The incidences of psychopathic behavior in Australia and around the world have substantially increased in the last 10 years.

It is reliably estimated that 10% of managers or co-workers in Australia exhibit and engage in psychopathic behavior of some type. Psychopathic incidences are rising rapidly in the workplace where pressure is common place in order to survive.

1. What is a Workplace Psychopath?

by Patricia Daly
We were sitting in the Over 50's Club, having a cup of tea when Elsie Morgan brought out photos of her recent trip to New Zealand. As we glossed over them, Dorrie Thompson let out a big sigh. "You lucky old bugger," she exclaimed. "I've never been past the Gold Coast. And that was ten years ago."

There was a chorus from most of us that we, too, had never done anything as exciting as an overseas trip. Suddenly Hilda's strident voice rang out. "Come on you lot," she said. "You may not have been overseas, but I'm sure you've achieved other things in your life."

by Lorraine Benham

She cited the huge sale of Deepak Chopra books in America as proof and went on to discuss baby boomers and generation X'ers as customers for 'lifestyle' and 'authentic' products and service.

The desire for such products is the big, big current retailing trend. Was she hyping-up a dedicated group of alternative healers and business people? No she was not. Her audience was made up of retailers, advertising executives, merchandisers, corporate managers, savvy professionals and high profile movers and shakers. This lady's word is golden. I understand she puts out a marketing trends newsletter, and if you wish to be a subscriber it will cost you $20,000 a year.

by Doris Pozzi

The good news is that business ethics and spirituality are on the rise. In the 1990's the focus of leadership thinking is shifting from profits and personality to contribution and character.

Over the past few years business writers such as Dr Stephen Covey in the United States and Margot Cairnes in Australia have re-focused business on the importance of ethics and values. Courses in business ethics are becoming more prevalent and drawing increasing interest. When ethics and values are considered, the contribution of business to the community, to its employees and its customers becomes as important as maximising profits to shareholders.

If you currently feel that you don’t have enough friends in your life, one reason may be that you have let yourself become too busy to make time for the relationships you already have.

Nurturing and maintaining friendships requires effort and commitment. Many of us let our lives become so busy with work and other commitments that we don’t get around to scheduling time for pleasure and renewal with the friends, relatives and acquaintances we already have.

Words impact our lives and have more power than we can imagine. Words create the core of our communication, personal expression and are powerful enough to manipulate our reality and existence. Think I’m speaking “out of context?” Then, why at age 50 are you still allowing the critical words spoken to you by an angry parent at age 10 to control your life today? Words create an image or perception of ourselves or what we believe others perceive us to be and have an energy that either increases or diminishes our self worth and confidence. Words are power, and yet we are often careless with what we allow to roll off our tongues during everyday conversation. How many of us really “think before we speak?”

Do you realise that if you're green you're growing and if you're ripe you're rotten? So says Winston Marsh, Business Marketing Guru in his recent newsletter.

Here's an excerpt from it ...

"Over the last week or so I have been presenting a series of seminars for MYOB throughout New Zealand and I have made an amazing discovery.

Most people would rather service their car than service their brain!

Now what do I mean by this? Well, quite simply, nobody gives a second thought to putting their car in for service or to get it fixed. They might moan and groan about the cost but they'll still do it.

Why?

Because they need their car to get around! They rely on it and have become dependent on it. So, no matter what the cost, they get the car serviced or fixed or whatever. They might have to beg, borrow or steal to pay for it but they front up with the money and get it done.