Juggling Elephants Blog

Turning right instead of left. It might not seem like a big idea, but for UPS, it saves about 3 million gallons of fuel per year, as the software used to calculate their routes sets routes up with mostly right turns. Limiting left turns also increases the time efficiency of their routes because so often when you are turning left, you have to wait for a light to turn green or until traffic allows you the opportunity to make the turn. You can see the live report by clicking here. Need more proof of the value of this strategy? According to UPS officials, they would need an additional 1000 trucks to complete the routes without the calculated, efficient routing. WOW!

After hearing of UPS' great find, I started thinking about my own daily "lineup." What "left turns" do I need to limit in order to be more productive with my day? Here are a few that come to mind:

• Turn off my e mail notifications or close my e mail program so I can better focus on a high mental tasks without being interrupted.
• Move to a less interruption prone area to better focus on key tasks.
• Move the tasks I really like to do to later in the day, making them a reward for getting the less enjoyable tasks done.
• Educate family and friends about my work schedule and that I will check voice mail and e mail at 9 AM, Noon, 3 PM and before leaving the office.
• Insure that my employees have the resources they need to make as many decisions as possible on their own and minimize their need to get my approval for minor decisions.

While these ideas may not give me a monumental amount of increased productivity on a daily basis, over a year they could make a huge difference. Just ask UPS.

Labels: focus, interruptions, productivity

A couple of weeks ago my wife and I were extremely frustrated with our teenage daughter (I said teenager so you are thinking... and you're surprised?). She is an outstanding young lady, but had become quite distant, aloof and downright cranky at times. When we had a discussion with her a few days ago, the reasons she gave for her disposition were somewhat surprising. She said, "I just feel so much pressure to get things done-I don't have alot of time to do what I want. I just would like not to be so rushed." And she is only 13.

While my wife and I consider ourselves to be "good parents," we sometimes don't do an adequate job helping our daughter learn to be the ringmaster of her circus. We might set a poor example or just expect her to jump into the lineup. We also haven't spent enough time helping her to better learn how to manage her time and energy.

Teens today face enormous pressures from all sides. Somehow in the midst of the chaos, we need to teach (and model) the behaviors that will help them deal with the rush of more complex acts that will come their way as they get older. What's the old saying, "An ounce of prevention......"

I am happy to report that after a family "performance review" our daughter is more like herself. And mom, dad and sister better understand what acts they need to have in their lineup to make sure it doesn't happen again soon.

Labels: family

I recently did a Juggling Elephants training program where in the audience there were a group of strategic planners for the corporation. It was their job to work with executives to create the strategic blueprints for their business and measure the progress in accomplishing specific goals. They had tools and spreadsheets they used to lay out metrics, create milestones and measure movement.

As I was talking about purpose and setting goals one of these strategic planners raised his hand and said that he had created a spreadsheet that he uses for his Personal Strategic Planning. "There's an idea!," I thought. Why not create a "strategic plan" for your personal life? Lay out metrics, create milestones, gather feedback from your "customers" (significant others, co-workers, etc.) and measure advancement towards your personal goals and how you are aligned to your purpose. You could even graph it! What a great visual a personal strategic plan would be to see how well you are progressing towards achieving your dreams.

Labels: planning, purpose, strategic planning

I like the concept of "Good, Better or Best." The idea is that each day we have a lot of "good"choices or acts that we can perform. However, even though something is "good" we sometimes need to forgo those acts for something that is "better" or "best." As I look at how I spend my time I realize that I am busy doing good things but I can do a better job and raise the bar by trying to focus on better or best activities. A few examples:

Several years ago my young family went to Disney World. It was an expensive endeavor not to mention that the weather was hot and the lines were long. At the end of the trip we asked our kids what their favorite part of the trip was and they all agreed that it was the time that we all were together playing in the hotel swimming pool. It was good to be on a trip to Disney World, it was better to be together as a family and it was best when we were simply playing and interacting collectively. Sometimes simple can be best.

I love my cell phone. It is good that I can call someone almost anytime that I want and that I can be reached if I am needed. But sometime it is better if I don't have my cell phone on so that I am not interrupted when I am trying to focus on an important project or best if I don't derail family time with calls about work after hours that 9 out of 10 times could wait until tomorrow.

One more thought. Entertainment is a good thing. I enjoy going to movies, read, play an occasional video game, watch TV and surf the web. But sometime entertainment can get in the way of the better things in life and isn't worth the precious time that we give it-especially when taken to excess. It is important to me to evaluate what I do in my spare time. I am not saying that we should be robots continually working on a task list of meaningful purpose driven acts. What I am saying is that when we select entertainment we should make the best choices and apply some limitations so that we don't spend too much of our time doing things that don't contribute to what ultimately matters most to us.

Labels: focus, planning, time management

After posting the last blog, I felt compelled to offer some additional thoughts on matters of money management. Before you start thinking, "Oh what would he know?" please know that I do not consider myself an expert in any way. I have come to realize, however, that the greatest limiting factor to many people who want to live out their passion has been their poor financial choices. I meet at least one person per week who will say, "I always wanted to..." and when I ask why they didn't, the answer is usually related to some poor financial choice or a lack of financial planning.

When I got married, the greatest financial advice I got was "If both husband and wife are working, live on one income and put the other into savings." My wife and I didn't quite get that far, but we did always try to live as close as possible to one income. It became one of our guiding principles as we purchased a car, looked at buying a house and making other financial decisions. Today I look back and see that one piece of advice as being the key to having a great deal of financial freedom now.

If you're looking for some more qualified sources to help you get your "financial ring" in order, here are a few I have found helpful:

Clark Howard-His stated passion is to "Help you spend less, save more and avoid getting ripped off."

