By: Staff |PPAI Media: PC Today

While you might feel a massive loss of control, there are some important takeaways to learn from this moment in time.

Kristen Lee, Ed.D., LICSW, lead faculty for behavioral science at Northeastern University, says there are nine lessons we can draw upon for individual and collective fortitude. We share Dr. Lee's lessons in this issue of Promotional Consultant Today.

Lesson 1: Intellectual humility is vital. We are not all public health experts. We are an evolved civilization with extraordinary advances in science and medicine and access to information. Dr. Lee says we must all consider the ources we rely on and how we transmit information across our spheres of social influence.

Lesson 2: Time-outs are not always punishments. We are creative, innovative, agile creatures. Moments of distress call us to rethink our typical routines and identify new strategies for coping and living. Dr. Lee says this pause might prove to be a return to creativity for many who might find it has been squeezed out during typical routines.

Lesson 3: We are more resilient than we realize. Humans are wired for resilience. Dr. Lee asserts that resilience can increase even during difficult times when we focus on activities that help to cultivate it. Join forces with people who co-nurture and provide reciprocal support.

Lesson 4: Kindness is contagious. While fear and illness itself can be contagious, so are acts of love and kindness. When we focus energy on helping those who are most vulnerable in times of crisis, the positive effects spread and strengthen our collective well-being.

Lesson 5: Challenges help us discover our strengths and resources. Dr. Lee reminds others that we have a host of internal and external resources to harness, including strong analytical and problem-solving abilities and people and places that provide solace and grounding.

Lesson 6: The basics are not basic. The elements of air, water, earth and fire are unparalleled. Spend time appreciating nature and get outside as much as is safe and possible, recommends Dr. Lee. Watch sunrises and sunsets from your window. Find ways to take in the elements.

Lesson 7: There are no wrong emotions. Pandemics can evoke powerful emotions, including fear, anxiety, shock and panic. Don't stress about being stressed. This is human, says Dr. Lee. Take time to name what is happening and consider what resources you can access to help you.

Lesson 8: Self-care is essential all the time. Crises can show us that we were previously running on fumes. There's no health without mental health. Proper sleep, nutrition, hydration and exercise can go a long way towards boosting our mental reserves, notes Dr. Lee.

Lesson 9: Mindfulness helps us combat mindlessness. When we focus on the now and engage in a non-judgmental stance, it strengthens our resilience and capacity to enjoy what is and cope with what isn't.

As you continue to adapt during these times, reflect on the lessons above and consider how you can help share them with your team members.

Compiled by Audrey Sellers

Source: Kristen Lee, Ed.D., LICSW is lead faculty for behavioral science at Northeastern University. She is the author of Reset: Make the Most of Your Stress and Mentalligence: A New Psychology of Thinking. Dr. Lee has also given a TED talk called "The Risk You Must Take."

FILED UNDER APRIL 2020

Read time: 2 min

589 words

By:   Audrey Sellers | PPAI Media PC Today|

As a sales professional, you probably field hundreds of emails, calls and client questions each day. It's easy to get overwhelmed. The key to getting a handle on things doesn't lie in making a better to-do list or freeing up time in your calendar. According to business mentor Amanda Bucci, the key is learning how to manage your energy, not your time.

In this issue of Promotional Consultant Today, we share Bucci's six ways to fill yourself up with more energy.

1. Close loops in your head. Is there something you've had on your mind for weeks, months or maybe even years that you haven't completed? Bucci says it's called an open loop, and it quietly drains the energy out of you by taking up space in your subconscious. Instead of wasting effort by having your brain remind you of that thing you haven't done, take an hour, day or week to close the loop and do that thing.

2. Minimize task switching. It takes a massive amount of energy to transition from making an engaging PowerPoint presentation to hopping on the phone with clients and then recording a video. To preserve your energy, Bucci recommends starting one type of task and completing it before moving onto the next.

3. Self-source your energy. Most of the time, we find ourselves energized when things go right in our lives. That is, we're making good money, our relationship is good and people compliment us on our successes. But when those things aren't going well, we tend to let our circumstances steal our power and our precious energy. Bucci says that when we self-source our energy, we keep our power within our control. Self-sourcing energy can mean anything from going to the gym to reading a good book.

