This week I am working on getting teams of people together for a number of different reasons. Work, adopt a highway clean-up, t-shirt sales...things that are coming up that I need to get organized around.
Although the planning is easy, one thing I forget to do is set expectations for the event as well as for the people. I am great at the planning and organizing, but I forget that people need to know what is expected of them in order to be on the same page as I am.
Here is the example of what I mean. I am organizing a highway clean up for May 1st and the information I have given is the time, date, location, and the recommendation to wear long pants and sleeves. Great! I have an organizing plan. What I have not done and should do it set expectations.
Expectations are different than planning. Expectations are how people should act, behave, and do something. For the example above I need to set the expectations of:
1. We will start at 9am so be at the park and ride at 8:45am
2. We will be walking against traffic only
3. We will NOT cross any lane of traffic for safety reasons
4. We will pick up as much garbage as possible in the 6 hour time frame caring more about plastic and less about paper products
5. We will work as a team not individuals to make sure that safety is the number one concern.
6. We will do the best we can in the time we have
There, expectations. Not to hard, but notice it has nothing to do with how many bags we will fill or how fast we will get it done or how many people will be needed. It is not outcome based, rather attitude based.
This is one example. I think of this now as I remind myself that I need to have personal expectations for myself every day. These shouldn't be that I will work 9 hours today, or work out for 30 minutes, or spend less on lunch...it has nothing to do with action items and more to do with attitude.
So, My personal expectations for this week are: I will treat myself and others with respect, I will hold myself accountable for my actions, I will listen to and support my body and mind, I will take the opportunities to improve as they come available, and I will bring value to my day.
Expectations - personal or otherwise they are needed. Set them and remind yourself that you have personal expectations.
Thursday, April 8, 2010
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
Gone Fishing!
It has been over 6 weeks since I was last fishing and I am getting antsy. I hear how the lakes have reached "ice out" phase, I have been getting all sorts of information in the mail about resorts wanting to take my money so they can take me fishing, and I just cleaned out my wallet and pulled out my 2009 fishing license. Can you feel the excitement!
The best part of the fishing opener this year is that it falls on the day before my birthday; May 8th so I will get to fish on my birthday and mothers day (same day this year) and the full week after. This still doesn't do it for me know though. I know I can't wait another 4 weeks, I just can't.
I have a wall hanging in the basement that is over my canoe bookcase that says "Gone Fishing". Weird place for it I know, but it reminds me that every day I have something to look forward to that I absolutely LOVE. I do.
So this weekend, I will 'pre-fish' a bit. Go for some Crappies or other pan fish to get the lines wet. I can't wait. The sign on the door this weekend will be "Gone Fishing"!
Now the only part to figure out is where should I go to get my license?
Go Fish folks! Whatever your 'fish' is, put out the Gone Fishing sign!
The best part of the fishing opener this year is that it falls on the day before my birthday; May 8th so I will get to fish on my birthday and mothers day (same day this year) and the full week after. This still doesn't do it for me know though. I know I can't wait another 4 weeks, I just can't.
I have a wall hanging in the basement that is over my canoe bookcase that says "Gone Fishing". Weird place for it I know, but it reminds me that every day I have something to look forward to that I absolutely LOVE. I do.
So this weekend, I will 'pre-fish' a bit. Go for some Crappies or other pan fish to get the lines wet. I can't wait. The sign on the door this weekend will be "Gone Fishing"!
Now the only part to figure out is where should I go to get my license?
Go Fish folks! Whatever your 'fish' is, put out the Gone Fishing sign!
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
How much Value did you give and see today?
It has been a crazy day. More meetings then hours in a day it seemed. As I take a moment to write though, I am astound by the amount of value I gave as well as saw today.
I knew it was busy and running from place to place is never easy. Meeting after meeting I heard "you have it under control", "this was very helpful", "we now have a plan" and others. Value statements of control, helpful and planning.
I also saw a lot of value today in people I work with as well as people in my life. Comments like: "You really organized this well", "we have an appointment for the furnace check on the 24th", "I can't wait to help clean up the highway on May 1st", "You really made a difference in being here" and others! Again, value statements of organizing, meeting, helping, and making a difference.
