Check Out Your BoD

What does your BoD look like?  Are there any areas that need improvement or buffing?   I'm not referencing your body - I'm sure you look great! - but your Board of Directors (BoD)!

While attending a Leadership class at GE's Crotonville campus last month, the concept of your personal "Board of Directors" was briefly mentioned. The thought stuck with me and I wanted to do some additional building around this topic.

Just as corporations have a BoD, you can cultivate your own personal BoD - you probably have one, consciously or unconsciously, formed already.  Your BoD is the group of people you go to for advice, input, and/or support... a group of friends, advisers, and champions.

A well rounded board might have trusted friends, colleagues, mentor(s), sponsor(s), a coach, consultant(s), junior members, and other counsel.  The best board will be diverse and compliment your current skills and abilities.... Think about any advisory committee (like the White House Cabinet), the most successful groups are (usually) diverse and balanced.

Take a moment to think about your Board.  Who is on it?  Is it well rounded?  What sort of influence or people are you missing?

Mentors vs. Sponsors vs. Coaches

Mentors, Sponsors, and Coaches can often be placed in the same category, or thought of as interchangeable terms, but in reality, they are quite unique.  Each role has a specific and different purpose.  These relationships can range from strictly defined to unspoken collaborations.  Having all three in your corner can fast-track success.

Mentor - This is a person you respect, someone you can discuss problems or opportunities with, seeking their input or guidance.  You might want to emulate them or their journey.  They may share stories with you and support you in a number of ways.  Mentors are great pillars in your BoD.

Sponsor - A sponsor is your champion.  Someone who is putting your name out there or promoting you in some way.  They are the career boosters.  Sylvia Ann Hewlett says a sponsor is "a senior-level champion who believes in your potential and is willing to advocate for your next raise or promotion."  For more on sponsors, see Sylvia's website & book.

Coach - Coaches serve a third, different function than both a mentor or a sponsor.  After creating an alliance and mission together, a coach uses curiosity, powerful questioning, and other tools to support you on your way to becoming the person you wish to be.  A coach does not give advice, but will encourage you, hold you accountable, and keep you on track.  If you are looking for a coach, check for credentials such as ACC, PCC, or MCC.  For more, see the International Coaching Federation's website.

Additional Thoughts on Building your Board

There are two articles I found that give some additional insight into the BoD concept well - links to the full articles are within the header.

How to Select Members

1. Create a diverse board.
2. Have virtual board members.
3. Have an odd number of board members.
4. Invest in your board.
5. Always be looking for new members.

Types of People to Include

1. Someone You Work With
2. Someone You Aspire to Be 
3. A Mentor From a Previous Life 
4. A Person Who Isn't Senior to You 

Additional resources:

"Seven Best Practices in Effective Personal Advisory Board"

"Career Coach:  How to Pick the Right Mentor"


Who is on your board?  Where do you have opportunities to grow?  What has worked in the past?  How can you get yourself to the next level?

Soft launch of my new website!

Idea Monster consulting launch and re-launch of website!  http://www.ideamonsterconsulting.com/

Resources vs. Goals

I thoroughly enjoy powerful questions and here is one I was recently presented with: "Are you allocating the necessary resources in order to achieve your goals?" -Banmali Agrawala, President & CEO GE South Asia

If you are, fantastic! If not, what can you change? What is your plan and timeline?

Favorite "Fourth" Activities?

As Fourth of July is this Friday, many of you are in preparation for a party or travel.  Plans can range from backyard barbecues to pool parties, fantastic fireworks or a game of baseball. What's your favorite part about this American holiday?

What's your favorite thing about the 4th of July?

All In Good Time

"Holy cow!  Was that really day 100?  That was really interesting... and fun!  I'm so grateful for all the awesome people and experiences in my life... "  Were some of the thoughts I had when I recently finished a 100 Happy Days challenge. Beyond some of the cool things I did, the challenge provided a great way to reflect and be grateful for each day.  If I noticed I wasn't having a stellar day, I felt empowered to make a change.  For example, I could: go for a walk in the sunshine, eat a piece of dark chocolate, do a workout, make popcorn, call a friend, try a new restaurant, etc. and I knew it could make it better.

