Claim Your Life

“You are now at a crossroads. This is your opportunity to make the most important decision you will ever make. Forget your past. Who are you now? Who have you decided you really are now? Don’t think about who you have been. Who are you now? Who have you decided to become? Make this decision consciously. Make it carefully. Make it powerfully.” – Anthony Robbins
This is one of my favorite quotes by Anthony Robbins. He is the epitome of living with true passion, taking action to create positive change and overcoming obstacles. Free yourself to this one realization you can change yourself with each and every passing second. And it’s when you change yourself, your circumstances will follow. Yes, you DO possess such great power; each and every one of us does! But too many folks relinquish this power to let their environment dictate who they are, allowing other people’s limiting thoughts and beliefs to be impressed upon them. Don’t be fooled – this is a power waiting for you when you’re ready to accept it. Claim the life you were born to live. Get Ready, Get Inspired! GD

On Networking

From my book: The Seven Success Keys for the Retail Facilities Professional, one of the critical keys is NETWORKING. As a coach, unfortunately I see it all too often. People get so absorbed in the day to day minutia of their work, they lose focus on the bigger and more important picture: taking care of themselves. They make little or no effort to network for their own personal and career growth whether within their current situation or outside opportunities. Never neglect building your network. You owe it to yourself and your family. Your network is the most precious commodity money cannot buy. Be sure to create your own engaged community for shared learning, support in business goals, and future personal growth.

The Worst Fear

So many folks unknowingly live in constant fear: the fear of what if, the fear of failure, the fear of the unknown. One of my business coaches use to always tell me: ”Fear is ‘false evidence appearing real’ and the only two real fears are the fear of loud noises and falling.”
With all the coaching I’ve done, both with clients and informally with colleagues – there is one fear worst than all the rest. This is the fear to be great because they did not want to “outshine” a partner, friend or family member. They did not want to make that person feel bad with their accomplishments. This is the worst fear that exists because the individual knowingly holds himself or herself back because of another person’s insecurities. It is one thing to be holding yourself back for your own reasons – but it’s a shame and a tragic lost to hold yourself back because of someone else. Your loved ones will support you in your dreams; they will rally for you and stand by you. The ones who don’t are still seeking their own fulfillment. Don’t hold back on your dreams and accomplishments, there are more people who want you to succeed than the ones who don’t. You owe it to yourself to shine as bright as you can, and once you realize this truth – your light will burn brightest. Get Ready, Get Inspired! – GD

