Busy or productive? (Repost)

“Beware the barrenness of a busy life”.

(Socrates)

Dictionary.com defines busy as having a great deal to do.

Conversely, Dictionary.com defines productive as producing or able to produce large amounts of goods, crops, or other commodities.

So, which of these definitions describes your daily endeavors in the workplace?

People use the terms in a similar fashion, but I am quick to tell folks my goal is to be productive daily.

Busy can quickly become a mindset that leads to staff becoming overwhelmed with the tasks they must handle in the work environment. I ask staff members how they are doing throughout the day and when I hear someone say they are busy I simply ask: are you busy or productive?

This makes folks pause for a bit and then they want to know the difference. Again, I refer to the two distinct definitions. Someone who exclaims they are busy is identifying they have a lot of things to do, and they are thinking about that workload. Some will just come out and say I have a lot on my plate and need to get things done. Sounds reasonable but it can also cause a mental drain on the staff member and anyone else who hears a constant “I am busy” drumbeat in the work environment. Yes, there may be a lot to do but saying ‘busy’ does not move the needle to get things done.

Flip the script!

My goal is to be productive daily, and this starts with the concept of coming to work to get things done. The old saying talk is cheap would apply here. Talking about being busy does nothing to get task accomplished. A productive mindset allows staff members to come in with focus and take an active role in getting things done. Tools I use to increase productivity:

To Do Lists (daily, weekly, monthly)
Outlook calendar (meeting reminders, team time off, out of office reminders)
Face to face conversations
Email
Large Post It Notes on my office walls
Staff meetings (group, 1:1, virtual)

I have used To Do Lists for most of my professional life and these lists help me plan/organize my day to keep me focused on deadlines and work products I need to complete. I begin each morning before going into the office with a list of action items I want to accomplish for the day. I sync this list up with any items I did not complete the previous day once I arrive in the office.

FYI, I am also the first person in the building most days so I can have 45 minutes to consolidate my lists and build a game plan for the day. Yes, I put this much thought into my operation to ensure I have a productive day. I am trying to maximize my opportunities to be productive and leverage all the tools available to help me with this. A secondary benefit of my lists is they allow me to pick up where I left off when I must help staff members with a task or problem. I can come back and pick up where I left off without wasting time trying to remember what I need to get done. Please note, staff and clients take priority, so I get a lot of practice coming back to my daily lists.

Face to face conversations are a great way to keep the productivity flowing. I find simply getting up from my desk and going to have a conversation is more productive than emailing back and forth. We can talk things through, come to a consensus and eliminate potential misunderstandings. Of course, this only works if the person is available to have a conversation. 😊

The large Post It Notes on my office walls is something I started while working in the Florida State University’s Career Center. The concept was for me to put big projects on Post It Notes so staff could come into the office and add updates to each project. I began to allow staff to build their own projects and put them on my office walls so we could work them together. I got the Post It Note idea because my white board was not large enough to highlight multiple projects. I purchase the Post It Notes from Staples and they stick to the wall. These notes provide a great visual to highlight how productive we are on any given day. One of my current staff members said coming into my office and seeing the notes is like being ‘in my mind’. I quickly told her to get out of there because there is a lot going on up there. 😊

There are other ways to become productive in the work environment, but these are a few that I leverage daily to help move me and the organization forward.

So, I ask you, are you busy or productive? What tools are you using to help your productivity? I welcome your thoughts—thanks!

“Focus on being productive instead of busy”.

(Tim Ferris)

The Wonder Years

art artistic blank page book — Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

My how the time flies

When you look back and wonder

How did we get here?

When did that happen?

The promise that was promised

Had diminished over time

And left the wonder of why

And can the path be adjusted

To fulfill the destiny of the wonder

That was first wondered by me

Inspiration Man strikes again—Central Florida Economic Council

“Surround yourself with people who are only going to lift you higher”.

(UK Wired)

Dictionary.com defines inspiration as a divine influence directly or immediately exerted upon the mind or soul.

I have multiple Walk into the Future blog posts discussing superpowers and why they are important in our daily walk. Here is one of my favorites where I introduce my readers to Inspiration Man. 😊

https://walkintothefuture.blog/2020/02/13/superheroes-are-all-around-us-open-your-mind-to-see-them/

My move to Fort Pierce has allowed me to make a difference but it is more of an organizational difference so far. We have adjusted work product and flow in my first 14 months. It almost feels like a complete overhaul of the organization based on how we revamped our services, products, and delivery methods. I did not expect this level of adjustment when I arrived, but we have made steady progress on modernizing our services and delivery.

