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On April 20, 2010, the oil rigger Deepwater Horizon exploded in the Gulf of Mexico, causing the largest accidental marine oil spill in the history of the petroleum industry. After the explosion killed or injured 28 workers and released 4.9 million barrels of crude oil, the gushing wellhead was finally capped. British Petroleum (BP), the multi-billion dollar oil and gas company, was indisputably responsible.
Instead of expressing true remorse and compassion for the disaster, then CEO Tony Hayward committed a series of cultural gaffes that enraged U.S. citizens and lawmakers. For instance, well before the Gulf crisis was resolved, Hayward proclaimed that he “wanted his life back.” Then, as efforts to plug the leak continued feverishly in the U.S., he casually took in a sailing race with his son off the Isle of Wight in the UK.
Hayward’s American Disconnect
This behavior was consistent with Hayward’s work/life balance philosophy. He once said publicly that he didn’t work weekends and took all of his holidays no matter what. What the British Hayward failed to realize was that most Americans don’t necessarily agree with this point of view. It is the American way to take responsibility for one’s mistakes and do everything you can to remedy a bad situation. Until the problem is solved, free time does not exist. Since Americans were affected most when Deepwater Horizon exploded, many wanted to see Tony Hayward on a boat participating in the clean-up.
Although much of his business is conducted in the U.S., Hayward did not demonstrate strong global competence. His lack of understanding regarding how the crisis would be received in the U.S. led to a backward slide of goodwill and a plunging stock price for BP. That summer, it would also cost him his job.
To find out how you can avoid a Tony Hayward-like PR catastrophe, read my advice over at the <a href="http://www.openforum.com/articles/what-you-can-learn-from-bps-cultural-fail" target="_self">AMEX Open Forum.</a>
NOW READ: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/3-areas-you-need-to-focus-on-to-get-executive-presence-2013-2">3 Areas You Need To Focus On To Get 'Executive Presence.'</a>

How To Avoid Self Destructing Your Business On Foreign Soil

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Recent research found that nearly 4 in 10 workers suffered from burnout in the last year.</li><li>Experts have attempted to label this growing phenomenon, with phrases like "quiet-quitting" becoming popular.</li></ul>Burnout is becoming a growing issue in the workplace. According to <a href="https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2022/12/5-things-that-make-workers-stay-at-their-jobs-not-salary/">research</a> by The Adecco Group, nearly 4 in 10 workers reported suffering from it in the last year. While the reasons behind the surge are complicated, many experts believe the COVID-19 pandemic played a role. "It's been almost three years where there's been an entire world in day-to-day survival mode. Nobody really knew what would happen next, and it was extremely stressful," said Alexandra Levit, a business and workplace consultant. Burnout results from chronic workplace stress and shows itself through feelings of increased exhaustion, negativity, and reduced efficacy in the workplace, <a href="https://www.who.int/news/item/28-05-2019-burn-out-an-occupational-phenomenon-international-classification-of-diseases#:~:text=%E2%80%9CBurn%2Dout%20is%20a%20syndrome,related%20to%20one's%20job%3B%20and">according</a> to the World Health Organization.Experts have attempted to put labels on this growing phenomenon, with workplace concepts like "The Great Resignation" and "quiet-quitting" <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/workplace-trends-2022-quiet-quitting-career-cushioning-great-resignation-labor-2022-12">emerging over the last year</a>. One of the best ways to avoid burnout is by managing stress that can be exacerbated by taking on too much work. Insider spoke to several workplace experts who advised how to say no to extra work when things become overwhelming.<h2>Ask for help </h2>Jessica Kriegel, chief scientist of workplace culture at Culture Partners, advised that it's best to get ahead of stress before letting assignments pile on. "If you're being given further assignments that you don't know how you're going to fit in, it's okay to ask for help," she said. She suggested workers should raise their hands and ask for help prioritizing projects."It's really a soft way of saying, 'I can't do all that,'" she said. <h2>Get your manager involved</h2>Levit echoed Kriegel, saying it's best to flag a potentially stressful workload to a manager before it leads to burnout."You're basically getting your manager to be the bad guy for you. You should go back to the person asking you to do the extra work and say, 'I would love to be able to help you, but my manager has asked me to prioritize these other things," she said. Levit advised that workers should always first prioritize assignments from their own manager. <h2>Know when to walk away</h2>S. Chris Edmonds, an executive consultant and CEO of The Purposeful Culture Group, said employees who constantly feel overloaded at work might need to make a hard choice. He said if the job feels perfect except for certain demands, workers should ask themselves if they think the job will improve soon. If not, Edmonds advised that employees should take advantage of the tighter labor market and explore whether there are any better opportunities out there."My view is, if you're not happy now, it's unlikely to get any prettier in the next 6 to 18 months," he said.