Business Continuity & Disaster Preparation

Industry: Facility Management, Disaster Recovery, Business Continuity Planning
In this chat, Grace meets with the industry’s leading authority on DR & BCP: Anthony Pizzitola, CFM, CBCP
Business Continuity and Disaster Preparation – Is Organizational Resilience the new Emerging Sustainability?
GD: Anthony, Thanks so much for joining me in my Coffee Chat Series™. Now, most of your professional career has been in construction, project planning and regional facilities, so why have you included Business Continuity Planning and Disaster Preparation/Recovery into your skill set as well?
AP: The reality wake-up call came with Hurricane Katrina. Without any formal training, I was forced to establish emergency and response plans for properly closing 48 facilities to mitigate damages and destruction. My second objective was to re-open quickly and re-gain the company’s competitive advantage. This was accomplished by gaining the support of management and area vendors whose partnership we earned over the years.
GD: So it took the destructive Katrina to capture your interest?
AP: Actually, I was the only Facility Manager in the country assigned to write about the destruction of the World Trade Center in IFMAs Facility Management Journal. It was during my research I learned about Business Continuity Management and disaster preparation. The BCM process gained my interest and started inspecting facilities on a new dimension. Katrina proved that disasters are in everyone’s backyard and got my attention.
GD: But can corporations actually prepare for catastrophic events similar to an announced hurricane and an unannounced World Trade Center Disaster?
AP: Yes! Within the BCM umbrella, there is the practice of Business Continuity Planning that highlights Risk Analysis and Business Impact Analysis. These core elements are used when practitioners inspect sites and determine the resilience of the organization based on potential threats, the probability of occurrence and the actual risks associated with the threats. Essentially, how vulnerable is the organization and what controls can be initiated to mitigate the risks.
GD: What are the components of Risk Analysis and Business Impact Analysis?
AP: Risk Analysis is simply the identification of manmade, natural and constant threats, the probability of the threats and what risks from the impacts can be expected. Business Impact Analysis identifies the critical functions that will be impacted by those threats. Also, the results of the impacts will be categorized quantifiably and qualitatively.
GD: So performing the proper analysis can lessen the overall impact of natural, manmade, or constant disasters?
AP: Yes, be proactive! Have control systems in place to eliminate identified basic minor threats, and exercises in place to automatically respond to disasters. A core element BCP is holding disaster exercises for an effective response to disasters. The exercises are designed to protect people first and property second.
GD: Do you have any examples where these actions have worked?
AP: On the simple side would be immediate replacement of a rusted water heater to solve for downtime and a fire hazard. On a larger scale, preparing a facility for forecasted flooding or a hurricane. Operations should have extensive communication and evacuation plans. Vendors should be on-board with facility shut-down preparation measures and immediate post-disaster plans for recovery. These actions were performed during my three previous hurricanes and in most cases we re-opened within two hours of regaining power.
GD: In your previous articles you have surfaced that annual surveys should incorporate both facility surveys and BCP. Can you please elaborate?
AP: With proper BCP training facility managers can add another stone to their slingshot. For complete due-diligence in site inspections, facility professionals can capture numerous vulnerabilities and become more valuable to both the profession and the organizations they serve.
GD: But shouldn’t separate departments: facilities, risk management and BCP manage their own piece of the pie?
AP: I recently attended an excellent conference Continuity Insights in New Orleans. Several presenters advised that these departments are often siloed and vertical. Many of their commonalities and accountabilities overlap, yet in many cases they are duplicating efforts. The three departments could team at several sites, arrive at one thorough list and use as a master for facility management surveys and benchmarking purposes.
GD: So one complete 360 degree survey will paint the proper picture of a facilities’ needs?
AP: We own our outcomes. It’s one-stop shopping. The more thorough a survey the more clear asset strategies and resilience strategies becomes. The more we observe and correct business interruptions can be significantly minimized and more protected will be the people we serve and the facilities we managed. The value proposition is that several departments can use the survey for asset strategies and resilience strategies.
GD: On a final note, with respect to recent disasters, what message do these tragedies deliver to the CEOs of corporations?
AP: Don’t be caught without several strategic disaster response and recovery plans that can be launched in a heart-beat. After-the-fact strategy responses cannot be forgiven on a financial or social impact scale. In fact, as part of the new Public Law 110-53, the Department of Homeland Security has been charged with the development of a Voluntary Preparedness Plan designed to audit the private sector to determine their level of preparedness and to provide measures for conforming to the standards. The plan is titled PS-Prep. The standards have been identified and an announcement in the Federal Register is forthcoming. In the aftermath of a disaster, one that could have been prepared for, non-compliance to basic standards is not a position the organization can survive. Organizational resilience to disasters is the new emerging sustainability. This can be only be leveraged by facility professionals and business continuity professionals who are trained to protect the organization.
Anthony Pizzitola holds dual certifications as a Certified Facility Manager and Certified Business Continuity Professional. In a Fortune 250 company his regions have covered up to eight states and maximum of 250 sites. An MBA, he is published internationally. With such impressive and significant accomplishments, Anthony is easy to speak with and enjoyable company.
Anthony Pizzitola can be reached by email: afpizzitola@aol.com or phone 713.392.2734. His Linkedin profile can be located at http://www.linkedin.com/in/afpizzitola
Coffee Chat Series™ Grace’s conversations across Industry’s Best in Class are concise recapped dialogue with industry leading authorities on a specific topic matter. Most learning happens through meaningful conversations. We capture and share with readers the crucial elements of our discussions.

Doing What's Right...For You

When I work with folks going through difficulties in their careers or trying to achieve balance in their lives; one similar trend I notice amongst the majority of these folks is they tend to do what is best for their family, their friends, their clients, their jobs, their businesses – but they don’t necessarily do what’s right for them. To me, it becomes apparent when they express to me what is missing that they put their own needs second to everything else.
One of my dearest mentors once told me – it’s ok to be selfish, it’s ok to fulfill your own needs as long as you’re growing. Think about it. If you’re not fulfilled or balanced- how are you going to give your all in your endeavors to your family or career? Part of finding your balance and fulfillment is doing what’s right just for you. The catch is (and there’s always a catch) balance and fulfillment is not the same for everyone. For example, recently there has been much talk in my social circles about sky diving and jumping out of planes. Some folks may look at it as a foolish unnecessary risk; while other folks may look at it as an exhilarating challenge. Both views are right in the eyes of the beholder. The trick is for you to realize this. That there will be people to support you, and there will be people to ridicule you but neither should matter once you understand you are not doing this to please or displease anyone. You’re doing it solely for yourself – and that alone requires no reason to anyone else. So go out there, be creative, living in the constant awe of all possibilities. Your balance and fulfillment will come when you start living and doing what’s right just for you.

