Are you a ‘Scrooge’?

Business – Bah Hum Bug!

Ah yes. It’s that time of year when holiday goodies show up at the office, and the smell of pine and gingerbread is in the air.

There is a multitude of peace and goodwill, right?

As an entrepreneur, you know that this is often far from the truth. It’s more like a mad rush to organize taxes and budgeting, prepare for holiday parties and gift-giving and just plain get everything done by the end of the year.

Let’s face it. The first few weeks of December are stressful.

There is a lot to get done in a short amount of time. You want to finish all of your projects so you can enjoy the holidays and start fresh in the New Year. And with this stress comes a lot of negativity.

You may see it in clients, associates, co-workers, and more. People who were once thoughtful and great to work with become short-tempered, angry and just plain obnoxious.

And while you may notice this stress in others, what about yourself?

Do any of these sound familiar?

Answer The Scrooge Questions

• Do you hold the elevator door for others or frantically press the “close door” button when you step inside?
• Do you scurry past co-workers who are asking for charitable donations?
• Do you avoid helping others with their projects for fear of not completing your own?
• Are you taking advantage of your assistants, interns and others?
• Are you creating issues and gossip to advance your own agenda?

While these may seem like things Ebenezer Scrooge from Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol” would do, they are going on right now… and without even knowing it, you could be guilty!

Stress Can Turn Us All Into Scrooges.

Yes, this time of year is extremely busy for everyone, but that’s no reason to change the way you treat others.

Slow down and take a breath. If you are overwhelmed with work, try to get help from others or get to the office a little earlier to accomplish more. Exercise to let off steam and take some time to yourself to collect your thoughts.

While your work is important, it’s also essential to enjoy the season. After all, the holidays can be gone in the blink of an eye, and if you miss them completely because of work, you really are a Scrooge!

By Melanie  Rembrandt
Melanie is the CEO of Rembrandt Communications®, a company that helps B2B companies boost sales, awareness and credibility fast with SEO content strategy and public relations. For your free tips and information, visit www.rembrandtwrites.com.