The Management Skills Certificate Program: Registration Deadline April 21!: Don't miss signing up yourself or your managers for the Spring MSC program starting on May 2nd. This 15-week "no frills, no fluff" TeleCourse program uses proven tools and techniques to help participants become more effective managers. See coupon offer at bottom of newsletter.

The Assessment Guru Hour: This monthly one-hour conference call is offered to all J.Ferm assessment buying clients. It is a great opportunity for assessment users to ask questions of various "gurus" about how to launch, implement, and maximize the use of assessments within organizations. To join or to learn more about producing organizational ROI using assessments, email us

June PIAV MBA Certification TeleCourse: If you are an HR professional, Coach, or Consultant and are looking for ways to offer additional value through the use of assessments, join us for the 5-week "Personal Interests, Attitudes, and Values" Certification TeleCourse starting on June 5th. This comprehensive course prepares you to become a "Certified Professional Values Analyst" and to administer the PIAV assessment.

Most of our recommended resources have been books. Today, we share one of our favorite magazine resources.

Fast Company is a monthly magazine that offers a strong (and free) online community. The magazine focuses on topics such as innovation, leadership, social responsibility, design, and work/life balance. It is exceptionally well written and addresses topics and trends that affect our work, economy, and future sustainability.

One article in the April issue caught my attention. It is titled "Your Boss is a Monkey: 'Managing up' using the tricks of exotic-animal training" and offers interesting tips on how to use positive behavioral strategies to create a more effective relationship with your boss. A must read!

In addition to a strong online community, Fast Company also offers opportunities to meet other "Fast Company Fans" in person. In 2001, I attended a networking group in Boston called "Company of Friends." We met once a month to hear inspiring speakers, learn about latest trends and products, discuss ideas, and connect with other "Fast Company Fans." These groups are still around today and are organized by city. You can learn more about them here.

"Running a(nd) Business"

I haven't always enjoyed running. In truth, I rarely enjoy the actual act of running but I revel in the feeling of accomplishment afterward and seem to forget the pain endured during the workout.

On one of my particularly challenging runs, I realized that the physical act of running is very similar to running a business and I began formulating strategies using that analogy.

These three strategies will take you closer to your goals:

1. Conduct a Pre-Run "Capacities and Capabilities Inventory": When you set your goal (let's say it's increasing your run from 3 to 4 miles, adding one new client, or finding your dream job), assess your capabilities and capacities first. Be brutally honest. Just because you WANT to win the Boston Marathon, doesn't mean you have the capacity or capability to do so. Once you have accurately self-assessed and have a clear vision of your goal, write it down using an "I will..." statement. You may for example determine that you:"...will complete the Boston Marathon in under 6 hours."


2. Stretch Your Excuse-Making Barriers: Don't cave into excuses or self-imposed obstacles. Keep your goal in mind. For example, if one of your excuses is that it is "hard to run in poor weather conditions," make sure you have a great running rain jacket. If you are naturally reserved and don't like asking people for business, schedule yourself for a networking event. Neither our bodies nor our minds naturally like to stretch. When you run, you can physically feel the resistance. Identify your most common excuses and design "prevention strategies" for each that catch even your most elaborate cop-outs.


3. Keep Your Eye on the Finish Line, But Celebrate Intermediate Intervals: It is easy to lose sight of the goal (especially if you can't actually see it). When I run, I find it helpful to create "mini-goals" along the run such as a tree or lamp post and when I reach that goal, I quietly say to myself: "Awesome job!" or "Nicely done!" In business, it is important to identify milestones to keep the energy and momentum going. For example, if your goal is to get one new client, celebrate collecting a certain number of business cards or completing follow up calls. Every step toward your goal counts!