The Grinch Who Stole Christmas

It finally happened ... someone stole our identity - at least that piece of plastic identity that enables you to buy, and buy, and buy. So now, here we are plastic-less. My gosh - we actually had to go inside a bank to get money!

I forgot what it is like to write a check at the cash register - all that fumbling around for an ink pen (do you have a pen I can use?) ,writing out the check (can you tell me the date please?) trying to get a check approved (I can't get this to scan...let me just put this huge flashing light on, and call the manager over the intercom system) while all the customers behind me are ready to surge forward and take my place in line .

The biggest surprise of the day came when I realized the gas tank in my car was on empty and I had to go buy gas. Oh well, I will just pull into this Kroger gas station and use my handy-dandy checkbook and fill up. Nope - "sorry, we don't take checks". Huh, you can't pay for gas with a check any more?? ... When did this happen? I had to call it a day after that, it was just too burdensome to live a plastic-less existence. I've got just one thing to say to these identity thieves - Your a mean one, Mr. Grinch!

Time Tips To Go

"I'll get to it when I have time"... We all know how that goes - it doesn't. Each day brings a load of tasks and obligations that gets tucked away in the back of our mind, stacked in piles on the desk, or scribbled on a yellow sticky note. A sense of dread and a feeling of exhaustion begins to assail us, and we feel hopeless in the face of an increasing to-do list... and we have only considered tackling one of the tasks - not started it yet!

Do you remember the fable of Tortoise and the Hare. The tortoise (turtle) and the hare (rabbit) had a road race to see who could cross the finish line first. They each adopted different strategies. The tortoise chose the slow and steady pace. He put one foot in front of the other until he eventually put a turtle claw (paw?) over the finish line. The hare ran the race quick and fast. He got so far ahead of the turtle that he took a nap in the midst of the race. This proved to be a serious flaw in the hare race strategy. The turtle passed the hare up while he was snoozing and became the race winner ahead of the rabbit. Out of this fable emerged two Time Management Systems: Turtle Strategy and Rabbit Strategy. The key is to knowing when to apply each time strategy to get your to-do list down to a manageable size.

Turtle Strategy (Slow and Steady Progress): This strategy works best when you set aside blocks of uninterrupted time. You work on one task steadily, and complete large chunks of it at a time. At minimum, set aside one hour. Most people like to do a major task in at a least three hour time frame. Your really, really important work should be done this way. One of the major benefits is continuity of thought, and time to reflect and revise your efforts as you go along.

Use the Turtle Strategy when:

• tasks are complicated, or complex
  
• quality is important
• thinking, evaluating, or revising is needed
• extensive writing is involved
• the outcome is critical
• setting up/dismantling is time consuming

Rabbit Strategy (Quick bursts of energy): This strategy works best when you are doing autopilot tasks. When you are on autopilot you are doing routine work, that you know very well and does not require much thinking - just doing. Autopilot tasks will differ, from person to person, based on the amount of experience in doing that task. (I don't know how to fly an airplane - so of course putting a real aircraft on autopilot and leaning my head back to chat with the co-pilot is just not going to work out well for me!) In general, autopilot tasks can be done in about 15-20 minutes. Just a quick and easy burst of energy to gain some ground on that to do list. Some examples of rabbit strategy are: routine household tasks (one load of laundry, sort bills, take out trash), or at work (delete unwanted email, filing, quick phone calls).

Use the Rabbit Strategy when:

• the task requires little effort
• quality is not all that important
• little rides on the outcome
• it can be accomplished in under 20 minutes
• the focus is on doing, not thinking

One your mark, get set (choose a strategy), and go!

Unlocking the Future, One Question at a Time

Recently I have been reading books about questions. Yes, it is true – such books do exist! Question asking is the strategic backbone of the coaching profession. Coaches are trained to lead with questions, at a time when many leaders are taught to lead with directives and commands. So what is the big deal about asking questions? Question asking places coaching-leaders in a position of humility. We don’t know everything about everything- and there is no point in pretending that we do! Question asking helps clients to clarify the assumptions that they make concerning how they live, lead, work, and serve, and thereby raises the awareness of new perspectives, and alternative courses of action which could be taken. And finally, asking questions unleashes learning. We ask in order to know something. We ask to learn, and to grow in knowledge, understanding, skills and action. Asking questions unlocks the future. Asking a question is like a key opening a door to a room full of possibilities just waiting to be discovered.

Try a little question test in your next conversational moment. Ask a very simple, open-ended question such as: How did you figure that out? and listen for the answer, you might be surprised by what you learn!

Lessons From the Oak Tree

I have a picture hanging on the wall in my office. The picture portrays a massive, and leafy Oak tree growing on a grassy, and steeply inclined slope of a hill. The brilliant hues of an orange and red sunset filter through the long and gnarled branches of the aged tree. The powerful imagery of the splendid oak tree at sunset is even further magnified by the following words:

“Conviction: Every great oak tree started out as a couple of nuts who stood their ground.”