I could have gone through the day with blinders on and not stopping to notice the value of people, projects, and life. I decided not too and rather notice all that is happening around me. Look for the value in people, projects and life.
In Silence the loudest words are spoken! How much value did you give and see today?
I knew it was busy and running from place to place is never easy. Meeting after meeting I heard "you have it under control", "this was very helpful", "we now have a plan" and others. Value statements of control, helpful and planning.
I also saw a lot of value today in people I work with as well as people in my life. Comments like: "You really organized this well", "we have an appointment for the furnace check on the 24th", "I can't wait to help clean up the highway on May 1st", "You really made a difference in being here" and others! Again, value statements of organizing, meeting, helping, and making a difference.
I could have gone through the day with blinders on and not stopping to notice the value of people, projects, and life. I decided not too and rather notice all that is happening around me. Look for the value in people, projects and life.
In Silence the loudest words are spoken! How much value did you give and see today?
Monday, April 5, 2010
Thank you for bringing VALUE to the world today!
Mondays can always be challenging after a nice weekend. A friend of mine uses the line "Thank you for coming to work today" as kind of a humorous way of saying welcome to the new week. I think we need to change this to "Thank you for bringing Value to the world today", it makes more sense.
Work is just what you do on a day to day bases, a job is a group of days you work, but value is what you provide others and yourself with that is important and relavent.
If all of us thought to ourselves "what value will I bring to the world today" what would we be able to accomplish?
Do you wake up thinking that in 9 hours and I will be done working, do you think that at least you have a job, or do you think today you can bring value to those around you by being kind, caring, helpful, and productive?
What if everyone who worked with you had that attitude? What would the world be like? Whoa! Think about it, everyone in the world bringing value to the day - every day! Think of the possibilities!
You have heard the story of how most human's only use 10% of their brain, but in actualaity we use 90-95% of our brain every day. Sorry folks it is true, but how do we use that 90-95% of our brain? Do you use it to just 'make it through' or do you use it to bring value to the world?
How about your body? Do you use 90-95% of your body to bring value to the world?
The challenge is to make every minute of every day valuable, be it personally, professionally, spiritually, emotionally, or physically. Value - relative worth or importance (Webster Dictionary Online, 2010).
Thank you for bringing VALUE to the world today!
Work is just what you do on a day to day bases, a job is a group of days you work, but value is what you provide others and yourself with that is important and relavent.
If all of us thought to ourselves "what value will I bring to the world today" what would we be able to accomplish?
Do you wake up thinking that in 9 hours and I will be done working, do you think that at least you have a job, or do you think today you can bring value to those around you by being kind, caring, helpful, and productive?
What if everyone who worked with you had that attitude? What would the world be like? Whoa! Think about it, everyone in the world bringing value to the day - every day! Think of the possibilities!
You have heard the story of how most human's only use 10% of their brain, but in actualaity we use 90-95% of our brain every day. Sorry folks it is true, but how do we use that 90-95% of our brain? Do you use it to just 'make it through' or do you use it to bring value to the world?
How about your body? Do you use 90-95% of your body to bring value to the world?
The challenge is to make every minute of every day valuable, be it personally, professionally, spiritually, emotionally, or physically. Value - relative worth or importance (Webster Dictionary Online, 2010).
Thank you for bringing VALUE to the world today!
Saturday, April 3, 2010
Introducing Pebbles and Pinochle Peanut
Well with only 4 little monster kitties in the house, it seemed we had room in our home and hearts to add to the family.
We got a call from a friend of ours who works with Feline Rescue in Minneapolis and they had found a white kitty sitting outside a foreclosed home. They called the owners who no longer wanted her so they asked if we could foster her for a while until a permanent home could be found.
Foster??? I am not sure I understand that word --especially when it comes to animals and kids. I grow way to attached to quickly and giving them back is never an option.
