“Capstone Consultants can help you have fun at work with these 7 simple tips"

1. On the way to your workplace, get yourself motivated to face the day. Think of how the work you have allows you to have your life outside of it. A positive attitude will make the day more pleasant and productive.

2. Keep your work in perspective. You can only do the best you can in each situation. Look beyond yourself and your work, and consider the bigger picture.

3. Plan your time. In your to-do list include long term projects. Prioritize your to-do list, do the most important things first.

4. Concentrate on the task at hand. Do not let yourself be distracted by worrying about all the other things to be done or losing energy over the undesirable situation you find yourself in. Stay in the moment.

5. Clarify anytime you are not sure or where you are faced with conflicting demands. The more upfront you are with your manager and the other people you work with, the better it will be for you in the long term.

6. Have regular breaks. Get away from your normal workplace even if only for five minutes. Try taking a break from the computer, emails and do leave the mobile behind. Make sure that you do have that lunch break – it is not just for food but also for fresh air and a mental break.

7. Contribute towards creating a pleasant work environment. Do not gossip in the office as it just creates negativity all around. Do not listen to any gossip either. Minimize your time with people that you do not resonate with or like.

Learn to have more fun at work. Laugh more!! Perform with a more fun orientated approach.

See your work as a game. Life is meant to be fun and if you are going to spend a third of it at work, you might as well enjoy the game!!! J

10 Excellent Reasons to Do Good Business

 

Good Business is more than a product, more than a sales method, more than a service. It has everything to do with building relationships.

The following are 10 reasons to do “Good Business”

1.     Good Business means listening more than talking. Find out what your customer needs and seek to meet it.
2.     Good Business is about clear communication. Make sure it’s crystal clear to those whom you do business with. Always look below the surface of their answers when you ask them questions.
3.     Good Business is more than sense of self. It’s showing that you care.
4.      Good Business is more than technology. It’s about applying technology to help people and it’s about taking the time to cultivate a relationship with someone.
5.    Good Business is more than promises. It’s fulfilling what you promise.
6.         Good Business is more than getting the next sale. It’s about going the extra mile.
7.           Good Business is more than making a profit. It’s about making sure that the customer is taken care of, even if it costs you money to achieve that.
8.           Good Business is about reliability. Your word is your honor.
9.     \    Good Business says that whether you buy off me or not I like you.
10.      Good Business is about honesty.

Capstone Consultants with a story about an inspirational little girl

http://www.alexslemonade.org/about

Alex’s Lemonade Stand

This foundation was created to raise money and awareness of childhood cancer causes, primarily focused on research into new treatments, and cures.  Their purpose also is to encourage and empower others, especially children, to get them involved with making a difference for children with cancer.

Their founder and creator is a little girl named Alex. She was diagnosed with childhood cancer just before her first birthday. When she was 4, she told her parents that she wanted to set up a lemonade stand in the front yard. When asked by her parents what she had planned to do with the money, she stated that her plan was to raise money to give to doctors to help them find a cure for cancer. Her first “Alex’s Lemonade Stand” was held with the help of her older brother Patrick; they raised an astonishing $2,000 in one day. Alex continued to set up her lemonade stand every year, while very bravely fighting childhood cancer herself. As news spread of this remarkable little girl, so dedicated to helping other sick children, people everywhere were inspired to start their own lemonade stands and donating proceeds to her cause.

Sadly in 2004 Alex passed away at the age of 8. Her stand and inspiration had at that point raised more than one million dollars towards finding a cure for the disease that took her own life. Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation was started by her parents in 2005 to continue the work that Alex has started. Their mission is simple: to raise money for, and awareness of childhood cancer causes- especially research into new treatments and cures- and to encourage and empower others (especially children) to get involved in making a difference for children that suffer with cancer.

Since Alex set up her very first lemonade stand back in 2000, and truly exemplifying the saying “When life hands you lemons, make lemonade”- ALSF has raised more than $50 million. That money has helped to

-Fund over 200 cutting-edge research projects

-Set up a travel program to help the families of children receiving treatment

-Develop resources to help people everywhere affected by childhood cancer

This foundation is the living embodiment of Alex’s determination and hope. Alex believed that every person can make a difference, and that together they could find a cure. 

Capstone Consultants with an inspirational story

The Elephant Rope

As a man was passing the elephants, he suddenly stopped, confused by the fact that these huge creatures were being held by only a small rope tied to their front leg. No chains, no cages. It was obvious that the elephants could, at anytime, break away from their bonds but for some reason, they did not.

