I wore out the pedometer I was using for my Zeno challenge (see June 2 archive)so had to get a new one tonight (a big $29 expense at the running room). So lost credit for a few steps. I will say wearing a pedometer is a great motivator even for me. Just having it on means I walk more than I otherwise would. I strongly suggest this for anyone who is looking to improve their fitness.
Although I was in my Guelph office all day and did not have a particularly packed schedule, I am tired tonight. I even came home early (about 7). Don’t know what that is all about.
I finished reading “The Power of the Subconscious Mind” by Dr. Joseph Murphy. I was inspired to get this from my sales conference (see June 6th archive)with the hypnotist and have been reading it a few pages at a time. (one of my time tips is to always carry reading for the odd wait and this was the book I was carrying). I am fascinated by the subconscious and wish I could believe everything I read about it. I know the mind is powerful. I believe in visualizing outcomes. I don’t fully buy some of the shallow repeated phrases the book advocates. It says on the cover over 1,000,000 copies in print. This is surprising for something that is still fairly fringe. Maybe only 20 have been sold.
The book was originally published in 1963 so it is amusing in sections since life has changed a lot since then. It is interesting that a concept like this has been written about for so long and yet has yet to reach full acceptance.
Thursday, July 28, 2005
The best way to cross the river
Last night when I arrived home, I had a huge list of things I needed to do. Almost overwhelming. And I was tired.
Fortunately I remembered one of my favourite Indian sayings “The best way to cross the river is to cross the river”. Don’t search up and down looking for the best place to cross. So rather than hum and haw about what to do first, I just started doing things that needed doing. One at a time. By the time it was time for bed, many (but not all) of the things that needed doing were done. And of course I felt more satisfaction for having done what I did.
Fortunately I remembered one of my favourite Indian sayings “The best way to cross the river is to cross the river”. Don’t search up and down looking for the best place to cross. So rather than hum and haw about what to do first, I just started doing things that needed doing. One at a time. By the time it was time for bed, many (but not all) of the things that needed doing were done. And of course I felt more satisfaction for having done what I did.
Tuesday, July 26, 2005
Planning for what you cannot plan for
It was a great, well planned and well executed day today until things started to unravel. Unexpected crisis at about 11:30 meant 3 more conference calls to fit into the schedule. This meant juggling meetings and calls at roughly the same time. Then at 6:30 or so I ran into high stress unplanned system issues. Although I am not the one fixing anything, I do have to understand what is happening and how we recover from it.
Over the years, I have learned to leave a bit of space in my day for the unexpected. This is one of the sins of over time management. So I like to leave a bit of space. Of course I always have my list of low priority things to do to fill the time if nothing comes up.
I have been coached as well to have more unscheduled time to “think”. Interestingly, I am not sure I ever allow myself time to just think. Right now I am just thinking about the possibility of this. Perhaps I already do do this but in a structured way.
Days like the latter part of today, I could have used a bit more space in my schedule.
Over the years, I have learned to leave a bit of space in my day for the unexpected. This is one of the sins of over time management. So I like to leave a bit of space. Of course I always have my list of low priority things to do to fill the time if nothing comes up.
I have been coached as well to have more unscheduled time to “think”. Interestingly, I am not sure I ever allow myself time to just think. Right now I am just thinking about the possibility of this. Perhaps I already do do this but in a structured way.
Days like the latter part of today, I could have used a bit more space in my schedule.
Monday, July 25, 2005
Powerful Sleep
Slow day today. Many people are on vacation. What can they be thinking. Busy day tomorrow starting with an aggressive workout with my over strong work out partner – Trevor, CEO of the Elliot. He can lift 20% more than I can. The only consolation is I can out run him. Lots of meetings tomorrow.
I went to my mom and dad's for dinner with my daughter Beth. I walked which is about an hour walk both ways. Need to get my steps in since I did not work out today.
I read an ebook on sleep today called Powerful Sleep by Kacper Postawski. Sleep and I have an uncomfortable equilibrium. I worry that I will miss something if I sleep. In my time management course I say “Sleep is for wimps”. But I don’t really believe it. I do think many people waste a lot of time sleeping but there is a healing that comes from a good 6-7 hour sleep. Even I will admit that.
The gist of the book is that you can sleep less if you get “good deep sleep”
Ideas from the book include:
1 – get lots of sunlight. (I am working on this)
2 – no caffeine
3 –no alcohol
4 – No change in sleep pattern on the weekend.
