Michael Thomas Sunnarborg's Blog, page 6

Networking to Get Something? Try These 5 Tips Instead

Networking: Some love it; some hate it.

Personally, I think it’s the word “networking” that turns people off, but either way, don’t underestimate the importance of intentionally meeting new people on a regular basis.

In fact, networking is an essential part of today’s changing world of work.

Creating new connections is a great way to build your professional relationships, learn about a business, and make new friends. In addition, allowing people to introduce you to others strengthens your exi...

Talking About Yourself: Your Biggest Asset or Liability?

It’s Tuesday, you’ve just arrived at your local Panera Bread, and you’re excited to finally meet face-to-face with a new connection from LinkedIn.

“Hello!”

“Hello! Nice to finally meet you.”

“You, too! So let me tell you a little bit about myself…,” and 20 minutes later, they’re still telling you a little bit more about themselves.

Been there? Me, too.

In fact, most of us can truthfully say we’ve been on both sides of that conversation at some point.

So what gives?

Talking about ourselves can...

50 Healthy Distractions You Can Start Today

Distracted enough? I thought so.

Seriously. With the onslaught of information, links, videos, emails, text messages, and everyone competing for our attention, we’re lucky if we can get through our to-do lists each day.

Maybe it’s just me, but it feels like our lives just keep getting busier. And how do we know which of our distractions are adding to our happiness or draining our energy tank?

Simple. We start paying attention to what we pay attention to. And based on how our choices are manife...

Go Ahead and Be Selfish. But in a Good Way.

There’s a negative misconception that focusing on oneself is selfish.

But being selfish is not only good—it’s essential.

For the record, the suffix “ish” means “belonging to.” The word “selfish” literally means “belonging to self”; there is no negative connotation as we’ve created in our western culture.

The same misconception applies to the words “self-centered” (meaning “centered in self”); these terms aren’t originally negative in meaning, only in the meanings we’ve applied to them.

Belong...

It’s True, Father Knows Best

As I was organizing my desk the other day, I heard the words of my Dad telling me, “Keep a clean work area.” And even though I still see my Father on a regular basis, many of his words of wisdom stick in my head and continue to serve me over the years.

Sometimes parents are just our “parents,” but I’ve been fortunate enough to develop deep and meaningful friendships with both my parents. We decided at an early juncture—after I’d gone off to college—to take the time get to know one another a...

The Power of Two Words: Me, Too

The #MeToo campaign has brought the darkness of sexual harassment and assault into the light of society. It has allowed long-held secrets to be revealed and has created a platform for people to be heard, acknowledged, and healed.

It has also created the opportunity for people to connect to each another via their shared experiences, simply summed up in two words: Me, too. Simple words, but with enough meaning to pack a powerful punch by anyone speaking or hearing them.

Our words are powerful....

Marie Kondo is Now A Verb

You know you’ve made it big when your name becomes a verb.

Taking after other bodacious brands like Google, Photoshop, and Uber, Marie Kondo—the best-selling master of tidying up your life—has now officially achieved verb status.

The water cooler conversation goes something like this, “So I totally Marie Kondo’d my apartment last month. Yep, cleaned and organized the whole thing. Even folded the socks and t-shirts in my dresser drawer. Yeah, it’s pretty amazing.”

Getting tidy is getting stick...

Why Sometimes We Can’t “Just Get Over It”

“I really thought I was over it. I mean, it’s been six months already—so why am I still so angry?”

This was how our conversation started last week.

My client had been laid off from her job of 15 years. A job she loved—a career she’d gotten used to. A routine, a momentum, a lifestyle—and a family of coworkers. And, most importantly, a sense of purpose.

And then suddenly it was gone—all of it. And she was left to sort it out for herself.

Life is filled with happiness and feelings of success. Li...

Laid off? “White boxed”? Join the Club

I remember that my day started like any other Friday.

I arrived at the office and prepared for my workday. As I checked email, I noticed an “urgent meeting” had been added on my calendar for that morning.

So at 9:00 a.m., I went to the conference room, took a seat, and waited patiently with my co-workers. At 9:05 a.m., our CEO quickly entered the room and closed the door behind him.

“I’ve called you together this morning to make an important announcement. We’re taking a new direction with the...

7 Tips For Happy Healthy Holidays

Coming from someone who loves to celebrate, I find this time of year most exciting. The holiday season gives us opportunities to be thankful, give to one another, and ring in another new year.

With all the reasons to act in exceptional ways, the holidays can also bring stress and may cause us to lose touch with our natural sense of well-being. A flurry of holiday errands, “to-do” lists, and social obligations can stretch us thin and take us away from having a healthy and happy holiday.

So as...