How many folks measure their own "GNH", or Gross National Happiness? Clarifying Vision, Values and Needs, and measuring how well your life is alignment with those - on a Life-to-Date, annual, monthly and daily basis. By defining what happiness looks like (for you)and raising your awareness of where you are with with those measures, you can take concrete steps to raise your personal happiness and see what works best.
Monday, April 18, 2011
Chip Conley: Measuring what makes life worthwhile | Video on TED.com
Chip Conley: Measuring what makes life worthwhile | Video on TED.com
Monday, July 14, 2008
What do you want most?
"The chief cause of failure and unhappiness is trading what we want most for what we want at the moment ." -Anonymous-
Those of you who work with me know that this has been a theme for the past year - discipline. Discipline in the best sense brings us exactly what we want. It is required for any goal that requires hard work and time - and that is most worthwhile goals.
Some prospective coaching clients have said, "I want to hire you to help me get everything done." My reply is, "Getting everything done at once is not typically possible, if you have a wide variety of interests and a big appetite - which most people interested in coaching do. What I can help you do, is get the most important things done. And I can help you gain clarity about what those things are. That's where 90% of your enjoyment and satisfaction in life is going to come from."
Those of you who work with me know that this has been a theme for the past year - discipline. Discipline in the best sense brings us exactly what we want. It is required for any goal that requires hard work and time - and that is most worthwhile goals.
Some prospective coaching clients have said, "I want to hire you to help me get everything done." My reply is, "Getting everything done at once is not typically possible, if you have a wide variety of interests and a big appetite - which most people interested in coaching do. What I can help you do, is get the most important things done. And I can help you gain clarity about what those things are. That's where 90% of your enjoyment and satisfaction in life is going to come from."
When I mention the word "discipline" it can elicit a groan. Too often, we associate discipline with not being able to have what we want. For instance:
- Discipline about eating might mean no dessert.
- Discipline about exercise might mean physical discomfort or pain.
- Discipline about sales calls might mean many rejections.
- Discipline in relationship might mean missing out on other people.
All of these things are ones where you might say, "THAT'S not what I want!" I WANT dessert, comfort, acceptance and attention from lots of people. But these are all short-term, immediate gratification things. Of course you want them. But what do you want most? Think about discipline not taking away the examples above, but bringing you these wonderful results:
- Healthy weight, teeth, and sleep.
- Health, strength, endurance and confidence.
- Business success and business relationships that would not happen otherwise.
- The opportunity to develop a committed relationship with one person, and actually work through things, which will grow you as a person.
We are presented with hundreds of choices, every single day. From "what should I do next" to "what will I order for lunch?" to "should I invest some time and money in this person or pursuit", the quality of your choices determines the quality of your life.
In order to make quality choices, you need to be clear about the Vision you're after. This work encompasses getting clear on your Values and Needs. Great stuff to work with a coach on (more about these areas in future posts). Once you're clear on these things, discipline about making choices in alignment with your Vision, Values and Needs will get you there.
For most of us, discipline is an ongoing quest. Like a physical muscle, it will get stronger the more you exercise it. And making the shift from "discipline=deprivation" to "discipline brings me what I really want!" is key to exercising it.
If you were to focus on just one area this month where exercising more discipline would bring you way more of what your really want, what would it be? I'd love to hear from some of you on this, and then hear about your results in the coming weeks.
Monday, May 5, 2008
Creativity vs. Productivity
“Think outside the box!” “Let’s be really creative about this!” “And let’s do it in the next 20 minutes.” Entire books are written about being maximally productive and efficient, and managing time well. Hey, I’ve written lots of stuff about those topics! Ditto for creativity. But what I’m discovering, with myself, and with some of my clients (all of whom are quite successful), is that sometimes productivity and creativity are at odds with each other.
Can you force yourself to be creative on demand? I think that there are indeed ways to “flip the switch.” You can use the adrenaline of a deadline to come up with stuff, and sometimes really good stuff.
BUT – there is something special that happens in a vacuum, meaning an unhurried process. It’s the equivalent of a blank canvas for an artist. When you’re trying to be efficient, particularly to meet a deadline, it’s natural to begin eliminating possibilities quickly, so as to focus on the apparent best path. This is oftentimes just fine, if “a” solution is what’s needed.
