February 28, 2024

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BG’s Positively Speaking

Expanding Your Influence

Expanding your influence is crucial for success in any setting, personal or professional. Whether you hold a formal leadership position or not, these strategies can help you expand your sphere of influence:

1. Strategise: Create a list of the people who can help you, related to the objectives you want to achieve. Then consider how you will approach those on your list. Some will need to be approached on a one-to-one basis, others may be more comfortable with a group gathering of two or more. These folks will form the foundation of your expanded influence.
2. Craft Your Message: Prepare a concise “elevator pitch”(one that you could deliver in a 1-2 minute elevator ride) about your goal. Customize it based on your colleagues’ needs, perspectives, and temperaments. Tailor your message so that it resonates with each individual.
3. Cultivate Allies: Seek advice from those on your list and incorporate their feedback. Enlist enthusiastic colleagues as ambassadors for your idea. Their support can amplify your efforts and speed the growth of your influence.
4. Develop Expertise: Stay informed about a topic related to your objectives. Attend meetings, enroll in learning programs, or take leadership roles in community, social, business and professional organizations. Becoming a Go-To person for advice and help will significantly increase your influence.

Remember, influence isn’t solely about formal authority; it’s about building personal relationships, communicating effectively, and demonstrating expertise.

Implementing these steps WILL increase your influence
in your workplace and in your community.

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Tradition

Len had heard stories of a fantastic family tradition all his life. His father, grandfather and great-grandfather had all been able to walk on water on their 21st birthday. They’d walk across the lake to the boat club for their first legal drink that day. So when Len’s 21st birthday came around, he and his pal Corky took a boat out to the middle of the lake. Len stepped out of the boat and nearly drowned!

Corky just managed to pull him to safety. Furious and confused, Len went to see his grandmother. “Grandma, it’s my 21st birthday, so why can’t I walk across the lake like my father, his father, and his father before him?” Granny looked Len straight in the eyes and said, “Because, you idiot, your father, grandfather and great-grandfather were born in January; you were born in July.”

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Editors Quote Book

“It is during our darkest moments that we must focus to see the light.”

—Aristotle

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Where In The World

PHOTO: By Chris6d – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, Click Here

Can you name this island and its location?
CLUE: It has hosted several well-known characters
and has been featured in several movies.

Hover Or Click For Answer

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Unimpressed

Jack: “You can now print a gun off a 3D printer.”
Bill: “ I’m not impressed; I’ve had a Canon printer for years.

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Trivia Quiz

(Click Question For Answer)

 

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Your Horoscope

For Amusement Only

ARIES (March 21- April 19):   An unexpected event will set the wheels in motion. You should jump on the cart before it passes you by.

TAURUS (April 20- May 20): Be bold and voice your opinion. You may be out-ranked, but you have the superior judgment.

GEMINI (May 21- June 20):  Your romantic life has a couple of abrupt changes. Just go with the flow and wait for things to settle.

CANCER (June 21-July 22):  Things will look much brighter if you change your outlook. Be optimistic. Expect the best to come your way.

LEO (July 23- August 22): Consult with someone older and wiser. They have walked in your shoes and know the path to follow.

VIRGO (August 23- September 22): Problems are looking for you. Your guardian angel will be on alert, keeping you free from harm; tread cautiously.

LIBRA (September 23- October 22): Extend an olive branch to save friendship. It won’t heal all wounds, but it will help the healing.

SCORPIO (October 23- November 21): A trivial comment gets blown out of all proportion. Keep your thoughts to yourself and let things pass over.

SAGITTARIUS (November 22- December 21): Your determination will be your strong point and saving grace. Keep following your chosen path.

CAPRICORN (December 22- January 19): We all have room for improvement, and you are no exception. Listen to constructive criticism and apply it to yourself.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Your vision for the future needs to be more flexible. There are many twists and turns in life’s road.

PISCES (February 19- March 20): Your debt is becoming a burden. Tighten your belt. Even a little will help you in the long term.

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At The Auction

A man had just bought a parrot at an auction after some very spirited bidding. “I suppose that bird talks?” he said to the auctioneer. “Talks!” was the reply. “Who do you think was bidding against you?”

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Doug

A sad-faced Doug walked into a flower shop early one morning. The clerk was ready to take his order for a funeral piece, based on the look on Doug’s face, but soon realized his assumption was wrong as Doug asked for a basket of flowers sent to his wife for their anniversary. “And what day will that be?” the clerk asked. Glumly, he replied, “Yesterday.

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The Entrepreneurial Spirit

21-year-old Wifei Cheng, a Thai-Taiwanese student at the Rajamangala University of Technology Lanna in Chiang Mai province, knew about the problems realtors had selling properties where deaths had been reported in the past and decided that there was a market for ghost-free homes certifiers. And who better for the job than himself and his colleague and associate, 22-year-old Sretthawut Boonprakhong? The pair recently started advertising their services on social media, offering to sleep in problematic houses and apartments and then issuing ghost-free certificates to ease buyers’ and renters’ minds.

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The Last Word

Always cook with wine. Occasionally, you can add a little to the food.

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