Cutting the Grass

I despise yard work. Don’t know why. I just do. I wasn’t traumatized as a child with grass clippings or a pile of raked leaves. I just don’t enjoy it and never look forward to having to do it.

But I do it anyway because I know it has to be done. I put a positive spin on it. I focus on the end result. I imagine what the property is going to look like when I am finished. Not only do I imagine it, I finish it, walk across the street and admire my work. I celebrate, sort of. I won’t jump up and down screaming and yelling about it. That would supply the neighbors with additional evidence as to my mental state. But I internally celebrate with the warm fuzzy feeling of accomplishment.

We tend to live our lives in the same fashion. While this yard stuff is just one element of my life, I have other things that I don’t enjoy but I still do them. We all do. We do them because we focus on the end result. When we finish, we step back and celebrate our accomplishment.

Take visiting relatives for example. Some we love to see and others, not so much. For those in the latter category, we focus on the end result. That end result being when we are pulling out of the driveway, waving goodbye and smiling, thankful that we are finally leaving the hell that has had us imprisoned for the past two or three hours.

Oh, and just think if “Cousin Eddie” (see National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation) wanted me to cut his grass. (see latter category above)

Bottom line here is despite the blood, sweat and tears that we must experience to get us through our everyday drab, if we focus on the end result, we can stand back, admire our work, respect our struggle and bask in the glow of our results. GO DO!™

Row, Row, Row Your Boat… With A Purpose

Recently, I attended an out of town conference relating to business and networking. Hundreds of others were in attendance with similar industry accomplishments, goals and hopes. While looking around and taking notice of the way others carried themselves and how they reacted to a variety of situations, I made an observation. We are all in the same boat.

I wasn’t struck by this with much force because it was a pre-existing known. What really did strike me was that not only were we in the same boat, we were helping one another with our oars, the securing of the anchor all the way down to stocking and carrying the cooler onto the vessel.

As I watched and listened I began to get overwhelmed by the amount of information that was in front of me. We only had three days and there was absolutely no way for any of us to talk with everybody on our list of desired because there were non-stop additions to the list.

Granted, many of us had been planning for months in advance to sit and talk about specific topics. But once we got there and met new folks that we had no idea were even going to be there, the task of time management became that much more difficult.

So, the time came for decisions. What are my immediate goals and what information did I expect to give (and get) during my meetings? How do I stay focused on my primary goals and expectations with so many great distractions surrounding me? Is there a definitive answer to this? Hardly.

The purpose of going is to be fed information to consider for implementation upon returning to our respective areas of the world. The approach is similar to the way one would eat an elephant. One bite at a time. Now, I’ve never eaten elephant and don’t plan to, but you get the idea here.

With each step we take, with every thought that bounces around in our heads, with every stroke of the oars, we must focus on one thing at a time in order to be productive. If our rowing team has similar goals and is rowing in the same direction and we do that in unison, we’ll get there quicker and more easily.

You see, working as a team keeps us focused. It creates accountability. Teamwork allows those who are strong and motivated to coach and help those who are striving to be better. When we raise others up through helping them achieve their goals, we silently take a step or two up ourselves.

So chart your course, prepare your crew and row, my friends! Row! GO DO!™

The Shaking of A Hand

I'm walking into a meeting/networking event and a bit timid because I have zero pre-existing relationships with anyone in the room. I'm the new guy. But wait, they don't know me either so that makes them the new guy to me.

I begin to roam the room hoping that an ambassador or an appointed connector will spot me and approach me to save me from my agony. It happens. A very nice lady walks directly toward me making eye contact and displaying a big smile with her outreached arm. She was walking at a fast pace directly toward me to give me a warm welcome. I'm looking forward to this. She looks fabulous and professional. I can feel her energy before she even gets to me. I extend my hand, she hers and we make that initial connection with a handshake.

We interlocked and maintained throughout the introductions. She was firm, yet gentle with the clasp of my hand. She wouldn't let go. Then, her other hand came into play. My right hand was now sandwiched between the two of hers. The usual up and down handshake protocol was in full force. I was unsure as to just when (or if) I was going to be turned loose. I wasn't necessarily uncomfortable but I was beginning to wish that I would be set free sometime soon.

She was letting me know, through both her words and the eternal handshake that she was happy to meet me and happy to introduce me to folks in the room.

Once released, I felt like a new man. I was now set free from my anxiety about being in a room full of strangers. I was escorted from one cluster of people to another being introduced as a visitor for the day.

I will remember that handshake forever. The impact that something as simple as a handshake can have is remarkable.

What impact are you having on people when you meet them for the first time? GO DO!™