Reflection and Projection

Having a December birthday makes the end of the year very interesting. Just as the calendar year is wrapping up, I'm finishing another year of being alive. So, as we round the corner into 2011, it's a great time to look back on the year that's ended, and consider what's to be made of the one ahead.

Another year over...

This was a year of many changes for me, some of which were physically and emotionally taxing. I made a major career change, involving a two thousand mile relocation (my third move in two years). That change led almost immediately to a promotion, requiring one more relocation (number four), this time back home to the Pacific Northwest.

Coming within striking distance of being forty years old is somewhat sobering. Most people who know me well will recognize that approaching landmark as the one third point of my facetiously self forecasted life expectancy of one hundred twenty years. In reality, I am painfully aware of the unpredictable nature of existence and the clock isn't getting any slower.

It is perhaps that awareness that drove me to make some measurable progress on several of my goals this year. I was thrilled to start working on professional SCUBA certifications, which I expect to complete in the first half of this year. While I neglected my writing to a noticeable degree, my career change was both healthy and necessary, and resulted in major advancement of my personal goals. Not to be overlooked is having achieved one of my fundamental objectives: I now work for an executive who actually understands organizations and trusts my judgment and abilities as a manager and strategic thinker.

Not a bad year at all. And to think, a new one has just begun...

"There's a point where we have to accept that what's done is done, and it's better to shift direction than to dig ourselves deeper into a hole." - From [Sway] by Ori and Rom Brafman

What happened to the last six months?

July is upon us. In fact, as I write this the July 4th holiday has passed and we are nearly a week into the second half of 2010. It's a good time to reflect on the last six months and reaffirm your game plan for the rest of the year.

Personally, at first glance I'm not thrilled with my progress year to date. Don't get me wrong. A lot has happened. But, I'm feeling more reactive than proactive at the moment, and that concerns me.

Recently, I listened to a CD by Brian Tracy, motivational speaker and sales training consultant. The title of the program was "Double Your Productivity, Double Your Time Off." It's a great program that he published a few years ago and I recommend it to just about anyone. One of the key points I took away from it is the need to put goals in writing, prioritize them, and reference the list on a regular basis.

This was a good reminder for me, and it's a task I'm undertaking this week. The simple process of putting my objectives in writing is surprisingly powerful. It's almost like writing a contract with myself. It's also a good filter for testing how I'm spending my energy and time. Does what I'm doing right now contribute to what's important to me? (Conveniently, at this moment I can answer "yes" to that question.)

So, rather than letting the next six months trickle away from me, I'm going to finish documenting my goals and get on track for accomplishing them. A lot can happen in six months. Better yet, six months is a lot of time to make things happen!

Saying "F- the Lemons!" Requires "Doing" at Some Point

The soft side of reaching objectives gets a lot of press. This blog has been no exception. Anyone who knows me has heard me speak on more than one occasion about setting goals and imagining your optimal outcome. It makes sense because people ranging from military leaders to sports psychologists can demonstrate that most accomplished goals start with clear visualization.

However, at some point visualization must turn to action or it's just idle fantasy. Last year I posted about taking advantage of free time or a flexible schedule to lay a foundation for future goals. This can take any of a wide variety of forms depending on where you are now and the situation you are trying to create.

For example, if you are planning to start your own business, you can and probably should do some research. In fact, the more you do, the better prepared you will be for the transition. But, at some point, the research has to turn into action. Creating the business structure, opening a bank account, creating a website, and so on. In this day and age a lot of these actions can be taken online, from the luxury of your home office.

Maybe you're not ready for that kind of action quite yet, or perhaps when you bail you're not planning on opening a business. What other "actions" can advance your goals? Here are some ideas.

Classes - There may be classes you can take to prepare you for your leap. In some fields of endeavor certifications may be advantageous or even required. Why not work toward those now? If something is preventing you, take action to clear the path for yourself.

Volunteering - Depending on your area of interest, there may be opportunities to volunteer with local institutions or nonprofit organizations. Volunteering provides a great opportunity to gain experience and network with people in your industry of choice. Is there a trade show or expo associated with your bliss? Make time to attend. Better yet, find out who is exhibiting and contact them, offering to volunteer for a shift or two in their booth. Donating your time now could prove to be a great investment.

Moonlighting - If you can create the opportunity, nothing beats actually working and earning a little money in the field you want to pursue. Obviously, you have to balance this with the terms and policies of your current employer. But, if you can work even a few hours a week at what you enjoy, you are better positioning yourself to make your move on your schedule.

Ultimately, action begets action. When you take that first step toward your dream, you are creating a little momentum. So, take time to visualize your outcome and plan your steps. But, turn that thinking into doing as soon as possible!

Making the Most of Your "Personal Productivity"

The phrase "personal productivity" used to be accompanied by a lot of hype and fanfare. Usually it was nested in an advertisement or infomercial for a book or set of CD-ROMs promising to fix everything wrong with your life.

The term has taken on a more commonplace and practical sense in recent years and in fact, has become almost ubiquitous. We all have tools and applications we use to enhance our personal productivity. Whether we use the Task and Calendar tools in software applications like Microsoft Outlook, filing and task management systems like David Allen's Getting Things Done, or use a good old reliable Day Planner, most of us see the value in organizing our work in the interests of being more efficient.

