When you have hit a sticky part of your project and a new opportunity or idea presents itself, what is your default? Do you quickly move to the new and get started – abandoning the thing that you were trying to do? OR Do you keep plugging away at what you are doing, even if […]
Dealing with the Siren Song of Distraction
It was amazing. The deeper I got into the book writing process, the more I wanted to distract myself. I had to keep reminding myself that we were past the point of “just one more source” and keep writing. I had a couple of epic ideas that just wouldn’t die, despite my attempts to keep […]
Busyness – Not Just You
When we’re busy and have that high-octane, panicked feeling that time is scarce …our attention and ability to focus narrows. Behavioral researchers call this phenomenon “tunneling.” And, like being in a tunnel, we’re only able to concentrate on the most immediate, and often low value, tasks right in front of us. (Research has found we actually lose […]
Adding vs Embedding in Real Life
I decided during a trip to Mexico that I was going to learn how to surf. I was over 40 and wasn’t known for my grace and balance. I had a great lesson, which sadly ended in a wave catching me and the board I was carrying, twisting me awkwardly as I walked onto the […]
How Will Your Change Fit Into Your Life?
“We are thinking of [name of change here] and we’re just going to add it to [whatever we are doing now].” Paraphrase of multiple conversations over the past few months I’m finding that many of us tackle change with the assumption that whatever change we’re making, we’re just going to add it to what we […]
Dealing with Ideas that Won’t Die
Sometimes, I have an idea that just won’t get out of my head. I’m trying to prioritize my efforts and focus on what I am doing. I have scheduled when I am going to address this idea. I’ve put all the sub-ideas and research in its own little pile to be dealt with later. And […]
Making Decisions
Think about the last time you made a major decision. How long did you agonize over that decision? Did you create lengthy advantage/disadvantage lists attempting to gain clarity? Now remember when you asked your wise friend about what he or she would do. How quickly did they give you sound advice? Was that advice something […]
The Discipline of Not Doing
NOT doing is one of the disciplines I and my clients seem to struggle with. I have something that needs to be done! Why can’t I just do it NOW! I personally feel this impulse when the things on my current to-do list don’t excite me. Often, this lack of excitement is a result of […]
Push vs Pull
Most of us live our lives in Push systems. Push systems – People push work towards you. You do it. Pull systems – You pull work as you have the capacity to do it. In IT and Project Management, there is a trend towards “Pull” systems – at least in theory. Agile techniques are based […]
Accounting for Energy
I’ve been thinking about personal energy and our plans recently. Often, we tend to make our plans based on our best case scenario. We’re feeling healthy, energetic, our best selves. We then make our plans and set our timelines accordingly. Then we beat ourselves up when the average to bad days kick in and we […]