The concept of Inspiration Man came up to highlight how I make an impact in the daily lives of others. Inspiration Man has been doormat, but this all changed when I received an email from a colleague in Orlando who works with the Central Florida Economic Council (CFEC) and Christian HELP.

Both organizations work to help people in Central Florida get back on their feet—job search, housing, food, etc. My friend is the Division Director for these organizations and asked me to speak at their May 2021 Job Fair. I did something similar 10 years ago and she remembered my positive impact on job seekers and wanted me to share my knowledge again. She does not know about my alter ego, Inspiration Man but she was about to unleash the superhero on the Orlando area. 😊

I quickly accepted the opportunity to move the crowd and share information with job seekers. The topic given: Job Searching in 2021—How to Adapt.

This was not a topic I had in my speaking library, but the challenge was to find a way to cover this information and engage with the audience. They provided an article with a ton of useful information, so this was the foundation of the presentation.

I never miss an opportunity to help, and this process was exciting; research, building and then presenting information to people who needed to hear from me.

I made my way to Winter Garden on the day of the event. Decided to drive over and then change at the venue prior to show time. My friend greeted me at the door, and we took a little time to catch up on life. She remembered the book I published in 2010 and thought I had another one ready to present to the group. FYI—I have been working on producing an eBook on Authentic Leadership, but it is not ready for public consumption. It should be coming later in 2021—get ready!

Inspiration Man made a quick dash into the dressing room to change into my superhero outfit for the day. Trying to be funny with that—it was a grey suit with a power blue tie.

Headed off to do a quick microphone check and make a quick adjustment to my slide deck. The event was held at Mosaic Church in Winter Garden, Florida and they have a fantastic audiovisual team. Sound checks allow me to gauge the acoustic of the venue to understand how loud I need to speak into the microphone. All systems go!

https://thisismosaic.org/

I took the stage after the host took care of some announcements and introduced me as the featured speaker of the day. It is always weird to me when I hear someone introducing me at an event—I want to look around to see who they are talking about, and it is ME.

I like to start my presentations by building rapport with the audience. One member spoke with me before the presentation and shared she was having a hard time finding employment. She mentioned a few things she tried but was having troubles. This quick conversation allowed me to bring a real-world situation into my presentation and highlight I was there to help. I speak with slides, but this does not drive how I present. Slides to me provide a foundation but I am not limited to the words on my slide show.

I am a huge fan of Jocko and introduced this video to set the tone for the day:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IdTMDpizis8

Diving into the presentation I covered:

Trends
Search parameters
Personal messages
Competition
Presentation (Elevator pitch)

Each topic came directly from the article they provided, and I leveraged this data to highlight how the current trends favored the job seekers. We jumped into new job search parameters and ways to gain and keep an employer’s attention. The personal messages centered on building a WHY statement. Of course, I shared my WHY with the group to show how it can impact a positive mindset.

The competition on the job search is really internal—preparing well enhances the client’s ability to connect with employers. The presentation centered on creating an elevator pitch to helps a client standout in a positive manner.

The audience responded well to each topic and had a lot of questions for me during my hour with them on stage. This was the most fun I have had in a long time. Working with motivated people who want to learn and get better brings out the best in me. I was intent on moving the crowd during this event and happy to report mission accomplished.

Several folks waited to speak with me after and tell me their unique stories. I listened and shared my contact information so they can reach out to me when ready. I am happy to help them continue to grow.

Hoping to get additional invitation to help with CFEC/Christian HELP events again soon. May be time for Inspiration Man to make another appearance! 😊

“Do not let yesterday take up too much of today”.

(Will Rogers)

Poetic Flow

GLORY

Nothing ventured

Nothing gained

The glory we need

Must be maintained

Seeking the knowledge

Becomes a daily challenge

To continue to learn and grow

To make today better than yesterday

Seeking the future glory

The goal remains the same

Make the world a better place

And remember to say the names

(George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery)

Positive people make positive things happen!

Positive

“Once you replace negative thoughts with positive ones, you’ll start having positive results”.

(Willie Nelson)

Positive people make positive things happen is one of my favorite quotes to live by! This quote has been with me for years—I do not even remember when or where I started using it but incorporate this quote in life daily.

