"...you need a clear destination. Lacking one, your life and your work can quickly become frustrating...In the end, then, your Focus forces you to be efficient. Naturally, the flip side of this is that it causes you to become impatient with delays, obstacles, and even tangents, no matter how intriguing they appear to be." - pg 99 of Now, Discover Your Strengths (Buckingham & Clifton)

Does this sound like you...?

Too much of a good thing?

"I have those frustrating days when it seems I have zero patience for my kids. Usually, I feel that way after a trying diligently to get some goal accomplished and the kids just won't cooperate. They have their own goals, it seems, and they aren't in line with mine.

"I'm often late to pick them up because I'm finishing something up at work. I'm distracted when I do get home with them because I didn't finish my project. And I'm trying to wrestle them into bed in a hurry, because my brain is stuck to that half-completed business project like Velcro stuck to a sweater in the dryer and I need to get back to my computer once they go to sleep.

"This is my Focus theme at work. You can't just turn Focus off and on when you want. I frequently find myself at work thinking 'I just want to get this finished before I go home, so I can focus on the kids when I get there!' The problem is that the relentless pursuit of my goals often translates into me being anything BUT focused on my kids.

"Sometimes I hope that I pass this theme on to my kids because they will reach for the stars and probably get there. But other times I wish for them a more peaceful, free-spirited life, without the pressure of the Focus."

Wednesday, July 1, 2009

10-10-10

Has anyone read the book 10-10-10 by Suzy Welch? It's a fantastic book about making good choices in life. I recently read it and have been improving my work-life-balance ever since.

I have a vacation planned for next week and because of my Focus theme I've been getting really stressed about missing a full week. Tonight, the concepts of 10-10-10 popped into my head and reminded me that in 10 years the impact on my career of taking this week of vacation will be obsolete. However, the impact of spending this week focused on my kids will be great memories and the reconnection with them that I really need right now.

If you haven't read the book I highly recommend it!
Posted by at 1 comment:

Monday, June 22, 2009

Take time to reflect

"'Leaving it at the office' is a foreign concept to me. I have to continually work at turning off my work brain and turning on my Mom brain; using this theme for good instead of evil. Because of my Focus, it would be so easy for my kids to grow up feeling that work is more important to me than they are. I have started reflecting every night on my time with them to see if I gave them the undivided attention they deserve."
Posted by at No comments:

I think the force is strong in this one...

I'm convinced my son inherited my Focus, and I'm glad. I see this theme in him daily! When there is something he sets out to do, or if there is a question he wants answered, look out because he won't let up!

Despite our best efforts at distraction, he will remember and hold us to our commitments to get ice cream after dinner, or watch a movie after a nap, or go to the store for a prize. He is also a master negotiator in the face of any challenge in getting to his goal.

Perhaps this is normal 4 year-old behavior, but I really hope it's Focus at work, preparing him for great accomplishments later in life.
Posted by at No comments:

Focus and 4 year-olds don't mix!

This theme can be so frustrating! I think my 4 year-old goes into slow motion when he senses my Focus theme is at work. If I'm on a mission to get somewhere, he is on a mission to slow me down! If I have a burning desire to finish something he is like a giant speed bump in my progress.

I'm convinced that people who say they work from home so they can be with their kids are smoking something! If my son is in the same zip code as me, I lose my train of thought and might as well give up on getting to my goal until he goes to bed.
Posted by at No comments:
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)