When a spectacularly creative answer is called for, however, “a” solution may not be enough. In that case, room (time) needs to be made to foster a relaxed, “possibility” approach. This can require enormous discipline in the face of our usual, “get it done, get done now” thinking. It’s a question of how much better the solution might be with more time, resources, etc., and whether the result warrants that additional expenditure.
I created a model that I think is useful in thinking about this. It’s called the Results Triangle (see graphic – thanks to my talented colleague, client and friend, Jonathan Colton, for improving my graphic). The idea is that every result has three dynamic components to it – time, resources and quality. It’s dynamic because when one component moves, the others typically do as well. For instance, if a deadline moves up, then typically either more resources have to be put on it, or the quality will decrease. Similarly, if an upgrade in quality is sought, then either more time and/or resources will be required.
When leading people, or when being asked to produce a result (which happens every day for all of us), this model is useful in agreeing upon expectations. Differing expectations is a leading cause of dissatisfaction with communication.
When kids are playing, or when adults are in a retreat mode, it’s amazing what creative thinking emerges. Pressure can produce one kind of creativity, but relaxation produces another. It can feel counterintuitive to go into a relaxed, play mode when working hard to produce a terrific result. But being able to hold the paradox of being disciplined enough to relax is an attribute worth developing.
Coaching tips for balancing creativity with productivity:
1. In the overall scheme of what you’re trying to accomplish, how important is creativity to this project/task? Scale it 1-5, with 5 being Really Important. If it’s a 4 or 5, creativity is more important than efficiency. Make time.
2. What kind of process can I/we set up for when we need to go into a relaxed, playful, mode, to set up a creativity vacuum? Consider working with a coach on this.
3. What practice could I set up in my life so that I experience that kind of relaxed creativity on a regular basis? For me, I do several 8-hour drives during the year, to get to dog agility competitions. Much as I’m not crazy about the long trips, I find my creativity starts firing on all cylinders during those drives.
Efficiency, productivity, and time management are, of course, important. Knowing how to discern what level of creativity is called for, and having a process in place to ignite it, will actually enhance these areas as well in the Big Picture.
Can you force yourself to be creative on demand? I think that there are indeed ways to “flip the switch.” You can use the adrenaline of a deadline to come up with stuff, and sometimes really good stuff.
BUT – there is something special that happens in a vacuum, meaning an unhurried process. It’s the equivalent of a blank canvas for an artist. When you’re trying to be efficient, particularly to meet a deadline, it’s natural to begin eliminating possibilities quickly, so as to focus on the apparent best path. This is oftentimes just fine, if “a” solution is what’s needed.
When a spectacularly creative answer is called for, however, “a” solution may not be enough. In that case, room (time) needs to be made to foster a relaxed, “possibility” approach. This can require enormous discipline in the face of our usual, “get it done, get done now” thinking. It’s a question of how much better the solution might be with more time, resources, etc., and whether the result warrants that additional expenditure.
I created a model that I think is useful in thinking about this. It’s called the Results Triangle (see graphic – thanks to my talented colleague, client and friend, Jonathan Colton, for improving my graphic). The idea is that every result has three dynamic components to it – time, resources and quality. It’s dynamic because when one component moves, the others typically do as well. For instance, if a deadline moves up, then typically either more resources have to be put on it, or the quality will decrease. Similarly, if an upgrade in quality is sought, then either more time and/or resources will be required.
When leading people, or when being asked to produce a result (which happens every day for all of us), this model is useful in agreeing upon expectations. Differing expectations is a leading cause of dissatisfaction with communication.
When kids are playing, or when adults are in a retreat mode, it’s amazing what creative thinking emerges. Pressure can produce one kind of creativity, but relaxation produces another. It can feel counterintuitive to go into a relaxed, play mode when working hard to produce a terrific result. But being able to hold the paradox of being disciplined enough to relax is an attribute worth developing.
Coaching tips for balancing creativity with productivity:
1. In the overall scheme of what you’re trying to accomplish, how important is creativity to this project/task? Scale it 1-5, with 5 being Really Important. If it’s a 4 or 5, creativity is more important than efficiency. Make time.
