The Problem with Priorities
The wisdom of setting priorities to rank facets of life, essential activities, and tasks with approaching deadlines seems obvious at first. Yet, even if we succeed in numbering our priorities, these rankings fail to resolve the tensions between competing demands on our time and attention. For example, quips like “family first” suggest work responsibilities should […]Read More…Flexible Work Arrangements: Do they help or hinder work-life balance?
“Raise your hand if you’ve ever responded to a work email from home,” the presenter began, during a session on work and technology. All the audience members raised their hands, acknowledging that despite set hours and offices designated for work tasks, each of them had engaged in some form of virtual work from home. Technology […]Read More…Stepping into New Seasons of Life & Work
My nearly 18-year-old announced at the dinner table that she has decided which college to attend this fall. While I’m excited for her future plans, it’s another reminder that I’m entering a new season. Each life and career stage brings with it a set of challenges and opportunities. Like spring, summer, winter, and fall, the […]Read More…Do you need a new perspective?
Unlike my brother, the pilot, I don’t often get a chance to fly. When I do, I still have the awe of rising above the land until people look like ants and houses look like Monopoly pieces. Recently I was flying from Washington, D.C. to Chicago on a particularly dreary day. The gray sky and […]Read More…Do you make time to play?
My kids have no problem playing. In fact, given the choice, they will choose playing over anything else – homework, chores, sleep. They have a built-in propensity to enjoy themselves and don’t hesitate to set aside more mundane tasks to engage in some plain old playtime. Me, not so much. I’m not sure when I […]Read More…Success in a Season of Transition
I am in a season of transition right now, which is both exhilarating and terrifying at the same time. This year I am planning the growth of one business while cooking up a new business venture. I’m exploring new training options and wondering how to manage my existing responsibilities with the new endeavors of the […]Read More…Go for the Goal
Around the beginning of the year, an eruption of articles on goal-setting and resolutions can be found on blogs, in magazines, and elsewhere. We take a stab at a fresh start when the clock strikes midnight and the New Year begins. The upside is that these goals and resolutions give us new hope that we […]Read More…When Doing It All Means Doing Nothing
There has been an ongoing debate for years about the ability of men and particularly women to do-it-all or have-it-all. The question is usually posed and answered as an impossibility. Of course no one can do everything, but it doesn’t stop us from trying. So we continue to push ourselves to do more. Unfortunately, we […]Read More…The Routines that Saved the Day
My days are just a little bit full, between teaching university classes and local workshops, running an online tutoring company, blogging, serving on two local leadership teams, and trying to keep up with the activities and education of my children, sometimes I just get frazzled. I genuinely love what I do, but I sometimes have […]Read More…What the Pioneering Spirit Teaches Us about Innovation & Productivity
My kids and I enjoy reading together. This year we have been working our way through the Little House on the Prairie series by Laura Ingalls Wilder. While my kids are mainly interested in the adventures and experiences described by the pioneer girl, I have been struck by the lessons we can learn about innovation […]Read More…What Legacy Are You Leaving?
The second habit described by Stephen Covey in his book The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People says to “begin with the end in mind.” Thinking about what is important to us, what we want to be remembered for allows us to clarify our personal mission and direct our efforts to the areas that matter […]Read More…Stop Trying to Reinvent the Wheel
Doing something new can be a daunting endeavor. Whether we are taking on a new project, developing a fledgling idea, or simply learning to do a task we haven’t done before, trying something new can leave us feeling a bit overwhelmed. This is especially true if we are starting from scratch, trying to reinvent the […]Read More…Time Management Secrets for Getting the Most Out of Every Day
We all want to make the most of the time we have, but too often a day seems to slip away before we accomplish everything we wanted. I write elaborate to do lists only to have most (and sometimes all) of the items left at the end of the day. Even when I do manage […]Read More…One Powerful Book that Will Change Your Life
Our lives can get very dull when we feel trapped in the mundane tasks and routines of daily life. It is easy to get bogged down in our responsibilities and the work that simply must get done. Yet, too much of the mundane will dull our senses and suck the life out of us, leaving […]Read More…Lessons from Your Big Toe on Work-Life Balance
We all want to know how to achieve balance in our work-life spheres, hoping that when we do, we will be able to move smoothly between work and life activities. While some have criticized the balance metaphor, Michael Hyatt, in a recent blog post titled What No One Ever Told You About Work-Life Balance, challenged […]Read More…How Much Is Your Job Costing You?
