Look at your feet. Go ahead, take a peek. Where are they - on the floor under your desk? Walking? On the carpet in your study? The point is that you need to be where they are - more importantly, your mind needs to be where they are! Be in the mindful moment. I know, that's a nice, alliterative phrase, "mindful moment". With all the multi-tasking we do now, why not experiment with being right here, looking at your feet and getting the most out of what's happening right now? Bring your full mental powers to now, instead of allowing distractions to run roughshod over your best answers. Some things to experiment with:
- Use your legal pad. They all have left hand columns (LHC) set apart from the area where we usually write. Make left hand column notes to settle the flotsam and jetsam of those thoughts and to-do lists that pop up in meetings. Some of my clients even uses different color pens to make LHC notes.
- When you look at your feet, remind yourself of what is going on in relation to where you are: I'm at a meeting in the client's office. The topic is fees. I've had this discussion before and I want the outcome to be different. Pay close attention without letting your mind jump ahead. Ask three questions of your client and then listen to the answers (listening means your mouth isn't moving)
- Drifting off to how you'll have the discussion with your superior if the client wants reduced fees is for later, not now. Write intrusive thoughts in the LHC.
- Stay in the moment. Look at your feet.
Two recent revelations when I was practicing being mindful:
- I have changed from the person I was last month, last year, and taking an inventory reflects who I am now. Tactical Result: a new calendar system that tracks the goals of all my roles: wife, business person, daughter, coach, sister, teacher, etc.
- I have always insisted on staying on time in meetings I chair, rushing along those who speak at the end in service to ending exactly on time, losing the last meaningful voice. Tactical result: manage to the voices not to the clock. Doesn't mean run-over every meeting - I'll naturally manage time because I'm wired to do so - but don't lose important voices because time has run out.
Life isn't a race, it's a target shoot. Saving time doesn't count. What matters is your ability to hit the center.
Love your website! Will certainly have Rocco take a look for any perspective Wyeth opportunities. Very impressive and informative.
Debbie Surace
Posted by: Debbie Surace | December 13, 2008 at 01:29 PM