The battle for your nose (and wallet): getting your fragrance game on point for work and beyond!

𝗗𝗶𝗱 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗼𝗻𝗹𝘆 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝟯𝟬% 𝗼𝗳 𝗽𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗡𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗵 𝗔𝗺𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗮 𝘄𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝗳𝗿𝗮𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗴𝘂𝗹𝗮𝗿𝗹𝘆?

For a frag head like me, that stat never fails to surprise. Whether we’re closing deals in the boardroom, working hard on a construction site, or enjoying a weekend getaway, how we smell speaks volumes about who we are. 

From my childhood, fragrances have always been such a personal, powerful and important form of expression. I started with Davidoff Cool Water entering high school and over the years built up a respectable collection of designer and clone fragrances. I'm not joking, if I leave home without wearing perfume I feel like I went out wearing one sock!

Anyway, I digress. 𝗙𝗿𝗮𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗺𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗶𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂'𝗹𝗹 𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗲. It's not just about smelling good to others—more importantly, it's about how the scent makes 𝘺𝘰𝘶 feel. The right fragrance can boost your confidence and add to your personality, literally a breath of fresh air.

But how do you navigate the world of fragrance, especially when the options seem endless? 𝗖𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗲𝘀 𝘃𝘀. 𝗱𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗻𝗲𝗿 𝘃𝘀. 𝗻𝗶𝗰𝗵𝗲—the options can feel overwhelming. 

Here's my guide to help you find what fragrances works best for 𝘺𝘰𝘶, no matter your budget or style.

1️⃣ 𝗙𝗿𝗮𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹—𝗶𝘁’𝘀 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝗶𝘁 𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗲𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗳𝗲𝗲𝗹

The most important rule: 𝗳𝗿𝗮𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹. While some scents are crowd-pleasers, it’s essential to choose what resonates with 𝘺𝘰𝘶 first and foremost. 

There are four major classes of fragrances (floral, woody, amber and fresh), and they can be further divided into sub-types (for example, fruity fragrances fall under floral). Many fragrances have overlapping characteristics and cannot be put in just one box. For example, 𝗖𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝗔𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘂𝘀 (for men) is a legendary, popular choice, with its bold pineapple and smoky birch notes that feel powerful and sophisticated. 

Creed Aventus 

(While I'm not one to throw shade on any fragrance, I have to say Aventus is a victim of its success. It has been copied so often that to people like me there is nothing especially interesting about it, especially because the maker has reformulated it. It is also extremely expensive, which to me is an important consideration. End of rant.) 

Fragrances come in different concentrations of perfume oils, from highest to lowest, with the higher concentrations performing longest, and the lowest concentrations often projecting more but fading away more quickly (these are not hard and fast rules, just a generalization):

• Parfum – 20-40%
• Eau de Parfum – 15-20%
• Eau de Toilette – 5-15%
• Eau de Cologne – 2-5%
• Eau Fraîche – 1-3%

So where to apply your fragrance? On skin pulse points are best because the heat there gently activates most fragrances to perform better. Think in the crooks of your arms, on the neck, behind the ears, on your wrists and behind the knees. Do not spray in the air and walk through it, that's just a waste of perfectly good perfume. (Read this indepth article on Yahoo to learn more about how much perfume to apply.)

To make your fragrance last much longer, consider spraying on clothes, but be careful of staining. To check if your perfume could leave stains, simply spray a white paper towel with your fragrance and observe if there is any apparent color left behind.

If you feel unsure about what concentration of perfume to get, the best thing you can do is visit a fragrance boutique and talk to the people there about what you like and try on fragrances. If you don't know what you like, they will be glad to help you find something, as well as suggest how much to spray and where you should do it. 

Remember, you shouldn't necessarily buy at retail stores. More on that later.

2️⃣ 𝗚𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗳𝗿𝗮𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴

Gourmand fragrances with their dessert-like scents, have become incredibly popular in the last two

Lattafa Khamra

years. They are not always trying to smell like food, but definitely they take inspiration from edibles. Think sweet, comforting fragrances like 𝗧𝗼𝗺 𝗙𝗼𝗿𝗱 𝗧𝗼𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗰𝗼 𝗩𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗲 (for men), 𝗙𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗵 𝗔𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘂𝗲 𝗟𝗶𝗾𝘂𝗶𝗱 𝗕𝗿𝘂𝗻 (for men), 𝗟𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗮𝗳𝗮 𝗞𝗵𝗮𝗺𝗿𝗮𝗵 (unisex), or 𝗫𝗲𝗿𝗷𝗼𝗳𝗳 𝗖𝗮𝘀𝗮𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶 (for women). These are perfect for colder months when you want something cozy and warm, but these are not necessarily the best in a conservative office environment. But if you can rock it, then you do you.

Balance is key, in warmer weather you will want to wear lighter scents. For example 𝗝𝗼 𝗠𝗮𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗟𝗼𝗻𝗱𝗼𝗻 𝗪𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝗦𝗮𝗴𝗲 & 𝗦𝗲𝗮 𝗦𝗮𝗹𝘁 (unisex), 𝗔𝗿𝗺𝗮𝗳 𝗖𝗹𝘂𝗯 𝗱𝗲 𝗡𝘂𝗶𝘁 𝗠𝗶𝗹𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗻𝗲 (unisex), or 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝗳𝘂𝗺𝘀 𝗱𝗲 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗹𝗲𝘆 𝗟𝗮𝘆𝘁𝗼𝗻 (for men) which work better for professional settings. Fruity fragrances are very popular now, and anything with citrus notes of lemon, bergamot or grapefruit is probably going to work. 

3️⃣ 𝗠𝗶𝗱𝗱𝗹𝗲 𝗘𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗻 𝗰𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗲𝘀: 𝗵𝗶𝗴𝗵-𝗾𝘂𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗮𝘁 𝗮𝗳𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗱𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗲𝘀?

Middle Eastern and Asian fragrances have been sought after and prized by collectors for thousands of years, not least because of oud, which has gone from once being an ingredient in oriental fragrances only to now being a centrepiece in fragrances produced around the world. Once a challenging scent that was an acquired taste for those unaccustomed to it, oud has a strong animalic quality that is useful in making fragrances last longer and perform more loudly. Real oud is fantastically expensive and rich, as much for its rarity as it's incredibly complex extraction process. Synthetic oud materials are common enough that you can enjoy without breaking the bank, although for those who know, synthetics pale in comparison to the real thing.

(Interested in knowing more about oud? Watch this documentary all about it.)

But there is something else now happening that has completely turned the fragrance community upside down. 

What is it? Clones.

