Your best just got better

Hey, what's that distracting your learning?

Did a little research this morning after my most recent trip consulting for a few Investment Banks in Europe last week. It seems that now (more then ever, they are saying) people have more than "just" work on their minds when they are AT work. So...what's the big deal?

Read on...

The study compared 10 healthy people in their 60s and 70s to a dozen younger volunteers, ages 22 to 36. Their brains were scanned while they looked at photographs of people they did not know. As each photograph was displayed for one second, the volunteers were asked if they'd seen it before in the study.

Have you ever felt "a little bit distracted?" If so, check out this article by Mr. Malcolm Ritter.

For years, I have talked about the importance of learning in "less distracting" environments. As a high school teacher, I didn't ask my students to study in quiet environments because they could NOT learn while watching TV or listening to music. Instead, I attempted to show them that they could learn FASTER and EASIER by focusing in on what they need to do!

I know, I know...nothing new. But, I do have a question to ask of my own self: What will I do today, in total focused concentration?

To get myself geared up for an experiment, I re-viewed this TED Talk by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi.

Geographically independent, and moving through the crisis!

On vacation, I found out my website is down, my email account is down, and I'm a 4+ hour drive away from the office. So, I called in on my network of friends and mentors: - we've domain-forwarded the website (that's why you're here, if you typed in www.jasonwomack.com. - we've moved my email hosting (please E-mail me at jwwomack (at) gmail (dot) com

Ok, we're back up, you can E-mail me at the link off to the right side of this page between now and Monday)

- we've decided to take a hike, as I'm not going to drive back to the Ojai office to fix this. This is what running our own business - and being geographically independent - is all about!

Find just two people...watch how quickly community is built

Ok, got some really nice advice from the stage just now...

Darian Rodriguez Heyman
Executive Director of Craigslist Foundation -

"Look to create and participate in the kind of community in HERE that you want to experience out THERE."

He talked briefly about how "easy" it can be to create a significant community by simply reaching out to meet a couple of people within handshake-distance.

(Interesting personal story - can't make this up - I'm sitting between two women, Nancy and Gail. My mom's name is Nancy...my step-mom's name is Gail. So, I guess I'm supposed to be here...like, right here!)

On a trail, around the corner there has got to be something better...

While walking through the Metropolitan Museum on Saturday, I had the opportunity to pause...nay, stop...and reflect on many of the personal and professional forks in the road that lie ahead...of us all.

Saw this painting, and froze in place - working in my mind to answer the question: What's next?

Then, waiting until that question cleared itself, and the reset sounded like:

What is next...is next.

So, here's to another three months (can you believe it's already the end of September?) of looking around the corner!

Are You Staying Connected to What's (and who's) Important?

Yeah! A new article just went "live" on a website out there...one we put together to share some ideas on how busy, busy people can still "find time" to stay connected to the important people (and things) in their lives. Here's the intro, click below to read the rest of the article, Staying Connected to What's (and who's) Important!

• When you are traveling and networking for business, you're capable of meeting many people who can and will be important to your business and your life. Once you've left them, sometimes across the country, they and their importance to you can quickly fade from memory.

Staying Connected to What's (and who's) Important

Can you tell us how to make changes?

Presenting two seminars in one day is always exciting...and, I did it again this week in Portland, Oregon. The first one was our MWP (Mastering Workplace Performance) "Best Practices Overview." It takes about 3 hours, and we demonstrate first the methods, then the systems (first the behaviors, then the technology) to enhance workplace performance, make progress on meaningful projects, and stress less about what isn't getting done.

On one of the breaks, someone asked if I would talk to the large group (this person brought about 8 people from his organization to the seminars) about making changes. He and I talked about habits, and looking for ways to do things differently.

As his business is "client-centric," I decided to start off with the following:

The first step in the journey is caring.

When deciding to make any sort of change in your life – whether it’s in what work you do or who you do it; how you treat your body physically and how your improve it; or how you help your business client achieve the goals they have for themselves, there needs to be an admission you care.

Your first step needs to be a passionate investment in the goal and all that it takes to get there. Combining the caring that fuels motivation, creativity and ultimately the effectiveness in the execution, you will identify a clearer path.

As an experiment, consider making a short list and putting up for the next 5 days. Title it:

Things I care about...

Each day, for the next 5, look at that list and identify one thing you can do (a small thing) to demonstrate your commitment to caring. Who knows, at the end of 5 days, you may have made some incredible progress!

Creativity - what do people DO?

I'm on a mission this year. Well, several, actually. One topic that's grabbing my interest lately is "creativity." I wonder: who has it, how did they get it, why do they use it, and what - exactly - is it?

I figure, if I can understand how creative people do their job, their life, their work, I could use those tools in my own life. In what I do - speaking, writing, traveling - and how I spend my time - home-ownership, marriage, triathlon - I realize that the more I can create, the more I can give back.

I've come up with a few things lately:

-Creative people accept the gifts they have, and use them as much as they can;

-Creative people celebrate completion. They look at what they've done, no matter how big or small, as a stepping stone to their future;

-Creative people do something, every day, that uplifts their spirit; something that is meaningful, that they love, something that brings them delight;

and

-Creative people embrace possibility and create opportunity. They read an article, pick up a new book, introduce themselves to someone nearby.

I'm committed this year to enhancing my creativity. I am doing things, every day, that create more opportunity. Most of all, I am efficiently handling my agreements and celebrating completion.

What's your "what for?"

On a drive from Ojai to Los Angeles this morning, I took the "quiet time" to listen...not to the radio, not to my voicemail, not to a book on CD; instead, I decided to listen to my own mind.

Over the past few months, I've noticed a theme of over-promising (to myself and to others) and then scrambling through late(r) nights, and over weekend days to get those things done. Today, I went through a "thought experiment" I call

...so that...

with several of my projects.

I think of a project, and identify a successful, valuable, end result. Then, I say to myself, "I am going to achieve that outcome so that..." and I fill in the blank.

As soon as I fill in the blank with one so that, I do it again; this time with THAT as the prompt. "I am going to achieve _______________ so that..."

It sure takes a while, but some of the clarity I experience on the other side is well worth the exercise.

What was that...that just happened?

Ok, if you're anything like me, from time to time you lose focus. Yeah, it happpens.

While reading a book, talking on the phone, out for a run, or even at dinner with my wife...my mind way wander.

QUESTION: When it wanders, where does your mind go? For years, I've practiced "living with pen and paper." You see, I can't help my fleeting thoughts from coming in (or going back out!), but I can stop them from coming in again and again...by writing them down!

Give it a try, for the next five days, do these two things:

1) Bring paper and pen with you EVERYWHERE.
2) Write more things down.

Does what you see inspire you?

Surround yourself...

...attention can influence behavior. So, put things around you that are interesting, inspiring and innovative. Change your screen-saver on your computer every 4-5 days...it only takes a moment, and it can be a great way to start your day with energy, excitement and enthusiasm.