What's REALLY Scary

On this, the day when all manner of "evil" is displayed to try and scare others, we offer you a question that can strike more terror into an adult than any zombie, ghost or strange noise. The question...

In your struggle to get it all done, what is NOT getting done?

Why not use this day to acknowledge that you can't get it all done and that you need to prioritize your tasks based on your values or purpose?

You know what is even scarier than this question? An increasing list of things that aren't getting done because you don't start taking positive action-NOW!

Beware of "Fillers"

Have you ever eaten at a buffet? Have you noticed how the buffet is set up? Well, you find the salad first and in the middle of the buffet you find a variety of other foods like vegetables, fruits, breads, pasta, potatoes, etc. At the end of the buffet are usually the meats like roast beef, chicken, shrimp, ham and/or fish - the high quality and more expensive items found in the buffet.

The owners of the buffet are smart and strategically place the quality/expensive foods at the end of the buffet line and the "fillers" (fillers of your stomach and plate) at the beginning. This is in hopes that by the time you near the end of the line; you don't have enough room on your plate. And, this strategy works! As you near the end of the line (the meat section) with a full plate, you think to yourself, "I will eat what I have and then come back for the good stuff." But, by the time you finish what is on your plate, you are near being full and have just enough room for the dessert.

Most people approach their day the same way they approach the buffet line. They fill their plates up with a bunch of "filler" activities and don't save room for the "meat" - the things that will truly make a difference. "If I have time, I will come back and focus on the meat...the things that are most important." But the day fills up with with less important activities and by the end; they are tired and just have enough time for some dessert.

Beware of filling your daily plate with items that are not important. Start with the meat and then come back to your "things to do" list and add the "filler" activities.

Be sure to always save room for dessert!

Can You Afford That Act In Your Lineup?

Here's a strange situation. According to an article in USA Today, a newly built high school in Riverside California (at a cost of $105 million) will sit idle because the school district doesn't have the money to pay for operating it. While the cost of operating the school would be $3 million dollars per year, just maintaining it comes with an annual price tag of $1 million.

While the source of their problem stems from inadequate funding sources (and maybe some poor planning), we experience similar challenges when we start a project or a task that will ongoing activities associated with it. We meant well when we started, but just didn't think about all the "maintenance" costs associated with it.

The next time you are contemplating bringing a large act into your lineup, ask yourself these questions:

• What ongoing tasks or activities will result from success with this project?
• Can I consistently complete these tasks and my other responsibilities as well?
• Can others consistently contribute their time and energy to the ongoing activities that will result from this project?
• What will I have to take out of my current schedule to spend the necessary time on this project?

Having clear answers to these questions may prevent a perfectly good elephant from squashing you!

When It's You Against The Performers

Ever have one of those days when you may be the Ringmaster of your circus... but nobody seems to want to be a performer in your circus? In an over-committed workplace and society, people are often wary of saying "yes" to one more thing, even if it's part of their responsibilities.

The next time you sense that some of your performers don't want to step into the ring, try these strategies to move them toward action:

• Connect with purpose. Remind them of the purpose of the organization (or family unit) and how their action would contribute to accomplishing that purpose. Don't forget to also focus on what's important to them and how their action would contribute to accomplishing those purposes as well.
• Tell them "why." Let them know why they are the best person for the task...but don't lie to them.
• Create a picture. Help them visually understand who will be "cheering" for them and the team when the task is completed.
• Let them know how it will benefit you. If you have built trust into your relationship with them, this may move them to action. If you haven't created an atmosphere of trust, disregard this one.
  
• Get into the ring with them. Show them you are willing to do your part to contribute to the work required to complete the task or project.

Remember, no one wants to see a "one person" circus.

White Space

If you have ever had an art class you might remember the teacher saying something like, "pay attention to the white space." The white space or "negative space" your teacher was referring to are the areas on your page that are not marked - that are blank. It is the space between text and graphics. It is the margins, gutters and space between the lines.

In business, white space is sometimes referred to as the gaps in an organization chart or between job functions. These are areas or responsibilities that no one is in charge of or responsible for.

What about the white space in your life? Let's define white space as the time you have between events. It is the 15 minutes that you have in the doctor's office while you are sitting in the waiting room. The 30 minutes that you have between meetings on a busy day. If you commute, it could be your drive time. How about the time that you have after dinner and before you go to bed?

Consider how you are spending and utilizing your white space. Are you being productive or are you just waiting for the next event to come along? Well, I doubt you are just sitting there waiting but maybe you are surfing the Internet, watching TV, checking email AGAIN or reading/updating your social media. These are not bad things but you need to consider if they are helping you to achieve the things that matter most to you?

Pay attention to the white space! Have a list of important, meaningful tasks that you want to accomplish. When you have the rare 15 minutes, review the list and get something done - something that will make a difference and really matter. Best wishes with your masterpiece!