It’s been awhile since I’ve been down the “someone shoulda told me” bunny trail. And I guess today is a as good as any to take that trail……
I wish that someone had told me, early on, to pick a sport or two and learn how to be good at it. Of course, good being a relative term….. Most of us will never be professional-category good at any sport. By “good”, I mean good enough that you won’t embarrass yourself when you play the chosen sport.
Why is this important for the executive? Well I’ve thought of a few varied reasons.
1. Discipline. Most sports have their own set of rules and disciplines to follow. By learning the intricacies of any sport, you are disciplining your mind. In addition, it brings discipline to your body. In order to not be embarrassed when you play a sport, some practice and conditioning will certainly be involved. And what is practice if not a form of applying discipline?
2. Place to do business. It shouldn’t surprise you that a lot of business is conducted in sporting venues. I can’t tell you how many times that I’ve taken customers to play golf. In many cultures, doing business with someone means getting to know them first. And the links provided me with a way for my customer and I to get to know each other. Once we were back in the conference room, we had yet another positive link in our relationship.
3. Takes your mind off of business. I won’t go into the whole idea of life balance (yet again), but will suffice it say that playing a sport allows other sides of your personality to come out -- sides that may not see the light of day in a business setting.
4. It’s in the lingo. Even in the office, you hear sporting lingo. Doing an end around (American football). Getting a free pass (baseball). Acing it (tennis). It was a slam dunk (basketball). Whether we like it or not, sports permeate our daily business life with the lingo. And if you don’t know the lingo, how will you keep up?
And those are just the reasons that I can come up with in one sitting. I’m sure that there are many, many other valid reasons for becoming proficient at a sport. The point here is, whatever your reasons, having the ability to participate in a couple of sports is important and beneficial.
Cheers!
Showing posts with label Balance. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Balance. Show all posts
Friday, July 23, 2010
Friday, July 16, 2010
7-16-10 More Musing on Balance
Earlier this week (and other earlier posts), I talked a little about the need for the executive to have balance in his/her life (7-12-10 Hard-Core Business Person vs. Artsy-Fartsy) . My pondering of the subject continued as I was reading one of the many magazines to which I subscribe -- Real Simple. (You can find out more about it at www.realsimple.com if you are interested).
Anyway. At the start of every issue, they have a “question of the month” to which readers respond. This month’s question fits in nicely with the whole idea of balance. They asked, “If you were suddenly given a free day this summer, how would you spend it? Imagine 24 glorious hours with zero obligations.”
Interesting concept, eh? The readers’ answers were are varied as the personalities that exist around the globe. One said she would spend it on her motorcycle. She said, “You know how happy a dog looks when he hangs his head out the window of a car? That’s how I feel on my bike.” Outstanding. Others suggested things like: floating on an inner tube, putting family photos in albums, visiting a best friend, recreating a past adventure, reading, etc.
It was fascinating to read. And it was invigorating to imagine what I would do. Yeah, I know, I’m retired so I have that luxury almost every day. I wish that I had taken that luxury of having obligation-free days when I was still working.
With cell phones, Blackberries, families, work, and other “to do” items, it is definitely tough to find an obligation-free day. So maybe you start small. Instead of laying your Blackberry next to you on the end table while you watch tv in the evening --- but it in a drawer somewhere and ignore it for a few hours. Or instead of using a free afternoon off to run errands, take the time to go to the art museum or take your kids to the zoo. If you are creative, I’m sure that you can carve out at least a few obligation-free hours each month.
And more difficult that finding the time? Turning off the guilt you will likely have when you ignore the obligations. But, it is well worth it because you come away from that time recharged and ready to take on old and new obligations.
So enjoy your obligation-free time!
Cheers!
Anyway. At the start of every issue, they have a “question of the month” to which readers respond. This month’s question fits in nicely with the whole idea of balance. They asked, “If you were suddenly given a free day this summer, how would you spend it? Imagine 24 glorious hours with zero obligations.”