We all have the power to shape our own lives and happiness.  I am reminded of the quote by Mary Engelbreit, “If you don't like something, change it; if you can't change it, change the way you think about it. ”  The late Maya Angelou shared a similar thought: “What you're supposed to do when you don't like a thing is change it. If you can't change it, change the way you think about it. Don't complain.” 

Creating a challenge for yourself can be empowering, rewarding, habit-forming, interesting, help you grow personally, professionally, or spiritually, and even create a topic of conversation, if you choose to share it.  

When is a better time than now to challenge yourself?

Inspiration

In case you need a little more convincing - or if you just want to see something fun and inspiring, watch the 3 minute clip below!  Matt Cutts's TED Talk on 30 day challenges: Having trouble loading?  Find the clip here.



For more great TED talks and ideas, head to TED.com.

Selecting a challenge

To help get your wheels turning, here are a few questions to consider:

• What have you been putting off?
• What project remains unfinished?
• Who do you want to be?
• What do you want to start?
• What have you always wanted to do?
• Where do you want to go?
• When was the last time you did something new?
• When was the last time you broke out of your comfort zone?

Perhaps now you have an idea of something you want to accomplish - or stop doing.  Even if you have the tiniest idea ("I should climb 10 flights of stairs every day.") hold onto it!  No idea is too silly, too big, or too small.  Remember, you don't have to share this with anyone.

If you are having a bit of trouble coming up with your idea, I have a number of resources at the bottom of this post.

Setting a time frame

Depending on what study you find, how difficult a behavior is to implement or break, and your level of dedication, researchers have found it can take anywhere from 10 to 30 days (or more) to make or break a habit*.  You can find challenges of all lengths:  Morgan Spurlock (starting with Super Size Me, then his 30 Days TV series/documentary) helped popularize 30 day movements, we all make New Year's Resolutions, religious traditions (Lent, Passover, Ramadan), and you can find fad diets or tricks from as little as 3 to more than 90 days!

Set a time frame that feels right for you.  I would recommend 30 days as a starting point.  If you don't think you can make a month (you can), give yourself 2 weeks of solid dedication. If you have trouble prioritizing or have multiple goals, check out my 2.014 Page for some ideas!

Before you get started, a few things to consider...

If you are looking to make a lifestyle change, commit to a personal challenge that has meaning.  It can be a great story to say you did "something fun" for 30 days - but unless that has meaning behind it, like you want to be more active, try new things, or become a more adventurous person, the habit is unlikely to stick.  Of course, if you want to try something new or fun for 30 days to add spice to life, go for it!  Before you start be clear on your intention:  is this challenge just something fun to do, do you want to start/stop a new life habit/practice, or something else?

Make a plan.  How will you count the days?  Will you post or share with friends?  Will you write about it?  Will you log it anywhere?  It can be helpful to set-up the tracking mechanism before or in the first few days of getting started.  Also, if it's something that requires additional planning, like training for a race, sketch out weekly goals so you stay on track.

If you miss a day, don't give up.  You are working really hard at starting (or stopping) something... it takes a lot of effort and will power.  Be easy on yourself.  If it is important to you to have consecutive days in your endeavor, then start over with a smile.

Along the same lines, evaluate the challenge, or future challenges based on current progress... can you keep going at this pace?  Is it too easy?  Maybe you had a new idea!  Keep experimenting!

Last, you might get hooked!  Near day 90 of my own 100 Happy Days challenge, I realized I had started another habit and decided to make it into a 100-day challenge... doing at least 1 mile a day for 100 days.  The mile must be physical activity other than walking.  The challenges are fun and are helping me to create the person I want to be/am.

What will you challenge yourself to do?  What time frame will you use?  Have you recently completed a challenge?  Share your thoughts below!


Resources

*"Habits: How They Form and How to Break Them" (NPR)
*"Does It Really Take 21 Days to Break a Habit?" (Slate)

Ideas:

Cold Shower Therapy (original)

---> Cold Shower Testimonial from my friend, Phil, at The Feel Good Lifestyle 30 Challenge Ideas (various in level from easy-hard)

Other Challenge ideas - remember the best are your own!:

• Study a new language
• Catch up with one friend or family member per day
• Wake up at a specific time - or go to bed at a specific time
• Don't eat a specific food (i.e. pop/soda or chips)
• Do one new thing each day

Originally written and composed by Lauren Myrick on June 26, 2014.

