Category: Change Leadership

ALERT 101: Stop Ignoring Climate Change

by Anne-Maria Yritys, posted in Change Leadership, Global Climate Change
Alert: we must stop global warming and bring down global average temperatures as soon as possible to avoid natural disasters and catastrophes everywhere on this planet, including the Arctic region.
 
The more we burn fossil fuels and release toxins into our regional and global environments, the worse the situation gets: the global mean average temperature increases more and more, especially damaging the more forests and nature we burn down.
 
Extensive droughts around the world and other extreme weather events are the result of anthropogenic climate change whereby the harmful actions carried out by human beings around our globe are leading to these phenomena.
 
A number of research and sources indicate that unless action is being taken NOW to lower and to bring down the global average temperatures, we are running out of time to save our environment and the home planet we live in.
 
This is also the true purpose behind the Paris Agreement which was signed by almost all countries worldwide in Paris in December 2015. The very same agreement that current US President Donald Trump resigned from, because he is too short-sighted and ignorant to see and to understand environmental contexts, issues and well-being.
 
It is about time that the far-spread ignorance and stupidity among people on this planet ends. We cannot lose or waste any more time to turn the sheets towards a healthier planet, where our environment is appreciated and being taken seriously in terms of all life on Earth.
 
If we continue damaging our home planet at this rate, we may have to face extremely serious consequences within only ten years, or within the upcoming decades.
 
The seriousness of our environmental well-being is the reason why I continue to inform and educate people around the world on this topic, a cause that I have worked for since many years now.
 
Open your eyes, learn, and see what happens to our environment around the world. Stop ignoring the hard facts and truth.
 
Anne-Maria Yritys 2018. 

Why Should You Plant Trees?

by Anne-Maria Yritys, posted in Change Leadership, Global Climate Change

Trees play an important role in our Earth´s ecosystem by absorbing much of the CO2 and other greenhouse gases from the atmosphere. Stopping deforestation by planting more trees around the world and taking good care of forests, it is possible to reduce the overall average temperature worldwide.

In other words, by planting and growing more trees we can cool down the average temperatures on this planet + possibly prevent further harm, such as the expansion of the Sahara desert into the south, an area that expands every year.

Drought is an immense problem worldwide, leading to lakes and other water bodies drying out or even completely disappearing (see for instance lakes Aral and Chad). Drought leads to complex problems, including conflicts and climate refugees.

New Zealand and Pakistan are examples of two countries that have started planting millions of new trees to combat climate change and global warming. Norway has banned deforestation in the country. Other countries should follow these examples instead of cutting down more forests and trees. There are alternative ways of for instance paper production. Proper forestry management is also important.

 

How to Handle Contrary Individuals?

by Anne-Maria Yritys, posted in Change communication, Change Leadership, Communication Skills, leadership communication

I found this podcast channel, The Little Shaman Healing, on YouTube some time ago while searching for ways of coping and dealing with challenging individuals. Let us face the facts and reality: we all meet them during our lives – people who seem to contradict with just about everything we do or say. Without labeling or diagnosing anyone (which is not our task), the smartest thing we can do in situations like these is to not get involved in any arguments with the individual(s) that are contradicting us. Unless it is an official debate, of course, although official debates do have rules and procedures as well. There is no point in getting involved in useless arguments, the purpose of which is only to create chaos and conflict.

While all of us may at times be contradictory to the ideas, opinions and thoughts of other individuals, that does not hinder us from listening to, and taking into consideration thoughts that differ from our own. It is in fact healthy to be able to open up to different, or even opposite ideas and thoughts. It is another thing when someone, on purpose, contradicts to everything we have to say, or everything we do. That is why ignoring this kind of behavior is the smartest thing you can do. Why waste your time on individuals who intend to hinder, or even slow down, your progress by literally sabotaging everything you do or say? Let their opinions be just opinions, and know how to distinguish between facts and opinions.

If and when you have experienced contradictory behavior, especially when this happens continuously from the same individual, you know exactly what it signifies and how you should deal with it: ignore it, and do not engage in any arguments or conversations with the individual in question if possible. It simply does not lead anywhere. Focus on your own career, goals, and life and minimize the energy you invest in individuals whose sole purpose seems to be to contradict everything you do and say. It is a waste of time.

Listen to The Little Shaman Healing´s podcast about the topic:

Narcissists Are Contrary

 

Which is Your Favorite Defense Mechanism and Why?

by Anne-Maria Yritys, posted in Change communication, Change Leadership, Communication Skills, Leadership Development, Leadership development coaching

Which defense mechanisms do you use when communicating with other people?