Here's how to say no to extra work at your job and avoid burnout

<div class="KonaFilter image-container float_right"><div class="image"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/alterna2/2573516543/in/photolist-4VpWNT-4Vq4QV-4Vut3W-4VpYRH-4VpUeZ-4VqeNX-4Vum7d-4VudCC-4Vqajg-4VpWfn-4Vq6ki-4VubNd-4Vu8rY-4VpZjM-4Vq5en-4VutdQ-4VuoDE-4VupZN-4VuqvW-4Vq9Kt">Alterna2/flickr</a>If you're applying for a sales position, don't name "rock star" as your dream job.</div></div>Although it seems like a fun, get-to-know-you type question, your answer to, "What's Your Dream Job?" is more important to your interview than you may think. 
"Employers use it to get a sense of who you are as a person, and whether you are truly a good fit for this job," explains Alexandra Levit, author of <a href="http://www.amazon.com/They-Teach-Corporate-College-Twenty-Somethings/dp/1601630581/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;s=books&amp;qid=1299695618&amp;sr=8-1">"They Don't Teach Corporate in College."</a> "If you are just biding your time until you can get your own business off the ground or find a different career that you truly love, they may not want to take the risk of hiring you." 
Dan Schawbel, author of "<a href="http://danschawbel.com/promote-yourself/">Promote Yourself: The New Rules For Career Success</a>," says employers also use the question to know if you've really thought about your career and whether you have a concrete sense of direction with it.
Here's what hiring managers do and don't want to hear in your answer to this question:
They want to know that you've done your research. "When people come into their interviews prepared, and truly understand the company, they can easily link their career path with what the company has to offer," Schawbel says. For example, if your company is planning to become more environmentally friendly, you could mention that your dream career involves helping the environment within the private sector.
They want to know you can align yourself with the job description. The employer wants to hear that your dream job is something that's closely in line with the position they're offering, Levit explains. "A hiring manager in accounting, for instance, does not want to hear that your dream is to become a lounge singer, as that will not fill him with confidence that you'll be with the firm for the long haul."
<a href="http://www.business2community.com/strategy/answer-dream-job-question-0903311#!Yq9oo">Keep your dream job relevant to the current job you're applying for.</a> The story you tell should be strongly aligned with the company's future.
They want to know you have a genuine passion for the job at hand. Why were you excited to get this interview? What are you hoping to contribute to the company? "Share your answers enthusiastically," Levit says. You might want to mention why your skillset aligns with the current job and how it will help you even further in your dream job. If your abilities match your ambitions, you are probably on the right track.
They want to know you have legitimate reasons for wanting to work with them. "In most cases, they don't want you to just use the job as a stepping stone or find out that you're simply looking to make money," Schawbel says. They also probably don't want to hear that you plan to take off in a few years to become an entrepreneur." Make sure that you give strong reasons for why you want to stay within the company. 
They want to know you can envision your future success. "Think about how you can give the most value to the people you're working with," Schawbel says. Talk about your goals and ambitions for the amount of responsibility you wish to hold later on, and explain why this job will bring you closer to them. 
However, don't be too aggressive. It's probably <a href="http://www.business2community.com/strategy/answer-dream-job-question-0903311#!Yq9oo">not a good idea</a> to announce that you want to run the company within your first few years on the job.
They want to know they can keep you long term. If you want to advance within the company, your answer might help you stay on your boss's radar for a future promotion, Schawbel says. Your vision and mission for yourself should be linked to what the company offers so they can have you as a long-term employee. Convey your interest in a high-level position in the company later on, but <a href="http://jobsearch.about.com/od/how-to/fl/what-is-your-dream-job.htm">don't overshadow your interest</a> in the job you're currently applying for, he concludes.

What Hiring Managers Really Want To Hear When They Ask, 'What's Your Dream Job?' 

