Your best just got better

No wonder I have a tough time prioritizing...I have too much to do!

Have you ever felt pulled in one too many directions?

I have...

...regularly!

In the past 3 weeks, I've had a lot going on (and, so have you by the way!). Here's the short list:

Seminars in New Jersey, New York, Washington DC, London, San Diego and Long Beach, CA.
Triathlon in New York City
Life...
Training...
Writing and content development...
...and all the other stuff of just staying engaged and involved.

So, I thought I'd share just a few of the ways I keep on going. They are: Start where I am; See what could be; Affirm the thoughts I want to have.

1) Start where I am:
I realized years ago, I could win more in my life when I was honest about my skill-set, my needs for growth, and my ability to ask for help. Acknowledging there is too much to do is one of my ways out of stress. So, if you want to jump ahead, take a step back and for 10-20 minutes, just get stuff "out of your head." Write it down, or use Jott to create your inventory of "current reality."

2) See what could be:
Being busy is a way of life...for a lot of people I know. They stay engaged, involved, inspired, moving, and...well...busy. At the present moment, while we're IN the busy-ness of life, we need to slow down and clarify what's most important. I highly recommend you pause a few times per day and imagine - yes, that's right...image in - what the end of the day could look like with "all systems go." It might require a bit of change (see this article from Training Magazine), but it's going to be worth it.

3) Affirm the thoughts I want to have:
I believe (and live) that holding a positive focus is different than having positive thoughts. Holding a positive focus to me means that I'm aware of what's going on around me, while simultaneously moving forward and toward how I intend them to be. Practice this, too. During the day, let the thoughts you have include statements such as:

- This is easy. I am good at this. I can do this.

Continue to ground your positive experiences with action. Look around and see what's going on, and observe how you engage. Try any one (or all three!) of these ideas, and as always, please let us know how it goes!

Building on your committment

"shhhhhhhh"

What happens...when things go quiet?

Do you generate more ideas? Or do you quickly move on to something to fill the "void?"

Daily meditation offers a wonderful way to start each day. But, let's be real...most of you reading this are already too busy to build in meditation to your day. Think about it, have you ever felt you were "behind" even before you'd had breakfast?

Instead of thinking you have to do this "all-or-nothing," consider experimenting with a process you can imagine....yes, on that you can image-in.

Instead of thinking meditation is something "they" do, consider it something you're already doing. Call it thought, consideration, deliberation, contemplation, or reflection. Then, find a way to begin winning - starting right now.

Here is an idea:

On top of a blank piece of paper, write the words: Recent Accomplishments and Completions.

Look at your clock (watch) and for 120 seconds write as fast as you can. Create an inventory of your recent accomplishments, personal and professional. Capture anything you consider to be "done."

If you do this, really, you will experience what it's like to "be in the moment." If you want to build on your commitments, doing more and feeling great about that, consider these 2 other 2-minutes "meditations."

Title one piece of paper: "People and things I'm grateful for"
Just like before, let your pens fly across the page as you write as fast as possible for 120 full seconds.

Title another piece of paper: "Things I'd like to accomplish in my own lifetime."

This kind of reflection AND capturing activity can act as a re-centering process. Stressed? Write some things down. Bored? Pull out a pen and piece of paper. Running behind on a project? Try it out, and see if it might work for you!

Step away to gain clarity

I write articles and speak to organizations on topics concerning engagement at work, personal productivity and workplace performance. So, when I see an article on a topic connected to these topics, I work to share them with as many people as possible.

In the August 2008 issue of Triathlete magazine, professional athlete Mark Allen writes about avoiding "the blues." As I read the article, I realized that I share a lot of the tools) and techniques that Allen shares. Here is one:

Step away

No, really, walk away for a while. A day, maybe two. See what happens. With the executive athletes I coach, we take 48 hours off. The result: a more engaged "next" workout, and well-rested muscle groups.

Starting with the first week this year, I set the intention of not turning on my computer one day a week. I know, there will be a few people reading this who get that. However, I must tell you, it has been a significant challenge.

No, I've not "made it" each and every week, bit I can tell you coming back after a day (or two!) is incredible.

What is your customer-aquisition/customer retention philosophy?

Late last year, I called an organization to sign up for one of their week-long cycling camps. When they asked if I wanted to put down a deposit, I said, "I'm committed, I've cleared my calendar, I'm going, I'll pay in full right now!"

Then, in January, with less than 10 days before the camp was to start, my general doctor decided it was necessary to perform an "emergency cryogenic operation" on my foot. (Yeah, he had to freeze the bottom half...) "You'll be fine by the time the camp starts," he promised.

What happened next is amazing, and according to my doctor unexpected! The entire underside of my left foot blistered over. I couldn't walk, run, or swim...Bottom line, no cycling for weeks!

I called the camp manager, who said he'd apply my camp fee to a future camp...which he did. The issue is that the ORIGINAL camp I signed up for cost about 4 times some of the other camps throughout the year. Oh, wait, there's one more issue, my schedule for 2008 is already spoken for with client promises!