2. What kind of process can I/we set up for when we need to go into a relaxed, playful, mode, to set up a creativity vacuum? Consider working with a coach on this.
3. What practice could I set up in my life so that I experience that kind of relaxed creativity on a regular basis? For me, I do several 8-hour drives during the year, to get to dog agility competitions. Much as I’m not crazy about the long trips, I find my creativity starts firing on all cylinders during those drives.
Efficiency, productivity, and time management are, of course, important. Knowing how to discern what level of creativity is called for, and having a process in place to ignite it, will actually enhance these areas as well in the Big Picture.
Tuesday, November 6, 2007
Professional Human Beings Deliver Best
One of the goals I was after when I moved to Paradise (aka Durango, Colorado) ten years ago was to live in a small town, where bureaucracy would hopefully be at a minimum. We still enjoy a nice small town atmosphere, though sadly some of it has been lost to bureaucracy in these ten years. But the clerks at the Post Office still greet me by name, my dogs are still welcome at my bank, and many transactions are still executed on a handshake. All these things make me feel valued and connected to my community.
Travel out of this remote location is challenging. Though we have a small airport, flying out of Durango generally adds a half day to any trip, as we need to connect through Denver or Phoenix to get anywhere else. The airport used to kind of sweet, though. You could pull right up to the curb to pick up your luggage. The security people were your neighbors, and were nice. The gal who operates the kennel where I board my dogs used to be welcomed into the parking lot to meet her customers. Parking was cheap and easy.
That’s changed. In a town of less than 15,000 (about 50,000 in the county), we now have a tiny airport with the bureaucracy of Logan Airport in Boston, where I used to live. I’m really sad about this. Despite 9/11, it’s really unnecessary. If it wasn’t so sad, it would be funny. TSA people acting like thugs, escalating parking fees and frequent cancellations and delays led me to finally drive to Albuquerque, four hours away, for today’s flight.
What a delightful surprise! I’m having a “minimal bureaucracy day”, and I’m loving it! At the ‘Park and Shuttle’ in Albuquerque ($4.00 a day), the shuttle driver courteously waited for me to gather my stuff after meeting me at my parking space. Upon entering Albuquerque’s Sunport, there was beautiful live music to entertain me and other airport patron, the Placitas Mountain Band. 2 guitars, a string bass, a fiddler (a lady in her 70’s, I’m guessing), an autoharp/banjo player, with 3 of them singing. The group invited requests from their constantly changing audience, and several in the audience sang along to bluegrass favorites. An oasis of humanity in an airport! Wonderful. I don’t feel like I’m a faceless number in a city airport – I feel like welcome guest.
As I thanked them for the serenade as I headed for the gate, a couple of the musicians called out “have a wonderful trip!” So did the ladies in the gift and book stores. This airport is working at customer service, and it is working! Airports can be one of the most miserable, dehumanizing places going, with uncomfortable seating and constant announcements and many employees of the airports and airlines looking at the patrons as objects, rather than people. The Sunport’s Got It Going On. I remember being in the Charlotte, NC airport a couple of years ago, and delighting in the occasional seating areas they have set up with white, wooden rockers, and nice natural light. It’s not so hard to brighten up these deserts of bureaucracy. And it’s so interesting to watch the affect on airport patrons. People smile more, interact, and seem much more relaxed.
I’m flying on Southwest Airlines today, instead of my usual United, Delta or American. Another pleasant experience! I’ve read that Southwest is the most profitable of the airlines, along with having the best record for on-time departures/arrivals and lost luggage. The Southwest employees seem genuinely happy, and are FUN! What a difference it makes in the ol’ Fasten-Seat-Belt-No-Electronic-Devices-Overhead-Compartment-Six-Exits-Oxygen-Masks speech when the presenters are hamming it up and being entertaining, instead of being boring, dry, automatons. As I write this, Joann Jackson, one of our flight attendants, surreptitiously put a little box of “Certified SWA Fun” on my tray table. Not everyone got one, and I’m feeling very special. Time Out while I open it…..
