fascinating as well as thought provoking. The following are my favorite fictional entrepreneurs, and why they are memorable.

Daniel Plainview – There Will Be Blood

There Will Be Blood tells the dark tale of an oil businessman’s rise to power and success. Plainview was able to see the potential in the oil business, and capitalized by finding the best land for digging and how to distribute it. His methods may have been a little too harsh for some, but his business skills and expertise would make any entrepreneur jealous.

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Tony Stark – Iron Man

Being a super hero is a tough job to do, but underneath the iron mask is a man that is your classic entrepreneur. As Tony Stark takes over his father’s weapons company, he keeps the success going and becomes a billionaire. He also realizes the errors of the weapons business, and vows to help stop criminals from arming up. It’s nice to see a self-made man that condemns the bad things his business does to help make the world a better place.

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The Ghostbusters – Ghostbusters

This might be a goofy choice, but what the Ghostbusters were able to achieve should inspire all entrepreneurs. By providing a service that was in demand (catching ghosts), the Ghostbusters were able to create a successful business that people could recall with ease. Even their logo was recognizable, and is still known in real life twenty years later.

Charles Foster Kane – Citizen Kane

Considered one of the greatest movies of all time, Citizen Kane tells the story of a man that turns a newspaper into a media empire. A tragic story, Kane realizes at the end of the film that the power and the money didn’t make him happy: it was his childhood memories such as his sled Rosebud. Still, his business prowess inspired many.

Walter White – Breaking Bad

Breaking Bad may tell the story of drug kingpin, but in reality the entrepreneurial knack of Walter White should be admired. Walter finds something he’s good at and sticks with it, even though it is highly illegal and dangerous. Cooking drugs should never be an option for entrepreneurs, but the idea that doing things you enjoy and are good at is what your business should be focused on.

Creating the Perfect Resume

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Hi, I'm Ken Lear, an expert in all things business, leadership, and entrepreneurship.

Crafting a perfect resume is an essential skill that any job seeker should continually be improving upon. Like you, your resume is a living and breathing document that will evolve and follow you throughout your career. As such it is important to revisit it and revise it to reflect your life’s trajectory.

Here are a few tips and techniques designed to help you along the way:

·               Create Your Own Template: You can use the pre-made templates found in word processing programs or online to serve as a foundation for your formatting but it’s often best to develop your own template that is appropriate for the industry you are applying for.

·               Don’t Include Irrelevant Information: Keep your list of hobbies and references out of the resume because they simply waste valuable space. You should locate your education history at the bottom of the page and only include the relevant details (organization, degree, and graduation year).

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·               Experience Should Determine Page Length: Your resume should only contain professional experience that you are proud of. Generally speaking it should remain at one page for ease of use but if you’ve acquired more than 10 years of experience in your field, adding a second page is perfectly reasonable.

·               Format the Page to Organize Your Data: By breaking up blocks of text with bolded and italicized words you can emphasize the inherent strengths found within your resume. Additionally, using bulleted lists to organize your key responsibilities and accomplishments will help improve the readability of the page.

·               Have A Creative Objective or None At All: There is some debate over whether or not to include an Objective on your resume. If you include one it can pigeon hole you into a narrow focus, if you don’t it can leave your resume feeling directionless. Ideally your Objective should emulate your elevator pitch by remaining clear and concise.

·               Highlight Your Name & Contact Info: Many resumes push the applicants contact info to the bottom or to the side. It should be front and center (so to speak) and aligned at the top of the page in bold.

·               Quantify Your Accomplishments: Whenever possible, stay clear of subjective and abstract language – instead opt to include real and manageable numbers that give your experience grounding within the company.

·               Tailor Your Resume for the Position: By molding your resume to reflect what the employer is looking for you maximize the potential of a single sheet of paper. Research the company to identify key words, phrases, and the company’s overarching philosophy. You should also research the position itself to determine which work experience you should include.

·               White Space is Key: If you’re resume contains too much information it can quickly overwhelm the tired recruiter that is reading it alongside a hundred others. By using negative space to draw the eye you can highlight the key information on the page in an intuitive manner.

Remember that your resume should be designed to get you the interview. It is there that you can elaborate on the information that you left out. By having an up to date resume on file at all times you will be more equipped to handle opportunity or hardship when it happens. In these moments it will provide you with a sense of professionalism and also relief.

Good luck!

Tips to Better Business Decision Making

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My name is Ken Lear, and I’m an entrepreneur, businessman, and leadership expert.

Learning to make good decisions in business is a requirement for being a great manager. Through using built-up experience and solid logic, better choices can be made that can help a company be more successful. Utilizing tactics that decision makers us can make a tough decision be easier than ever before. Decisions making does not come out of nowhere, it takes years of experience and practice to make the tough choices. Here are a few tips that I follow to make great decisions:

Remove Emotion

Many times when we are evaluating a decision, emotion can play a relative factor. We are all human beings with passion and tend to follow the way our heart tells us to go. For smart decisions to be made in business, we must never allow our emotional ties to cloud our judgment. Tap developing true judgment, and utilize facts to see the consequences of each action taken. Eliminating emotion from decision-making will give you a real sense of the implications the choice will create.

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Utilize the Opinions of Others

Although we may want to make decisions all on our own, outside insight can help greatly when we are at a crossroads. Asking other peers or friends for their opinion can give you more information, and lead you to the right path. See what they believe is the right way , and going from there. They make choose a path that you might not want to follow, but at least you can see a viewpoint of someone else. Gaining their opinion of the right decision will allow you to develop a better hindsight of decision-making.

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Clear Your Mind

The right path comes to us when we least expect it. Typically, we are so enthralled over a predicament that we tend to lose focus on the right answer. By doing things that can clear your mind, you will allow your brain to find the right answer all on its own. Exercising or even meditating can focus your mind on something else for the time being, and let the correct choice come to you. Never spend hours on end worrying over a decision. You have gotten yourself this far to succeed; trust yourself that you will figure it out on your own.

If Your Have A Feeling…

Although I think you should remove emotion from decision-making, you should also take in account your instincts and intuition. There will be times where you will make a decision that people disagree with. However, it is important to take risks and chances once in a while to truly succeed. A great path to success is to do things that no one else has done. Use facts and research to make a decision, but if you’re hesitant to go one way, always go with your gut feeling.