Jason Womack

Thank you to the United Way, Stanislaus County

I want to send a special thank you to Christopher Scott and the United Way up in Northern California. Christopher did SO much to coordinate the Not For Profit organization get-together where I was able to show up and share some of the Mastering Workplace Performance methods we teach.

Here is what one participant wrote:

“Jason Womack is a born analyst…his curiosity has produced an organizational management style for the world.”
Eugene C. Hill, B.S., B.Mus., M.Div.
Executive Director

In the room, there were more than 30 people in attendance. To the one, they were engaged, interested and willing to grown. What a great exercise. Here were just some of the organizations represented...

Central Valley Opportunity Center – Helps individuals learn and gain job skills that they are able to use to find a job in the businesses and agriculture sector.

First Step Prenatal Abuse System - A residential housing program for mothers recovering from drug addictions who have children under the age of two.

Golden Valley Heath Centers – nonprofit health organization that provides health care for low-income residents and individuals. They primarily focus on serving ethnic minority populations who do not have health insurance.

Community Hospice

Salvation Army Turlock Corps

Turlock Family Network – Provides parenting classes for pregnant and new mothers about how to birth a healthy baby and raise healthy children.

Enclave Community Church

In case you didn't know, Jodi and I like to support organizations doing good work...Whenever we can. Just this week, we donated a seminar and coaching, and provided another (co-sponsored) seminar to yet another not-for-profit organization in Oakland. If you are looking to bring this kind of education in, and "didn't think" you had the funding...Call us, we'll make something happen!

So, I've been out of the classroom for 9 years now, and my how things have changed...

So, many of you know I taught high school (in Santa Barbara and Ojai, CA) back in the 1990s. Now that I'm spending most of my time, energy and focus on and in the "corporate classroom," I sometimes forget to wonder what's going on in schools...Until I read or hear about something that grabs my attention.

Joe Bruzzese and I have partnered on many projects over the years. Now a days, I've been a guest on his show, ThinkingForward TV (see his YouTube channel), several times. However, I only had shock to offer to this latest episode.

I rarely ask favors of my readers here on this blog...Today, I have one to ask. Parents, please watch this, think about this, and share this. We need to address this...ASAP.

PMI-Los Padres Chapter: 2 presentations from 7-9pm on 26 February 2009

View the overview of Thursday's dinner meeting

I was invited to speak tomorrow evening in Thousand Oaks, CA. The two topics I'll address are:

1) Enhanced Productivity is Non-Negotiable
2) Best Practices for Peak Performance Management

I hope the room fills up...This is a great way to hear about and practice some productivity ideas you can use when you go back to the office Friday. I will be asking a few people to live-blog and/or Twitter the event, so look for those starting at about 7:10 Thursday evening!

Anyone planning to tackle the "Climb California" event? I just found out about this! Next year, for sure!

Honestly, I see some things as more an inspiration than simply "something to do."

These days, I am more focused than ever on the "concept" of sustainability - and not just in practice. Here is a building, 52 stories of resource, that on most Saturdays during the year probably stands idle. On this day, 28 March 2009, it will take on a new/different "persona." Check out, Climb California!

So, consider this concept: the sustainable use of this resource as beyond just a place to work. No doubt, some have trained for weeks (months?) to perform at this event. Others, who will climb these stairs this way for the first time may be forever changed...looking at stairs not as something IN the way, but mini challenges ALONG the way.

Think about it, how are you "multi-purposing" the resources right around you?

Just too many expectations…or, do you know what you’re not doing?

In seminars and in coaching situations, I am often asked, "What does a person do when there are too many expectations placed on them?” 

This is a very real, and timely concern for many knowledge workers. More and more, the question people face at work is less “what should I do?” and more, “What am going to chose NOT to do?” In an era of increased opportunity and as we're faced with the "issue" of managing more complexity, leaving some things OFF your list may be the most executive decision you make!

Consider your "production" over the past 24 hours. What were you engaged in? What did you start? What did you finish? What distracted you? More and more, it doesn't matter if the past 24 hours were the weekend, a vacation day, or a back-to-back meeting day...Chances are high your INTENTIONS didn't map to your ATTENTION.

Both Jodi and I coach our leaders through different "workflow control" methodologies. During this extended program, clients realize/recognize that their promises are indeed outpacing their ability to make good on those promises...They have said yes to too many things!