Armaf Club de Nuit Intense Parfum, one of the most hyped clones of Creed Aventus 

Why? Right now 𝗠𝗶𝗱𝗱𝗹𝗲 𝗘𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗻 𝗯𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗱𝘀 such as 𝗟𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗮𝗳𝗮, 𝗙𝗿𝗮𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗹𝗱 and 𝗔𝗿𝗺𝗮𝗳 are all the rage, even though you're not likely to see them in traditional big brick and mortar stores. They offer fragrances that mimic luxury designer scents, often at a fraction of the price. Are they the same level quality as the originals? Not usually, although it can happen that some are even better than the original! However, 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝘀𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗼𝗽𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗴𝗲𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝟴𝟬-𝟵𝟬% 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲. Not only that, but the clone brands are rapidly improving with each new fragrance they release. In some cases they are cloning once-loved, now discontinued or reformulated fragrances.

I can easily recommend clones as a great option if you’re looking to try something before wearing the original, especially if it is expensive. Anything with a luxury price tag can be a big decision, I get that. Personally, I think most people will simply not be able to smell the difference between many originals and their clones. 

Keep in mind that not all Middle Eastern brands are trying to make copycat fragrances. If you have the cash, on the luxury side, 𝗔𝗺𝗼𝘂𝗮𝗴𝗲 and 𝗔𝗯𝗱𝘂𝗹 𝗦𝗮𝗺𝗮𝗱 𝗔𝗹 𝗤𝘂𝗿𝗮𝘀𝗵𝗶 (varied options) offer high-end and unique fragrances that are rich, complex, and perfect for special occasions, and they will definitely get you noticed for all the right reasons, including at work, but here's a piece of advice: don't use heavy oud scents, those are still divisive with many people.

You want to wear your fragrance, not have the fragrance wear you. 

4️⃣ 𝗟𝘂𝘅𝘂𝗿𝘆 𝗘𝘂𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗻 𝗯𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗱𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗻 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗸

Luxury doesn’t always have to be out of reach. 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗲𝗹 𝗕𝗹𝗲𝘂 𝗱𝗲 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗲𝗹 (for men) or 𝗚𝘂𝗲𝗿𝗹𝗮𝗶𝗻 𝗠𝗼𝗻 𝗚𝘂𝗲𝗿𝗹𝗮𝗶𝗻 (for women) are classics that offer great value for their quality. They fall within the $100–$150 range, making them attainable for many. If you’re looking for something on the higher end, 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝗳𝘂𝗺𝘀 𝗱𝗲 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗹𝘆 𝗟𝗮𝘆𝘁𝗼𝗻 (for men) or 𝗖𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝗠𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘀𝗲𝗺𝗲 𝗜𝗺𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗮𝗹 (unisex) are timeless choices with prices starting around $250 and going up. Don’t forget: sometimes fragrance pricing is tied to branding rather than the actual ingredients.

5️⃣ 𝗙𝗿𝗮𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗱𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲

Fragrance deals don’t have to be elusive. 𝗙𝗿𝗮𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗫, 𝗙𝗿𝗮𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗡𝗲𝘁, 𝗙𝗿𝗮𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗕𝘂𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗝𝗼𝗺𝗮 𝗦𝗵𝗼𝗽 are great places to score discounts on both designer and dupe fragrances. You can find high-quality fragrances of every type from France and Dubai, usually at a fraction of what you would pay at retail. I say usually because there are boutiques who might give you a better deal. Remember to factor amount of perfume, shipping and taxes when comparing prices.

6️⃣ 𝗜𝗻𝗳𝗹𝘂𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄𝘀 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗴𝘂𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗶𝗰𝗲𝘀 

Influencers I like, including 𝗕𝗼𝘄 𝗧𝗶𝗲 𝗙𝗿𝗮𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲
𝗚𝘂𝘆, 𝗚𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗦𝗰𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀, 𝗖𝘂𝗯𝗮 𝗞𝗻𝗼𝘄, 𝗚𝗹𝗮𝗺 𝗙𝗶𝗻𝗱𝘀, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗠𝗿. 𝗦𝗺𝗲𝗹𝗹𝘆, often share detailed fragrance reviews. They can offer interesting info about new perfumes that have not yet hit stores or the online 

Bow Tie Fragrance Guy on YouTube 

discounters. Keep in mind that some influencers may have brand partnerships or at least certain biases; these are subjective analyses after all, so consider cross-referencing reviews. Websites like 𝗙𝗿𝗮𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗮 and 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝗳𝘂𝗺𝗼 can provide extensive user reviews, giving you a broader perspective on the longevity and performance of different fragrances.

7️⃣ 𝗗𝗼𝗻’𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗴𝗲𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗼𝗰𝗰𝗮𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗼𝗻

Fragrance is about the right fit for the moment. 𝗙𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗵 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 scents like 𝗥𝗮𝘀𝗮𝘀𝗶 𝗛𝗮𝘄𝗮𝘀 (the original, Ice or Black, all for men) work well in warmer weather or professional settings, while 𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗵 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗱𝗲𝗲𝗽 fragrances like 𝗠𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗿𝗮 𝗥𝗲𝗱 𝗧𝗼𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗰𝗼 (for men) or 𝗖𝗵𝗹𝗼𝗲 𝗘𝗮𝘂 𝗱𝗲 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝗳𝘂𝗺 (for women) are suited for cooler months or evening events. Start by building a versatile collection and then adding more specialized fragrances after. Remember, you don't need to break the bank to smell good!

𝗙𝗿𝗮𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝗻 𝗲𝘅𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝘄𝗵𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗮𝗿𝗲. Whether you’re looking for something unique or sticking to a more widely-loved scent, the right fragrance can boost your confidence and make a lasting impression. Take your time exploring and experimenting until you find the scent that speaks to you.

#FragranceCommunity #ScentOfSuccess #FragranceAddict #PerfumeLover #FragranceJourney #LuxuryFragrance #FragranceTips #PerfumeCommunity #FragranceKnowledge

6 AI quirks that give it away as being artificial

(LinkedIn post on Sat, Dec 7, 2024) 

Last night I squared off as a #gladiator against my foe while hundreds chanted my name (Ali! Ali! ALI!).

Ok, ok, so there was no battle. There wasn't even a fight—just a strongly worded debate on Facebook about whether or not a piece of writing was written by #AI. 

It all started when I said I was sick of overuse of AI replacing excellent human driven communication, specifically writing.

Dear reader, I kid you not, I was shocked that my quick critique got 𝘵𝘰𝘯𝘴 of likes and comments. As 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗳𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗲𝗿𝘀, we often spot and worry over consequences of unrestricted robot writing, so it felt extremely gratifying to see the majority of people agreed.

However, not everyone agreed. One indignant commenter insisted I was wrong—that the article was NOT written by AI and her mind was made up. She didn't even give reasons, she just said everyone who agreed with me was wrong.

You can't please everyone, but I decided I would do something about it here on LinkedIn.

Debating whether something was written by AI or a human can get heated, but the truth is, 𝗔𝗜 𝗵𝗮𝘀 𝗾𝘂𝗶𝗿𝗸𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗴𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗶𝘁 𝗮𝘄𝗮𝘆.  

