Nobody needs to be reminded about the state of the economy right now, the media is ramming it down our throats every minute of every day! If you live in Canada its still Winter … its been long, as always, and it has a ways to go yet (-18C in Ottawa tonight).

So … for most people life right now is just a little tougher, those responsibilities feel a little heavier and problems a little harder. The last thing any of us need right now is more hassle. YOU certainly don’t want it … and neither do the people you deal with.

THE ANSWER … let’s start a new tradition … the BE NICE TO EVERYONE WEEK!

Why not? We celebrate all kinds of religious, cultural and interest/hobby occasions, why not an INTERNATIONAL event … BE NICE TO EVERYONE!

Here are some ideas for you from blog entries I have written in the past …

1. SMILE … its CONTAGIOUS. I wrote this blog entry in October 2006 about all the reasons why you should smile, even though you don’t actually NEED a reason to smile … its just a good thing to do!
2. I wrote a blog entry in April last suggesting that you CHOOSE TO BE HAPPY, and in fact it is very possible to do just that!
3. In August 2006 I shamelessly plagiarised TEN TACTICS FOR A SUPERB RELATIONSHIP from Robin Sharma. Remarkably its all about being nice to each other!
4. In August of 2007 I talked about the EMOTIONAL BANK ACCOUNT which I learned from Stephen Covey, and the need to make deposits in all of thos accounts … for this International event you will need joint accounts with everyone!!!
5. Finally, in March 2006 I explained one of my favorite personal sayings WALK FAST and SMILE, which once again focuses on the power of a smile!

Our world will be a better place for at least this week! Help me to celebrate INTERNATIONAL BE NICE TO EVERYONE WEEK … the first week in MARCH!

If you are a student of time management then you will have read at some point that multi-tasking is not a good thing to do. The act of multi-tasking means that you cannot provide the right amount of attention to any one thing and thus you will end up doing a poor job of all tasks.

Personally I’m not sure I buy that … but it might also just be a question of interpretation.

In my job I always have many tasks on the go at the once … and certainly there is an opportunity for me to be doing one thing while my mind is processing a different problem, which is a recipe for disaster! I’m just not that good!

For me the problem is not one of multi-tasking, it is one of focus.

You absolutely need to dedicate your focus to the task at hand, to be “in the moment”, rather than let your mind wander to other subjects or tasks.

There has been a fair bit of discussion in the media over the last several years about the use of cell phones in cars. I don’t think it is the cell phones that are the problem, its the people on them!!! There is no way that you can be focused on the task of driving whilst having any kind of meaningful conversation. If anything out of the ordinary happens in traffic then you are in a world of hurt. You CAN have a conversation IF you remember that your number one priority is driving, but generally people don’t do this and the result is that more and more authorities are banning the use of phones in cars. Here are some other activities I see on a regular basis that might be banned in the future … eating, putting make-up on, sending text messages; and reading … all while “driving” a couple of tons of metal at speed!

So … back to focus and multi-tasking. I believe it is not only possible, but absolutely essential for productive people to be able to address multiple tasks at the same time. However the way to do it is to have multiple tasks “on the go” at the same time, but to only being actually be executing on one task at any given moment.

In my world I could be working on many tasks related to my management role at Eagle, my board positions on the industry associations or my volunteer roles with charities. In order to get through those tasks I will have many “on the go” at the same time, but if I am dealing with one of those tasks the others need to be on the back burner. My FOCUS needs to be on the task at hand.

The brain is pretty cool … it does stuff in the background, whether you want it to or not! You can use that power, because when you come back to a prior task you may well find you have clarity of vision that was not there before, you may have answers, or even questions, that had not occurred when it was your “task of the moment” previously.