The quote is straight forward and simple but has the power to transform. Think of the negative people you know and their impact within the work environment. I mention the work environment but negative people impact us whenever they are around. I would love to say you can avoid negative people but there are times when you will come in contact with them. Do not let this time linger as these folks can drain you. Nothing is ever good enough or there is always a reason why something cannot be done.

Let’s get back to the positives in this article! 😊

Positive anything is better than the negative counterpart. Think of the positive people in your life and how they make YOU feel. These folks are always seeking a way to make things around them better. It could be how they greet you in the morning or the ever present smile on their face even when things are not going their way. It would be easy for them to complain but they do not. They seek the positives in the situation and how to make things better. They strive to get things done and not worry about the circumstances.

This ability to seek the positives directly translates to making positive things happen. This is not a coincidence—focusing on positives allows these folks to generate positive outcomes. They use their time and energy to find solutions to make a difference on projects they work on.

These are the folks I gravitate towards because they are solution focused—not looking for excuses why things cannot get done. I pride myself as a positive person and wake up daily to make a difference in the world. This mindset has helped guide me towards successful outcomes in whatever venture I seek to conquer. Please note, there are days when negative thoughts creep in but I quickly shake them off so I can continue to move forward.

That negative friend, coworker or family member drains energy by identifying why something cannot be done. These negative folks spend more time taking away from finding a solution—there are times where I see this negative mindset attract like minded folks and they feed off each other. Do not fall into this trap—avoid these people at all costs. Better yet, be so positive they want to avoid you or at least want to emulate the positivity you put on display daily. I find joy frustrating negative people by not allowing their issues to come into my world.

My goal is for them to join in on the positive things happening.

What do you do to ensure a positive mindset? How do you avoid the negative noise from others?

As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another

(Proverbs 27:17)

Poetic Friday–The Joint

Poetry

(Image by Valerio Errani from Pixabay)

The poet knows

The time and place to let the words flow

To get the point across

To those who read the words composed

Waxing a poetic and majestic flow

Is the goal the wordsmith is looking for

How we get there is not the important point

Putting the words together

That makes you think, smile and act

Now, that’s the joint!

“Poetry is nearer to vital truth than history”.

(Plato)

Black History is 365!

(Image by Greg Montani from Pixabay)

“He who is not courageous enough to take risks will accomplish nothing in life”.

(Muhammad Ali)

Another Black History month has come and gone.

What did you do to commemorate the great things you learned during past Black History months? How did your community or work organization celebrate the one month out of the year set aside to highlight Black History?

Yes, I am happy we get a month to showcase the great things black people have done and celebrate things we are currently doing. This year just seems a bit subdued—it could be because of COVID-19 but it seems the month flew by and not much was celebrated. I saw a few spots on TV discussing Black History month and the importance of remembering the past but nothing really jumped out at me as a highlight. I hope the country did not go into a shell because of the insurrection that occurred on January 6, 2021. Just a thought!

My Black History month moment came as a complete surprise to me. I saw an Instagram story from my niece Jayla that read: So sad, none of this is taught in school.

Look at the list below and tell me how many of these things you knew were invented by a black person:

Product	Inventor	Date
Air Conditioning Unit	Frederick M. Jones	1949
Almanac	Benjamin Banneker	1791
Auto Cut off switch	Granville T. Woods	1839
Auto Fishing Device	George Cook	1899
Baby Buggy	William H. Richardson	1889
Biscuit Cutter	Alexander P. Ashbourne	1875
Blood Plasma Bag	Charles Drew	1945
Clothes Dryer	George T. Sampson	1971
Curtain Rod Support	William S. Grant	1896
Door Knob	Osbourn Dorsey	1878
Door Stop	Osbourn Dorsey	1878
Elevator	Alexander Miles	1867
Fire Escape Ladder	Joseph W. Winters	1878
Fire Extinguisher	Thomas Marshall	1872
Folding Chair	Nathaniel Alexander	1911
Gas Mask	Garrett Morgan	1914
Golf Tee	George T. Grant	1899
Ice Cream Scoop	Alfred L. Cralle	1897
Ironing Board	Sarah Boone	1887
Lantern	Michael C. Harvey	1884
Mail Box	Paul L. Downing	1891
Peanut Butter	George W. Carver	1896
Pencil Sharpener	John L. Love	1897
Spark Plug	Edmond Berger	1839
Stethoscope	Thomas A. Carrington	1876
Straightening Comb	Madam C. J. Walker	1905
Street Sweeper	Charles B. Brooks	1890
Thermostat Control	Frederick M. Jones	1960
Traffic Light	Garrett Morgan	1923
Tricycle	Matthew A. Cherry	1886

