RSSArchive for August, 2008
Managing Time, Not Work
Author Jim Collins (“Good to Great” and “Built to Last”) was interviewed recently and asked about work-life balance (or as I prefer to call it, “life-work” balance, placing work in the subordinate position). He was asked if the leaders he has interviewed had any kind of balance. He said that about half of them did, [...]
Olympics, Part 1
I watched the Olympics this year; this is the first time I remember watching them since 1976. I’m not sure what compelled me to do it, but I’m glad I did.
While watching I was impressed by the commitment, athleticism, and sportsmanship I witnessed. In particular, an interview with Michael Phelps caught my attention. (By the [...]
Convening Your Kitchen Cabinet
U.S. President Andrew Jackson is generally credited with creating the first “kitchen cabinet,” a group of informal advisors who, although not having an official government role, nonetheless had a great deal of influence in what President Jackson thought and did.
I’ve mentioned in a previous post the current BusinessWeek issue covering “Trouble at the Office.” I [...]
Letting go of a steady paycheck
When thinking about making the shift from employee to self-employed, you may think that being self-employed is risky. Where will the money come from? How will I get my clients? How can I motivate myself to get out of bed and work everyday? All of these are valid questions that you will definitely want [...]
Feeling Grumpy? You May Have Caught It At Work
The August 25th issue of BusinessWeek focuses on “Trouble at the Office,” offering a series of articles ranging from time management to life/work balance. In addition to including input from readers, the issue includes short articles by folks who make a living thinking and writing about work.
Robert Sutton, author of The No A$$hole Rule, reminds [...]
Where Is Your Focus?
“Nurture your mind with great thoughts, for you will never
go any higher than you think.”
–British Statesman, Benjamin Disraeli
As I read this quote recently, I remembered similar quotes and ideas from other speakers, writers, and thinkers. James Ray reminds us that “Where attention goes, energy flows,” the idea that we actually attract to us the very thing [...]
Not Just a Living
Not Just a Living by Mark Henricks
Today I’ve been thinking about a book I read years ago when I was considering starting my own business called “Not Just A Living” by Mark Henricks. It’s been on my mind because he asks the reader to examine how they are approaching their work - from an [...]
The Sunday Night Dread Test
I’m reading Free Agent Nation by Daniel Pink. In the book, Pink discusses the rise of what he calls “free agency” in the world of work, by which he means the rising number of people who have decided to leave the traditional employee/employer relationship and strike out on their own. Free agents then re-engage with the [...]
The open secret of success
I love the New Yorker. I was reading some back issues recently, and came across this article about Toyota. You can read the entire article on the link below; however, I’ll summarize the parts I find most relevant from a coaching perspective.
It seems GM has been the best selling car company for the past 77 [...]
Exquisite Happiness for $23.50
Earlier this month I had the fun experience of attending the Marin County Fair. Unaware of who was on the musical lineup until I arrived, I was thrilled to learn that the Preservation Hall Jazz Band from New Orleans would be the headline act, starting soon after my arrival at the ticket gate!
Armed with a [...]