To follow my progress in getting Zip It! published, check out my blog: http://jillkampmelton.blogspot.com

A  friend and mentee’s blog features some wisdom that must be shared.  Her entry has these exhortations:

“You don’t have to have the perfect body to invest in clothes that make you feel and look good.

You don’t have to have a change-your-life routine in place to kick off a good, start-somewhere new year.

You don’t have to have an audience of thousands to start blogging and putting your thoughts out there.”

To read the entire post, go to: www.steadymom.com and look for her post dated January 3, 2012.

What makes you weary? Remember that song, “She may get weary, women do get weary, wearing that same shabby dress, When she gets weary, try a little tenderness.”

In the workplace what makes you weary. It’s more than your clothes, trust me. It might be the toxic people you work with, or an uncreative, uncommunicative boss, or a real lack of appreciation.

Bosses sometimes think it’s not necessary to thank people for just showing up to work. Wrong! It’s never unnecessary to thank people for anything and everything they do. You like it. It makes you feel respected.

Show respect to all you work with, from the janitors, to the cafeteria workers, to your co-workers (even the ones that get on your nerves), to the stock room clerks and to your boss. Showing respect consistently to others is a gift. Besides it sets the tone as to how you would like to be treated.

Respect, courtesy and an authentic “thank you” is the antidote to weariness.

Try it. Let me know how it works for you.

So I have lost 15 pounds and exercise regularly. My blood analysis shows excellent results. Magic? No. I had a plan and I am executing it. Want to know more?

It started with a course I sat in on, about “portion distortion.” Of course I knew that I ate too much, but the metrics impressed me.

So that was Step # 1 – Reduce the amount of food I eat at one meal.

Step #2 – Exercise daily. I go to the gym, it’s a block from my house, early in the morning, because I am a morning person. I figured out that if I got up 15 minutes earlier, I could exercise, go home, eat and get to work on time. I like to be productive and this was a good start. On a good day, I also exercise when I come home from work, either a walk, a bike ride or more gym. Yesterday we went for a kayak trip on the intercoastal.

Step #3 – Change what I eat. I have become a vegan and I love the food I am eating. I also love the food I don’t eat. I just don’t eat it, that’s all. I eat fruits, vegetables, whole grains, seeds, nuts, sprouts, as much organic food as possible, and as much raw as possible.

I don’t eat animal protein, dairy, fish, and much cooked food.

Step #4 – I plan what I buy and what I eat, sometimes. I’d like to do it everyday, but I’m not there yet.

Step #5 – I got help. I registered online for a free 60 day challenge at: www.hacres.com

Everyday you get a video to watch on your computer and some recipes. Then I visited Hallelujah Acres in Shelby, NC and bought some recipes, ingredients and ate at their cafe.

Step #6 – I found a wonderful vegan restaurant nearby that we visit when I need a boost.

Step#7 – I just joined an organic food coop in my area. Check your area for one. For $30 a week I get a basket of organic fruits and vegetables. You can add on extras for a fee.

Step#8 – I don’t think about the rest of my  life eating this way. I just take it “one meal at a time.” It’s less overwhelming.

Step#9 – I prepare food this way for guests. So far they have eaten everything and ask lots of questions. Some are inspired to improve their eating.  I have given up worrying about what others think.

Step#10 – I prepare food for my husband the same as I do for myself.  He eats what he wants when I’m not around and that’s OK. I’m not the food police.

Step#11 – I bring this kind of food to a weekly potluck I attend and people always eat what I bring and say it’s delicious. They are starting to change some of the food they bring.  But I am not the food police. Although I don’t eat the animal protein dishes, I don’t talk about it unless specifically asked a question.

If you are interested in this and have specific questions, contact me.

Lose weight and be fit. I’d love the company.

What part of “free” don’t you get?

I have written a book, “Strategies for Fashion in the Workplace” which is on the website. You can download it for free. No mistake. Free.

Click on “Resources”, scroll down and click on the title “Strategies for Fashion in the Workplace.” There is specific help for females and some guidedance that is not gender specific.

Check it out and leave feedback, if anything is useful. Have management recommend it to employees.

Just trying to help out.

Some interviewers have the skill to ask questions that help an interviewee unfold in front of them. Knowing that you can’t put missing character into a candidate makes skillful interviewers careful and inspires them to “use language with the skill of a surgeon.” In this case, let’s amend my favorite phrase to “using language and silence with the skill of a surgeon.”

Working recently with a student we collaborated on a set of questions (to hire a future manager) that might help the real candidate emerge from the smoke and mirrors of a carefully created facade. Here they are. Use with caution.

