Tag Archives: energy

Take the Day Off! It’s Good for Business

Now this is different . . . a day in the middle of the week with nothing pressing.  A half-day meeting got cancelled at the last minute; the Internet at the office isn’t working; no client sessions are scheduled; it’s 92 degrees in Reno, NV and it’s the last week before my college-age daughter returns to school on the east coast.  So an idea floats up as I’m driving home from work . . . how about just taking the day off tomorrow and heading up to our beautiful Lake Tahoe.  So the next morning an ice cooler is packed, beach towels and suntan lotion are thrown in and we’re ready for “Road Trip!”.

Of course, the daughter is a bit less enthusiastic about rising at the crack of dawn and keeps asking “But what are we going to do?”.  As I hustle her into the car, I explain that on a true road trip you don’t know what you’re going to do until you’re doing it.  And that’s exactly what we did . . . cinnamon crepes in Tahoe City and then a look at the map to say let’s do something we’ve never done before.  So around the lake we go.  And we wind up hiking to the Vikingsholm – a magnificent  Norwegian castle on Emerald Bay at Lake Tahoe.  Then on to an early dinner on the deck of my favorite lakeside restaurant and rolling back down the mountain to Reno by sunset.  A wonderful way to finish off our “delicious” day.

Delicious Days Are Good For Business

A “delicious day” is a day just for you – to rest and renew – that is slipped in between normal busy work days.  As Americans, we tend not to give ourselves permission to take those days especially when economic times are tough.  We push harder making each business day a bit longer and hopefully more productive.  But actually when we take the time to slow down and relax the endless chatter in our heads we are really far more creative, flexible and productive.  It’s the best thing we can do for our own businesses, our customers and our employers.

Alternate Work with Rest

One of my favorite books Full Engagement describes fascinating research that shows how high performing athletes (and workers like us) do far better with alternating periods of intense activity/training with downtime.  I’ve used this research many times in workshops and people are always intrigued.  It makes sense.  As humans, we simply are not made to physically and mentally perform at 110% every day all day.  We simply can’t do it and be at our best.  But if we take a lesson from professional athletes and alternate highly focused work times with real relaxation we can actually bring much more value, skills and talents to our work.  Think about it and then take that day off!

 

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Consulting with Your Colleagues

As I was driving into my office this morning, I found myself appreciating my network of professional colleagues here in the Northern Nevada area.  They feed my soul; create synergy for new ideas, support me when life is in a whirlwind and challenge me to stretch and grow.  And I do the same for them.

Easy to Get Isolated

It’s easy to get isolated when you own your own business.  This is especially true when you are a sole proprietor and are in the human services field – coaching, training, consulting, counseling etc.  If you have your own office or are working from home it’s easy to not see or even talk to your colleagues for several days.  And interestingly, this isolation often increases the longer you are in business.  We can get complacent – taking relationships for granted. 

It Takes Work

It takes work . . . to reach out and connect regularly with your colleagues when times are both busy and when it’s a bit slower.  And it also takes a commitment of time, energy and money.

I have owned my own training & coaching business for over ten years and have a wonderful multi-disciplinary network in this Northern Nevada community.  I’ve worked hard to build these relationships and it’s often involved taking a leadership role in the organization.  Leadership is a great way to meet the “movers & shakers” and to become known.

For now, this is what is working for me. I am an active member in my two professional associations (ASTD training & NPCA coaching); belong to two business organizations (Chamber of Commerce & WIN) and one volunteer community organization (that feeds the passion).

I also try to bring colleagues together often – usually over coffee – to just talk and share ideas on how we can help each other succeed in our own professional businesses.   The exchange of wisdom, experience and expertise creates a wonderful synergy.   I always feel energized and inspired afterwards!

 Set Time Aside Each Week

So here’s an idea . . . set aside some time each week (yes, weekly!) to stay connected to your professional network.  Friday mornings are the best for me.  Pick up the telephone and call one or two colleagues. Find out what’s new with them and always be thinking how you could help them achieve what they are working on.

Let them hear your voice – and you hear them.  It’s good for your business and for you personally as well.  So now I’m off to meet a favorite colleague for a quick lunch.  What a great way to end the work week!

