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Off and On Duty
March 06th, 2011
If you work out of a home office there is a tendency to leave the printer and computer turned on rather than turning them off each night. For me, what started out as a practice of being more conscious with electricity has become a solid practice of beginning and ending the day consciously. Turning off the computer versus allowing it to go into sleep-mode declares the work day finished. Being in off-mode is a powerful message to myself that I am no longer on duty and it relaxes my attention. I am wondering about other ways we are always on duty that could be switched off.
Direct Line to Action
January 18th, 2011
A client told me she sometimes sits and stares at her email screen not knowing where to begin. I thanked her for being honest. To me this is a perfect example of what happens to us when we do not have a direct line to action, otherwise known as a functional, doable, "to do" list. Instead we flood our heads with all the possible choices we could take and it's so crowded in there it becomes impossible to start, so we stop and stare. Practice looking at only one thing (email) at a time, decide the next action, do it or put the action-step on the "to do" list if it takes longer than two minutes. Then the need for staring is eliminated as you will have a direct line to action.
Subconcious pulls
January 16th, 2011
People often ask me why it matters if we don't finish emails in the Inbox or clear up stacks of paper. I give them the theory. Here is a specific example. While assisting a new client to process email I heard her say, "Oh this one and the next one can be deleted." I asked her how she could know that since the next email is not visible. [I have people read email in the 'open position' which prevents viewing more than one email at a time.] She answered, "Oh I know this person sent me two of these emails." I asked her how long she had been remembering this. She said over a week. Multiply that by the number of things we are remembering that are months and years old that we have unconsciously delegated to the mind because we either don't write down an action or we don't finish it, i.e. delete it. Our attention doesn't have a chance in this case as it is subconsciously pulled into the past. Free up your attention by completing as you go so you can stay present and available to what is now.
Sacred In and Out
December 19th, 2010
I completed with a client yesterday and was looking at the position and clarity of his in and out box on his desk and experiencing the power of both. Having an in-box prepares a place to receive. Having an out-box is the celebration of the completion and a giving to another. Keeping the boxes clear and honoring their function is something worth having in my experience. I sometimes see clients store things in their in or out boxes like staplers, pens and pads of paper. I suggest they keep those boxes clear as if sacred as they are the place for receiving and giving in our work flow. Storing things stops the flow of energy. Enjoy the freedom of receiving, completing and keeping things moving.
Service over and above
December 14th, 2010
This morning at 5:50 AM I arrived at Regan National Airport to check-in for a flight to Aruba for five days of work and realized my suit bag was still hanging in my closet at the Courtyard Marriott. I breathed, then realized if I moved quickly there was still a chance to get the bag. I called the hotel. The night auditor, Tameika Williams, was still on duty and remembered me. I told her what had happened and she said, no problem. She asked for my cell number so she could call me when the van was on its way to me. In about seven minutes Wes Jones, the hotel's Night Security staff, arrived at American Airlines with my bag and I was able to check-in on time for my flight. When taking the next action is met with such graciousness and willingness to serve it touches me very deeply. I will be writing a letter to their boss. I bless them both.
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