Do you have the discipline and focus of an Olympian?

           

 In the past few days, I have been enthralled, amazed, and truly inspired by the Olympic games.  I love watching the competitions, learning the athletes’ stories, and watching each Olympian earn his/her spot in history.  The story lines are beautiful and the entertainment superb.   However, I am struck by the sage business advice found in each Olympians’ story.  This morning I shared an article that spoke to the wisdom of branding on the global stage. Tonight’s article is on focus and discipline.

As I watch the Olympians, each one is focused on the physical challenge at hand.  Whether a dark horse trying to put together the perfect performance to earn a medal or the strong favorite expected to dominate the event-the Olympians have the discipline of focus.  These extraordinary athletes know that yesterday’s performance, whether good or bad, is in the past, and today’s success depends on having the discipline to focus.  In business, you also need the discipline of single-minded focus.

Think about your own practice.  Do you truly have single-minded focus on the challenges of today?  Too often, professionals rob themselves of the gift of focus by worrying about the past. Every second you spend thinking about what you did wrong yesterday is a second you cannot spend doing it better today.  You have to trust me on this one, it doesn’t matter if you made the biggest bone-headed mistake of your career five minutes ago, it is time to forgive yourself, learn from your mistake, turn the page, and move on.  If you don’t, you rob yourself of the discipline of focus needed to succeed today.

Are you thinking this is a lesson you don’t need?  Let me give you the most common scenario that I encounter in my coaching practice.  I work with type A, high achievers, who routinely take on way more than they, or anyone else, can achieve in a day.  I call this the helium hand syndrome.  This willingness to take on the world serves many of my clients very well.  Until it doesn’t.    At some point, the over- scheduling catches up and something has to give.  Whether it is having to say no to new projects, turning in projects late, or feeling like they are being forced to compromise quality to meet deadlines, the helium hand-syndrome eventually catches them all.  

There is no shame in being caught by the helium hand.  It is the response to being caught that tends to separate the field. 

Some of my type A, high achievers come up with an aggressive plan to work through the helium hand crisis.  These folks focus on the projects that need to get done first.  They prioritize.  They use militant calendar discipline and laser focus to check off the items they must do today.  They do not look backwards.  Instead they focus their attention on the next project, the next project, the next project until they work through the crisis and feel in control of their work and lives again. 

Others, go a different route.  Others choose to keep repeating old patterns, taking on more and more even when they haven’t finished today’s priorities.  At some point these folks learn to hate all forms of organization.    They give up on calendars, throw files around their desks, and pretty much attempt to use disorganization to attempt to hide from the ever-growing pile of work.  These folks rob themselves of the ability to focus on the present because they spend their time worrying about what projects they should have done or what dead line they might miss.  Eventually these folks reach a point where they cannot sleep through the night because the never-ending to do list wakes them every night with the regularity of an alarm clock.  They cannot enjoy time off because they are worried about the what if.  This lack of focus wreaks havoc on their psyche and single-handedly steals the joy of achievement while the lack of discipline deadens the satisfaction of a job well done. 

If you are reading this, it is probably safe to guess that you too are a type A, high achiever.  Kudos!  It is  a great club.  I am proud to be a member.  But, remember, even we type A folks, make mistakes from time to time.   If you happen to find yourself in the throes of the helium hand syndrome, resist the temptation to beat yourself up for getting there in the first place.  Instead, remember these Olympics.  Let go of any would have, could have, or should haves and attack the situation with the discipline and focus of an Olympian. 

About Jonelle- Jonelle Vold is a business coach that is passionate about your success.  A mother of twins, former Assistant Dean at a tier-one law school, attorney, and seasoned sales professional, Jonelle understands the challenges of high-level professionals.  Her coaching philosophy is every person has the ability to be a rainmaker by cracking their own personal code and doing business with intention.  You can reach Jonelle at jonelle@jonellevold.com or www.jonellevold.com.  

Who has time for that?

            It is Friday!  Hopefully, many people reading this blog are wrapping up loose ends, planning for next week, and preparing for a relaxing weekend.  Unfortunately, I suspect that for many of you, Friday feels less like the end of a productive work week and more like a nagging reminder of all the things you still need to do.  If so, it is time to take a long hard work at the way your managing your time.

            Several times a week I hear someone tell me, I didn’t have time for that.  My answer is always the same-“Actually, you did have time, you simply made a decision (conscious or unconscious) that this item was low priority.  As you can imagine this answer infuriates just about everyone who hears it.  But-it is the truth.

            Here is the tricky thing about time-we all have the exact same amount.   You cannot create more and you cannot get it back once it is gone.  Unfortunately, it is also very easy to lose control of the way you spend it.  So, how come some people seem to be able to get it all done and others, are constantly busy, but never seem to catch up?  One word-priorities.

 I think of my time like money.  There are endless amount of things I would like to do with my money.  Yet, each week, I have a finite amount of money to spend.  I have a few key priorities (food, shelter, etc.) that must be taken care of.  With the rest of my money I make conscious decisions on where to spend it.  Sometimes the decisions are easy: pay my mortgage or blow the mortgage payment on a weekend of debauchery.  Most of the time, the choices are much more difficult: put extra money toward retirement or my child’s education fund, take the family on a vacation or buy a new family car, etc.  In my household these decision are decided in advance by following a budget that reflects our families values and financial goals.

