Philosophy

It seems that people are always running late, racing for a deadline, or stressed out over budgets. When resources, like time, are initially abundant why do we consistently find ourselves in the stressful situation of running out of them? Because whenever we are planning, we have a tendency to grossly underestimate how much resources the plan will cost. It’s called the Planning Fallacy and we are the worst at it when considering the Human Element.

One thing I often hear from new clients is that their work and their life feels like Groundhog Day. Sometimes the language is slightly different, it feels like rinse and repeat or it's blah, but the message is the same. Every day feels the same. They’re bored, stuck and feeling a bit trapped.

By now you may have heard of the book, Deep Work, Rules for Focused Success in a Distracted World, by Cal Newport.  It’s a fascinating and fun read and my favorite non-fiction book of the past few years.  Since finishing it, I’ve recommended it to dozens of clients, colleagues and friends. A part of me is reluctant to write anything about it other than, IMMEDIATELY BUY THIS BOOK IT WILL CHANGE YOUR LIFE!!! Seriously, do it now. I’ll wait. If my use of ALL CAPS and exclamation points didn’t convince you, here’s a recap that I hope will....

When the leaders around you are different from you in personality, age, race or gender, it can feel hard to see yourself as a leader.

Values can be powerful filters for hiring and firing, customer selection, and which opportunities to pursue.  However, every so often we find a situation where one of the core values that one of our clients has worked so hard to articulate just isn’t working...

One thing I often hear from new clients is that their work and their life feels like Groundhog Day. Sometimes the language is slightly different, it feels like rinse and repeat or it's blah, but the message is the same. Every day feels the same. They’re bored, stuck and feeling a bit trapped.

The bad news: Anyone who tells you they know how you can harmonize your work and your family life is full of sh*t. You, your life, and your work are all unique. No one else can give you the perfect answers to create your ideal life.

So where do you start?

Long ago, I remember hearing that I should identify the “core values” of my company and somehow use them for success.  I didn’t see how it was relevant, at the time.  Now, 25 years later, I can’t imagine living my life without them, for my companies, myself and my marriage.  Why?

It’s the week after Memorial Day so all of my coaching sessions included asking about the three-day weekend. Everyone seemed refreshed and energized, which didn’t really come as a surprise.  We all know that taking breaks (short or long) are great for our health, outlook and creativity.  And business is better when we don’t work all the time. So with that in mind and for the sake of your business, here’s a strategy to ensure that this summer is extra fun.