I pride myself in knowing history but could only match three inventions to inventors:

Traffic light (Garret Morgan)
Straightening comb (Madame C. J. Walker)
Peanut butter (George Washington Carver)

Everything else on this list was brand new to me. How can this be? We are taught a modified version of history in school. It is completely one sided and it appears we are supposed to learn as much as possible in February so we can get back to the regularly scheduled history program. Imagine growing up in a country that shares tidbits of your history—how would you feel when you finally discover great things were being kept from you?

I waited for February to end before diving into Black History to extend the conversation. Yes, I am happy to have a month dedicated to my history but as you can see from the list above, we need more time. How can someone invent the elevator in 1867 and we have no knowledge of this fact? I apologize, maybe it is just me with no knowledge of this fact, but my point is this was a MAJOR invention, but we do not pay homage to Alexander Miles. Truth be told, I never heard his name before. How is that possible? Thanks to Sarah Boone I can iron my clothes daily, so I have a pressed look at work. Imagine how we would look if she did not invent the ironing board? How would the mailman deliver your mail without Paul L. Downing? I am sure most people in the world still use some version of the mailbox.

So, Black History Month is over, but your lessons do not have to stop. I encourage you to continue to seek out Black History and share with others. We all have a lot to learn—let’s get to it! 😊

What did you learn during Black History month? How do you plan to keep the conversation going? Thanks!

“If you know whence you came, there is really no limit to where you can go”.(James Baldwin)

Falling back: Running and staying safe

“Running in the dark, learning to embrace the dark side”.

(Pinterest quote)

I wanted to use a clever quote to highlight the new Walk into the Future adventure that happens when we switch from Daylight Savings time. Most of us understand the time falls back in America every fall. This occurred for us on November 1, 2020. Some people like the time change and others hate it. I was never too concerned with the time changes—still do not understand why we continue to do this but make the clock adjustments like everyone else.

My concern as a running tourist is my weekday runs on Tuesdays and Thursdays are done in the dark. I routinely leave work on Tuesdays and Thursdays and head out for my weekday runs as part of my normal training routine. Nothing spectacular with this process prior to the time change but now I leave work and it is dark when I head out for my runs.

I have been telling people I work with how I combat running in the dark but do not believe they fully understand what it takes to remain safe and be seen when running this time of the year.

I take my running program seriously and cannot imagine not running during the week. My way to combat the darkness is to invest in reflective gear to ensure I remain safe when out for my runs. My runs prior to moving to Fort Pierce were all done during the day—all my weekly runs were completed during the day—mostly in the mornings prior to the Florida heat kicked in during the summer. My winter runs could be done a little later but were still completed with plenty of daylight available.

My move to Fort Pierce and daily work schedule make weekday runs after work a better option to maintain my mileage. I still leverage the weekend runs to get my long runs in but need the weekday runs to build up my base miles and keep me focused on race days.

I invested in reflective gear to keep me visible and safe when I run in the dark. My first investment was to get reflective bands I wear on my legs. These bands can be seen when illuminated by light and ensure I can be seen when it is dark outside. I like to ensure an extra level of visibility so invested in a fluorescent and reflective running vest. I did not use this vest much when I lived in Tallahassee but wanted to make sure I had it when needed. This vest is one of my best purchases I have ever made from Dick’s Sporting Goods. Was able to get it on sale and it gives me the confidence to continue to run even when it is dark outside.

I jokingly tell people the vest makes me glow in the dark, but it is true. The yellow run vest stands out and has two reflective strips as an added feature. Both strips can be seen when lights bounce off them. My goal when running in the darkness is to remain safe and ensure everyone can see me.

I have decided to adjust my running routes with the time change to minimize how many intersections I must cross. My Tuesday and Thursday runs have been cut down to no more than 4 miles since this distance keeps me out of traffic and I avoid driveways where people could back out and not see me. Scaling back on my miles during the week means I must increase my weekend miles to make up for the reduction. I believe this is a fair trade off to keep me running and safe.

