If you consider that we are only as good as the last idea we had, on ascale of 1-10 how would you rate your:
* Self
* Creativity
* Leadership style and ability
* Managerial qualities
* Marketing
* Relationships - yes I did say relationships. Do you stillhave date nights? Do you still organise time out with the kids / teens?Would your teens still want to spend time with you if you haven't had adecent day out idea in years? Answer - probably not.
Now go back to the beginning of this list and start again. How would yourate yourself based on your last idea of how to make you a better person.
When was the last time you let your creativity have full reign withoutsomeone (usually your inner voice) telling you it's rubbish and you shouldstick to carrot farming (or whatever you do for a day job). Go slosh paint,write a poem, knit a scarf, find a way to make someone's life easier withthat crazy invention you've had simmering for 20 years...
And before you say anything else - just 4 words
IF NOT NOW? WHEN?
I've said it before, and I will repeat it until I am blue in the face ifI have to ...
You will not live forever
The graveyards are full of people who died without reaching their fullpotential
So
How do you want to be remembered?
Now, let the ideas flow
And if you really have no idea how to do that - not only do you and I needto talk, you also need to take some time out, pencil, paper, go for a walk,sit in an armchair and listen to Bach or whatever works for you... butyou do need to do it.
One final caveat
No idea is stupid. In fact sometimes the silly ones are the best.
To every last idea we will ever have ... and then some
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
Two magic words
* Sometimes we forget to say them,
* Sometimes we may feel that they're not needed so don't bother, and
* Sometimes we need to remember what it felt like when they're not saidto us
But why should we use them - surely if you do a good job the "rewards"will speak for themselves.
Well I don't know about you, but failing to use these 2 words can be thedeath knell to a person's motivation.
Your employee has worked hard to get something finished, in fact they'vetaken it on themselves to do more than was expected. He delivers the finisheditem and ... nothing - not a word. Now it could be that you as a managerhad been particularly busy that day - hence why you needed to delegatethat particular task - but how motivated is your employee going to be nexttime you ask him to do something? Would he "go the extra distance"next time? I doubt it. And yet it doesn't take much to do the right thing.A walk through the office at the end of the day, "Hey Jim, sorry Iwas busy earlier - thank you for getting that done so quickly for me, itmade my day a lot easier"...
I don't know about you, but I feel a heartfelt and genuine "thankyou" can and does make a massive difference.
Who do you need to say "thank you" to?
* Sometimes we may feel that they're not needed so don't bother, and
* Sometimes we need to remember what it felt like when they're not saidto us
But why should we use them - surely if you do a good job the "rewards"will speak for themselves.
Well I don't know about you, but failing to use these 2 words can be thedeath knell to a person's motivation.
Your employee has worked hard to get something finished, in fact they'vetaken it on themselves to do more than was expected. He delivers the finisheditem and ... nothing - not a word. Now it could be that you as a managerhad been particularly busy that day - hence why you needed to delegatethat particular task - but how motivated is your employee going to be nexttime you ask him to do something? Would he "go the extra distance"next time? I doubt it. And yet it doesn't take much to do the right thing.A walk through the office at the end of the day, "Hey Jim, sorry Iwas busy earlier - thank you for getting that done so quickly for me, itmade my day a lot easier"...
I don't know about you, but I feel a heartfelt and genuine "thankyou" can and does make a massive difference.
Who do you need to say "thank you" to?
50 things you need to be happy about...
This may sound quite an easy thing to consider.
Write down 50 things you are happy with.
For instance you might be happy about
1. The weather, because you can get the washing dry outside
2. Your kids progress at school
3. The great cup of coffee you've just had
4. The amount you saved on your grocery bill today
5. The fact that it is the weekend and you get to lie in
6. Your weight loss to date
7. A great mark from your last assignment
8. A new business deal
etc
Why should I ask you to write down 50 things you are happy about? Well,I feel there is so much negativity running around us, pulling at us like a swift flowing river before you know it, you are not as motivated as you were when you woke up this morning. But by focussing on the things you ARE happy with you can counter the negative.
It may take you just a few minutes to write these down, or it might take you half an hour. But believe me - it is half an hour worth spending. I keep mine in my hand phone so I can go back and re-read them. It helps keep me focused and motivated. I hope you try it.
Write down 50 things you are happy with.
