Your best just got better

What's your "what for?"

On a drive from Ojai to Los Angeles this morning, I took the "quiet time" to listen...not to the radio, not to my voicemail, not to a book on CD; instead, I decided to listen to my own mind.

Over the past few months, I've noticed a theme of over-promising (to myself and to others) and then scrambling through late(r) nights, and over weekend days to get those things done. Today, I went through a "thought experiment" I call

...so that...

with several of my projects.

I think of a project, and identify a successful, valuable, end result. Then, I say to myself, "I am going to achieve that outcome so that..." and I fill in the blank.

As soon as I fill in the blank with one so that, I do it again; this time with THAT as the prompt. "I am going to achieve _______________ so that..."

It sure takes a while, but some of the clarity I experience on the other side is well worth the exercise.

How do you do that "task thing" in Outlook 2007?

Someone wrote in last week asking about setting up a "new task" in Outlook 2007. So, I put together a one-minute video here.

Q&A TeleSeminar today, 10am (08/19/2008)

At 10am PST, I'll host a 15-minute Q&A session for anyone who has attended one of our seminars this summer!

Please call in about 5 minutes early, just to get entered into the call and to get ready for our TeleConference. How do you do it? Pretty simple:

Call  (712) 451-6000

Listen to the welcome message and prompts and then:

Enter Code - 951197#

What was that...that just happened?

Ok, if you're anything like me, from time to time you lose focus. Yeah, it happpens.

While reading a book, talking on the phone, out for a run, or even at dinner with my wife...my mind way wander.

QUESTION: When it wanders, where does your mind go? For years, I've practiced "living with pen and paper." You see, I can't help my fleeting thoughts from coming in (or going back out!), but I can stop them from coming in again and again...by writing them down!

Give it a try, for the next five days, do these two things:

1) Bring paper and pen with you EVERYWHERE.
2) Write more things down.

Looking for some connections to John Maxwell

Help...

I'm looking for some assistance from this community.

On the phone today, a client suggested I read some of John Maxwell's work prior to our meeting next week. Do you have a link or two (website, blog, product line) you could recommend I review?

Thanks, in advance!

Thinking...in different ways!

In a seminar last week, someone asked about "thinking" and "goal setting." In my experience, I've found that there are more or less effective ways of thinking.

Not efficient (just thinking a lot, quickly, about what I've thought about before...) but effective (new thoughts, new innovations, new developments...) ways of thinking.

I know I'm a different kind of thinker. What can look from the outside to be "positive" thinking is really on the inside "directed" thinking.

Is it easy...Good God no! Is it worth it: absolutely, unequivocally YES!!!

"So Jason, how do you do it?"

I love (and I mean I really do LOVE) this question because it puts me in the learning. The real question is not "can you think in a directed why IF you need to," but...

• "When things are tough, when you are down, when it seems there's nothing left to uplift you, WILL you think in a directed way?"

There are a lot of things you could do (please, leave a comment below with your idea!), and I thought I'd just share a couple of my own ideas...

1) When I attend a seminar or watch a presentation, I write many notes in my notebook (for example, just the first 2 minutes and 47 seconds of this is enough to get me going...and writing Bill Strickland ). I realize that I can change my direction of thinking pretty easily! As a matter of fact, many years ago I was one of the only ones taking class notes in multiple colors. I found over time that one of the ways I learn the best is through visual variety.

2) Likewise, making goals attainable, attractive and fun in the process has taken me work and focus. I've tried a few things, including making collages, writing affirmations and creative visualization...I learned a lot of this through this book here: Creative Visualization. When I get a goal, I usually write it out (same goal, usually different words) on my bathroom mirror with a "dry-erase" pen. That way, I'm sure to see it when I'm getting ready for the day, and I'm sure to reflect upon it one more time before I go to sleep!

Finding what will work for you will ultimately be a process of trial and error. Try something; if it works...keep on doing it!

My central park 9-miler last week

For an overview of one of my favorite runs this month, click here!

It really was a great day! I started off by leaving the hotel around 4:50am, as I was hoping to meet with a triathlon/entrepreneur buddy of ours in New York City, Peter Shankman (you've GOT to see his site: Help a Reporter Out).

I wound up running solo, starting at the Mac store on 5th Avenue (which was open at 5am, by the way!) and headed into the park while it was still dark. The only one running along some of the trails, over the next hour or so I joined the hundreds of other people training - cycling, running, walking and roller blading. It was a nice morning...click on the picture below for the map of the run.

Does what you see inspire you?

Surround yourself...

...attention can influence behavior. So, put things around you that are interesting, inspiring and innovative. Change your screen-saver on your computer every 4-5 days...it only takes a moment, and it can be a great way to start your day with energy, excitement and enthusiasm.

"Who could it be...now?" Who do you need...on your team?

More than likely, you're interested in learning something new. Maybe you're working to expand one of your interests or skills to a new level of expertise or understanding. And, I believe, there is someone very close to you who could assist you in that endeavor.

Find a neighbor, a co-worker, a friend, or (...uh, watch out!) a complete stranger, and ask for help! Offer to buy a cup of coffee (or lunch, if you want some more time!) and ask a question or two.

Oh, and here's a key: After you ask the second (or third...) question, and the other person really starts talking...be quiet! Listen, pay attention, stay present, and let the information come in.

Oh...one more thing...a day or two letter, send a handwritten note to say thank you, it will make a difference!

"But, how do you have time...?" they always ask

I enjoy sharing the different methods, techniques and ideas I have come across to juggle my interests, my company, my life, my relationship with my wife, my triathlon training, my family, my...well, you get it, the list goes on.

Let's take triathlon, for example. Even a quick review of this blog will demonstrate my commitment to growth and development in the fitness area of my life (click here).

For me, triathlon is not just something I do off to the side...it's a passion. It demands more of me than I ever knew existed. In order to compete in, not just complete, my races, I have to dedicate much of my most limited resources: Time, Energy, Focus and Systems/Tools.

Now, whether you're thinking of running through that finish line or not, you too have a goal in mind that might seem "a little bit bigger" than you. That's what I mean, that's what I talk about when I stand up to share ideas, techniques and tools to "have time to..." (fill in the blank).

Here is one thing I know: You MUST have something to fill in the blank...and, don't let it be nothing! That is, when I talk to someone and I ask them what they'd like more time for, I worry when they say, "Jason Womack - I want time to do more of nothing."

Don't take it personal, but it's not true. Quite honestly, no one wants to do nothing. I mean, even if you had free time, you'd do SOMEthing. Read a book, play ball with the kids, go for a walk around the block, watch that program you recorded on TV last week (or last month!).

So, after you finish reading this last paragraph, take out a note card or a small "sticky note" and write down 10-30 things you would like to do if you had a little more time. ("How much more time?" I hear you ask...start with 15 minutes.)

If you had an extra window of 15 minutes, what would you like to do? Write them down, make a list, make it a LONG list, and see if you can get to check a few things off over the next week or two!

Of course, please leave a comment below and share how this tip works for you!