On Kindness

“Wherever there is a human being, there is an opportunity for kindness.” Seneca, Roman Philosopher
At a Wayne Dyer lecture, Dr. Dyer most graciously shared his thoughts on kindness. Paraphrasing, he notes when a situation comes up and you have a choice to be right or a choice to be kind – choose kindness. Can you imagine how different the world would be? Starting with the basic family unit – what if we choose to be kind to one another at all times as oppose to trying to be “right” fighting to prove a point or prove the other person wrong? That expanded out to our school and work communities – can you imagine how people’s lives would be less stressful. Is this world possible? Yes, this world is possible and it does exist from people who do not operate from an ego domain. We see glimpses of this world every day. We see it in the simple thank you and acknowledgement from our supervisors and coworkers, we see it in the understanding and forgiveness from our loved ones, we see it when kindness is shown to a total stranger in need and we see it when people come together for support in face of great tragedy. We know this world exist but too often it is overshadowed with negativity created by the people who need to be “right”, the people who may unknowingly operate from their relentless controlling egos. Even in the face of these ego domain people, stay steadfast in your approach of kindness. Kindness and love are in our intrinsic nature and that is why we are so easily in harmony when we manifest it. Even if we try to react negatively or harshly in response to another person’s negativity – that only perpetuates more harm and negativity to yourself because you are disconnected, even temporarily, from your own innate source of love and kindness. Only light can cancel darkness and only love can cancel fear. Remain connected, centered and true to your light and say a silent blessing for those that need to find their way back to their own light.

Driving Towards Fulfillment

I recently had the honor of being interviewed by Next Stop Income, a magazine for entrepreneurs and internet marketers. The interview process was a great experience for me. Specific questions, reminded me why I am to stay my course. With the busy day to day noise, it’s not uncommon to temporarily lose touch with the driving power and passion that fuels us to continue.
One of the questions was simply “What is the purpose of ‘GraceDaly.com’?” The answer came easily to me: to help individuals find their balance, peace and fulfillment in their careers and lives. The best way to describe this is once I’ve had a bird’s eye view from journeying to my own fulfillment; there is an innate driving need to share this enlightenment with others.
Many folks don’t know how to find their fulfillment because they’re not focused on the present. They live in the past victories or they torture themselves and others in painful memories. Sometimes they even create their own anxieties by worrying over the future. It’s like trying to drive a car focused solely on the rear view mirror while worrying about the future maintenance coming up in the next 30k miles. Be grateful for all your past accomplishments and lessons, at the same time freeing yourself to grow and move forward. Live your life now. Keep your eyes on the road, focused through the windshield and make time to recognize and enjoy the beauty that surrounds us every day along our paths.

Trust Your Instincts

Trust Your Instincts
Many people reach out to me for business advice, career growth or life coaching. Folks are strained from the current economy; either looking for work or pressured and unhappy in their current roles. This tremendous stress builds up and eventually affects home life. It’s during these difficult times they examine their current situation as a whole. Most of these people I coach already know the answers. They just need to learn to trust their inner voice, their instincts.
Are you facing a difficult situation? In your heart of hearts, you know the truth; the right choice that will be best for you. If a decision does not feel right in your gut, most likely it is not. So why do many people not follow through on their truths and make the best choices for themselves? Here are some observations:
• They cannot make a decision. They are over analyzing, remaining in a paralysis by analysis state.
• They are in fear of what other people might think from their decisions and therefore do not make one.
• No matter how unhappy they may be, they have learned to so strongly identify with their pain that they will not relinquish it. There are people actually so accustomed to the negativity and drama created in their lives that sadly they know nothing else.
• They allow themselves to be externally misled or they mislead themselves to believe things will change, all the while following the exact same behavior and action pattern.
• Making a decision will most likely result in a change of some sort. Whether for the better or the worst, many people have difficulty with change overall.
• Even a person that cannot make a decision has in essence, already chosen their path. Inaction has its own consequences, at times stronger than action.
When you learn to follow your instincts, taking the steps to work through challenges, you only get stronger. You are accepting full responsibility for your circumstances and yourself. You see everything clearly because you are aligning with higher energies and you are no longer blinded and living out of fear. Take the first step in trusting your instinct, set yourself free and your path to fulfillment will appear. More importantly, you will be centered and true to yourself.