|
|
|
Can We Have it All?
by Dennie Marks
Quotes for the Month:
"Never work just for money or for power. They won't save your soul or help you sleep at night."
Marian Wright Edelman
"If you neglect to recharge a battery, it dies. And if you run full-speed ahead without stopping for water, you lose momentum to finish the race."
Oprah Winfrey
|
|
Dear Friends,
Here we are at the end of the first month of a new year. We've made our New Year's resolutions and many of us have mapped out our plans for 2012. When we get into today's subject you will see how the two quotes for this month's newsletter are so appropriate. Is your goal for the New Year to have it all? Let's get to the meat of the question. Remember to visit our Joke of the Month section below before you leave this site.
|
|
Is There A Secret To Having It All?
Do you work life-balance? Unfortunately too many people have given up of the idea of life-balance. Let's talk about a hypothetical gal by the name of Susie. Susie's a party planner and she provides services to companies all over the US. She traveled constantly, working nonstop and is starting to feel bitterand jaded. In order to advance in her career of  choice, she thought she had to sacrifice everything. Her meals were eaten on the road, she barely got enough sleep, and had very little time to relax and enjoy famiy and friends. She almost never had time to herself. In her mind this was the sacrifice she had to make for success. The reality is Susie has a limited view of how to meet with success. There's another way she could approach her life-one that would help her meet the success level she was striving for.
|
|
This/or That Thinking
Susie has been a victim of either/or thinking. She actually was sacrificing her health and her personal relationships for her job. Her assumption was she had to choose between different parts of her life to make personal and professional efforts work.
* Either she could get the big job or she could get a good night's rest.
* Either she could travel nonstop or she thought she would have to give up her career aspirations.
* Either she was going to be known for her preciseness and dedication to detail or she could have a life.
These are the kinds of assumptions many of us make about our own lives.
Do any of the following sound familiar?
* Either I can make a difference or I can make money.
* Either I can relax or accomplish something.
* Either I can be happy now or I can be happy later.
This type of thinking contributes to limiting our productivity. It is a common way of viewing the world.
We can back ourselves into a corner in believing we can either have this or that; we force ourselves to make a choice.
|
|
Not So!
If we pay attention to our usual thought patterns we can all learn to change the thoughts that limit or hold us back. Susie found out the hard way. There is another possibility for Susie and any of us caught in the either/or syndrome. Being able to work and excel, and also improve the quality of life is a better goal.
Finally Susie accepted this philosophy and a whole new world of ideas came to the surface. Maybe by coordinating her travels to zero in on every detail her clients were clamoring for before she went on to the next would make her travels more efficient. Not being so pressured gave time for her and she ended up being more effective in servicing her clients. She also didn't feel she had to abandon her personal life style.
|
|
Is There Success Without Sacrifice?
The magical balance of having it all; meaning a successful career and meaningful life outside your professional world is embracing a different way of thinking. If this can be accomplished we can feel like we truly have it all.
Susie got to the point where she actually was so stressed out she thought of retiring; it would have been quitting. Susie's focus was a classic example of either/or thinking. She figured at this point she wanted better quality of life. She said to herself she had to make a choice.
Using Susie as an example you can see a simple change in words in thought could shift her perspective.
* Either-or: Susie thought she could work a less crazy schedule or she could keep her job.
* Both/and: She could both work a less crazy schedule and also keep her job.
* Either/or: Either Susie could retire, or she could stay busy and active.
* Both/and: You can both retire and also stay busy and active.
* Either/or: Either Susie could exercise and rest or she could fulfill her responsibilities.
* Both/and: Susie thought she could both exercise and rest, and also fulfill her responsibilities.
If we look at practicing broader thinking and at the same time learn to be more and do more we can achieve more by thinking in powerful ways. Think about asking yourself how to pull together the different parts of life so you can be a better leader and also lead a better life.
|
|
A Simple Exercise
The following simple exercise can be used any time if we find ourselves stuck in either/or thinking. It can help one think in more expansive both/and ways.
- Make note where you are forcing yourself to make a decision. (Either I can have this or I can have that.")
- Identify the two things which your forcing yourself to choose.
- Then, bring together the two things in a single sentence. How can I both and also....
|
|
Summary
Can we have it all? The answer is yes; if we make a small change in the way we think. Turning from the either/or thought to the both and can thought pattern can provide a balance to any lifestyle and will lead to a more successful career encompassing a better quality life in general.
|
|
Remember - We Support Non-Profits
Your Promotional Products understands non-profits have to be transparent to the world. They are responsible for the way they spend their dollars to realize fundraising goals. Working with non-profits is one of our greatest pleasures. We make our contribution by making it cost-effective for the organization and their sponsors to purchase anything they may require for fundraising events. Please share this information with your favorite non-profit organization. We're happy to be of help.
Contact us directly.
(Office) 760-360-9047 or (cell) 760-578-6079
(Fax) 760-301-0018 or Email: yourpp@dc.rr.com
|
|
Joke of the Month
Dream Flying Planes
Sue and Bob, a pair of tight wads, lived in the mid-west, and had been married years.
Bob had always wanted to go flying. The desire deepened each time a barn stormer flew into town to offer rides.
Bob would ask, and Sue would say, "No way, ten dollars is ten dollars."
The years went pay, and Bob figured he didn't have much longer, so he got Sue out to the show, explaining, it's free to watch, let's at least watch.
And once he got there the feeling become real strong. Sue and Bob started an argument.
The Pilot, between flights, overheard, listened to the problem, and said, "I'll tell you what, I'll take you up flying, and if you don't say a word the ride is on me, but if you back one sound, you pay ten dollars.
So off they flew. The Pilot doing as many rolls, and dives as he could.
As they were heading to the ground as fast as the plane could go, and pulling out of the dive at just the very last second, not a word was uttered. Finally the pilot admitted defeat and went back the airport.
"I'm surprised, why didn't you say anything?"
"Well I almost said something when Sue fell out, but ten dollars is ten dollars."
Until next time..................
Sincerely,
Dennie Marks
|
|
|
|
|