Interesting concept, eh? The readers’ answers were are varied as the personalities that exist around the globe. One said she would spend it on her motorcycle. She said, “You know how happy a dog looks when he hangs his head out the window of a car? That’s how I feel on my bike.” Outstanding. Others suggested things like: floating on an inner tube, putting family photos in albums, visiting a best friend, recreating a past adventure, reading, etc.
It was fascinating to read. And it was invigorating to imagine what I would do. Yeah, I know, I’m retired so I have that luxury almost every day. I wish that I had taken that luxury of having obligation-free days when I was still working.
With cell phones, Blackberries, families, work, and other “to do” items, it is definitely tough to find an obligation-free day. So maybe you start small. Instead of laying your Blackberry next to you on the end table while you watch tv in the evening --- but it in a drawer somewhere and ignore it for a few hours. Or instead of using a free afternoon off to run errands, take the time to go to the art museum or take your kids to the zoo. If you are creative, I’m sure that you can carve out at least a few obligation-free hours each month.
And more difficult that finding the time? Turning off the guilt you will likely have when you ignore the obligations. But, it is well worth it because you come away from that time recharged and ready to take on old and new obligations.
So enjoy your obligation-free time!
Cheers!
Monday, July 12, 2010
7-12-10 Hard-Core Business Person vs. Artsy-Fartsy
Okay, did that headline make you chuckle? Well, it does me --- every time. I’ve been a crafter all my life. My husband calls it my “artsy-fartsy alter ego”. There is something so very satisfying in creating an object that is either useful or beautiful.
And more important -- my artsy-fartsy side was an important balancing tool in my life.
In the past, I’ve talked about balance in the executive’s life (2-17-10 Balance). Specifically, I talked about taking time away from work and using up the vacation that you’ve already earned. Today, I thought that I would explore a different kind of balance.
During the business day, the executive is a hard-core business person. You wouldn’t have made it to the executive ranks if you weren’t. But, when you go home at night, you have to find the balance that lets you recharge for the next day. For me, that is crafting. I can lose myself in the creative process…. Making jewelry, crocheting an afghan, painting a picture…. All evening long. I realized that it used a different part of my brain and my emotions to come up with the creative outlet. And by doing that, I was giving all of the “business” side of me a rest.
How did I know it was important? Because if I stayed away from my craft table for too many evenings or weekends, I started to be a pretty grumpy Gus. I just felt out of whack.
And no, I don’t mean that you have to go out an discover your artsy-fartsy side. Although that is fine, if it works for you. What I’m suggesting is that you discover what activities allow you to disconnect from the business world and recharge. It might be sports. It might be community service. It might be writing. It might be reading. It might be people-watching. It might be surfing the web. Heck, it might even be channel-surfing on the tv.
Whatever you discover it to be, make time for that activity in your life. Balance ultimately makes you a better executive.
Cheers!
And more important -- my artsy-fartsy side was an important balancing tool in my life.
In the past, I’ve talked about balance in the executive’s life (2-17-10 Balance). Specifically, I talked about taking time away from work and using up the vacation that you’ve already earned. Today, I thought that I would explore a different kind of balance.
During the business day, the executive is a hard-core business person. You wouldn’t have made it to the executive ranks if you weren’t. But, when you go home at night, you have to find the balance that lets you recharge for the next day. For me, that is crafting. I can lose myself in the creative process…. Making jewelry, crocheting an afghan, painting a picture…. All evening long. I realized that it used a different part of my brain and my emotions to come up with the creative outlet. And by doing that, I was giving all of the “business” side of me a rest.
How did I know it was important? Because if I stayed away from my craft table for too many evenings or weekends, I started to be a pretty grumpy Gus. I just felt out of whack.
And no, I don’t mean that you have to go out an discover your artsy-fartsy side. Although that is fine, if it works for you. What I’m suggesting is that you discover what activities allow you to disconnect from the business world and recharge. It might be sports. It might be community service. It might be writing. It might be reading. It might be people-watching. It might be surfing the web. Heck, it might even be channel-surfing on the tv.
Whatever you discover it to be, make time for that activity in your life. Balance ultimately makes you a better executive.
Cheers!
