One Lineup Affects Another

I was boarding a flight and someone was in my assigned seat. When I inquired about their seat assignment they replied, "Oh, I didn't want to sit in my seat up front so I just took a different one. You can sit somewhere else." Having been through this before, I politely told them I wanted to take my assigned seat so it didn't cause problems when other people boarded the plane. They gave me a disgusted look but moved to a seat close by.

By the time the plane was ready for takeoff, this person had caused 4 other people to have to move to a different seat. It was literally a chain reaction with several people "miffed" at having to sit somewhere else. All because someone wanted to change their place in the "seat lineup" without thinking about it's impact on others.

The next time you plan on making a change in your lineup, think about how the change will affect those around you. If it's for the better, perfect. If not, and you want to maintain a positive relationship with the other performers, you might want to think again... or come up with a solution that works for them too.

To get your performers working more effectively in your organization's circus, click here.

Speeding Doesn't Help With The Elephants

I had to laugh. The article got my attention when it said, "Running behind the clock?" The main point in the article was that driving faster to get somewhere quicker was relatively futile. The statistic given by the National Traffic Safety Institute is that if you drive 10 miles at 70 mph versus 55 mph, you only save 55 seconds-less than a minute!

One solution I have found when running late for a meeting is to call the person expecting me for the meeting. When telling my anticipated arrival time (after apologizing for being tardy), I normally add a 10-15 minute cushion. Two benefits are created. One is that if there are any other traffic tie ups or delays, I'll still be on time. The second benefit is that if I don't encounter any more delays, I'll actually arrive "earlier" than anticipated and they will be pleased.

To stop the constant speeding in your day to try and get everything done, click here.

The Elephant of Identify Theft

Identify theft is on the forefront of our concerns about personal security. It's scary to think that someone could assume our legal identify and financial identify and make some really bad decisions that negative impact our future. What if you looked at identity theft in another way... not of someone stealing our credit card numbers and social security numbers but of the loss of our personal goals, dreams, potential and identity.

Sometimes we try to be someone we are not or we forget our potential and settle for mediocrity. I am all for bettering myself but sometimes we should not be afraid to be ourselves and follow our own goals. We need to identify our personal "purpose" and then wrap our daily, weekly, monthly, yearly and lifetime activities around that purpose. We should not be afraid to dream and push ourselves to achieve. We are faced with a lot of negative "self-talk" and it is easy lose that identity that we should have. I encourage each of us to continue to remind ourselves of our potential, standards that we set for ourselves and not be afraid to reach for the stars. After all, we ARE the Ringmaster of OUR circus.

Click here to learn more about how to minimize this type of identify theft in your work and life.

Comfort vs. Security

Only in growth, reform, and change, paradoxically enough, is true security to be found.

-Anne Morrow Lindbergh

It is strange. When most of us think of having security, we think of things NOT changing. The reality is that we are confusing the word "security" with "comfort." Most of us are comfortable when things are not changing, but rather staying the same. Apply the concept to the key areas of your life:
-Would you rather be comfortable in your job, or secure in it?
-Would you rather be comfortable in your relationships, or secure in them?
-Would you rather be comfortable with yourself, or take steps to be more secure as an individual?

Bottom line-how does your lineup for today or this week reflect your desire to be "secure" or "comfortable?"

A strong daily lineup and taking more conscious control of your time energy offers long term security for your success. Click here to learn more about how the message of Juggling Elephants can help.

It's About YOUR Circus!

A man who trims himself to suit everybody will soon whittle himself away.

-Charles Schwab

Ever have one of those days when you met everyone's needs except your own? Sure, there are days when your job, parental role or relationships may require you to focus on the needs of others. But continually neglecting your own physical, emotional, mental, spiritual and even financial needs is dangerous.

The next time you are feeling overwhelmed by trying to meet the needs of everyone else just remember-they are PART of your circus-they can't make up your entire performance.

To take back "your" time and start getting more standing ovations from yourself, click here.