Karl Edwards presents Working Matters

Category: Working Matters

  • Quote to Consider: Good Thing We’re Complex

    quote-to-consider“A man should not strive to eliminate his complexes but to get into accord with them, for they are legitimately what directs his conduct in the world.”

    Sigmund Freud

  • Karl Shares Six Words… #9


    “What policy?” the accountant stammered nervously.


    Karl Edwards

  • Loving Monday: Attitude Infection

    loving_mondayHave you ever come to work to find someone in such a good mood that you can’t help but feel better yourself?

    Their attitude is infectious. Their mood, their outlook, their demeanor, their disposition, their frame of reference, whatever it is… you find yourself being drawn in and carried along.

    It’s fun. It’s refreshing. It’s a breath of fresh air in a stuffy and claustrophobic work world. It’s an unexpected gift.

    What if you were that person today?

    What if you made a decision—right here, right now—to bring the gift of a fun-loving, hard-working attitude to work today? That you would be extra positive, extra appreciative, extra helpful, extra conscientious… you take it from there with what you might do.

    The idea is simply to choose to be the source of the upbeat attitude infection.

    Nothing off the charts, simply an extra measure of good attitude. Not every day, just today. Not as some sort of grandiose mission, but more like giving a special, unexpected gift.

    Instead of donuts, flowers or coffee, your gift would be your attitude.

    Think about it. Think about trying it. Right here, right now.

    On your side,

    – Karl Edwards

    Loving Monday is a weekly column designed to encourage us to step into our weeks with an intention to show up authentically, engage fully, and choose to make it a good week for ourselves. Explore past columns here.

  • Quote to Consider: Success Beyond Reach

    quote-to-consider“Many people have the ambition to succeed; they may even have a special aptitude for their job. And yet they do not move ahead. Why? Perhaps they think that since they can master the job, there is no need to master themselves.”

    John Stevenson

  • Karl Shares Six Words… #8


    Wisdom nudges frantic toward the door.


    Karl Edwards

  • Building a Distinct Approach to Your New Year’s Resolution

    For as widespread as the practice of setting New Year’s Resolutions is, almost more common is the expectation that these resolutions will not, in fact, be kept.

    Are we becoming too cynical? Or are we merely laughing at our own failings?

    The problem with how we traditionally approach New Year’s resolutions is that it’s such an all-or-nothing affair.

    Most of us set an ambitious goal for ourselves. So far so good. It’s helpful to have a goal and for that goal to be specific.

    But then we articulate the goal as an all-or-nothing proposition. In other words the only two options available are to keep it entirely or to fail it utterly.

    “I will lose 15 pounds.” “I will keep my desk clean.” “I will stop calling the Trojan (more…)

  • Quote to Consider: An Infinite Return on Investment

    quote-to-consider“Nothing is ever lost by courtesy. It is the cheapest of pleasures, costs nothing, and conveys much. It pleases him who gives and receives and thus, like mercy, is twice blessed.”

    Erastus Wiman

  • Quote to Consider: Merry Christmas!

    quote-to-considerO Holy Night!

    O Holy Night! The stars are brightly shining 
    It is the night of the dear Saviour’s birth. 
    Long lay the world in sin and error pining. 
    Till He appeared and the Spirit felt its worth. 
    A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices, 
    For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn. 
    Fall on your knees! Oh, hear the angel voices! 
    O night divine, the night when Christ was born; 
    O night, O Holy Night , O night divine! 
    O night, O Holy Night , O night divine!

    Led by the light of faith serenely beaming, 
    With glowing hearts by His cradle we stand. 
    O’er the world a star is sweetly gleaming, 
    Now come the wisemen from out of the Orient land. 
    The King of kings lay thus lowly manger; 
    In all our trials born to be our friends. 
    He knows our need, our weakness is no stranger, 
    Behold your King! Before him lowly bend! 
    Behold your King! Before him lowly bend!

    Truly He taught us to love one another, 
    His law is love and His gospel is peace. 
    Chains he shall break, for the slave is our brother. 
    And in his name all oppression shall cease. 
    Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we, 
    With all our hearts we praise His holy name. 
    Christ is the Lord! Then ever, ever praise we, 
    His power and glory ever more proclaim! 
    His power and glory ever more proclaim!

    Adolphe Charles Adam

  • Karl Shares Six Words… 7


    Belittling lecture undermined by eggnog mustache.


    Karl Edwards

  • Clippings from Don: Who Needs a Desk When You Have a Lap?

    Office workspace is shrinking. So observes Roger Vincent in Wednesday’s Los Angeles Times.

    Vincent does his best to observe an insightful emerging trend, but I can’t help suspect a desperate cost-cutting ploy.

    With the rapid embrace of mobile technology and the integrated lifestyles of the young emerging professional, the need for dedicated office real estate for each individual’s private usage may not be a valid starting assumption for planning purposes.

    On the other hand, we must recognize that there exist leaders who consider employees an unfortunate and painfully necessary expense; and who upon any excuse whatsoever will eliminate, minimize and/or squeeze any outlay related to them.

    One set of leaders observes the changing nature of work, communications, lifestyles, and office space and sees an opportunity to redesign workspace to make the office an even more useful, productive and appropriate source of resources.

    The other set of leaders hears of these developments and discovers a source of excuses to use in their quest to squeeze as much as possible from every employee for as little as possible, whether or not it results in actual benefits to the bottom line.

    Which type of leader are you? In one case, you stand to increase employee loyalty and company results designing office space around actual usage. In the other case you risk alienating the very people you need to succeed in your desperation to save a buck or two cutting wherever and whenever possible.

    Read Vincent’s full article here.

    Voracious reader friend Don Silver always has an eye out for what interests me. Clippings from Don is a column where I pass on some of these articles, stories and resources to you.