We

"We did it, Caddy Jane! We did it, Caddy Jane!"

This is what my nearly two year old son shouted after saying, "Daddy, ball in the hoops" (Caddy Jane is a character from one of his favorite stories). I, of course, followed his directions and shot the ball into the basket. He was so excited that he danced and twirled around while he shouted, arms way up in the air.

When was the last time we felt like shouting and dancing around after someone else's accomplishment? When have we been so excited for someone to score a basket, finish a race, accomplish a task, or just come by to see us?

We often get buried in work, responsibilities, and obligations that we lose focus on what's really important. We see the things that want to finish, would like to have done, or yearn to accomplish and don't see or celebrate what we already have or is accomplished.

When was the last time you stopped and thought about what you have done in life? What are things to celebrate? When was the last time you stopped to think about the things that others have accomplished, especially those closest to you? What can we celebrate?

Write down a few accomplishments, then go find the people who helped you do it. Then, go find others who have done something to celebrate and shout with them! If you're not the shouting type, give them a hug, write them a note, or mention their name in a meeting or at the dinner table.

A little celebration can go a long way!

Image by scottbanbrug

No Rush

"If you're in a rush, you must not like where you are." ~TJ Wolfe

My wife is 8 months pregnant, at the moment. When she gives me "the call" I will move very quickly, and that's understandable. However, moving very quickly through life every day, all the time is something different.

What if...

What if spending two extra minutes with a student allows them to open up and tell you what's really bothering them, and causing the undesirable behavior?

What if asking one more question to your spouse gets them to open up and tell you how they really feel because you do want to hear what they have to say?

What if you spent two extra minutes to type in a praise to a colleague who's done a great job, but doesn't always get credit?

What if you spent five more minutes sitting quietly on a park bench with no distractions, just you and a few thoughts to work through?

What would these little extras give you? A better relationship with your student? A deeper connection with your spouse? A better working environment? A less stressful day, and a peace and calm that carry you through the week?

We rush here and there and don't take the time to do the extra things that matter. Let's spend more time on what matters and less on the things that don't!

Image by Johnragai

One Screen

"Quality, not quantity." ~Unknown

We live in an age of many screens. TV's, computers, tablets, smartphones, billboards (many are digital now), and jumbo tron screens rule our view wherever we go. We have options for what we want to see and include on most of the screens. We have the option of downloading literally hundreds of thousands of apps.

This can create a device with so many screens filled with all the apps that it can be difficult to keep track of where everything is.

We also have to decide how and when we use all of these apps. Once we download them (many were free) we feel a slight urgency to use them, even if we're still not sure how. We just decided to grab it while it was free.

With so many apps and so many screens we can find ourselves overloaded and bogged down. Using all of these apps and figuring out ways they can make life 'better' takes time and energy.

Instead, we should think about what aspects of our lives, schedules, and work could be improved and then find a system or tool that helps us with it. Finding one thing/app/system at a time lets us focus more clearly and intentionally as opposed to  finding a bunch of 'stuff' then trying to force it in somewhere.

For example, if you find yourself writing lots of post-it notes and sticking them all over the place, what is a tool or system that could help you manage this? Many smartphones have a notetaking app that you could write down a note any time you needed, then email it to yourself so you can take care of that idea when you're sitting at your desk or are on a computer where it would be easier and more efficient to work on. 

Also, if you find yourself constantly sending emails to yourself with files attached so you can access them on a different computer, consider using DropBox. Keep all of your files that you are currently 'Working On' in a folder inside of DropBox and you'll always have your necessary files with you on any device.

If you search the Internet a lot and want to save many of the pages for later reading or sharing, consider Instapaper or Evernote. These applications allow you to save your link and article (among other things) and access them on any computer or device.

There are many, many more apps and systems out there that can help you do the things you do each day, better. The trick is weeding through all of the things that are not necessary to find what is. Just as a gem hunter looks for valuable minerals in the dirt and does not keep all of the dirt, instead he only takes what is valuable and leaves everything else behind.

You should do this, too. Consider one screen for all of the apps you have, this will allow you to focus on what's truly going to help you, and not take away time and energy. Just as Twitter limits you to one hundred and forty characters, limit yourself to one screen and see what happens!

Image by TJ Wolfe

Tiny Moments of Service

“It does not take much strength to do things, but it requires a great deal of strength to decide what to do.” ~Elbert Hubbard

You will hear others become angry when little things such the paper towel dispenser is empty or there no staples left in the stapler or no one refilled the printer with ink or paper or, or, or... These little frustrations can cause a mood to change, a day to be turned upside down, or even a big breakdown in front of colleagues, family members, or others in public around to be a witness.

How about we start thinking of these instances as tiny moments of service? Why not change the toilet paper roll before it gets empty, buy a new tube of toothpaste and set it next to the one almost empty before someone mentions getting a new one, take out the trash and put a new liner in it before anyone notices it needs to be changed, buy a new bag of dog food before scruffy goes hungry, before, before, before...

Doing these things doesn't take much time or effort, but deciding to do them and getting into the habit does. So why not start today? Fill the stapler right now! Write yourself a note on that fancy smartphone of yours to stop in and get dog food on the way home (leave 5 minutes earlier than usual, it's ok), go check the printer to make sure there's enough paper and, heck, put more in even if it's pretty full.

Start this habit and notice how things turn around!

Image by GorillaSushi

Being Cool

"The worst possible condition to be in life is cool." ~Scott Alexander, Rhinoceros Success

Being cool is not cool. That's right, it's not. Being cool requires a lot of effort, it requires a lot thought and planning. Most of us who try to be cool end up looking just the opposite. So don't be cool.

People who are said to be cool end up not liking a lot of things. They tend to say stuff like, "Dude, that's not cool," or "why are doing that? It's not cool." And funny enough they are the ones that don't do much. They mostly stand around, or walk really slowly and cool-like, telling others what isn't cool.

Be different. Don't be cool. Be who you are and like what you like. Listen to The Backstreet Boys really loud with your windows down while driving, wear the orange pair of pants from high school that have been hanging there for years, and watch the movies that you always wanted to see, but were worried that others would think you weren't cool.

Most of all start talking to others about all the ideas you have and don't worry if they don't like them or don't believe they're hip. If you're talking to people about big ideas and they shoot you down, find new people to talk to. Most likely you're talking to 'cool' people when you share big ideas and they don't like to hear them.

So, here's to not being cool.

Image by Berge Gazen