"Two of the greatest gifts we can give our children are roots and wings.
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— Hodding Carter
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Stop thinking in terms of limitations and start thinking in terms of possibilities!
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— Terry Josephson
"Live in each season as it passes, breathe the air, drink the drink, taste the fruit.
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— Henry David Thoreau
 How much do you know about
St. Patrick's Day?
Take this quiz and see!
Answer these true/false questions and then go to the end of this newsletter for answers! True or False?
1. Researchers have said that Guinness Stout—the dark brown and foamy Irish beer, may be as effective as daily aspirin in reducing the blood clots that cause heart attacks.
2. Following a grand Irish tradition, it's a custom to wear green on St. Patrick's Day.
3. The first official St. Patrick's Day parade was held in Dublin in 1762.
Brainteaser answer at the end of this newsletter.
Phone: 1-800-913-1961
info@apccanada.com
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ATTENTION APC 2007 REGISTRANTS
If you have already registered for the APC, be sure to pre-select your sessions to avoid being closed out of your top choices. Value Pass holders, please sign up for your workshops as well! Click the link below and select the circle labeled "Update Conference Sessions" when entering your first, last and company names. Call: 1-800-913-1961 if you need assistance. To select your sessions and workshops CLICK HERE.
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 Save with the Value Pass
Get full admission to the Conference plus Workshops and save $350. You'll even get two valuable books. See the APC web site at www.APCCanada for details!
Which APC sessions are proving to be most popular in 2007?
More than 300 people have registered for the APC right now. As registrants choose their sessions, we've been interested in seeing what topics are attracting people. Three themes have appeared:
• Communicating—Attendees are looking for "Effective Communication Strategies to Amplify Your Authority," Difficult Conversations with Difficult People Made Easier," and "Assertiveness and Owning Your Personal Power."
• Getting more done—They are also looking for "Juggling Priorities in a Busy Workplace," "Working on the Right Thing," and "Mastering the Chaos of Change at Work."
• Motivation and renewal—Inspiration from "Balancing the Four Circles of Life," "Inspiring Stories of Courageous and Enterprising Women," and "Creating Optimal Energy and Well-Being."
Raise your hand if you've too much to do!
Here are 10 tips on reducing stress:
| 1. Make a commitment to a healthier lifestyle; monitor your health, and make sure you get the sleep, activity and
nutrition you need to function happily. Don't use stress as an excuse to over-indulge. |
| 2. Learn to say "no." Much of our stress comes from taking on things we know we shouldn't or wish we hadn't. |
| 3. Back away from bad relationships. Stress and negativity are contagious. |
| 4. Don't expect perfection, and stop wishing things were different. Unrealistic expectations don't help. |
| 5. Take procrastination in hand. The single most important thing you can do to overcome procrastination is to begi
the task. |
| 6. Learn about time and work management. Get tips and techniques from the pro's. |
| 7. Release your tension. You might need to walk it off, talk it out, or scream into a pillow…or you may find a warm
bath and music help. |
| 8. Take short breaks throughout the day. Otherwise your productivity will dip. |
| 9. Take time after work to practice relaxation techniques. Spend some time quietly decompressing. |
| 10.Find balance with friends and family; make the time to do things you enjoy. |
The APC has sessions that can help, too! Consider the workshops "Time Management for the Hurried and Harried
Professional" or " You can be Productive Under Pressure." Look for the Super Session "High Octane Tools to
Transform Your Stress" and more!
Is laughter or exercise better to relieve stress?
By David Granirer
Is your boss looming over your shoulder watching you? Is your company undergoing significant changes which you find overwhelming? While you can't always control your stressful work environment, there are ways to manage your levels of stress so that it doesn't lead to mental and physical exhaustion, illness and disease. What is the best way to relieve anxiety: exercise, listening to music, or having a laugh? Researchers at Nottingham Trent University in Nottingham decided to find out. They tested 20 women four times at weekly intervals, exposing them to 20-minute treatments of stationary cycling, watching a funny video, listening to New-Age music, and just sitting quietly.
