Sunday, May 13, 2012
3 Things for sure!
There are certain absolutes in life, Death, paying taxes, and having some gas engine powered time saving device that won't start as advertised! Yea, I know, push the priming bulb 3 times, set the throttle/choke to start and then pull the starting cord. 900 times! Again and Again until you're ready to cuss and kick or throw the thing, then it finally starts. By then I'm too worn out to do whatever job it was I needed!
Remember the communists always have said they will take over our country by not firing a shot, well in spite of certain actions by groups involved in running our government, I'm now convinced it will happen when everyone in the country gets a gas powered tool and try's to start them on the same day!
Yesterday it was the lawn mower, but could just as easily have been the trimmer or blower. We are doomed!
These are my thoughts, what are your?
Happy Mothers Day to all the Moms out there.
Steve
Friday, April 27, 2012
MultiTasking
In today's business climate it seems like the term Multi Tasking is all the rage. Everyone wants everyone else to respond/reply almost instantly and even at work the company may request/require that you multitask.
I have found in my world that sometimes multitasking is a good thing and like so many other items, sometimes it isn't. Driving to work this week I saw a women who provided an excellent point for the positive view of multitasking. She was (A) walking her child to the local school, while (B) also walking the dog along with them, while (C) swinging her arms and getting her morning exercise workout. Now that is creative use of time and multitasking. In the next block I observed a driver (I won't reveal male or female) that was driving one handed while attempting to work on what appeared to be a BlackBerry phone, and, read the paper stuck up on the steering wheel. This was DRIVING, or maybe I should say swerving around, and not stopped at a traffic light! Bad choice there just waiting to start an accident.
Now my wife, and many female friends, argue that women are far superior to multitasking than men - and there is at least one famous college study (by a woman of course) that documents several reasons for this claim.
One thing I feel very sure of: Multitasking, as with most other activities can, when used to excess or at the wrong times, and result in terrible results and actually hurt your situation more than help you to gain that time you are attempting to save by doing different things at the same time.
As for me, I feel comfortable reporting that I can occasionally multitask without a problem, like walking and chewing gum, or drinking beer and watching a sporting event, but if you get much more complicated than that my tired old brain seems to rebel and I find that I seem to do a very poor job of all of the tasks I am attempting to combine and accomplish.
These are my thoughts today, what are yours?
Steve
I have found in my world that sometimes multitasking is a good thing and like so many other items, sometimes it isn't. Driving to work this week I saw a women who provided an excellent point for the positive view of multitasking. She was (A) walking her child to the local school, while (B) also walking the dog along with them, while (C) swinging her arms and getting her morning exercise workout. Now that is creative use of time and multitasking. In the next block I observed a driver (I won't reveal male or female) that was driving one handed while attempting to work on what appeared to be a BlackBerry phone, and, read the paper stuck up on the steering wheel. This was DRIVING, or maybe I should say swerving around, and not stopped at a traffic light! Bad choice there just waiting to start an accident.
Now my wife, and many female friends, argue that women are far superior to multitasking than men - and there is at least one famous college study (by a woman of course) that documents several reasons for this claim.
- Women's brains are programmed to think and work differently than men's.
- Women are intellectually superior to men.
- Women from an early age are given multi dimensional tasks while men seem to prefer focused tasks with single focus activities.
- Women just practice this more than men do.
One thing I feel very sure of: Multitasking, as with most other activities can, when used to excess or at the wrong times, and result in terrible results and actually hurt your situation more than help you to gain that time you are attempting to save by doing different things at the same time.
As for me, I feel comfortable reporting that I can occasionally multitask without a problem, like walking and chewing gum, or drinking beer and watching a sporting event, but if you get much more complicated than that my tired old brain seems to rebel and I find that I seem to do a very poor job of all of the tasks I am attempting to combine and accomplish.
These are my thoughts today, what are yours?
Steve
Thursday, April 12, 2012
Top Down or Bottom Up?
