Your best just got better

I might be the luckiest uncle in the world!

So, after meeting with a client in Manhattan Beach, CA one afternoon, I parked my car outside my sister-in-law's house for a "surprise visit" with the kids.

I only had about an hour or so to play. Can you imagine the pitter-patter of my heartbeat when my niece brought over one of my favorite books of all time and said, "read...please."

I've been a reader all my life (might have something to do with not having a TV for many years as a kid) and I find so much joy in spreading the gift of reading with others. I know what I'll be doing the next time I visit the kids!

What is "time management" really all about?

In a seminar earlier this year, I asked this question and wrote as many answers as I heard. So, here's the question:

"What are you managing when you're managing time?"

Ok, before you read on, take a moment at least and ask yourself that question. What one or two line answer comes to mind? When I asked a group of 40 people what they are really managing, here were some of the answers...

We're all friends - sage advice from a mentor

I sat down to have lunch with Marshall Goldsmith today (08/27/2007) and it was great. I had e-mailed him some time ago asking if he had time to share a meal and a conversation. As Jodi and I are getting busier and busier with the coaching and consulting we're doing, I knew it was time to call on my team.

 

What spurred all of this, really, was a few months ago when he sent me a copy of his newest book, "What Got You Here, Won't Get You There." I've read this book, not cover to cover, several times. I open up to the middle, read a bit, and then go on with my work and my life. One of the sections that stands out to me brilliantly is on page 119. Think about how you work, how you get things done, and how you go about your day-to-day experiences. Do you make time to:

Clearly communicate a vision?
Treat people with respect?
Solicit contrary opinions?
Encourage other people's ideas?
Listen to other people in meetings?

There are quite a few other "do you make time to" questions I could ask. Suffice it to say, I am coming closer and closer to having an answer to the second prompt of the day (see below...).

For years I have been "preaching" team to anyone I meet, anyone I talk to. Today, I was inspired to find someone with a similar focus. His quote resonates in-between my ears: "We're all friends."

It was quite amazing, as we sat down and ordered our lunch. One of his first questions was, "Will you tell me a little about yourself? Where were you born?" He wanted the whole story! What was most amazing about this - for me - was that he was listening, actually taking in what I was saying, and like a master chess-player setting up the pieces in a way he understood.

Over the course of 90 minutes, I received some great advice and a few "kicks-in-the-seat-of-the-pants." I've got some ideas that are resonating in my mind...one of them:

"We're all friends."   

A blog I visit often...

Occasionally, I come across a weblog or a website that I enjoy. Rob writes for his blog, titled 7Breaths. If you have a chance, drop by and visit. (And, for anyone using "Outlook" to manage their to-do lists, check out how he uses his!)

Here's a picture of one of his posts...

What Podcasts exist that might be interesting to you?

Let me share a personal story:

I'm constantly amazed at how much great information is out there that I just miss...until I see it! I am a fan (as many of you know) of listening to good information. I believe that "I am what I learn," and as such I want to put into my mind more of what I would like to contribute, enjoy and experience.

So, imagine my glee when I found out how many podcasts are provided by the New York Times newspaper!

I have already subscribed to several, and am looking forward to hearing from the reporters themselves how they got and wrote their stories, and anything else they are willing to share.

I did put together a "mini white-paper" on downloading Podcasts. You can print that out, if you'd like...

Download PodcastSubscriptions.pdf

So, take a few moments to go look at iTunes (www.iTunes.com) and click on over to Podcasts. I am sure there is SOMEthing that will interest you over there!

How many voice mail boxes?

I'm running a quick survey (should take less than 2 minutes to fill out) to gather information for an upcoming presentation I am doing in October. Would you please help by letting me know how many voice mail boxes you use? The survey is easy to fill out (just 4 questions). Thanks in advance!

Thank you - it goes a long, long way!

I was invited to add my comments to an on-going discussion regarding the "place" writing thank you cards has in our society today. Throughout the forum, people were saying it "was a good idea." However, I often wonder how often "good ideas" go un-done!

Here was our response:

It sounds unanimous that we agree hand writing notes has value because it is a novelty now, to receive a card or stationery in the mail.

We write thank you notes to our clients and cards to seminar attendees when they leave a business card. Most people react by saying, "I don't have time to do all of that." One tip we give to the executives we coach is to keep a small stack of cards with stamped envelopes in their briefcase.

You'd be surprised how much time can be found, when you're looking, to write a quick personal note. Meetings start late, a client is stuck in traffic, flights are delayed. It happens all the time. If you're prepared, you can take advantage of this "lost time" and really connect with people.

Internal Chatter - can you hear it?

What do you say when you say it to yourself? And, what do you do when you hear it?

In seminars, I ask the question: "How many of you talk to yourselves?" Usually, about half the participants raise their hands. The other half, well…they're probably thinking, "I don't talk to myself, what does he think I am…crazy? I'm not crazy, no way, not me..."

I've grown comfortable keeping a piece of paper and pen/pencil handy wherever I am. Many times, no matter what I'm doing, something else (totally unrelated) comes in to distract me. And, the more I develop myself professionally, and engage with my life personally, I find that many of my ideas have nothing to do with I am DOING, instead, they are things to think about again at some other location, with some other tool.

I learned this lesson a couple of years ago. One time I was flying across the country. Sitting there, I had a thought of someone I hadn't talked to in a while. Now, I know I knew it was expensive, but I did it anyway...I used the airphone to make the call. Two weeks later, I got my VISA bill...

Management Methods | Management Models | Management Theories

Wow! If "information overload" was ever an issue for you, skip visiting this page! As an athlete, and an executive consultant to organizations focused on employee engagement and personal productivity, I found just clicking around a few of the topics provided me with some good, quick, useful information.

For example, this week I'm working with an organization, and specifically the leadership of that company, to implement behavior-based changes to their workflow systems and workplace performance. Here is a page that I found useful in some of the research I did for our work together.

Continue reading for just a little information from the site...

What you DO with your time impacts your time management

One day, quite some time ago, I spoke with a seminar participant after a one-day workshop. He smiled and the first thing he said to me was, "You're out of your mind!" Now, knowing what I know, and sharing the information I do, I was preparing for what could have possibly come next.

You see, my main message to audiences around the world is that it is possible to stay inspired, engaged, and focused while living and working in a world of unlimited opportunity. Each time the phone rings, and each time you “check your E-mail” you have significant choices to make about how you spend your time.

It is what you DO with your time that impacts your time management.

It is not time management that impacts what you DO with your time.