Chris Gratigny

From time to time, I work with people who rub me the wrong way just a little. I'm sure that I rub people the wrong way. This is a reality, not everyone will be a pleasure to work with. If you are able to work with people that you really enjoy working with and naturally get along great with, that's awesome! I've found that, like my marriage, work relationships are rewarding and take time. The longer you work with people, the greater the chance of finding something that you don't see eye to eye on.

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Have you ever attended a planning meeting, and when the meeting is over you leave feeling great about the meeting.  The meeting went well, and as a group you chose what action to take.  You walked out, happy, thinking "we're going to get a lot done!".  A few days later, you look back at the meeting and start to wonder who is going to do what... and when.  You remember that the meeting was good, but you can't seem to remember what you were supposed to do.  Well then great!  You didn't have any tasks or responsibilities assigned to you.  

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There was once an old wise man sitting on his porch, and a younger man came to him and said "I'm thinking of moving here, what is it like?" The wise man asked, "What is your old town like?" The young man replied, "The people were lazy, they drank all of the time, and there was nothing to do."

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After having some of my team go out of town, I've learned the true value of an email auto-responder.  I'd hope that everyone who has a job, and receives email, will receive email that is somewhat important.  Among other things, the emails received while you are away may be asking you to perform a task, attend a meeting, or make a decision.

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What motivates you?  Do you know?  If you don't know how to motivate yourself, then how will others? When my wife and I go to the store, we have to do her stuff first and my stuff last.  Once I get the things that I need, I'm done.  For me, I'm not usually motivated to do things for other people.  I have to find something that excites me in order to have energy.  I have to know what my carrot is.

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