When we evaluate our work we usually look at how it suits our skill-set, whether the schedule fits our needs, and if the salary is fair. We may not consider how much a job is costing us. I’m not talking about the intangible aspects of a job like health or commuting time. Sticking strictly with […]Read More…Making Peace with a Never-ending To Do List
Lately I have been reflecting on my to do list, and the fact that it never ends. For every item I cross off, there seems to be two items that take its place. Each day I work to finish the list, but each night there are still items leftover, waiting for the next day to […]Read More…Cultivating your Calling
When my oldest daughter was 18-months-old, she had defined abdominal muscles. It was not because of anything we did; she simply loved to move and stayed very active. The day my son was born I took one look at his long fingers as he waved them in the air and knew he must play the […]Read More…Guilt-Free Getaways
Taking time to recharge is vital to maintaining a high level of productivity. While we often push ourselves to work more, it is actually best to stop working on a regular basis so you can return to work refreshed and re-energized. Scheduling in low-cost getaways is a great way to get a change of scenery […]Read More…Planning for Where You Want To Be
Are we there yet? It’s the annoying question my children often ask from the backseat on a road trip to visit family. In my better moments I distract and entertain them with stories and games and if I’m lucky a nice long nap. In my lesser moments I retort, “Does it look like we have […]Read More…Evaluating Corporate Culture and Making Changes (Part 4)
Today we wrap up our discussion of corporate culture with a practical application. In Part 1 we explored the importance of a positive corporate culture to the health of the organization. Then we examined why progressive corporate cultures enhance the inner workings of a company in Part 2. Next, Part 3 focused on how to […]Read More…Five Signs of a Toxic Corporate Culture (Part 3)
If you’ve ever worked somewhere toxic, you can probably spot a toxic corporate culture quickly. Talking with employees or simply watching the way they work and interact says a lot about the health of the organization. When there is a toxic corporate culture, the workflow and interactions between coworkers and even employees and customers is […]Read More…Five Benefits of a Progressive Corporate Culture (Part 2)
Each organization has its own unique culture. From the way executives handle expansion to the conversation around the water cooler, the organization’s culture permeates the way work happens. New hiring practices have begun looking at culture and personality as two facets for finding the right people to fit the company. For example, some employers have […]Read More…Is Your Corporate Culture Working for You or Against You? (Part 1)
Culture, like water in a fishbowl, is the environment we are immersed in as we go through our day. We may not even pay attention to the cultural norms all around us because they just seem “normal.” Or we may not recognize the elements of culture because we’ve never experienced anything different. As the Chinese […]Read More…5 Ancient Keys to Productivity and Success
Tips for making the most of our time are everywhere. Time management tools to increase productivity are sought after technologies that we hope will give us an edge to get more done. From software platforms to daily planners, we hope to sync our way to success. The number of time management books on the market […]Read More…The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly of Working from Home
For many people, working from home sounds like an ideal situation. No more traffic. No more cramped office cubicle. And more flexibility to get the work done while managing other responsibilities. It saves time commuting to and from an office not to mention money normally spent on gas and car maintenance, work attire, and lunches […]Read More…Keeping Your Credentials Current
Staying up-to-date on new information or developing trends in your field is always an ongoing process. In many fields, it is even required to keep your credentials current through continuing education, renewed certifications and licenses, or other professional development. Depending on the field, failing to meet the requirements can cause you to lose your credentials […]Read More…Work-Life Metaphors: Part 2
Work-life metaphors offer insights about the dynamic interaction between work and life spheres. In this second part, we will explore four more common metaphors that offer lessons for managing the many roles and responsibilities we have everyday. If you didn’t see Part 1, you can find it here. Spinning Plates Many years ago I saw […]Read More…Work-Life Metaphors: Part 1
Are you keeping the balls in the air? Keeping the plates spinning? Walking the fine line? Surfing the waves? There are a handful of metaphors that are commonly used to describe the intersection of work and life. They help us visualize the challenges we face in managing multiple roles and a range of responsibilities. They […]Read More…Going Out of Balance on Purpose
We often hear about the importance of balance, yet sometimes we can’t achieve our goals and stay balanced too. When we add a new activity to move us closer to our goals, the time and energy have to come from somewhere. Sacrifices must be made, and for me, that usually means upsetting the delicate balance […]Read More…5 Tips to Improve Communication with Co-workers
We spend a lot of time at work. So when conversations with our co-workers turn sour, it can create ripples throughout our work sphere and spill over into other areas of our lives. While we are often admonished to keep things professional, co-worker communication can be a source of unnecessary conflict. Here are five tips […]Read More…