Culture Archives - Sharon M Weinstein

March 21, 2021 By Sharon Weinstein

Is ZOOM the new fatigue?

Times have changed, and for those of us who spent a fair amount of time in meetings, conference halls, and on the road…we have seen a shift to online meetings, video calls, and so much more! Are you overwhelmed by too many hours in front of the “screen” during your day? Let’s face it…video interaction is the new normal, and maybe the next normal through the remainder of 2021.

Video is great; it is also tiring. How do you cope, and how can you create a strategy for avoiding the new fatigue? Here are 3 suggestions for pre/during/post the call.

Pre-call:

Define a workspace and “own” it; do not allow distractions that are not life-threatening and block the time

During the call:

Remain engaged; let others “see” you; avoid distractions and be present

Post-call:

Go offline and take a break; hydrate and unwind from digital overload

While video call overuse can lead to stress, anxiety, and fatigue, you have an opportunity to overcome the overwhelm by following these 3 steps. Enjoy the interaction and the face-to-face connections. Then, initiate a digital divide and take that much-needed timeout!

January 17, 2021 By Sharon Weinstein

Let’s LAUNCH TOGETHER…

When you think of a New Year, you think about resolutions. When you think about a pandemic, you think, “What’s next?” Well, I have answers to both of these issues in my new book, Are You Ready to Reinvent Yourself? A Post-Pandemic Approach to Work/Life Balance, and I’d like you to join my launch team!

What’s involved?

First, say yes and follow the link on https://smwgroupllc.com or https://sharonmweinstein.com
Or, simply email me!
Receive a free, advance electronic copy of the book and read enough of it by January 31st to post an Amazon review
Spread the word about the book to those within your network
Receive an exclusive bonus as my way of thanking you

Are you Ready helps us to consider and make career and life choices via a practical guide based on reinvention, noting that the COVID-19 pandemic has provided us with a significant opportunity for such change. Of course, any life event whether large or small, can be an impetus for change, however as we all know, this life event has been one of the most impactful in our time. It’s a motivational playbook that walks you through how to REINVENT!

Who is Are You Ready to Reinvent Yourself for?

It’s for you if you want to shift gears post-pandemic, assess your options, select a career path, and deal with stress. It’s for you if you want to advance your life through the choices you’ll make. It’s for those with a job, those in transition, and those ready for a new chapter!

What’s in Are You Ready to Reinvent Yourself?

A deep dive into who you are and what you want.
SWOT Analysis.
Steps to personal branding.
Back to business…is it as usual?
How to survive and thrive a virtual life.
Networking with intention.
Managing fatigue and burnout.
Using your past to create your future.
Business mentoring tips.
What causes stress.
Thirty weeks to balance.
And so much more!

If Are You Ready to Reinvent resonates with you, I need you on my Launch Team to help me launch the book successfully on Amazon and spread the word! Let’s get started now!

December 27, 2020 By Sharon Weinstein

Say goodbye to 2020, a stressful infodemic

What a stressful year it has been! Call it what you want, but 2020 has been the year of Information Overload, aka info anxiety, info explosion, and in some cases, an infodemic. In the past, thoughts of information overload stemmed from a packed inbox and the fact that we were drowning in information. We had an abundance of content and little time allocated to processing. At the time, information overload was considered by some to be a source of stress, reduced job satisfaction, disruptions in social and professional relationships, and poor health. The symptoms were benign, and those afflicted often suffered in silence.

Expectations about information and response times changed, and smartphones, social networks, smart TVs, and other devices flooded us with information and left little room or time for a personal recharge. While technology plays a crucial role in information management, how we manage that information, and the choices that we make, affect our ability to deal with the disruption. Those choices include delegation, escape, filters, and rejection. Have we changed amid the current disruption of a pandemic? Is the coronavirus an infodemic in addition to being a pandemic?

One thing is sure, the pandemic took stress levels to an all-time high, and it’s the first pandemic in history in which technology and social media have been used on a broad scale to keep people, safe, informed, productive, and connected. When we reflect on the year 2020, consider the thought that this tsunami of information, online and offline, included attempts to undermine the global response and impair control of the pandemic. Misinformation cost lives according to the World Health Organization (WHO) briefings. We’ve all been over-exposed to a huge quantity of information; to navigate the challenge, we must assess the source, go beyond headlines, identify the author, check the dates and facts, examine supporting evidence (science), and manage our personal assumptions. As we bid farewell to 2020, let’s focus on flattening the curve of misinformation, an overload that made 2020 the year of “too much.” It’s time to say goodbye! If you need help in managing pandemic-related stress, reach out…to me. As the stressbuster, I’ve been dealing with stress and crisis management for individuals and organizations for over 18 years!

January 31, 2020 By Sharon Weinstein

There is no box…not even on the golfcourse!

When I learned to play golf at age 50, the topography was beautiful and challenging. As we approached the 14th fairway one Sunday afternoon, my husband said, “Start thinking about how you will manage that water hazard.” Hazards on a golf course may be lakes and rivers, man-made hazards such as bunkers, or a tall tree or thick rough. If it gets in your way, it is a hazard. I looked ahead and then said, “Water, I don’t see any water.” Of course, there was water ahead, but I knew that I could not let it get in my way. It is that concept that has taken me through a myriad of countries, opportunities, challenges and success stories.

We all face challenges in our personal and professional lives. By looking beyond the hazard, or outside of the box, we see opportunity. We forge ahead and achieve success. See what I mean here!

I grew up in a big box and was told that I should not ask, nor should I try, because I would never amount to a thing. Moving beyond that box opened many doors and a chance to ask for what I needed and get it. Many of us are stuck in that box…unable to get out because of perceived barriers to change. We must encourage others to thrive and survive. I am who I am today because I learned how to ask. A storyteller, I go beyond “once upon a time” to a place we’ve all been – where obstacles stood in our way and held us back.

President/Founder of SMW Group and the Global Education Development Institute, I educate and train others to be the best version of themselves. A native of Philadelphia, I completed my nursing education at Pennsylvania Hospital, followed by undergraduate and graduate degrees in Florida and Texas. I’m a graduate of the Kellogg Executive Management Program and a recipient of the Frist Humanitarian Award. I use my nursing platform to create change and empower others to succeed.

#removethebox #mindset #leadership #serviceexcellence

January 4, 2019 By Sharon Weinstein

What’s Your Business Theme for 2019?

It’s a New Year, and perhaps you have already set your resolutions. Perhaps you’ll be successful at accomplishing each of them; on the other hand, perhaps you’ll disband them by the end of January.

I prefer a theme, and I examine that theme from every aspect of my business and my life. Deciding on a theme depends on the type of business, the stage of your business, and your purpose in life. Start by reviewing 2018, and ask yourself:

What worked well?
What did you love?
What went wrong?

Use those questions to position yourself, and your theme for 2019. Write out the answers to the three questions, and use those answers as your GPS as you forge ahead. Your theme is a quick reminder of what you want to manifest this year. It will keep you focused and on track for success.

Examples include:

Lean-in
I am deserving
Moving up
Establishing roots
Being the best me
Actionable steps
Attitude of gratitude
Elevate
Innovate
Engagement
Be bold, be brave, be YOU

These are examples, but you get the point. Think of something that resonates with you and your business goals. Think of something that can be measured, appreciated, and celebrated at quarterly milestones, and at the close of the calendar year.

To start the process: