Do you ever switch off?

I may be showing my age but our world has gone crazy. Do you remember when you had to share a computer at work, mail was posted in a postbox, most people didn't have an answering machine (ok, I was a late adopter!), mobile phones didn't exist and there were only a couple of tv channels. That was only about 20 years ago. I worked long hours then but when I went home, I was "off duty", uncontactable and could rest and recover. Now even when you are on holiday people still contact you. Do you ever switch off from technology? I have just returned from two wonderful weeks in Spain using the tips below...

Quick Quote
"...information is not knowledge, knowledge is not wisdom, and wisdom is not foresight. Each grows out of the other, and we need them all.” ~ Arthur C. Clarke



Tips for the holiday season 

If you are lucky enough to be going away:

1. Leave you pc/ipad/gadgets at home
2. Use your phone once a day for non-work related texts, calls or for emergencies. If you find this hard you may be addicted!
3. Do not look at email. Just put an out of office message on, asking them to text if urgent. 

If you're not going away on holiday:

Have a "staycation". Take a week off and switch everything off using the tips above.

If you must do some work, allocated specific time slots so that you can relax the rest of the time.

How do you make it work? Please share below:

Will it make your boat go faster?

I had an inspiring weekend last weekend. I went on a training day, the highlight of which was a talk by Ben Hunt-Davis. He won an Olympic gold medal in Sydney in the rowing eight. He told his incredible story and I would like to share the three main lessons I took away.

Quick Quote
"One of the secrets of life is to make stepping stones out of stumbling blocks."  ~ Jack Penn

Suggestions on how to make progress

1. Will it make the boat go faster? This was obviously a literal statement for Ben, but for many of us, it can be a great metaphor for "does it move us closer to our goal?". If you ask this question before any decision on how you're spending your time, it is a powerful way to move towards your goals. For example:

• ​Is is a good idea to click on this internet link? Will it make the boat go faster? Be honest. Are you just getting distracted or procrastinating?
• I haven't got time for yoga today. Will it make the boat go faster? Yes, it probably will. It is unlikely to contribute directly to your goal but if you don't nurture yourself you are likely to hinder any goal. Interestingly, in 2000, the boat team trained less hard than they had before previously unsuccessful competitions, so remember to pace yourself.

2. Never give up. Ben had lost every major competition for the first seven years he was in the GB team. Would you have given up? The key was that he changed his approach, tried new things and carried on.
3. Work as a team. – The ethos of the team was trust and honesty. If feedback needed to be given (or taken), however hard, it was on the understanding that it would make the boat go faster. Communication was key. Is there someone you need to communicate better with?

If you have any suggestions or success stories, please share them below.

Is it possible to have it all?

Last week, during a course I attended on taking my business to the next level, I was forced to confront a dichotomy which has bugged me for the last couple of years. Is it possible to go "all out" to achieve a goal and at the same time achieve balance? As someone who naturally likes to give everything to achieving a goal once I have set it, it is sometimes hard to maintain the balance I strive for. Also I have noticed that many people who are successful in their work either later struggle with burnout or lack satisfaction in their personal life, and people who focus on another priority such as their family don't achieve all that they hoped for in their working life. Is it possible to have it all?

7 Practical ways to "have it all"

1. It is not a race. Striving for challenging goals is a positive way to grow and to achieve great things. But make sure the timelines are realistic and commensurate with the amount of time you have to spend on them. If you are only working 30 hours a week, it will take longer to achieve your goal than if you are working 60 hours, although you do need to be commiting a "critical mass" of time for some goals.
2. Ensure that you have goals for all aspects of your life including your health, fitness and time with people who are important to you to maintain balance.
3. Segment your life so that whilst you are at work you are focussing on work, and whilst you are with people you love you are focussing on them (ban all additional appendages such as iphones when you are spending quality time with someone)
4. Manage your time efficiently and effectively so that you are being truly productive when you are in "work mode".
5. Ask for help, delegate and make sure you build a strong support structure
6. Accept that there will be times when life is slightly out of balance but you are achieving lots in a certain area. If possible, try and keep those periods finite and as short as possible, or worst case, if things get really crazy, make sure you have scheduled breaks for the other people and things important in your life when you can.
7. Acknowledge that nothing and no-one is perfect and keep a sense of humour when things don't go to plan!

This is all easier said than done, and it is a continuous process. Contact me if you would like support, structure and help finding your own practical solutions.
Please comment and share your challenges and solutions.  It is great to be able to learn from each other.