Sometimes, particularly when I am “extra busy’, have let things pile up, or have been away from the office for a while I will find myself “flitting’ from task to task. It sometimes takes a little while to realise I have degenerated into that “flitting” mode. When that happens I have to get myself back in control. I will revisit my “To DO” list … make sure all of my tasks have been identified. The mere act of writing them all down clears my mind of worrying that I might miss something. I will look at my list and decide what I will work on … and take that task as far as a I can, or work on it for as long as I am willing to devote time to it. Then I will move on to the next task.

I may have my priorities altered for me as “situations” arise, but I can always come back to my tasks and I can deal with multiple tasks … but in a controlled manner. My focus is where it needs to be and this way I can be my most productive.

Whether you are driving a car, playing a sport, doing your job or having a conversation with your child … you will be most effective if the task at hand has your attention. A distracted approach to any of those tasks can lead to disaster, a poor work performance or even a relationship that suffers.

Be in the moment and be your most effective … and of course it means you won’t crash into me on the highway!

When we avoid a decision the we are by default making a decision … it is a decision to let life deal you whatever hand it feels like. Only by taking action do you have a chance of getting what you really want!

You will see this every day, in every aspect of your life. We ALL get to the point where we don’t want to make another decision today! You could call that “decision overload” … we can’t decide what we want for dinner, what we want to wear, whether we want to make a coffee or not … its kind of sad, but its human!

The kind of decisions that you cannot put off are the big ones that will change your life.

A decision to pursue a particular career, or a promotion within your current career may spark a bunch of action items that will help you achieve your goal. For many people the thought of all that work is enough for them to be put off making their decision … and they may end up in the same role years from now.

A married couple might avoid the little arguments over the course of their marriage. Its easier to ignore the bad habits, or the little things that annoy you … rather than cause a fuss. The problem comes later, because all of those little “niggles” add up and some day they will not feel so small any more. A decision to address the small things might lead to an action plan that builds a relationship for the long term … no decision might just mean future problems.

It is really easy to avoid the decision to start a health and wellness program. You might say … hey I still wear the same pants I wore a couple of years ago, I don’t look so bad, I’m only a few pounds up on my “fighting weight” … all great excuses not to do something. A decision to start a plan can lead to a life long habit which keeps you active, feeling good and perhaps even living longer! Not making that decision means it will ultimately be EVEN harder to build the habit AND you will have more weight to lose, you are more out of shape and you are likely not able to play the sport of your youth … or worse you just keep getting bigger and more out of shape!

You are the architect of your own destiny … you have the power to make decisions, or not!

Do you really want to reach the end of your life and wish you had done things?

“Every man dies. Not every man truly lives!” … Mel Gibson, from the movie Braveheart

A little more than a year ago I wrote a blog entry about The Need for Stamina and Resilience.

Given the seemingly never ending bad news these day I thought that the topic of resilience was topical enough to give a little more focus.

Last year I talked about these two qualities in the context of the workforce and how one of the tools we use through the hiring process at Eagle looks at these qualities.

Today I thought I would focus in on the how we can all improve our resilience, but perhaps more importantly why we need to do that.

One of the big news stories in Ottawa this week was the “bid rigging scandal” which saw the Competition Bureau laying charges against 7 companies and 14 individuals in relation to some government contracts. These companies operate in the same space that I do, and I know some of the individuals very well. So far charges have been laid, but of course that does not mean they are guilty. I talked to a couple of the people I know about how they were doing and the very common message was that the stress levels are through the roof.

The collapse in the stock market and subsequent impact on economies around the world has seen many individuals wealth wiped out, and for those lucky enough to have a portfolio left it has been hammered and could take years to recover. News stories are surfacing about Boomers now choosing to “put off” retirement while their investments recover. Companies have gone bankrupt, unemployment levels are climbing rapidly … do you think there is some stress involved?

The causes of stress are all around us, and probably accelerating for many of us. The more common “stressors” such as changing job, moving home, marital issues, new babies etc. are still there, along with the impact of the economy … business owners wondering if they will remain in business, people wondering if they have a job, retirees wondering if they can survive!