So, when I called the CEO and founder of the company and asked if he would apply my left-over balance toward the 2009 camp (the one that I originally signed up for) he said, "Let me think about it."

Days later, here's the note I received:

Jason,
Glad you are in town for the camp...enjoy yourself!

I thought about your request for applying the balance from the '08
Buellton camp to a '09 Buellton camp.  I am sorry but I will not be able
to accommodating this request.  I am sure you understand as begin a
business owner there are certain policies that are important to
maintain. Thank you for your understanding.

Stop by today if you have sometime. I am packed with meetings, etc..but
it would be good to say hello.

All the best,
CC

 

So, this organization walks away with just over $1,500...my question is: "At what cost?"

Those of you running a business, I encourage you to consider the costs in ACQUIRING a client, and the costs of RETAINING a client. This organization lost me...and a few people I know...as future customers.

Why is a "decision-making" job stressful?

I am a student of the decision-making process...and have been studying what I call "Psychology at Work" for over a decade. Since earning a master's degree in Psychology in 2003, I have continued to read, write and speak about the effects of "thinking" while "working."

I had to read this a couple of times as I slowly began to realize the significance of the words: (It's from an article I clipped some time ago in a "Brain in the News" article from the DANA press.)

"…the brain's noise level rises when the excitatory neurotransmitter glutamate becomes overactive in the prefrontal cortex and at the same time stimulates receptors for another neurotransmitter, dopamine, in the limbic region."

The question "on my mind" that spurred further research and writing was: When this much activity is caused by an outside influence, what happens to my ability to focus on an issue impartially and objectively?

Does too much "brain noise" get in the way of being present and focused with someone else in a conversation. And, if so, what can I do about it?

My connection to this comes in my interest in why people can occasionally experience a breakdown in communication during stressful conversations.

Productivity and Customer Service: What's the connection?

Definition of PRODUCTIVITY:

"Doing what you said you would do, in the time you said you’d do it." ~ Jason Womack

Recently, we were asked what Customer Service themes possibly have to do with Productivity. The ones we came up with were:

Keep your word, underpromise & over deliver.

Practical Tips to help stay on top of your service:

Then, I expanded on four practical tips people could use (the ones I use!) to enhance and maintain their connection to effective, efficient, memorable customer service. Here they are:

Tracking:
#1 Keep an "Agendas" list (topics/ideas you need to speak about with key staff/clients/meetings) &
#2 Keep a “Waiting For” list (datestamped & name/topic)

I have been using both of these since 1997...I find it is MUCH easier to review a list of potential items to discuss with a business partner or client than it is to remember what I need to talk about. Meetings go smoothly, phone calls are effective/efficient, and clients (especially) tell us that it's easy to business together...

Google Alerts:
Have an “online researcher” send you daily updates on your industry, key clients, your company and other need to know topics.

Stocks I follow, companies I work with, events I participate in, places I am going to (or intend to) visit, people I have recently met...anything I would like to see a little more regularly, I make a GOOGLE ALERT for it, and wait for it to show up in my E-mail inbox.

(Two more...continue reading below!)

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...

The Personal Side of Leadership - the top 100 minds on personal development

I recently found out that I am included in the Personal Excellence, "top 100 minds on personal development." Click on the picture to see the article below (I am number 81...). This is an honor, and gives me an extra bit of added momentum to start 2008 on the right foot! My goals list for next year just got longer...

In your quest to get things done, what do YOU measure?

Sitting down at the end of a day last weekend, I wrote this question in my journal:

What's better to measure? Activity or Results?

I'm sure everyone reading this blog entry (as well as the guy writing it!) has had a "busy day." A day that just flew by, where one thing led to the next, and before we knew it the sun had set on another day.

Whether a weekend with the family, a day in the office, or an off-site meeting with the team; how do you measure your productivity?

I can make the case (as I am sure you can too) for measuring both Activities and Results. However, I'm curious to know what you think: If you're trying to find out if you're getting the right things done, what do YOU measure...and, how do you do it?

Three "Productivity" questions to ask yourself from time to time

I spent a good portion of Monday this week working remotely from a coffee shop in London.

During that time, I completed a weekly review, read one-quarter of the novel I’m enjoying (The Kite Runner), hand wrote a thank you card and processed my note-holder (medium-sized, lined paper Moleskine). During all of that getting-current activity, I realized there are THREE  Productivity questions I am interested in asking myself and my clients.

1) What do you hold yourself accountable to?
Change is the constant that we deal with, and when we make an agreement today, how do we follow through with it tomorrow? You and I live in a world where people will agree to do something for you, and then days or weeks later forget they said such a thing.

Our military clients have an acronym to explain this: OBE: Overcome By Events. When you tell someone you’ll do something for him or her, do they assume you will get it done? And, if it looks like you are running late on getting something done for yourself or someone else, how do you renegotiate that agreement?