"You can get so confused that you'll start in to race down long wiggled roads at a break-necking pace and grind on for miles across weirdish wild space, headed, I fear, toward a most useless place. The Waiting Place...for people just waiting. Waiting for a train to go or the mail to come, or the rain to go or the phone to ring, or the snow to snow... Everyone is just waiting. Are you in the waiting place? If you've noticed, now is the time to work through it.

Move Your Desk

Episode 132 - The Waiting Place

Trying new things is an important way to build your skillset and knowledge. It can get messy and bring up insecurities and confusion as the new insights mix with the old knowledge and you are caught figuring out how to keep, discard, and build upon it all. Still, you can get to a point where your confidence is greater than 7our capabilities. And, then error on thinking expertise means that you somehow have a corner on the market of being incapable of making big mistakes or can avoid the process of experimentation and practice. It's a mental balancing act for sure. But, don't let that stop you from trying new things, building confidence, making mistakes, and deciding what to ultimately keep pursuing within the constraints of the time available. 

Episode 131 - Trying New Things

I've been dealing with a self-created problem this week. I'm creating anxiety around what could be thought of conflicting goals - a desire to learn and a desire to de-junk. The end result is keeping me from producing my best work. Most of my friends and family members are continuous learners like me, always seeking personal growth and additional information and knowledge. But, sometimes this desire goes into overdosing on learning which can prevent the application and implementation of it all into something useful. In my opinion, this is all related to addictive behaviors that are less socially acceptable - excessive drinking, drugging, pornography viewing, spending, and eating. Underneath it all, some of the same things are going on with our emotions. Somehow thinking that just a little more will be fine or help us feel better. So, this episode is for all those that are involved in the socially acceptable addictive behavior of overdosing on learning. I've taken some action this week to free my mind up a bit even if it involves a little bit of heretical practices like burning notebooks, donating books, and trusting that I know enough to offer up my best work without another quote or story. At least, just for this moment.

Episode 130 - Overdosing on Learning

It's tough to be wrong about something. And, often embarrassing to reflect on all of the choices, comments, and insights you shared from that place of not knowing you were wrong. That's the interesting thing about being wrong. There often isn't a feeling or admission of being wrong until we step into new awareness that, well, you might be wrong about something. But, we can make a choice. Today, perhaps, to question the things that we have strong opinions and feelings about. Are we wrong? Or, could we explore how the other person could be right? Is there any harm in questioning our own fact finding and assumption making? It's at least something to entertain once in a while in a world that is filled with news bombardment, finger pointing, name calling, and judgement. We may find that we are more open to new information and ways of thinking in some moments while digging in our heels the next. It's a tricky business taking that moment to ask yourself - Am I willing to be wrong on this idea, person, place, or thing? And, of course, what you will choose to do about it once you recognize an opportunity to change.

Episode 129 - Willing to Be Wrong

In project management, part of setting up a project requires determining the scope - what you are seeking to accomplish and what you are not. It's like setting boundaries for yourself based upon the objectives, the time you have to allocate to the effort, and the money you are willing to spend. As I've thought about scope this week, I'm reminded that scope is not so black and white and clear cut. There's always some wiggle room. And, it's good to have a little wiggle room to exploit opportunities as they arise and to give ourselves a chance to surprise and delight those that will be a recipients of the project or work outcome. So, this is a reflection on some thoughts that have come up this week. Thoughts about checklists, the nuances of carrying out work by yourself and how it changes when other people enter the mix. Of course, some people have the issues of always piling on ideas and expectations that are well beyond the basic requirements to any form or work or project. Others us would do well of thinking about the possibilities of adding additional value within the baseline expectation of a project. Either way, I hope it is a reminder to do what you say you will do, but leave a little space to give something extra. 

Episode 128 - Managing the Scope Creep

Are you curious enough to find out how to do better work? This past week I've had interactions at the library, at the gym, and in an online course that caused me to stop and reflect on my motivations, my talents, and my willingness to keep working through the obstacles. We've all been given a different set of circumstances, obstacles, and challenges. You may think you are at a disadvantage, but there is always an example of someone that is pushing through it all. Why not you?

