Create An Oasis where you can

I was talking with a friend of mine the other day and she said that since she has such a long commute to the office each day that she brews her favorite coffee each morning, puts it in her favorite mug, brings her favorite CD, eats her favorite breakfast food: pop-tarts, opens her sunroof and makes the most of it.

This conversation made me think about how infrequently we make the most of our surroundings. Really what she had done was create a little oasis in her car with all her favorite things.

Same deal with a client of mine who was setting up a home office. I said, what would make that environment so inviting you actually wanted to work in it. We talked about natural light coming in, music he liked, pictures of people he admired, a comfortable chair and a couch, plants, a dart board, a personal coffee maker and a printer right beside him so he never had to get up. You can imagine that once all this is setup, it will be a dramatic difference from the typical cubical that lacks all comfort and creativity.

I have a surfboard on the wall in my office to remind me of my love of travel (and that I need to get going to pay for that next trip). I have a stereo, a fridge, pictures of my grandfather (who inspires me), a whiteboard with quotes that inspire me, natural light, a table with all the thank you cards I've gotten over the years. Trying to live up to my own ideas.

Why don't people get more deliberate about their work and play environments? I think its because we are so busy we don't stop to consider how we can simply, and easily, make the little moments and environs better. Why not take a moment to consider what parts of your house, office or car you hate and see if you can't brighten them up with some of your favorite things!

Bring a Book with You

So I am in Las Vegas this week and my business partner Jim and I stop off at the bank. Jim says he’ll be just a few moments so I offer to wait in the car. Well, as appears to be the norm with our US Bank (oh, don’t get me started), Jim is in the branch for 40 minutes.

What am I doing during these 40 minutes? I am playing with the radio, adjusting the temperature inside the car (I can’t go outside because its 112 degrees), watching the other patrons of the bank roll in and out. Basically, just killing time.

In Calgary, at home, I often have a book in my car so when I am in line at the car wash, waiting for someone (no, not you Lisa), early for a meeting, or just have a minute, I can read. It takes that useless time and makes it enjoyable and takes my stress down not up.

That’s my suggestion. Take a book with you whenever you go somewhere. Keep on in your car, one in your briefcase or knapsack. Why not make those little moments that the average person wastes and learn something? Why not just enjoy a little reading because you can.

It always amazes me how items and topics I am reading about become relevant in conversations. I hope it makes me more interesting. Whether it does or not, it makes a for a great way to use my time instead of kill it.

Small Giants - The Value of Doing it Your Way

I’ve been reading a great business book called Small Giants. It profiles and discusses companies that have chosen to go against the chant of, grow, grow, grow. These companies have taken a variety of values as most important to them – culture, their people, their impact on community, their commitment to quality product, all sorts of different drivers that make them successful.

The thing I really like is the independence and courage that the business owners and partners of these companies operate with.

So often as individuals we all follow what is the normal expectation in our careers as well as our lives. There is really something to be said for following your own path, your own instinct or ambitions. Something to be said for pursuing the values that matter most to you and support your path. Just because everyone else isn’t doing it, well, that IS the point!

Great book about business owners but more importantly a good book about following the path less traveled.

License Plates and How We Think!

I was just traveling back from Montana last weekend and we got stuck behind a guy going nowhere fast. He turned on his signal light about 3 miles before he actually turned the vehicles off the road. Even as he turned it was a slow meander off the road like it was his biggest event of the day. Lisa and I were frustrated following him and were ready to holler when I read his license plate. LZY JIM. Lazy Jim. Well, that pretty much summed up the way he drove and the way I think he lived.

An hour after that, we got behind a car that was clearly ready to break down at every turn. It was a car where you questioned which was more dangerous – riding behind it or driving it. The condition of the car screamed STRUGGLE all the way around. As we passed, the driver looked beaten down from life … have you seen people like that? His license plate … DWNNDBT. Down in Debt.

Both of these simple license plates said a lot about their owners. It also said a lot about their mindset and definition of themselves. Take a moment and think about (or even write down) how you typically define yourself. I think too often we take some self identity that is focused on our weaknesses and then adopt it as though it really defines us.

I believe we should be defining ourselves with a little stretch for how we’d “like” to be. Then we should take that positive, enthusiastic and potential-filled description and tell everyone. Starting with ourselves. Use it as a reminder every time we get down on ourselves. Memorize it so when someone says, tell me about yourself, you can. Recite it in the car instead of focusing on traffic (yes I could take that advice as well).

Why let our weaknesses or negative focus define us. I define myself as my “ideal” self. Then I repeat it TO ME enough times, that one day, I KNOW that is really who I am. It influences me internally and sub-consciously every moment of every day – with every decision, opinion and word from my mouth. I can’t fit it all on a license plate!