Life Lesson

Sometimes all you need to start moving forward is to pause.

Grab your laptop or notepad and pen, then hunker down.

Walk yourself and your gear to a coffee shop and take a seat.

You know how in conversations if you stay quiet, the other person will fill the empty space with their voice? (Interview 101 skill)

The same happens when we pause with our work in front of us. No distractions. No racing from one thing to another.

If we merely make the time to hunker down, some of the deepest focus and best work will happen.

Stay Positive & Make Work Happen

Photo credit

If you’re reading this, you likely have something you’re tasked with today.

It might involve you exercising your expertise on a subject.

Unfortunately (or fortunately), the expectation is that you’ll do more than the one thing you’re really good at. You’re expected to do more better.

And rather than racing around to learn how to code, understand the psychology of colors and balance a spreadsheet, consider where the project will be at 5 steps from now and where it was 5 steps before now.

How can you make it better for those who are about to touch it and those who will start it next time (eventually handing it over to you).

The more we can see just outside our blinders, the more smooth our execution can become and the less likely the work we touched will come back to us to be fixed or improved.

We don’t have to be masters of everything, but understanding the nuances of a project before and after we touch it can make the entire system stronger.

Stay Positive & Lead The Trifecta: Hindsight, Focus, Foresight

Photo credit

If you’re not willing to ask questions that make you feel uncomfortable then you’re never going to get the answers you need to keep moving forward.

You’ll miss out on the answers that enable you to connect on a deeper level with someone.

You’ll be weighed down with regret (which, IMO is way worse than temporary discomfort).

You need to ask to move on, up, quickly and on the right track.

Stay Positive & Find The Guts To Ask, We Need You To

Photo credit

If you’re defined by what you do, reason would have it that the stronger definition comes from making more promises and keeping them.

The weaker definition is from not making any commitments at all – inaction.

The worst definition is making promises, but not keeping any of them.

This isn’t only how others define us. It’s also how we define ourselves.

Stay Positive & Can You Feel It?

Photo credit

Moving fast can certainly get us to reach a destination more quickly.

However, it might not be the destination we sought out. In an effort to keep moving, we may have veered off the path or taken a short cut.

It’s worth taking a pause to ensure you’re making the change you seek to make; that the effort you’re putting in is fueled by the why you’re doing what you’re doing.

Stay Positive & Ironically, Sometimes A Pause Helps Your Momentum

Photo credit

Do you know what the customer who walks through your door can expect from you?

How about when they send you an email. Can you communicate what they can expect once you’ve read it?

What can they expect from you when they try calling, mailing or leaving you a note?

How about when something doesn’t go right. What can they expect from you then?

If you can clearly communicate the expectations people can have of you, do it.

Then stick to the promises you make.

That’s all it really takes to win in our connection economy.

Stay Positive & Perhaps Write A Customer Bill Of Rights?

Photo credit

You might be able to shine at the start and throughout. Kudos.

I’ve found that there’s a time when you can shine brighter and flashier than the rest, though.

It’s when everyone else’s energy is spent.

If you can hang on to the positive attitude, smiles and fist-bumps longer than others; if you can keep hydrated, motivated and at your A-game longer than others then you’re bound to do two things.

The first is simply stand out from the rest. You will officially become a diamond in the rough.

The second is that you’re likely to be someone’s last contact. You know that expression to leave a bad taste in your mouth? The opposite impact happens when you can showcase your energy when all those around you have spent theirs.

No doubt, the grit and gumption it takes to maintain the energy level is hard work, but you know what they say about hard work.

Stay Positive & It’s Worth It

Photo credit