Simple, practical & effective ways to achieve more at work and in life.

Article By Kevin L. DeWitt

There are many ways to measure success … but there are even more ways to achieve it.  What makes one person successful doesn’t always work for everyone.  Some of us are born with the determination it takes to succeed, and others have to work a little harder to realize our goals. But no matter how you become successful, it isn’t something that happens overnight - it takes some serious effort.

The following tips are things that you can implement right away in your everyday life, at work and at home, to help you be more successful.

You may even do some of them already, but you will likely find others that you never even thought of: Read More »

Article By Kevin L. DeWitt

I have always had a deep apprehension about what I perceive as my shortcomings.  As a result, I’ve always felt intimidated when I start something new.  I know that I have weaknesses, and I’m anxious they’ll lead to my failure.  Even when they don’t and I succeed, many times I feel as if I don’t deserve it.

This isn’t a pity party.  I’m making a point that I believe we all feel this way at some point in our lives … or for some of us … at many times throughout our life.

I’m still learning to turn my weaknesses into strengths and to recognize them as such.  The key, I’m convinced, is the right mindset.

I’m not referring to just the power of positive thinking … but about figuring out ways in which weaknesses can actually be strengths.  If you develop the mindset that weaknesses aren’t really weaknesses, you’ve just broken through your limitations and fears. Read More »

Article By Kevin L. DeWitt

How do you feel about your job?  Do you love it?  Do you hate it?  Chances are, if you have a job today, you are thankful simply to be employed!

For me, how I feel about my job depends a great deal with the people I work with.  If there is stress, annoyance or dislike in my job, chances are it’s because my co-workers get on my nerves.  If there’s love in the office, it’s because I enjoy my co-workers to the point that it is almost like not having to work.

Often times in our work experience, we come across those whose only task seems to be making our workday miserable.  That’s disheartening considering most of us seem to spend more and more time at work – if we have a job – and far less time at home.  And when we are at home, we seem to either be on the run or trying to slip in a little sleep.

At my office, I had a co-worker named “Sally” who I considered my nemesis.  And I say this with affection.  Really.  I think every office probably has a Sally.  Here is a little story about my Sally and our ever-evolving interactions. Read More »

Article by Marie Monroe

Finding balance in a busy life is difficult. Often we make temporary sacrifices in one area of life to focus on another more intensely. It’s important to be flexible enough to do this from time to time.  However over the long haul, especially if work is our chief focus, very real problems can arise.

Don’t get me wrong.  A passionate approach to one’s work is great.  It’s workaholism I am talking about here – working instead of attending to other parts of life.

Continual overwork is not productive despite its outer appearances. While periodic long hours and tenacity can produce a knock-out presentation, for example, chronic long hours and doggedness do not always help our workplace.  In fact, workaholism can sabotage morale and mission for the workaholic and our workmates (not to mention the effect on our family).

Using Work to Compensate

True workaholics bring a personal agenda into their jobs – whether they are aware of it or not - that jobs are not equipped to fulfill. Typically, they are compelled to overwork (or at least overstay at work) to compensate for other parts of their lives.  

What seems like an apparent zealous commitment to work can really be a desperate need for refuge, companionship or meaning.  For the workaholic, work is expected to meet needs that are more appropriately met through our family, friends, recreation, spirituality, rest and self-care.  In reality, the workplace is an inadequate and inappropriate place to meet many our personal needs. Read More »

“We can become artists in our own lives, listening to the call of our own inspirations.”

Article by Make The Days Count Contributor Marie Monroe

As an art therapist, I have been in the business of creativity for 25 years.  My job has been to help others, typically non-artists, to engage in creative work.  What I have learned long the way is that all of us can become “artists” in our own lives with our own brand of creativity … no matter what our calling is or what we do in life.

To understand the benefit of creative work for the average person, it’s helpful to consider how artists behave and what happens along their life journeys.  This gives us a snapshot of creativity in the extreme … a caricature, if you will, in which we can see some interesting detail. 

A look at artists can deflate some tough, lingering myths about creativity that scare many people, even the interested people, away.  The chief boogie man - standing at the gate of creativity - seems to be the notion that an artist is born an artist, that talent is first present and then work is produced.  This is, with the exception of prodigies and savants, typically backwards. Read More »