Are You Busy or Productive?

February 13, 2011 By 1 Comment

With the New Year in full swing many people are feeling the strain of sticking to their resolution of keeping some semblance of work/life balance. All of us have felt the panic of the treadmill moments when life moves so fast with so many responsibilities that it seems impossible to get off the moving belt safely, or at all.

If your goal is to work smarter and not harder then you will also want to focus on being productive and manage your busy-ness to your advantage. In reality, being busy is not as impressive as it sounds. While you may be in the heat of the action when you are constantly busy, you may also be less productive because you have too many tasks on your plate to manage well.

Brad Bollenbach wrote a great piece for the 30 Sleeps blog and his Busy vs. Productive chart clearly illustrates why productive is the better way to go.

Busy

Responds to your email within minutes.

Ready. Aim. Aim. Aim.

Makes the boss happy.

Seeks consensus.

Makes it elegant and extensible.

Writes a detailed specification.

Finishes it this evening.

What else can we add?

How should we fix this?

Let’s get everyone’s feedback…

 Productive

Responds to your email within days.

Ready. Fire. Aim

Makes the client happy.

Encourages creative self-expression.

Makes it work.

Implements a prototype.

Finishes it tomorrow.

What else can we remove?

Do we need to fix this?

DO IT!

If you start with  baby steps to be more productive than busy then you will begin to have more time to enjoy the things in life that bring you balance. Stop the busy-ness and bring on productivity!

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Business Sense and Sensibility

January 23, 2011 By Leave a Comment

I just finished reading Mireille Guiliano’s book: Women, Work, & the Art of Savoir Faire and it is filled with fabulous advice about being a professional woman in the world of work. Mireille was the former CEO of Cliquot, Inc. known best for their luxury champagne. This French born business woman has savvy tips to help us get the most out of life – in and out of the office.

She is a woman after my own heart, spreading the message of identifying and playing to your passions by using your talents and making wise professional choices. From work/life balance to developing a personal brand – her book is a charming and enlightening read for women of all ages.

While her book is filled with a myriad of useful tips, I have highlighted a few to whet your appetite and get you thinking about your own career sensibilities.

Don’t be afraid to take risks. Mireille says – “What’s the worst thing that can happen?” and she is right! Nothing is so bad that it can’t be fixed and if you don’t stretch yourself you will never move forward with new opportunities in life and in your career.

If necessary, fire your boss and hook your star to a talented and dynamic leader. A great leader is hard to find but a super boss will take you upward with them inside or outside your current organization if you prove your worth. If you have the trust of the rising star in the company – keep it and maintain it for this is your insurance policy. Someday, it will pay off and your boss will help you land on your feet somewhere else so you can reach your personal career goals. If your current boss is not star material, it’s time to look for one that is.

Find something you are passionate about. Life is filled with episodes and stages and passions change over time. If you are playing to your passions, it won’t ever feel like work.

Women need to work harder and smarter than others to succeed and be respected.  Mireille earned her professional wings and the respect of others in a male dominated field of luxury goods. She believes the safest way to get noticed is to do consistent and outstanding work. There aren’t many shortcuts to the top so play your best game, and you will earn respect.

Timing is everything – make it work for you. While you cannot always control the timing of things, you can be sensitive to the timing of your actions. Like when to ask for a raise, or pitch a new proposal. You should never relinquish the ask but plan for the most opportune time that will serve your mission well. Prepare yourself to be in the right place at the right time and seize those great moments of opportunity when they arise.

Live a balanced life. You cannot have it all or do it all – all of the time. But you can learn to manage the ebb and flow of life to your advantage. If you are unhappy in your personal life it will carry over into your job performance. Take care of your mental and physical well being and manage your expectations so you can live comfortably in your own skin.

Remember, image, image, image. As a consummate, savvy, chic, and stylish French woman, Mireille believes strongly in cultivating your own professional image. From polished communication skills to wardrobe, and a good haircut – it’s not about being a beauty queen but being confident and portraying the image you want the world to recognize you as in and out of the office.