Monday, May 3, 2010
5-3-10 It Is Okay to Change Your Mind
In past entries in this blog, I’ve talked some about finding your passion and expecting change in your career (3-19-10 A Couple of Things to Consider and 3-15-10 Do Overs? and 3-10-10 Shoulda Told Me #8 and 12-9-09 Work for Free??). But a conversation today with my niece (thanks Kaitlyn! Love you.) has me thinking some more about the topic.
Why is it that we expect our 18 to 20 year olds to know what they want to do for the rest of their work life -- when they don’t usually even know at this point what their passion in life is? And yet, despite this, our universities ask them to pick a major and then proceed through their training and education with a single-minded focus of someone that has it all figured out.
Heck, I’m 50-something and I STILL don’t have it figured out! And I’ve been through 3 disparate degrees, along with 25 or so years of career. Seems to me that we are handicapping our next generation with this educational attitude.
And it goes beyond that. As an executive, I think that we are often handicapping our new hires by forcing them to apply for a specific job just to get their foot in the darned door. Yes, I realize that you have to match specific educational background with the specific job openings that you have. And at an entry-level position, you are often looking for those college grads that have the best GPA. But I would contend that it is a bit short-sighted. By limiting your selection based on GPA or on major, you are likely missing some VERY good candidates. Heck, one of my best business analysts had a history degree. And one of my best program managers was a fighter pilot. Not what most hiring executives would’ve looked for, I’m sure.
And then once they are working for us, all to often, we don’t take the time to learn about their varied interests or give them the chance to try new and different things in the workplace. Again, I contend that is short-sighted. You never truly know what your people are capable of until you give them a wide variety of opportunities. Yes, it might make your job a bit more difficult. But really, as an executive isn’t one of your most important jobs to develop your people? And how can you do that without helping them to discover their passion.
Yeah, with both your new hires and your old hands, you run the risk of making a mistake. You might hire the wrong person or you might put a person in a job or project that they simply can’t do. But that is how we learn. We make mistakes. We change. We adapt.
So whether you are the executive or the new hire, you don’t have to know it all right this minute. You can change your mind --- along with changing your major, your job, or even your career.
Cheers!
Why is it that we expect our 18 to 20 year olds to know what they want to do for the rest of their work life -- when they don’t usually even know at this point what their passion in life is? And yet, despite this, our universities ask them to pick a major and then proceed through their training and education with a single-minded focus of someone that has it all figured out.
Heck, I’m 50-something and I STILL don’t have it figured out! And I’ve been through 3 disparate degrees, along with 25 or so years of career. Seems to me that we are handicapping our next generation with this educational attitude.
And it goes beyond that. As an executive, I think that we are often handicapping our new hires by forcing them to apply for a specific job just to get their foot in the darned door. Yes, I realize that you have to match specific educational background with the specific job openings that you have. And at an entry-level position, you are often looking for those college grads that have the best GPA. But I would contend that it is a bit short-sighted. By limiting your selection based on GPA or on major, you are likely missing some VERY good candidates. Heck, one of my best business analysts had a history degree. And one of my best program managers was a fighter pilot. Not what most hiring executives would’ve looked for, I’m sure.
And then once they are working for us, all to often, we don’t take the time to learn about their varied interests or give them the chance to try new and different things in the workplace. Again, I contend that is short-sighted. You never truly know what your people are capable of until you give them a wide variety of opportunities. Yes, it might make your job a bit more difficult. But really, as an executive isn’t one of your most important jobs to develop your people? And how can you do that without helping them to discover their passion.
Yeah, with both your new hires and your old hands, you run the risk of making a mistake. You might hire the wrong person or you might put a person in a job or project that they simply can’t do. But that is how we learn. We make mistakes. We change. We adapt.
So whether you are the executive or the new hire, you don’t have to know it all right this minute. You can change your mind --- along with changing your major, your job, or even your career.
Cheers!
Monday, April 26, 2010
4-26-10 Good Enough
I learned a new acronym at the conference I attended a couple of days ago. Having grown up in an industry where acronyms are the gold standard, I was immediately enamored by it. I mean, really, who doesn’t love a good acronym?!
