There comes a point in everyone’s work or life when these questions appear. Should I review what I have been doing and maybe do something different going forward? Should I revise something I am doing and maybe change things up a bit? Should I remodel me?

How do you know when to do this or just stick with what you have been doing? The answer is simple.

When it isn’t working for you anymore!
We are the most stubborn when change really needs to occur, wouldn’t you agree? What are you clinging to for dear life that needs to be redone?

And we continue to walk along……

Life – Serenity

This morning, in contrast to yesterday with the noisy geese, was absolutely still.  The lake surface was like glass and other than two ducks; there were no others on the water.  The stillness and serenity of the mass of water were very grounding.  It made we wonder what else in life brings that kind of peace to the world?

Work – Sensibility

As I set out to walk today I carried the burden of a very difficult meeting that I needed to attend.  Difficult because there were so many people involved, all wanting to do the right thing and all utterly confused on how to do that as a group.  As I pondered the situation the word “sensibility” came to mind.  Wikipedia defines sensibility as “an acute perception of or responsiveness toward something, such as the emotions of another.”  Suddenly I knew the group would figure out what to do because to a name they were aware of how others felt and would be able to respond to those needs positively.   “Sensibility” would reign.  We have these other “abilities,” what is our level of positive sensibility?

Silliness

Some things in life are just plain silly.  For example, how does a pebble the size of a teardrop get in the toe of my sneaker and create so much misery?  How did it get there?  Didn’t it have to go by the rest of my foot to get to the toe?  If so, why didn’t I feel it?  If I shook out my sneakers yesterday, how did it get back in there today?  Just plain silly.

The walking continues………

Life

The geese were everywhere this morning on the ponds and islands of the golf course I walked by. It is incredible how much noise they make. Our lives are very, very, noisy these days; probably noisier than we can ever imagine. Between Facebook, Twitter, our computers, Email, iPods, Smart Phones and the usual suspect television, there is a lot of noise coming our way. The question is, “Do we ever sit in silence to hear what is really going on in our head, our heart and our spirit?” In this silence is there some peace we are seeking?

Work

When our cars run out of gas we head to the gas station. What is the gas station for you when you run out of gas at work?

Goodness

Have you ever noticed how good people are? Have you ever had the nerve to tell them that? “I enjoy going through your check out stand, you make me smile!” “I enjoy how you served us today. Thank you for the attention, you made the meal so much more pleasant.” Goodness, it’s everywhere.

There is something looming in front of me that I think requires that I be in much better shape than I am today. To that end I decided to follow the routine of a man that I greatly admire and walk every morning, without fail, for as long as I can maintain it. Dawn is such a beautiful time of the day, full of hope and beauty and that is the time I have chosen.

All of this is in response to my constant moaning and groaning for the past two years about what terrible shape I am in, the weight I have gained and the clothes that don’t fit. Well of course they don’t fit, because I’m not fit!

So each day for the next couple of weeks you will read about my musings on these walks. I’ll keep them short after this. Come walk with me………..

Life
As Nike says, “just do it!” That’s what got me out of bed today to walk. How many of us are failing at life because we just won’t do it?

Work
Earlier in the week I received an email that made me crazy. It doesn’t take much to make me crazy, just people not thinking before they take off, half cocked, on something and that is what this one was. After I fussed and fumed over it I had a chance to think more about their perspective on my walk. Perspective, what a great gift of Play and my walking. By the time I returned home my perspective had changed. I think stopping to pet, “Nana,” a rescued dog I met along the way showed me there is always another way. Perspective.

Funny
You know those dopey party, corporate training games we all hate? One of my least favorites is “If you could be an animal, what would you be?” I think over the years I have been everything from an Elephant to an Eagle. Now, after my walk I know what animal I want to be! A duck. Ducks fly. I love flying. Ducks float on the water and swim underwater to fish. I LOVE being on and in the water. I want to be a duck! Oh, and Ducks have a layer of fat that keeps them nice and warm.

What Oswald the Rabbit Can Teach Us about Letting Go

Many people are unaware that Oswald the Rabbit was really what Walt Disney had planned to use to make a name for Disney.

Oswald

Unfortunately as a young business person Walt set up a distribution/licensing arrangement that basically created a boondoggle that caused him to have to relinquish all rights to Oswald.