<div class="KonaFilter image-container float_right"><div class="image"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/leweb3/11315226723/sizes/l/">Flickr/LeWeb13</a>Uber co-founder and CEO Travis Kalanick's</div></div>The <a href="http://yec.co/">Young Entrepreneur Council (YEC)</a> is an invite-only organization comprised of the world's most promising young entrepreneurs. Nine of its members shared some of the biggest misconceptions people have about building a company.
<h2>Question: What is your favorite lie that you've heard about starting your own business?</h2>
<h3>You'll be your own boss.</h3>
"Not only will you not be your own boss, but more people than ever will have a critical stake in your success, including customers, vendors, and staff. If you think your boss makes unreasonable demands of you now, just wait until a good customer calls you to handle a major issue at 2 a.m. - and you have to be the one to resolve it." - <a href="https://twitter.com/alevit">Alexandra Levit</a><a target="_blank">, </a><a href="http://www.alexandralevit.com" target="_blank">Inspiration at Work</a><a target="_blank"></a>
<h3>You control everything.</h3>
"You don't - your customers control everything you do. You will realize this when you see $0 in the bank account. That is the day you learn to listen and adjust to their demands. Remember that if customers don't pay you, you can't pay rent, staff, insurance, office supplies, etc. The customers are your bosses, and they control everything." - <a href="https://twitter.com/NextStepChina">Derek Capo</a><a target="_blank">, </a><a href="http://www.nextstepchina.org" target="_blank">Next Step China</a>
<h3>Most businesses fail.</h3>
"I'm always hearing these statistics that show a huge number of businesses must be failing every day. But while I've seen plenty of companies evolve, change names, pivot, or otherwise change, I don't see that many entirely shut down. I love hearing these statistics so I can poke holes in them." - <a href="https://twitter.com/thursdayb">Thursday Bram</a><a target="_blank">, </a><a href="http://www.hypermodernconsulting.com" target="_blank">Hyper Modern Consulting</a><a target="_blank"></a>
<h3>Companies run themselves.</h3>
"'My company pretty much runs itself these days.' If someone ever says this to you, he is a liar. [Wannabe entrepreneurs] also ask me a lot how detailed my involvement is in Speek these days - 'Does it pretty much run itself?' Only someone who's never done this would ask that question." - <a href="https://twitter.com/DannyBoice">Danny Boice</a><a target="_blank">, </a><a href="http://www.speek.com" target="_blank">Speek</a>
<h3>You'll have complete freedom.</h3>
"The biggest lie is that running your own company allows you to set your own hours and gives you total freedom. In reality, I have virtually no control over my own hours or schedule. If you want to start your own business for freedom, think again." - <a href="https://twitter.com/EarlyGrowthFS">David Ehrenberg</a><a target="_blank">, </a><a href="http://www.earlygrowthfinancialservices.com" target="_blank">Early Growth Financial Services</a><a target="_blank"> </a>
<h3>You'll eventually succeed if you work hard.</h3>
"Actually, it's the small business owner who works smart - and not just hard - who will improve his or her chances for success." - <a href="https://twitter.com/MoneyCrashers">Andrew Schrage</a><a target="_blank">, </a><a href="http://www.moneycrashers.com" target="_blank">Money Crashers Personal Finance</a>
<h3>Customers will flock to great ideas.</h3>
"'If you build it, they will come.' Sure, it's a great quote (from a great movie), but I think it's also dangerous. You shouldn't expect customers to flock to your business, even if you think you have the greatest idea in the world. It's crucial that you adequately plan and leave some budget for marketing - just in case a few people have a hard time finding you." - <a href="https://twitter.com/FreeEbooksNet">Nicolas Gremion</a><a target="_blank">, </a><a href="http://www.Free-eBooks.net" target="_blank">Free-eBooks.net</a>
<h3>You'll work a 4-hour workweek.</h3>
"Starting your own business will not let you 'travel' and make your 'own schedule,' at least at first, because you will be working 80 hours a week. If you love what you're doing, it might not feel like a grind, but it will still be work. Anyone who tells you otherwise is not being honest. There are plenty of great things about starting your own business, but working fewer hours is not one of them." - <a href="https://twitter.com/shortstackjim">Jim Belosic</a><a target="_blank">, </a><a href="http://www.shortstack.com" target="_blank">Pancakes Laboratories/ShortStack</a>
<h3>Everyone will be supportive.</h3>
"To say everyone will be supportive at the beginning of a new business venture is like saying the Yankees will win the World Series before they throw out the first pitch. Be prepared in the beginning for the negative comments and fear from loved ones about the cliff you're about to leap off. They'll come back around - the good old bandwagon effect - but it takes a few months of success!" - <a href="https://twitter.com/kimkaupe">Kim Kaupe</a><a target="_blank">, </a><a href="http://www.zinepak.com" target="_blank">ZinePak</a><a target="_blank"></a><div class="feed-footer-wrapper"><div class="feed-footer">

 <h3>More from Young Entrepreneur Council:</h3>

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9 Misconceptions About Starting Your Own Business