Turns out it’s a deck of cards. Hey, that’s fun enough. With smart purchasing, it probably cost Southwest an extra 20 cents or so to give me that smile. What do they get in return? A loyal customer, grateful for being treated like a fellow human being. I’ll drive 4 hours to Albuquerque again, to have what’s far too often a way miserable experience be instead a very nice one. I’d had some trepidation about Southwest’s famed “cattle car” boarding, where there are no assigned seats. But you know what? It worked just fine.
Southwest’s fares are very reasonable, and sometimes great. Not every seat is full on this flight. Nobody had to get bumped, and Southwest didn’t have to dole out a few free roundtrip tickets and have disgruntled passengers who couldn’t get where they were going. And they are turning a profit! Why aren’t the other airlines copying this business model? Even the logo on the bulkhead makes me feel good – a heart encircled by a set of wings.
I don’t know if every Southwest experience is this pleasant. But if it’s even close, I’m not surprised why they are successful. Do I think that these employees are less than “professional” because they joke around, smile, and ask if I want (heaven forbid) an extra drink or snack? Not at all. I think they are Uber-Professionals. Because they are getting the job done (flying me where I want to go safely, on time, with my luggage) while making me feel truly valued. While there are many nice people working for the other airlines, the constant Bureaucracy Barrage and posture that seems to be part of either the training and/or culture at these companies, too often dehumanizes both them and me when we interact.
In the quest of being “professional,” we must guard our humanity and individuality, the antidotes to bureaucracy. We must look each other in the eye, and see each other as another human being, with hopes, needs and dreams equal to our own. We must be professional human beings, not professional airline employees, real estate brokers, or coaches. Nothing has to be lost in terms of profitability and efficiency, and in fact, those objectives will likely be enhanced by remembering our connectedness, and taking every opportunity to be part of that, rather than distancing ourselves from it.
Our pilot just announced that we’ll be arriving in Los Angeles on time today. Very nice.
Postscript: My flight back from LA two days later was about 2.5 hours late, as the plane had a “bird strike” on the way in, and it was deemed unsafe to fly. It was inconvenient to board for an hour, then get off and reboard a different plane. But several apologies from the SouthWest crew and an emphasis on “better safe than sorry” made it tolerable.
What stories do you have to share about companies or individuals making a difference with Professional (not Bureaucratic) Human Beings?
Travel out of this remote location is challenging. Though we have a small airport, flying out of Durango generally adds a half day to any trip, as we need to connect through Denver or Phoenix to get anywhere else. The airport used to kind of sweet, though. You could pull right up to the curb to pick up your luggage. The security people were your neighbors, and were nice. The gal who operates the kennel where I board my dogs used to be welcomed into the parking lot to meet her customers. Parking was cheap and easy.
That’s changed. In a town of less than 15,000 (about 50,000 in the county), we now have a tiny airport with the bureaucracy of Logan Airport in Boston, where I used to live. I’m really sad about this. Despite 9/11, it’s really unnecessary. If it wasn’t so sad, it would be funny. TSA people acting like thugs, escalating parking fees and frequent cancellations and delays led me to finally drive to Albuquerque, four hours away, for today’s flight.
What a delightful surprise! I’m having a “minimal bureaucracy day”, and I’m loving it! At the ‘Park and Shuttle’ in Albuquerque ($4.00 a day), the shuttle driver courteously waited for me to gather my stuff after meeting me at my parking space. Upon entering Albuquerque’s Sunport, there was beautiful live music to entertain me and other airport patron, the Placitas Mountain Band. 2 guitars, a string bass, a fiddler (a lady in her 70’s, I’m guessing), an autoharp/banjo player, with 3 of them singing. The group invited requests from their constantly changing audience, and several in the audience sang along to bluegrass favorites. An oasis of humanity in an airport! Wonderful. I don’t feel like I’m a faceless number in a city airport – I feel like welcome guest.
As I thanked them for the serenade as I headed for the gate, a couple of the musicians called out “have a wonderful trip!” So did the ladies in the gift and book stores. This airport is working at customer service, and it is working! Airports can be one of the most miserable, dehumanizing places going, with uncomfortable seating and constant announcements and many employees of the airports and airlines looking at the patrons as objects, rather than people. The Sunport’s Got It Going On. I remember being in the Charlotte, NC airport a couple of years ago, and delighting in the occasional seating areas they have set up with white, wooden rockers, and nice natural light. It’s not so hard to brighten up these deserts of bureaucracy. And it’s so interesting to watch the affect on airport patrons. People smile more, interact, and seem much more relaxed.
