Your best just got better

The Power of [your] TEAM - another version of the vision

I was doing my weekly "catch-up" blog-reading, and came across this wonderful post on TEAM by a colleague of mine in the Not-For-Profit sector. Christopher and I go way back, though we've only spent a few hours together physically. Most of our idea generation, innovation sharing, and project planning is done via e-mail and over the phone.

None-the-less, he is an integral performer on Team Womack (as, I'd imagine I'm on his as well...but, I'll let him speak to that later!). Please check out his stuff, it's good!

Is anyone planning to attend the ECO:nomics Conference in Santa Barbara?

I saw an advert for this conference (ECO:nomics Creating Environmental Capital) and thought to see if anyone is coming out to the Santa Barbara area for this conference. If so, let me know...perhaps a "meet and greet" over dinner in Ojai is in the works!

What makes up your current reality?

How do you work? How do innovate? How do you get things done? How do you ³show up² when it is time to engage in your life/work?

These were questions I re-read 23 days after writing them in my Moleskine journal. I was at the bookstore, having just picked up my new notebook, and the entry on the first page ­ a page that has been processed 100% - was all about trying to figure out where I am, when I am there.

So, there are at least 3 time zones to consider: Past Present Future

My current reality, what I do and how I do it, is dependant at any given time on my engagement in or with one of those periods of time.

If I focus on the past, I look at what happened, how I got something done, what went into making that thing possible, often to the exclusion of how right now is different.

If I focus on the present, I think about what I am doing, often to the exclusion of what I have learned from previous experiences or what I have not yet seen that may go into assisting me in the future.

If I focus on the future, I think about what I am going to do later, how things will be later, what might get in the way later; too many times, I still catch myself focusing extensively here, and, I realize that I am trying to live in the future, now. And, as much as I think I understand about what that future will look like, I know that I can not know enough about how it is going to be to base my current thinking only on what does not yet exist.

Well, with all that said, I hope you are wondering (like I was) about how to keep up with where you (1) were, (2) are and (3) are going. I find it a constant, vigilant process, and look forward to finding more and new ways to engage with what I am doing, when I am doing it.

Terracycle - an organization eliminating the idea of waste

I received an email (direct email campaign) from Clif Bar this morning. The company is sponsoring the "Energy Bar Wrapper Brigade," a way we can reduce the solid-waste impact of energy bar wrappers landing in our land fills.

For free, Terracycle will send me (and you can do it too!) 4 bags to collect the energy bar wrappers. Apparently, when the bag is full, I send it in, and resources are donated to different organizations.

If you're an "energy bar fan" (like I am...Clif Bar Mint Chip, please!) consider getting involved in this worthwhile program...

Thanks!

Seeing more on a PC (more shortcuts...)

After a seminar last week, I received this note from a participant...good stuff!
(Thanks Brian!)

Thanks for the class on Friday. Some great takeaways.

I have a shortcut for you to consider for your standard set of PC shortcuts...

<Windows Key><E>.

This brings up the Microsoft Explorer window, and is quite helpful. One use case is if you want to move a file, you can quickly open a 2nd explorer window to see both directories at the same time to ensure you are moving it to the right place. Many other uses.

How long have you been thinking about that?

Someone asked me recently, "Jason, what do you think about ________?" The topic was a new "organizing tool" that this client had heard of. She was wondering if it would help her in the constant battle of having too much to do, and not enough time to do it all in...

As you read the following (part of an article I'm submitting for publication to a magazine), consider something you're thinking about doing, but have not started working on as of yet.

When you are thinking of making a change, what does that mean? In your quest to get organized, and manage your time more effectively: What seminars have you attended? What binders, programs, books have you bought? What coaching programs have you tried?

Working one-on-one as an executive coach to senior managers and directors, I have heard many stories of what people have tried. I regularly visit office supply stores to see what new "gadgets" they sell promising organization and easier ways to work. I continually scour the Internet and read books and magazine articles looking for information to test...information promising ways to achieve a work-life balance and more productivity.

It’s still interesting to hear about what sticks, and what doesn’t. Some programs, methodologies and technologies stay around, while other people move from idea to idea, from program to program.

One of the most significant learning experiences I ever had as a mentor in a public school teaching environment over a decade ago was this: Ideas, methods, tools and programs will change; the fundamentals will be around for a long, long time. I need to understand the fundamentals.

One of the fundamentals to workplace performance is: Stop thinking and Start doing. Take that idea that has been on your mind, identify a next action and test it out to see how it can work (or not) for you. If you try and you like it, you get to stop wondering if it can work. If you try it and you don’t, you get to start using valuable thinking, planning and development time for the next idea!

How "healthy" is that lunch?

In a discussion with a managing director recently, we discussed the concept of sustainability as it relates to performance and the personal productivity of her team members.

As many of you reading this know, I believe there are many factors (besides just time management) that go into making things happen.

There is an article in the USA Today newspaper today that discusses one of these: Nutrition.

Stephanie Armour put some good research together...check it out if you have time online.

Landing at JFK, what a sight!

There are so many reasons not to be at 100% right now

There are so many reasons not to be at 100% right now.  I mean, you could probably read this short article while holding a thought about dinner tonight, while listening to someone else or music on your MP3 player and reviewing the newspaper all at the same time!

You could have already stopped reading this entry, a memory of something long ago or a reminder of something you have yet to do grabbing your focus, all of this going on all around, and me, another blogger, vying for a bit of your attention. 

But, we have to face the facts: You are not the only one who is attention-challenged. Like you, there are other things I could be doing.  Reviewing new e-mail, drafting a speech, writing a card to my mom, or even talking to the person sharing my table here at the coffee shop.  (I am writing this at a local coffee shop in Raleigh, NC.)  But no, not right now. Right now I am writing a short article.

You've decided to bring this blog into your focus, and of all the things you could be doing, at least up to right now, you've chosen to stick with me.

So, I will return the favor...

When you are overwhelmed, it is easier to give in, give up or walk away.

Bring to mind one of your significant projects. Make it a big one, an important one, a meaningful one. Are you giving that project the attention and resources necessary to complete it on time and effectively? If not, why not?

I have heard people say they do not have the time it will take to do all that they have to do.

I hope this is not news. I remember when I learned an important lesson, years ago while attending a city college in California. The best teachers I learned from (I can count them on one hand) had 24 hours in a day to get everything done.