He also suggests that sleep and temperature are connected and that we sleep on a cycle. The key is to wake up in the right point on the cycle.
Interesting book.
I went to my mom and dad's for dinner with my daughter Beth. I walked which is about an hour walk both ways. Need to get my steps in since I did not work out today.
I read an ebook on sleep today called Powerful Sleep by Kacper Postawski. Sleep and I have an uncomfortable equilibrium. I worry that I will miss something if I sleep. In my time management course I say “Sleep is for wimps”. But I don’t really believe it. I do think many people waste a lot of time sleeping but there is a healing that comes from a good 6-7 hour sleep. Even I will admit that.
The gist of the book is that you can sleep less if you get “good deep sleep”
Ideas from the book include:
1 – get lots of sunlight. (I am working on this)
2 – no caffeine
3 –no alcohol
4 – No change in sleep pattern on the weekend.
He also suggests that sleep and temperature are connected and that we sleep on a cycle. The key is to wake up in the right point on the cycle.
Interesting book.
Health books and the golden hour
I am just done a fairly lazy weekend. Hiked on the Bruce Trail near Dundas on Sunday. It was raining lightly for most of it. Saw Jennifer off at the airport late last night.
Lots of time to read which I love. I finished a number of books on health this weekend since one of my friends lent me his library of books on health. The list included “52 simple steps to Natural Health”, “The new Nutrition”, “Eat Right for Your Type” and “Optimum Sports Nutrition”.
One thing I do a lot of with health books is to filter the information heavily. I take a note of the publishing date since health information tends to change. Reading maturity is being able to read a book and not reject the whole book if there is a small part of it that is not agreeable. I like to take the material and make it mine. Modify, filter and use it.
With the health books, the summary is old fashioned do what you mother said and eat right. Eat your vegetables and fruits. Limit sugar and fried foods. Limit food intake appropriately. Exercise. Eat more smaller meals – not less meals. Eat more raw food. Moderation and variety are good. Take a multivitamin. Many health books tend to make it way more complex than that and suggest certain foods are bad, certain artificial foods and supplements are best and complicated ways of eating.
Right now I am enjoying the golden hour. The time early in the morning before everyone else is up. There are so many things I like to do during this hour (or in my case since I like to do so many things, I could use a golden 3 hours). This is a great time to meditate. I like to do some yoga (although I do this less than I would like). This is a great time to journal. I like to eat a healthy but light breakfast. And of course I like to work out. I even enjoy a short walk before my workout. All this and be at my desk by 7 or 7:30 so I can get a good jump on my day.
Lots of time to read which I love. I finished a number of books on health this weekend since one of my friends lent me his library of books on health. The list included “52 simple steps to Natural Health”, “The new Nutrition”, “Eat Right for Your Type” and “Optimum Sports Nutrition”.
One thing I do a lot of with health books is to filter the information heavily. I take a note of the publishing date since health information tends to change. Reading maturity is being able to read a book and not reject the whole book if there is a small part of it that is not agreeable. I like to take the material and make it mine. Modify, filter and use it.
With the health books, the summary is old fashioned do what you mother said and eat right. Eat your vegetables and fruits. Limit sugar and fried foods. Limit food intake appropriately. Exercise. Eat more smaller meals – not less meals. Eat more raw food. Moderation and variety are good. Take a multivitamin. Many health books tend to make it way more complex than that and suggest certain foods are bad, certain artificial foods and supplements are best and complicated ways of eating.
Right now I am enjoying the golden hour. The time early in the morning before everyone else is up. There are so many things I like to do during this hour (or in my case since I like to do so many things, I could use a golden 3 hours). This is a great time to meditate. I like to do some yoga (although I do this less than I would like). This is a great time to journal. I like to eat a healthy but light breakfast. And of course I like to work out. I even enjoy a short walk before my workout. All this and be at my desk by 7 or 7:30 so I can get a good jump on my day.
Saturday, July 23, 2005
Why Business People speak like Idiots
I had dinner at my parents last night with Elizabeth and Jennifer. In to work today by 7:30 for a conference call at 8 that never happened – frustrating. Going to go for a long (perhaps 16K) run now and maybe lift some weights.
I follow the stats on my blog and notice the readership on the weekend is roughly half what is during the week. Interesting.