It is a fact that these times will pass … that the world will get back on an even keel, and its a fair bet that most people will be able to rebuild their “nest eggs”, to build back wealth, to rejuvenate their companies etc. There will also be some new opportunities come from this crisis and some companies just won’t make it.

At an individual level we all have our different ways to “cope” with stress … but resilience is an attribute that comes into its own at a time like this. The people with that ability to “get back up” when they take a hit, the people who can keep things in perspective … are those who will survive and thrive the best.

At the root of resilience is your attitude to adversity … are you able to rationalise your way through the “noise” of an issue?

- Can you “change the things within your control and ignore the things you can’t control?”
- Can you recognise that in every situation there are positives … things could always be worse?
- Can you take a deep breath or two when confronted with a stressful situation?
- Can you step back and find answers to your problems?

Faced with major stress, it is important to keep things in perspective.

- You need to look after yourself physically as best you can. get a physical, stop drinking, eat healthy, get some moderate exercise, keep active mentally and physically.
- You need to focus on the positive things in your life as much as possible.
- You need strategies to deal with your issues and an action plan that navigates you through to a positive end.
- You need to lean on your friends … but only the positive ones, keep away from the “doom and gloom” crowd (you know who they are)!

People have an amazing capacity to deal with hardship, both physical and mental … there is an old saying, “What doesn’t kill you will make you stronger”. Don’t let stress kill you!

I have written about time management a few times over the course of this blog, and probably mentioned the importance of time management much more than a few times!

One of the blogs that I read relatively regularly is by Jim Estill who is CEO of Synnex Canada, and the primary focus of his blog is time management. This week he introduced the Autofocus Time Management System from Mark Forster … and it’s a very simple, easy to use and practical approach to managing your tasks.

What I like about this system is that you basically assign priority to your tasks as you go … rather than having to assign and re-assign priorities which I have done in the past, OR have such generic priorities (Type A priority) that it doesn’t make much difference. Of course, there will be plenty of people who will not like this system for that same reason!

One thing I can quite safely say is that every job I have had, (and I have had a few), has required a slightly different (or even radically different) approach to time management, which is one reason that I am always receptive to new ideas.

So here is the “short form” description of the Autofocus Time Management System …

The system consists of one long list of everything that you have to do, written in a ruled notebook (25-35 lines to a page ideal). As you think of new items, add them to the end of the list.

You work through the list one page at a time in the following manner:

- Read quickly through all the items on the page without taking action on any of them.
- Go through the page more slowly looking at the items in order until one stands out for you.
- Work on that item for as long as you feel like doing so
- Cross the item off the list, and re-enter it at the end of the list if you haven’t finished it
- Continue going round the same page in the same way. Don’t move onto the next page until you complete a pass of the page without any item standing out
- Move onto the next page and repeat the process
- If you go to a page and no item stands out for you on your first pass through it, then all the outstanding items on that page are dismissed without re-entering them. (N.B. This does not apply to the final page, on which you are still writing items). Use a highlighter to mark dismissed items.
- Once you’ve finished with the final page, re-start at the first page that is still active.

Mark’s website provides more details about using this system. This model fits well with my current system because today I use a ruled notebook to take notes and identify quick tasks to be done. Now I will create my “TO DO” list in the back of the book and capture notes in the front of the book. I still enter notes into our electronic systems when there is information to be captured there … but I am confident I will make good use of this system.

Hope it works for you!

I have heard about a lot of people my age and younger just recently who have experienced major health issues, including death. That is not cool!

I had my own annual checkup in January and thankfully the major indicators were all good. Having said that i have always been interested in staying fit and over the years have gradually improved on a lot of those bad habits we all have when we are younger.

You need to look after yourself!

Today is February 18th! Approximately 7 weeks ago a lot of people around the world made a New Year’s resolution based upon their health … maybe it was to lose weight, maybe it was to get in better shape, maybe it was just to add some exercise. Seven weeks later the vast majority of those people will have “fallen off the wagon” with those resolutions.