174

Today is day 174 of this year.... We are almost halfway through 2014!  What will you do to make today (or this week) great?

How will you make today great?

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What's Your Speed Limit? Find Your Groove.

Depending on what state you are driving through, there could be speed limit maximums of 65, 75, or (if you live in one Texas county) even 85 mph! Have you ever thought about your own personal speed limit? Do you exceed it often or are you on cruise control? Although a state trooper might not pull you over for speeding in life, you can suffer other consequences, like missing a deadline, over-booking yourself, letting someone down, or going through life like a zombie - none of which are desirable! Stay on the road and find your groove.

Inspiration for this topic came from Brigid Shute and Mark Strong, who penned works with slightly different themes, but complementing messages: Schedule your life to create balance. Brigid stresses finding the balance between Work, Love, and Play while Mark asserts that “A Scheduled Life is a Productive Life.” By incorporating scheduling in our lives, we can perform better at work and be more present in life.


Think about your daily routine and habits…
--Are you always in a rush?
--Are you productive or just busy?
--What time of the day are you most productive?
--What are your top 5 values? How do you prioritize them?
--How often to you re-charge or disconnect from technology?
--Do you have a good balance of work, love, and play in your life?
--How well do you set boundaries?
--How well do you apply the principles you use at work (plan, implement, evaluate, etc.) to your life outside of work?

Top Five Ways to Find Your Groove:
1. Pause, take breaks – Slow down. Attempting to cram more in can result in getting less accomplished. Schedule down time. Take breaks in between tasks.

2. Brainstorm, brain-dump, make lists – Write down the things you need to do, separate between or categorize work tasks, errands vs. purchases, home activities, etc.

3. Plan, do, review – Once you have your lists, make time to schedule & prioritize… if you take a few minutes to map out a plan, you can accomplish things more efficiently. I.E. Bring your gym bag to work, go to the gym when the day is done, then stop by the grocery store or post office on the way home. (Side note: Don’t forget to review!!! How did your plans go? Are you feeling spent at the end of the day? Did you cram too much in?)

4. Chunk time, focus – Experts agree, breaking up activities is key… multi-tasking takes away from your productivity. Have morning meetings? Plan to do easy, quick tasks and save the bigger projects for later. Brigid recommends working on one task for no more than 90 minutes then step away with a ten minute break minimum, more is better here. If you aren’t on a tight deadline, come back to it the next day.

5. Take care of yourself – Sleep habits, eating right, and working out all fall into this category. Research proves that you can give more when you are well rested and healthy. You might get the job done while sleep deprived but imagine how much better the end result could have been!

Still having trouble? Learn to say “no” - politely!
Feel like you don’t have an inch of wiggle room? Be spontaneous. It’s OK to bend the rules from time to time!
Are you on cruise control? Pick up the pace. Start a new activity, join a club, ask for a side project at work, volunteer, do something fun – this is your life, live it to the fullest!


One last thought: 
Everyone has their own personal speed limit – yours may even change from day-to-day. Notice what works for you, be open to other (people’s) paces, and occasionally try something new. I am often reminded of Ralph Waldo Emerson’s wise observation, “All life is an experiment. The more experiments you make the better.”

What tools do you use to schedule? Share your tips and experiences!


Additional Resources:Quizzes and Planning Tools from Brigid Schulte
Being Productive vs. Being Busy
27 Ways to Get More Done
Multitasking & How to Stop


Originally composed by Lauren Myrick on 20 May 2014.  References within body.
Image courtesy of http://wallpaperswide.com/high_speed_on_the_road-wallpapers.html

Life is Better When You Are Laughing

Originally composed by Lauren Myrick on 9 May 2014.

Alright, I can't hide it any longer... I'll admit it, I love laughing and I love infographics. OK, so those weren't bombshells, but I wanted to get your attention.

Two things to share with you:
1-- Why you should laugh more, and
2-- Provide you with ideas on how to laugh more this weekend and always...

This might seem like a silly post - why on Earth would I need to remind people to laugh more? - but there is actually a fair amount of research on laughing and it's health benefits.  Plus we can all use a friendly reminder to relax, laugh, and be kind to ourselves.