Learn how to upgrade your communication skills by becoming more assertive and mature.

Start by taking responsibility for your own behavior.

 

Read more about various defense mechanisms at

15 Common Defense Mechanisms

Digital & Social Media Business Strategy

What is Your Digital & Social Media Business Strategy?

by Anne-Maria Yritys, posted in Change Leadership, Digital Marketing, Online Strategy

Make sure not to miss my upcoming online course about digital & social media with plenty of valuable content.

Learn more at

Anne-Maria Yritys

 

 

What Would You Like To Learn About Digital & Social Media?

by Anne-Maria Yritys, posted in Change Leadership, Online Education
Digital & Social Media Online Course Anne-Maria Yritys
Digital & Social Media Online Course Anne-Maria Yritys

 

Dear Reader Worldwide!

I am about to finalize my upcoming online course about DIGITAL & SOCIAL MEDIA but to be able to do so, I need your help (in case I have forgotten something important).

WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO LEARN about DIGITAL & SOCIAL MEDIA?

Something specific that you think I should include in the course?

Please let me know by sending me your suggestions along with your e-mail address through my website https://www.annemariayritys.com

and by subscribing to my newsletter.

All new subscribers who send me advise/suggestions will receive FREE OF CHARGE access to my online course so make sure to a) subscribe at https://www.annemariayritys.com and b) send me your HOTTEST tips for what I have to include in the course.

Thank you in advance for your help.

Sincerely,

Anne-Maria Yritys, June 15th 2018.

 

How Can You Recognize Abuse in Any Relationship?

by Anne-Maria Yritys, posted in Change Leadership

Before reading this post, watch for instance Rhonda Freeman´s video Rhonda Freeman | Idealize, Devalue, Discard – Why the brain of many abusers CANNOT sustain love.

In her video, Rhonda Freeman explains how abuse in a romantic relationship works. Now think about abuse generally: the same pattern occurs in all kinds of abusive relationships, be it with a romantic partner, a friend, a co-worker, a boss, a family member, a relative, or anyone who does not know better than to abuse other people through a number of ways.

The sad reality is that many abusers fail to recognize that anything is ever wrong with them. Even if they do, without proper treatment and therapy, most abusers are incapable of changing their habits and ways they treat people around them. They may for a while, but in most cases, the abusive pattern will soon reemerge and start all over.

What are some of the warning signs of abuse in any relationship? How can you learn how to read and see the red flags and protect yourself from any kind of abuse?

Many people would suggest growing a thicker skin. That may work for some. However, if you are a person with a high level of empathy, developing a thick skin may require for you to experience many abusive relationships or efforts of abuse before learning how to protect yourself from any abuse. Beyond growing a thick skin, make sure to set clear boundaries and determine clearly what is acceptable in any relationship and what is not. One way of protecting yourself from abusers is to learn everything you can about abuse and manipulation, in addition to developing and learning non-violent communication skills. Realize you cannot change abusers and manipulators. You can only change yourself, and train yourself to handle challenging people. Learning and practicing non-violent communication will save you from a lot of pain.

Abusers love to control, lie, manipulate and to victimize themselves. Poor you because you are an abuser, a liar, and an envious control freak whose only purpose is to manipulate other people.

All you are capable of is to be fake, a backstabber, a future-faker whose only purpose is to suck people dry and to get your way without putting in any effort or work into a balanced relationship. You need a source of supply to feed your ego because you are an empty shell who is incapable of honest and balanced relationships. You lack integrity, although you try very hard to convince otherwise. Everyone else is always to blame and you are a master at turning around the tables to make you always look like the victim. You are entitled to do whatever you please to do, not allowing people in your surrounding the same freedoms that you allow yourself. No, because other people exist only to feed your ego and to supply you with whatever you need at the very moment.

Do not expect these kinds of people to ever change. They rarely do. When you leave them, they’ll try to hoover and suck you back into a never-ending, vicious circle, that is ultimately only ever about them. To an abuser, you are only an extension of them, not to be regarded as a human being worthy of honesty and respect.

This is accurate in all kinds of abusive relationships, not only intimate partnerships: friends, family, even co-workers. As long as you agree with them and do as they please and want, everything will be ok. If not, they will devalue and discard you. The cycle of abuse won’t end until you cut these people off and go no contact, for good.

