Be Kind

It's so easy to get swept up in the hustle and bustle of every day life, and at work when you are up against your competitors. "Kindness is not a weakness. In fact, kindness is one of the greatest strengths any individual can possess." Be kind. Always.
http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/249529

Happy Monday

Who do you want to meet today? Did you wake up on the wrong side of the bed or are you ready to kick off this week in high gear? Would you want to meet someone today who is in whatever mood you are currently in? These are some good questions to ask yourself as you get going in the morning, or even as you hit a rough spot during your day. Give yourself the opportunity to readjust your attitude and be the type of person you want to meet!

 

 

Goals

Have you accomplished any of your goals today? This week? This month? Celebrate them this weekend! Happy Friday!

Effective Management

What are some of your tips for being an effective management? What has worked for you? What hasn't? Check out this article for some ideas...

http://www.forbes.com/sites/victorlipman/2015/08/07/4-offbeat-unexpected-ways-to-become-a-more-effective-manager/

In my last post I mentioned how the only thing constant is change. Our world is forever changing. Change can be scary, but so worth it if you want to see your business boom. Sometimes they are little changes and sometimes you have to step out of your comfort zone. Check out this article on changes that are essential to growth...
http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/247820

Never Stop Learning

Are you continuously working on bettering yourself? Expanding your knowledge? They say "Knowledge is power" and I believe this. The only way to stay ahead is to continue educating yourself. The only thing constant is change, so rememeber...

Leadership

“The trick to leadership is to have people want to do a good job — not to please you, but for themselves!” It's Monday... get the week off on the right foot. What do your leadership skills say about you? Do your employees want to be successful for the team or are they here just to get the job done? Here is a great article on 6 things real leader don't do...

http://www.forbes.com/sites/lizryan/2015/08/08/six-things-real-leaders-dont-do-like-boss-people-around/

Be a Mindful Leader

"Develop a daily habit of introspection." How do you decompress and refocus? When you are stressed and don't take the time to breath others around you are going to feel it. Sometimes you have to put all the distractions aside to think clearly and be more creative. Check out this good read!

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/bill-george/the-power-of-mindful-lead_b_7878482.html?utm_hp_ref=business

You're than You!

Always a great quote and great advice. Be yourself! Be unique!

Get Inspired

Some great ideas on how to get inspired. Did you know that walking boosts creative thinking? Check out this link for other ways to get inspired!

http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/242299

Relax, It's Wednesday!

It's Wednesday... lets de-stress! Some people love Wednesday because you are half way through the week, while others stress it- so much to do and so little time to do it. What are some of your stress relieving techniques?

http://www.forbes.com/sites/amymorin/2015/07/29/5-powerful-stress-relievers-you-can-do-at-your-desk/

A Leader's Mindset

" According to research, a persons mindset has an integral part to play in the growth of an individual and his environment."
What kind of leader are you? Are you adaptable? Accountable? It's easy to be consumed by the day to day hustle and bustle, but it's important to be focused on what your future holds.

http://www.lifehack.org/285824/6-reasons-mindset-important-leader?ref=pp

Work Proactively, Not Reactively

It's Monday... Have you started working on your list of things to-do for this week? Have you started prioritizing what HAS to be done? If not, it's not too late to help get yourself organized for the week! Here is a great article on how to be proactive, not reactive!
http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/248866

How To Communicate Like A Leader

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/fred-kofman/how-to-communicate-like-a_b_7860254.html?utm_hp_ref=what-is-working-small-businesses

Listening Skills

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/06/10/great-listening-skills_n_5479836.html?utm_hp_ref=small-business

Friday Inspiration

Communicating With Your Employees

Everyone has different personalities and communication techniques. How do you effectively communicate with your employees?
http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/248757

Books to read

Knowledge is power.
http://www.entrepreneur.com/slideshow/241817

How do you brand yourself?

http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/247314

Body Language, Charisma and Influence

Are you good at reading people? How is your body language coming across to others?

http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/239890

Nurturing a winning business

http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/248555

Happy Wednesday

Achieve great things today!

 

Overcoming Mental Barriers

Sometimes we are our own biggest obstacle...

http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/248686

Employee Engagement

How do you get your employees engaged?

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/kevin-kruse/an-employee-engagement-st_b_7865056.html?utm_hp_ref=business&ir=Business

Great Mentors

A good article on finding and getting value from a mentor... Who is your mentor?
http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/247219

http://www.forbes.com/sites/cherylsnappconner/2015/07/26/the-4-resources-millennial-entrepreneurs-need-to-succeed/?ss=lists

Balance

http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/248700

All you need is a Monday!

Battling Burnout

Everyone has to take a step back or a breather now and then so you get burned out. Here is an article with some techniques to help battle burnout. What other techniques have you used?

http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/248442

To-Do List

What's on your to-do list? Did you accomplish everything you set out to do? Below is an article with tips to help you cross off those items!

http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/248615

Thankful

What are you thankful for today?