But of course, upon reflection, I realize that this acronym is not only useful in business life, but also in personal life as well. So what is this magical acronym? GEPO. And what the heck does that stand for? Good enough, push on.
Interesting concept, eh?
Of course I realize that there are times when “perfect” is the only thing that will do. Designing and building airplanes is one good example. Believe me when I tell you that there isn’t ANY GEPO there. All of us in the industry take a very dim view when airplanes fall out of the sky. Perfect is what matters.
But there are times where we all strive for perfect when, in reality, GEPO would be just fine. Think of the hours that “perfect” takes. Is it always worth the cost? Probably not. You could spend hours and hours honing the perfect policy, creating draft after draft document. And it is really any better than what you had at say, the second or third draft? Likely not. So yes, you may have the perfect policy, but at a cost that turns out to be prohibitive. Probably not the best way to spend your company’s money.
Or for your personal life….. You could spend hours and hours cleaning that one room or detailing your car. But aren’t there other things that you would rather be doing? This is perhaps a really good time to apply your GEPO policy. Yea, a perfectly cleaned room or immaculate car might feel pretty darned good. That is, until the kids get home and work their magic on your clean room. Or until the first rainstorm you have to drive through.
One final use….. In meetings. I learned in the conference that the GEPO phrase is a great way to keep meetings on track. Give your meeting attendees the permission to use the phrase, and you will magically see it being used to bring back those members that want to wander off into the minutiae of the topic.
So feel free to GEPO things along.
Cheers!
But of course, upon reflection, I realize that this acronym is not only useful in business life, but also in personal life as well. So what is this magical acronym? GEPO. And what the heck does that stand for? Good enough, push on.
Interesting concept, eh?
Of course I realize that there are times when “perfect” is the only thing that will do. Designing and building airplanes is one good example. Believe me when I tell you that there isn’t ANY GEPO there. All of us in the industry take a very dim view when airplanes fall out of the sky. Perfect is what matters.
But there are times where we all strive for perfect when, in reality, GEPO would be just fine. Think of the hours that “perfect” takes. Is it always worth the cost? Probably not. You could spend hours and hours honing the perfect policy, creating draft after draft document. And it is really any better than what you had at say, the second or third draft? Likely not. So yes, you may have the perfect policy, but at a cost that turns out to be prohibitive. Probably not the best way to spend your company’s money.
Or for your personal life….. You could spend hours and hours cleaning that one room or detailing your car. But aren’t there other things that you would rather be doing? This is perhaps a really good time to apply your GEPO policy. Yea, a perfectly cleaned room or immaculate car might feel pretty darned good. That is, until the kids get home and work their magic on your clean room. Or until the first rainstorm you have to drive through.
One final use….. In meetings. I learned in the conference that the GEPO phrase is a great way to keep meetings on track. Give your meeting attendees the permission to use the phrase, and you will magically see it being used to bring back those members that want to wander off into the minutiae of the topic.
So feel free to GEPO things along.
Cheers!
Friday, February 19, 2010
2-20-10 Tiger and His Apology
We all saw Tiger Woods apologize today. I know, some of you don’t care, but the fact is, it DOES matter to many people. For me, I’ve always felt that it was none of my business what he (or any other public figure) does in his personal life. But….. There all things that we, as executives, can learn from his debacle. Some of which I’ve mentioned here before, but all of which bear repeating.
First, apologize when you hurt someone. Fortunately, most of us won’t ever have to do it in front of the cameras like Tiger just did. But the fact is, there will be times in our lives that we have to apologize for our behavior. Part of the apology is making sure that you clearly take the blame --- and not shifting it to others. Tiger was perhaps a bit late with his apology (at least in public). Apologies are always better served early rather that late.
Second, no one is entitled to anything. Let me repeat that, we ARE NOT entitled to anything (1-25-10 Shoulda Told Me #5). Tiger admitted that he had gone beyond playing by the rules, feeling that he was entitled to live the life he had created. He is certainly paying the price now. Granted, most people don’t always play by the rules. Yep, I’m guilty of that too. The difference is that successful executives are VERY careful as to which rules they flout. And, they work diligently to change the rules that are stupid, or useless, or outdated.
