Jason Womack

A dream (bike ride) is coming true!

It's been on my "Someday/Maybe" list for over 20 years.

"Multi-day bike ride the California Coast."

I still remember my first mountain bike. A steel-frame Fuji. I bought it on lay-away over a school-year in 1986. This was long before I'd heard of bike cleats or triathlons; but boy did I love riding those fire roads of West Marin County.

Well, years later, and the owner of aluminum, titanium AND carbon fiber bikes, I am proud to declare my intention to complete one of my life life goals.

News Alert: Announcing the CA Coastline Bike Ride

I will write a much more detailed post, but I wanted to give readers as much advance notice as possible.

March 1-3, 2007: Ride the California Coast (Marin County to Santa Barbara County)

On March 1st, we start riding in MARIN COUNTY, CA. We ride as far as Monterey that night. On March 2nd, we head south again, spending the night in Morro Bay. March 3rd, we end the ride in Santa Barbara.

If you're interested, please send an e-mail (click on the left side of this window) and we'll get you some more info right away... Please spread the word!

...and you know how it is! I just don't have time to...

Happy Valentine's Day!

Below is a comment from a reader, along with a bit of my own commentary "in between the lines."

Hi Jason. Here's my dilemma.

Ahhh, an honest man! You see, now we have some place to work from...when someone can say "help," information, ideas and solutions will have an entree point.

My writing coach, Deb Norton, taught me something I'll use for the rest of my life. (I just learned this in class last Monday night, so I'm still internalizing it...)

"The obstacle is everything." ... "They make us," she said.

When I heard this, I tuned into a new radio station. (I admit, I missed the next few minutes of the lesson as I made a mind map to understand this... I'll post it here later, typed up with a few things added since then.)

So, on with the prompts...

A long day at work...big decision to make:

Should I eat, or work out?

I don't really feel like I have the energy/nutrition to work out.

If I eat, I won't be able to wait until I properly digest my food before I can work out.

"Listen in" on a session with someone who has a great dilemma, several times a week...

Communication - at home

Link: Involved...or nosy?.

Late last summer, on a break during a workshop, a parent approached and said, "But if I do what you suggest won't my teen think I'm being overly nosy?"

Some background: For years, I have presented seminars "in house" for corporations and organizations worldwide.

Often, I reference my experiences as a high school teacher. I not only created lesson plans and worked one-on-one with the students, I connected with their parents as well.

I filed this under "mentors" because I believe this method goes far beyond "just" parents talking with teens.

I use this concept all the time (click the link above, and you'll get the rest of the story) in my coaching, training, and conversations with friends. Give it a try, and let us know what happens!

A short article on "Focus" at work

Link: I've never seen THAT before!

If you dare, sometime this week drive (or walk, or bike) home a different way than normal. Chances are, you'll see something you had missed until then!

Click on the link above, and you'll see a short note I wrote about how focus works...

Essentials in Learning Connections

Link: Welcome to Talent Management.

My friend and mentor, Kevin Wilde, writes: After nearly 30 years in the development field, it seems to me good work boils down to three simple questions:

1. What am I trying to do?   
2. Who cares?   
3. How will I know?

Is a visit to Ojai in your future?

Link: Village of Tales Ojai Storytelling Festival.

Imagine sitting beneath a canopy of ancient oaks and sycamores as you listen to stories filled with humor, adventure and drama. Travel to fantastic places filled with unforgettable characters and unusual situations.
We are often asked, “What is the targeted age of the festival?” The festival is geared to a mixed audience. Children are welcome, but they should be at least 6 years old. There’s something for everyone at this year’s Village of Tales – whether you’re 6 or 96.

This morning, my friend Brian asked if I'd share this news with the people who read this blog. "Sure," I said, "just forward me the links!"

I've known Brian for over a decade, we met while I was still teaching at Nordhoff High School. Each year, this storytelling "event" has become more and more popular. Something for everyone to enjoy!

 

What are you focused on, really?

I'm writing more and more about goal setting these days.

Why set goals?

I believe that a set goal is an achieved goal. Of course, there's this little thing called "timing," but most people have had an experience of starting to think about something they wanted to have or to do, and then noticing ways to get there appear all around them. You could try it now...

Look around the space you are in, and find anything that has "electronic parts" to it. Go ahead, look at the lamp, the computer, your cell phone, etc. When you set out to find something, you just may be surprised by how close it really is! Imagine when you can actually picture your goal with this level of clarity.

You will begin to notice ways to get there that were previously "just out of reach!"

Success in the next six months...

Very neat to see a link to my brother's website. Thanks, Michael, for this!

Link: Michael's Thoughts.

What's Your ROE? ... What's your "Return on Effort" for the various activities you are involved with? Is it enough? Why or why not? What could you do to improve the return you're getting?

The New Long Term