Some of Kevin’s beliefs:

1. You only live once … unless you have differing religious views, but generally speaking even if you are coming back you won’t remember this “journey”.
2. If you look after yourself, then you can enjoy this journey better … if you are in shape you can do so much more than if you are out of shape.
3. We all enter this world much the same, so it is what we do thereafter that messes us up.
4. It really doesn’t take too much to improve your health … which usually means you will live longer.

A Basic Action Plan:

Make a February resolution …

I will develop a plan for my health and will act on it for the next 30 days.

Here is what you will commit to:

1. You will exercise 6 days a week … exercise just means some kind of physical activity. It will depend on you how much and to what level of intensity. It could be a 20 minute walk at a brisk pace … or it could be marathon training.
2. You will eat healthier choices every day … it doesn’t mean you’ll change your world, just modify it a bit. Eat less fries, burgers, chips and cookies. Eat more fruit, vegetables, grains and non-processed food. (Note: I didn’t say remove all bad stuff, just eat less of it)
3. Get a checkup … blood pressure, cholesterol etc. Understand what shape your body is in.
4. Read about exercise/health etc … maybe subscribe to Mens/Womens Health.

See how you feel in 30 days!

Around this time last year I wrote a blog entry called Getting Fitter … check it out if you want some more ideas.

As the effect of the economic downturn has been worsening I have a seen a dramatic increase in the number of emails that offer me advice. The ten things you must do in a recession: the top three sales tricks in a downturn; five ways to beat the competition in a tough economy etc. Most of these emails come with the punch line that you just need to subscribe to this webinar, or to that conference or some type of training etc.

These emails are a sign of the times … they remind me of the phone calls I sometimes get … my software will save your company money; or I will make your salespeople four times as productive if you … pick any one of a dozen things they want from me, all of which involve money.

Don’t get me wrong … these people are being more active in selling their solutions and services in a market where there are less buyers. By being proactive they increase their chances of actually hitting someone who is interested at that point in time.

As a CEO of a small business I get lots of advice … sometimes even advice I ask for! The reality is that it is my responsibility to steer my company through the good times and the bad times. I will make mistakes, like everyone else … and I only need to look at some of the big “disaster companies” in the news (like Nortel, GM etc) to know that there are plenty of CEOs making mistakes. I always try to have as much input as possible … sometimes its less than I would like … but the end decision will be mine.

I have been “scolded” several times by over-zealous sales people. Am I nuts! How could I not spend time to hear about how they can improve my profitability! I have had experts insulted that I chose not to follow their recommendations. Lawyers have felt I did not give their “risk analysis” enough consideration … but at the end of the day I have to follow my own counsel.

How many times do you hear people complain about their investment portfolio theses days?
How many people complain about their job?
How many people complain about their personal situation?
How many people didn’t like the restaurant, the book, the movie, the house that they live in?

So … whether you are running a business or making any kind of decision. YOU need to make your own call. Gather as much information as possible, take full responsibility for your own destiny and make your own call. Then you have no one to blame but yourself, and if you made the wrong call you are well capable of fixing it with a new decision!

Some time back my company (Eagle) made a more formal commitment to diversity, which has naturally been a part of our culture all along. We developed an official policy, I established myself as the champion of the cause, we have diversity champions and we provide ongoing diversity training to our staff.

One of the other “neat ideas” that our HR manager came up with (thank you Breigh) was a regular email to all of our staff explaining different holidays and traditions associated with various cultures … as they become relevant.

The latest email provides information about Valentines Day, plus a couple of Canada specific holidays … Louis Riel day and Family Day. I thought I would post that information here for everyone to enjoy.

Every February 14th all across the country and the world, candy, flowers , cards and gifts are exchanged between loved ones all in the name of St. Valentine.

