Cold Sweat

You're asked a question in a big meeting and your mind goes blank.

You completely forgot to follow up on an issue and the information is due in 5 minutes.

You realize you are in over your head with an assignment and have no idea where to turn...paralysis sets in...and your credibility begins to evaporate.

Keep Breathing
Now before you do something rash like quit your job because you don't think you'll be popular anymore and won't have any 'friends' at work consider these points:

- you're not going to die because you've hit a rough patch

- you actually can do the work if you remove some of that self-talk clutter from your mind and start attacking the issue one little step at a time

- you can reach out to your colleagues for help...that's what real colleagues do...they help each other

Now Focus
Once the wave of anxiety has washed over you...and you've decided that your entire career is over and there is no hope for you professionally...

...get your head back on straight and start building your plan.

What needs to be addressed immediately? Write it down. Map out the deadlines and the resources you'll need to get there. 

Who can help you? Who also has a vested interest in this issue being executed successfully?

Find those people. Talk with them. Write everything down.

Breath Again
Think about how your mind has shifted. You have now documented a preliminary action plan, have connected with important internal resources to get the necessary results, and most importantly, are now back in charge.

This can not be overstated. Your mood will change. Your confidence level will change. And, by the way, the results will change dramatically from where you started.

Breath.
Focus.
Execute.

How About You
Is it going to be hard sometimes? Yes. Is it going to be embarrassing sometimes? Yes. Is it going to be worth it? Absolutely.

I'd love to hear from you.

No Excuses.

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I've Been Led Astray

It's funny how our lives develop over time. Sometimes we get caught up in the culture of organizations as if they represent all of society. Or we shift our energies into specific people who end up becoming the filter through which we see the world around us. Maybe we convince ourselves we're supposed to be 'something in particular' that in turn impacts our behavior.

Most of the time we don't realize it's happening, because the flow of our lives naturally finds these paths, people, and ways of thinking.

Being Led
Do we invest the time to evaluate where we are on our journey? Is the crush of deadlines, political posturing and the VIPs in our lives taking over? When you add the required hustle of career, family, performance and pressure to be perfect do we feel lost? Oh yes, and we need to remember to have fun with our work too (which I do!) With so much happening should we ask ourselves if we've lost sight of...well...ourselves?

Taking a few moments to validate which path we're on is a worthwhile timeout. Are we being led? If so, are we cool with that or is the corporate/personal/societal pressure we're feeling moving us down a path that doesn't make sense any longer?

Lead the Way
It's time to focus. The need to get completely organized (at least for me) is essential if we are going to determine what is best. I'm quite sure I don't have the all answers, but I do know that without critically evaluating how we're living our lives we will never be able to determine if we're on the right path.

Organization for me is one of the keys to solving this riddle. When life is moving so fast and the challenges are coming from all angles, there is no time (or tolerance) for being flustered and overwhelmed. Life keeps pushing...people keep pushing...which means we must be able to respond in the moment. We no longer have a choice because the rules of life have changed, and we need to be strong enough to play by them.

How About You
It's time to give yourself the freedom to decide whether all of the issues in your world align with who you are as a person, as a leader, and as a difference-maker. Is something or someone standing in the way of where you should be? If so, what are you going to do about it?

Life is about choices. Let's make some good ones and lead the way.

I'd love to hear from you.

No Excuses.


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What's Important Now

I have a long list of priorities in my life right now. You probably do too. When I think about the expectations of me to deliver...it feels...well...like a lot.

Whether that means coming through consistently for my company and our clients...to making sure I am "there" for everyone in my personal life...to finding time to do something for myself (ha!)...it has become a long list.

So which of these things is most important now?

Blessing
So before I get too deep into this topic I need to clarify an important point: I love the rush of a hectic lifestyle. I get fired up when there's pressure. I like being the one who has to make something happen when everything looks bleak. 

No, I don't have a hero complex. But candidly, I've seen enough leaders over the years who either analyze every situation so thoroughly that they make decisions once it is absolutely safe (and far too late to be effective); or other leaders who talk a good game but don't do anything...ever.

I'm not that guy. I'm the one who's willing to jump in and push a little too hard...before everything is just right...because forward momentum to me is far more important than perfection.

When was the last time you experienced perfection? I thought so....I never have either.

Curse
The impact of loving a hectic lifestyle however, is that the pressure can sometimes be too much. Always being "on" and delivering for everyone all the time (except yourself) can occasionally knock us off our game.

I hate when that happens to me. And yes, it feels like a curse sometimes.

How About You
What approach do you take to identify what is most important in your world? For as much as I work hard to keep it all moving forward...the reality is I'm human too. (Don't tell anyone...I don't want to ruin my reputation.)

I'd love to hear from you.

No Excuses.

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Under Siege

Have you ever felt like your workload is simply too much? Is your task list always current? Any deadlines approaching quickly? How about that Inbox...down to zero unread? 

Sometimes it feels...well...like we're surrounded. I don't like that feeling. Sometimes that feeling persists for days or weeks. I really don't like that at all.

 

Breathe

One way to deal with the self-induced stress that swirls inside our heads is to simply stop and breathe. I'm not talking about dropping into a downward dog pose, but literally to just stop what you're doing and allow your mind to take a break.

We all spend so much time moving as fast as possible, caught up in a corporate world of unattainable stretch goals, loaded schedules and unrealistic expectations that we never simply stop.

Stop. Take a slow deep breath and allow yourself a few moments. Trust me, the work will be there thirty seconds from now.

Plan

Now you need to take the next step and get back in control. It's time to begin a daily ritual of using your task app and get yourself on top of the chaos. Starting each day with a quick review and re-prioritization of what needs to be done is essential. 

The symbolism is powerful here. Each day starts with you deciding what is going to happen and why. Sure, issues will come up and you'll have to make adjustments (that's called life); but overall you'll be driving the process.

Do you allow yourself time each day to do your work? Or, do you allow your calendar to fill up with meetings? You're not a doormat, so stop acting like others can walk all over your day. 

Readjust your schedule, say no to some meetings, and send other team members in your place. Take action to preserve not only your sanity, but the quality of your work as well.

 

How About You

Open your mental gates and attack! Stop feeling like you've been holding on for months waiting for relief. It's time to take the offensive on the lists, and projects, and expectations laying siege to your state of mind.

You've got this.

I'd love to hear from you.

No Excuses.

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