So we adopted Spice, changed her name to Pinochle and nickname Peanut. She is shy and already has made the underside of the box spring her new home. She is slowly coming out of her shell thanks in part to Pebbles!
Pebbles - Well here is her scoop. So we are working with Pinochle "Peanut" and had her for less than 14 hours when our "friend" calls Suzan and says "there is a little kitty in the street that looks like a small Rockefeller, can you help?" Rock is the only male cat in the house and he looks like Sylvester - black and white.
9am - I get a call with the question, "How about two?" Say hello to Pebbles.
Why the names?
Well the friends we got Spice from are our Pinochle Card Playing Friends so in honor of their friendship and fun we renamed Spice to Pinochle - Peanut for short.
What do you call a small rock at the beach? A pebble, right? So since this little black and white one is full of trouble like our male kitty Rock, her name is now Pebbles.
As I write this they are playing together, chasing each other around and just being kitties. The kitty family is now complete again.
If you have room in your heart as well as your home, adopt an animal today!
Friday, April 2, 2010
The Minneapolis Rookery - No Vacancy
If you are reading this and live in the Twin Cities of Minnesota you have a treat right out your backdoor. A Blue Heron Rookery!
What is a rookery? Well, a rookery is like a bird condo complex. Other animals who live within a small area can also live in rookeries, but I learned about them through the Blue Heron colony in Ballard Washington.
If you ever go to the Locks in Ballard - Seattle suburb, and look to the top of the trees there you will see 20-40 huge bird nests. Look even closer and you will see the Heron's sitting in them, not just for bringing up their young, but as living quarters.
In Minnesota it is a little different as the Blue Heron migrates to a little warmer country in the winter, but every spring they head back to their summer home in the trees on the Mississippi River.
I watch for them, on the bus every morning, and it excites me to start seeing a pair here or there, but this morning every nest had 2 birds sitting up and watching the sun rise.
I wanted to get up and be a "Rookery Tour Guide" on the metro bus as no one else was looking and admiring this wonderful view. Some day I will get the nerve to do this.
So welcome home Blue Heron's and may your Minneapolis condo complex provide you with continued shelter, good fishing, and admiring fans.
If you live in Minneapolis and want to check it out at http://www.nps.gov/miss/planyourvisit/nortmiss.htm
10 Minutes from Downtown Minneapolis on Interstate 94. If you take a bus downtown that takes I-94 between I694 and Downtown, look to the left around the grain elevators and you will see them! Once the leaves fill in on the trees the Rookery will be hidden from the road, so look now, you can too be "Rookery Tour Guides"!
What is a rookery? Well, a rookery is like a bird condo complex. Other animals who live within a small area can also live in rookeries, but I learned about them through the Blue Heron colony in Ballard Washington.
If you ever go to the Locks in Ballard - Seattle suburb, and look to the top of the trees there you will see 20-40 huge bird nests. Look even closer and you will see the Heron's sitting in them, not just for bringing up their young, but as living quarters.
In Minnesota it is a little different as the Blue Heron migrates to a little warmer country in the winter, but every spring they head back to their summer home in the trees on the Mississippi River.
I watch for them, on the bus every morning, and it excites me to start seeing a pair here or there, but this morning every nest had 2 birds sitting up and watching the sun rise.
I wanted to get up and be a "Rookery Tour Guide" on the metro bus as no one else was looking and admiring this wonderful view. Some day I will get the nerve to do this.
So welcome home Blue Heron's and may your Minneapolis condo complex provide you with continued shelter, good fishing, and admiring fans.
If you live in Minneapolis and want to check it out at http://www.nps.gov/miss/planyourvisit/nortmiss.htm
10 Minutes from Downtown Minneapolis on Interstate 94. If you take a bus downtown that takes I-94 between I694 and Downtown, look to the left around the grain elevators and you will see them! Once the leaves fill in on the trees the Rookery will be hidden from the road, so look now, you can too be "Rookery Tour Guides"!
Thursday, April 1, 2010
Your Personal Grocery List
Do you have a grocery list in your house? You know the kind you write down what you need from the store each week? I do, actually I have a little white board on the side of the fridge that has 4 types of lists with the categories of: Groceries, Target/Costco, Pets, and Other.
