2009 October

Pause Blog On Overload, Overwhelm & Life In General

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PAUSE – 9.39 – Asking For Help

REFLECTION:
I’ve been working on a new opening for a speech that I’ll be giving in Phoenix next month. After having drafted out my ideas, I asked a few colleagues of mine who are blessed with an abundance of wit and humor for their reactions and advice.
I just heard back from the first of my buddies. He offered some great suggestions and reassured me I was on the right track. Now I’m even more excited about doing some additional tweaking and tuning.
On the same day, a colleague of mine contacted me and asked if I’d contribute to a bonus package of items that she was putting together as a purchasing incentive to help market her new book. Our messages are complimentary to each other, so I was happy to give her a hand and add to her bundle.
What do these two experiences have in common? The practice of reaching out for help and asking for what you need.
It has been my experience that friends, family and colleagues are more than willing to lend a helping hand. But if you and I can’t identify the need or find the confidence or humility to make the request, those generous offers of caring and support are much less likely to surface.
ACTION:
What do you need? And where can you help? Pay close attention at work and at home. Someone just might need support; and at any given time it could be you or me on the giving or receiving end of the equation.
_________________________
QUOTE OF THE WEEK:
“He who is afraid of asking is ashamed of learning.” – Danish Proverb
_________________________
RESOURCE OF THE WEEK:
Here’s an interesting article from the Business section of the New York Times titled, “Why Is Asking For Help So Difficult?” See:  http://tinyurl.com/yhxcasw
_________________________
READERS WRITE:
In response to last week’s message on ‘Buckling Down’, Pause reader GJ writes: Well, this is one of the most timely messages I have received in ages! I’m in a wonderful new position. After 20 years at home raising my children, I’ve been easing into part time work. For the last 8 months I’ve been working full time. I love the learning curve around my new position; but prioritizing, managing the interruptions and trying to remain focused on task is a weakness. Today YOU have just written out what I need to place in front of me to help me transition to a more productive day. Thank you!

Help-wREFLECTION: I’ve been working on a new opening for a speech that I’ll be giving in Phoenix next month. After having drafted out my ideas, I asked a few colleagues of mine who are blessed with an abundance of wit and humor for their reactions and advice. I just heard back from the first of my buddies. He offered some great suggestions and reassured me I was on the right track. Now I’m even more excited about doing some additional tweaking and tuning.

On the same day, a colleague of mine contacted me and asked if I’d contribute to a bonus package of items that she was putting together as a purchasing incentive to help market her new book. Our messages are complimentary to each other, so I was happy to give her a hand and add to her bundle.

What do these two experiences have in common? Read More…

Posted under Life Balance, Life in General, Overload & Overwhelm, Pause E-zines

This post was written by Pat Katz on October 28, 2009

PAUSE – 9.38 – Buckling Down

REFLECTION:
As I write this, it’s 4:30 on Monday afternoon, and I’m feeling GOOD!
My time in the office is limited this week, and it was important for me to accomplish a few of those ‘Must Do’ items today. Otherwise, I knew I’d be scrambling as the week moved along – feeling pressured and just a wee bit frenzied at every step.
It’s amazing how satisfying it was to check those essentials off the list. Sure, there are things still not done, but the time sensitive tasks are behind me.
Makes me wonder why I don’t buckle down, focus, and work this way more often.
ACTION:
The success strategy looked like this:
* List the top five critical tasks – in order of importance (not ease or interest). Keep that list directly in front of you.
* Right from the first moment of the day, start on the number one task. Work it to completion before moving on to number two.
* After each outside interruption, reorient yourself with the list, and immediately return to working on the task at hand.
* Refuse to interrupt yourself by giving in to the impulses to: check email, place low priority phone calls, or flip through items of lesser importance perched on the periphery of your vision or attention.
It’s not rocket science – but it is structured. Give it a serious try for an hour – a morning – a day. See what kind of a dent this approach makes on your list and how much it reduces your feelings of overload or overwhelm.
_________________________
QUOTE OF THE WEEK:
“You don’t have to be good to start, but you have to start to be good.” – Mary Marshall
“If I ever made any valuable discoveries, it has been owing more to patient attention than to any other talent.” – Sir Isaac Newton
_________________________
RESOURCE OF THE WEEK:
I’m only 50 pages into this book, but I’m really enjoying Lucy Jo Palladino’s insights in ‘Find Your Focus Zone’. Published 2007 by Simon & Schuster.  You can check out the first chapter online at: http://www.yourfocuszone.com/bks_fyfz_ch1.html
_________________________
READERS WRITE:
Pause reader, MT writes: In my desire to do a good job and help people out, I have been working too much. I have a mountain of tasks, and have been thinking if I just keep working on them, the mountain will go away. I have tried to enlist the help of others where I can, but the mountain still looms and grows.
My efforts were wearing me down, making it harder for me to provide good service. So rather than continuously pushing that rock up the mountain, I decided to use my banked hours and flex time arrangements to take a day off every week.
I find most people who take a day off choose Friday or Monday. This gives them a short week and a long weekend. But instead, I’m taking Wednesdays off. I don’t get the longer weekend stretch, but I often don’t need it. Instead, by taking off Wednesdays, my “hump-day” disappears entirely. I get two short work weeks and two “weekends”.
Instead of getting worn down during the week and waiting for the weekend, I rest up and stay energized throughout the week. Sometimes the arrangement is a bit tricker for meetings and multi-day events, and I occasionally need to come in on my day off. But as more people know that’s what I’m doing, it gets easier. And, as an added benefit on those Wednesdays off, I also have more time to relax and enjoy the Pause newsletter as it arrives – hot off the press!