Episode 127 - Thirsty for Knowledge and Hungry for Learning

Do you remember where you were and what you were doing? The picture associated with this podcast episode shows exactly where I was standing on September 11, 2001 at 9:37 a.m. This picture was taken approximately between 9:45 a.m. - 9:59 a.m. because at first there was no smoke. I'm one of the lucky ones. I was supposed to be walking on the sidewalk right at the Pentagon crash site at that moment, but I was delayed about 15 minutes when I turned on the tv to see what all the commotion was about in New York. My life was spared. Others lives were not. Some years I don't spend more than a minute thinking about that day. This year is not one of them. Against my desire, it suddenly hit me that I wanted to delve into some of the memories and emotions of that day and the year that followed (e.g. remember the anthrax attacks and then the snipper all part of the Washington DC experience in 2001 - 2002). This episode was recorded spur of the moment this week after I read an old journal entry and blogpost that I decided to share. And, I tuned in to watch a funeral of a family friend that worked very hard a a dispatcher these past few years which somehow brought to the forefront gratitude and emotions surrounding those that are constantly seeking to protect, serve, and help all the rest of us on a daily basis. As I share in this episode, in the 30 minutes before the Pentagon was hit I had an overwhelming feeling that I would remember that day for the rest of my life. Twenty years later, that feeling continues to prove true. #911 #september112001 #remembering911 #terrorists #freedom #firstresponders #pentagon #pentagonattack #moveyourdesk #podcast #gratitude #publicservice #military #twintowers #shanksvillepa #postraumaticstress #ptsd

Episode 126 - Remembering 911

Do you manage projects? Yes. Regardless of whether you think you do or you don't, you most likely use some of the project management principles and skills to accomplish things at work or in your personal life. There are well known frameworks related to managing projects. I'm not going to cover it all here. But, I do believe that anyone that wants to accomplish personal goals, work performance outcomes, or anything else in life... can benefit from learning more about project management. Just a few thoughts about it today, and certainly more to come as I embark on a new adventure teaching an introduction to project management course this week.

Episode 125 - Project Frameworks

Design impacts every area of our lives - from the way we experience coming into the world, to our cars and homes, leisure activities, education, and how we do our work. It was a pleasure to sit down to have a conversation with a colleague that has had a significant impact on how I view design. Anthony Rotolo comes to this conversation with vast experience and expertise in graphic design, book publishing, podcasting, instructional design, video production (including documentaries), and online course development. He's always been willing to share insights, books, and ideas with me whether it was the basement cube farm, an actual watercooler, or through virtual collaborations. Anthony is a true nudger - pushing us to think differently, stretch our capabilities, and offer up our best design ideas as we work and live. I hope you take time to listen to his thoughts in this episode. We'll have him on again to share more about his personal podcasting and publishing projects. Note - this episode is also re-purposed as an episode on The Learning Circle podcast, produced by Anthony on behalf of the Defense Acquisition University. #moveyourdesk #design #designthinking #workperformance 

Episode 124 - Design Thinking with Anthony Rotolo

Shouldn't everyone (all the people) use common sense? Shouldn't they be... picking up the dirty sockstreating their employees betterstarting the dishwasherrefrain from cheatingbe better team playerslove you in the way you want to be lovedwear their maskgiving you a raise for all your hard work ? You think it's a no brainer. But, they aren't doing what YOU think they should be doing. And, that brings up all the feelings...at least for you. This episode is an edited version of a live Facebook session I had a view months ago on the topic of all of these "shoulds" that we have for all the people in our lives. The shoulds are massive rulebooks. And, there is a slight problem. These rulebooks are VIRTUAL! Existing only in our minds. But, everyone around us should be following them...according to us. Without realizing it, we are involved in daily thought processes that keep us very busy monitoring the hallways of the world and acting as thought police (a nod to George Orwell) to those closest to us. It can bring on all kinds of emotions, especially when we expect others to make us feel better...which they can't ever do. And, it can be a way that we subtly attempt to manipulate and control others. It's worth noticing these patterns in ourselves, if only to take charge of our own emotional well-being. This is a topic I want to keep exploring with you. #moveyourdesk #thoughtpolice #virtualrulebooks #manuals #handbooks #controlling #manipulating 