Ever read something and thought, “𝗡𝗼 𝗵𝘂𝗺𝗮𝗻 𝘁𝗮𝗹𝗸𝘀 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀”? You’re probably right. AI writing is everywhere now, and while it CAN be impressive, it often feels like getting a birthday card from someone who forgot your name—polished but empty.  

Here are 6 ways how I spot the signs I'm reading AI produced text—not to call anyone out, but to better understand what separates 𝗯𝗼𝘁𝘀 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗵𝘂𝗺𝗮𝗻 𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗶𝘁𝘆:  

1️⃣ 𝗥𝗲𝗽𝗲𝘁𝗶𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗽𝗵𝗿𝗮𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴

AI often repeats patterns like “It is important to note...” or “One key factor is...,” while humans tend to 𝘃𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝘀𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 naturally.  

2️⃣ 𝗢𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘂𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗱𝘀

Terms like "indeed," "furthermore," or "moreover" might appear 𝗲𝘅𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗹𝘆, especially in casual contexts.  

3️⃣ 𝗢𝘃𝗲𝗿-𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆

AI leans 𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝗹, even when casual language is better. For example, it might write “This warrants further exploration” instead of “That’s worth a look.”  

4️⃣ 𝗙𝗹𝗮𝘄𝗹𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗺𝗺𝗮𝗿

AI avoids the 𝗾𝘂𝗶𝗿𝗸𝘀 𝗼𝗿 𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗳𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 (like fragments or contractions) that humans naturally include.  

5️⃣ 𝗡𝗲𝘂𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝘁𝗼𝗻𝗲

AI often presents 𝗯𝗼𝘁𝗵 𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲𝘀 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻𝗹y, even on divisive issues, using phrases like “While some believe X, others argue Y.”  

6️⃣ 𝗚𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗰 𝗲𝘅𝗮𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲𝘀

AI avoids 𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗳𝗶𝗰𝘀. It might say “a person walking in the park” rather than “Karen's walking spot in Central Park.”  

These clues aren’t definitive, but they can help identify AI-generated writing. 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂? Are there other things that tip you off to robo writers? Let’s chat!

#WritingCommunity #ContentCreation #AIvsHuman #EditingTips #CommunicationsMatters #DigitalStorytelling #Creativity #CorporateCommunications #Communications

𝗦𝘁𝘂𝗰𝗸 𝗶𝗻 𝗮 𝘁𝗼𝘅𝗶𝗰 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸 𝗲𝗻𝘃𝗶𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁? 𝗛𝗲𝗿𝗲’𝘀 𝟳 𝘁𝗶𝗽𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝘆 𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗺, 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗳𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗶𝗻 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗹! (4 min read)

 

LinkedIn post 

If you've ever dealt with a 𝘁𝗼𝘅𝗶𝗰 𝗰𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗴𝘂𝗲, you know the drill—like a mosquito buzzing in your ear during an important meeting, it’s frustrating and exhausting. 

Toxic behaviors, whether subtle or obvious, can 𝗱𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗻 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗴𝘆, 𝗱𝗮𝗺𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗱𝘂𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗶𝘁𝘆, and even make you second-guess your career. But here’s the good news: 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗱𝗼𝗻’𝘁 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗹𝗲𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗺 𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗹.

Handling toxic people is a 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 𝘀𝗸𝗶𝗹𝗹. Below, you’ll find seven way to deal with toxic behaviors. Because while you can’t choose your colleagues, 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗼𝘀𝗲 𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗹𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗺—and that’s where your real power lies.

1️⃣ 𝗦𝗲𝘁 𝗕𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀  

👉🏽 Politely define what’s acceptable

👉🏽 Avoid overexplaining—boundaries don’t require justification  

𝗘𝘅𝗮𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲: “Let’s focus on work-related topics.”  

2️⃣ 𝗙𝗼𝗰𝘂𝘀 𝗼𝗻 𝗕𝗲𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗶𝗼𝗿, 𝗡𝗼𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗣𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗼𝗻

👉🏽 Address actions, not character

👉🏽 Frame your feedback as a problem-solving opportunity

𝗘𝘅𝗮𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲: “Missed deadlines affect the team’s progress.”  

3️⃣ 𝗗𝗼𝗰𝘂𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀  

👉🏽 Record dates, times, and incidents

👉🏽 Keep documentation professional and objective

𝗘𝘅𝗮𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲: Use details to support escalation if needed.  

4️⃣ 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝘆 𝗖𝗮𝗹𝗺 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗳𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹  

👉🏽 Manage your reactions

👉🏽 Avoid escalating the situation with defensive body language

𝗘𝘅𝗮𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲: Pause and breathe before responding.  

5️⃣ 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗦𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝗡𝗲𝘁𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸  

👉🏽 Talk to outside mentors, do not vent at work

👉🏽 Seek emotional support to maintain perspective

𝗘𝘅𝗮𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲: “How would you handle this situation?”  

6️⃣ 𝗕𝗲 𝗔𝘀𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲, 𝗡𝗼𝘁 𝗔𝗴𝗴𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝘃𝗲

👉🏽 Use “I feel” statements to express your feelings

👉🏽 Practice assertive phrases to build confidence

𝗘𝘅𝗮𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲: “I feel undermined when I’m interrupted.”  

7️⃣ 𝗣𝗿𝗶𝗼𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗶𝘇𝗲 𝗦𝗲𝗹𝗳-𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗲

👉🏽 Step away and de-stress

👉🏽 Celebrate small wins to boost morale

𝗘𝘅𝗮𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲: Have some water and take a walk during lunch break.

Toxic behaviors can make any workplace challenging, but with the right strategies, you can navigate these situations with 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗳𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 and 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗳𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘀𝗺. 𝗥𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿, 𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗼𝘅𝗶𝗰 𝗽𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘀𝘂𝗿𝘃𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗲𝗻𝘃𝗶𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁—𝗶𝘁’𝘀 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝗻 𝘀𝗽𝗶𝘁𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗶𝘁.

#EmotionalIntelligence #LeadershipSkills #WorkplaceWellbeing #ProfessionalGrowth #ToxicWorkplace #CareerDevelopment #SelfCareAtWork #ConflictResolution #MarketingStrategy #BrandLeadership #CorporateCommunications

Your Employer Brand: The Secret Weapon for Winning Customers

Posted on LinkedIn on Dec 4, 2024

Your employer brand isn’t just for hiring—it’s for winning customers too! If your employees aren’t proud to represent your company, why should customers trust you? Build a brand customers can't ignore, 𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘥𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘰𝘶𝘵.  