Dave Ramsey-Author of Total Money Makeover

Crown Financial Ministries-Offer free financial counseling

Natl Fdn. for Credit Counseling-Lots of helpful hints on managing debt and making wise financial choices.

Labels: finances

In these tough economic times, several people I know have been adding a 4th ring to their circus-a financial ring. If you think your finances don't affect your performance in your other rings, consider these scenarios:

• Most financial counselors advise families to have 6 months of savings available in case there is a job loss or catastrophe. Having very little to "fall back on" can affect your job performance because you are motivated primarily by fear of losing your job instead of doing the best job possible. You also limit your ability to take a better job, start your own business or work on a higher degree, especially if it involves a temporary reduction in income.
• A lack of savings can affect your relationship ring. When a spouse or child talks about something involving money, your ability to listen clearly is sometimes limited. Again, it's the fear factor.
• Not having a healthy cash flow is definitely detrimental to your "self ring." Due to increased stress levels, people often eat less healthy, exercise less and limit medical attention to emergencies only. Talk about the wrong things to do!

If your financial ring is lacking quality acts, remember-you're the Ringmaster. Even if the lineup has had many bad acts, you can change at least some of them immediately. The audience might not be cheering wildly, but at least they won't be booing you again. Other acts may require a major overhaul, and taking small steps today will make the difference in the future.

Many poor financial decisions are based on impulse purchases. If that's the case for you, remember the line from Juggling Elephants-The ringmaster always reviews the next act before bringing it into the ring. Ask yourself if the intended purchase makes sense in your lineup-will it help you accomplish your purpose for that ring? Working on this ring may help you get more standing ovations in the other rings of your life as well.

Labels: finances, planning

I was astounded to read of the innovations made by companies like Nike, Reebok and other gear companies in preparation for the Summer Olympics. They included things like:

• Replacing a shoe's heavy structural materials with support threads (think steel cables on a suspension bridge).
• Swimsuits that compress a swimmer's body at key points to reduce "form drag," making the swimmer smaller and faster.
• Zoned venting in certain athlete's outfits
• Adjustable screw in spurs that can be raised or lowered on an equestrian's boots. (It reduces about 4 pounds of weight per boot)

A call out quote on the last page of the article caught my attention. It read, "Innovation isn't helpful unless it's tied to a powerful company that drives it somewhere." A Juggling Elephants application of that quote might be Purpose isn't helpful unless it's tied to a lineup that drives it somewhere.

We can clearly identify our purpose and create all kinds of value statements or desired outcomes, but if we don't create a disciplined plan of action that carries it out, we are fooling ourselves. Nike, Reebok and other companies know that for the athletes to win using their gear, they have to expend every possible resource to help make it happen. Does your lineup reflect a desire to have some "winning moments" in the coming days?

Read the entire article in Fast Company.

Labels: lineup, purpose

The audio book of Juggling Elephants has just been recognized as an Earphones Award Winner by AudioFile Magazine. Here's the review that appeared in their May issue:

The message in this audio's clever title is that we can get more done when we don't try to do the impossible. The refreshing ideas and suggestions will be great medicine for listeners who feel beleaguered by too much work, not enough time, and not enough appreciation from their families. With charming writing, the authors stress the need to balance the energy we invest in the three rings of life--work, relationships, and personal renewal. Narrator Oliver Wyman shows why his work is so admired--he reads both dialogue and exposition with such skill that listeners will want to lean in closer to relish the sounds, as well as to absorb the full measure of the authors' timeless guidance.

To learn more about the audio book, go to http://www.amazon.com/Juggling-Elephants-
Easier-Important-Done-Now/dp/0143142712/ref=ed_oe_a

Labels: book review, juggling elephants

Whether you use these types as a guide of "who not to be in the workplace", as an analysis of your work team, or just for a laugh, they are quite insightful. Enjoy!

http://hotjobs.yahoo.com/career-articles-the_6_most_
annoying_coworkers_are_you_one-431

Labels: humor, productivity, teamwork

I personally think of an intermission as a long vacation on a beach, a good book, family and lots of free time. This past weekend reminded me that there is such a thing as a "power intermission." Usually my Saturdays are filled with "To Dos" around the house. I usually end the day physically exhausted and pay for it the next day.

This last Saturday I did something different. I spent a few hours in the morning doing a few odd jobs but then our family got away. We spent the afternoon at a cabin in the mountains. We watched a movie, threw some burgers on the grill, I took a nap, read a book and played a board game with my wife and daughters. Sunday was relaxing as well. I was very surprised what a difference it made on Monday. I had more energy. I was rested. I felt mentally prepared for the week. A Power Intermission! It worked for me... it might work for you.

Labels: intermission

Tiger Woods, arguably the best golfer in the world, recently won the US Open. Not a surprise, except that he had knee surgery earlier this year and had not been cleared by his doctor to play. Tiger did not heed his doctor's advice, played in the tournament, and won... and lost. Tiger re injured his knee and will now miss the rest of the 2008 season. Mistake? No. Not if his clear purpose was to win the US Open.



One of our most passionate points in Juggling Elephants is that we must act with purpose to accomplish those things that are most important to us. We just can not get everything done and accomplish all that life offers us. We must pick and choose the most important things. The flip side of that strategy is that acting with purpose also means we will "lose" something in the pursuit of those most important things.



I talked with a business owner last week who said, "My business has not been as successful as some would say it could have been over the years, but I wasn't willing to sacrifice more time away from my family. I'm happy with how things have turned out." Again, acting with purpose has rewards-and consequences.



What about you? If you acted with purpose more often, what would you gain? And what would you lose? And would the win be worth the loss?

Labels: purpose