It turns out that watching a funny video decreased total mood disturbance (TMD) slightly more than did the exercise or the New-Age music, which some people might claim puts them into a comatose state! The New-Age music was also slightly more effective at decreasing TMD than was the exercise. It seems there are passive behaviours that give the same psychological benefits as aerobic exercise.
This is an excerpt of an article originally published in the January 2006 issue of Your Workplace magazine, "Discover What Makes A Difference." Reprinted with permission. For APC newsletter readers only, to read the complete article, email info@yourworkplace.ca requesting the full article, and they will send it to you.
Office of the Future: 2020
The future office will be increasingly mobile, with technology enabling employees to perform their jobs from virtually
anywhere, according to Office of the Future: 2020, a research study released by OfficeTeam, the APC's Silver Sponsor.
OfficeTeam examines trends that may impact the workplace in the next 10 to 15 years. In addition to interviews with
workplace and technology experts, futurists, and trend watchers, OfficeTeam surveyed workers and executives at 1,000
companies.Among the findings:
Technology tools to provide even greater flexibility — Miniature wireless devices, WiFi, WiMax and mobile
technology will continue to allow a company's staff to work outside of the office with greater ease.
Telecommuting to rise — Improved wireless connectivity will allow for an increasingly flexible workforce.
Eighty-seven percent of executives surveyed believe telecommuting will increase in the next 10 to 15 years.
Staff to put in more time — Forty-two percent of executives surveyed by OfficeTeam think employees will be
working more hours in 10 to 15 years.
Workers will stay in touch while on vacation — With the proliferation of wireless technology, staff will be
expected to remain in close contact with the office while they're away.
Companies/employees take a new view on work/life balance — People may put in more time, but they will do
so using tools that provide more control over their schedules and enable them to better balance priorities. There
will be an increasingly blurred line between work and other activities; people will need to multitask to meet all of
their obligations efficiently.
OfficeTeam and industry experts also identified six skills professionals will need to prepare for success in this new
environment. Watch for those next month.
On the Move: Tips on Packing and Travel
If you're traveling this spring, be sure to read and keep a copy of these travel tips from the pro's—or save them for your
trip to the APC in April!
Plan to Pack Light
• Coordinate your outfits around two central colors so you'll be able to mix and match.Make sure every item you
take matches at least ¾'s of the others. You'll want to stick with neutrals—tans, greys, blacks, with some white or
accent colors thrown in. Basic colors that work well include navy, black, tan, burgundy and olive. The secondary
color can be any contrasting color that does not clash.
• Remember that hotels are usually kept fairly cool. Plan your outfits so you can layer and take a solid color sweater
that will match any outfit.
• You can change your look with just a tie, a scarf, or a vest. You might take along a chunky necklace or pin.
Leave your valuable jewelry at home.
• Put together small sample sizes of toiletries instead of huge bottles. Minimize make-up as well. Most hotels these
days have irons and hair dryers in the room. If you're not sure, call ahead to see how rooms are equipped.
• Don't waste luggage space—pack underwear and socks inside your shoes. This will also help your shoes keep
their shape. Pack your belts around the edge of the luggage. Rolling items can save a lot of space and keep them
from wrinkling.
• Just in case your luggage is misdirected, put a mailing label or business card inside your luggage.
• Use large plastic food storage bags for packing items that are most apt to wrinkle—but don't close them all the
way. That traps air inside. Keep shirts, suits and dresses in a dry-cleaning bag to prevent wrinkles.
Brainteaser answer:
1. True. Researchers have said that Guinness Stout may be as effective as daily aspirin in reducing the blood clots that cause heart attacks. The benefit derives from antioxidants, which the researchers said reduce cholesterol deposits on arterial walls.
2. False. In Ireland the color green was long considered to be unlucky. People thought that since green is the favorite color of the faeries, anyone who wore too much of it risked being stolen.
3. False. Colonial New York City hosted the first official St. Patrick's Day parade in 1762.
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