Do I have Downtime?

Good workout this morning. 5K fast and abs and back work. Nice and sore tonight.

David Daniels did an inteview with me which he posted on his blog.

Today I did my “Time Leadership” seminar to staff in Guelph. Many people had done it before so the turn out was not as good as I would have liked. Not everyone is as into self development as I am I guess.

Interesting questions from the staff like “What do you do for downtime?” or “Do you have any downtime?”. The answer is of course I do. Fortunately my assistant was there and stuck up for me that I actually do have a life. Tonight, for example, I played duplicate bridge with Elizabeth – a social/competitive game (We won first out of 13 tables).

Tip 2 of the 17 Powers of Time – Be 100% in the moment. High focus and attention can yield greater results. There is a return on attention just like there can be a return on investment. The greater the focus and attention – the greater the return. This rule particularly is important when you are with other people (I speak from experience). For example, I try very hard not to do email or handle paper while I am speaking to someone (note I say try)

I always say “Work while you work”. Why put in the time and not work.

This power is an interesting contrast to the Power of While. The key with the different Powers is to use them at the right time.

The 17 Powers of Time

Easy day yesterday (except for the hayfever). I now find it easy when I stay in Guelph for the day usually.

I had feedback that I needed to mingle more so on my time sheets, I noted how many of my staff I interacted with. Interesting study. It should be easy for me to increase the number of people I interact with. I do notice the high volume of email I get and the solitary nature of much of what I do.

I thought I would use my blog to share the 17 Powers of Time.

Power 1 (and my favourite) – The Power of While. What can you do while you are doing … What can you do while you are driving. For me, I usually listen to audio books. Even with just local driving, I never cease to amaze myself with how many books I can listen to. What can I do while I am working out? I usually use this as a time of reflection and contemplation. What can I do while I am waiting for an appointment (usually I read or do email on my RIM)

So the Power is – What can you do while…

The One Thing You Need to Know

Mostly took the weekend off work (except for a bit of email and my usual reading)

Instead of workout Saturday, I split, hauled and stacked a full cord of wood for 3 hours. (I also cycled to market and back but that is another story). Thanks to my friends Trevor (who also donated the tree that got felled by the storm last week), Randy (who owns every power toy imaginable including a splitter) and Steve (AKA chainsaw). Mostly I just filled the wheelbarrow with wood and moved it a few hundred yards. I enjoyed the camaraderie and the physical labour. Sore now and hayfever is bad.

I have been thinking a lot about leadership. What people need is a definite direction and vision. The odd part of my current role is I need to get buy in from California of this direction and vision before I can impart it.

One of the books I read this weekend is “The One Thing You Need to Know… About Great managing, Great Leading and Sustained Individual Success”. It talks about using people in the areas they are most strong in – a concept I am a big advocate of. It also talks about true depth. So often I worry about shallow fixes for deeper problems. I know there is great power in simplifying things. Sometimes we simplify too much and work only on the superficial without fixing the root problems.

Part of running a great business is full utilization of resources and being lean. Sometimes we cut too deep in order to try to achieve this goal. Cutting things too lean does not allow us to do a few of the “new” things required to move us forward. We are on the border of too lean right now.

I often say “Fail often, Fail fast, Fail cheap”. We need to try a few new things in order to have a secure future. To try new things needs a bit of excess resource.

Too Tired for Wisdom

Some people have told me I am arrogant to try to post wisdom anyways. I am beat. Too many long hours and the morning will come early. So will keep this short.

Usual hectic day with mostly meeting and calls.

This afternoon we did our monthly in depth numbers review. Lots of numbers. I am trying to figure out how we can all get more value from these reviews. It is healthy to make sure everyone involved knows their business. It does also spur some ideas and cross department communication.

I always thought I was highly detailed when I did EMJ. SYNNEX taught me otherwise. SYNNEX is even more detailed on the numbers, cost accounting, margin analysis etc.

I stopped by the warehouse on my way home tonight about 9:30. The survey feedback indicated that some people were not happy with the situation there. They also said they wanted to see me more. I asked a few people what I could do to help them and did get a few ideas. We have a good crew there.

Joy at Work, Typing with your nose and breaks

I started the day being a bit late to my workout with my friend Trevor so had to cut the cardio work out down to about 20 min. Then we lifted weights. Now I can hardly move my arms and am considering typing with my nose. I am thinking I should find a new workout partner – perhaps a small woman who cannot lift much. Not sure why I always choose the power lifters to work out with.

Lots of meetings and calls today. Too much driving between offices (although I am listening to some good audio books). It is fitting that I would be listening to Joy at Work at this time of refection and action planning on the survey results. The gist of the message from the book is to allow intelligent people to use their intelligence and not make them into machines. I think our satisfaction and productivity will both improve as we begin to do this more.

I played duplicate bridge tonight with Elizabeth. We came in second. I cannot think of anything much but bridge, counting cards etc. when I play well. So my tip tonight is to sometimes give your brain a break. Do something completely different. A break can allow you to break through.

Survey Says...

Long tough day. It started with not feeling too motivated at the gym at 6 (probably because I stayed up too late last night) but I did do 45 minutes of cardio and a few weights. Then meetings, email and calls most of the day. Finally home for dinner at shortly after 9 and by the time that was done and a short cycle (trying to get used to my new bike) and a bit of reading, the evening went by too fast.

I got the results of the staff survey back today. We have our challenges. Half the staff are happy and think we are improving and half do not. This to me is a failing grade. I particularly pay attention to the comments.

What I was encouraged by is that I know how to fix most of the problems (not that it will be easy). We need stability. People fear for their jobs and income level. People are stressed by the changes. Adaptability does not come easily to people. People feel overworked and under trained.

Most importantly, we need to treat our people decently.

These are all things that I know how to do. I have challenges now that I have many bosses. If I am to be a proper CEO though, I need to figure out how to do the right things. Like I always say “Successful people do tough things”. I will fight hard to make SYNNEX a good place to work.

Summerfolk and Genius

Saturday. Ran 7K. Visited my parents. Picked up my oh so cool racing bike. I don’t yet feel comfortable with the shoes clipping in and out and the speed. Will need to take it out several times to get used to it. Then went to Summerfolk in Owen Sound. A folk festival. Elizabeth and I scooped ice cream for a friend who owns Mapleton Organic. (never hurts to have a back up career ready). Ran into one of my friends, Dave Reynolds, who also grew up in Woodstock (the Ontario town - not that folk festival)It was fun.

Today I had breakfast with my son, David who is going back to Western shortly. It was great to see him as he had been off for the summer working at a kids camp (Celtic). Then spend until now at work but not very effectively. Effectiveness is more important than efficiency. Today I was not particularly either. I spent the time but did not get the results.

One positive - I finished a great audio program today. “Discover your Genius” by Michael Gelb. He tells of the lives of a number of famous people (like Darwin, Columbus, Einstein, Ghandi etc.). I always love learning about the lives of great people and this is one way I keep myself inspired.

I think people have this idea that I am always naturally 100% and always inspired. Perhaps the reason I do so many things that I do (and talk about it so much)is that I find it a challenge and always need to push myself .