Think about this for a minute, if this did not happen, would Mickey Mouse be with us today?

In our lives we will find that there are things we cling to, fight for, and believe that we cannot do without.

Quite often we will find that releasing them, ceasing the battle, and moving on brings in something bigger and more wonderful.

Maybe our play some days is to just let go.

I’m glad Mickey is here. (No offense Oswald.)

Mickey Mouse

When I wrote “Office Peace” several years ago it was in its final edits when one of my proof readers sent me an email saying, “This will say ‘fable’ on the front, right?” Strangely, although the story was fiction it never occurred to me to put “fable” on the story.
One thing about fables for me is that they most likely are never true, but told to make a point. What was my point?

I was pained to think that this story could never be true. Was there no workplace where this was happening?

In the definition of fable it is often characterized as a story that carries a moral. Once again I asked myself the question; Is there a moral to this story?

As you go through your workday today I put this challenge forth to you, is it a great place? Is there no diminishment, trust, all ideas are received as having some merit, people are appreciated, there is playfulness and joy, everyone knows how they are contributing, people avoid being judgmental, people look for the lessons in the unexpected and you make money because you do the right thing?

Tell me this exists and it’s not a fable that I wrote.

Stop and think about how many times today someone has honored you, acknowledged you or inspired you? Now, let’s reverse the question. Who did you honor today? Who did you inspire? Who did you acknowledge?

If you have any type of calendar system whatsoever, put these three words in at the 8am and 5pm timeslots and begin and end your day with these three things. Think about someone who deserves each of these from you and call, email, Facebook or Tweet them. That is the Kudo Effect. If they did something super wonderful, or really need a longer effect from your words to them, log onto to www.sendaplaque.com and send them something special. That is the Kudo Effect.

Find out why you need this as well. Read “The Kudo Effect.”

My day was rich, as I was inspired by the words from Alan Cohen, honored by someone I helped over the weekend and acknowledged by a client for the work I do to help them. I am also honored by all of you who take the time to read my blogs. Thank you to all of you, you make my day.

In a world where pace and haste seem to be the name of the game, first to market, quick to respond and so on, we need to be careful about where not to be too hasty.
Employees, friends and family appreciate it when you ask their opinion, incorporate their opinion and value their opinion.

You have heard this before. We would all like to think that we do this. But way too often the pace of our work and our lives causes us to forge ahead like a rocket, literally burning their opinions with the blast. The kids had an idea, but we didn’t ask them. The employee’s wanted to say something, but we didn’t ask. Your friends wanted to help, but you didn’t ask for help.
Think about three things you need to do that involve others this week? Where would it be worthwhile to ask for another opinion or some help? Where would it serve you, and the world, to incorporate some ideas from others? How would it make things better, for everyone, if you asked?

When was the last time someone really heard you? You know, understood what you were trying to say? Was really interested in your point of view? Allowed you have a point of view? Wanted your opinion?

People talk all the time, but are they heard? We talk over people, we do email while they talk, (by the way they have proven scientifically that you are not listening at full capacity even though it may feel like you are hearing everything), even text or watch TV while others talk.
“I hear you.” Can we say this with integrity? Did we hear them as they wanted to be heard, (both what they said and the emotion in the words)? Did we compose our response while they were still talking? Did we dismiss their opinion and drop in our own?

To really hear others we have to shut down the yammering monkeys in our head. We have to try.
Here’s a thought; for a week try to give the gift of listening. Think of this effort to hear others as a gift and give it every day for seven straight days. Let us know what you find out!

Have you ever felt invisible? You know the feeling, you walk into a store and every clerk seems to have something better to do than help you.

Invisibility is reaching epidemic proportions in our world. Check this out in your day. How many places will you go where people will go out of their way to avoid contact with you? When and where will you do it yourself today and why?

What are we afraid of? When I asked someone I respect that question yesterday he said, “We’re just too busy in our heads with our own stuff, and now that you asked me that, I think that’s sad.”

Some of the other reasons we avoid eye contact is that we don’t have time, they might try to sell us something, they might say or tell us something we don’t want to hear, all valid comments, but how often is this the case versus just not being present for those around us.

One of employees complaints in surveys is “they don’t seem to know I’m here, which makes me think that maybe I don’t matter.”

Make it a goal to let everyone know they matter. Even if they are trying to sell you something.

See me, please.