Some red flags of potentially abusive relationships include:
– Putting you on a pedestal and idealizing (everything about) you at the beginning of the relationship. Empty flattery.
– An effort to move the relationship forward at an alarming rate, i.e. in romantic relationships the abuser will want to move in quickly with you, perhaps even get married and have kids without even knowing you.
– Any relationship issues that seem too good to be true.
– How abusers speak about their previous relationships. Very often they call other people crazy.
– Blame-shifting: nothing is ever their fault.
– Disrespecting your boundaries. Bombarding you with attention and praise at the beginning of the relationship.
– Incapable of compromise. It is either their way or the highway.
– Cheating, lying, and manipulating. Future-faking, living in a fantasy world. Painting idealized images of the relationship.
– Inconsistent, even unstable behavior. You never know where you have these kinds of people.
– Lack of integrity.
– Overly critical and envious (devalue stage). Everything you do is wrong. You are always to blame. They are always the victim.
– They are always right.
Overall, my advice to protect yourself from abusers and abusive relationships is to know and to learn more about what abuse and manipulation include. Most of us have a tendency of wanting to influence other people, mainly in a positive way. There are, however, differences between influence and manipulation. Know your boundaries and never let people overstep them. Be careful when dealing with people. Be careful what you share about your private life. Abusers and manipulators will use anything they can against you. Do not let abusers and manipulators get under your skin, or into your head. If possible, keep distance and cut these kinds of people out of your life completely, unless you have to deal with them for instance on a professional level.

Ways of Improving Your Strategic Thinking Skills

by Anne-Maria Yritys, posted in Change Leadership, strategic vision, strategy execution

If asking any experienced business leader what the single most important ingredient for success in business is, the response would likely be the capacity to execute a well thought out business strategy. Part of strategy execution is also the existence of a written business strategy at the core of any business. Without a long-term business strategy, there is no business. Without proper strategy execution, a well thought-out business strategy written nicely on paper will definitely fail.

Strategic thinking, therefore, is important to any business person, manager and leader. The ability of strategic thinking allows for you to plan both long-term and short-term, and helps you to adjust your strategic plan along the way, in accordance with your (changing) operational environment.

How can you improve your strategic thinking skills? There are definitely many ways, at the core of which is to understand better how your brain works! Your brain likes to be challenged, at any age, because pushing yourself beyond old limits and patterns of behavior and thinking will allow for your brain to perform better. Continuous learning, including unlearning old behaviors and patterns, is therefore at the core of being a good strategist.

Moreover, challenging yourself, including your attitude and beliefs, allows for you to gain completely new experiences and perspectives. That is why it is so important for any good strategist to remain curious throughout career and life, know how to question things, and learn how to see the big picture. Enough rest and sleep is also important, as well as distancing oneself regularly from any noise in one´s surrounding: that is, taking time out on a daily basis to meditate and to find a quiet place where you can distance yourself from the everyday noise in your life. It can be as short as a few minutes.

Since many business people and leaders, including entrepreneurs, find their existence at times being rather lonesome, it is extremely important to find people to exchange ideas and thoughts with. If you are an online entrepreneur, for instance, you can selectively join various groups and activities both in the 3D world and online. We are all social beings and depend on other human beings in many ways. Asking others for help, and/or gaining perspective by engaging with different kinds of people in both business and private will definitely be an enriching experience and an eye-opener for anyone who wants to improve and develop her/his strategic thinking skills.

What other ways can you think of? Please comment and share your experiences, ideas and thoughts!

Connect with me on Twitter @annemariayritys – to receive my newsletter delivered personally to you, subscribe to Anne-Maria Yritys

 

 

 

 

How To Avoid (Online) Stalking & Harassment

by Anne-Maria Yritys, posted in Change Leadership
When you are networking and conducting business through digital and social media, you are always at risk for harassment and stalking. It is not gender-specific, although taking into consideration what statistics for harassment and stalking reveal outside digital and social media, in the 3D world, girls and women are at a significantly higher risk for becoming victims of harassment and stalking.
With a highly visible business and personal profile on digital and social media, I wanted to share my experiences about online harassment and stalking. This has nothing to do with possible conflicts and/or differences with coworkers, family members, friends, relatives or ex partners. In the ideal case, any conflicts and/or differences should ALWAYS be resolved in person. Not through digital/social media, text messages, e-mails or even on the phone. Whenever possible, conflicts and differences should be resolved in person.
Harassment and stalking, however, differ from “normal” communication in many ways. In this post, I am only referring to some of my personal experiences. It is worthwhile though to learn more about what harassment and stalking is in a broader context, and how different cultures and countries treat stalking in terms of legislation.
With more than a decade of activity on digital and social media, and after building large networks on various digital and social media platforms, I have learned a lot about harassment and stalking. Most of the time, it is “not so bad” i.e. I have learned how to ignore most comments and suggestions. However, stalking is something that goes a bit further than that.
Being stalked signifies that you may experience significant security risks, whereby you must have secret contact information including address and telephone number. When you are being stalked, the person stalking you gets fuel from any possible small interaction with you. Therefore, it is important to understand what you have to do in a case like this. Never, ever take stalking light-heartedly. Being stalked means that you are being e.g. followed, watched, threatened, possibly even blackmailed by a stalker. Stalkers usually want to control their targets, and the main difference to any other form of harassment is that stalkers do not give up easily. Some stalkers can continue for years. In the worst case scenario, even for decades.
I must say that I have some pretty eager fans on social media. One wanted to move in with me, get married and have kids without ever even having talked to me in person or knowing me at all and vice versa.
 