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Leave the Laptop Home!

It’s that wild moment before I dash out the door with family in tow for a long-awaited family vacation.  We’re used to that last minute dash from our years of living in Norway and traveling all over for both work and fun.  But it’s always a bit crazy trying to remember if you packed the toothbrushes, extra shorts, grabbed up the money and remembered all the bits & pieces of work that needed to be tied up.  And this time . . . the laptop stays behind.

Giving Yourself Some Space

Sometimes I take the laptop and the technology with me on travel but more and more now I choose to leave it all behind.  From experience I know that as soon as I log-in my mind clicks back to a “to-do” list and I’m back in the work mind-set. 

But I need space to rewind . . . I love owning my own business and the joy I get from both coaching and training.  But when I give myself permission to take a break I know that I’ll come back refreshed and wonderfully energized for work.  So for now the laptop will sit here on the home desk getting a well-deserved break as well.  See you all in a week!

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Is It Important or Just Urgent?

This question has been a powerful guide for me for years.  You’ll recognize it from 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, Steve Covey.  It cuts to the chase of what depletes our energy, saps our motivation and distracts us daily if we allow it.  And this question is equally important for us in both our personal and professional lives.  In your leadership role at work, at home or in your community you know that it is easy to get pulled away into the small, urgent tasks that still may need to be addressed but often overwhelm people’s time and energy.  This is particularly true during organizational change when everyone feels stretched and often stressed. 

So What’s the Difference?

As a corporate trainer in Norway, I included Covey’s Urgent & Important concept in many workshops.  People got it . . . it makes sense and is a great way to start to reduce the feeling of being pulled in multiple directions.  When we can honestly (and quickly) identify when a task is truly important to our long-term goals or when the task is simply something that is urgent pressing for our time and energy we are way ahead of the game. 

So here’s my way of telling the difference.  An urgent task is one that presses for our time and energy, it’s often generated by someone else and it often comes about because of lack of planning (sometimes by me!).  Now some urgent tasks are unavoidable – the car battery goes out, kids get sick, doctor appointments etc.  But many really can be minimized by planning ahead. 

Now an important task is one that contributes to my long-term goals, takes initiative on my part and is often done over time.  Examples could include going to the gym for life-long health; signing up for a class to support a love of learning; making time each day to nurture relationships etc.  Those are the tasks that are often easy to set aside in the busyness of everyday life. 

Challenge to You

So my challenge to you is to ask yourself this week if some of what pulls on your time and energy is actually really important or is it just urgent.  Be honest and then see what you decide to do.  That urgent task may still need you but maybe next time it won’t . . . and that would feel really good!

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Clutter Just Drains Energy

It doesn’t move.  It just sits there day after day.  That’s the paper pile sitting on the corner of my desk here at home.  I’m not too sure what’s in it but hopefully nothing too important.  It’s clutter taking up space.  And when I do glance over at it, the “shoulds” start right away.  I really “should”sort it out. I “should” just take care of it once and for all.  But I just as quickly talk myself out of it because there are always more pressing “shoulds” to take care of that are more fun. 

Drains My Energy

It was an “ahah” moment when someone suggested that piles of clutter actually drain our energy.  I had never thought of it in that way.  But it makes perfect sense.  And the more I looked at the paper clutter, closet clutter, kids’ clutter, dog clutter etc.  I felt my energy being drained away.  All those “shoulds” seemed overwhelming and where would I put things anyway.

One Pile at A Time

But tonight the college kids are up at the lake and the house is quiet.  So in a moment of frenzy I tackled that paper pile, sorting and tossing like a madwoman.  It was done in about 45 minutes.  I even cleaned the top of the desk, sorted out one of the desk drawers and glanced at the bills.  Did the open space create some energy – it sure did.  I’m always a bit amazed but it actually does make a big difference.  You can see what you have and you’ve tossed anything outdated and unnecessary.  There is a noticeable uptake of energy and focus.  It feels good and I always tell myself just one pile at a time.  So tomorrow will be another pile.  It’s worth it and I may find a treasure at the bottom like an uncashed check.  You never know . . . try it!

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