One day I heard a man give a personal testimony saying "I thought of myself as being a self made man and I worshiped my maker." Now that level of Pride and Ego will get you in trouble for sure!
If you're convinced that you know all and have all you need, and that you earned it all by yourself, then get ready for a really big learning lesson that is sure to come your way soon. I know HUMBLE and how difficult it is to learn and live with, but I promise you (having been on both sides of this particular issue) that the Pride and Ego side is also extremely difficult.
Somehow we have to find a middle ground - that grey area - that path that allows both sides to live in Peace and Harmony most of the time, and then firmly plant our feel and ideas there to sprout and grow in that fertile ground.
I watched it happen when I was involved in manufacturing. When decisions which affect the assembly line are made in the boardroom they seldom work and are always resented. The quality of work diminishes and production stalls.
I watched it happen when I was in sales. When procedures are handed down as edicts, without including the input of salespeople, morale is damaged, which ultimately has a negative impact on sales.
In several churches I’ve been involved with I’ve realized it also happens in churches. When the pastor, or a body of senior leaders, makes a decision that impacts the children’s ministry, for example, without the input of people who are actually doing children’s ministry, resentment builds, momentum stalls, and people resist the changes.
Be careful making decisions from “the Ivory Tower”. Many leaders lead with a top down approach, passing down decisions without consulting with those who have to live with them. It’s easy in leadership to forget that real people have to implement your decisions.
Don’t stand in the tower. Get out among the people you work with on your team.
Great leaders build decisions from the ground up, not from the top down.
Want people on your team to buy-in to your decisions? Then allow the people having to implement them be a part of the team making the decision. You may just be amazed at how little you know and how much you can learn.
How is your organization making decisions?
Friday, April 6, 2012
Ambition
Everyone has some ambition I suppose, the problem I see is that many folks set their sights too low for fear of failure. Why is that? Why do we fear failure so much?
Thomas Edison led the way in product failures, and BECAUSE of that also led the way in product innovations!
Look at baseball, our all time strikeout king is one of the best remembered players!
I've spent a majority of my work time lately working on and thinking about new product development because my company, USG, wants to be the leader in every industry we are involved with. Not top 10 or top 5, THE LEADER! Without ambition that goal would be impossible.
Like most other things in life, balance is healthy and required, but ambition, like ego and pride, in appropriate balance, is a great and necessary item in making this a better world to live in. Have we experienced setbacks and failures during our efforts? ABSOLUTELY! But because of clearly stated focus on our ambition goals, those failures don't become permanent failures, but only minor roadblocks and setbacks that are then overcome.
Where do you stand on ego, pride, and ambition? Do you spend time deeply thinking about those traits? Do you only see those 3 as evil or bad? Why not take a few minutes today to think about how you can use ambition, ego, and pride to improve yourself and the world around you.
Happy Easter to you and your family! Be sure to take time during these next 3 days to reflect on the meaning of this holy time.
Steve
Thomas Edison led the way in product failures, and BECAUSE of that also led the way in product innovations!
Look at baseball, our all time strikeout king is one of the best remembered players!
I've spent a majority of my work time lately working on and thinking about new product development because my company, USG, wants to be the leader in every industry we are involved with. Not top 10 or top 5, THE LEADER! Without ambition that goal would be impossible.
Like most other things in life, balance is healthy and required, but ambition, like ego and pride, in appropriate balance, is a great and necessary item in making this a better world to live in. Have we experienced setbacks and failures during our efforts? ABSOLUTELY! But because of clearly stated focus on our ambition goals, those failures don't become permanent failures, but only minor roadblocks and setbacks that are then overcome.
Where do you stand on ego, pride, and ambition? Do you spend time deeply thinking about those traits? Do you only see those 3 as evil or bad? Why not take a few minutes today to think about how you can use ambition, ego, and pride to improve yourself and the world around you.
Happy Easter to you and your family! Be sure to take time during these next 3 days to reflect on the meaning of this holy time.
Steve
Thursday, March 22, 2012
I'm Sorry, I was WRONG!