For instance you might be happy about
1. The weather, because you can get the washing dry outside
2. Your kids progress at school
3. The great cup of coffee you've just had
4. The amount you saved on your grocery bill today
5. The fact that it is the weekend and you get to lie in
6. Your weight loss to date
7. A great mark from your last assignment
8. A new business deal
etc
Why should I ask you to write down 50 things you are happy about? Well,I feel there is so much negativity running around us, pulling at us like a swift flowing river before you know it, you are not as motivated as you were when you woke up this morning. But by focussing on the things you ARE happy with you can counter the negative.
It may take you just a few minutes to write these down, or it might take you half an hour. But believe me - it is half an hour worth spending. I keep mine in my hand phone so I can go back and re-read them. It helps keep me focused and motivated. I hope you try it.
The Weekend !
I love Saturday's, they are my project days. It also gives me a chance to catch up on those silly things I don't get to do during my normal week.
Things like: talking to people - sorry I do feel like I neglect some people sometimes. Then there are the emails that I need to read and action, work that needs to be completed, and regular stuff that never stops. I also tend to get up really early and just hit morning walks.
I like to start my day with a few simple things. The habits and rituals that make my day seem "right".
* I make my bed as soon as I get out of it.
* I have a shower and put on clean clothes - yes even on painting days.I have several sets of "work" gear and there is nothing worse than wearing yukky stuff. So I start my day with a "clean" slate.
* I make myself a cup of black lemon tea and today I am going to make myself some breakfast - protein based so I won't need to eat again until "lunchtime". So far though I have also washed the dishes left yesterday, put away the ones they had left on the drainer andcleaned the kitchen surfaces...
So why should I tell you this mundanity? Well I feel it is important formany reasons.
1. I am normal - I have the same things to do as you do. Where perhaps we differ lie in the things I have stopped doing.
2. Habits are important. Some habits are essential - the trick to getting more out of every day is to make habits and rituals that work for you. Then slowly you can begin to remove those habits and behaviours that perhaps don't serve you as well.
3. Sometimes just getting on and doing it, is the right thing to do. People hate me when I say - just do it ... usually with an added aside "well it's all right for you". Is it? I work anything from 60 - 80 hours a week - but in the main it is thoroughly enjoyable. I love what I do (most of the time - see told you I was normal). But perhaps one of the reasons is because I do have the benefit of being able to share my thoughts with a wide community of people, across quite a diverse range of disciplines. Some of you will know me from my work, others via my dance company where I spent most f my life, and of course via my own social network. My point to you is that to get more out of each day you need to love what you do, and if you don't then either "fake it" and pretend that you do (you do get more done that way) or find work that you do enjoy.
4. Intersperse "work" with play. That is what I do on my daysoff - aka Saturday and Sunday. These 2 days I work from home where I can balance the needs of my family, the house I am completely re-decoratingand my urgent need to exercise and write.
Given that it is the weekend, and usually most people's days off, why not take a look at those habits and rituals you engage in. Are they serving you ? Or do you need to make a few changes?
Things like: talking to people - sorry I do feel like I neglect some people sometimes. Then there are the emails that I need to read and action, work that needs to be completed, and regular stuff that never stops. I also tend to get up really early and just hit morning walks.
I like to start my day with a few simple things. The habits and rituals that make my day seem "right".
* I make my bed as soon as I get out of it.
* I have a shower and put on clean clothes - yes even on painting days.I have several sets of "work" gear and there is nothing worse than wearing yukky stuff. So I start my day with a "clean" slate.
* I make myself a cup of black lemon tea and today I am going to make myself some breakfast - protein based so I won't need to eat again until "lunchtime". So far though I have also washed the dishes left yesterday, put away the ones they had left on the drainer andcleaned the kitchen surfaces...
So why should I tell you this mundanity? Well I feel it is important formany reasons.
1. I am normal - I have the same things to do as you do. Where perhaps we differ lie in the things I have stopped doing.
2. Habits are important. Some habits are essential - the trick to getting more out of every day is to make habits and rituals that work for you. Then slowly you can begin to remove those habits and behaviours that perhaps don't serve you as well.