Here's an idea: Get a timer and set it for 7 minutes (yes, seven). Then, with a pen/pencil and a lined piece of paper, write down (in no order...Simply as they show up) EVERY single thing you can remember that you're thinking about, managing or supposed be doing.

"You're so lucky!" [A short story of focus...]

Just a couple of weeks ago, I was working in Dallas, TX. On one of the lunch breaks, I got to share  our business model, business plan and business projections for 2009 and 2010. (Yes, we're already thinking that far out!)

As I talked with a colleague, I remembered taking this picture in January.

There is just a short time period, while driving across the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco where you can see the "far" tower in the space below the "near" tower. I grew up with parents on both sides of that bridge, and I remember as a child I would wait and wait until the very few seconds when I would see this amazing view!

• Focus is that way. I think about it, I plan for it, I experience it, and then...It's time to start again.

Over lunch, I was talking about our business model (partner with organizations committed to promoting individuals' professional self development), our business plan (continue writing, speaking and consulting...anywhere, live and in person or over the 'net or phone and e-mail), and our business projections (grow our network/database by at least 10% each quarter for the next 8 quarters). At one point, the person stopped me and said, "Wow. IF you can do all that, you'll be so lucky!"

In that moment, a quote I remember reading by Seneca (and, here it is...) came to mind. All I knew in that moment was that I was thinking about luck and work and opportunity. What I realized later that night (while writing about my daily learning and reflections in my journal) is that this quote really makes me think about the importance of focus.

Yes, it's fleeting, it's fast, I will lose it...And, it will come back again. Kind of like driving across the GGB every other week over the years I grew up in Northern California.

Workplace sustainability - Can you keep working...

...at the same pace you've been working at for the past few months?

Recently, I presented a Workplace Performance seminar to a small group of senior executives (financial industry) in Dallas, TX. By the afternoon, we were deep in discussion on the topic of work/life balance and the impact of the current economic outlook.

Working overtime, getting more done, being available on weekends and during the evenings...it all goes into keeping a "nervous" client base close at hand.

If you can, back away during the coming weekend. Look around, and study the sustainability of your Workplace Performance. Google that term, and see what ideas you can find to find ways to do more...with less.

It's what everyone is expecting, anyway!

See the future” and choose an action to move in that direction.


I recently re-read The One Minute Manager and reflected on the importance of setting both clear and achievable goals.

From reading this classic in self management (for the 12th time in as many years), I am now encouraging all of our coaches to work even more closely with clients to purposefully envision the future they would like to experience. It's time to sit down, focus on what you want, and make it possible.

Action item: Write down your vision (150-250 words) for your office for the next 12 months. Describe in detail what you want to see and experience between now and February, 2010. 

Get to know your BlackBerry even better. (Article written by Jodi...)

You've probably been with your BlackBerry so long it sometimes feels like an extension of your own body. But how well do you really understand it. Are you maximizing all that it offers to simplify your life? Here are 10 shortcuts you'll want to know.

1. Click the space bar instead of the @ symbol and the dot when typing e-mail addresses.

2. Click the space bar twice at the end of each sentence. It adds a period and a space and capitalizes the next word.

For the rest of Jodi's article (and, 8 more tips you HAVE to know) read the rest of the article on the Pink Magazine website!

She even talks about this tip!

Check your Identification Card.

This post is dedicated to all the small business owners and entrepreneurs. Here's an idea: Review your professional mission and vision statement.


Enjoying coffee Sunday morning in town (Ojai, CA), a friend of mine asked me "what is that magazine you are you reading?" I was really into an article that began with the title, "Differentiate Yourself to Be a More Attractive Candidate." (In the print magazine, it was in the middle of this article by Jacqueline Durrett.)

Now, thinking about what small business owners and entrepreneurs (even what I believe we'll be seeing more and more intrepreneurs) doing, here's a great question to ask:

What does your business card say about WHO you are? (Not just what you do?)

Are your designations or degrees included? Is it easy for people to contact you (via voice or e-mail, or in person)? Importantly, when you hand your business card to someone, you “always” get to say something.

Here’s an action item: Write down a minimum of five scripts (30-45 words each) you can use as you give someone your business card. Experiment using these scripts this week.