4. Set healthy boundaries. When we say yes when we really mean no, we're expending energy on something that's draining. This causes an energy leak in our system, and we end up running low on fuel. Learning to offer up a polite and respectful "no" to anything we don't feel a definite "yes" for is one of the healthiest ways to support managing our energy, says Bucci.

5. Do a social media detox. When we're staring at a beautiful lake, we feel incredibly peaceful. Why? Because there is very low data input coming into our brains—only a lake, a mountain and the sky. When we're always on our phones, our minds are bombarded by a lot more data than what we're used to. Bucci's solution? Minimize screen time or do a social media detox.

6. Stop overthinking and make a decision. The energy required to make a decision is another place where we leak energy. Bucci suggests creating a routine and sticking to it. By removing the decision of whether or not you're going to do something, you remove energy leaks from your life. As a result, you can accomplish so much more.

Energy is power. When you feel energized, you feel ready to tackle any task. The opposite is also true. When you're running on fumes, you feel scattered or burnt out. Instead of watching the clock, watch your energy to make more meaningful progress toward your goals.

Compiled by Audrey Sellers

Source: Amanda Bucci is a business mentor, social media strategist and spiritual psychologist who helps entrepreneurs grow their companies to six and seven figures.

FILED UNDER JANUARY 2020

Read time: 2 min

583 words

By:   LaRae Quy | PPAI Media

Working in sales can be tough, which is why top salespeople demonstrate grit. They find ways to better themselves and keep going, even when they hear “no” more often than “yes.”

Author LaRae Quy says that grit matters to your success in more ways than one. Keep reading this issue of Promotional Consultant Today for Quy’s thoughts on why grit matters and how to develop more of it.

Success doesn't depend on talent. Science proves that grit is a far more reliable predictor of success than intelligence. If you have grit, you're brave and strong enough to do what it takes to succeed in business and life. It's a powerful force that allows you to stand out from the crowd even though your skills may not be exceptional, says Quy.

Psychology professor Angela Duckworth finds that grit—defined as passion and perseverance for long-term goals—is an important predictor of success, if not the only one. In fact, grit is unrelated, or even negatively correlated, with talent. When working with West Point cadets, she found that those who scored higher in grit had the mental toughness to keep going when times got tough.

Work with a sense of purpose. Grit requires an intrinsic desire to go beyond what can easily be accomplished with talent or skill. According to Quy, this requires a deep sense of purpose because we believe our work is worth it. If forced to work this hard, we could just put in the minimum and call it good.

That, Quy says, is where most people land. They may be skilled, but they don’t have grit because their heart isn’t in it. They’re not motivated to go beyond what can easily be achieved with their talent. Quy advises taking the time to connect with your higher purpose. She says purpose will require you to find value in yourself and discover how you can contribute to the well-being of others.

Get better every day. Quy notes that a grit mindset never forgets that there are always opportunities to improve, no matter how good you may already be. This way of thinking gives people a leg up when confronted with an obstacle because defeat is never the default.

For many people, what stands in the way often becomes the way. A setback is not looked at as an opportunity to improve themselves; instead, it unfolds as their new path, regardless of whether it takes them where they want to go. Quy says that once you’ve found a pursuit that fills you with purpose, put in the work to get better at it every day. Compete with yourself so that you’re a bit better today than yesterday.

Learn to fail well. Quy says that when she was younger, she was told that failure and trying again were simply part of the learning process. Failure presented a “problem” to be worked out, and it was often a game of trying something new that might work. Many people despise failure, but Quy encourages them to look at failure as fertile training ground for future improvement.

When you cultivate grit in your life, you realize you have control over how you view obstacles. You can find opportunities in challenges and follow through on what you set out to accomplish. Want to be more successful? Start by growing your grit.

Source: LaRae Quy was an FBI undercover and counterintelligence agent for 24 years. Quy is the author of Secrets of a Strong Mind and Mental Toughness for Women Leaders: 52 Tips To Recognize and Utilize Your Greatest Strengths.

Compiled by Audrey Sellers

FILED UNDER JANUARY 2020

Read time: 2 min

631 words