Quote Of The Week
Dyslexia! That was me; that was my problem. You can’t imagine what a relief it is for an eighteen-year-old to learn that he is not mentally retarded.
Read more about Dyslexia
Monday Tips
How to deal with crazy busy
A new year and a new decade are a time to reflect on what has changed. One thing I am becoming more aware of is that we seem to be in a constant state of busyness and even overwhelm. The demands accelerate year on year, and the ‘fear’ of not meeting those demands causes neurochemical storms, stress and dis-ease.
We need to find practical ways to change how we do things so that we can operate in this speeded up world and not get caught up in the ‘fear’, not get caught out by our neurochemistry which is designed to favour survival (dealing with the ‘fear’) over rational thought.
So, this is the first of a series of tips on how to remove the ‘fear’ response from our daily lives and allow us to replace the stress chemicals with something more benign.
First tip: Write it down.
Get at least some of the thinking whirling around in your head out and onto paper where it can be parked until you need it. A truly parked thought is stationary, and ‘out of mind’, and so cannot generate ‘fear’ and stress chemicals.
This week, experiment with parking stuff that is cluttering your head and distracting you. You will probably notice that you can then focus more easily on your current task.
What else do you notice when you park stuff so it’s not active in your thoughts?
Soul food
I saw an article about graffiti in London recently and it included this gem…
“I wonder what my soul does all day while I’m at work?”
What can you offer employees in terms of soul food so their soul walks in the door with them?
What makes your soul feel alive? Valued? Wanted? Needed?
Take a risk, and ask some colleagues that question. I think you will be surprised by the answers.
Now… what’s on the menu for the souls at your workplace?
Some people talk about a spiritually intelligent workplace.
Happy New Decade! (for the second time)
Before Christmas, I sent a tip that wished you a Happy New Decade.
And I do so again because it is important to take a step back from time to time and ask…
Is what I am doing working?
Is it getting me closer to what I want in life and from life?
“The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result.” (Often attributed to Albert Einstein, but the earliest record shows it came from a newspaper article quoting an attendee at a meeting to help alcoholics. https://quoteinvestigator.com/2017/03/23/same/)
Whoever said it, it is hard to refute. Are you starting this decade doing the same things as you were doing at the end of the last decade?
Do you want something different from this decade?
Probably. I know I do.
What are you going to do differently?
Happy New Decade!
In a couple of weeks, we start a new decade.
So Happy New Decade!
It is a sobering thought, isn’t it. Where did the last decade go?
It’s common for people to overestimate what they can achieve in 6 months, but underestimate what they can achieve in 10 years. It’s a bit like the surprising power of compound interest. A small thing done regularly over a longer period can have a massive impact. Have you noticed that?
Take this opportunity to look back 10 years with a glass of Christmas cheer in your hand. Go down memory lane and remember what life was like 10 years ago.
Compare this with your life now. What are the biggest things that have changed for you?
Now that you have an idea of the scale of change possible in 10 years, what would you wish your life to be like 10 years from now, filled with the fruits of another decade of growth?
What do you need to start doing now as you begin to become that future you?
Then keep doing it 🙂
A great quote from George Bernard Shaw
“The problem with communication is the illusion that it has been accomplished.” George Bernard Shaw
We say something, we write something, and we think that because we clearly communicated our thoughts and feelings that the other person has understood us.
Really?
The only way you can know if you communicated successfully is by observing, and then interpreting the response.
If you don’t get a response that indicates understanding, your communication was faulty, or your interpretation of their response was faulty.
This might not be true in every case, but it’s a useful premise. Acting as if it is true means taking responsibility. You cannot ‘blame’ someone else for your communication failing.
Here are 12 premises, including this one about communication, that may not be true, but are useful as working beliefs for a better life.
Networking
Networking
"Networking is to be likened to a season ticket, not a day pass." - Alan MacKelworth, AMaC Ltd
Whether you come to this section out of pressure or sufferance or hopefully wanting to hone your results, you will find a lot of very useful and practical advice. You go for it and enjoy...
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Paul Matthews writes a practical tip every Monday. Short, sharp and immediately useful and practical, each tip will give you something specific you can focus on during the week to improve and master your skills and abilities.