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Shari Elf – Artist, Seamstress, Musician, Museum Curator

January 23, 2011 By 4 Comments

When I first spoke with Shari by phone she jokingly said that she was un-employable but very self-employable. An inspiration to all who prefer to call their own career shots than be dictated to by a boss, Shari is living her dream with a myriad of vocations that play to her passions.

The Beginning of the Journey

During college, while pursuing a Bachelor of Fine Arts, Shari worked part-time as a seamstress. This led to a post college stint in a small couture house in San Francisco as a seamstress and a pattern drafter/cutter. Later, Shari moved back home to Maui, closer to her family, and began working on a Fashion Technology degree at Maui Community College to enhance her skills in pattern drafting. She had always made her own clothing and developed the label Elf Wear to showcase her unique fashions. These one-of-a-kind, hand-painted creations were a big success at better women’s boutiques on Maui. [Read more...]

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Barbara Ann Radnofsky is running for Texas Attorney General

October 4, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Barbara Ann Radnofsky’s campaign website describes her as a proud mother, a loving wife, a dedicated teacher, a patient mediator, and a top attorney. Her fans describe her as Texas Tough. With an impressive 30 year legal career, Barbara Ann served as lead counsel in jury trials ranging from commercial disputes, medical malpractice, and malicious prosecution to assault and worker’s compensation matters, to name just a few.  She has argued successfully before the Fifth Circuit on pro bono prisoner’s rights and torts matters; conducted appeals there, and in Texas state appellate courts and represented clients in Congressional hearings and administrative tribunals.

But Barbara Ann left her thriving legal career to pursue political office. First, an unsuccessful run for a Senate seat, she is now in the midst of a campaign for Texas Attorney General. This unflappable career woman has a call to serve and is determined to make a difference as part of her Texas career legacy. [Read more...]

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Are You a Workaholic?

September 22, 2010 By Leave a Comment

I consider myself someone who is incredibly involved in my work, my life, and my additional activities which cover a multitude of areas from my book project, consulting practice, performing life, and the non-profit theatre company for which I serve as a Board member, to name just a few. My life is full, hectic, and often moving at break neck speed.

Although I thrive in the fast paced environment I have created, I’ve recently tried to come to terms with work/life balance to determine if this is even possible or realistic for someone like me who is living life to the fullest and determined to serve multiple missions.

What I have learned is that I can’t do it all – all of the time.  So I have to think of balance or down time for me as something I can consciously plug in some of the time. I have also learned the hard way that burning the proverbial midnight oil leaves me drained and unable to run on all my creative cylinders so I need to honor my body’s need for sleep and relaxation.

So to all of the workaholics out there, here are some tips I am trying to incorporate into my life on a more regular basis. It’s been a slow process for me but the awareness was my biggest first step.

  • Listen to your body. Get the amount of sleep your body needs to function well every night and don’t compromise. If you are over tired and run down you will get sick and then it will take longer for your body to recuperate in the long run. Work smarter not harder to get the amount of sleep your body deserves.
  • Set clear boundaries. If your workplace closes shop at 5pm and you are the only one who stays late something is wrong. Set boundaries and stick to them.
  • Eat real food. Eat whole foods – fruits, vegetables, and whole grains and proteins that are not processed and preservative laden. Take the time to prepare your lunch and bring it with you so you have control over your food (and don’t raid the vending machine) when things get crazy at work. Also take a break and actually eat your food slowly so you can chew and taste every bite. Studies show if you eat food quickly, you are more likely to over eat and gain weight. Back away from the computer and enjoy your well earned lunch break.
  • Make time for friends and loved ones. Be present with your family and make time for those you love. Work is important but family is as well, so be in the moment when you are with them and spend quality time enjoying your loved ones and not thinking about work.
  • Get out into nature. Take a walk outside and stretch your legs and breathe some fresh air during your work day. A short break can help you regroup, refresh, and let the stress roll off your shoulders.
  • Step away from the computer at home. Avoid the urge to check your iPhone, Blackberry or laptop at home. Unplug from work and the technology that tethers you to it every now and then so you can enjoy some peaceful time at home.
  • Evaluate your life purpose. Reflect on what you are doing that is creating imbalance in your life and really think about your personal goals. Consider your behavior and your health and ask yourself if you are really happy and fulfilled. If you answer yes, then you may be ok with your current sense of balance but if you are unhappy then you are also in control of making a change for the better.
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Janet Sanders, The Diabetes Coach