Third, your private life is never quite as private as you think it is. For Tiger and for many executives there is a constant blurring of the line between private and public lives. There is a very fine line between the two (2-10-10 A Fine Line), where your personal or private life will ultimately reflect on your public life.
As a corollary, I have been impressed by Tiger’s attempt to shield his family from the public glare. He is absolutely right, his wife and kids shouldn’t have to suffer the public scrutiny because of his mistakes or even because of his success. For the executive, how many of you have drug your spouse to events because “it must be done”? Sure, there are times when our families need to participate in our professional lives. But remember, your career is your choice, not theirs.
Fourth, Tiger demonstrated that it is okay to get help. Whether it is a professional, structured program or friends or your pastor or your spouse, it doesn’t matter. What matters is reaching out to someone that can give you perspective and, if necessary, the whack upside the head. (2-8-10 Shoulda Told Me #6).
Fifth, Tiger talked about seeking balance in his life, between the public, the private, the spiritual, etc. As a public figure or as an executive, this is a difficult task to do. But with balance between our jobs, our home, our church, our volunteerism, our school, etc., we will truly are better people to be around. (2-17-10 Balance)
And finally, you have to have a plan for the future. This is especially true for when you make a mistake. Perhaps Tiger was a little thin on his future plans in today’s press conference, but you could see the beginnings of his plan. And even when we aren’t working off a mistake, a vision/plan is still critical. As I’ve mentioned before, the skills related to setting a vision are the exclusive purview of the executive (1-8-10 I Have a Dream). This is not something that you can delegate to anyone else. And, having a plan applies in your personal life as well as your professional life.
Cheers!
First, apologize when you hurt someone. Fortunately, most of us won’t ever have to do it in front of the cameras like Tiger just did. But the fact is, there will be times in our lives that we have to apologize for our behavior. Part of the apology is making sure that you clearly take the blame --- and not shifting it to others. Tiger was perhaps a bit late with his apology (at least in public). Apologies are always better served early rather that late.
Second, no one is entitled to anything. Let me repeat that, we ARE NOT entitled to anything (1-25-10 Shoulda Told Me #5). Tiger admitted that he had gone beyond playing by the rules, feeling that he was entitled to live the life he had created. He is certainly paying the price now. Granted, most people don’t always play by the rules. Yep, I’m guilty of that too. The difference is that successful executives are VERY careful as to which rules they flout. And, they work diligently to change the rules that are stupid, or useless, or outdated.
Third, your private life is never quite as private as you think it is. For Tiger and for many executives there is a constant blurring of the line between private and public lives. There is a very fine line between the two (2-10-10 A Fine Line), where your personal or private life will ultimately reflect on your public life.
As a corollary, I have been impressed by Tiger’s attempt to shield his family from the public glare. He is absolutely right, his wife and kids shouldn’t have to suffer the public scrutiny because of his mistakes or even because of his success. For the executive, how many of you have drug your spouse to events because “it must be done”? Sure, there are times when our families need to participate in our professional lives. But remember, your career is your choice, not theirs.
Fourth, Tiger demonstrated that it is okay to get help. Whether it is a professional, structured program or friends or your pastor or your spouse, it doesn’t matter. What matters is reaching out to someone that can give you perspective and, if necessary, the whack upside the head. (2-8-10 Shoulda Told Me #6).
Fifth, Tiger talked about seeking balance in his life, between the public, the private, the spiritual, etc. As a public figure or as an executive, this is a difficult task to do. But with balance between our jobs, our home, our church, our volunteerism, our school, etc., we will truly are better people to be around. (2-17-10 Balance)
And finally, you have to have a plan for the future. This is especially true for when you make a mistake. Perhaps Tiger was a little thin on his future plans in today’s press conference, but you could see the beginnings of his plan. And even when we aren’t working off a mistake, a vision/plan is still critical. As I’ve mentioned before, the skills related to setting a vision are the exclusive purview of the executive (1-8-10 I Have a Dream). This is not something that you can delegate to anyone else. And, having a plan applies in your personal life as well as your professional life.
Cheers!
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