What Laughter Can Do For You by Greatist.com

Laugh to boost your productivity!
Smiling and laughing are good for your health and brighten your day. They are especially great activities to do at work because they boost problem-solving ability and creativity.

Get you through the tough times... 
I think Bill Cosby said it best,"Through humor, you can soften some of the worst blows that life delivers. And once you find laughter, no matter how painful your situation might be, you can survive it."

And strengthen bonds...

Laughing can bridge gaps and bring people together.  "Humor and playful communication strengthen our relationships by triggering positive feelings and fostering emotional connection. When we laugh with one another, a positive bond is created. This bond acts as a strong buffer against stress, disagreements, and disappointment. Shared laughter is one of the most effective tolls for keeping relationships fresh and exciting." From Helpguide.org ... full article here.  So laugh more with your friends, family, and co-workers.

A few ideas to get you started:

1 - Tell more jokes - Comedy Central has an extensive joke index if you need some ideas!
2 - Play a game with your friends or family – and tone down the competition, just have fun! Here are some Top Selling Board Games or go outside and play a game of kick-ball or softball.
3 - Watch a funny movie... Here's a list of 100 funny movies.
4 - Go to a comedy show! Search for a comedy club near you or check out Ticketmaster!
5 - Laugh at yourself! Share embarrassing moments... They all eventually become funny anyway.
6 - Attempt to laugh at situations rather than get angry. You can more easily solve problems when you aren't mad at/about them.
7 - Do something silly!  (Have a great idea? Don't hesitate!  Act on it in less than 5 seconds!)

What are your thoughts?  When was the last time you laughed till you cried?

Share your ideas below!

And wishing a happy, wonderful, and laugh-filled Mother's Day to all Mom's reading this :)

I better catch you laughing or I'll get your nose!

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The Science of Happiness

Originally composed by Lauren Myrick on 1 April 2014.

The Science of Happiness & Tips on Being Happy

Humans are the only animal that worry about the future.  The good news is that we can choose to be in the present moment… and there are tips on how to do this!  Focusing on (and enjoying!) the present is one way to increase happiness.  By aligning our values intrinsically, we can also increase our happiness.  Aligning values extrinsically, on material possessions, status, or "things," has been linked to long term dissatisfaction and mental illness.

Last month, I was able to attend a speaker series hosted by GE, “The Science of Happiness” presented by Buck Davis.  Buck’s presentation gave a background on happiness research, expanded on the elements above, and gave us six practices we can integrate into our routines to be happier.

Buck stressed the importance of believing in yourself and taking ownership over your life.  We also need to set more realistic goals.  It is nearly impossible to be the most outstanding husband/wife, parent, boss, employee, philanthropist, citizen, and friend every single day… we need to distribute our efforts, with different goals receiving their own attention.  Buck also brought up the “Zorro circle” as discussed in The Happiness Advantage, mastering your circle, then slowly growing it outward.

Other happiness-boosting notes:

• Reducing the activation energy of a task by 20 seconds makes you more likely to start/achieve the task
• Habits are formed in 21 days
• 6 Ways to boost happiness (as outlined in the presentation):

Exercise	Socially network, get involved, be with friends
Meditate	Find meaning in daily activities
Conscious acts of kindness	Practice gratitude

Benefits of happiness (Other than being happy, of course!)

• Increased social bonds
• Bounce back from set-backs quicker
• Lower mortality
• Higher energy
• Better work outcomes/success

 Resources & Tools:

• 100 Happy Days challenge – name one thing that made you happy each day
• Stumbling on Happiness – Dan Gilbert
• The How of Happiness – Sonja Lyubomirsky
• The Happiness Advantage – Shawn Achor
• The Happiness Project – Gretchen Rubin
• “Happy” documentary

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World Water Day

Originally posted and composed by Lauren Myrick on 22 March 2014.

Today is World Water Day!

1 in 8 people lack access to clean water.
Water, energy use, and food go hand-in-hand... and we are going to need a lot more of them as the world continues to grow.

What are some things you can do to support?