For some people, this saying brings a chuckle or even a belly-laugh. For others, it seems a rather abrasive statement. I invite you to consider the hidden message in the phrase. The word conviction means to have sense of confidence, a feeling of certainty, an assurance that something will take place, or a belief that something is true. A person who wishes to change some aspect of their behavior or improve their life circumstances must believe or have the inner conviction that change is possible. Like the great oak tree, they must stand their ground and persevere through the wind, rain, snow, and hail storms of life that will come. When a person is convicted that change is desirable, and possible they will have the energy and willpower to make adjustments, and negotiate around life obstacles to achieve what they desire.

How Wise People Learn

This week I received two very moving video clips. The first audio clip was posted on youtube and is about running the Ironman Marathon. The athletes that are highlighted in this short clip each have Type 1 diabetes. This means that their body does not make insulin and therefore they must manage their insulin levels on a daily basis through the use of insulin shots, or an insulin pump, healthy eating, and exercise. It is extremely challenging for an athlete to run the Ironman. Additionally, these athletes must manage a medical protocol as well as compete in one of the world's most challenging athletic events.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XYI1fe7RMzQ

The other video clip which I received is about a young soldier stationed in Iraq. He wrote a song about his experiences in Iraq. The lyrics of the song indicate his gratefulness to God, that he is be able to live and raise a family in the safety and comfort of the United States. Upon his return to the U.S. his musical talent was discovered and he garnered a signing contract.

http://shock.military.com/Shock/videos.do?displayContent=161169&page=2

It has been said, that wise person learns and grows by reflecting upon not only their own personal experiences, but also the experiences that occur to other people. My blog message today concerns that bit of wisdom. Watch these two videos, reflect about what really touched your heart, and then go out, and do something about it.

Misery Loves Company?

The year 2008 started off with quite a bang. Despite a state wide drought, my neighbors set off enormous, and possibly illegal, fireworks. The direction of the wind caused the pyrotechnic display to shower down colorful, little, hot, sparks upon our house. That very same day, the used car which we had just purchased experienced engine trouble. Due to the foggy and misty weather, it took us two hours to take the car back to the car dealer for repairs. On top of that, our hot water heater in our home began leaking yesterday. Needless to say, the warranty on the appliance had expired. The appliance sales clerk, at the local building supply store, was a new employee. Because of the employee's lack of experience, the transaction to buy a new water heater took forever! By the way, to buy a hot water heater and get it installed to meet new building codes costs about $800.

I have listed my most recent complaints to let my blog readers know that the saying ‘misery loves company’ is probably on target. I feel pretty good dumping all my troubles out. But, how do the recipients of a list of troubles feel? Most people have some genuine interest in your dilemmas for a few minutes. They lend a listening ear, provide a bit of compassion, and share a few of their own similar stories and how they resolved the challenging issue. For most people undergoing difficulties, this little scenario of sharing their troubles lowers the stress load enough to go and take some constructive action. However, for people in misery who truly love company - this response is not enough. They will continue to weave the emotional drama with colorful details for quite some time.

As a coach, I often hear long drawn out stories of current or past events. Many times the stories are connected to even more stories. The next time someone brings their troubles to you, and stays around to endlessly complain, try using some coaching questions to unlock the pattern of rambling.

• What really matters to you at this very minute?
  
• What small action step can you take within the next 24 hours that will bring you some measure of relief?
  
• What type of resources do you need to obtain to solve your problem?

image from: www.alibaba.com

Christmas Greetings From Our House To Yours!

The Christmas season seems to bring out cherished family memories. Here are my thoughts on Christmas past and present:

As I write this blog, my three college-age kids are making Christmas cookies in the kitchen. Our daughter is directing her older brothers in the classic art of Christmas baking. Their loud voices are mixed with good natured teasing, and joking. She, of course, takes it all rather seriously. The two guys just want to get it over with. That fact, of course, just irritates her all the more.

My husband is the "gourmet" of Christmas music. We have it all, and have heard it all - multiple times! Mannheim Steamroller is currently playing.

I remember growing up with seven children in the house. On Christmas morning the presents for ten people filled the space under the tree, the four-seat sofa, and even the surface of the small end tables. It won't look exactly like that here.

As a young adult my first Christmas tree had only twinkling lights and the Twelve Days of Christmas felt ornaments which I cut and glued together. My husband, then a college student, gave me a star to place on the top of the tree.

We have German ornaments on our tree, as reminders of our military years in Germany. This year we hung some new Glass Birds which my sister brought us back from her recent trip to Germany.

The homemade, ceramic, nativity scene, circa 1980, was made during a short Army deployment to Alaska. The shepherds wear bright orange and lime green -colors representative of that decade. Maybe one day we will repaint the figurines a more appropriate hue.

Carry out pizza is on the menu for tonight's Christmas Eve meal. This is unusual for us, and an emerging tradition perhaps? Later, our family will play the game Scene It? Which of course, I doubt that I have - since I am not much of a movie viewer.

With all of the memories, traditions, and activities of today swirling around in my head, I remember the most significant aspect in all of this, the birth of Jesus Christ. We thank the Lord for all he has done for our family. Wise men still seek Him!

From our house to yours. Merry Christmas, Erna