Bridges Edition of 10/8/2004

Welcome to Bridges, a monthly newsletter published by Robin Fogel, Career and Business Coach. My goal is that this newsletter have practical information that you can use in your work and in your life. If you enjoy the newsletter please forward it to your colleagues, friends and family.

If you would like to know more about coaching, please email me at robin@coachrobinfogel.com and/or visit my website www.coachrobinfogel.com.
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October, a month of crisper and shorter days, changing leaves, apples, rich fall colors and time to put away those summer clothes and store the lawn furniture. It is also an excellent time to purge. Before you put away those lighter clothes, ask yourself if these are clothes you still wear. If not, instead of putting them away, why not donate them to a local charity. Check with organizations like the Vietnam Vets, they pick up at the house and leave a tax receipt. While you are at it, if there are other items you no longer use, donate them also. Then take a quick look at a couple of your files. It's estimated that 80% of what we keep, we never use again. Don't be a pack rat. Use the change of season to let go of some of the clutter that is filling your environment. It will create a space for something new.

Save time
- When putting paper aside to be filed, be sure to note where you want to file it.
- Put a "toss" date on all papers before filing in reference files. Then an annual purge will be much easier.
- Use the 5-D system when handling paper - Discard (toss), Delegate (send to someone else to handle), Do (if you can complete in less than 5 minutes), Date (put in tickler file for future action), Drop (get off distribution list).

Confidence
A few weeks ago, I read a review of "Confidence", (How Winning Streaks & Losing Streaks Begin & End), in the New York Times business section. Written by Rosabeth Moss Kanter, a Harvard Business School professor and trailblazing author of "Men and Women of the Corporation" and "The Change Masters", "Confidence" uses many examples from sports and business. Kanter writes that success relies not just on money and talent, but that the missing ingredient is often confidence. "Confidence guides many personal decisions about what to do next...winners decide that it is worth the extra push because the push will pay off...if someone concludes there's no point in trying...then the outcome is foreordained. The self-fulfilling prophecy is fulfilled."

Leaving the Nest Program
If you live in central NJ or SE Pennsylvania and are the parents of college-bound seniors or know anyone who is, please join my colleague, Robin Seiz and me on either October 26th or October 28th for "Leaving the Nest." While there are programs to support the college bound student, Robin and I are offering a program for the parents. We offer insight and tools to parents as they help their child navigate senior year (think senioritis), manage their own pangs over upcoming separation, and then learn to support their freshman student from a distance. For reservations or questions, call 609-730-4164. We hope you'll join us for what promises to be both an informative and fun-filled evening.

Performance Enhancement Coaching
This coaching program is designed to support and develop high potential employees and manager. Your company's most valued resource is its employees. Please call or email me to learn how this service may have application for your business.

I have really appreciated your comments and feedback - keep them coming. If there is a topic you would like to hear more about please let me know.

Happy October. Happy Halloween