Focus -wREFLECTION: As I write this, it’s 4:30 on Monday afternoon, and I’m feeling GOOD!

My time in the office is limited this week, and it was important for me to accomplish a few of those ‘Must Do’ items today. Otherwise, I knew I’d be scrambling as the week moved along – feeling pressured and just a wee bit frenzied at every step.

It’s amazing how satisfying it was to check those essentials off the list. Sure, there are things still not done, but the time sensitive tasks are behind me.

Makes me wonder why I don’t buckle down, focus, and work this way more often. Read More…

Posted under Life Balance, Overload & Overwhelm, Pause E-zines

This post was written by Pat Katz on October 21, 2009

PAUSE – 9.37 – Reality Check

REFLECTION:
A few weeks ago, I entertained a fantasy about how Thanksgiving might unfold this year. I come from a good sized farm family that has a long history of gathering the clan for special occasions. And so, I issued the Thanksgiving dinner invitation to my folks, my kids, my sisters and their extended families.
Although some family members are too far away to drop in for dinner, those most likely to be in the vicinity number 20 or more. In my mind, I picture a large group gathered in my home enjoying a turkey dinner with all the trimmings, leisurely drifting between house and garden throughout a warm, sunny fall afternoon.
Here’s how it actually unfolded. Everyone except my own youngsters and my parents had other plans. In the end, my parents ended up under the weather on ‘turkey day’ and elected to stay home rather than spread the bug. The weatherman delivered snow and temperatures well below zero. The garden that had still been quite beautiful the week before was frozen solid!
You might think I’d be disappointed – and I confess to having experienced a twinge or two in the run up to the event. However, it turned out to be a great Thanksgiving after all.
The small group made for lots of close and easy visits. There was less pressure to meet conflicting timetables for getting dinner on the table, and a small enough group that we actually sat at the table instead of balancing plates on our knees buffet-style. One sister and her family dropped over later in the day for a fun visit over coffee and pie.
The day after the dinner, my daughter, grandson and I delivered a ‘meals on wheels’ version of Thanksgiving leftovers to my folks at the farm, resulting in another good visit at that end. And, the weather, although chilly, was still decent enough to get outdoors for a few short walks.
ACTION:
I’m reminded of the importance of not letting some fantasy picture of perfection interfere with enjoying the reality that unfolds on our doorsteps.
When life knocks at the door, open up, and welcome it in. Although, it may not be what you had expected, it could turn out even better than you’d imagined!
_________________________
QUOTE OF THE WEEK:
“Thanksgiving, after all, is a word of action.” – W.J. Cameron
_________________________
RESOURCE OF THE WEEK:
Here’s a tool to help you pay attention to the appreciative power of positive action. Print a copy of Pause Check and post it where you’ll be reminded of a few of the small but significant experiences that make up a very good day: http://www.pauseworks.com/library/documents/PauseCheck.pdf
_________________________
READERS WRITE:
In response to last week’s message, Get A ‘Smove On, Pause reader LR writes: “I always enjoy receiving your uplifting messages.  At times, I sadly don’t take the time to read them as thoroughly as I should and this is my loss. I took the time today and you know it was the best start I’ve had to my mornings in a couple of weeks.  Smile & Move is simple, clear, and easy to read.  Best of all it has a message that I honour.  I try to reflect these behaviours in my personal walk in life. Refreshers on what life should be and can be are sunbeams that keep this human going.”

Turkey dinner-wREFLECTION: A few weeks ago, I entertained a fantasy about how Thanksgiving might unfold this year. I come from a good sized farm family that has a long history of gathering the clan for special occasions. And so, I issued the Thanksgiving dinner invitation to my folks, my kids, my sisters and their extended families.