Your time works the same way.  You have a finite amount of time and endless amount of options of how to spend your time.  Each week, there are a few key priorities that you must handle.  After that, you get to make decision about how to allocate your time.  Sometime the choices are easy-go to work or stay home and watch TV. Most of the time the choices are difficult.  When you face difficult choices on how to spend your time, you should be turning to the governing documents that spell out your priorities-your business plan, your mission statement/vision statement, or marketing plan. 

You have exactly the amount of time you need to get all of your key priorities accomplished.  The trick is-do you REALLY know your key priorities.  If you are struggling with time management, stop blaming the calendar and take a hard look at your priorities.   Need more help?  I highly recommend,  Covey’s “Seven Habits of Highly Effective People”

About Jonelle- Jonelle Vold is a business coach that is passionate about your success.  A mother of twins, former Assistant Dean at a tier-one law school, attorney, and seasoned sales professional, Jonelle understands the challenges of high-level professionals.  Her coaching philosophy is every person has the ability to be a rainmaker by cracking their own personal code and doing business with intention.  You can reach Jonelle at jonelle@jonellevold.com, 520-225-9053, or www.jonellevold.com.   

Maximize your time to maximize your success

            Wake up before dawn. Hurry to shower and get dressed before kids wake up.  Wake up kids.   Yell, plead, and cry to get kids ready and out the door on time.  Scurry from room to room to gather stuff, scoop up kids who have now wandered back into the house, and get into car.  Speed to school to avoid the tardy slip and the accompanying parent walk into the office (as that will eat up even more time.)  Drop kids, drive like maniac to get to office in time for first conference call.  Get to office- run from fire to fire.  After 10 hours of fires, drive like maniac to pick up kids before day care closes and you are tagged with a late fee.  Hurry home.  Rush around to get dinner started and homework underway.  Speed through evening process- dinner, bath, clean up house.  Back to work for another hour or two.  Fall into bed exhausted and set the alarm to do it all again tomorrow. 

 If any of the above sounded even remotely familiar-it is time to grab a hold of your calendar with both fists and regain control of your schedule and your life.

            Calendars are meant to be a tool to HELP you not a navigation system for finding the next fire.   From one over-achiever to another, trust me you really cannot do it all and the way you are currently managing your time is not working.   

Many professionals are superb at managing time when someone else is involved but do not respect or honor their own time.  Let me walk you through an example of this. 

Here is today’s to-do list:

1.  Schedule a meeting with a former client (former client is not expecting your call)

2.  Attend a monthly networking lunch

3.  Coffee with a friend from out of town who wants to talk to you about joining the local fundraising committee. 

4.  Catch up on monthly time sheets so that you are not under the gun on the 31^st (reminder-today is August 8^th) as you are leaving town the next day.

 5.  Conference call with two other participants.

It is Monday and true to form, your day goes sideways.  You find yourself in a situation where you only have time to complete two of the items on your to-do list  Which ones do you complete? 

If you are like most of the busy professionals I know, you probably selected items #3 and #5 since those items involve interaction with someone else.  99% of you probably decided to spend the time to meet with the friend about the local fundraising committee-even though you do not want to join the fundraising committee and don’t have time for the committee because you respect your friend’s calendar and you don’t want to waste his/her time by canceling at the last minute.  (Take a moment and ponder the truth of this.  Scary-huh?)

Some of you may have considered items #1 and #2 but I doubt anyone chose item #4.  Even though, completing item #4 will mean avoiding fires on the 31^st as you are trying to get out of town for that last summer vacation.  I know-you are thinking yeah but the time sheets can be completed tomorrow or another day.  You are right IF you make them a priority and honor your time and complete them.  Most of you will continue to let the time sheets slide until the 31^st.  The result will be a hair on fire, running like a mad man sort of day on the 31^st that may even bleed into your otherwise relaxing (and clearly much needed) vacation. 

If you are tired of running around crazed searching for an extra few minutes of time-start making better choices about your time.  Choose to respect and honor your own time as much as you respect and honor others.  Choose to complete the items on your daily to do list that are mission critical to you.  We cannot create more time.  We all have the same 24 hours.   The only difference between those who achieve massive success and happiness with their 24 hours and those who spend their 24 hours running around from meeting to meeting gasping for air as they arrive five minutes late for each appointment is choice.  Before you schedule that next meeting, say yes to the next committee, or sign up for the PTA-step back and think about what you really want out of life.  Is saying yes to these opportunities moving you forward?  If not-politely decline.  You will be saying no to the opportunity but yes to a life!

Need some help on additional strategies to maximize your time? Visit my website http://www.jonellevold.com or consider the upcoming STMA class.

About Jonelle- Jonelle Vold is a business coach that is passionate about your success.  A mother of twins, former Assistant Dean at a tier-one law school, attorney, and seasoned sales professional, Jonelle understands the challenges of high-level professionals.  Her coaching philosophy is every person has the ability to be a rainmaker by cracking their own personal code and doing business with intention.  You can reach Jonelle at jonelle@jonellevold.com or www.jonellevold.com.   

Women's Short-Term-Massive-Action Group Coaching Classes starting on September 22, 2011.  Ladies if you are ready to jump start your success, regain control of your time and your life, reignite your professional passion, and of course learn to make rain-this is the class for you.  Space is limited contact jonelle@jonellevold.com for details