In today’s competitive IT market (come to think of it, ALL markets) customers don’t just buy your product—they buy 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘧𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦 in your team. If your employees are engaged, passionate and aligned with your mission, that energy radiates to customers. And here’s the kicker: small and medium-sized IT firms could have the upper hand. While the giants can be tied up in bureaucracy, 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙘𝙖𝙣 𝙗𝙚 𝙖𝙜𝙞𝙡𝙚, 𝙖𝙪𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙞𝙘, 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙥𝙚𝙧𝙨𝙤𝙣𝙖𝙡—𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙠𝙞𝙣𝙙 𝙤𝙛 𝙥𝙖𝙧𝙩𝙣𝙚𝙧 𝙘𝙪𝙨𝙩𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙧𝙨 𝙡𝙤𝙫𝙚.  

So, how do you turn your employer brand into a customer magnet? Here are five practical tips:  

1️⃣ 𝗧𝘂𝗿𝗻 𝗘𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗼𝘆𝗲𝗲𝘀 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗼 𝗔𝗱𝘃𝗼𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀  

Your employees are your best marketers. When they share authentic stories on LinkedIn or chat with clients about your work, it 𝘣𝘶𝘪𝘭𝘥𝘴 𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘴𝘵 in your brand. Help them take pride in their work and give reasonable incentives for converting dry figures and stats into engaging stories customers relate to. I cannot stress enough how such content must be honest/real.

2️⃣ 𝗣𝘂𝘁 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗘𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘁𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 

That said, numbers do matter. Showcase the real talent behind your services. Share case studies, thought leadership, or behind-the-scenes glimpses of your team 𝘴𝘰𝘭𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘱𝘭𝘦𝘹 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘣𝘭𝘦𝘮𝘴. Customers want to see competence in action—not just a sales pitch.  

3️⃣ 𝗦𝗵𝗼𝘄𝗰𝗮𝘀𝗲 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗖𝘂𝗹𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲—𝗡𝗼 𝗣𝗶𝗻𝗴-𝗣𝗼𝗻𝗴 𝗥𝗲𝗾𝘂𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗱 

Forget Silicon Valley clichés. Highlight what truly makes your company unique: 𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘻𝘦𝘥 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘱, meaningful projects and a culture where everyone’s part of success. Have your leadership show their human and quirky side. It’s the little things that make a big difference!  

4️⃣ 𝗧𝗲𝗹𝗹 𝗦𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗧𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗦𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗸

Share real stories, not jargon. Customers connect with how your team faces challenges and delivers results. Again, b𝘦 𝘩𝘶𝘮𝘢𝘯. Authenticity beats buzzwords every time.  

5️⃣ 𝗕𝗼𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗢𝗻𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗖𝗿𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 

Encourage happy employees to leave Glassdoor reviews and clients to write testimonials. Prospective customers check these. Use them to build trust and showcase your team’s value.  

A strong employer brand does more than attract talent—it attracts customers. And for smaller IT firms, that's your edge. 𝗧𝗲𝗹𝗹 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆 𝗶𝗻 𝗮 𝘄𝗮𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗼𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘄𝗮𝘁𝗰𝗵 𝘁𝗿𝘂𝘀𝘁—𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗯𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀—𝗴𝗿𝗼𝘄.

#Hiring #TalentAcquisition #TechJobs #CareersInTech #Recruitment #JobSearch #HRTech #WorkCulture #AI 

Thumbs-up Emojis Won't Build Relationships

LinkedIn post (Nov 24, 2024)

𝗟𝗲𝘁'𝘀 𝗳𝗮𝗰𝗲 𝗶𝘁: nobody ever got a promotion or closed a big deal because of a perfectly timed 👍. Emojis don’t build relationships. Yet in today’s fast-paced, tech-saturated world, we’ve let quick reactions and one-word replies become the default. Here’s the thing: relationships drive results, and relationships are built on genuine, human connections. The personal touch isn’t just a “nice-to-have” anymore—it’s your competitive edge.  

When was the last time an emoji made someone feel truly valued? Compare that to a quick "Great insight during the meeting today" or someone remembering to ask about your big weekend plans. Those small gestures don’t just cut through the noise—they stick. They say, "You matter," and in a business world packed with deadlines and distractions, that’s unforgettable.  

Sure, putting in the effort to personalize your communication takes time, but here’s the irony: the simpler, human interactions are often the most impactful. It’s about showing you care in the moments that matter.  

Here are 5 ways to bring the personal touch back into your professional life:  

1️⃣ 𝗡𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗗𝗲𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗹𝘀  

   Listen for small but meaningful things people mention—a milestone, a favorite hobby, or a goal they’re working on. Follow up with a quick "How’s the marathon training coming?" or share an article tied to their interests.  

2️⃣ 𝗕𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗸 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗥𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗲

   Not every message needs a reason. Drop someone a quick note: "Your presentation really landed with the team—great job" or "I thought of you when I saw this article." These little surprises can transform a professional relationship.  

3️⃣ 𝗨𝘀𝗲 𝗛𝘂𝗺𝗼𝗿 𝗧𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁𝗳𝘂𝗹𝗹𝘆 

   A well-timed joke or personal reference can go a long way. If a client mentioned their love of cats, send them a funny (and appropriate) meme when the moment calls for it. Humor breaks down barriers and builds rapport.  

4️⃣ 𝗔𝗰𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄𝗹𝗲𝗱𝗴𝗲 𝗘𝗳𝗳𝗼𝗿𝘁𝘀 𝗣𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗹𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗣𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗹𝘆

   Recognize contributions in meetings or emails, but also send a private note like, "Your work on this project was exceptional—it made all the difference." A mix of public and private appreciation is powerful.  

5️⃣ 𝗚𝗲𝘁 𝗦𝗽𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗳𝗶𝗰 𝗶𝗻 𝗚𝗿𝗲𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀  

   Ditch the standard "Hope you’re well" and opt for something tailored: "How’s your big move going?" or "Did your team enjoy the game this weekend?" Specificity shows you’re paying attention and invested.  

𝗡𝗼𝘄, 𝗽𝘂𝘁 𝗶𝘁 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗼 𝗽𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗲.

Today, pick three people—a colleague, a client, or even a mentor—and try one of these approaches. Send a thoughtful message, acknowledge their recent efforts, or follow up on something they’ve shared with you. Start small, but start now. In a world of quick reactions and endless distractions, being intentional is how you stand out—and how you lead with impact.

#Innovation  #PersonalBranding  #Motivation  #HumanResources  #Futurism

When AI Treats Employees Like Machines

 

LinkedIn post 

𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗲𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗼𝘆𝗲𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗴𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗲𝘁—𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗵𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗲𝗻𝘀 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝗔𝗜 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁𝘀 𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗺 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝗺𝗮𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀?

AI has revolutionized how companies communicate and collaborate, but when the same technology is used to monitor employees, the results can be far from beneficial.  

Imagine this: your every keystroke, message, or break tracked by AI, with algorithms deciding if you’re “productive enough.” It’s a slippery slope that can lead to distrust, burnout, and even legal challenges.  

Here’s why businesses, especially those prioritizing strong internal communications, need to tread carefully when using AI to monitor employees. 