• Take a 1 song shower
• Buy a re-usable water bottle (I love this one, 24 oz.)
• Use tap water!
• Buy recycled or environmentally friendly goods
• Buy recycled/eco-friendly gifts: NOVICA or uncommongoods
• Recycle more / produce less waste
• Buy your coffee from TOMS - one coffee = water for a person in need
• Reset your Amazon bookmark to smile.amazon.com, a portion of your % will go to a charity, like Charity Water - all the time!
• Watch this video about bottled water
• Support charities like One Drop and Water Aid

Check out this cool infographic from MWH Global:

And this one from GE Water: 

More information on World Water Day

"Thrive"

Originally written and posted by Lauren Myrick on 19 March 2014.

It's been almost ten years since the founding of The Huffington Post... One of the world's largest and most popular online news sites. They have more sections of news than Crayola has colors!

Arianna Huffington is the major founder behind The Huffington Post. She's been a women's champion for years and recently released a new book, Thrive, which describes her personal awakening journey and challenges readers to rethink their definition of success, along with other insights.

Arianna's lessons and message are not limited to women, everyone can benefit from her message. She stresses small changes "baby steps" to make a difference. What I liked most is that she challenges readers to test her theories, not just blindly accept them.

-----------------------------------------------------------------
Resources:

Book: Thrive

A recent appearance on Ellen, Arianna & Ellen discuss the contents of the book:
Part 1
Part 2 - suggestions, ideas, tips

You might have heard her TED talk, where she urges us to "sleep our way to the top."

8 To Be Great (Finding Balance to Succeed)

Originally written and posted by Lauren Myrick on Friday, February 14, 2014.

If you've caught any of the Olympic coverage in the past week, you've no doubt seen at least one impressive segment -- even if it was the breathtaking Russian landscape!

One of the great things about the Games in this era is that we often get behind-the-scenes look at the athletes, their training, and their support systems.  We can begin to grasp how hard they've trained, sacrifices they've made, and set-backs they've endured.  Through it all, they have persisted, and their determination has brought them to their dream stage - the Olympic Games!

Though your dream may not be competing in the Olympic Games, you can still be great, whatever your aspiration!

To aid you in your pursuit, I introduce you to Richard St. John!  Richard has conducted extensive research to discover and share eight keys to success.  You will find them below, along with his three minute TedTalk. 

That's right, the KEYS TO SUCCESS in 3 MINUTES!  Valuable and efficient!


Richard St. John's TedTalk: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y6bbMQXQ180
Richard St. John's website: http://www.richardstjohn.com/

Not quite sure what you want to succeed at yet?  This article may provide you some perspective & jump start ideas:
 http://www.linkedin.com/today/post/article/20130704005710-7374576-finding-your-passion-in-work-20-awesome-quotes 
Coaching is also a great way to explore and find your passion!

Boost Your Productivity

Originally written and posted by Lauren Myrick on July 18, 2013.

Between projects, your family & friends, vacation days, and deadlines all vying for your attention this summer, there’s a lot on your plate!  Continuing the flow from last week’s post on revamping your Office Space, I have rounded up some productivity tricks from around the web…  So you can work hard and play hard!

Often times, the ugly intimidator of productivity is often overlooked: procrastination.  Using a mix the productivity tips and procrastination killers below can give you a winning combination!  Be sure to check out the poster below - it contains a collage of techniques and motivational quotes to get you going!

As with all articles, posts, and tidbits, feel free to take what you like and leave the rest.  Something that works for me (or the writer of an article), may not work for you, and vice versa. 

Best practices:

·         25 minutes dedicated solely to one task, 5 min break (Pomodoro Technique).  Set a timer for 25 minutes, when the time expires give yourself a break, even if you feel you don’t need one… this will prevent burnout in the long run.  A 5 minute break could entail checking emails, getting a fresh cup of coffee or water, a bathroom break, getting a meeting early, getting a breath of fresh air, etc.  This break can also provide a welcome rest for your eyes.  When 5 minutes is up, repeat!

·         Elimination.  Over time, tasks and responsibilities can build up, leaving a feeling of obligation to do EVERYTHING or feel guilty about not doing it.  The article below by Inc. gives you plenty of examples of how to cut something out of your day.  Pick one or two things that can be subtracted!  I especially like “eliminating one will-power drain” and “eliminating one ‘permission’”.  

·         Designate time to manage email.  In almost every list and article I’ve read, this suggestion is included.  Email is tricky, it can reel you in before you even know you’re hooked! Set aside time everyday dedicated solely to managing email.  And turn off the pop-up email icon or notification on your computer and phone.  REMEMBER:  If something is urgent, a phone call is the proper protocol.