We rarely hear those words in the business world! Why do you think that is? It seems that pride and ego just will not allow us to confess any mistakes to others, even when they are obvious. I suppose it starts at the top - when the President of the country blames others for everything gone wrong, why shouldn't the president of a company or the Governor of a state also not admit any mistakes or blame someone else for the situation?
What benefit could you possibly receive from telling someone (or everyone) that you were wrong about something and that you are sorry? Well, for one thing your own peace of mind that no matter how wrong you were you are at least honest! Another benefit is making the other person feel better about themselves. Contrary to most claims, becoming a humble person is extremely difficult, and does cost you a price that is almost "PRICELESS." Another benefit will be that you will become much more popular when you are willing to admit your mistakes and others correctness in situations.
Now I'm not suggesting you go thru the rest of your life being a doormat for everyone, quite the opposite. What I'm suggesting here is that you focus your efforts on thinking about what action you are about to take (words or actions) before you actually do that mistake. Take time to study and ponder (I love that word) before reacting and having to say "I'm Sorry" so often. It also helps when you take the time to study as much as possible within the field of business that you are engaged with, but a caution here, when you do that just remember that you are still prone to making mistakes unless you preface your comments with a qualifier type statement like :"In my opinion" or "I believe" and "I have found." These statements help others understand that you aren't attempting to present yourself as the ultimate authority, but rather sharing your thoughts and opinions based on your experiences or studies.
I may be the absolute worlds worst at actually doing this, but I continue to work on it daily and however slowly I do see myself making progress. I am attempting to hang out with folks that I absolutely KNOW are much smarter than I am, and therefore am completely comfortable in listening more than talking - and that helps me reduce my mistakes also!
These are my thoughts, what are yours?
Steve
What benefit could you possibly receive from telling someone (or everyone) that you were wrong about something and that you are sorry? Well, for one thing your own peace of mind that no matter how wrong you were you are at least honest! Another benefit is making the other person feel better about themselves. Contrary to most claims, becoming a humble person is extremely difficult, and does cost you a price that is almost "PRICELESS." Another benefit will be that you will become much more popular when you are willing to admit your mistakes and others correctness in situations.
Now I'm not suggesting you go thru the rest of your life being a doormat for everyone, quite the opposite. What I'm suggesting here is that you focus your efforts on thinking about what action you are about to take (words or actions) before you actually do that mistake. Take time to study and ponder (I love that word) before reacting and having to say "I'm Sorry" so often. It also helps when you take the time to study as much as possible within the field of business that you are engaged with, but a caution here, when you do that just remember that you are still prone to making mistakes unless you preface your comments with a qualifier type statement like :"In my opinion" or "I believe" and "I have found." These statements help others understand that you aren't attempting to present yourself as the ultimate authority, but rather sharing your thoughts and opinions based on your experiences or studies.
I may be the absolute worlds worst at actually doing this, but I continue to work on it daily and however slowly I do see myself making progress. I am attempting to hang out with folks that I absolutely KNOW are much smarter than I am, and therefore am completely comfortable in listening more than talking - and that helps me reduce my mistakes also!
These are my thoughts, what are yours?
Steve
Thursday, March 15, 2012
Girl Scouts versus stupid drunks!
This week I was in Savannah, Ga for a trade show and convention down on the Riverfront area and got to witness two completely different ends of the human spectrum.
The Girl Scouts were celebrating their 100th anniversary by being almost everywhere doing their good deeds and kindness. If you think of the Girl Scouts as only sellers of cookies then you are missing the huge amount of greatness that these young women, and their leaders, accomplish in our world.
At the opposite end of the range of humans activities I saw many folks, arriving early for the annual drunken fest called St. Patrick's Day Celebration and already being successful at getting completely out of control. These humans, I hesitate to even call them people, were drunk and completely out of control by 10 am in the mornings and after passing out, sometimes in the public parks, and resting slightly, recovered slightly and joined back into the drinking to repeat the process. I'm sure the good people who live in and around Savannah just can't wait until this weekend when well over 1 million additional folks are expected to arrive and participate.