1️⃣ 𝗘𝗿𝗼𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗧𝗿𝘂𝘀𝘁

AI surveillance can feel invasive, leading employees to question their organization’s motives. Trust is a two-way street, and constant monitoring sends the message that employees aren’t trusted to manage their own time or responsibilities. Once trust is broken, it’s hard to rebuild.  

2️⃣ 𝗣𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗮𝗰𝘆 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗿𝗻  

Employees have a right to privacy, and crossing that line can create significant legal and ethical dilemmas. Overstepping boundaries can result in lawsuits, reputational damage, and a toxic work culture. Transparency about how data is collected and used is critical.  

3️⃣ 𝗗𝗲𝗵𝘂𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗶𝘇𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻  

Reducing employees to data points ignores the human side of work. Performance can’t always be quantified—creativity, collaboration, and morale often fall outside measurable metrics. Over-reliance on AI risks devaluing these essential qualities.  

4️⃣ 𝗥𝗶𝘀𝗸 𝗼𝗳 𝗕𝗶𝗮𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗠𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻  

AI is only as unbiased as the data it’s trained on. Monitoring tools can misinterpret behaviors or disproportionately impact certain groups of employees. These errors can lead to unfair assessments and discrimination claims.  

5️⃣ 𝗕𝘂𝗿𝗻𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗠𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵  

When employees feel constantly watched, stress levels rise. A culture of surveillance can lead to overwork, anxiety, and disengagement—the opposite of what businesses aim to achieve.  

---

𝗔 𝗕𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗪𝗮𝘆 𝗙𝗼𝗿𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱

AI can still play a positive role in employee engagement and communication, but its use should empower, not police. Instead of focusing on surveillance, companies can use AI to support employees—helping them find resources, learn new skills, and streamline their workflows.  

The key is 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗰𝘆, 𝗳𝗮𝗶𝗿𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗮 𝗳𝗼𝗰𝘂𝘀 𝗼𝗻 𝗲𝗻𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗲𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗼𝘆𝗲𝗲 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲. AI should be a tool for progress, not a weapon of control.  

Let’s build workplaces where technology elevates humanity rather than diminishing it.  

What are your thoughts on businesses using AI for monitoring? Let’s discuss below!  

#AIEthics #EmployeeEngagement #FutureOfWork #WorkplaceCulture #ArtificialIntelligence #Leadership #InternalComms #Innovation

AI and Internal Communications: Buckle Up for the Changes to Come

AI and Internal Communications: Buckle Up for the Changes to Come

LinkedIn post published on November 14, 2024

Be honest—how often have you opened a company email and thought, “This doesn’t apply to me”? AI could change all that.

Imagine every company update felt like it was written just for you. That’s the magic AI-powered personalization promises for internal communications, to turn “meh” messaging into memorable and meaningful moments that leave employees smiling.

Of course there are serious concerns over using AI to target employees, but that's not what this post is about, I'll leave that for next time.

Here are five ways companies could use AI to better communicate with employees.

1️⃣ Customized Content, Zero Noise

AI will learn how employees engage with platforms like intranets and email, delivering the content that actually matters to them. This also helps with identifying how your content will resonate with employees. No more blanket announcements everyone scrolls past—each update will increasingly be tailored to their role, interests, and work.

2️⃣ Engagement That Sticks

Personalized messages aren’t just convenient; they get people engaged, leading to better morale. With deep insights driving communications that feel relevant to what people do every day, they’re way more likely to tune in. Forget monthly newsletters—in the future your AI will learn and prioritize useful content tailored to employees based on their own needs, stated or otherwise by themselves and others.

3️⃣ Right Message, Right Time (No Guessing)

A finely tuned AI will help us not only know what to say, but where and when to reach each employee—without endless “which channel?” debates. Mobile notifications will hit frontline workers between tasks; detailed reports arrive in office teams’ inboxes during meetings. It will be like having a coms expert with a crystal ball.

4️⃣ Search Made Simple—No More Endless Scrolling

With AI-enhanced search, you should be able to quickly find employees, get quick results, and let them move on with their day. No more calling around to find who knows what to do. Imagine saving everyone from the abyss of outdated files and irrelevant docs. As data is added to the system it will increasingly get better.

5️⃣ Real-Time Feedback (Minus the Waiting)

AI doesn’t just deliver content; it tracks what’s working, giving you real-time insights to adjust on the go. So, instead of wondering if that announcement hit the mark, you’ll know instantly—and can adapt to keep engagement high. I'm not saying you will be giving up running all surveys, but with AI models running 24/7 there will be ample fertile ground for you to know employees at any particular point in time.

AI personalization can potentially help take coms from “just another email” to genuinely engaging, helping employees feel more connected and informed. Next time I'll post about the dangers of companies using AI to target employees. Stay tuned!

#InternalComms #AIPersonalization #EmployeeEngagement #FutureOfWork #creativity #innovation #technology #artificialintelligence #management

Internal Communications: the Unsung Hero

 

LinkedIn post published on November 9, 2024

The unsung hero of many organizations? Internal communications! This post explains why it matters and offers some tips for healthy internal coms.

We all know it’s essential to keep customers informed, but what about the people working every day to make sure there are customers? Enter internal communications—the glue that holds high-functioning teams together. Without clear comms, employees are basically driving in thick fog with no headlights. And let’s be real: nobody wants to be the team left squinting at the road, unsure of what’s ahead.

Internal communications is just as essential as external communications. It’s the backbone of any business that wants to operate efficiently and create a healthy culture. Without a strong internal strategy, even the best external plans feel like building a house without a foundation.

A key example of how low morale and alienation can hurt a company comes from Sears. Once a retail giant, Sears' slow decline was partly due to poor internal communication. As the company struggled with restructuring, employees felt alienated and disconnected from leadership. A lack of clear, ongoing communication left workers unsure about their roles, contributing to low morale, reduced productivity, and mass exits. A stronger internal coms strategy could have bridged the gap between leadership and employees, fostering trust and alignment. There are many similar examples.

So, how can companies build a strong internal communications program? Here are five suggestions:

1️⃣ Consistency is Key: Regular updates from leadership help keep everyone aligned. Employees shouldn’t have to guess about the company’s direction.

2️⃣ Two-Way Communication: Let employees share feedback and ask questions. One-way comms create silos and frustration.

3️⃣ Personalize the Message: Tailor communication to different teams and departments. Make sure everyone understands how the company’s goals relate to their work.

4️⃣ Make it Accessible: Use multiple channels (email, intranet, meetings) to ensure all employees have access to key messages.

5️⃣ Support Change with Clear Messaging: During times of change, anticipate concerns, provide reassurance, and offer clarity about what changes mean for employees.

Internal coms isn’t just about updates—it’s about building trust and transparency. When people understand the destination, they’re more likely to put the pedal to the metal. Clear communication, empathy, and maybe even humor keep everyone ready for the road ahead, especially in times of crisis and change.