·         Reward yourself / Relax.  With all your responsibilities and deadlines, remember to reward yourself.  This can be done in a number of ways:  a vacation day, a new dress, a massage, going out to lunch, buying fresh flowers, etc.!  Most important, remember to RELAX – make time to do nothing or just enjoy the outdoors… without technology!

·         Face your procrastination.  Pretending things don’t exist or trying to ignore them eventually turns a bug into a beast!  Write down the things you’ve been procrastinating on.  Ask yourself a few questions for each one:

o   Do I really need to complete this task?  (See Elimination above)

o   What’s the worst thing that will happen if I complete this task?

o   What’s the best thing that will happen?

o   What is holding me back from completing this task?  (Need guidance/help, ask for it!)

If you do indeed need to complete the task:

o   Make a plan, schedule, timeline, etc.

o   Be reasonable when goal setting. (Use SMART goals!)

o   Start small.  “A journey of a thousand miles starts with a single step.” –Lao-tzu

o   And last, take some inspiration from Nike, Just do it.

Have any great ideas that weren’t mentioned here?  Share below!

Productivity:

http://www.inc.com/jeff-haden/11-ways-to-streamline-and-optimize-your-workday.html?nav=next

http://www.simplyproductive.com/2010/10/raising-the-personal-productivity-bar/

http://www.forbes.com/sites/jacquelynsmith/2013/06/13/9-tips-for-boosting-productivity-at-work-this-summer/

http://www.forbes.com/sites/amitchowdhry/2013/04/24/12-tips-for-increasing-productivity/

Procrastination:

http://www.inc.com/marla-tabaka/the-hidden-truth-behind-procrastination.html?nav=next

http://www.counselingcenter.illinois.edu/?page_id=111

Office Space

Originally written and posted by Lauren Myrick, on July 16, 2013.

Does your office/work space enhance your productivity?  Your mood?  How about your creativity?  If you cannot answer yes to at least one of these questions, it may be time for a change!

This week’s inspiration came from a fun article I found on work-spaces of notable figures.  It was quite interesting and motivated me to compile additional information about what makes a space yours and how can you be the most productive in that space.   (Apologies to those who may have thought the title of this week’s post was a reference to the 1999 movie with the same name!)

Before deciding to overhaul or organize your space, take a moment to answer a few questions:

• What are your goals this year?  Are they linked to creativity or productivity or both?  How can your area enhance your efforts?
• What have you tried in the past?  What’s worked, what hasn’t?
• Are you distracted easily?
• What do you spend most of your time on? (calls, emails, paperwork, etc.)
• Are you more visual, kinetic, or audio inclined?
• What kind of space to you want design for yourself?  Clean and orderly or welcoming and comfortable OR somewhere in between?

With the answers to these questions in mind, you can build your framework.  I have included a number of articles below with ideas for organization and inspiration.  While you may find many great ideas, it is important to keep in mind how the idea will apply to *you* in your current work environment… will it assist you and will it be functional?  Any ideas that don’t fit can always be applied to your home!
While scouring the internet for articles, the top 3 tricks/tips I liked best were:

1. Clear your desk – especially when beginning.  This action has many benefits:  providing you a clean slate, mentally clearing your mind, and giving you a sense of accomplishment (you can immediately see it).  You can always arrange specific items on your desk after the first swipe!
2. Decide how you will enter and exit your space.    Where will you put your bag, keys, other belongings? How do you want to leave your desk each day?  These are key things to consider when re-inventing your space.
3. Make yourself comfortable.  No matter how your space looks to others, you must be comfortable!  Additionally, if you try something new and after a month you don’t like it, try something else or go back to a previous set-up.  This is the fun of experimenting!

Last, If you get stuck or are having a hard time getting rid of something, ask 3 questions:

1.  Does it work?
2.  Do I like it?
3.  Does it work for others?

Using the momentum we've created here, the next article will focus on productivity tips and tricks!


