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I am going to be on stage from 9am-5pm on Thursday, November 1st. Here's a quote I read today that is going to be a part of my presentation:
“ The greatest use of life is to spend it for something that will outlast it. ”
- William James (1842-1910)
psychologist, philosopher, author
On a flight last week, the captain talked to us over the PA system to let us know about an "electrical malfunction" he was watching on the flight deck.
Well, being a frequent traveler (+100 plane trips already this year!) I don't mind at all when we get a little extra "ground time." When I stop to think about the countless number of details that go into creating and maintaining an aircraft, I sit in wonder - when it takes a little longer to get to where I want to get to, I am still thankful for all those details.
Well, the guy the captain introduced to us as "Mr. Goodwrench" arrived a few moments later and within 30 minutes we were taxiing out to the runway.
To me, this whole experience demonstrates another example of Productivity...not Time Management!
(To me time management was what I DID with the 1/2 hour...not that I had an extra half an hour! That is matter for another post...)
Your own professional productivity and personal achievement depends on aligning what you KNOW with what you DO. When I left the high school classroom – I taught from 1995-2000 – a friend of mine gave me a book titled, “The Knowing-Doing Gap.” Years later, when I was traveling in London, I looked down while I was getting on the Underground (subway) and read a sign that almost made me stop:
Mind the gap.
And, that’s when I realized that merely surviving, and ultimately succeeding, comes down to identifying the “space” between here and there and crossing that space effectively.
At the airport this morning, I heard a voicemail from someone who asked, "Jason, will you share some of your ideas on how you travel AND continue with yur triathlon and nutrition programs?"
So, from my seat here with American Airlines, flight 2270, here are a couple of ideas I would like to share:
1) I always travel with workout gear, and I have at least 60 minutes of engaging exercise I can do in even the most limited of hotel gyms.
2) I am a triathlete. I am not an Ironman... This distinction is significant!
3) A part of my awareness is on the above fact. So, as I travel, exercise, work, rest, etc, I just filter everything through this question: "Is what I am doing something a triathlete would do?"
Try it out... What one word, right now, describes who you are? (Manager, parent, volunteer, friend...) Then, just ask yourself, "Is what I am doing as a ------ what I want to be doing?"
4) Drink more water today than yesterday. It's only 6:50am, and I have already consumed more than 17 ounces...I am well on my way to my normal 80 ounces a day!
5) Get a workout/nutrition partner, hire a coach, join a club, or/and subscribe to a magazine. Declare your successful outcome and gather the support you can use. I would not be where I am (physically, professionally, socially, financially, in every aspect of my life) without the guidance and support from my students, peers and mentors who have taught me along the way.
I am sure there is more, but I encourage you to consider those 5 things and get going!
We occasionally hear or read a quote that makes us sit up and pay attention. Here's one (and the author asked to remain anonymous) that made my day. I read it in my E-mail inbox several days ago...
I truly enjoyed your seminar. I have to say it had an immediate positive impact on me. Your positive mental attitude is impressive and I only wish that each and everyone of us had just 10% of it. Corporations and other institutions in the United States would be even more competitive.
I still am amazed that I found work that is so motivating and inspiring. I feel honored that I get to stand up and present this information to people who are ready and willing to make some positive, productive, lasting changes!
I sat in a bookstore, picked up Gitomer's book, opened to page 112 and remembered so much of what I learned years ago in phsychology class.
When I earned my second master's degree in 2003, I had no idea how much that information would help my career, my relationships, my business, my writing and more!
I spoke at a conference this month, two days after Gitomer was on the same stage. On a recommendation from a mentor, I went to the Internet and looked up his "sales rants" in the iTunes music store. They are great! I consider Jeffrey the uncle who tells you how it is...how it really is!
His book on "cha-ching" really ISN'T about making money as much as it IS about good, solid, meaningful connections and business principles. Best of all? It's easy (and fun) to read!
Enjoy...
I've written about my Garmin GPS training computer before, and when I shared my use with Kevin Kelly over at Cool Tools, he wrote it up for his own newsletter and blog. I highly recommend anyone looking to take their training to the next level look into this technology...
Eric, Jodi and I met today to talk about his upcoming eProductivity conference in Manila. The conference is called:
Beyond Planning: eProductivity
Using Information, Communication, and Action tools to get things done.
It was a full day, as we discussed each of the 25+ sessions he is building, as well as where and how The Jason Womack Company can add value, information and ideas!
Of course, Michael Sampson even "Skyped-in" as we were deep in development, conversation and ideation... After Michael called, we went back to work:
After some amazing press from ABS-CBN, Eric is more excited than ever to bring his ideas and ideals to an area he enjoyed visiting earlier this month. As for Jodi and I, we're very much looking forward to putting together our ideas on where we think our information will "fit" for this audience. The areas we're contributing to are:
Beyond Average: Cultivating Habits of Excellence at Work
Beyond Interruptions: Being Productive in an Always On World
Beyond Merely Coping: Having Enough Energy for Work, Home and Play
Beyond the Long Way: Shortcuts to Productivity
Beyond Individuals: Creating Effective Teams and Groups at Work
I'm delighted to serve as an advisor to the eProductivity conference...thanks Eric!
As a new business "owner," I now have my eye out and attention focused on branding, brand awareness, innovation and creativity.
Last month, the London Design Festival brought people together to look at branding and design and how that's affecting investments of time, energy, focus and resources.
Here's an interview (worth a look) with the design director from Alfa Romeo...Frank Stephenson.
For those of us who wake up engaged, inspired or ready for the day... What do you think about that title?
I'm open to hearing what you think about a question I read in an e-mail I received this morning. A longer note, I'll copy the question that encouraged me to write this blog entry here:
How do you make time for all the things you want to do?
If we had time for all the things we want to do, the world - our world - would be a very different place. If we had the money to buy the things we wanted, the relationships to feel what we wanted, the resources to create what we wanted...
But...we don't. And, that's the beauty of it! Think for a moment, who DOES have enough time? You'll have your answer, here's the one I've come up with...
Continue reading "Engaged means you don't have enough time" »
