A Great General Manager

A couple days ago we had someone contact our office to discuss Juggling Elephants. Here's their background: They have 4 children under 6 and run two day care centers. If ever their were a perfect match for the concepts in the book, it was them. They were a big fan of the book and talked about how it had helped them focus on their business more clearly. Strangely enough, however, one of the things they focused on the most was how the parents of the children in their day care needed to hear the message and how to get it to them.

Fantastic! This person was so sensitive to the needs of those around them. The hallmark of an effective "General Manager" that we talk about in the book.

Who do you know that needs to hear the message of Juggling Elephants today?

What A Quote!

I heard this quote earlier this week and I thought it was so true about teachers and others who give so much to others.

A good teacher is like a burning candle. It consumes itself in order to light the way for others.

If you're an educator or someone who is always "lighting the way" for others, please take an intermission for yourself today.

A Great Team Act Gone Bad Due To One Performer

Just this week, Marion Jones, a track and field star from the US, admitted to steroid use during the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney. She has apologized, returned her 5 gold medals won in the games, and received other punishment for her actions. But that's not the worst part.

Now the IOC (International Olympic Committee) is asking the US athletes who ran with her in a relay event at the Olympics to return their gold medals as well. Passion Richardson, one of the relay runners, said in an interview on CBS This Morning, "I have to suffer because of the actions of one. Not only could I lose my medal, but now my character is in question."

Hopefully none of us have such a traumatic situation in our workplace or family. However, this incident does remind us how important it is to have the full engagement (and integrity) of each team member if an act is going to be successful-and stand the test of time.

Tips On Handling E Mail

One research firm has estimated that in approximately 5 years, 41% of an employee's time will be spent reading and responding to e mail. To me, that's scary!

In it's October 5 edition, USA Today had a great article entitled Fridays go from casual to e-mail-free. Marsha Egan, an executive coach gives some superb advice on taming that inbox. Among her suggestions:

• Don't use e mail to avoid unpleasant tasks. Talk to people face to face whenever possible.
• Don't constantly check for new messages.
• Respond to important messages first-even if they're difficult.

One of the most telling comments by Egan was that when you check e-mail, it can take up to 4 minutes to refocus. Multiply that by the number of times you check it per day, and you have wasted alot of time in your lineup that could have been used for a much better act-or even an intermission.

A Pause In The Performance

While listening to the news on TV this morning, a Public Service Announcement caught my attention. The narrator said:

When you take a moment to think, you give yourself the chance to make a better decision.

That is so true! As we say in Juggling Elephants, "The Ringmaster always reviews the next act before bringing it into the ring." Too often we make our task lists and then move quickly through them, rarely pausing to see if a better order or choice of acts might be needed.

Today, try something different. Before you start the next item on your list, ask yourself:
-Is this the most important task for me to undertake at this moment?
-Would a better act be in order?

That momentary pause might be the difference between getting a standing ovation today and just having another busy day.