What not to do when you don't know what to do: Part 1

This post is for all you entry level employees out there.

A lesson I learned from one of my business mentors, Jason Bull, when I worked for his landscape design firm in my early-mid 20's.

1 - Don't cross your arms
There's no quicker way to look like you don't want to work than by crossing your arms while everyone around you is pitching in to get the job done.

2 - Don't put your hands in your pockets
Similar to crossing your arms, but possibly worse. Nothing says, "I don't know what I'm doing more than standing around with your hands in your pockets. Pick up a shovel, saw, or macbook pro and get to work.

3 - Don't go into your shell. 
This is not the time to pull out your iPhone and hide away. The people around you need your physical and mental presence.

I go so far as to employ these ideas when I'm standing in line at the grocery store. When it's really easy to avoid social interaction and peruse Instagram, I can be on the look out for a way to help someone. By keeping my hands and mind ready and alert, I can serve others so much better.

Stress is a choice

"Stress is a choice. Do you buy that?
Some people have a hard time with the idea. They think it's the people and events in our lives that stress us out - management, colleagues, customers, the boss, traffic, weather, market conditions - but it isn't true.

Yes, bad things happen: The economy sours, our business struggles, the stock market tumbles, jobs are lost, people around us don't follow through, deadlines are missed, projects fail, good people leave. Life is full of these.
But still,
Stress is a choice.

Because whatever the "trigger event" we always choose our own response. We choose to react angrily. We choose to stuff our emotions and keep quiet. We choose to worry."

- John Miller, QBQ (Question behind the Question)

This is a tremendous little book that we, as a team, are going through at Rhino Media Productions.
The aim of the book is to eliminate victim mentality and blame, something just about every human being can fall into if they are not disciplining their thoughts.

I recommend this book to anyone, particularly ones in leadership or ones that want to grow as individuals.

Rhino Media's Core Values

I'm into core values. As long as they are true and living and breathing and evident in everyday functions of a company, I love them.

But if they just live in the organizational documents or on a plaque somewhere collecting dust, then they, of course, lose relevance.

My company, Rhino Media, has developed a set of core values that I feel rock. Let me know what you think.  I'm actually still in the process of tweaking this list, bare with me.

Humility - We do not portray ourselves as cocky or arrogant in house or to our clients.

Hard Work - We don't sit around and talk, we do. 

Competency - We are learners. We expect all Rhino's to know their craft well. BUT - not be afraid to admit they don't know something. 

Personal Accountability - We don't blame others for our mistakes. 

Purpose - We live our lives personally and professionally with a sense of purpose. We are SUPPOSED to be doing this.

Intentionality - A lot like purpose.  Setting my direction every day. 

Respect - We respect each other, respect our clients and their timelines and their communication styles, respect other producers work and creativity.

Honesty - There is absolutely no room for lying of any kind at Rhino Media. 

Greatness - We are not satisfied with mediocracy. We are always striving to become great, as our friend Greg Jennings would say - Every day is a great day to be great. 

That's my working list. 

Let me know yours!

-KR

This is me, the bear.