Episode 123 - Virtual Rulebooks

At age 16 Sacagawea helped the Lewis & Clark Expedition at a pivotal point on their journey. And, she carried her baby most of the way. Ann Frank got a journal around 14 years old and wrote in it for two years. It just happened to be the two years that her family was in hiding from the Nazis. Mother Theresa and Martin Luther King Jr. knew as young children that they had a purpose to pursue in life and that purpose involved helping people. Benjamin Franklin and Albert Einstein (and his first wife) were full of ideas, theories, and experimenting. Abraham Lincoln was a voracious reader, despite his lack of schooling, and was able to increase his influence from small town debate stages in Illinois to the Office of the President at a crucial time in the history of the United States. Harriet Tubman never read, but her ability to strategize, lead, and live a life filled with faith in possibilities gave others courage and strength to fight in another way for the same freedoms Lincoln was seeking. These are only a few of the people I've been reading about this week from a series of children's books sharing about the lives of influential people. Most of these people weren't educated by the "you should go to school and get a college degree" standard. Most never retired. They gave their entire lives to a purpose. Some died young (Anne Frank, Sacagawea) and others lived into their 80s. Each purpose helped people, but in unique and different ways. They offered up their best work in the way that only they could. Are you finding and offering up yours?

Episode 122 - Offering Up Your Best Work

Journals, trinkets, notes, wedding announcements, graduation programs, and photos. All the memorabilia that you and I keep in boxes, on the wall, or crammed in bookshelves and drawers. I've chosen to go through it all and finally decide what to do with it - keep, take a picture and save digitally, pass on to someone else, or just spend a moment honoring it and what I've learned and ditching it. This process is important to me - to physically free myself from carting it around. And, pull the lessons of the past that are holding me back in the here and now. I gained a new awareness as I continued the process this week. Thanks to a coaching session with my friend and coach MJ Walsh. And, it came through taking a look at what I was making a small pile of storage bins mean in my life. I hope you tune in and think about the trade-offs you are making in your life as well. 

Episode 121 - Bins vs Business

Are you memorable? I've had a few experiences lately where people I remember well, don't remember me. And, I've learned that it is ok. But, I've also learned that there is much to be learned if you take a trip down memory lane. It's not an easy journey, though the outcomes of the pursuit may be worth your while. Tune into this episode to hear a little about mental and physical de-junking, Swedish death cleaning, writing your life story, and working through the pain that springs up in this process. Remembering the influence and experiences can be valuable. How you choose to use those memories can also springboard you into offering up your full capabilities in your work. #moveyourdesk #personaldevelopment #startwithachart #frameworks #emotions #pain

Episode 120 - Remembering

Do you remember the first self-help book or video you picked up? Or, for some of us, cassette tape? I remember learning from Zig Ziglar, Anthony Robbins, Viktor Frankle, and many more. Self-help resources, coaches, and methods can be inspiring, helpful, and healing. It can also be a weapon you use against yourself - thinking you are broken, behind, not enough, or operating below your potential. It's true that many of us want to offer up our best to the world. But, it makes a difference from what place we make these advancements in our lives. Is it from an "I need to improve" or "I should do this or I'm not successful" kind of mindset? Or, are there other options that generate emotions that serve us better. What if we are just plain interested in finding out our capacity to do great things. Not comparing to others, but rather seeking and finding the possibilities within that help us show up in a different way in the world. It's an idea that I feel is interesting to explore. As I state in this episode, I'm still learning how to make this shift. And, the language that supports expressing the concept. But, I feel different as I work on this in myself. And, that different is propelling me forward in new and interesting ways. #moveyourdesk #podcast #selfhelp #helpyourself #personaldevelopment #capability

Episode 119 - Helping Yourself with Self-Help

You are strong and capable in so many areas. And, not so much in other ways. It's ok. Some weaknesses you'll want to keep, because you aren't interested in working on them. And, others are great at filling in those gaps for you. Some weaknesses you'll want to work on in some ways - changing something about yourself or changing something about your situation. Not sure what your weaknesses are? Try new jobs or neighborhoods, explore different places, spend time with family. The weaknesses will make themselves known. And, you get to decide what to do with what you discover.

Episode 118 - Exposing the Weaknesses

Thoughtful nudges and practical frameworks to help you do your best work. Stories, resources, and thoughts from host Rebecca Clark. Access all episodes at the Move Your Desk site - https://moveyourdesk.com/podcast/

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Move Your Desk

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