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More Space and Less Things

March 23, 2012 in Ideas, Leadership, Life, Productivity, Self Leadership, Teamwork, Vision with 0 Comments

I enjoy spending time with Ingrid. (Just as well, she’s wife! :)) Counting the number of conversations we’ve had would be a futile exercise. A few days ago we spoke briefly about space and things in our home. It was not a long conversation but, for me, turns out to be one that I am still thinking through. Thus, it has earned a space the “conversations to remember” file. We often encounter things that can grow or equip us in more than one area of our lives but miss them because we look at them at face value. Back to the space subject in our home, and how it can help you in more than one area of your life…

Ingrid and I mentioned something we did not have in our home. (We were not complaining; we just realized we did not have one of them that’s all… The truth is while we may not have a lot we have enough for everyday life…). The conversation:

Me:      …if we got this, where would we put it? There is not enough space in our house for that. We need more space…

Ingrid:  we don’t need more space, we just need less things!

capacity is not only enlarged by getting a bigger space

Boom! Now to how the space conversation in our home can change your life!

The Lesson:

Capacity is not only enlarged by getting “more space” it can also enlarged by getting rid of some things. This principle applies across the board. Instead of rushing to make renovations to your house to make more space for something, you could achieve the more space by getting rid of some furniture. Instead of crying out for more time in your day, reduce the demand on it by getting rid of some things in your schedule. More space can be realized by going on a less clutter rampage. Growing capacity has a lot to do with getting rid of things not just acquiring.

You feel “crowded” because your space has a lot of things in it. Duh! (Substitute “space” for your work, family or social life etc) Another reason you feel overwhelmed is because you really do have too many things in your space. Take the pressure off yourself. You do not need to attend every conference, volunteer for every project. Make peace with having fewer things in your space for clarity and effectiveness in whatever “space” it relates to. Simplifying your life could be about getting rid of some things you do not need. You may not be able to acquire something to change your life but what you may need to do is get rid of things.

Capacity can also be enlarged by getting more space with fewer things. Fewer things in a larger space will have greater preeminence. It is easy for the small things to stand out if they are in a large space and not crowded. There are small things that matter than can easily be out of our sight because small things easy are to lose in clutter. This could be spending time with your children playing silly, which strengthens your relationship with them. You can take time out to think about the little things that matter in the different areas of your life and leadership.

illustration by bootsamurai, (cc)

Question:

I’m still doing the “more space – less things tango” in a lot of areas… What areas do you have capacity issues and what things do you think you could get rid off to make more “space”? 

The clues to a great story

March 16, 2012 in Ideas, Leadership, Life, Vision with 0 Comments

At different times in our lives, careers and organizations we contemplate the stories that we want to leave behind. The stories we want posterity to tell of us. To find inspiration through us. Interestingly, we find inspiration from stories that we hear from or about other people. From the movies we watch. There is something almost inexplicable that always opens the door for us to connect with stories we see on the screens.

Then there are the stories that we want to tell from who we are and what are doing now. It is the story of the life you have experienced and the one you are looking forward to. It is the stories of what your organization is doing as part of their bit in changing the world or adding value. People connect with stories than they do with numbers or statistics. Statistics only matter for people when they have a compelling story attached to them. As you attempt to share your life, cause or vision, consider the story you want to tell.

Stories are the platform for rallying support for your cause. They are the platform on which intimacy in relationships or partnerships is fostered. Think about it. We often feel more connected to people after spending an afternoon of hearing some of their childhood stories. For people to buy into your organization or cause there must be something that captures their imagination. There must be an ‘enchanting factor’. This is done through stories. At a TED talk, Andrew Stanton from Pixar, shares clues to a great story. Check out the talk below. (There is one incident of one strong word at the start, besides that, it is all worth a watch)

Your thoughts?

Starting Your Day For Productivity

March 13, 2012 in Ideas, Leadership, Life, Productivity, Vision with 0 Comments

It matters how you start your day. Your productivity depends on it! I have a couple of things I’ve learned about myself that may be helpful for you too.

  • Sleep in: It sounds counterproductive but it really isn’t. I got this from a talk, “Dead Leader Running”, by Wayne Cordeiro at one of the Willow Creek conferences. The idea is to sleep in but on the right end of the clock. This means instead of trying to sleep an extra 2 hours in the morning you go to bed 2 hours early. I don’t always get this right. (I’m also reminding myself through this post). You can also adapt this point this way: get enough sleep! I’ve tried the whole you need eight hours of sleep and that just doesn’t work for me. (Eight hours is just too long.) If you are not sure how long is good for you. Keep a sleep log and see how long you slept when you felt great after a night’s rest.

 

 

 