The latest book I finished is “Why Business People speak like Idiots” by Frugere, Hardaway and Warshawsky. It is a light read. The gist of it, better writing and speaking lead to better communication – duh (or does using that word make me one of the business illiterates).
Some good valid points that were made:
1 – think of the reader (not the writer) when writing.
2 – avoid acronyms. SYNNEX could learn - we are rife with NGM, OPL, RR etc.
3 – Appropriate humour is good (4 year olds laugh an average of 400 times per day compared to 35 year olds that laugh 15 times per day)
And my favourite:
4 – keep it shorter
I have long been a proponent of good writing and think the easiest way for people to improve writing is to read more. Reading has almost become a lost art.
One section of the book talks about apologizing. They put forth an interesting view that it reduces liability. There is truth to that. From my experience with lawsuits, most of them would be avoidable with proper heartfelt apologies. But this is not the reason to apologize. From my perspective, apologizing cleanses the soul and keeps authenticity. It is closely tied with taking responsibility which is one of the most important traits of successful people.
Off for the run.
I follow the stats on my blog and notice the readership on the weekend is roughly half what is during the week. Interesting.
The latest book I finished is “Why Business People speak like Idiots” by Frugere, Hardaway and Warshawsky. It is a light read. The gist of it, better writing and speaking lead to better communication – duh (or does using that word make me one of the business illiterates).
Some good valid points that were made:
1 – think of the reader (not the writer) when writing.
2 – avoid acronyms. SYNNEX could learn - we are rife with NGM, OPL, RR etc.
3 – Appropriate humour is good (4 year olds laugh an average of 400 times per day compared to 35 year olds that laugh 15 times per day)
And my favourite:
4 – keep it shorter
I have long been a proponent of good writing and think the easiest way for people to improve writing is to read more. Reading has almost become a lost art.
One section of the book talks about apologizing. They put forth an interesting view that it reduces liability. There is truth to that. From my experience with lawsuits, most of them would be avoidable with proper heartfelt apologies. But this is not the reason to apologize. From my perspective, apologizing cleanses the soul and keeps authenticity. It is closely tied with taking responsibility which is one of the most important traits of successful people.
Off for the run.
Thursday, July 21, 2005
Touch it once
My step daughter – Jennifer is home for a week holidays. She is in the Navy – posted in Halifax so we see her infrequently. So I am trying to get home by 8 or 9 so I can have dinner with her.
As part of dealing with the SYNNEX volume, I have had to re-evaluate my systems. Doing EMJ for 25 years, I had developed systems to handle the volume I dealt with. With SYNNEX, this all changed. Dealing with volume professionally is all about having good systems. I have developed a number of time tips – one of which I will share with you now.
Tip – The Power of One Touch.
This is the oldest time management tip in the book. When you get a piece of paper or an email – deal with it.
I have modified this practice in the following way in order to keep working on high priority items. The problem is I need to quick scan to see if it is urgent. From the quick scan – if I can deal with it and finish it in less than a minute, I deal with it. If it will take me more than a minute, put it in a TODO file or TODO efile and deal with it later. I use this quick scan differently depending on how rushed I am. For example, if I am caught up, I might deal with anything I can deal with in less than 4 minutes. If I have been out of the office for a week, I might only allow myself 20 seconds to deal with things.
The basic principal is if you only touch it once, it is faster. Don’t let the simplicity fool you – this is one of the most powerful habits you can have.
As part of dealing with the SYNNEX volume, I have had to re-evaluate my systems. Doing EMJ for 25 years, I had developed systems to handle the volume I dealt with. With SYNNEX, this all changed. Dealing with volume professionally is all about having good systems. I have developed a number of time tips – one of which I will share with you now.
Tip – The Power of One Touch.
This is the oldest time management tip in the book. When you get a piece of paper or an email – deal with it.
I have modified this practice in the following way in order to keep working on high priority items. The problem is I need to quick scan to see if it is urgent. From the quick scan – if I can deal with it and finish it in less than a minute, I deal with it. If it will take me more than a minute, put it in a TODO file or TODO efile and deal with it later. I use this quick scan differently depending on how rushed I am. For example, if I am caught up, I might deal with anything I can deal with in less than 4 minutes. If I have been out of the office for a week, I might only allow myself 20 seconds to deal with things.
The basic principal is if you only touch it once, it is faster. Don’t let the simplicity fool you – this is one of the most powerful habits you can have.
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