Liz Strauss had a great blog post earlier and I wanted to share it, because it really resonated with me. In fact, I feel like it relates to a concept that I discussed on AnnArbor.com this past week. A total "your peanut butter and my chocolate" kind of thing.
Liz talks about being passionate, connected, and making things seamless with work and the personal side of one's life. I talk about living vicariously through the pets in our lives and how it teaches us to "be". In doing so, I stay connected to what is important, stay joyful and motivated, because I know that these pets depend on me, too.
Liz's post really fits with staying motivated, I think. too.
Thoughts?
Lorrie Shaw is a professional pet sitter, regular pets contributor to annarbor.com and pet blogger in Dexter Twp, MI. She participates in Motivated Mondays along with writer, speaker, mountain bike rider and author of Backroads & Byways Of Arizona, Jackie Dishner. #MotivatedMondays on Twitter is a culmination of inspirational notes, blogs and tips to help motivate and get other ready for each week after the weekend lull - or anytime.
Showing posts with label motivation. Show all posts
Showing posts with label motivation. Show all posts
Monday, September 6, 2010
Sunday, August 1, 2010
Delegation: a useful tool in maintaining motivation?
Sometimes staying motivated means delegating things to other people. I know that it's true, but sometimes it's hard for me to put into action. I'm a Type-A, gotta-do-it-all-myself kind of gal. That sort of thinking gets me into trouble. But, the occassion arises once in awhile when I realize that delegating things to others is a must.
Case in point: The past 3 or 4 months, I've been all too aware that I've needed a new car. A new-to-me car. I prefer to drive a good quality used car - nothing too expensive or snazzy, just reliable, low cost to maintain, yet professional looking. I hate doing research on that stuff. (Heck, who am I kidding - I dispise having to do anything related to buying a car, getting tires and the ever popular getting repairs done.) So, I put it off. And off. Then I realized that I was so unhappy, simply because I was putting it off. Ooh, procrastination comes into play - another obstacle to get over when trying to stay motivated.
So, I decided to ask Chris, my partner in life if he would do it for me. He actually likes doing it, and is good at it. Within 2 days, he found a great car, we went to look at it and sealed the deal. It was that easy. From there, I was able to focus on other things that I needed to tend to, which enhanced my ability to stay motivated.
Now, in my professional life, it's a bit more tricky to delegate, as I am CEO, secretary, pet sitter, dog walker, poop clean up crew, social media rep... you name it.
Understanding that there are things that are in my strengths list, and some in my weaknesses list is important. It's great to build overall skills, but equally effective if you don't fight the idea that it's ok to delegate things that you're not fond of (for the right reasons), or not good at to someone else. In a work setting, it can be a great way to get to know a co-worker or colleague better by dialoguing about what you need help with, and in the big picture of the process - perhaps increase productivity and propel motivation for everyone.
We cannot do everything alone in life. It's ok to ask for help. There ought not be any shame or guilt in that.
Where is an area where you might be able to use the skill of delegation to enhance your ability to stay motivated?
Case in point: The past 3 or 4 months, I've been all too aware that I've needed a new car. A new-to-me car. I prefer to drive a good quality used car - nothing too expensive or snazzy, just reliable, low cost to maintain, yet professional looking. I hate doing research on that stuff. (Heck, who am I kidding - I dispise having to do anything related to buying a car, getting tires and the ever popular getting repairs done.) So, I put it off. And off. Then I realized that I was so unhappy, simply because I was putting it off. Ooh, procrastination comes into play - another obstacle to get over when trying to stay motivated.
So, I decided to ask Chris, my partner in life if he would do it for me. He actually likes doing it, and is good at it. Within 2 days, he found a great car, we went to look at it and sealed the deal. It was that easy. From there, I was able to focus on other things that I needed to tend to, which enhanced my ability to stay motivated.
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| flickr photo courtesy of David Joyce |
Understanding that there are things that are in my strengths list, and some in my weaknesses list is important. It's great to build overall skills, but equally effective if you don't fight the idea that it's ok to delegate things that you're not fond of (for the right reasons), or not good at to someone else. In a work setting, it can be a great way to get to know a co-worker or colleague better by dialoguing about what you need help with, and in the big picture of the process - perhaps increase productivity and propel motivation for everyone.
We cannot do everything alone in life. It's ok to ask for help. There ought not be any shame or guilt in that.
Where is an area where you might be able to use the skill of delegation to enhance your ability to stay motivated?
Monday, July 26, 2010
Doing the "impossible"
We all have aspirations. Big or small, at some point they may seem impossible to accomplish, leaving us feeling un-motivated. Some days seem more difficult to manage than others, whether we have things or people that get in our way - or if we do a pretty good job all of "getting in our own way".
One thing that I can say from experience that helps me to get around my lack of motivation, is remembering where my aspirations and goals come from to begin with: What is my "why" in this situation? Establishing your "why" is important. Although getting the things done that are necessary to achieving our goal can seem mundane, remembering your passion for what you want to do, regardless of how impossible attaining the task seems is all part of the process.
Walt Disney had a talent fostered from a young age. A talent for drawing. This ability of his became a passion throughout his life, a driving force. During his life's journey, he endured setbacks and financial woes that changed the course of where he was going - or how he was going to get there. I imagine that he felt at times that his aspirations were quite lofty, even out of reach. The things that he did accomplish were grand, and best of all, many generations have been able to enjoy the fruits of his labor.
As Disney said: "It's kind of fun to do the impossible."
Think about that. When you've accomplished something difficult in the past, how did you feel during and afterward? Did your emotions change during the process?
What task or adventure are you going to embark on this Monday, that seems "impossible"? How will you approach it, so that it will be easier to manage? What tools will you employ to keep yourself motivated? Are you going to find joy and fun along the journey?
Lorrie Shaw is a professional pet sitter, regular pets contributor to annarbor.com and pet blogger in Dexter Twp, MI. She participates in Motivated Mondays along with writer, speaker, mountain bike rider and author of Backroads & Byways Of Arizona, Jackie Dishner. #MotivatedMondays is a culmination of inspirational notes, blogs and tips to help motivate and get other ready for each week after the weekend lull - or anytime.
One thing that I can say from experience that helps me to get around my lack of motivation, is remembering where my aspirations and goals come from to begin with: What is my "why" in this situation? Establishing your "why" is important. Although getting the things done that are necessary to achieving our goal can seem mundane, remembering your passion for what you want to do, regardless of how impossible attaining the task seems is all part of the process.
Walt Disney had a talent fostered from a young age. A talent for drawing. This ability of his became a passion throughout his life, a driving force. During his life's journey, he endured setbacks and financial woes that changed the course of where he was going - or how he was going to get there. I imagine that he felt at times that his aspirations were quite lofty, even out of reach. The things that he did accomplish were grand, and best of all, many generations have been able to enjoy the fruits of his labor.
As Disney said: "It's kind of fun to do the impossible."
Think about that. When you've accomplished something difficult in the past, how did you feel during and afterward? Did your emotions change during the process?
What task or adventure are you going to embark on this Monday, that seems "impossible"? How will you approach it, so that it will be easier to manage? What tools will you employ to keep yourself motivated? Are you going to find joy and fun along the journey?
Lorrie Shaw is a professional pet sitter, regular pets contributor to annarbor.com and pet blogger in Dexter Twp, MI. She participates in Motivated Mondays along with writer, speaker, mountain bike rider and author of Backroads & Byways Of Arizona, Jackie Dishner. #MotivatedMondays is a culmination of inspirational notes, blogs and tips to help motivate and get other ready for each week after the weekend lull - or anytime.
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