Trust Your Instincts

Recently, a dinner companion related how close she and her family were to losing their investments.  A broker she had dealt with for years joined the ill-fated Stanford firm and presented a very attractive opportunity.  She was encouraged to sign the papers before going on vacation and was assured that the broker would complete the paperwork. Thankfully, she wanted to study the documents before completing the transaction, because when she returned from vacation the Ponzi scheme was front page news.

This was a vivid reminder to trust our instincts rather than yield to the pressure of another person's timeline.

Cloudascope

I've previously expressed my fascination with kaleidoscopes. The sky offers a readily available and often over-looked natural kaleidoscope.  Ever-changing clouds and lighting provide unique visual effects each time we pause to appreciate the artistry.

Stronger Every Day

I've had the good fortune to be healthy, so I've not experienced the daily strengthening accomplishments that one recovering from an illness or surgery might.

My acknowledgement of daily improvements in strength have occurred today and the previous 4 days.  When I first (unintentionally) ran on Saturday, I told my friend that I'd have to walk the rest of the route after the first mile.   When a non-runner unexpectedly runs a mile, it's a cool accomplishment. 

Those who know me well, are not surprised that I followed Saturday's 1 mile run with another on Sunday.  Not surprisingly, Sunday's run was harder without my running buddy setting the pace and providing wonderful conversation to distract from the running task.

Sore muscles prompted me to consult my daughter, who is a long-time runner to decide whether to rest or run on Monday.  I opted to run 1.5 miles.  This good decision led to 2 mile runs Tuesday and today. 

An additional unexpected benefit from this experience is the distinctive realization that I am getting stronger each day.

We View Things Differently

We rarely see the whole picture. A photo gives us the opportunity to view one aspect of a situation or event.   A wedding is the best example.  The bride and groom will choose their best photos.  The bride's family chooses different bests. The groom's family's selection is different. And, friends will select photos that might not make the other party's cuts. Only by viewing all the photos snapped by the official photographer and those captured by everyone else with an active camera do we have a comprehensive view.

Each presentation allows us to position our view.

Only when we comprehensively present facts, do we allow others to adopt, adapt or reject our view.

Change - Uncomfortable or Invigorating

Change is intimidating for many and inspirational for some of us.  Addressing all of the implications of major change is important in order to productively engage all parties in maximizing the potential the change represents. 

We need to understand and communicate:

• the big picture - why the change is happening
• what will be different and what will remain the same
• the resources that are available to navigate different processes
• which aspects of change are causing stress and ways to mitigate the stress
• ways to speed the learning curve
• the importance of sharing successes
• productivity will decrease in the short-term

Increasing Meeting Productivity

Much angst exists about corporate and volunteer meetings.  Many regularly recurring meetings need to be reexamined for purpose, content, impact and ongoing relevance. 

A rudimentary primer for enhancing meeting productivity might include requiring participants to adhere to the following requirements:

• pre-meeting review of materials
• engaging brain, eyes and ears
• sharing relevant knowledge and experience
• generating productive ideas
• full engagement/undivided attention (electronic devices pocketed/pursed)
• positive/productive/helpful attitude

You Don't Know Unless You Try

One of my friends and I connected unexpectedly this morning as she was starting her run and I was beginning my walk.  She's altered her routine in the past to accommodate my walking pace.  Today, I fell in step with her, thinking that we'd get to visit for a block before I ran out of steam.  Surprisingly, I kept pace for a mile.  We continued our visit at a walking pace for 2 more miles.  Thanks to her example, I realized that jogging is another viable exercise option.