  • Earn it: related to the previous point: earn your sleep. I find that I sleep better after exerting myself during the day. I am not suggesting you ‘kill’ yourself with work. What I am suggesting is taking care of the work you were supposed to during the day. One of the things that interfere greatly with my sleep is unfinished business from the day. Often, the best way to get something off your mind is by getting it off your to-do list.
  • First milestone: I get pumped for the day when I start it with an attainable and tangible goal. Sometimes it is a small goal e.g.  Write 500 words; go for a 30 minute run, read for 15 minutes etc. Start with something small but attainable. Small goals are great confidence boosters. There is something about accomplishment that feeds our desire and confidence to go after more.
  • Run… or something!:I am sure you’ve heard this one many times. You might even be tired of it. But, exercise! I enjoy a good game of squash but I am not able to play in the mornings. At the moment I am using VirtuaGym. It is easy to use and also has a mobile app for my phone. The closest gym is very far from where I live and this app works great for me. I have more energy and clarity during the day after a good workout.
  • Pray: I pray. I feel less overwhelmed in tackling my responsibilities when I’ve started my day with prayer. You may want to try it! I am not easily stressed out or thrown in a panic during the day when I start my day with prayer.
  • Old school: The to-do list is not dead! If you want to be productive for you and the things pertinent to you, draw up your to do list before other people start giving you their agendas. Simple! If you don’t have a plan or goals for yourself, there are many people that can give you theirs! Without clear goals you may not have much to show for at the end of the day despite the busyness that you can be involved due to chasing other people’s goals. I am not suggesting you neglect or ignore your team where your work interlaces with theirs, what I am saying is be clear about what you are chasing. Having a to-do list will combat frustration while it is a long way off.
  • First: I know some of the things that stress me out. As a result I do not look at my emails or make phone calls until I’m adequately prepared for the day by doing what I have highlighted above. Perhaps you don’t want to start your day by hearing the bad news of the fuel hikes… Be intentional about what you hear and who you interact with first. Productivity depends on it! Make you that your batteries are fully charged before you start placing demands on them.
Remember: Productivity will not just happen on its own; it must be caused!
illustration by  jerebu, (cc)

What do you do to ensure a productive day?

The Underrated Problem Solving Tool

February 28, 2012 in Ideas, Leadership, Life, Productivity, Self Leadership, Skills, Vision with 0 Comments

Problem solving is a normal part of leadership and life. Challenges are inevitable and how we deal with them always becomes a part of our legacy. People are paid to solve problems. If we act wisely, when we cannot solve them we seek out those who can. We all approach problem solving based on worldview, education, experience and the list goes on. There is often more than one way of solving a particular problem.

If you think about some of the times you were stuck in solving a problem you may discover that you were locked in one line of thought. Many heads are often necessary in solving complex problems. The wise King Solomon also said, “Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed. You cannot have success without solving problems. You can never be a successful leader if your strategy is problem avoidance instead of problem solving. Problems can be success enablers or killers depending on your approach.

solutions are sometimes simpler than we think

People often fail in problem solving because they do not have the skill set for the particular problem, lack of resources, pride (in the form of a self sufficiency front). Another reason people fail is that they complicate their approach to the problem. Complex problems can be solved by simple solutions. The sign above is what actually inspired this post. Instead of them making five signs to warn motorists they made one and simply put “X5″ to tell the motorists there are five speed bumps. Putting up one sign like that saved them time and money yet did the job!

We tend to complicate the problem solving process by ignoring the obvious. You may feel stupid but the best place to start solving any problems is by asking the obvious questions. In coming up with the solutions, start by exploring your solutions in a vacuum. What would you do if you had to make the decisions without all the pressure of the moment? Complications arise when you add more pressure in addition to that of the challenge. You may need an inclined plane instead of a crane! Start with the simple things.

Which “What If?”

February 24, 2012 in Ideas, Life, Passion, Productivity, Self Leadership, Vision with 0 Comments

Projects, initiatives, causes and ideas all have a life span. The ultimate determinant of the life span is with those that bear them; the ones who drive the project or idea. A project or idea has no longevity apart from a champion. One can easily be both the champion and undertaker of a dream or an idea.

A project or idea has no longevity apart from a champion

There are many that have started pursued causes with great passion and gave up. When something ‘dies out’ it doesn’t necessarily mean it became irrelevant. Sometimes what sees many pursuits to their death is a change in perception. When perceptions become negative the cause or idea will be perceived as such, ensuring a sure ‘death’. The reason you must pursue something is that value it will add to humanity or change lives.

What gives life and initial energy to pursuit of an idea or cause is usually how it will change things for the better. It is the possibility for change that inspires us to expend our time and energy. It is seeing how much better the world around us can be. The supposition, “What if?” is what fuels our passion as we think about the endless possibilities borne by pursuit. We wonder how the world has survived without our idea. We get to work and then, sometimes, nothing…

“What if” is what can get us fired up at the start. When explore the same question in the face of adversity our answers can change. Instead of the hope and passion that was stirred at the beginning we can walk away with discouragement. After asking the same question in adversity we can walk away beaten. Why? The answer is simple. The question is, “Which what if?”

One “What if?” is the one the seeks possibility. It is one that tells us that the world would be worse without our cause or idea. It is that one that sees how change can be created and how lives can be impacted for the better. This “What if” is one that challenges to investigate why something must be done and not why it cannot be done. It is focused on the reason for doing something. It is outward looking and causes people to change lives or adds value. This ”What if?” is the mother of innovation and the father of momentum.

On the other hand, the other “What if?” is a cowardly one that has never changed anything for the better. This ”What if?” is not focused on why something must be done but why it cannot be done. It is focused on obstacles instead of the goals. It is inward looking and the only thing it changes for the worse is the magnitude of fear. The second ”What if?” is the momentum undertaker. It is the one the ”What if?” that undermines purpose. It is the one that does not encourage innovation. It is beaten and does not look for creative ways of solving problems or going around obstacles. It is the one that will see you stagnate or regress.

Before you brainstorm or start dreaming. Before you throw in the towel… In the midst of adversity when you ask, ”What if?” be sure you have carefully considered which ”What if?” you have explored and are committing to. Always ask  ”Which what if?”

illustration: pasukaru76, flickr (cc)

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