1. What about this job is appealing to you and inspired you to apply?
2. In your opinion is supervising more like checkers or chess? (If you don’t play these games, what analogy fits for you?) Explain your answer.
3. If you could improve two things about this company, what would they be? Explain.
4. Describe the characteristics of a successful manager.
5. How would you handle difficult employees? Give an example of at least one and the strategy or strategies you might use.
6. Describe the system you use for keeping track of multiple projects. How do you track your progress to meet deadlines? How do you stay focused?
7. How will you motivate your staff to produce optimal performance?
8. What, in your opinion, are the key ingredients to guide and maintain successful business relationships?
9. What was the best day that you’ve had at work in the past three years? What were you doing and what made that day so memorable? What feedback did you get from others about that day?
10. Of what personal weakness are you aware that has the potential to give you difficulties on the job? Explain.
11. What was the worst day that you’ve had at work in the past three years? What were you doing and what made it so memorable? What feedback did you get about that day from others?
12. What is the best professional praise or recognition that you’ve ever received? (Pause.) What made it so good?
13. Why should we choose you over other applicants?
14. What are your strengths?
15. What in your profession do you have passion for? How do you express that passion in your work?
16. When you are having a challenging day, how should you be handled?
17. What keeps you fully engaged on the job?
18. (Explain the I, C, E and U* to the applicant.) What are two I’s for you, 2 C’s, 2 E’s, and 2 U’s?  (Pause.) Tell me more. (I will explain the I, C, E and U in a future post. If you need the info now, email me through this website.

 N.B.  It’s illegal to use MBTI (Myers Briggs) in hiring.

It’s not illegal to use Strength Finders 2.0 by Tom Rath. (Clear this with your HR department.)

Recently a friend commented that my picture made me look young. Besides good genes what’s the secret?

I have decided to do a year of “Lent’s”. The first one has gotten me up early to use the treadmill before work. I’ve added a second exercise activity in the afternoon but it is not yet a habit.

The second Lent was to read the Bible in a year, a bit every day. Using the online program at www.fromgardentocity.com I am on schedule. A recent work trip interrupted my stride, but I am back on track. I also read the blog attached to the plan.

The third Lent has been to discontinue the habit of crossing my legs at the knee. This has been a hard one and yet, I take every urge to God, and I resist. The veins in my legs complain less and I have learned to sit other ways.

The fourth Lent has been control of portion size when eating. After attending an hour long course on portion distortion, I willingly undertook to cut back and imagine every serving of anything sitting on antique china plates which are small.

The fifth Lent is my overall eating program. I have decided to go back to the vegan diet I used to follow 6 years ago. Check out www.hacres.com and their 60 day challenge. I like the encouragement of the videos and the uncooked food choices are delicious. I am not thinking that I will be on this for life. I am still taking it one meal at a time.

A by product so far is that I have lost 6 pounds and am about to make my seamstress, Lucy, a very happy lady, with more business. I also have lots of energy, don’t nap, and, as someone remarked, look younger than my chronological age.

I have more Lents to go this year. Wonder what will be next?

I have been called many things in my life, but “normal” has rarely been one of them. That’s why I was so taken when I recently read an interview that Time Magazine, May 10, 2010, did with Karl Rove. He said about the Bush family (former Presidents), “The family…has this enormous normality about them.”

What does that mean, “enormous normality”?

Do they eat at the same times every day? Do they exercise regularly? Do they vacation together, read the same books, have pets, play sports, love one another and use family etiquette in relating to one another?

Do they control their tempers, not indulge in excesses of any kind, speak when spoken to with good eye contact, and enjoy hours of solitude, long walks and good naps?

Maybe. I’m not sure.

I’d like to know.

Perhaps enormous normality is the key to contentment. I’d like to know.

What do you think?

First remember, no one gets a raise because they need more money. That’s a handout and bosses are not in the business of giving handouts. In fact, if a boss knows that you have money management issues, even in a bad economy, he/she may begin to doubt your ability to make good decisions.

Second, timing is everything.

Ask your boss when it might be a good time to discuss whether or not you can ask for a raise. Make an appointment. Even if the answer is, “In four months,” write that down and regard it as a good first step.

If you are invited to begin the discussion, simply ask, “What criteria are most important to you when you give someone in my position a raise?” Then take written notes on the answer.

Also, go to HR and find out how many raises have been awarded in the last year or two years, to people in positions like yours.

Once you get some information as to the criteria for getting a raise from your boss, begin to track your accomplishments in those categories. Make a table, add to it as often as you can, daily or weekly.

When your table of accomplishments in the areas that matter looks impressive, give your boss a copy and ask if there are any categories that stand out as exceptional and any that glare as needing work. Again, take notes.

If you continue to prepare your record of accomplishments, you are giving your boss a position paper to help justify your merits.

As you have success with this tactic, please contact me through this website. I like to track the successes of my online coaching.

If you are gifted with a raise or a bonus this holiday season, how will you keep from treating yourself or others to buying sprees or other indulgences?

Here’s a plan.

First, make a budget to live on at your current level of income. Make sure your budget has a plan to eliminate debt.

Second, include tithes, savings, and vacations in your budget. Even if the vacation is a canoe trip on a local river, budget for the picnic lunch you will bring or the lifesaving vest you need to buy.

Third, when new money in the form of a raise or bonus or both come your way, regard them as debt reduction instruments and savings. Do not treat yourself to new “stuff” unless the bonus is outrageously generous. Even then, make a plan to spend 1/3, tithe at least 1/10 and save 1/10.

No one says you have to stop there. You can tithe 1/2 and use the rest as a debt reduction instrument.

When your debts are eliminated, establish a future goal and then begin to save for it. Buying a house to rent out, saving for your children’s educations, and planning to be debt free as you age, are the best goals to have.

The only financial security you need as you age, is NO mortgage, NO other debt, and a place to live in that you can afford and that pleases you.

There is no other secret. Spend less than you earn and you will be financially secure for life.