Froodee

Living. Blogging.

Why You Need To Rest Part 2: Tips for staying in tip-top performance

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Just this Monday, I posted on why we all need to rest. Now my tips for staying at peak performance include:

Have a rest day. Whether you’re Jewish, Christian, Moslem, Buddhist, Baha’i, Agnostic, or an Atheist, set a rest day where you can recharge and renew your energies. On that day, turn off your computer. Set aside everything that resembles your paperwork, even post-its. Grab a non-business or work-related book, a feel-good book, a feel-good DVD that doesn’t require you to think, and just relax. [Read more…]

Why You Need To Rest Part 1: Intro

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Finally, I’m starting my workweek!

After an entire week of downtime, virtually doing NOTHING and feeling worthless, I’m only too glad to be making money err, working again.

Speaking of feeling worthless and for what it’s worth for women who love to multi-task, I’m listing here what I think I should do, and what I believe are essential for staying in tip-top shape, productivity-wise.

I believe that productivity is not a matter of pushing yourself to the limit. Rather, it’s a matter of getting that work-life balance thing down pat. [Read more…]

The Law of Reciprocity

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An assignment recently got me interested in something called the Law of Reciprocity. No—this is not Physics class or any other Science-related course. The Law of Reciprocity actually goes by many names. Others call it an emotional bank account. One of my favorite writers of all time, Paulo Coelho, describes it as the favor bank.

But what exactly is this Law of Reciprocity, you ask?

This law goes far back as early as kindergarten for most people. It’s the “I’ll be your friend if you’ll be mine” strategy (How crafty kids can be…!). And for others, it transcends into the “I’ll show you mine if you show me yours” trick (Oh, hormonal teenagers!). Despite my limited and rather simple demonstrations, The Law of Reciprocity is actually alive and present in many, different situations.

The workplace, for one, is the perfect place to exercise the Law of Reciprocity. Take note: This law does not translate into “I’ll do your paperwork if you do mine.” It is something deeper and more reliable than that. Exercising the Law of Reciprocity helps build up relationships with colleagues and even bosses. It’s a give and take kind of thing that allows people to better work with others and themselves. When you help someone out or create opportunities for mutual advancement, you are indirectly showing others that you are not a power-hungry, promotion-junkie employee.

Instead, you are giving off the impression that you are a successful person in your own right. This actually makes you more approachable and mature. This makes others feel that they can rely and trust you. And if you give your superiors this impression… Well, that is a very good thing indeed.

Mid-size companies feeling neglect, but still optimisitc

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A study by the Economist Intelligence Unit came out with the conclusion that mid-size businesses in the UK are feeling left out and overlooked by Government, despite their disproportionate contributions to business revenue, compared to larger firms. While in the UK, 2% of firms are classified as mid-size, these account for 14% of job-provision and 16% of corporate revenue.

The comparison is not as stark as that of the US, with mid-size companies comprising 1% of the total number, but contribute 30% of corporate revenue, but still, mid-size companies in the country are feeling the brunt of globalisation—and that Government is doing less and less to support them in terms of protection, in view of intense competition from lower-cost outsourced services in developing nations.

The study was conducted among companies with annual turnovers of $20 to $500 million (or the equivalent) across Europe, Asia and the Americas.

Company formation and business solutions experts express support for mid-sized businesses, being one of the driving forces of innovation and growth. Mid-sized firms are small enough to be flexible and nimble in business strategies, and big enough to be able to make a difference. Globalisation may yet be another advantage of mid-size firms, as it may be an opportunity to expand into new markets.

UK economy on the rise

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Business advisers report that the UK economy is set for a great year, as expectations for 2006 are optimistic. The economy is on the rise, and we are anticipating an increased level of investment and economic growth.

A study by BDO Stoy Hayward reports that economic growth is expected to reach 2.2% in the second quarter of the year, and 3.4 by the third quarter. Barring external factors, such as slowdown of world demand for goods, UK interest rates should remain stable or unchanged, leading to a robust investment climate.

Apart from stable lending rates, an increase in consumer demand is also expected to provide an incentive for businesses to step up production and go into new investments. Companies are also expected to start hiring more people, given the need to increase output.

Company formation experts agree with this optimistic outlook, and believe that there is no better time to start up with business than now. While there are risks of the economy’s being adversely affected by external shocks, such as increases in energy costs and a drop in world demand for goods, these are likely to be well-anticipated and compensated for by the positive benefits of the expected growth in consumer demand and spending, and investment.