3. Sometimes just getting on and doing it, is the right thing to do. People hate me when I say - just do it ... usually with an added aside "well it's all right for you". Is it? I work anything from 60 - 80 hours a week - but in the main it is thoroughly enjoyable. I love what I do (most of the time - see told you I was normal). But perhaps one of the reasons is because I do have the benefit of being able to share my thoughts with a wide community of people, across quite a diverse range of disciplines. Some of you will know me from my work, others via my dance company where I spent most f my life, and of course via my own social network. My point to you is that to get more out of each day you need to love what you do, and if you don't then either "fake it" and pretend that you do (you do get more done that way) or find work that you do enjoy.
4. Intersperse "work" with play. That is what I do on my daysoff - aka Saturday and Sunday. These 2 days I work from home where I can balance the needs of my family, the house I am completely re-decoratingand my urgent need to exercise and write.
Given that it is the weekend, and usually most people's days off, why not take a look at those habits and rituals you engage in. Are they serving you ? Or do you need to make a few changes?
Curosity kills the 'cat' - NOT you !!
Kids are amazing, they have a million questions - and they all start with "why"? followed by "where" "what" "how" and "when" - to kids - nothing is impossible. For kids the question is when, rather how can something be achieved.
"why not" they say.
Why not indeed.
When did we stop being curious about life?
When did we stop wondering what it would be like if... ?
When did we forget that life is a game, and one that we need to play to enjoy.
Yes I did say "play" - I feel you get more done when you enjoywhat you are doing, and I can almost guarantee you are smiling as you aregetting stuck into life. I know there are times when it feels like the weight of the world sits on our shoulders, when the news is filled with stories that make you want to cry. BUT what would happen if we didn't watch the news, didn't hear about the bad stuff, would we be sad "just incase" something horrible was happening somewhere in the world? "Does that mean we are burying our head in the sand? I don't think so, I feel it is this - we are doing everything in our power to be everythingwe can be, and we can do that by asking ourselves and our world the right kinds of questions.
"why not" they say.
Why not indeed.
When did we stop being curious about life?
When did we stop wondering what it would be like if... ?
When did we forget that life is a game, and one that we need to play to enjoy.
Yes I did say "play" - I feel you get more done when you enjoywhat you are doing, and I can almost guarantee you are smiling as you aregetting stuck into life. I know there are times when it feels like the weight of the world sits on our shoulders, when the news is filled with stories that make you want to cry. BUT what would happen if we didn't watch the news, didn't hear about the bad stuff, would we be sad "just incase" something horrible was happening somewhere in the world? "Does that mean we are burying our head in the sand? I don't think so, I feel it is this - we are doing everything in our power to be everythingwe can be, and we can do that by asking ourselves and our world the right kinds of questions.
Your Goal !
Mark Twain said it best when he stated:
"I can teach anybody how to get what they want out of life. The problemis that I can't find anybody who can tell me what they want"
Most people know what they "don't" want
Most people think they know what they do want
But - not many people are specific enough to make their dreams, thoughtsand ideas come alive to themselves never mind the person they are speakingto.
A couple of simple questions for you:
* If you had to describe to me what you thought success was for you, could you do it?
* If you had to tell me what your biggest goal is - could you do it?
Simple enough? Perhaps!
Imagine your goal was "cold porridge" could you make it sound interesting enough for me to want to try it?
Because to me that is the biggest test of any goal. Can you make it interesting enough for me to believe in it? Can you make it come alive in such a way that YOU believe in it? Would you be willing to eat cold porridge based on your own description? How about immerse yourself in it? Weird? perhaps- but I hope it has you thinking hard and long about how.
If your goals don't pass the cold porridge test, it's definitely time to:
* Change your goals and / or
* Change the way you think about them
"I can teach anybody how to get what they want out of life. The problemis that I can't find anybody who can tell me what they want"
Most people know what they "don't" want
Most people think they know what they do want
But - not many people are specific enough to make their dreams, thoughtsand ideas come alive to themselves never mind the person they are speakingto.
A couple of simple questions for you:
* If you had to describe to me what you thought success was for you, could you do it?
* If you had to tell me what your biggest goal is - could you do it?
Simple enough? Perhaps!
Imagine your goal was "cold porridge" could you make it sound interesting enough for me to want to try it?
Because to me that is the biggest test of any goal. Can you make it interesting enough for me to believe in it? Can you make it come alive in such a way that YOU believe in it? Would you be willing to eat cold porridge based on your own description? How about immerse yourself in it? Weird? perhaps- but I hope it has you thinking hard and long about how.
If your goals don't pass the cold porridge test, it's definitely time to:
* Change your goals and / or
* Change the way you think about them
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