The grocery list has things like milk, eggs, bread, soy sauce, chicken...the weekly needs in our home. We go to our local grocery store a mile a way to get these things.
The Target/Costco list has things like toilet paper, paper towels, laundry detergent, a broom, Easter supplies...the monthly or need future needs of our home. We go to these types of stores that are 10-20 miles away.
The Pets list has items specifically for our dogs, cats and fish like dog food, cat litter, scratching posts, fish food..specialty products that we need every few months or so and we write it down when we are about 2 or 3 months from running out. We get these supplies at specialty stores.
The last list is Other and includes things like new silverware, new pots and pans, a motorcycle, a boat cover...things that aren't needed but more wants and certainly only when extra funds are available.
So, those are see as my Little Fish Lists. You see them all the time and it's fun to see, but really nothing you can hold on to. You shop and it is erased...no big deal... but think about how much time and effort goes into these Little Fish lists?
Now think about Big Fish Lists - a movie a few years ago called it the "Bucket List"--things you want to do before you kick the bucket. Do you put the same amount of time into the Big Fish Lists as you do the Little Fish Lists? If not, why?
Here is my example of what I would like to have on my Big Fish lists:
Groceries (daily needs) - Workout, quiet time, love of an animal, a haircut, a hug, a kiss, giving someone a compliment, and having sun on my face.
Target/Costco (need soon within the month) - A boat ride, Fishing, a movie and popcorn night, make dinner for friends, a pinochle game night, and some bulbs planted.
The Pets (Specialty Items) - Feel value at work, feel value in my life, adopt a kitty or two, review my goals, and create a budget.
Other (Nice to haves, but long term) - A trip to Seattle to see my baby brother, a new deck, new windows, more blog readers, and two puppies.
There - my day to day and longer term little and big fish lists.
Morale of the story is if you never know what your Big Fish are, how in the world will you ever catch them? Don't settle with the little fish milk, eggs, and bread---go after those Big Fish needs!
The grocery list has things like milk, eggs, bread, soy sauce, chicken...the weekly needs in our home. We go to our local grocery store a mile a way to get these things.
The Target/Costco list has things like toilet paper, paper towels, laundry detergent, a broom, Easter supplies...the monthly or need future needs of our home. We go to these types of stores that are 10-20 miles away.
The Pets list has items specifically for our dogs, cats and fish like dog food, cat litter, scratching posts, fish food..specialty products that we need every few months or so and we write it down when we are about 2 or 3 months from running out. We get these supplies at specialty stores.
The last list is Other and includes things like new silverware, new pots and pans, a motorcycle, a boat cover...things that aren't needed but more wants and certainly only when extra funds are available.
So, those are see as my Little Fish Lists. You see them all the time and it's fun to see, but really nothing you can hold on to. You shop and it is erased...no big deal... but think about how much time and effort goes into these Little Fish lists?
Now think about Big Fish Lists - a movie a few years ago called it the "Bucket List"--things you want to do before you kick the bucket. Do you put the same amount of time into the Big Fish Lists as you do the Little Fish Lists? If not, why?
Here is my example of what I would like to have on my Big Fish lists:
Groceries (daily needs) - Workout, quiet time, love of an animal, a haircut, a hug, a kiss, giving someone a compliment, and having sun on my face.
Target/Costco (need soon within the month) - A boat ride, Fishing, a movie and popcorn night, make dinner for friends, a pinochle game night, and some bulbs planted.
The Pets (Specialty Items) - Feel value at work, feel value in my life, adopt a kitty or two, review my goals, and create a budget.
Other (Nice to haves, but long term) - A trip to Seattle to see my baby brother, a new deck, new windows, more blog readers, and two puppies.
There - my day to day and longer term little and big fish lists.
Morale of the story is if you never know what your Big Fish are, how in the world will you ever catch them? Don't settle with the little fish milk, eggs, and bread---go after those Big Fish needs!
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