 

 

 

 

Overcoming Challenges

http://www.forbes.com/sites/travisbradberry/2015/07/21/7-challenges-successful-people-overcome/

Generating More Leads

How do you generate more leads?

http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/248065

Fixing Motivation Killers

http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/238189

Make more...Work less

http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/248050

Embracing Uncertainty

"Uncertainty can ultimately enrich your life, or diminish it. Embrace it."

http://www.forbes.com/sites/margiewarrell/2015/07/21/why-embracing-uncertainty-is-critical-to-your-success/

Inspire your employees

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/margaret-jacoby/4-ways-to-inspire-employe_b_7833986.html?utm_hp_ref=business&ir=Business

Let's get creative

Read this article today... How do you get your team to think more creatively?


http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/243419

Be GRATEful

Starting your week out on a positive note can really set the tone for the rest of the week. Be grateful, be kind, and always do your best.

 

Every day you should put your best foot forward! Happy Tuesday!


"It is one’s duty to make the most of the best that is in him."
                               

                                -Duncan Stuart

Interesting and valid advice... What is your best advice? What are your best practices?

http://www.forbes.com/sites/miketempleman/2015/07/20/top-business-executives-share-their-best-advice/

Quotes

Check out this link for some good quotes. "Nurture your mind with great thoughts..." really caught my eye today!


http://www.forbes.com/quotes/1048/

Be Awesome... It's Monday!

It is so easy to get swept up in the weekend and so difficult to get back into the grind come Monday. But you get to choose how you set your tone for the week. And today, I am choosing to be awesome!

 

 

Encouragement

Sometimes all you need is a little encouragement to get through the day! Hope everyone had a great week. Have a safe and fun weekend!

Everyone needs a little cheese in their life...

What are some cheesy,  yet inspirational quotes that help pick you up on an overwhelming day?http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/248422

Push Yourself!

It's easy to fall into a mid-week slump, push yourself to stay focused and energized today! 

New puppy!

Group picture of us picking up our new puppy Bella last weekend!

Sharpen your Saw

The below article I read today illustrates the benefits of taking time to exercise and take care of yourself, as it will help in many aspects of your life. Take a look and let me know your thoughts! 

http://riskology.co/sharpen-the-saw/

World Press Photo Contest 2015

I have seen some amazing images in the below article about World Press Photo Contest. Check them out! 

World Press Photo Contest 2015

http://www.cnn.com/2015/02/12/world/gallery/world-press-photo-contest-2015/index.html

MBAs -- Hinder street smarts?

Interesting video I saw regarding MBAs and their getting in the way of street smarts.. what are your thoughts?

Defining Moment of Adulthood

Do you remember a defining moment that you look back on as when you finally felt like an adult?  This is an interesting article that made me think about what that moment was for me.

Hard Work leads to Success

Great Advice

Recently reblogged the attached post on my tumblr. Some great advice to keep in mind!

Some of Oprah's favorite advice

Is Technology Making People Less Sociable?

What are your thoughts on technology and social media's effects on social skills? The below article I read brings up some interesting points regarding this topic.


Is Technology Making People Less Sociable?

Buzzfeed Books Newsletter

Follow the link below for a pretty neat way to branch out and get some book recommendations in all genres!

Find Your Next Great Book With The BuzzFeed Books Newsletter!

Inspiring Video -- Using Jelly Beans!

Pretty cool visual breaking down time! How will you use the "beans" you have left?

The Time You Have, Explained with Jelly Beans

 

 

Always be true to yourself!

Inspiring Touchdown

Came across this video the other day and had to share it. Great to see this man get to score another touchdown - love the huge smile on his face!

Kentucky Derby 2015

Almost Kentucky Derby time!! Which horse are you pulling for? #kentuckyderby http://ow.ly/2bsKG6

Time Flies

Have you noticed; Although we all have the same amount of time in our day, some people accomplish so much more than others?

It’s about choices. 

 

It drives me crazy to hear someone use the excuse “I didn’t have time”.  Of course you had time!  We all have the same amount of time.  You simply chose to do something else with your time.  This can become an unhealthy habit.  

I encourage you to work on this mindset – be more honest with yourself and quit making excuses.  You know, it is okay to make choices with your time others might disagree with.

Ask questions when someone gives you an assignment so you clearly understand what is expected of you.  “I am currently working on Project A; do you want me to stop and handle this new assignment first?”  “What time frame do I have to complete this new assignment?”  “How detailed do you want the first draft to be?”  A simple question or two can set expectations and clarify priorities for all parties.   

Throwback Thursday featuring Arnold Schwarzenegger!

#TBT Check out who Arnold is holding in this Entertainment Weekly picture! This picture with my daughter Reagan was taken 4 years ago!

Kentucky Derby Fun!

#WCW is always my beautiful wife! Had to use this pic from last year's Kentucky Derby since this year's is Saturday!

