OK, this is the "fun" page!  Phil Samuels, our company's founder and a nationally known Management Trainer and Public Speaker has been helping people improve and develop their management and personal skills for the past 35 years. He has conducted more than 2,000 seminars and classes for

every type of industry and organization. Whether you're a CEO of a large corporation or a parent, here, you'll get some tips and pointers to make it easier for you to accomplish your goals.  Remember, because all of Phil's programs emphasize humor, they're sure to bring a smile while you learn something that will help you in your day-to-day activities.

No, I'm not "losing it."  That title really says it all! 

What that means is that whether you mean to or not, even when you're not communicating with someone, you're still sending a message.  Did you ever call someone for a job and not get a return call?  Well, that person, by not communicating back, is sending a message... very clearly!  And, anyone who's married (or in a committed relationship) will testify, when your spouse or "significant other" is silent, there's a message in there... you just have to figure out what it is!

In business, we have to remember that all of our words and actions and lack of words or actions are sending messages to others.  If someone does a great job on a project and you don't acknowledge it, that person is getting a message from you ("their work isn't appreciated," "you don't have time for them," "they didn't do well," etc.), whether you intend it or not!  I realize it's not easy, but try to pay as much attention to what you don't say or do as what you do say and do. 

Everyone you interact with will appreciate it!

OK, I already hear the cries of protest and I haven't even published the article yet!  Over the past 30+ years that I've been studying what "stress" is, what causes it and how to reduce it, I've heard dozens of definitions of the feeling. However, the only definition that ever made sense to me is that "Stress is the difference between 'what really is' and 'what you were expecting'."  That's a definition I can work with!

If you expect your boss always to be fair and reasonable, chances are you'll be "stressed" often.  And, if you expect your children always to use good judgment, you probably have lots of gray hair. 

Therefore, "situations" don't cause stress. How we respond to the situations is what causes the stress! So, how can you manage the stress in your life?  First, "change your expectations" to meet reality.  Be realistic: cars break down; kids misbehave; there are always unexpected expenses!  If you can learn to "expect the unexpected," then you'll be a great position to manage and control the harmful "stress" in your life!