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When I work with companies or individuals I am fairly adamant that we have a “Monkey Bar Play.” This is a compelling vision that can be used to test every activity, action or decision in your work and business.
Note the word compelling. This is not the simple concept of “Be good at what we do and make money,” but rather a hard hitting statement that is really the overreaching concept of why you do what you do that is solid and drives the right actions.
Most people struggle with this as they are used to the public tag line visions. This “Monkey Bar Vision” is not for the public eye, but for you alone. It is the “Pull” for everything you do.
Try this exercise; what are the words that compel you to do the best, be the best and create the best? How will everything you do today stand up and fulfill those words?
Now where can you see those words in your work space?

When we were children it was always a challenge to climb up to the monkey bars and work our way across the rungs without having to drop down to the sand. As we got older we reached for the bars and pulled ourselves up and along the rungs. As adults we then got to use the rungs for chin-ups. It’s been a while for most of us since we did that. Less muscle in our arms, a little more weight around the middle and lo and behold our feet are not leaving the ground.
It is like that in our work as well. Too often we start off easily, working our way through all the things that come our way. As we mature in our work and business we then pull ourselves toward the next challenge.
But at what point do we no longer really flex our muscles and become less inclined to change? At what point are we burdened by “the way we/I did it yesterday?”
Watch the greats, Apple, Disney, Google, Nike, Facebook, Yahoo. One of the things you’ll see first is something new, on a fairly regular basis. Another thing is how they will often they change things around. A new look, a new way to do things, a new approach.
What is new for you?

As a verb, the word honor means to hold someone in high respect.
One of the ways to start and keep relationships with our business colleagues is to honor them. To hold them in high respect for that piece of the puzzle they take care of each day around us.
In my world that is hundreds of people who make my work easier, even possible, because of the service they offer to me.
The question I have for today, is how do I show that honor to them? Is it words? Actions? Referrals? Or what? How will you honor those who serve you today?
One way to start is by doing something simple. Check out www.sendaplaque.com .

How would you like a job that pays, on average, $3,000,000 per year? The only catch is that every minute that your are working, for every move you make, no matter how small, you will be evaluated on the spot by a minimum of 40,000 people?

Can anyone tell me what job this is? Would you take this job?

In the work you will do today think about how you would evaluate each thing you do. Have some fun and create a scale of 1-10, with one being poor use of your time or a bad outcome that could have been avoided, and 10 being a home run. Use your calendar as a scorecard at the end of the day. How did you do?

In our office there is a common theme we use in more challenging moments and times.

It is “one step at a time.” We use this expression to keep ourselves from getting overwhelmed and possibly not focusing on the right things.

I would like to change that slightly for you to show you how powerful small numbers can be.

Today you have a hundred and one things to do and about half of the time to do them. When this happens you get a pit in stomach, your brain freezes and basically you don’t always make the best decisions.

Try this on for size today. Right now pick 3 things and only 3 that will make a difference in all that you have to do. Return one phone call, answer one email, meet or set a meeting with one person or group.

After you have done those, sit back for 5 seconds and see how it feels.

Now pick 3 more. Never more than 3!

The psychology of doing things in small numbers has been known for years. Try it today.

Recently I had the privilege of working with a small group of people that boggled my mind.

In our tight circle around the table was more positive thinking, sharing and creativity than I had seen in a long, long time. Here are the key attitudes that I saw that made this such a powerful experience:

Respect, every idea offered was allowed, built upon or if rejected, done so with a smile and a sense that it still contributed to the overall result.
It’s not about me, was an attitude carried by everyone at the table. People released what they wanted and worked with others to make things presented better and better.

Bring both of these to work with you today!

When my friend, Bill Frank from CareerLab, brought this number, 168, up to me earlier this week and reminded me what it was, I immediately wanted the number changed to 186 or higher!

168 is the total number of hours in seven days. Now do you see why I wanted a higher number?

During this week I have been playing with this number. I wrote it at the top of a page and then put down how I would spend every hour this week. Eating, sleeping, driving, doing laundry, work and more.

If we take the premise that author Jim Wallis puts forth that calendars are “moral documents,” what would mine tell me about how I spend my time? How well do I keep the commitments I make? How well do I take care of myself, family and friends? What creeps in that is just a big waste of time?

Give this exercise a try and I will share my results with you in a later blog.

This weekend I was reading about how Netflix was founded. I found it fascinating that a late fee on a single video inspired the founder to come up with a entire company that has no late fees.
Isn’t it amazing what anger, channeled into creativity can do?
In our day to day work, there is always something that just bugs us. The light reflection on our computer, how we finished or did not finish a project, interruptions, the printer running out of ink and more.
It is a challenge for me that whenever I find something that makes me mad, I try to come up with a solution not just to the current problem, but for the future so avoid a repeat of what made me mad.
Over the years I have devised a system to never run out of printer ink, even when I am working at 1am to finish something up, a time management system for email, a better tracking system on work to be done and more.
Sometimes when we get mad, we get inspired! When you get mad this week, check out what you can devise or change to make sure that “mad” never has to come into your life again. Turn anger into creativity!

Have you ever made plans then “life” happens? From a flat tire to a tsunami things can change suddenly, even dramatically.

In your life, your career, your business these “life” events will tell you a lot.

I watched a Japanese woman clap her hands and bow to an aid worker when the person in front of her took the last food and water. Gracious and honorable. Would that be one? Would that be you?

This is a traumatic week for our world. It is important that we take the time to acknowledge the impact this situation has on the people of Japan and the world at large.

Take the time to do something to help them.

Take the time for a short prayer or moment of silence to send good, healing thoughts their way.

Take the time to use your work and business to make this world a better place in honor of them Use your gifts and the safety you have at this moment to make a difference.

Take the time.