After working with top names like TD Bank, J. Walter Thompson (Ford US account), and Black & McDonald, I’m back in the Chicago area and ready to bring my experience to companies seeking clarity and cohesion. Message me if you’d like to discuss how we can get your employees to be happier, more on board with your goals, and performing at their very best.

#InternalCommunications #ChangeManagement #Leadership #CorporateCulture #Hiring

How Hiring This Company for IT Services Would be an Absolute Disaster!

A viral WhatsApp and LinkedIn sales post I wrote for an IT services company, 247 Labs. The CEO and Director of Sales both loved the post and gave positive feedback. Customers liked it too, and it directly lead to several warm leads as a result. 

WARNING: Listen, friend, if you value your sanity, do not contact 247 Labs to build your app or website. Seriously, avoid them at all costs, otherwise you'll face dire consequences!

If you foolishly decide to engage with 247 Labs, brace yourself for the following unbearable outcomes:

· Prepare for endless praise from your customers about how seamless and user-friendly your digital presence has become.

· Get ready to watch your business skyrocket in ways that will make your competitors green with envy.

· Say goodbye to sleepless nights, because when your site inevitably needs updates or repairs (all sites do, it’s normal), 247 Labs will have it sorted faster than you can say "peace of mind".

But that’s not all—247 Labs is infamous for their disdain of quick cash grabs. They’re obsessed with forming long-term relationships with their customers and win-win agreements that are worthy of your dollars.

Yes, you heard that right — long-term relationships, not just a one-time fling.

How outrageous!

Even worse, the folks at 247 Labs can do almost any kind of IT development for any kind of company, including:

· Websites

· Apps

· IT integration

· Back-end integration

· Security

Canadian-based and crushing it. 13 years. 70+ experts. 500+ projects—truly a well-oiled machine.

If you’re one of those rare souls who’s looking to suffer from success, go ahead—email me, and let's have a chat about what 247 Labs can do for you and your business.

Don’t say I didn’t warn you! 😉

📧 Info@247Labs.com

💻 Https://247Labs.com

A Day Like No Other: Muharram 10

 

LinkedIn post published on Tuesday, July 16, 2024. Received 160+ reactions within 48 hours. Original post here. 

This is no ordinary day. But how come?

Today marks Muharram 10 in the Islamic calendar, also known as Ashura. It is literally one of a handful of times in history when the best and worst of humanity squared off. On this day, Imam Hussain and a handful of his closest friends and family were brutally killed by an army of over 30,000 for refusing to pay allegiance to the corrupt and ruthless ruler of the time, Yazeed bin Muawiya. As the grandson of the Prophet Muhammed and known for his charisma, kindness and wisdom, and as a widely respected leader of the day in his own right, Imam Hussain's allegiance was priceless to Yazeed, yet Hussain preferred to give his head in defiance rather than his hand in subservience.

You may wonder why I'm posting about this sorrowful event 1,300+ years after it happened on LinkedIn. Since my childhood, I have heard of Imam Hussain's epic stand for truth, justice, honour and sacrifice, and it is one that will always be very near and dear to my heart. Imam Hussain stood on the battlefield alone today and called out, "is there anyone who will help me?" Anyone cynical and disenchanted need only hear what Hussain and his close ones did to be inspired. Today, hundreds of millions of his lovers from numerous faith communities around the world answer his call to say, "Yes Hussain, I will support you."

To learn more about what happened to Imam Hussain, click this link:

https://lnkd.in/evghx9Wp

Photo is a close up of a minaret with Arabic and Persian calligraphy and the gold dome over the grave of Imam Hussain with a red flag flying his name.

One Amazing Technique to Memorize Anything and Take Control of Your Work

One Amazing Technique to Memorize Anything and Take Control of Your Work!

Corporate communications professionals have to juggle unbelievable amounts of information and relationships. 

Come to think of it, EVERYONE needs to do that.

How can this be done? By building a strong memory. A strong memory makes all the difference for your getting work done efficiently and enjoying your life.

Unfortunately, many people are intimidated by the idea of relying upon their minds, rather than committing their thoughts to paper. They don’t know how to do it, aside from the usual tips to break down items into abbreviated lists and so on.

Abbreviations work. But you can do much, MUCH better.

Build a castle

If you’re like me, memorizing things can be tricky. That is, until I heard of the Memory Palace technique. People use this simple trick to quickly memorize unbelievable amounts of information. An eight-time world memory champion, Dominic O’Brien, was able to memorize 54 decks of cards in sequence looking at each card only once using this tip.

Intrigued? So was I. Practicing this technique has forever changed how I approach memorization.

I’ll explain how it works.

Your brain is an amazingly powerful organ. And it can remember things far beyond what you might think is the expiration date. How often have you tasted a dish and been transported back to your childhood, or seen a beautiful sight that stays for years? Clearly, it is possible to store info for long periods, without apparently trying very hard and this is all the more true if those thoughts are highly emotional.

The other thing that matters a lot to your remembering information is that your Hippocampus, a visual center in the brain, is intimately tied to your memorizing abilities.

Activate your Hippocampus and chances are that you will be more likely to remember once fleeting thoughts. Make your thoughts highly emotional and you can bank on not forgetting as easily as you once might have.

How can we take advantage of our neurological wiring? We build a palace. 

How the Memory Palace technique works

The Memory Palace is highly effective as a memorization tool largely because it activates the Hippocampus. 

Here’s how to do it. In your mind, visualize a place that you already know intimately. The place you visualize might be a home you lived in for years, or a path you walk every day through your workplace. The place really doesn’t matter so much as your knowledge of it. If it is a place that you feel stronglu about, all the better.

Now, create relationships between different areas in your palace with the items you want to memorize. For example, if you want to remember a pencil, you might consider visualizing a pencil as you enter your palace. As you walk through your palace in your mind’s eye, you see other objects you need – a tomato, a crocodile, tickets to an NBA game.

You know what? Let’s keep these items in mind as we go to the next step – a pencil, a tomato, a crocodile, and tickets to an NBA game.

Make your thoughts as emotional and strange as possible (a practical example)

We have already nailed an important part of memory by building memory palaces. Now lets really make those thoughts stick.

An example of the technique at work 

The Romans, who came up with the Memory Palace technique, suggested we make the thoughts we memorize as gory as possible. They said that the more weird and emotional the image, the better. And they were absolutely correct.

Here is how I would do it.

As I walk into my childhood home through the garage, I see the pencil. It is a HUGE pencil, with the circumference of a log. Better escape into the next room, the pencil is rolling after me and might crush my toes! RUN!

Whew, made it. … Uh, the floor is covered in squashed tomatoes … who is going to have to clean up this mess? Ugh!

