by miami | Aug 30, 2007
Speaking of work and the reasons for it brought a flood of comments. Obviously this is something many of us think about a lot.
Part of the coaching strategies I always employ and fervently believe in is holding a very clearly defined personal vision of the future. Once a vision is known it is relatively easy to track backwards to the present and fill in the steps required to realize the desired ending. These steps become the daily, weekly and monthly goals to achieve.
Once goals are in place it becomes easy to set measurements of some kind in order to have a certain comfort level one is in control of a life. (If there is such a thing!) However, most of us are a bit fearful of measurements. The biggest reason is fear of failure.
We see measurements as an indication of failing to meet goals instead of the real reason for measurement which is simply an indication of direction. Are we doing better or worse than expected? Are there obvious changes needed to be made in the general plan to effect more consistent or more rapid movement? Are we even going down the right path?
In my opinion, many people (quite possibly a huge majority), will not take these steps as outlined simply because it means doing things differently. It means moving out of a comfort zone where change is uncomfortable – alarmingly so.
This brings to mind two quotes I have heard in the last several weeks that have reverberated in my mind over and over:
Newt Gingrich said in a speech a few weeks ago “Comfortable failure is preferable to the fear of real change.”
Then there is this common saying: “Life begins at where our comfort zone ends.”
So what is your vision? Are you on a path to realize it? Does your work life (obviously the majority of your waking time) accurately reflect this?
I hope so!
by miami | Aug 23, 2007
I have spent a lot of time lately thinking about why we work and it’s relationship to happiness. Yes I know it is to get money – and for a very special few there is that satisfaction of working just because they absolutely love what they are doing.
However we are talking about the mainstream and I will leave it to you to decide where you fit.
The people I coach and consult seem to be working for money. Always more money to live a better lifestyle, to send kids to great schools, to live in good houses in good neighborhoods (with good schools), have a decent car, health insurance, and save for the future.
To accomplish all that, many people work way more than 40 hours a week, and a lot commute to work taking up another hour or two a day.
That leaves the nights for kids, spouses or partners, and relaxing to get ready for the same tomorrow. Weekends are spent for the most part catching up at the house, or the cabin, or the car(s), attending kids events, and possibly even a getaway.
And, lest we forget, the one or two weeks vacation out of every 52.
How many are saving for the future? Few, if polls are to believed at all.
I guess my point is this. What is the point?
It seems to me we are losing the kids as there is not enough time left for them. The kids are being raised by teachers, who are overwhelmed and underpaid.
Not many people are saving enough for a ‘retirement’ no matter how hard they struggle.
Values and morals are plummenting as evidenced by TV, music and video. Violence is common and almost accepted as the norm.
And millions of people tune into ‘reality’ shows because they do not have a reality of their own.
All of this I see daily although our family has not had programmed TV in our house in 15 years, nor do we get newspapers or magazines (except National Geographic), our two children have been homeschooled from the very beginning, and we live on a horse farm where labor and participation by all is mandatory.
Which brings me back to happiness. What is it and how do you define it – for you?
Does your work help create happiness in your life? Or take it away? How do you define happiness?
I would love to know. Please leave your comments here.
Until next time.
Don’t worry, be happy!
Miami
by miami | Aug 2, 2007
One of the challenges I have found in entrepreneurs (which includes me) is the ability to let go. We tend to want to do everything ourselves.
Either we think it is the only way to get it done correctly, or that we can do it quicker, better, or cheaper.
That is crazy. We are just control freaks!
What we do best in create a vision of the future and inspire others how to get it.
If we spend the majority of our time doing all the things we should be letting others do, we are not clarifying and communicating vision. And on top of that we are holding others back from realizing their potential.
Either way it hurts someone. You or them.
Let go of something today. Find someone else who can do it and pay them. It might be uncomfortable at first, and more work as you have to show them how you want it done, but in the end you have given someone else a job, and freed yourself up to do more of what you do best.
You do know what that is don’t you?
I’m working on another product I think you will find fascinating. Several years ago I was taught a phenomenal way of communicating by simply looking at someone.