Although some family members are too far away to drop in for dinner, those most likely to be in the vicinity number 20 or more. In my mind, I picture a large group gathered in my home enjoying a turkey dinner with all the trimmings, leisurely drifting between house and garden throughout a warm, sunny fall afternoon.

Here’s how it actually unfolded. Read More…

Posted under Life in General, Pause E-zines

This post was written by Pat Katz on October 15, 2009

PAUSE – 9.36 – Get a ‘Smove On

REFLECTION:
I don’t know about you, but some days it’s pretty easy for me to get distracted noodling around the web. A simple query takes me to web site A. An interesting link lures me to site B. Site B suggests a detour to site C. And so it goes.
It’s a bit like meandering through the streets and canals of Venice. You know you’re lost. You have no idea where you are. You’re not sure how you got there, or where you’re going. There’s always something enticing just around the corner, beckoning from a distance. But, still the journey itself is highly engaging.
And, so it was – meandering around the web one day – that I stumbled upon the Smile & Move site. Smile & Move is a ’smovement’ created by a media group in Richmond, Virginia.
In brief, their goal is to encourage others to participate in the world in two important ways: by building connections and by making contributions.
Building high quality connections by becoming more attentive, engaged and interested in the people around you. Getting a move on in the service of others by finding ways to contribute without excuse or complaint.
ACTION:
It’s an engaging message. Check it out for yourself at: http://www.smileandmove.com
Be forewarned, though. Exploring the site is definitely more of an amble than a sprint.
Watching the 3 minute ’smovie’ is a good place to start for an overview of the ’smovement’: http://www.smileandmove.com/smovie/.
_________________________
QUOTE OF THE WEEK:
“Write it on your heart that every day is the best day in the year.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson
_________________________
RESOURCE OF THE WEEK:
If you are so moved, share the ’smile & move’ message around your office through the mini-posters provided as a complimentary download at: http://www.smileandmove.com/resources/
_________________________
READERS WRITE:
In response to last week’s message, Tuning In & Tuning Out, Pause reader LC writes: “How we deal with interruptions may show where our heart really is. Somehow we want things to go smoothly without a bump in the road.
An interruption of sorts that became a huge irritation for me was around the coffee pot at work. The understanding is that when you take the last cup, you make a fresh pot. There always seemed to be some who would forget, or ignore, the rule. It rankled me and I thought that my time was just as valuable as that of others. What right had the other person to interrupt my finely tuned schedule? Why should I have to make coffee when he or she should have done it?
I don’t recall when it happened, but at some point, I changed my thinking and purposed to use coffee making time for a moment of gratitude. Now, when I make a pot at the office, whether I or another person took the last cup, I choose to let that time be a signal to be grateful. I am grateful for my job, for my health (which at one time seriously jeopardized my job), for interesting and fulfilling work, for family, for friends. Life is full of irritations. We can choose to be upset, to worry, or to take time for gratitude. “

REFLECTION: I don’t know about you, but some days it’s pretty easy for me to get distracted noodling around the web. A simple query takes me to web site A. An interesting link lures me to site B. Site B suggests a detour to site C. And so it goes.

It’s a bit like meandering through the streets and canals of Venice. You know you’re lost. You have no idea where you are. You’re not sure how you got there, or where you’re going. There’s always something enticing just around the corner, beckoning from a distance. But, still the journey itself is highly engaging.

smile-and-move-badgeAnd, so it was – meandering around the web one day – that I stumbled upon the Smile & Move site. Smile & Move is a ’smovement’ created by a media group in Richmond, Virginia.

In brief, their goal is to encourage others to participate in the world in two important ways: by building connections and by making contributions. Read More…

Posted under Life in General, Pause E-zines

This post was written by Pat Katz on October 7, 2009

Introducing: New E-Product

INTRODUCING NEW E-PRODUCT:
Looking for challenging ideas, thoughtful suggestions and practical solutions to help your people cope with the demands of the nonstop workplace? These collections of article may be just the ticket. Check out the newly formatted WorkWise, PauseWise, and 2nd Thoughts Series as well as the Bonus 3+1 Collection at: http://www.pauseworks.com/shop/article_series.php

Bonus Articles Cover Page-wLooking for challenging ideas, thoughtful suggestions and practical solutions to help your people cope with the demands of the nonstop workplace?

These collections of articles may be just the ticket.

Check out the newly formatted WorkWise, PauseWise, and 2nd Thoughts Series as well as the Bonus 3+1 Collection at:
http://www.pauseworks.com/shop/article_series.php

Posted under Life Balance, Miscellaneous, Overload & Overwhelm

This post was written by Pat Katz on October 5, 2009

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