Original article: http://designtaxi.com/news/359107/The-Inspiring-Workspaces-Of-Pablo-Picasso-Ray-Eames-Other-Famous-Creatives/


Ideas for office space organization and re-design: 
Organization:
http://www.simplyproductive.com/2013/04/tips-for-organizing-your-cubicle-office-space/
http://www.simplyproductive.com/2011/03/5-days-to-unclutter-the-top-of-your-desk/
http://www.businessweek.com/managing/content/jun2009/ca2009062_454286.htm


Redesign:
http://lifehacker.com/5987607/how-can-i-make-my-cubicle-more-comfortable-and-less-boring
http://www.simplecareerlife.com/2012/12/love-your-creative-space-8-uplifting.html
http://www.thedailymuse.com/health/style/small-space-big-style-upgrading-your-cubicle/

What We Can Learn From Sports

Originally written and posted by Lauren Myrick, on Monday, January 6, 2014.

NFL. NHL. Erie Otters. NBA. Erie Bayhawks. NCAA Football. NCAA Basketball.  Soccer.  Olympic Trials.  Australian Open. 2014 Sochi Olympics. And so much more!

Chances are, you’ve had (or will have) the opportunity to watch one or more of the following athletic endeavors throughout the holidays or in the New Year.  Although temperatures drop outside, competition heats up in the winter.  The next time an athletic event plays on a nearby TV, rather than mindlessly watching or changing the channel, I challenge you to get curious!  Whether an individual or team sport, there is something to learn!

 Study the event for 5 to 10 minutes.  A few things to look for:

•       How do the players interact with each other?
•             How do the players interact with the coach?
•            Are the fans (on-screen or in the room) positive or negative in their comments?
•            What are the habits of the best players?
•            What dynamic do the best teams have?
•            What character traits or habits do athletes have on the best teams?  Is there a mix?
•            What do the top athletes do better?
•            Who is on the sidelines/finish line to offer support?
•            What teams do you like or follow?  What draws you to them?

4 Take-aways

1.       Teamwork – whether an individual or team sport, teamwork and support systems are the key to achieving greatness.  Successful teams support each other in positive ways.  Both individual competitors and teams have a network of support to help them succeed.  No one rises to the top on their own.  This is true for sports, movies & music (think of acceptance speeches), and especially business.  Who helps you get the job done?  Are you missing a key supporter?  Is the support you HAVE the support you NEED?

2.       Dedication – Practice, practice, practice.  The best athletes at the highest levels of competition generally put in more time than their counterparts.  Experts say 10,000 hours is required to achieve mastery.  High-achieving athletes often have that “thing” they are known for.  They also know that a bad day or week is OK.  And when they don’t feel like going for gold?  They rely on their support system to keep them going.  What one thing do you want to be known for?  What keeps you inspired?  When things aren’t going your way, how do you turn it around?

3.       Learning – Top athletes never stop learning.  They learn from success and failure; from new techniques to advice from former champions; you’ll find them watching film (of themselves and competitors), reviewing each move, on how they can be smarter, quicker, and more powerful.  Although we don’t have instant-replay in the business world, we can certainly look at our day-to-day, week-to-week, month-to-month, and the ever popular year-to-year practices to be better.  Learning in the business world not only includes performance review, but reading, watching peers and leaders, attending training, networking, and stretching ourselves.

4.       Knowing their limits – Not only do top-performing athletes train harder, they train smarter.  They push their limits, but are careful not to shatter them.  To have a long, successful career, they know short term sacrifices are sometimes required to attain the long term win.  Athletes with constant injuries can be great, but seldom achieve superstar status.  Plus, they miss out on doing what they love.  Do you have stretch goals?  When is the last time you achieved a stretch goal?  Are you exhausted?  Most days, do you feel excited and energized?  These are some key questions you can use to gauge whether to dial it up or tone it down.

If you don’t have the answers to all these questions, now is a great time to define them!  What would help you be your best self and perform your best?  What’s missing?

Watching sports can also help you to be more active!  What other key points have you noticed?  What is your experience competing?  Has athletic competition helped your professional growth?  What events will you watch this winter?  Share below!

Additional resources:

Business Tips from Coach K’s (legendary Duke basketball coach) playbook:  http://www.bizjournals.com/triangle/blog/2013/12/3-things-business-leaders-should-take.html?ana=twt&page=all

An article from London Business School on the relationship between sports & business:

http://www.ceoforum.com.au/article-detail.cfm?cid=8288&t=/Julian-Birkinshaw-London-Business-School/Can-business-learn-from-sport