I’m flying on Southwest Airlines today, instead of my usual United, Delta or American. Another pleasant experience! I’ve read that Southwest is the most profitable of the airlines, along with having the best record for on-time departures/arrivals and lost luggage. The Southwest employees seem genuinely happy, and are FUN! What a difference it makes in the ol’ Fasten-Seat-Belt-No-Electronic-Devices-Overhead-Compartment-Six-Exits-Oxygen-Masks speech when the presenters are hamming it up and being entertaining, instead of being boring, dry, automatons. As I write this, Joann Jackson, one of our flight attendants, surreptitiously put a little box of “Certified SWA Fun” on my tray table. Not everyone got one, and I’m feeling very special. Time Out while I open it…..
Turns out it’s a deck of cards. Hey, that’s fun enough. With smart purchasing, it probably cost Southwest an extra 20 cents or so to give me that smile. What do they get in return? A loyal customer, grateful for being treated like a fellow human being. I’ll drive 4 hours to Albuquerque again, to have what’s far too often a way miserable experience be instead a very nice one. I’d had some trepidation about Southwest’s famed “cattle car” boarding, where there are no assigned seats. But you know what? It worked just fine.
Southwest’s fares are very reasonable, and sometimes great. Not every seat is full on this flight. Nobody had to get bumped, and Southwest didn’t have to dole out a few free roundtrip tickets and have disgruntled passengers who couldn’t get where they were going. And they are turning a profit! Why aren’t the other airlines copying this business model? Even the logo on the bulkhead makes me feel good – a heart encircled by a set of wings.
I don’t know if every Southwest experience is this pleasant. But if it’s even close, I’m not surprised why they are successful. Do I think that these employees are less than “professional” because they joke around, smile, and ask if I want (heaven forbid) an extra drink or snack? Not at all. I think they are Uber-Professionals. Because they are getting the job done (flying me where I want to go safely, on time, with my luggage) while making me feel truly valued. While there are many nice people working for the other airlines, the constant Bureaucracy Barrage and posture that seems to be part of either the training and/or culture at these companies, too often dehumanizes both them and me when we interact.
In the quest of being “professional,” we must guard our humanity and individuality, the antidotes to bureaucracy. We must look each other in the eye, and see each other as another human being, with hopes, needs and dreams equal to our own. We must be professional human beings, not professional airline employees, real estate brokers, or coaches. Nothing has to be lost in terms of profitability and efficiency, and in fact, those objectives will likely be enhanced by remembering our connectedness, and taking every opportunity to be part of that, rather than distancing ourselves from it.
Our pilot just announced that we’ll be arriving in Los Angeles on time today. Very nice.
Postscript: My flight back from LA two days later was about 2.5 hours late, as the plane had a “bird strike” on the way in, and it was deemed unsafe to fly. It was inconvenient to board for an hour, then get off and reboard a different plane. But several apologies from the SouthWest crew and an emphasis on “better safe than sorry” made it tolerable.
What stories do you have to share about companies or individuals making a difference with Professional (not Bureaucratic) Human Beings?
Thursday, October 4, 2007
Intuitive is What's Next
Think about any of your purchases in the last year. For me, that included a car, a bike, bike helmet, bike shoes, cell phone/PDA, and sundry other stuff. The amount of manuals that came with each of these things is overwhelming. And you know what? I don’t want to read a manual on my bike helmet or my bike shoes. I want it to be intuitive, so that I can just use these things, and not have to spend 30 minutes or more reading up on them first.
The IPod was the most simple. The documentation and manual were minimal. I think that it’s no accident that the Ipod is wildly popular. It’s simplicity is a big part of the appeal. Now, an IPod is a complex thing – it can download music, video, Podcasts, and books. It’s user interface is quite small. So the beauty lies in the fact that Apple succeeded in making a really complex thing really simple.
The same is true with Google. There is very little on Google’s home page (www.google.com). You don’t have to really know how to use it. You just type in what you’re looking for, and it searches millions of websites in seconds, and offers you results that are generally pretty spot on for what you were seeking. How refreshing.