July 5, 2010 By 6 Comments

Janet Sanders went to law school because she wanted to exercise her philanthropic muscles. After reading an article in Time magazine about a parent/child support center, she aspired to open a similar facility in her native Philadelphia. By pursuing a law degree, Janet thought she would gain the skill set and professional competencies necessary to realize her dream. She did in fact hone these transferable skills, but her career went in a different direction than she had planned. [Read more...]

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Work/Life Balance Survival

June 28, 2010 By 3 Comments

I recently taught a work/life balance seminar called I Will Survive! and opened the workshop by admitting to my audience that I was a work-a-holic. I found myself in the same boat as my participants with a hectic work day followed by endless evening activities leaving precious little time for family and fun activities.

When I accepted this seminar gig a few months ago the topic was pre selected for me and I knew this was uncharted territory in my repertoire.  So I began my quest to learn about this elusive concept of work/life balance to see if I could indeed practice what I was about to preach. I am happy to report that it’s not impossible to achieve balance if you are willing to be flexible and let some things go.

I  learned some valuable lessons that I shared giddily with my workshop group and now my goal is to put these into practice more regularly myself.

  • Get time on your side. Don’t over plan and be realistic. It’s rare that 50% of any to-do list gets accomplished in a day. Be willing to admit that life happens and that things beyond your control can throw off your schedule.
  • Prioritize ruthlessly. Determine what is important and what can wait. Treating everything as a top priority is draining and depleting. Don’t give in to the instant and immediate answer syndrome – buy your time wisely.
  • Learn to say no. Saying no to one thing can open up the door to something else. Don’t feel the need to over explain – just practice saying no, thank you.
  • Pace yourself. Channel your inner runner and think in terms of a marathon not a sprint. Pacing maximizes effectiveness.
  • Organize. Eliminate clutter and chaos and receive the gift of 240-288 hours per year.
  • Use technology to make the most of your time. Set boundaries for your personal and professional time. Turn off your cell phone at home.
  • Know it won’t always be perfect. Time management isn’t an exact science. Don’t stress out, do what you can and enjoy the time you spend more pleasantly or productively. Be grateful for what goes well and learn from your mistakes.
  • Be mindful of your health and wellness. Don’t let your health suffer from stress. Take time to be quiet, meditate, or take a short break. Eat well; avoid fast food and plan for busy times. Exercise; make it a part of your routine and schedule it into your day. Get regular check-ups from your physician. Be sure to get enough sleep – this is your best healing opportunity.
  • Play to your strengths. Delegate projects to empower others and stick to doing what you do well.

It takes a conscious effort to leave work at work. Fight the guilt because you have the power to do so. Nurture yourself and take advantage of your options. Make choices that favor you and create the balance YOU want!

I know this isn’t feasible all of the time but I am making a conscious effort to move forward with baby steps. The number one lesson I learned is that balance does not happen all the time. We can’t have it all – all of the time, but we can create an equilibrium that is workable by being willing to change and stay flexible. It takes some mental furniture re-arranging and it won’t happen overnight, but consider creating the balance you want to live by prioritizing what you value. And remember, you should be at the top of your own list!

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Debbie Waitkus, Golf For Cause, LLC

April 25, 2010 By 6 Comments

Always an athlete, Debbie Waitkus played on the soccer team at the University of Arizona and after graduate school she went on to establish a thriving corporate career as president of a 37 year old, $130 million private mortgage banking firm.  She always attributed golf as one of her keys to success since she would take her clients on golf outings to establish and steward professional relationships and business deals. When the CEO of her firm implemented a new strategy that didn’t follow suit with her professional values, Debbie knew it was time for a change and what better way to plan her reinvention than to leverage the game of golf in a new business. [Read more...]

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