This thought struck a chord for me. Most of the jobs I’ve had in the past have been the “get to” type of job. When I came in for the day, I was happy and excited to be there. I looked forward to going to work, seeing my co-workers and I enjoyed the challenges the job offered. This is a great feeling, and if you’ve had the opportunity to be in the same place, then you know what I mean.

I liked the jobs when I started; I chose to accept the job offers. Then why are these jobs part of my past?

The reason is, because at some point, these jobs shifted from a “get to” job, to a “have to” job. I have to go to work, I have to deal with my co-workers, and the challenges I once loved so much turned into unnecessary fights I have to face.

The turning point may be different for everyone; for me, it was when the policies changed to limit the amount of projects I was working on at one time. I went from a happy six projects at once down to three. Even when I was at a standstill in one or all three, I was unable to start another. Often, at the busiest time of the year, I found myself with nothing to do, which affected my earning capabilities.

So again, I ask, when do jobs turn from a “get to” job to a “have to” job, and what makes that change happen? Maybe the more important question to ask is what can we do to keep this shift from happening to us? Is it the employee’s responsibility alone, or does the employer have any responsibility?

I’d like to hear your thoughts.

We just need to be wary of our focus narrowing so much that the light at the end of the tunnel blinds us to other opportunities and solutions.

We are back from our summer break… Hope you didn’t miss us too much!

This past week I have been running through some different ideas of what to post here, and as work often goes… my work has gotten in the way of work and the blog ideas have been getting pushed further and further back.

Even when I finally do have a moment or two to sit and think, I suddenly find myself sitting in a black hole of creativity. I can’t seem to think of anything, and have nothing but my desk and a blank page staring up at me to keep me company.

Now, I am sure this never happens to you.

Okay maybe I may have some sarcasm there. We all have these moments. So how do we stay focused and creative at work?

Here are some thoughts I found, as well some of my personal favorites to get back on your feet when you have lost focus and are looking for that jump start to get going again.

Write a list: At the beginning of each day write down the tasks that you need to accomplish. There is something about taking the time to write a list and having it on your desk the rest of the day that can motivate focus. I personally write my tasks on a post- it note and place it on the side of my computer monitor. When I finish the task, I can throw away the post- it note. My goal each day is to start the morning with no post- it notes from the day before.

Do The Tough Stuff First: Mark Twain once said “If you eat a frog first thing in the morning that will probably be the worst thing you do all day.” Brian Tracy (TTN Speaker) has taken this quote and transformed it into a way of completing your daily tasks. Once I make my list I look for the thing I want to do least… and do it! That way I don’t have it hanging over my head, and dragging my attention away from other projects.

Close Your Email: I cannot tell you how many times I have been in the middle of a big project, only to be sidetracked by an email I thought might be important…only to find it is Spam. For short periods of time I have started to close my email. It allows for un-interrupted work on projects, and I have found that I am able to actually answer my emails on a timelier schedule.

Invest In A Pair Of Headphones: Very often when working on a project with a deadline I will start playing my favorite tunes, and put on my headphones. Doing so, I have found I can block outside distractions around me, as well as tap into a creative resource.

In Minneapolis, an instructor who led CEU training courses  for insurance agents was found to be providing 15 hours of accredited training (training that is necessary for agents to keep their license)… in a matter of minutes.

“It wasn’t bending the rules, it was blowing them away,” Huge told commerce investigators, according to their report. “How can I do it? Or why did I do it? ‘Cause I didn’t know you were in the room.”

Click here to read the full article

What are your thoughts? Is this story just an anomaly to training culture, or is this one of many? Why would a trainer choose to go and bend or “blow” the rules away? How does this impact the perceptions of employees on the role of training?

I’d love to hear your ideas, and see what questions this article brings up for you.

What New Years’ resolutions?

Remember?  New Years’ Day or slightly before or after, you set out some goals. Lose weight. Write a book. Learn karate.

Oh, yeah. Now I remember. But that was so long ago.

I know it seems like it, but… you still want to do those things, right?

I suppose so. But it’s another six months until next New Years’.

Why do you need to wait until next New Years’?

Well, because…they’re New Years’ resolutions. So, you know – I need to wait ‘til next January. Get psyched up for it.

But if you start now, you’ll get a six-month head start!

Doesn’t that defeat the whole New Years’ resolution concept? Won’t that cause chaos in the streets? Won’t that poke a hole in the entire space-time continuum and life, as we know it –

Hold on there, pardner. Wasn’t one of your resolutions to cut down on caffeine?

Oh, I said that out loud?

Look – if you think about it, every day is the start of a new year. So any day is a good time to start a new years’ resolution. Or at least check on your progress; get you back on track – that sort of thing.

Okay. But you’re sure the space-time continuum will survive?

I would answer that, but I just made a new new years’ resolution not to respond to silly questions.

Whether you have a large or small goal you wish to accomplish, if you make it a point to do five things every day geared toward that goal, you’ll find yourself reaching the finish line faster than you could’ve imagined.

Change can be stressful. Sometimes the unfamiliar leaps at us from out of the blue, and can be a bit scary. But change, as they say, is inevitable. So how do we manage change? Or better yet, how do we embrace change and make it work for us? One of the best ways to embrace change is to be prepared.

Be constantly learning new things. Read voraciously. Take courses. Use strategic thinking to anticipate change.

Those who best anticipate change and welcome it are often best prepared to take advantage of it in a way that can put them ahead of the pack. Remember that change is how we grow, whether it is in our work or our personal lives.

So the next time you feel a change coming, instead of shrinking away, you can say, “Bring it on!”

For example, say there’s a TTN course you really like and really want to not only get those principles down, but want your employees to learn them, as well. Of course, you can just have them watch the course, but why not make a project of it? Print out the accompanying materials and guide your employees through the course. Discuss it. Ask questions. Answer questions. This way, the material will gain a more solid foothold in everyone’s knowledge base.

Have you ever been driving when a small piece of gravel gets flung up by the vehicle in front of you, hitting your windshield and creating a tiny ‘ding’ in the glass? The best thing to do is get that small imperfection fixed immediately; have it filled in with whatever magic polymer the auto-glass companies use. Because what happens if we ignore it and let it sit? It grows. That little ‘ding’ is like a seed in the glass that sprouts roots – cracks slowly spread across your windshield until you realize the entire thing must be replaced.

This is much like letting things lapse at your workplace. Maybe there’s something you keep putting off, thinking it’s not a big deal, or it’s sort of a pain, and you’ll get to it later. It’s just a little ‘ding’, right? But if you keep ignoring it, that little ‘ding’ can grow into a big problem.

Tackling the little things before they grow into big problems is one way to keep your job less stressful and more productive.

So what turns a merely pleasant road trip into a super road trip? Planning!

Sure – it’s nice to come upon the unexpected. But when you take the time to do a little research – looking up restaurants, roadside curiosities and museums on the internet or in books – your experience will be that much more rewarding. Now you won’t miss the must-sees, the best burgers, the most awe-inspiring views. And the anticipation involved in the planning is nearly as much fun as the trip itself!

This type of planning – while perhaps not quite as much fun – can help make your workday a lot more pleasant and productive. By taking the time to plan out your day – making lists and prioritizing projects – you’ll be much less likely to miss those important tasks or run out of the time to accomplish them.

Brian Tracy offers a number of excellent time management courses on TTN’s LMS, which go into detail about effective ways to plan your day, whether it’s a workday, a weekend day, or a day for hitting the road!