(Luckily there is a cartoon crocodile in the living room, his teeth dripping with blood and guts. I say luckily, because he has begun sweeping up the tomatoes.)

Better go in the kitchen, this is a little weird. And I don’t like the way the tomatoes are squelching underfoot.

Woah! … It’s Derrick Rose, my favorite player who ever played for the Chicago Bulls, and he’s sitting at the kitchen table. Why is he here? … He’s handing over those NBA tickets for my family that I wanted! What a great day.

See what I mean? You might be able to memorize my list more easily than before I made it so bizarre. The more bizarre, emotional and disgusting, the better.

Memories of childhood shows and experiences can be a powerful way of helping others remember our content. Of course, such content has to be memorable for the right reasons; negative thoughts can easily remain in the mind too.

Now it's time to practice 

Now it’s time to practice this technique yourself. While you’re at home, write down a grocery list and commit the items to memory by building a crazy Memory Palace. Leave the list at home; do not look at the list while shopping.

After you get back, check how many items you remembered. If you forgot any items, really think about why that might be. Was your association between the items and the place you constructed strong enough? Were the razor blades you needed not scary enough?

Don’t get discouraged if you were not 100% successful the first time. The more you practice the Memory Palace technique, the easier it will be to remember items. On the other hand, you might find yourself getting perfect scores from the beginning. The key to success is really activating your brain’s emotional and visual center.

Once you have become good at memorizing lists of up to 30 items, you can graduate to relying on this technique at work. And once you can do this reliably with memorizing physical objects, you might try using Memory Palaces to recall abstract concepts linked strongly to physical objects in your mind’s eye. 

For example, if you want to memorize “honour”, you might find remembering a knight in shining armor useful to memorizing that concept. The more you learn how your mind works, the more you can fine tune this process. Eventually you would always want to use the same objects to recall specific concepts.

Well, what do you think? Have you ever used the Memory Palace, and what sort of results have you gotten? I would love to hear your thoughts.

Happy memorizing!

Nine Questions Overwhelmed Facility Managers Should Ask Service Providers

Black & McDonald blog article 

It can be argued that the job of a facility manager is one of the most demanding roles for an organization, whether they are supporting the front lines within healthcare or safeguarding commercial or major manufacturing plants and facilities. 

As we move towards COVID-19 recovery, the demands on facility managers will continue to accelerate. No matter the setting, the skillset required to innovate, adapt and overcome challenges will be paramount.  

To ensure facility managers are adequately prepared to master the new normal, here are nine key questions that every facility manager should ask their organization for the second half of 2021.

1. How do I protect our workplace as COVID-19 restrictions ease?  

Once the impacts of COVID-19 are ease more, you may need to stage your staff’s return. Even with growing immunization, returning will require safe planning, spacing for distancing, doubling down on hand hygiene and personal protective equipment, and confirming adequate ventilation. Make sure your facility services providers are offering advice, options, tools and all that is needed to comply with public health authorities’ guidance and smooth the transition.

2. How can I maximize interoperability to better operate our systems?

A new generation of facility managers well versed and reliant on smart phone technology is now entering the industry. Your systems must be interoperable and interconnected. Your platform must be user-friendly, with the ability to access data and mesh with multiple devices. If your provider is behind, find one that can offer you the kind of flexibility, project management tools and options that promote innovation and support Internet of Things technology.

3. How do I continue to make improvements to decrease energy use?

Your service partner should conduct an energy audit and offer a plan to economize lighting, improve temperature control, suggest chiller and fan-unit upgrades, implement HVAC system gains, and lead building insulation improvements. These will save money, time and lower energy usage. Service partners that are proactive and knowledgeable can create opportunities to improve efficiency while reducing existing costs.  

4. Can I improve the sustainability of our operations to meet carbon reduction targets?

The transition to a cleaner future is already underway and the groundswell for change has shifted perspectives of existing infrastructure assets and operations worldwide. Beyond setting reduction targets, more than 40 governments around the world have adopted a price on carbon, through direct taxes or cap-and-trade programs. Green buildings will now play an important role in the equation to post-pandemic recovery.

There are many first steps you can take to decarbonize your facility for long-term sustainability, most importantly by taking a holistic view of your operations. Make sure your service partner can provide you with opportunities to leverage new technologies that can monitor and curtail GHG emissions. Regardless of the maturity of your current sustainability program, revisiting the plan will ensure your organization can meet its aspiration and goals.

5. How can I use a proactive maintenance strategy to save?

Facility managers generally pursue either reactive or proactive maintenance strategies. The issue with a reactive maintenance strategy is it waits for equipment to fail unexpectedly, which can lead to costly downtime and lost productivity.

Advocating for your organization to use a proactive maintenance strategy will ensure parts, components and equipment issues are addressed more efficiently prior to failure. Such a strategy will in turn reduce and control the operational costs of your facilities, improve your awareness of equipment condition, and employ a solution that focuses on eliminating downtime. A proactive services partner can save you money, reducing stressful and often costly critical failures. Your services partner should be continually providing you with opportunities to improve your facilities and equipment reliability.

6. How do I stay on top of my asset management?

The first thing facility managers should revisit is their equipment inventory, to ensure it is current and accurate. If this inventory has become outdated, you will need to conduct detailed asset evaluations and populate a comprehensive inventory management database.

Once you can properly track all your assets and their associated activities, you will be able to better plan for maintenance, disposal, and replacement. Ensure your service partner is able to leverage technologies that enable better decision-making on assets. Your service partners must support a strategic approach and long-term view of asset management.

7. How can I provide clear and consistent communication on site?

“The rule of seven” states that a person needs to hear a message at least seven times before it makes an impression. Any communication strategy to shape your users’ needs must maximize exposure through many channels, using clear and consistent key messages. You need to engage your workplace in creative and proactive ways through feedback loops. Maybe your office has video screens in the elevators, an intranet, SMS text messaging or a staff bulletin board. Make sure you capitalize on these resources to influence and shape behaviour to achieve your goals.

8. Can human factors improve health, safety and security?

Facility managers need to assess the overall effects of facilities on the operations within. Your vendors must understand your workplace environment, occupant services, occupant health, safety and security needs, and ensure your users are protected from danger and are confident to perform their best. Your partners must anticipate how human factors can lead to harm and avoid it while continually reviewing the process for efficiency and effectiveness.

9. Is there a seamless way to cut risk?

Lowering risk requires a plan for risk identification, analysis and evaluation. Your facilities must undergo emergency preparedness, response and recovery, and practise these processes regularly. Your service partners are vital for confirming facility resilience and business continuity.

Black & McDonald is an integrated, multi-trade facility services provider, with insight into directing a diverse portfolio of public and private facilities. Our clients partner with us to ensure facilities are safe and efficient for all users, and that service excellence and best value are delivered throughout the life of our agreements. Our experts help identify opportunities to improve facilities and to develop tailored solutions for your operations.

