Success Advice
10 Things You Must Do in Order to Dominate the New Year

Did 2019 suck for you? Raise your hand and yell ‘hell ya!!” Don’t feel bad. It sucked for a lot of us. I could write a whole book on everything that went wrong for me. Here’s a small breakdown in case you’re curious.
- Mom died
- Fired 3 pinterest managers
- Lost a lot of money by switching ad agencies
- My website crashed multiple times
- Moved from one country to another
- Son’s father committed suicide
So it’s suffice to say, I had a hella hard year. Overall, it just sucked. However, I do have to say that independent of two site crashes and everything else I went through, I’ve finally reached my monthly financial goal that I’ve been working really hard at. Yay me!
I learned a lot this year. This year for me was about patience, understanding and growth. I also realize there are some things I definitely need to change moving forward into 2020. I think every year offers up some new lessons. Some we like, some we hate and some we plain and simply ignore. Don’t do that anymore. The ignore lessons part. They come to us to teach us things. Swallow your pride and learn the lesson.
Here are 10 things you must do in order for you to dominate the new year:
1. Make a weekly list every Sunday
What needs to be done? What goals do you have and what calls to make? Organize your week every sunday night so you already know what you have to do. Don’t pack your calendar too tight though. Allow wiggle room for unexpected emergencies and things.
2. Don’t set unrealistic goals
Seriously, keep it real. Don’t write “going to buy a Lamborghini by July of 2020” on your mind map if you really don’t think this could happen. You’re only setting yourself up for disappointment. Don’t do that.
3. Start saying YES to more things
Stop saying No to invitations to go to events and dinners and other social gatherings. Get out of your comfort zone and start saying yes to things and meeting new people. This is how we grow. And besides, you just never know who you might meet that has potential to be your new bff and next business partner. SAY YES more!!
4. Start saying NO more
Wait, what? Say yes say no, what the hell? Say NO to people who keep sucking the life out of you. Say no when someone asks you to do something, like use up all of your valuable time. I get that it’s good to be a kind and helpful person but not at the expense of your sanity. Say no and let someone else step in to help. You’re not superhuman and your life and happiness is important too!
5. Set a timer
For all those who work from home, this one’s for you. Before you start a project or job, set a timer of up to 90 minutes. When the timer stops, so do you. Get up, stretch, take a 15 minute sunshine break, do whatever you want but stop working.
6. Ask for help more often
Read above: you are not superhuman. Stop trying to do everything all by yourself. It’s perfectly fine to ask for help. People genuinely do want to help. Don’t be afraid to reach out to someone every now and then.
7. Treat yourself
Take yourself out for dinner or the movies or buy yourself a nice treat, at least once a week. Whether or not you accomplished everything from your Sunday list doesn’t matter. You need to reward yourself for a job well done anyway.
8. Unplug from social media
Put your rotten tomatoes down please! This is a must. For at least one hour a day, no Facebook, Instagram, Twitter or your social media drug of choice. Go for a walk instead, read a book, go play with puppies (which leads me to the next thing you need to do), do anything for an hour except check social media.
9. Go volunteer somewhere
Anywhere. Find an organization that resonates with your heart and go volunteer for an hour a week (or more if you have time). When we do kind things for others that bring us joy, we are happier, less stressed and more productive. Go play with puppies at a shelter (yes that’s a thing), spend time at a nursing home. Did you know that lots of seniors have no family that visit them. Sad, right? Go hang out there and listen to some cool stories.
10. Eat your frog first thing in the morning
Ya, ew, gross. It’s not really I promise. Eating your frog simply means taking that one icky task you really don’t want to do, but have to, and knock it out first thing in the morning! If you don’t get it out of the way first thing in the morning it will sit, like a monkey on your back, for the whole rest of the day and you’ll be stressed out. Trust me on this one. Eat your damn frog for breakfast.
Here’s to a successful 2020!
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The Leadership Shift Every Company Needs in 2025
Struggling to keep your team engaged? Here’s how leaders can turn frustrated employees into loyal advocates.