This may actually be the reason and the cause for the caution:
BEWARE: THE IDES OF MARCH!
The Girl Scouts were celebrating their 100th anniversary by being almost everywhere doing their good deeds and kindness. If you think of the Girl Scouts as only sellers of cookies then you are missing the huge amount of greatness that these young women, and their leaders, accomplish in our world.
At the opposite end of the range of humans activities I saw many folks, arriving early for the annual drunken fest called St. Patrick's Day Celebration and already being successful at getting completely out of control. These humans, I hesitate to even call them people, were drunk and completely out of control by 10 am in the mornings and after passing out, sometimes in the public parks, and resting slightly, recovered slightly and joined back into the drinking to repeat the process. I'm sure the good people who live in and around Savannah just can't wait until this weekend when well over 1 million additional folks are expected to arrive and participate.
This may actually be the reason and the cause for the caution:
BEWARE: THE IDES OF MARCH!
Tuesday, March 6, 2012
Busy! Busy! Busy!
If you're like me you find yourself extremely busy these days, much more to accomplish each day than you have time for. I was pondering why that seems to be when I decided to actually track the amount of time I spent for different activities. What a surprise! I found I have been so busy because I become so distracted about worrying about things that I have absolutely no control over or that may never happen. Does this happen to you also?
I tend to go way beyond what would be normal levels of "preparation" into harmful levels of worrying about many things that I either can't control anyway, or that I imagine MAY or MIGHT happen and then they never do and I've wasted valuable time. Confusion is one of my more frustrating states of mind. Not seeing clearly, not being able to perceive fully, and not being able to understand leave me feeling silly or stupid.
SO WHAT DOES THIS MEAN? In my world it means I end up very busy when that just isn't necessary! I'm not suggesting here that I need to completely ignore valuable thoughts/pondering/preparations but when I find myself taking this to the extreme I tend to actually slow myself down and become far more BUSY than necessary.
I watched a TV show recently called "Doomsday Preppers" - now these folks all spend much valuable time, efforts and money being prepared for survival when the emergency they feel will happen happens. I find myself agreeing with much of the shows premise but again some folks tend to take it way too far (unless you feel owning 4 old school buses loaded with supplies and staged at various hiding points along a preplanned escape route normal). One family featured was spending all their free time stockpiling supplies in a remote location to the point they had enough supplies to last 10 years, for 24 people (4 in the family) but had absolutely NO LIFE right now!
I believe BALANCE is the word that best describes what I am looking for in my life - not lazy, not busy, but balanced. I plan to focus on balanced and let the world spin as it will.
These are my thoughts, what are yours?
Steve
I tend to go way beyond what would be normal levels of "preparation" into harmful levels of worrying about many things that I either can't control anyway, or that I imagine MAY or MIGHT happen and then they never do and I've wasted valuable time. Confusion is one of my more frustrating states of mind. Not seeing clearly, not being able to perceive fully, and not being able to understand leave me feeling silly or stupid.
SO WHAT DOES THIS MEAN? In my world it means I end up very busy when that just isn't necessary! I'm not suggesting here that I need to completely ignore valuable thoughts/pondering/preparations but when I find myself taking this to the extreme I tend to actually slow myself down and become far more BUSY than necessary.
I watched a TV show recently called "Doomsday Preppers" - now these folks all spend much valuable time, efforts and money being prepared for survival when the emergency they feel will happen happens. I find myself agreeing with much of the shows premise but again some folks tend to take it way too far (unless you feel owning 4 old school buses loaded with supplies and staged at various hiding points along a preplanned escape route normal). One family featured was spending all their free time stockpiling supplies in a remote location to the point they had enough supplies to last 10 years, for 24 people (4 in the family) but had absolutely NO LIFE right now!
I believe BALANCE is the word that best describes what I am looking for in my life - not lazy, not busy, but balanced. I plan to focus on balanced and let the world spin as it will.
These are my thoughts, what are yours?
Steve
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