Success = Mistakes

 You aren’t successful unless you are making mistakes.

I believe mistakes are a good thing.  Let’s face it:  if someone isn’t making any mistakes, they are being overly cautious. 
 
As a business owner, I have told my staff if they feel more than 75% confident in their decision….go for it!  Checking and confirming and verifying takes up a lot of time, and time equals money.  If their decision turns out to be wrong, it can become a learning experience.  We’ll have a valuable interaction and determine what we learned from the mistake, what we could have done differently, and at the end of the day – we learn more!  As a business owner, I can understand my employees line of thinking.  The employee learns my viewpoint.  Both viewpoints are valuable from a coaching standpoint.

You can learn a lot about someone when they make a mistake.  How do they react to that mistake?  Do they try to cover it up?  Do they ignore it and hope it goes away?  Dealing with a mistake in a forthright manner shows integrity. 

Mistakes are a good thing.  Repeated mistakes are the problem. 

Ryan Poterack is an entrepreneur living in North Carolina.  

New Fun App!

Have you tried the new bitmoji app? Being able to turn yourself into an emoticon and have fun with all the different animation options is pretty neat. What do you think, does my emoji look like me?! ‪

The Secret To A Meaningful Life In Just 7 Words http://m.huffpost.com/us/entry/7109444

Are we Facebook friends?

Are we Facebook friends? Add me & take a look at my most recent post regarding health care, interesting stuff! www.facebook.com/ryan.poterack

Charlotte Area Restaurants

I had a great day of events at The Palm yesterday! What are some other restaurants you love in the Charlotte area?

2015 Boston Marathon

Inspiring story of determination and dedication from this year's Boston Marathon #BostonStrong http://ow.ly/LXYhJ

Full House Reunion!

I am sure my daughter Reagan will be excited about this! http://ow.ly/LUz3a

Recent Google+ Link

My Google+ post links to an interesting article I came across discussing speech habits that undermine your authority. http://ow.ly/LRMsH

Flashback Friday!

#FBF to a gorgeous sunset in Nevis... wishing the weather wasn't so gloomy here this week! http://ow.ly/i/apooF

Happy Tax Day!

Follow me on Twitter!

Do you have a twitter account? Make sure to follow me if you do!
Follow me on Twitter!

Just in case you need a good laugh to end your Monday...

Magical Mop

Make it a Great Monday!

Friday!!

Friday work day is coming to an end! Does anyone have any big weekend plans coming up?

New Personal Website

I have recently created a new personal website! Take a look at www.ryanpoterack.net and let me know what you think!

If you’re looking for the best live coverage of the 2015 Masters Round 1, follow the link in my latest Facebook post! https://www.facebook.com/ryan.poterack

NCAA Tournament Championship!

 Who do you have winning tonight?! #duke #wisconsin #ncaatourney #championship http://ow.ly/3xIr1k

NCAA Inspirational Tumblr Post

Are you following my tumblr account? My most recent NCAA Tourney inspired post is a great read! ryanpoterack.tumblr.com/post/115409069…

Fear in the Workplace

Fear in the Workplace

Fear can be a motivating factor for some, but for others it can be detrimental to their productivity. For me personally, fear is what motivates me on a daily basis. There are certain goals I want to accomplish in my life, for myself and my family, and the fear of not accomplishing these goals is what keeps me motivated to work hard and stay focused each day. As a leader, that can be a challenging position to be in, as you don't have many outlets to express this fear. As for employees, there can be a variety of fears that effect your day to day productivity. While there may be short term benefits to that type of fear, it is not a healthy environment. The fear of mistakes is the most typical concern people have; however, mistakes are a good thing, in my opinion. Being overly critical of your own work and decisions due to fear of failure can be corrosive to your efficiency and undermine your abilities. There are mistakes that you will inevitably make, some that you will kick yourself for and others that may have a larger negative impact on the specific situation. Regardless of the various possible mistakes, an environment where you are fearful of the simple idea of making one will lead you down a path of doubt that will inevitably take over your ability to take control of your decisions and capabilities. A great leader is someone you can go to with mistakes and, while there may be consequences for them, is open to the discussion and the learning experience that mistakes will bring. I will discuss my thoughts on mistakes in a later blog post, stay tuned! 

Lucky Boy Meets his Idol

You never know when you will have an opportunity to meet your hero! My recent Google+ post links to a great article of a Justin Verlander fan getting the surprise of a lifetime at Starbucks!

Justin Verlander fan gets a huge surprise!

April Fools' Day Pledge

If you are not my friend on Facebook, please add me so you can check out my recent posts, such as John Oliver's April Fool's Day Pledge! Make sure to check it out before tomorrow rolls around! Ryan Poterack - Facebook

Twitter

I read an interesting article today on the subject of key characteristics of effective leaders. I posted the link on my Twitter account https://twitter.com/ryanpoterack/status/582578516635549696. Go check it out and let me know what you think!