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The Womack Company: What we do (Part 4/4)

We're working on a project to put together a short video, outlining what we "do" at The Womack Company. Our partners asked us to come up with four "quotations" that come together to summarize our work - the caveat: Each quote needs to be short...

And, here you have all four (the fourth one is at the bottom!):

Managing Personal Productivity
Set, accomplish and surpass individual and team professional goals

Enhanced Workplace Performance
Minimize distraction, increase productivity and make things happen

Jason W. Womack, MEd, MA
Master productivity coach, workplace performance psychologist

The Womack Company
An advanced productivity framework for professional achievement

Here is an email I received recently; it sums up what I hope to share with the world. Oh, it also proves our other motto: We're smarter together. Bring us in, let us work with your team, and watch your productivity soar!

Hello Jason
 
I've attended the seminar 'Productivity through Technology' in September this year. The stuff learned during the seminar sounded too simple too have such an impact - however; I've tried to follow the learnings as much as I could.
 
In the meanwhile I've reduced to amount of unread e-mails from 2197 to 135, I store about 10% of the emails compared to pre-seminar and I introduced a task list. I will certainly follow the ideas gained from your seminar.
 
Do you know if and when you will be holding the same seminar in Zurich again? I really would like to send my team mates as I really believe that they will increase productivity.
 
Kind Regards
F.S. - Zurich, Switzerland

The Womack Company: What we do (Part 3/4)

We're working on a project to put together a short video, outlining what we "do" at The Womack Company. Our partners asked us to come up with four "quotations" that come together to summarize our work - the caveat: Each quote needs to be short...

Here you have... the third one:

Jason W. Womack, MEd, MA
Master productivity coach, workplace performance psychologist

Well, in this little video we're making, it seems appropriate to answer the question: "Who is this Jason guy?"

Since entering graduate school pursuing an advanced Master's degree in Education (in 1995), I've been fascinated by the process of learning and application. How is it, I wonder, some people see, hear or do something new and after realizing the benefit continue doing it? Other people, well, they hear about an idea that could help them create (or drop!) a habit, and for one reason or another, they just don't get around to implementing it...

I returned to school (in 2001), and earned another Master's degree...this one in Psychology. You see, as a trained teacher, I was taught how to build a lesson plan, present material, and assess progress. What I needed to study for two more years was: How do you get people to learn most effectively?

Today, our coaching programs and seminars are designed to do two things at once: Educate AND influence. We personally guarantee that by attending one of our programs, you will work smarter, more efficiently, get more done, and experience more progress - in work and in life.

The Womack Company: What we do (Part 2/4)

We're working on a project to put together a short video, outlining what we "do" at The Womack Company. Our partners asked us to come up with four "quotations" that come together to summarize our work - the caveat: Each quote needs to be short...

Below, the second one:

Enhanced Workplace Performance
Minimize distraction, increase productivity and make things happen

This constant changing of focus, from unfinished task to open project back to incomplete conversation all take a toll. It's important to look back on each day (yes, every day!) and acknowledge progress. Of course, you may have to manufacture that completion, and you may need to plan your day ahead of time to get there...but, try it out. It's important...

Making things possible...that is our motto.

Through an exploration of the psychological, technological and sociological factors that impact productivity, it's possible then to come up with experiments to implement as you study and impove your own workplace performance.

The Womack Company: What we do (Part 1/4)

We're working on a project to put together a short video, outlining what we "do" at The Womack Company. Our partners asked us to come up with four "quotations" that come together to summarize our work - the caveat: Each quote needs to be short...

So, here's the first one:

Managing Personal Productivity
Set, accomplish and surpass individual and team professional goals

It is one thing to say you're going to do something, and then a whole other thing to actually do it. Because this "doing" is so important, Jason co-wrote a book with his father, Craig P. Womack. Click here to find out about The Promise Doctrine, available for purchase in November, 2009.

Also, because goal setting and acknowleding accomplishment is so important, co-founder of The Womack Company Jodi Womack created another startup - this one for women business leaders. Click here to learn more about No More Nylons.

Do you "Mind the Gap?"

It isn't so much about the "distance" between the train and the platform...

...as it is between knowing about something, and then doing something about that knowing. This is sometimes referred to as the "knowing-doing gap."

Just a couple of reasons I have for carefully watching how much I think I should do, and how much I actually DO of that...

1) There is too much I already have to do. Here, the emphasis on "have" to as in the infinite opportunities, NOT on have "to" as in the overwhelm of the undone.

2) I need to consciously experiment with something for 1-2 weeks, consistently, so I can study it personally. A new performance measure, a new productivity tip, a new presentation tool or technique...if I hear about it, I tend to get it and practice.

I don't want to lose valuable time and energy "wondering" if I should do something...that is "life in the gap."

As soon as you finish reading this, ask yourself, "What could I do next?"

Make a list of the reasons you deserve to succeed

Do you deserve it? (Here I am achieving a first - First place in a running race! Through miles 1-3 I could see and hear a couple of guys around me, then at mile four I made a decision. I told myself I was going to win this thing!)


Really? Massive success - whatever that means to you - needs a place to call home. If you're going to:

• Make more money
• Have more time off
• Get a promotion
• Close a deal
• Make a huge life change
• Experience ANYthing differently than you're currently experiencing!

...you're going to have to have space for it to exist. Sure it's easy to find examples of achieving personal "bests" in sports. And, for celebrities we see it all the time. But, what about in the everyday-ness of life? How do we go about getting ready, working toward, and experiencing success?Here are just a few things to consider:

• Start by identifying a "there" where you are going. Then...
• Begin by taking one small action each day for 5 days.
• Plan for the second week of pursuit to have one MAJOR, massive action take place.
• Share your plan with one person who is an undeniable supporter and raving fan.
• Keep some kind of journal, and write in it EVERY night, filling in a page using this prompt:

In what ways did I achieve toward my goal today?

