What Is The Juggle Costing You?

The first line of the article said it all: A couple going on a European vacation remembered to take their duty-free purchases and their 18 suitcases, but forgot their 3-year-old daughter at the airport. Read the entire article by clicking here.

Apparently they were late for a flight, and in the rush to the gate they forgot to check to make sure they had all five of their children. The good news is that the child was safely flown to meet them on the next flight. Scary moments.

A comment by one of the grandmothers really got my attention. She said, "We're in shock. They're very responsible and organized, top-notch people." Let's review-they left their child at an airport and flew to another country! While it would be so easy to just scream at the parents, I have to wonder-how many well-intentioned people have made some really poor choices because they were just working or living at such a breakneck "juggling elephants" speed.

How many good employees have left an organization because their manager or supervisor was just too occupied with "busy work" to respond to their needs. I'll bet there are a ton of individuals who have abandoned their life's passion because they were too busy with the daily rush of life. And yes, all too often, we see children or spouses get left behind in some way because someone was focusing too much on the "wrong ring."

What is your "rush to the gate" routine costing you? Some things are just too important to be lost.

B and C Vacations

I give complete credit of this idea to our friends Michelle and Kevin. I think it is a great way to look at the type of intermissions that we take. They explained to me that they plan two types of vacations. "B Vacations" and "C Vacations." A "B Vacation" is where they go to just relax, take it easy and "be." A "C Vacation" is where they go to "see" things, run from place to place, play hard, etc.

Sometimes it is important to have "Be Vacations" for just recharging our batteries. If we are run down and end up taking a "See Vacation" then we can sometimes come back to work in worse shape than we left. We have all returned from an intermission stating that we need a vacation from the vacation.

Another variation on the theme is to schedule a vacation with the first half being the "see" part and the second half being the "be" part. Take a few days at the end of your vacation to relax, rest your feet and unwind before heading back to your normal routine. You will return from your intermission with renewed energy and ready to tackle the other acts in your circus.

The Scent of Success

One of the strangest looks I get when delivering a training program on Juggling Elephants is when I ask participants to describe a "smell" that would be associated with success with their new lineup. It's one of those perfect "aha" moments because all I have to do is say, "Don't believe in the power of smell? How about your grandparent's home? Fresh cut grass? A high school gym? (Hey, I didn't say they were all positive.)

Our sense of smell is the strongest emotional connection we have to a place or event. Read the article, The Nose, An Emotional Time Machine, to find out the science behind this fact. While the article focuses much of its time on how people can quickly connect with their past using their olfaction (our sense of smell), we can also use it as a motivating reminder of the value of doing something differently-and getting different results. Examples for me include:

• Fresh cut grass. It reminds me that if I focus and get my tasks done, I'll be able to go leave work at a decent hour and enjoy time outside with my children, wife and yes, my Labrador retriever.
• A plate of cheese fries from Outback. We use this delectable dish as a celebration of some accomplishment-personal or business. (Also works well for the sense of taste)
• Fresh air first thing in the morning. It reminds me of the upcoming intermission I will have in the mountains of NC. Smelling the fresh air encourages me to buckle down this week and work hard on my lineup so that I can really savor the time in the mountains this weekend.

Yours may be very different for where you are in your particular situation. If you are in a small business, the smell of fresh paint or sheet rock may be your sensual trigger that if you focus on growing your business, you'll soon be able to move to a larger location. If you are in the market for a new job, the smell of a copier may be motivating to you. It helps you visualize copies of your wonderful resume being duplicated for dissemination to all those potential employers.

Still don't believe me? Try this test. The next time someone you know gets a new car-take a deep breath while sitting in it-I would be willing to wager that the smell motivates you to either freshen up your old vehicle-or work hard to eventually get a new(er) one yourself.

A Standing Ovation from Another Ringmaster

While you definitely need to be the ringmaster of your circus, the person you report to at work would also be considered a ringmaster. They are charged with the responsibility of making sure the acts within the organization and/or department run smoothly, and that the performers are functioning with a high degree of success.

Margaret Steen gives some sound advice on making sure you stay on your boss's "Top Performer" list. She highlights 10 habits we need to develop in her article, 10 Habits That Bosses Love. Some of the key ones include:

• Anticipate the boss's needs. Like you, their lineup is full of acts, and if you make their life easier, it's usually appreciated.
• Think one level up. You need to do your job, but also try to take on the mindset of the person above you. What do things look like from their perspective?
• Be engaged in your work. Offer ideas for improvement instead of just "doing your job." Within reason, don't be afraid to challenge the status quo when you deem necessary.
• Learn the boss's pet peeves-and avoid committing them.

Ways to Stop Interrupting Your Lineup

Work Interrupted: 6 Ways To Avoid Distractions is an extremely practical article by Caroline Potter. In it she highlights 6 suggestions from the Center for Creative Leadership on staying focused. They are:

• If you have a door, shut it. If you don't have a door, consider putting in earphones when you really need to focus (no music required). Don't make eye contact with co-workers when they pass by your work area.
• Budget your time. Even your free time. Making a well-thought out schedule (lineup) that includes both work and non-work items will help you better understand how your time was used and keep you on track.
• Put down your mobile device. Or at least turn it off for defined periods of time so you can better focus on other tasks.
• Consider a change of scenery. If your current work location is wrought with interruptions, find a place where you can better focus. It might be at home, in a conference room or even a vacant office.
• Stop incessantly checking your e mail.
• Off hours are in. Early mornings, late afternoons or even weekends might be a time to catch up on those high mental tasks that just never seem to get done. (Juggling Elephants note-you will need to find a way to maintain those quality acts in your relationship or self rings if you start using your off hours for your "work ring.")