I have decided to embrace the darkness safely and keep on running! 😊

How has the time change impacted your weekly routines? What adjustments have you made to keep Walking into the Future?

https://www.google.com/search?q=nike+yellow+reflective+vest&rlz=1C1CHBF_enUS857US857&sxsrf=ALeKk03l1uO8SmiX2TofirybZe4QmJM2xA:1604883493827&tbm=isch&source=iu&ictx=1&fir=f3Hql8jk6Eq0SM%252CX0d4PJoZsgcOZM%252C_&vet=1&usg=AI4_-kTwn_H3o6AJV7nfKxJH-1OFopDqxA&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiLqrj0oPTsAhXks1kKHYmcCMEQ9QF6BAgDEEc#imgrc=f3Hql8jk6Eq0SM

“Stars cannot shine without darkness”.

(Pinterest quote)

Success in Black and White podcast

Success

(Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay)

“A podcast is a great way to develop relationships with hard-to-reach people”.

(Tim Paige)

The Walk into the Future blog has provided me with multiple opportunities to share my words, thoughts, and experiences with others.

I started this journey in 2018 with an idea of the direction I wanted to go but had no idea the process would be so much fun for me. The ability to be creative and explore adventures are two key elements that allow me to continue to produce content for the blog. I love the comments, texts, and emails I receive when something I write speaks to others—I guess you can say I am finding my voice as I develop content.

One area that puts a huge smile on my face is when one of my tree branches reaches out and want to produce content with me. My smile gets even bigger when the request comes from TWO tree branches! 😊

My tree branches, Darryl and April Lovett have a successful platform: Success in Black and White.

Proud of these two as they tackle issues others may shy away from, but they have fun as they do it. Love the fact they move forward as a POWER couple; their energy is contagious and makes you want to get up and make a difference in the world.

They asked me to join them for a podcast episode and I immediately said yes. Saw this as a perfect way to catch up with them and share a little bit of Walk into the Future with their growing audience. Please note, recording the episode was more fun than I ever imagined—well done Darryl and April!

We were able to catch up during the podcast and cover a lot of content in the one-hour timeframe. They asked great questions and were not afraid to follow-up for clarity. The question that really got me energized was: What is your calling and why are you passionate about it?

I have been asked this question in multiple ways but really enjoy the opportunity to continue to share my WHY. My why is to leave everyone better than when I met them. It took me a few years to put this down into a simple statement, but it has been with me for some time now.

I was able to dive a bit deeper while speaking with Darryl and April during the podcast. My desire to help others started for me in high school. I had a Guidance Counselor who did not even try to help me plan my life after high school. I had several friends who got excellent advice from this same counselor, but she only told me to join the military. We never discussed how to apply to colleges, how to apply for financial aid or anything about further education and the doors it would open. Fast forward and I hold three degrees without ever having a student loan—so maybe it was a good thing my high school guidance counselor did not help me with the process. 😊

My why is driven by the lack of support I received from my guidance counselor. I provide mentorship to everyone that crosses my path because I do not want them to have to struggle because I would not take the time to help them. I wanted to make sure Darryl, April and their audience understood how important this is for me. The passion I display when working with my tree branches and potential branches is because I want to help them grow. Sounds cliché but it is something I live every day.

A funny but true aspect of how I developed my why is I do not remember the name of my high school guidance counselor. Imagine, this lady fueled my passion with her lack of attention to my future and I do not remember her name, but she has allowed me to touch so many lives in a positive way. Good things come out of bad situations. Please note, I would not change a thing—I seem to be doing okay with this Walk into the Future journey.

Discovered during the podcast episode April also considers herself a running tourist! We got a chance to discuss why I run and the positive impacts it has on my daily journey. Hoping we can all get back to running, exploring, and traveling soon—there are still races out there to run.

So, I repeat the question Darryl and April asked me:

What is your calling and why are you passionate about it?

Thank you, Darryl and April for allowing me to come on your podcast! It was fun! 😊 Irie!

“Podcasting is great. Total freedom”.

(Bill Burr)

Poetic Friday

Dream Weaver

Be careful what you dream

Because sometimes dreams do come true

So, what’s the problem you may ask?

The dream you dream may in fact not be for you

Life provides opportunities for you to reach your goals

The key to this process is to know the correct path to follow

Look beyond tomorrow

Search for the things you need

Use this knowledge and your dreams to succeed

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GLORY

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