The first hour of the workday is critical, since it can affect your productivity level and mindset for the rest of the day.
"Successful people understand the importance of having control over their mornings and know how to use that time wisely," says Lynn Taylor, a national workplace expert and the author of&#xa0;"<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Tame-Your-Terrible-Office-Tyrant/dp/0470457643/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;s=books&amp;qid=1248186483&amp;sr=8-1" target="_blank">Tame Your Terrible Office Tyrant: How to Manage Childish Boss Behavior and Thrive in Your Job</a>."&#xa0;"These people are able to weed out the noise in their first hour and focus on what matters."
Everyone has their unique method of prioritizing, she says. "But all successful people stay focused when they start their day, and with years of practice, they realize that many things can wait, and others cannot."
Here are 14 things successful people do in the first hour of the workday:
They step back and reflect. Taylor says it's important to take a moment to look at the big picture. "It's easy to jump in and 'just do it' when you get to work, but successful people look at their larger goals in order to better prioritize."
They strategize. Successful people take a few minutes at the start of their workday to think about where their career or business should be going, says Laura Vanderkam, author of "<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Successful-People-Before-Breakfast-Mornings-ebook/dp/B007K3E2YK" target="_blank">What the Most Successful People Do Before Breakfast</a>." "Few people spend much time on these questions to begin with, let alone when their brains are fresh. But pursuing strategic clarity is a worthy objective. It's hard to get somewhere if you don't know where you're going."
They check their to-do lists and calendars. You don't want to overwhelm yourself first thing in the morning, but it's important that you take a quick look at your to-do list and calendar to know what's ahead. Missing any early meetings or deadlines would likely cause stress and could ruin your entire day.
They update their to-do lists and calendars. "Without a plan, you can't spend your time wisely. But plans must be adaptable," Taylor says. Early in the day is the best time to update your schedule.
They organize their workstations. A clean desk can give you a sense of mental clarity and prevent you from getting bogged down looking for something you need later on. "While most communications are through e-mails and texts, if your boss or coworker stopped by looking for you and left a sticky note about a last-minute meeting occurring in 10 minutes, and it's sitting on a mound of mail or papers, you're already behind the eight ball," Alexandra Levit, author of "<a href="http://www.amazon.com/They-Teach-Corporate-College-Twenty-Somethings/dp/1601633084/">They Don't Teach Corporate in College:</a><a href="http://www.amazon.com/They-Teach-Corporate-College-Twenty-Somethings/dp/1601633084/"> A Twenty-Something's Guide to the Business World</a>," <a href="http://www.forbes.com/pictures/fjjf45efe/organize-your-workspace/">tells Forbes</a>.
They acknowledge and plan for the tough projects. There are always difficult projects looming that get put aside. "Address how you're going to attack them first thing so they don't hang over your head all day," Taylor says.&#xa0;
They don't address "people conflict." Successful people know that timing is everything. If you need to resolve conflict with your peers or boss, don't engage first thing, Taylor says. "Your&#xa0;colleagues are likely overwhelmed when they arrive to work, so you'll want to wait a few hours until everyone is more relaxed, which is usually&#xa0;after lunch," she suggests.
They set a goal for the day. In <a href="https://hbr.org/2014/06/how-to-spend-the-first-10-minutes-of-your-day/">an article for Harvard Business Review</a>, author and consultant Ron Friedman recommends taking 10 minutes to ask themselves this: "The day is over and I am leaving the office with a tremendous sense of accomplishment. What have I achieved?" This will help you distinguish between tasks that merely feel urgent and those which are truly important.
They write something that requires thought.&#xa0;Writing requires discipline, and research finds that willpower is at its peak early in the day, after a good breakfast, Vanderkam says. "Like a muscle, willpower gets fatigued from overuse in the course of the day as you respond to distractions and difficult people." The first hour of the day can be a great time to write a&#xa0;well-crafted email introducing yourself to a new client, a proposal or report, marketing materials, or even an op-ed or article.
They greet the team. Good, successful bosses and employees are aware of their team, and they take the time to greet them first thing. "It shows compassion and naturally builds rapport and camaraderie," Taylor says. "This is the first hour of their day, too, and your actions have a significant impact on their attitude and productivity."
They glance at emails. "There's the famous instruction from Julie Morgenstern that we should never check email in the morning," Vanderkam says. "It makes sense. You want to start the day in a proactive fashion, not a reactive fashion. However, I'm pretty sure 99% of us do check email pretty near the start of the day." The trick is to glance at it, and not get bogged down in stuff that doesn't matter, she explains.
They avoid distraction. The latest headline or office drama can cause anyone to be distracted, no matter how high up the chain you are. "While the curiosity can be overwhelming, focused professionals inherently know when they're taking themselves off-track," Taylor says.
They don't hold meetings. "I'd say the most important thing to not do during that first hour is hold a meeting, unless it requires every ounce of focus and concentration you have," Vanderkam says. "It's better to put meetings at low energy times (mid-afternoon for many people), and do projects that require focus at high-energy times when you feel most motivated to tackle them. Most people feel more energized and motivated in the morning."&#xa0;
They relax. This one is difficult for most people, but successful individuals understand the importance of creating a few minutes of peace before jumping in. "It helps you better approach the issues at hand," Taylor says. Taking a moment to stretch and breathe will help you make better decisions during this chaotic time of day.&#xa0;
"Success is a mindset," Taylor says. "If you're mindful of what it takes to succeed first thing in the morning, you'll likely revisit these priorities throughout the day and stay on task."
<h3>
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How To Avoid Self Destructing Your Business On Foreign Soil

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