Even A Good Decision Can Be A Bad One

Prior to the start of our training programs we frequently have a power point presentation of motivational or humorous quotes that rotate on the screen. Some are well-known (you miss 100 percent of the shots you never take-Wayne Gretzky) and some are more obscure (When you fall, pick something up-Oswald Avery).

The quote that often generates the most interest is the one, We make a decision and THEN we make it right. People will sometimes want to argue and say, "No, you make a right decision." Our comment to them is that the decision is just that-a decision-and it is by our planned course of action that we make it the right one-the one that is best for accomplishing our purpose. We can choose to start an exercise program (a decision) but then not support that decision with scheduled workouts or goals. The decision only becomes the right one when we focus our efforts to support and carry out the decision.

What are some decisions you need to make and THEN make them the right ones by aligning your "acts" and attitude to be successful with the decision? How would making them "right" affect your circus performance? There's another quote on our list that reminds us of the need to make the journey of right decisions... Character is the ability to carry out a worthy decision long after the emotion of making that choice is gone.

The Elephants of Tomorrow

Yesterday we were meeting with attendees at the Training Trade Show in San Diego. It was fantastic to hear of training managers and others talk of how they are using Juggling Elephants. For some it was a book club, while others are doing their own training through our Train the Trainer program and still others have us booked for a keynote or live training program sometime this year. We always enjoy getting to know those who are sharing the message with others.

One of our favorite moments at a trade show is when someone who has not heard of Juggling Elephants says, "So what is Juggling Elephants?" We then simply say, "Do you ever feel like you have too much to do?" and the expression on their face says, "I get it now."

When talking with one attendee, we were explaining Module 6 of our training program-Continuous Improvement. He didn't see the value of focusing on such a concept in a program like ours. I simply said, "So, are you ready for the elephants of tomorrow?" He said, "No. I'm just trying to deal with the ones today." I replied, "Well, if you could do something small today or this week to prepare to deal with tomorrow's elephants, would that be of value?" His smile said it all.

Like others, too often I find myself so hyper focused on the elephants of today that I never give thought to the ones on the way. My circus seems to function better when I have at least one act that deals with an elephant coming in the future.

What could you do today to better prepare for the elephants coming your way? Remember-there are always more elephants on the way.

Goals-How Rare Are They?

How rare are goal setters? There are estimates as low as only 5% of the population have written goals. That sounds low. Organizations probably do better since there are team, department and organizational goals. Earl Nightingale stated a survey (back in 1956) that 19 out of 20 workers had no idea why they worked or even why they got up in the morning.

Mr. Nightingale had some wonderful thoughts. He said, "The moment you decide on a goal to work toward, you're immediately a successful person. You are then in that rare and successful category of people who know where they're going. Out of every hundred people, you belong in the top five. Don't concern yourself too much with how you are going to achieve your goal-leave that to a power greater than yourself. All you have to do is know where you're going. The answers will come to you of their own accord, and at the right time."

Be a goal setter. Be a goal striver. Be a goal achiever. Write them down. Don't be afraid to dream. "All you have to do is know where you’re going."

21 Days-Create a New Habit

Studies have shown that it takes about 21 days to create a habit. With the New Year coming up, a lot of us will be thinking about what we want our goals or "acts" to be and how we are going to stay motivated to get them done.

Remember, the secret is to stick with it! It can take some time (at least 3 weeks) to get in the routine. Whether it is eating less, flossing more or starting that exercise plan, try this simple idea out. Take a piece of paper and write the numbers 1 through 21 for each new routine that you are wanting to implement. Each day, after completing the task you are working on, cross off a number. You will be surprised that by day 21, you will have a new habit!

Making Performance Improvement Easier

While at the NSDC conference in St. Louis this week, we were introduced to a service called "Teacher Studio." The formal description is as follows:
TeacherStudio is a vital, worldwide professional learning community allowing teachers to see, hear, and collaborate with exemplary educators in action. Through a unique combination of networking technology, rich-media, and proprietary tools, TeacherStudio allows educators from member districts to come together anytime, anywhere to share ideas, receive mentoring, and learn best practices.

An oversimplified description would be a professional development YouTube for teachers-without all the clutter and irrelevant media. Think about it. Teachers are always so busy and professional development, especially viewing the practices of seasoned veterans and dynamic instructors, is almost impossible. With this service, however, teachers in districts who subscribe to the service can leverage the best practices of their instructors and share across the district. You can also view content posted by other member school districts. The information is searchable as well so you can find just what you are looking for.

And as a teacher, you can work on your performance improvement when it works best in your "lineup." I also envision a first year teacher struggling with how to teach a concept or deal with a classroom issue-and they have waited until late in the evening to begin focusing on it. With Teacher Studio you could log on, find the information or assistance you needed and be better prepared for the next day-how cool is that? There is much more to the service-that's just one example.

How about in your organization? How convenient is professional development for your employees? With busy schedules and unique development needs of each employee, how do you make it easier for "improving myself professionally" to be an act in their lineup on a regular basis?