In workplaces around the world, there’s a growing gap between employers and employees and between superiors and their teams. It’s a common refrain: “People don’t leave companies, they leave bad bosses.”
While there are, of course, cases where management could do better, this isn’t just a “bad boss” problem. The relationship between leaders and employees is complex. Instead of assigning blame, we should explore practical solutions to build stronger, healthier workplaces where everyone thrives.
Why This Gap Exists
Every workplace needs someone to guide, supervise, and provide feedback. That’s essential for productivity and performance. But because there are usually far more employees than managers, dissatisfaction, fair or not, spreads quickly.
What if, instead of focusing on blame, we focused on building trust, empathy, and communication? This is where modern leadership and human-centered management can make a difference.
Tools and Techniques to Bridge the Gap
Here are proven strategies leaders and employees can use to foster stronger relationships and create a workplace where people actually want to stay.
1. Practice Mutual Empathy
Both managers and employees need to recognize they are ultimately on the same team. Leaders have to balance people and performance, and often face intense pressure to hit targets. Employees who understand this reality are more likely to cooperate and problem-solve collaboratively.
2. Maintain Professional Boundaries
Superiors should separate personal issues from professional decision-making. Consistency, fairness, and integrity build trust, and trust is the foundation of a motivated team.
3. Follow the Golden Rule
Treat people how you would like to be treated. This simple principle encourages compassion and respect, two qualities every effective leader must demonstrate.
4. Avoid Micromanagement
Micromanaging stifles creativity and damages morale. Great leaders see themselves as partners, not just bosses, and treat their teams as collaborators working toward a shared goal.
5. Empower Employees to Grow
Empowerment means giving employees responsibility that matches their capacity, and then trusting them to deliver. Encourage them to take calculated risks, learn from mistakes, and problem-solve independently. If something goes wrong, turn it into a learning opportunity, not a reprimand.
6. Communicate in All Directions
Communication shouldn’t just be top-down. Invite feedback, create open channels for suggestions, and genuinely listen to what your people have to say. Healthy upward communication closes gaps before they become conflicts.
7. Overcome Insecurities
Many leaders secretly fear being outshone by younger, more tech-savvy employees. Instead of resisting, embrace the chance to learn from them. Humility earns respect and helps the team innovate faster.
8. Invest in Coaching and Mentorship
True leaders grow other leaders. Provide mentorship, career guidance, and stretch opportunities so employees can develop new skills. Leadership is learned through experience, but guided experience is even more powerful.
9. Eliminate Favoritism
Avoid cliques and office politics. Decisions should be based on facts and fairness, not gossip. Objective, transparent decision-making builds credibility.
10. Recognize Efforts Promptly
Recognition often matters more than rewards. Publicly appreciate employees’ contributions and do so consistently and fairly. A timely “thank you” can be more motivating than a quarterly bonus.
11. Conduct Thoughtful Exit Interviews
When employees leave, treat it as an opportunity to learn. Keep interviews confidential and use the insights to improve management practices and culture.
12. Provide Leadership Development
Train managers to lead, not just supervise. Leadership development programs help shift mindsets from “command and control” to “coach and empower.” This transformation has a direct impact on morale and retention.
13. Adopt Soft Leadership Principles
Today’s workforce, largely millennials and Gen Z, value collaboration over hierarchy. Soft leadership focuses on partnership, mutual respect, and shared purpose, rather than rigid top-down control.
The Bigger Picture: HR’s Role
Mercer’s global research highlights five key priorities for organizations:
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Build diverse talent pipelines
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Embrace flexible work models
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Design compelling career paths
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Simplify HR processes
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Redefine the value HR brings
The challenge? Employers and employees often view these priorities differently. Bridging that perception gap is just as important as bridging the relational gap between leaders and staff.
Treat Employees Like Associates, Not Just Staff
When you treat employees like partners, they bring their best selves to work. HR leaders must develop strategies to keep talent engaged, empowered, and prepared for the future.
Organizational success starts with people, always. Build the relationship with your team first, and the results will follow.
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