By comparison, the Toyota Sienna I bought in May (and sold in September), was not very intuitive. It came with 5 manuals – weeks of reading for those who can’t sleep. The GPS system was not easy to use, though there are many that are. I want to get in a car and use it right away, not have to study it.
On-line manuals have some positives, in that you can search for key words in them. They’re not so great in that there is no incentive for the writers to be concise, as there is no printing cost involved.
I posit that those companies that will be most successful will be those who are adept at making products so intuitive and user friendly, that manuals will not be needed at all, or only really brief ones. And those companies who are able to tell you what you need to know in really succinct, logical ways, will be highly valued. I don’t really want a manual that comes in English, Spanish, French, German and Japanese. I want to be able to find what I’m looking for quickly and easily, and have it be explained to me in layman’s terms. Those companies will be rewarded with my dollars, and my loyalty.
What does this mean for your business? Consider these questions:
1. Is your product or service something that the buyer can easily understand and use right away?
2. If the buyer wants to know more about your product or service, is it simple to figure out how to do so?
3. Does it feel like a chore for the buyer to “get going” with your product or service? If so, how might you make it quick and easy?
My goal for my coaching business is to make it easy for clients to know what it is we offer and to get started right away, with minimum time and effort. I use a simple one page contract, and I think I’m going to simplify my website and client materials even further. In a world of increasing complexity, I want to offer a service that simply helps people achieve More Joy, Better Results. That's the goal for this blog as well. I look forward to your thoughts!
The IPod was the most simple. The documentation and manual were minimal. I think that it’s no accident that the Ipod is wildly popular. It’s simplicity is a big part of the appeal. Now, an IPod is a complex thing – it can download music, video, Podcasts, and books. It’s user interface is quite small. So the beauty lies in the fact that Apple succeeded in making a really complex thing really simple.
The same is true with Google. There is very little on Google’s home page (www.google.com). You don’t have to really know how to use it. You just type in what you’re looking for, and it searches millions of websites in seconds, and offers you results that are generally pretty spot on for what you were seeking. How refreshing.
By comparison, the Toyota Sienna I bought in May (and sold in September), was not very intuitive. It came with 5 manuals – weeks of reading for those who can’t sleep. The GPS system was not easy to use, though there are many that are. I want to get in a car and use it right away, not have to study it.
On-line manuals have some positives, in that you can search for key words in them. They’re not so great in that there is no incentive for the writers to be concise, as there is no printing cost involved.
I posit that those companies that will be most successful will be those who are adept at making products so intuitive and user friendly, that manuals will not be needed at all, or only really brief ones. And those companies who are able to tell you what you need to know in really succinct, logical ways, will be highly valued. I don’t really want a manual that comes in English, Spanish, French, German and Japanese. I want to be able to find what I’m looking for quickly and easily, and have it be explained to me in layman’s terms. Those companies will be rewarded with my dollars, and my loyalty.
What does this mean for your business? Consider these questions:
1. Is your product or service something that the buyer can easily understand and use right away?
2. If the buyer wants to know more about your product or service, is it simple to figure out how to do so?
3. Does it feel like a chore for the buyer to “get going” with your product or service? If so, how might you make it quick and easy?
My goal for my coaching business is to make it easy for clients to know what it is we offer and to get started right away, with minimum time and effort. I use a simple one page contract, and I think I’m going to simplify my website and client materials even further. In a world of increasing complexity, I want to offer a service that simply helps people achieve More Joy, Better Results. That's the goal for this blog as well. I look forward to your thoughts!
Friday, August 31, 2007
Building Blocks becomes a Blog
Thanks to the thousands of readers who have faithfully been subscribers to my coaching newsletter, Building Blocks, since 1998. I would often get email comments from readers about Building Blocks articles, so I thought a blog might be a better format. That way, readers could converse with each other, as well as me.
For those of you who are new to Building Blocks, there is a library of past articles on my website, at this address: http://www.magellangj.com/building_blocks.htm
I look forward to connecting with you in this new, interactive way!
For those of you who are new to Building Blocks, there is a library of past articles on my website, at this address: http://www.magellangj.com/building_blocks.htm
I look forward to connecting with you in this new, interactive way!
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