The downside of all of this is that usually all that optimizing energy is focused on our jobs. All the upside value reaped from getting more done in less time accrues to our employer, with little to no benefit to our personal lives. What is the real value if we streamline our work activities so we can get eight to ten hours of work done in four of five hours if we still work the eight to ten hours? (Obviously, if you're an hourly, "non-exempt" employee there is a clear correlation. This is more relevant to salaried, "exempt" employees.)

Most employers capitalize on the fact that most employees are stuck in an "hourly" paradigm: I am being paid for forty hours of work. Of course, that goes out the window the minute there is a large project or an urgent deadline. Then, all of a sudden, the "exempt" concept kicks in an you are working fifty or sixty hours for that same salary. Although I rarely see people practice it, the concept should apply in both directions.

So, how does this relate to personal productivity? Quite directly and simply. If you work smart and hard and get more work done in less time, reward yourself. Use some of those hours to accomplish something that benefits your "personal" life. Whether you use the time to work on a hobby, pursue that little side business you're starting, read a book, or ditch work early to spend some time with your significant other, you should personally benefit from being efficient.

You can even take this one step further. At the beginning of the week, make lists and set goals for what you need to accomplish at work. What needs to be done by Friday at five o'clock in order to give your employer their money's worth? Now, what can you do to get that done by Friday at Noon, or even Thursday afternoon?

Now do it, and make the most of your personal productivity!

Back on the Wagon

Without getting too involved in the details, I will openly admit that I have been very distracted for the last few months. Unfortunately, I have not followed my own advice and have allowed a soul-sucking, poorly managed business drain my emotional and intellectual resources, leaving me little energy for anything of real value to myself or anyone else. I've neglected this blog, as I have neglected other satisfying personal pursuits.

It's a lot like being in a drunken stupor. You drink until you're in a confused haze and only sober up enough to open another bottle. You know coming out of it is going to involve an excruciating headache and probably some nausea (if you're lucky, just nausea). So, for awhile it's easier to stay inebriated.

Fortunately, I finally stopped drinking that swill, tossed out the bottle and braced myself for the hangover. Although it's been a rough couple of months, by tapping into some well maintained relationships, I've been able to navigate a transition into a position with more focus and more flexibility, and the opportunity to pursue my actual interests. While I still have a bit of a haul until I'm "living the dream," it's a measurable step in the right direction.

Sitting here in the southern California sun, working at something that at least has some social and environmental value, I have a positive feeling I haven't had in awhile. I'm still dealing with an organization that's a bit fractured and dysfunctional. However, I at least have the satisfaction of working with a leadership team that seeks input and is willing and able to make positive changes.

We'll see where this goes over the next few months. But, I am determined to stay on the wagon and focused on my goals.

Running Your Guts Out

This Thanksgiving day I ran five miles in the rain. It was thirty-three degrees outside, and the wind was bitter as the pack wound its way along the Lincoln Park Turkey Trot race course here in Chicago. A few snow flakes found their way to ground level, reminding us that the midwest winter is nearly upon us.

This race was a milestone for me in several ways. It's the second official race I've ever run. The first was a five kilometer run just over a month ago. This eight kilometer run is a new personal record, both in distance and in pace (I ran it in just under ten minutes per mile).

Don't get me wrong. I have no delusions about my less than remarkable feat. I have a number of friends and colleagues who regularly run two and three times that distance as part of their weekly training regimen. One very dear friend of mine just qualified for the Boston Marathon, which he did by running the Chicago Marathon averaging less than eight minutes per mile. However, for my level of physical fitness (or lack thereof), this was an accomplishment of mind over out-of-shape matter. Frankly, I was ecstatic just to have survived.

So, why am I bothering to post this?

Something occurred to me after I crossed the finish line, as I was scarfing a banana and pounding a bottle of Vitamin Water. What if I could attack everything in my life with the same level of passion and commitment I put into this race? Let me explain that by taking you into my mind somewhere around the three and a half mile mark.


As I crossed the three mile marker, I was feeling fatigued but knew I had some energy left. But, about halfway to the four mile mark, my mind hit a wall that nearly sapped me dry. It dawned on me that I had now run farther than I ever had before. It also dawned on me that I had done virtually no training since the last race. All of a sudden I "knew" I was incapable of finishing.


Then I looked down at my GPS watch and noticed I was up to a seven minute mile pace. I needed to slow way down, which I did. I got back to my target pace, which was about nine minutes thirty seconds, and my head cleared a bit. By then the four mile mark was just ahead. I still wondered if I could run that last mile.


It was at that point everything crystalized for me. I was there because I wanted to do this. This was a goal I set, it was something that mattered to me. On top of that, my daughter was standing at the finish line, waiting for her dad to come running across. Almost instantly, my breathing slowed, my pace evened out, and the last mile disappeared behind me. I pushed with everything I had to get across that line. But, once I did, I felt like I could do it all again.


What's my point? We can have an almost limitless supply of energy when we're investing it in things that matter to us. If you find yourself drained, exhausted, and fatigued after a day in the trenches, it's more likely a matter of motivation and satisfaction than a legitimate depletion of energy.


So, reflect on what energizes you more the harder you work at it. You can run forever when you're running your guts out doing what you love.