Jason Womack

If you could, what would you do?

If you could (take a long break), what would you do?

Those of you who receive our newsletter already heard...I'm taking a
month "off."

Well, those of you who (really) know me, know that "time off" is a
relative term. What it means to me is that I'm not traveling. No
airplanes, no new cities, no different time zones in one week...

The same bed...the same driveway...the same coffee shop each morning
for almost a month. That's what "time off" means to me.

I'm going to read. If you know an author who wants a book review, have
them send me a copy.

I'm going to write. If you know an editor looking for some solid
content (personal productivity and workplace performance), let me know.

I'm going to train. If you know an athlete who wants a month-long
accountability program for an event they are training for, tell them
"Jason's the guy!"

So, "time off" is of course a relative term. For me, this is what it
means: Time to do the things that nourish my mind, lift my spirit and
acknowledge my body.

What does it mean for and to you? Please do leave a comment below!

If you could, what would you do?

If you could (take a long break), what would you do?

Those of you who receive our newsletter already heard...I'm taking a
month "off."

Well, those of you who (really) know me, know that "time off" is a
relative term. What it means to me is that I'm not traveling. No
airplanes, no new cities, no different time zones in one week...

The same bed...the same driveway...the same coffee shop each morning
for almost a month. That's what "time off" means to me.

I'm going to read. If you know an author who wants a book review, have
them send me a copy.

I'm going to write. If you know an editor looking for some solid
content (personal productivity and workplace performance), let me know.

I'm going to train. If you know an athlete who wants a month-long
accountability program for an event they are training for, tell them
"Jason's the guy!"

So, "time off" is of course a relative term. For me, this is what it
means: Time to do the things that nourish my mind, lift my spirit and
acknowledge my body.

What does it mean for and to you? Please do leave a comment below!

What gets you up and out?

When you get up to get going (this picture was taken at about 6:45am,
on a Saturday morning a few weeks back) what gets you inspired to go
for it - all?

Write it down? No way...Takes too long!

Tell me you have a simple way of having an idea "here" and remembering or reviewing the idea "there."

Personally, I am a fan of Reqall. (Tell them I sent you, who knows...It might get ya something!)

I have even made it easier to be "out and about," having a life while making it ok to have ideas that are unrelated to what I am doing.

*** Note: You who know me KNOW I usually travel (yes, even to dinner!) with my Moleskine notebook. I use Reqall "in between" times...

How I Do It:

After a meeting, while I'm waiting to meet someone, when I'm at a bookstore doing research, I just may have an idea about what I'm not thinking about - make sense? When I do, I simply call Reqall, start talking, hang up, and go back to what I was doing.

I even set up a "rule" in my email: Any transcriptions bypass my Inbox and go straight into a "Transcription" file. I start my morning reviewing that file, moving anything there to my calendar, tasks or along to someone who needs it! 

What's your "to do" list telling you?

Consider this: It's not just what you write, but how you write it that matters when you sit down to prioritize your "to do" list.

photo by Luc 

If you're willing to experiment, take out a fresh piece of paper and write down a minimum of 50 things that are on your mind. Yes, it may take a couple of hours today to get to 50 (and you may not get all 50 at once!), but, I promise it will be worth it.

As you write, consider all the areas of focus you'll engage in over the next 30 days.

• Think about your self...And your work
• Think about your life...And your family
• Think about your community...And your travels

Now, having studied Education and Psychology at the Master's level, I consider myself "just knowledgeable enough" to run through the scientific method when it comes to productivity and performance theories.

Working one-on-one with executives at the highest levels of organizations, one of the things that I'm continually impressed by is their ability to "focus-switch" rapidly and completely throughout the day. From a meeting, to a phone call, to a work session, to their own research...They have to have the ability to focus, think, process and move on.

Your "inventory" of 50 (or, tell me you got more! If you write one hundred items, this will REALLY be interesting) is a representation of what has how much of your focus. Chances are, you have a blend of the three kinds of work. (For an overview of the three kinds of work, watch the short 91 second video below!)

If you really want to prioritize what you have to DO today, review EACH of the items, and on a separate piece of paper (or in your Task Management system) write down a single line item with a verb out in front; and, make sure it's an "action" verb (not a managing or thinking verb).

Examples of "action" verbs: Call, Review, Draft, Talk to, Print

(Examples of managing verbs: Plan, Complete, Submit...And, thinking: Brainstorm, Meet with, Clarify, Consider...)

Thank you, Rotary! Rockville Twilight 8K (July 18, 2009, Rockville, MD)

Well, it really "didn't make sense," but Saturday night I took the 90 minute Metro ride to race in a 33 minute Rotary Run!

And, boy am I glad I did! (Click the pictures below to see the map and my finish time...)

I wore my Garmin, so here's a picture of the route we ran...Kind of a figure-eight kind of thing:

And, out of 1,163 men (and 928 women!) I finished #179; official time: 32:53 (that's running at 6:37/mile!).

I called my coach the next day in California to go over my race results and share some ideas of what I noticed/came up with during the run. I got some GREAT ideas for my upcoming triathlon on New York City. Only 6 days until race-day!

"oh say can you see..."

Walking home from dinner in Georgetown last night...

I was reminded about the last triathlon I raced in (in Ventura, CA) and thought about the amazing rendition of the Star Spangled Banner we heard at the start of the race.

If you get the chance, sit down in this park for a couple of moments and your own "anthem." What are the words going through your mind, from time to time?

(*Click the picture to enlarge...)

A bulletin board of "Thank You" notes - what a morning!

On the way to SFO airport last Saturday morning, I stopped at Starbucks for a bit of breakfast.

What a wall...how great to be surrounded in/with/by gratitude at 5 o'clock in the morning!

What is this promise thing about, anyway?

Today's presentation, titled after our upcoming book, "The Promise Doctrine," is all about the agreements you make...And keep. (Click on the website, and go the lower right...Click to receive information about the publication of our book this fall!)

While sitting at a cafe earlier this week, a conversation started up with the people one table away. I was talking about the book my dad an I are writing. We've been "working" on this for a year now (well, really about 37 years!) and it's taking form as a book, workbook, Audio Series and Seminar.

Today, we are co-presenting a seminar for a local not-for-profit - and one that is near and dear to my own heart - in Marin County called, the To Celebrate Life Foundation. Check 'em out online, they do some amazing things here in the San Francisco Bay Area.

During our quick #CoffeeChat, we talked about the different aspects of our book and consultancy; we focused in on the main message we share from the stage: You are your word.

One of the ideas we'll present today is the importance of focused attention. Everything we value - from our health, to our families, to our careers, to the communities we live in - deserves a bit of our attention from time to time. That's what The Promise Doctrine is all about. If you want to engage, download and fill out your own Promise Guide today!

What "one question" can you ask to connect with those around you?

Are you staying connected this summer?

Recently, Joe and I talked about waiting for the scheduled trip or vacation getaway to get connected eaves families with significant gap in their ability to stay connected during the summer months.

Look for conversations and activities that will keep your family connected on a daily basis. Try this, ask each person in your family the following question each morning, “What are you excited about today?” Heading into the day with something exciting on your mind paves the way for a follow up discussion when everyone comes together later in the day.