Difficult Conversations: Nine Common Mistakes

By Sarah Green, based on Failure to Communicate by Holly Weeks

Mistake #1: We fall into a combat mentality.
When difficult conversations turn toxic, it's often because we've made a key mistake: we've fallen into a combat mentality. This allows the conversation to become a zero-sum game, with a winner and a loser. But the reality is, when we let conversations take on this tenor – especially at the office – everyone looks bad, and everyone loses. The real enemy is not your conversational counterpart, but the combat mentality itself. And you can defeat it, with strategy and skill.

100 Ways to Simplify Your Life

Today we want to share this article about how to make your life uncomplicated. Our lives are as complicated as you're thinking in your mind. So, let's have a look at this list!

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"My grandfather used to say that we were born as smart as we’d ever be, and that we became less bright with age. I never understood what he meant, until today.

You see, when we’re born we see the world in an uncomplicated way. We know what we need, and we ask for it. We like nice people, and we don’t like mean people. We sleep when we’re tired, we eat when we’re hungry, and we stop eating when we’re full.

As we grow older, we eat and drink to console ourselves, rather than addressing what’s bothering us. We overwork to avoid close relationships, rather than finding people we can trust to form strong bonds with. We hold grudges, play games, spend more than we make, want things we don’t need, and we get too far away from our basic human needs. In other words, we complicate things.

Today, on what would have been my grandfather’s 88th birthday, I dedicate this list to my Papa. Thank you for everything. I finally get it.

1. Don’t try to read other people’s minds

2. Get up 30 minutes earlier so that you don’t rush/get a ticket while driving too fast/have to explain why you’re late/get fired

3. Get 8 hours of sleep per night so that you think more clearly

4. Stick to your budget

5. Start saving and investing every week, no matter how little you can spare

 6. Balance your checkbook

 7. Don’t try to be friends with everyone. Cultivate closer relationships with fewer people.

8. Don’t try to do business with everyone. Identify your target client and take very good care of them.

9. Before getting angry, ask yourself if it will really matter in 20 years

Paintball Activity

Are you ready for a fun, fast paced, energetic activity to show your team work? Yes, that sport is called paintball and we love it! 

$30 half-day, $40 full-day price (all included). This event will take place at the end of April,  the exact date and reward will be announced later. Keep in tune.

For frequently asked questions about paintball: http://www.fireballmountain.com/faq.html 

Contact: Lee Esteves

To Madison Square Garden..

During winter New York Business Partners played indoor soccer in the Corporate League. The league was very competitive and included teams such as Google, Deutsche Bank, and others. Now it's time for the PLAYOFFS!

The first playoff game is scheduled for 8 p.m. on Thursday, April 7 at Baruch College. 

If NYBP wins this game, we will play in the semi-finals and then the final game! Last year, we played in the "Championship Game" at Madison Square Garden, and finished in the league at No.2! This year we hope our team will bring us the championship!

Let's go & support them in the last 3 games!

Here’s the official playoff schedule from the Corporate League:

http://www.corporateleague.com/Brackets/socceradvocatebracket.html

10 Great Question To Ask In An Interview

You have an interview, wait until the interviewer asks you the most important question: "Do you have any question?" Yes, you do! This is the time to show your great potential to them. Here is the top 10 question you can ask:

    1.  Am I going to be a mentor or will I be mentored? 
   
    2.  What does this company value the most and how do you think my work for you will further these values? 

    3.  What kind of systems are in place to help me work collaboratively?

    4.  What can I bring to your company to round out the team? 

    5.  How is the office atmosphere? Does everyone get along, or socialize together?

    6.  What’s the most important thing I can do to help within the first 90 days of my employment?  

    7.   Do you have any questions or concerns about my ability to perform this job? 

    8.  When top performers leave the company why do they leave and where do they usually go? 

    9.   Do you have any concerns that I need to clear up in order to be the top candidate?  

   10.  Who is the top person in your office? What makes them so? Can I meet them?

Source:    http://www.slideshare.net/nybp/10-great-questions