More than an affirmation, more than wishful thinking...When you put your thoughts on paper, and reflect on your wins no matter how big or small, you engage all your senses of learning, experience and self-leadership. Go for it...Go out there, and make things possible!

When you think of nothing, you add value to your life (and to other people as well!)

I'd like to thank the WSJ writer, Robert Lee Holtz for adding a great piece of research to my life.

(I know I have written about my subscription to the DANA press periodical, "Brain in the News." What, you still don't have a free subscription? Well...ok, then!)

This article put ideas and a bit of science behind what we all know intuitively. There is often more going on than what is going on. It just makes sense to ne that people think about things OTHER than what they are doing!

Want a challenge? Not a riddle, not a test...a challenge. Sit down in a comfortable chair, with pen and paper in front of you. Set a timer for 3 minutes.

Sit there, and do nothing. No phone calls, no email, no reading, no answering the phone...no-thing.

Then, at the end of the three minutes, write down as many things as possible that you remember thinking about during those three minutes. Be VERY honest with yourself, make as long a list as possible. NOT just what you have to DO, not just the PROBLEMS to SOLVE...every single thought!

If you want a good read, check out the June 19, 2009 article in thw Wall Street Journal by Holtz titled, "A Wandering Mind Heads Straight Toward Insight." (Page A-11)

"Funky Business Forever" - a great two/three day read

On a recommendation from a client in London (thanks again, Lida!), I ordered a copy of Funky Business Forever, by Jonas Ridderstrale and Kjell Nordstrom.

As I was reading it, I felt like it was a "good to great" meets "the world is flat." I felt inspired, refreshed and prepared. Just a few lines that stood out to me:

Page #188: "In a brain-based world, we have to change our definition of education and training."

Page #189: [British Aerospace] "...provided 19,600 online courses and 323,854 online training hours in 2004."

I never did have the chance to read the "first" edition of Funky Business, but I'd highly recommend anyone in "business" at least read through chapters 2 and 6 of this book...

Funky Business Forever, Chapter 2: Forces of Funk [Technology...Institutions...Values...]

Funky Business Forever, Chapter 6: Feeling Funky

Are you sitting with the "right" people?

Put the right people in the room [or, at the table] and amazing things happen.

Last night after work here in London, 5 of us went out to dinner and quickly the conversation went FROM "tell us about California," TO "let's brainstorm ways we can produce educational programming for the bank in a way that engages more learners?"

Jodi and I took the opportunity to share many of the programs we've been involved with creating over the past three years. In fact, just last weekend we were co-presenters during some sessions at PresentationCampLA - a GREAT example of what happens when you "put the right people in the room."

Last night's dinner was very exciting for three reasons:

1) More groups are willing to experiment with "what could be." This is exciting, as we can capitalize on both traditional and "new" learning models to engage more associates in the learning and implementation process. For example, I can take my practice with "Bloom's Taxonomy" of lesson plan building, and add in my own understanding and use of Twitter as a learning tool.

2) It's ok to have a "not perfect" idea. One of the special things about having dinner with people I have a history with, is they know that my idea-generation ability is pretty expansive...Give me a couple of hours, with the right people at the table, and we'll create many more ideas than we could ever implement!

3) And, finally (an extension of #2 above), when I DO pick something to do...Watch out: It will get done! It's amazing when we take the opportunity to Stop...Reflect...Consider...Act...Assess.

So, we'll be back in London in September (and Zurich) and in between now and then A LOT more travel (check out the schedule on the right side of our newsletter page...) as we're partnering with more learning organizations.

The good news about being "learning consultants" is that each group we work with benefits from ALL we see going on out there (and...There is a LOT going on...).

What is a person to do? (if they have some free time...)

As many of you know, I'm a faculty member at WealthBridge Connect.

Since I teach over there, I thought I'd also do one of those other things I do best...learn! With one question, I reached out to as many other faculty members as I could find, and asked them a simple (and significant) question:

"If someone has "down time" resulting from a slowing economy, what could they do to get ahead?"

I read several responses, and even talked to a few people as we discussed our theories of what the spring and summer would turn into as far as professional potential and work-life balance issues are concerned.

One of the emails I received from Jay (below) really meant something to me. Over the past four "jobs" I've had, leaving three of them came as a result of me looking out and realizing, "There's something more I could be doing."

Where did that feeling of "something more" come from? Believing Jay's advice (before I'd ever heard it!

This may be the best time to look with fresh eyes on what has become status quo and see incredible opportunities! Jay McChord (WorkplaceBuzZ)

Since about 1991, I've focused on creating and then experiencing the opportunities I heard or learned about. Ways that I've done this (and encourage clients to do around the world) include:

1. Attend a course, speech or workshop. Get out there, and get in there to create the learning opportunity you need to make things up and make things possible.
2. Learn to read faster. I know, I know...I'm still a book-reader. Sure, I have an account at Audible.com, I own a Kindle, and I have hundreds of audio programs on my iPhone (literally...Hundreds!)...I still enjoy holding a book. What made it even MORE enjoyable was learning to read at twice my old speed.
3. Invite people who are wwwwaaaaayyyyyyyy smarter than me to coffee, breakfast, lunch, drinks or dinner. It's amazing, people may not have time to sit in a conference room and talk, but most everyone will make a 15-minute window of time available over coffee. Some of the most intersting, informing and inspiring conversations have been with people I bought a 3 dollar coffee for while visiting out-of-state.
4. Add to a journal. Write. More. Things. Down. Enough said...

Here's a challenge...Over the next 5 days, create 3-4 windows of time (10-30 minutes, that's all) and do something for you...something that might bump you ahead!