Four approaches for facility managers to adopt so they keep virtual workplaces viable

Black & McDonald blog article

Even before COVID-19 struck in the first quarter of 2020, there was a lively debate about the role of virtual offices in facility management. Virtual work was defined by tasks conducted outside the traditional physical work space. That definition has broadened to encompass allowing home-based teleworkers, after-hours workers, on-the-road technicians, offsite service partners, and even outsourced workers.

As we begin the recovery from the pandemic, this trend has accelerated and will continue. Facility management and operations will have evolving needs—so to remain productive and profitable, clients and their facility service companies must find the best way to accommodate them. Thus, what is the best way to create an efficient facility operation through a virtual workplace?

The answer lies in ensuring your facility service leadership keeps four key concepts at the forefront of design and practice. The concepts to remember are strategy, communication, productivity and balance.

Focus on strategic priorities

During the once-in-a-lifetime crisis we all are going through, many organizations became distracted from their strategic priorities to address the health, safety and ongoing productivity issues that the pandemic created. Now is the time to refocus on the corporate priorities established, or adjust them to reflect the new circumstances. A teleworking or hybrid model with a virtual workplace will likely be part of the path forward. Leaders will need to act now to help their employees and organizations make the transition, or risk a loss of momentum and a loss of talented people. Be it a health care clinic, a transportation hub or a power generation plant, you need to build a work environment that ensures your professionals stay engaged with your vision and mission, whether they are onsite, offsite or working remotely from home.

Keep Communication Frequent, Transparent and Consistent

Virtual working can leave members of your team isolated. To overcome this, successful leaders and organizations communicate frequently, transparently and consistently. When you have a widely distributed team, you need the digital tools and infrastructure that best enable daily or weekly interactions. During the COVID-19 pandemic, many organizations heard from leaders often and they spent extra time explaining the business impacts, decision making, board feedback, and leadership mindset. A recent report in the MIT Sloan Management Review cited the use of webinars and video updates as more effective than simple emails. The same survey also found the greatest obstacle to effective communication was mixed messages coming from the organization. Your facility needs to be consistent, regardless of the function or level in the organization. It could be from Human Resources, Finance, Technology, Legal or Operations, or from the CEO to a front-line lead—in all cases, the messages must be consistent.

Stay productive and engaged

To keep teams productive and engaged, enterprises must use technology to improve physical infrastructure and deliver optimal solutions and services for use across the new work environment. The pandemic proved some of the benefits from task productivity gains, but it also saw six in ten workers feel isolation, decreases in collaborative productivity, and disconnection that led to fewer perceived rewards and career promotions. Keeping productive and engaged involves a rethink. Everything from ergonomic workstations to collaboration tools like Microsoft Teams or Zoom, along with other services and amenities for employees, must create the optimal work environments that serve onsite, offsite and remote workers. To keep facility operations seamless, it is important to integrate the physical and the digital workplaces, and to actively signal staff and facility service companies that they are part of the success of the organization.

Keep work and life in balance

Virtual workplaces have posed another paradox. Enabling remote work may have given time back to employees through less commuting and more flexible schedules for family. But for some people, it has also blurred the lines between the personal and the professional, and created a perception of 24/7 availability to their employer. Studies indicate that remote workers log more hours than their onsite counterparts. The remedy, here, for ensuring your people avoid burnout is a combination: time allowances for flexible scheduling to handle personal obligations, workload adjustments for family responsibilities, opportunities for team building and social interaction, and time blocking and personal days for rest and relaxation. These steps all sustain the goal of a healthy work/life balance for every member of your staff.

Many leaders emerging from the pandemic are keen to redesign facility workplaces to capture the benefits of what we have learned from virtual work models during the pandemic. We can help with the right solutions and create an efficient facility operation that reflects your strategy, encourages communication, promotes productivity and preserves the work/life balance that is right your people.

Black & McDonald is an integrated, multi-trade Facility Services provider, with experience operating and maintaining a diverse portfolio of facilities across both the public and private sectors. Our experience includes commercial offices, healthcare environments, major transportation hubs and airports, cultural facilities, life science laboratories, municipal government properties, educational institutions, data centres, utility infrastructure, and major manufacturing and distribution plants.

WhatsApp ad: Parfums De Marly Percival advertisement on FB

AN UNUSUALLY LUXURIOUS, BOLD AND VERSATILE MEN'S FRAGRANCE, suitable for any weather or situation, created by a legendary house that needs no introduction, Percival by Parfums De Marly is many levels above what usually passes for high fashion by the masses. This is a great deal that doesn't come along everyday.

Masculine, complex, sophisticated and classy, Percival is a blue fragrance that is as suitable at the office as it is for date night.

▶️ Starts with notes of orange, bergamot and lavender

▶️ Moves into jasmine, violet and cinnamon territory

▶️ Settles into a deep amberwood, musk, and cedar fragrance

Aromatic, woody and spicy, Percival leaves a last impression certain to make a mark and draw compliments when worn. This offer doesn't come along everyday and will not be up for long.

1️⃣ Comes in the original box

2️⃣ Is the larger 125 ml size offered by PDM

3️⃣ 100% authentic

If you're the successful man who is always on the go and wants to smell in control - or you have a special man like that - you need to get your hands on this fragrance. And if you're like most people your bottle of Percival by Parfums De Marly will be love at first smell.  

💰 PRICE: Pre-owned for a few days, the price is $340 and includes convenient and free personal delivery within 24 hours to lucky customers based in the greater Toronto area, will ship inside Camada for an additional fee.

Direct message me for serious inquiries only. First come, first served.

Percival by Parfums De Marly, ~120/125 ml, $340, free 24-hour delivery inside GTA, will ship anywhere in Canada for an additional fee. 

WhatsApp ad: Afnan Supremacy Not Only Intense for Man

Sample of WhatsApp perfume advertisement I wrote. The fragrance sold within 20 minutes of my posting it!

Afnan Supremacy Not Only Intense Extrait DP For Him (150 ml) 100% authentic

A beautiful, masculine, versatile fragrance, Afnan Supremacy Not Only Intense for Man brings to mind elements of Creed Aventus and Nishani Hacivat but proudly walks to its own beat. Easily worn formally or casually in any setting at any time of the year, this mossy, fresh, fruity fragrance says the gentleman who wears it is a modern success story, a man willing to stand out just enough from the crowd wearing the usual generic, cookie cutter scents.

Your bottle is factory sealed in the original box from near Dubai and never used. It comes in the harder-to-find jumbo size (150 ml / 5.07 fl. oz), carefully filled with Afnan's most potent and long-lasting concentration, extrait de parfum. Not to be confused with weaker concentrations in much smaller bottles.