Today we’re sharing insight from guest blogger Ron Kitchens, Chief Executive Officer of the Southwest Michigan First Group of Companies. We hope you enjoy Ron’s wisdom and perspective.

Each year, I get to welcome a group of local, future leaders to “my house,” our offices at Southwest Michigan First. Recently, I found myself being a bit overwhelmed at the opportunities each of these kids has in front of them. The generosity of the Monroe Brown Foundation has arranged for each of these dynamic young people to not only receive a tremendous internship with an innovative company, but also a college scholarship.

I consistently have great conversations with most of these young people but one that stands out was not the one that thanked me for the free food or for helping the Monroe Brown Foundation. It was the young lady who asked, “Other than education, what else should I do to succeed?”

Core values are the heartbeat of your organization. You likely have values that address topics such as respect for all people, individual dignity, and trust among team members. But every day your organization can face threats to your values. These threats can come in the form of harassment, discrimination, retaliation, favoritism, and gossip.

Today we’re sharing insight from guest blogger, Dan Asleson, President & CEO of the YMCA of Michiana. We hope you enjoy Dan’s wisdom and perspective.

Isn't it strange, that princes and kings,
And clowns that caper in sawdust rings,
And common-folk like you and me,
Are builders for eternity? 

Each is given a bag of tools,
A shapeless mass, a Book of Rules;
And each must make 'ere life has flown,
A stumbling block or a stepping stone. 

R.L. Sharpe

I was young (17 years old) when I first heard this poem and decided I would commit it to memory. I fell in love with the simplicity and beauty of the first stanza. We are all builders, regardless of one’s roots.

And I figured at that young age whatever tools I had in my bag would be enough to build whatever I set out to build. And they were. Those tools did me well over the next two decades. I was definitely making stepping stones, moving up in my career, and taking increasingly greater positions of leadership at work and in the community.

As much as you plan to prevent workplace injuries, it is important to create a plan to reintegrate injured employees into your workforce should an accident occur.

We often hear the term “light duty” used with return-to-work programs. But light duty has begun to carry a negative connotation. Some people believe the injured employee isn’t pulling their weight or is just doing made up work that isn’t beneficial or helping anyone. I encourage you to shift your mindset. Instead of light duty, I suggest you use one of these two terms as you speak with your employees about your return-to-work program – Modified Duty or Transitional Duty.

Premiums, deductibles, assets, claims…the list goes on. Whether you have a new policy or you’re taking a look at your existing ones, you probably have some questions about your coverage. Insurance is critical - it helps you protect what matters most. Therefore, it is important to understand what you are actually covered for and that you have the appropriate coverage. Don’t let these 6 common personal insurance misconceptions prevent you from having a strong personal risk management strategy:

Today we’re sharing insight from guest blogger, Tony Hutti, CEO/Owner of Renaissance Executive Forums Indiana. We hope you enjoy Tony’s wisdom and perspective.

Over 25 years ago, I started taking at least one week a year to read and reflect. This time proved to be quite valuable – now I take at least three weeks a year to focus on reading and reflection. I cannot overstate the importance of this time in growing my various businesses and keeping work-life balance.

Are you taking time to sharpen your saw? Are you devoting time to recharge your intellectual and emotional battery?

You want your employees to become better health care consumers. To use preventative care measures, to choose urgent care over emergency room visits when appropriate, to consider the options when scheduling a test or procedure, to choose generic prescriptions when possible….you want them to make more informed health decisions.

But how can they do these things if they don’t understand basic health information and services? They can’t make smarter health care decisions until they understand the terms.

Employees can’t become better health care consumers without health literacy!

Tragedies involving Lyme disease have become all too common in recent years. And unfortunately Lyme disease is just one of the hazards brought by ticks.

When you’re gearing up to spend a day outdoors you often remember to pack sunscreen to prevent burns and water to stay hydrated, but are you thinking about ticks? Employers with outdoor workers - is your workforce at risk of exposure to ticks? Have you educated them on proper precautions?

For both outdoor workers and individuals simply enjoying some time outside, take time to review these important tick safety considerations:

Employees are our greatest assets. But the recruitment, development, and retention of those employees doesn’t come without its complexities and challenges. From harassment and discrimination to FMLA, ADA, workers’ compensation, and more – there is a lot of noise in the HR world!

Today we’re sharing insight from guest blogger, Patrick Frazier, owner and executive coach for The Coaching Authority. We hope you enjoy Patrick’s wisdom and perspective.

What does it take to be successful?

Ask around and you will find different answers to the formula of success. The truth is, success leaves clues and you can achieve the success in the area you desire by observing the common qualities and principles. They are simple and considered to be common sense but most people simply do not follow them.