Niki's Notes for Building Stronger Businesses

?? I’ve Been Thinking…

…about how great it is that A Better Paradigm launched this week. I’m excited for Niki’s Notes to have a new home in a website that showcases the companies, coaches, and tools paving the way for co-creating better workplaces.

?? Stories to Help You Drive Change

Here are my shares for this week:

SPECIAL NOTE: If you hit a paywall on any of the stories I share, go to Google Search, enter the name of the publication and something about the story (author, title, subject) to get a natural search link that usually by-passes the pay wall. And hey, if you like the publication, consider subscribing to it—that’s how they keep the good info rolling! I’m hearing some paywalls are impenetrable, so for pubs like The Wall Street Journal and the NY Times, I’ll share a bit more here for those of you without subscriptions.

• How do you become more disciplined? You work at it.

• Subtle change: instead of saying you “have” to do something, say you “get” to do something—even when you’re saying it in your head. I’ve been doing this for the last month and it makes a big difference!

• Do you know what an acronym is? Are you sure? I learned this.

• More on DEI’s challenges: while many companies are abandoning their DEI initiatives, others are reshaping them without the “E.” Read about the impact this is having on the people DEI is meant to support.

• What’s a personality hire, and how do they impact organizations? (Scroll down for the story, it’s not the first one at this link.)

• Are you planning a meeting, a party, or another event where icebreakers would come in handy? Have I got a list for you!

• Authenticity in a leader increases trust throughout the organization. What’s your level of authenticity, and how can you make it even better?

• Students reneging on job offers is up. Really up. Before you call them unethical, read about what’s influencing their behaviors. (Hint: they learned them from employers.) Here are a few stats from the article: “…44% of students surveyed by Handshake, a job site for college students, said that accepting two offers is “reasonable,” up from 35% in 2022. And according to Veris Insights, only 6% now say they would never renege on an offer, down from 16% in 2019.”

?? Do Good Spotlight: The End Fund

The END Fund delivers treatments for neglected tropical disease (NTD) to those in need. They build and engage communities with a variety of partners, including activist-philanthropists, high-impact strategic investors, government organizations, NGOs, pharmaceutical, and academic partners. Learn more about their fascinating work and how you can help them.

???Noteworthy: Greenwood CRE

I learned about Greenwood CRE from Jon Stravitz and love the company’s diversity story. I especially appreciate how Greenwood differentiates itself in what many of us perceive as a harsh industry and the history behind their name. A good story told simply and well.?

If you’re looking for a commercial real estate partner, Greenwood should be on your list.

?? On a Personal Note

I thought this was a great demonstration of how to survive in water for an extended period of time. Hope you never need to use it, but just in case.

?Until Next Time…

Remember, no matter what is going on–all our lives are filled with ups and downs–an attitude of gratitude keeps your focus and frequency tuned for the best outcomes.

Niki