He saw a trainer nearby and asked why these animals just stood there and made no attempt to get away. “Well,” trainer said, “when they are very young and much smaller we use the same size rope to tie them and, at that age, it’s enough to hold them. As they grow up, they are conditioned to believe they cannot break away. They believe the rope can still hold them, so they never try to break free.”

The man was amazed. These animals could at any time break free from their bonds but because they believed they couldn’t, they were stuck right where they were.

Like the elephants, how many of us go through life hanging onto a belief that we cannot do something, simply because we failed at it once before?

Failure is part of learning; we should never give up the struggle in life.

Original post: http://www.inspirationalstories.com/the-elephant-rope/

Capstone Consultants Operations Manager wins trip to Malibu

Capstone Consultants’ management team would like to offer congratulations to our Operations Manager Shenna, for being selected to attend a professional development seminar in Malibu this May. Shenna was hand selected out of over sixty other office managers to enjoy three day retreat in Malibu. She will get the opportunity to visit one-on-one with executives of the largest outsourced direct marketing firm in the world and partake in a Franklin Covey training course. Shenna was selected based on her ability to manage the operations and drive the growth of the largest and fastest growing marketing firm in the Carolina's, Capstone Consultants, Inc. 

Over the last four months alone she has helped three people get promoted into a management position and has helped create the strongest team at Capstone Consultants to date. Malibu won’t be all work for Shenna though; she gets a free day in Malibu to shop enjoy the beaches and have dinner with some of the best in the business. Shenna has been with Capstone for over three years and hit several promotions since starting at the entry level in December of 2008. She has consistently shown an amazing work ethic and is always going above and beyond her day to day task. 

Capstone Consultants at Keys to Success

The management team here at Capstone Consultants spent the first weekend of February in the warm, sunny, and beautiful downtown Atlanta at the annual Keys to Success conference where we learned, and were motivated for our 2012 goals by some of the best in the business. It was a very educational and entertaining weekend!

The keynote speaker for the weekend was a gentleman by the name of Eric Greitens, he’s a navy seal who served time overseas for the war and is founder and CEO of his own non-profit organization, The Mission Continues, which is an organization that helps veterans find a way to serve their community and country after they return from war. Eric also spoke about the intense training (Known as BUDS Basic Underwater Demolition/Seal training) that someone goes through to become a navy seal and how it tests them mentally and physically.

Other speakers at the conference focused on the successes of the business in 2011 and the goals set for 2012. We discussed new clients and potential markets, as well as had breakout sessions for more specified training in different areas of our business. We were also entertained by Cirque du Soleil and clowns in between speakers, and Saturday evening’s dinner was and event full of fun, games, activities, and networking.

Capstone Consultants will help you dress for success at your next interview!

How to dress for success!

First impression by definition means the lasting image or effect that stays in someone’s mind upon first encountering them. The first impression that you make on a potential employer is an important one. The first impression a potential employer will have on someone is typically based on what they are wearing and how they present themselves. This is why it is important to dress professionally for a job interview even if the dress in the office is casual.

What exactly is the appropriate dress for an interview? You want your first impression of your future employer not to just be good, but to be great. A candidate who is dressed in a suit and tie is by far going to make a much more lasting impression that a candidate who is dressed in jeans and a t-shirt. Here are some tips to follow for when dressing for an interview.

Men’s Interview Attire

-Suit: Solid color (navy, dark gray, or black)

-Long sleeve dress shirt (either white or coordinated with the suit)

-Belt

-Tie

-Dark socks with conservative leather dress shoes

- Little to no Jewelry

-Neat and professional hair style

- Little to no aftershave and cologne

-Neatly trimmed nails

-Portfolio or briefcase

Women’s Interview Attire

-Suit (Navy, black, or dark gray)

- Suit skirt (if worn) should be long enough so you can sit down comfortably

-Coordinated blouse

-Conservative shoes

-Limited Jewelry (no dangly earrings, big necklaces, or arms full of bracelets, no jewelry is better than cheap jewelry)

-Professional hair style (up or pinned back)

- Neutral pantyhose

-Light to no make-up, and minimal perfume

-Neatly manicured clean nails

-Portfolio or briefcase

What not to do/wear/bring to an interview

-Gum

-Cell phone

-Ipod

-Coffee or soda

-Lost of piercings (ladies may wear one set of earrings, all others should be left at home)

-Cover all tattoos

Interview attire tips

-Before you go on an interview, you want to make sure that your suit fits properly and is clean.

-Get your suit ready the day before so that you don’t have to waste time getting it together day of.

-Take your suit to the dry cleaners after an interview, that way it is ready for the next time.

-Polish your shoes

-Bring a breath mint, or breath spray, and use before entering the building.