Plus a bunch of other harassers and stalkers who constantly bombard me with messages and do not get it when I say I’m busy. I mark such messages as SPAM.
 
One of the most recent ones retweeted me all the time on Twitter until I blocked him. Not due to his retweeting, but because he contacted me through my website and when I responded, he started pouring out personal things telling me about his therapist/therapy etc. and seemed to expect me to engage 100% of my time into his free-of-charge software + his personal/professional problems, for free!
 
I said I have a busy schedule and have no time for this. Politely. But there is a clear limit for my politeness.
 
Now he has sent me at least six e-mails during one day, talking about himself all the time. I have not even responded to any of these messages. I marked them as spam.
 
The thing about people like this is that they are:
 
a) energy vampires
b) most often hide behind a fake identity
c) believe that everything is about them and their problems i.e. that the whole world spins around them
d) don’t respect other people’s boundaries and privacy
e) don’t seem to understand what no means or don’t want to take no for an answer
f) very demanding individuals
g) craving attention, constant feedback, and constant validation
h) often exaggerating or even lying about their achievements etc.
 
AND, the list goes on!
 
Unbelievable how some adult people can afford to behave like children online.
 
Do you want to know what I do with harassers and stalkers?
 
1. I ignore
2. I block
3. I report to the police
 
So think before you act and bombard women, including me, with harassing messages, on social media.
 
And learn some normal human manners. I.e. don’t hide behind a fake identity online. It is disturbing and sick.
 
If you cannot be authentic (online), i.e. use a fake identity including fake profile pics, you may suffer from a personality disorder. Around 15% of population does.
 
If you recognize yourself: seek professional help and stop stalking and harassing people. Learn what NO means. The whole world is not here to serve your fragile ego.
My advice for people who are being stalked is to not let the stalker scare you. Take care of your personal security as a first priority. Do not let a stalker control your feelings and actions: after all, that is their main goal. Make sure to learn more about how common stalking is and know that you are not the only one being stalked. Being as informed as possible allows for you to take better care of your business and personal safety. Since it is highly probable that any stalker suffers from a personality disorder, it is recommended to learn more about various personality disorders. Remember, however, that only psychiatrists are qualified to diagnose any psychiatric illnesses or personality disorders.

Personality Disorders: Crash Course Psychology #34

Thank you for reading. You can follow me on Twitter @annemariayritys – to receive my newsletter delivered personally to you, make sure to subscribe to Anne-Maria Yritys

REACH OR MISS – The Customer Focused Entrepreneur: My podcast interview with Hayut Yogev, Gaia VSM CEO

by Anne-Maria Yritys, posted in Building Relationships, Change Leadership, Entrepreneurship

Listen to the show HERE:

The Customer Focused Entrepreneur – Episode 59. Anne-Maria Yritys/Hayut Yogev

I was recently contacted through social media by Hayut Yogev, Host of the REACH OR MISS podcast, who invited me to be her guest at her popular podcast show that focuses on the differences in approaching customers leading entrepreneurs either to glorious failures or grand successes.

The REACH OR MISS podcast vision is to help entrepreneurs and startup founders increase their chances for business success by learning from the most successful entrepreneurs and opinion leaders about their customer focus experiences.

Taking into consideration the expertise of Hayut Yogev, and with reference to her previous guests on the show, I was honored to be invited to The REACH OR MISS podcast. In the show, we discuss customer-focused entrepreneurship, including my best advice on how to approach customers, what my biggest failures and successes with customers have been thanks to my personal way of approaching customers.

We also discuss the importance of various digital and social media channels for reaching customers, and why attracting customers rather than chasing them is the best strategy for the customer focused entrepreneur.

Listen to the show HERE:

The Customer Focused Entrepreneur – Episode 59. Anne-Maria Yritys/Hayut Yogev

“Ep. 59 – Anne-Maria Yritys: “At some point, you have to understand you can´t force customers if they don´t want to, and you can´t help people if they don´t want to”.