Strength Training For The Ringmaster

We frequently hear the phrase, "I just find myself jumping from one ring to another, rarely getting anything done well." While our work or life situation may encourage that behavior, we ultimately have to exercise more self-control to combat this ineffective habit.

USA Today recently had an article with some good tips about improving your self-control and willpower. Read the article and pick up some helpful ideas, including:

• Find smart trade-offs
• Reduce temptations
• Reward yourself with feedback

Try practicing one or two of the strategies today and build up your mental muscle. The elephants aren't getting any smaller.

The Power of the Circus

Last week was the birthday of John Steinbeck. He was an amazing writer, authoring books like The Grapes of Wrath, East of Eden and Of Mice and Men. We are also fond of him because he had a unique perspective on the value of the circus to all of us. In the book, America and Americans he wrote:

The circus is a change of pace-beauty against our daily ugliness, excitement against our boredom. The lion tamer and the acrobat are brave and clever against our cowardice and clumsiness and the clowns make our selfish tragedy seem funny. Every man, woman and child comes from the circus refreshed and renewed and ready to survive.

Thanks, John, for your inspiration to us!

Uninterrupted Time

With so much to do and so many opportunities, you might feel like you are constantly jumping from one activity to another.  It also seems like every 30 seconds or so there is a beep, ring, whirl, or interruption that begs for your attention.  One might argue that this is the working and living environment that we now live in - so you just have to deal with it.  The challenge then becomes, when do you get the real work done?  In some jobs, it is a full time job to just manage email.  Unfortunately, you have other responsibilities too.

In this day and age, it is vital to carve out time where there are no interruptions and that you can focus on accomplishing the things that matter most to you.  This environment must be clutter free.  In this environment you should be able to turn off the devices and notifications and concentrate.  It might not be realistic to be in this environment all day long, but you should schedule time in your day where you can think and focus on what it is you need to accomplish.  At first you might have trouble focusing because you are so use to jumping from one urgent thing to another.  But, with a little time and practice, you will be able to think more clearly and with that will come improved quality to your work.

The Fresh Smell of Purpose

Ever hear of Febreeze? Of course you have. You might be surprised to know that it was an intial flop for Proctor and Gamble. According to the March Issue of Fast Company, the company marketed it as something to remove odors. Unfortunately, it noticed that most people who had odors around the home had adjusted to the smell and saw little reason to change.

When they changed the purpose of the spray to a "post cleaning reward," sales reallly took off. Today, Febreze generates about $1 billion annually.

If you are struggling to find success with a task or project today, maybe you need to reflect on your purpose and determine if your work is in alignment with it. If not, maybe it's time to make a change in either the tasks, or your purpose for the work.

Additionally, if you are a manager, check to see if the purpose you have for the work of your people matches what they see as the purpose. If something doesn't "smell" right, find some common ground.

Better Solutions Come Through Intermissions

Peter Bregman affirms the value of an intermission in his post at the Harvard Business Review entitled, In Tough Situations, Unplug and Wait. Our favorite line from the post is:

By taking yourself out of the situation, you allow your brain to rest so that when you return — with a fresh perspective and a calm mind — you are more likely to find a new solution.

Read the entire post by clicking here.