Zenbizkit No.1:get a strategy.

Do you know where you are going?

What is your long term goal at work? This month’s sales results? The quarterly? This year? Three years from now?

With the stresses that appear in your everyday workplace, and the fickle changes of the now global market, the pressures placed upon you are work grow with each day. Ask any worker of colleague at your office, and the the goals of each will probably be different.

In order to answer the question yourself, you will need to evaluate how committed you are at your job. If you are only working for this month’s results, maybe you are pushing your colleagues and customers too hard, and the results, although admirable, may not be sustainable.

On the other hand, if you feel that the target is more long term, what are you doing today that is developing that relationship with the people around you that will see your long terms results come to fruition?

Obviously, it’s always going to be a balancing act, tying the present into the future. But its definitely worth a few moments thought, and then writing down what your work target is.

Then, sit down when you have some free time and try to look at it from some different angles. What would your boss say- would he agree with your goals or ask you to look more long term?

Managers and section leaders look for those workers that can both get the job done and have some kind of vision of how to sustain a great work load without burning out. Is that you?

How about your co-workers? Do they know your motivations? How do you fit into the team and benefit them all by your presence?

How about your partner? Are they aware and supportive of what you are doing? If any big changes are around the corner, make sure they are well informed and supportive of what you are trying to do.

So, get a strategy, for today, this week, this month, this year.

Hey, maybe even three years. But get one, and a back up plan too.

But more later.

Cheers,

Mark

Know thyself

Streets of Milan at night in Summer, on business.

How well do you know yourself?

Would a short list of your strong and weak points match with those that your boss would say about you? Co-workers? Girlfriend/wife?

Give it a shot and see what comes back to you. Is your list the same as the way others see you?

Try to make the criteria for this evaluation as clear as possible. What are you assessing? A specific skill? Your overall job performance? Your people skills? All of these are important, sometimes its worth just looking at one aspect of your career or workplace function in order to really assess what you are manifesting at work, and those skills which are yet to appear. Because to me, its not about failure, its about latency. Skills that have yet to appear.

How much do you really want to know? Once you start asking yourself these kinds of questions, you may end up getting answers that you may not want to hear, but it is my strong advice that you do this when you can, and then listen. And do it regularly, without being obsessive.

By listening, I mean getting somewhere away from others, without the dialogue and self-justification that so often appears in these exercises when we bring others into the picture, and contemplate. Take these comments on board and look at them for what they are, building blocks to a stronger and more effective you.

Be completely impartial with yourself. Be honest, even if that means acknowledging some things about yourself that you may be afraid to admit in public.

Now- start having a read of the comments.

Look at any positive remarks that you received without judgment or preference, this is not an ego building exercise. If you are already receiving some good grades from these judges, then just acknowledge that you need to keep doing those things.

Now the negative comments, or brutally honest ones if you have picked your judges right. Read one comment at a time, then put the comments down and feel.

Ask yourself if there is merit in the comment. If there is, acknowledge it. If you are failing to manifest a certain quality, then admit it. This is personal time here, and you need to be honest and realistic. If you don’t think there is merit in the comment, then you need to be able to come up with a very good reason why. But I would say that there is probably some truth to the comment, so look at it dispassionately and contemplate.

You need to know yourself better than anyone, or people that you just don’t see eye to eye with. Because by looking at these things, you can really bring out the best in you. Looking at it in that light, even the people you don’t like are helping you discover your own potential.

In the ancient East they once believed, “by knowing your weaknesses they can become your strengths”. That means first acknowledging, then actualizing a path to remedy or change the situation within yourself, and actualizing these latent skills and talents.

Sometimes its just attitude. A lot of times, its about our own personal awareness, and extending it out further than you have been. Acknowledgment of any issues is the key. Accept these comments or suggestions and grow stronger from it.

Yes, its across the board. You may be a big winner in some areas, and yet be an absolute failure in others. However, this exercise will give you the awareness and direction you need to do something about it, and fast.

The people that you pick for feedback are key. Don’t look for yes men. Go for those people you respect and admire for their own people skills and balanced performance. It’s amazing how we manifest differently to different audiences. Make sure you aim wide.

And then, after taking this all on board, do something about it.

Its all in the dance. Its not just a series of flashy moves, but how you keep those feet moving on your personal journey through life. These comments are just signposts along the way to help you from losing your way.

If you can know yourself so well that you can point out your good and bad points as well as your colleagues and intimates, and be making consistent efforts to improve the weaker areas while maintaining the strong, you are going to be an invaluable asset to your team. Your family. To life.

Know thyself, and always remain humble. Hey, its ok to smile a little when you receive praise, but remember: keep those feet moving.

New Beginnings

Jersey sunset over St. Brelade during a jogging session.

My heart pounded in my chest as I commenced the climb back up the hill, the soft sea breeze gently caressing my gasping and beleagured breath. Oh yeah, jogging, I remember it now, the last time I had done any with any consistency was before I moved to Tokyo two years ago. But then again, I used to go to the gym at least 4 times a week, ride my bike near every day, I would skip rope, and I was a lean mean fighting machine of 40.

Currently I am a definitely stodgier man of 43, fighting a pretty bitter battle to get myself back in shape. Luckily I don’t give up easily, but hey I am not saying its easy.

Things come into our life to upset what we know as balance; new jobs, relationships, projects at work, having to move, whatever it is, you can count on things to shuffle now and then. We also have those moments when it happens and we accept the change, deciding to put things on hold until the immediate business at hand settles…..

And then suddenly its weeks, months, years, and the things that used to come to us so easily, become harder to pursue, because we know deep down that its just going to be hard to get back to the enjoyment part again, where its all balanced and peachy.

It takes time and effort. How many times have we heard that pearl, but its true.

My lungs were still screaming but the hill leveled off and suddenly I was on flat ground again, staggering more than jogging, but the steps becoming easier as I tried to concentrate on each one and enjoy the experience. Five minutes later, I was home, a big smile on my face because the the sun was shining and Jersey at this time of year is oh so lovely. Enough till tomorrow.

And then we start again. Someone once said, life wasn’t meant to be easy, but hey, lets enjoy the struggle!

That climb back from the beach will get easier…