New Years Blues

At the beginning of the year, it can be very overwhelming to look at our “circus” and think of all the areas where we want to improve our lineup. It can even get depressing for some. New Years resolutions and our goals for the upcoming year can seem daunting and pretty soon we forget about them so that we don’t have to face that we are falling short.

I take strength from the thought, “How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time.” Break down your goals into bite size pieces. Spread your goals throughout the year and also be realistic as we make resolutions.

It is also important to look at what acts can be removed from our circus as we look to add new ones. Nothing weighs more heavily on a performer than a line up that is too crowded.

Stepping Up to the Plate

Learn to Play the Guitar, Write a Novel, Sky Dive, Take Flight Lessons, Try Out for American Idol, Visit the Pacific Islands, Buy a House, Start a Family, Go Back to Graduate School – Sometimes our “To Do List” seems to us to be more like a “Wish List”. Especially, the older we get. Time, money and resources seem to be barriers that get in the way. The quote from Kathy Seligman offers a good strategy, “You can’t hit a home-run unless you step up to the plate. You can’t catch fish unless you put a line in the water. You can’t reach your goals unless you actually do something.” It is that easy! Do something. Begin! Layout out a plan and get started. Anything worth achieving is going to take effort and require sacrifice so put on the waders and get fishing

Someday

Soon, I will get around to it.  Someday…

Sometimes, “someday” never comes.  Simple solution.  Start right now.  Start where you are.  Pick a task that will move your dream, goal, project forward.  Say, “No” to something less important and choose to start today. And, stick with it.  Life is too short to work on a bunch of things that seem urgent and never get to the things that are most important to you.

Yes, easy to say and hard to do.  But do it.  

A Quality Corporate Performance

Recently I did a keynote presentation to over 200 sale managers from a large corporation. It was a pleasure to be asked to speak to this fine group. What was even more exciting was to walk into their corporate facility and see the “set up” of the meeting. They had taken the concepts from “Juggling Elephants” and wrapped it around the theme for their conference. In the lobby they had set up a concession stand for the breaks where they served drinks, popcorn (popped fresh in a circus like popcorn machine), and cotton candy. The Directors had dressed up in a variety of circus outfits (gypsies, barkers, clowns, etc.) with the M.C. and the vice president dressed as a ringmaster. Every detail was covered right down to circus music that played at the breaks. Each participant had been given the book “Juggling Elephants” prior to the conference and were encouraged to read it before attending. This was a group, like most of us, that has plenty of acts in their circus. The stage was set for us to have a fun yet very frank discussion on the importance of being the Ringmaster of our circuses and creating the performance of a lifetime. I would highly recommend such a setup and experience to any organization whose employees are feeling overwhelmed with too much to do. Taking an intermission to refocus is critical and will bring a return on the investment.

Living Life Intentionally

It is so easy to get caught up in the “thick of thin things.”  To work a full day at your job, being real busy and leaving the office thinking, “What did I actually accomplish of worth today?”

It can happen in your personal life as well.  5 years go by like a flash and you look back and think, “what have I accomplished?”  I have done some good things.  I have been busy.  I have been keeping those “elephants” up in the air but, have I progressed in taking my life, my relationships, my career to the next level?

Life is meant to be lived intentionally.  More than ever, we are faced with so many distractions that get in the way.  What needs to be turned off?  What needs to be removed?  What changes do you need to make in your life so that you can add in those dreams and goals that you want to achieve?

Be intentional.  Choose one thing.  Write it down.  Make a plan.  Hang it on the wall as a reminder.  Focus on it.  Work on it daily.  Baby steps.  It is what will help you get up in the morning.