Beat Discouragement

    How to Beat Discouragement at Work

    I’m sure you’ve seen it. Your typical happy employee comes into work with slumped shoulders and a forced smile on her face. You know instantly that something is wrong. The reasons why your typically stellar employee is feeling down today could be endless. Is it something from home or work? You may wonder, “How I can help this person?”

    Discouragement hits everyone from time to time. Although you can’t do much about what happens at home, you can take proactive steps to prevent discouragement at work.

    Today I will share the four ways we head off discouragement at Crystal D. First, we know our “why.” Second, we automate as many processes as possible. Third, we keep learning, and last we celebrate – big time.

    We have used each of these strategies to propel us forward with positivity and make it harder for discouragement to set in at work. Continue reading…

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    Crystal D from A to Z

    Crystal D from A to Z!

    It’s back to school time, and like any good teacher, I’m here to help you with your ABCs.

    I know what you’re thinking: “My ABCs? What does the alphabet have to do with awards and recognition?”

    I’m glad you asked! Technically, nothing. But I’m here, making it easy for you to remember some of our awards, gifts, and occasions where you can use them. If you like any of these ideas, contact our solutions specialists! They’re ready to help create the perfect award.

    Now get out your pencils and take some notes – here’s Crystal D from A to Z! Continue reading…

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    Purpose-First

    #ChuckSaid – Purpose First, Profits Later

    Today’s message is for small business owners. I have been in business for myself for over 25 years. I innately understand, empathize, and connect with you more than you could ever know.

    I’ve enjoyed many successes as a business owner, and I have faced just about every type of business problem that exists.

    • I know what it takes to make it in a down economy.
    • I know what it takes to grow in a shrinking product category.
    • I know what it takes to scale a business without overdoing it.
    • I know what it feels like to earn industry-wide recognition.
    • I know what it is to meet and exceed sales goals month over month.
    • I know what it is to grow bigger and stronger in unimaginable ways.

    Continue reading…

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    Teamwork-Blog

    Teamwork Makes the Dream Work!

    Whether it was a class project or sports, from the moment you started school, you’ve likely been on some type of team. If you were anything like me, you remember all the feelings you had when your team won or when your project was a success. You and your team work hard, you make sure everything is perfect. You perform for judges or make your presentation to your class, and then you wait. And when your team’s name is called, you are ecstatic. The amount of energy and excitement gets pretty intense.

    That feeling is something everyone wants to feel. That excitement and gratitude fills every part of you. Because teamwork makes the dream work, right? Continue reading…

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    No Recognition

    #ChuckSaid – No Recognition Is Better Than Bad Recognition

    My son-in-law is a physician. He works in a hospital taking care of patients after the emergency department admits them. He works shifts, carries a pager, and hardly has time to eat lunch.

    His first job was at a regional medical center in the city where he lives. My son-in-law joined this particular hospital because it seemed to have a great company culture. He agreed with their core values and planned to improve his professional skills as a hospitalist. It appeared to be a great fit both professionally and personally.

    And it was a great fit in many ways. He learned a ton about his role in the physician “food chain.” He met some amazing nurses and doctors with exceptional character and was able to strike a balance between work and life for the first time in a decade.

    Sadly, though it took only a short time for my son-in-law to conclude that the corporate values and purpose touted during the interview were nothing more than lip service. The core values were hit or miss, depending on the situation at hand. Nobody really believed in them.

    All that talk about purpose and values during the interview process was just a marketing ploy to attract new doctors. Continue reading…

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    The Perfect Product for Any Occasion

    Crystal: the Perfect Product for Any Occasion

    Scenario One: you’re a rock star executive assistant, working for a major company in your industry. Your company has ten people retiring this year, and they need something special to celebrate this milestone.

    Scenario Two: you’re the CEO of a mid-sized company. You just bought another company and want to commemorate the merger with a keepsake of some sort.

    Scenario Three: your sales team hit a significant milestone and you want to celebrate their accomplishment with a spectacular award.

    Scenario Four: you’re the organizer of an annual golf tournament. You’re looking for a classy and affordable award for first, second, and third place.

    What do these four scenarios have in common? They can use crystal to memorialize these very different occasions. Let’s dive into these ideas a little deeper. Continue reading…

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    Sell-More-Think-Differently

    #ChuckSaid – Sell More by Thinking Differently

    Selling is what we do each and every day. It pays the bills, keeps us moving, and gives us a sense of purpose. Make one more sale, place one more purchase order, make one more call – these tasks push us through each day.

    This type of thinking is Task Thinking because one task PUSHES us to the next task, then on to another task, and so on. You continuously ask the question, “What is my next task?”

    When you ask this question, how do you feel about your work?

    Chances are, you feel more weighed down? More frantic? More fragmented? Continue reading…

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    Lifeworks Annual Celebration

    An Incredible Experience at the Lifeworks Annual Celebration

    Hello, readers! Alexis here, and I have an incredible story to share with you. On April 26, five of our Memory Makers attended the Lifeworks Annual Celebration. Lifeworks is a nonprofit organization that serves people with disabilities. This gala event serves as a fundraiser for Lifeworks as well as a celebration for people with disabilities. And they really know how to make award winners feel special.

    I wondered how Crystal D got involved with Lifeworks, so I asked Chuck to fill me in on the details. “Judy Lysne, the previous CEO of Lifeworks, is a friend of mine,” Chuck told me. “I went to one of the galas and saw how crappy the awards were. They didn’t represent the amazing people who won them. Then I found out that Lifeworks was paying for them! I volunteered to donate the awards, and we’ve been providing the awards since 2012. I’m very proud to see our awards associated with such a great organization.”

    This year, Chuck sent five Memory Makers to the gala so they could experience the event. I got the chance to talk to them this week! They filled me in on how amazing the event was and all the emotions from the winners and attendees. The lucky five that attended were customer service and solutions manager Kari, HR manager Pam, solutions specialists Mike and Christian, and marketing coordinator Jen. Continue reading…

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    Star Wars

    Your Focus Determines Your Reality: Onboarding Lessons from Star Wars

    May the Fourth be with you! Happy Star Wars Day, readers. I have a treat for you: a Star Wars-themed blog!

    I know what you’re thinking: “What does Star Wars have to do with anything you write about, Alexis?”

    Well, it has to do with onboarding. If you haven’t gotten the chance to learn what onboarding is and why you need it, check out our NEO post.

    In The Phantom Menace, Qui-Gon Jinn trained a young Anakin Skywalker and told him, “Your focus determines your reality.” What does that mean? What does that have to do with onboarding? The reality is that your employees won’t develop a strong connection with your company unless you have focused on an incredible onboarding plan. Onboarding helps new employees focus and connect with their new employer.

    “But what does this have to do with Star Wars? They didn’t onboard their employees.” You make an excellent point, but you can learn important lessons from the franchise that will help you create a strong onboarding plan. Continue reading…

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    Sales-on-the-Table

    #ChuckSaid – Don’t Leave Sales on the Table

    I’ve heard the same mantra for years. Distributors walk by our tradeshow booth and say, “WOW, your awards are so beautiful. I wish my customers wanted this stuff!” Well, the truth is they do want this “stuff.” However, they’re getting it from someone other than you!

    Don’t believe me?

    I’ve been in this game for 25 years and I know from experience that the game is changing. The demand for recognition awards outside the promotional products industry is growing. However, within the promotional products industry, the demand for awards is shrinking. Continue reading…

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