There are many legends of the way that Saint Valentines Day originated. Many date back to as early as 270 A.D. One legend goes like this. the ruler of the time, Emperor Claudius II, thought unmarried soldiers would make better soldiers, and so he forbade them to marry. A bishop named Valentine who was stationed at the Roman Empire at that time took pity on the soldiers and young lovers and began to perform secret marriages. He was soon found out and jailed. Another part of the legend states that while in jail, Valentine fell in love with his jailer’s daughter. Just before his death, he sent her a note and signed it “from your Valentine,” An expression that is stilled used today.

After his death, Valentine became a Patron Saint. Some considered him the spiritual overseer of an annual festival in which young Romans would distribute cards of affection to those they wished to see. The festival was held each February 14. Some valentine cards can be found in museums that date back to 1415.

Today, Valentines Day has become one of the most popular holidays. After Christmas, it is the largest card-sending holiday of the year. Common symbols of Valentines Day today are hearts, cupid, roses, teddy bears, and bow and arrows. Cupid with bows and arrows represent Roman mythology. Cupid was the son of Venus, the goddess of love. The shot of the arrow would strike the unsuspecting desired person or god, making him fall in love.

Louis Riel was a Canadian politician, a founder of the province of Manitoba and a leader of the Métis people of the Canadian prairies. He led two resistance movements against the Canadian government. He sought to preserve the rights, culture and heritage of the Métis. In the province of Manitoba, Louis Riel Day celebrates Riel’s life and achievements and is observed on the third Monday of February.

On September 26, 2007 Manitoba passed a bill establishing the third Monday in February as a statutory holiday; Louis Riel Day. In other areas of Canada, specifically Toronto, Louis Riel Day is observed in November as this was the anniversary month of the execution of Louis Riel in 1885.

Family Day is celebrated in the provinces of Alberta, Ontario and Saskatchewan. This holiday falls on the third Monday in February and celebrates the importance of families and family life. It is meant as a day where the whole family can take part in activities together.

In the provinces of Alberta, Ontario and Saskatchewan most people have the day off work and schools are generally closed. Most businesses and organizations are also closed

Family Day was first held in Alberta in 1990. It was supposed to reflect the values of family and home that were important to the pioneers who founded Alberta. It gave the workers an opportunity to spend more time with their families. Family Day was introduced in Saskatchewan in 2007 and Ontario in 2008. One of the main reasons for introducing Family Day was that there was a long period when there were no holidays from New Year’s Day until Good Friday.

AROUND THE WORLD

In Australia the first Tuesday of November is known as Family and Community Day and in South Africa, the day after Easter Sunday is Family Day.

This is another blog entry where I am going to “lean on” someone else for content. Pat Katz has a regular newsletter that you can subscribe to at her website … and she focuses on work/life balance. Her primary message revolves around the notion of taking Pause and taking time to appreciate our lives. In fact her regular newsletter is called Pause.

This latest entry from Pat was an ad hoc message to her readers because she was enjoying a break with her husband, celebrating their 35th wedding anniversary. The lessons she has learned about partnership apply in business as well as with our life partners … and anyone who has 35 years experience is going to have some nuggets to share.

Here is Pat’s article …

This week’s Pause message is a bit of a departure from the usual directions. Dave and I are taking a mid winter break, spending a few days in Vancouver, celebrating our 35th wedding anniversary.( I know! I know! Where did that time go?) Normally, I’d take a break from Pause on an occasion like this, but when I posted last week’s message, giving notice slipped my mind. So here we are. You’re expecting your regular Wednesday message, and I’m committed to delivering one.

As I walked the seawall around Stanley Park, I pondered what to write about – eventually settling on what we’re focused on this weekend – celebrating relationship. 35 years is a long time for any kind of partnership – marriage, business, or otherwise. And, for what it’s worth, here are ten of the relationship lessons we’ve learned so far.

Note disclaimer: opinions are based solely on our experience and observations (a sample of two) – not guaranteed to work for everyone. And, they represent our best intentions – not to say we are perfectly living up to same at every moment.

* A healthy partnership is neither a game nor a war zone. Stop keeping score and tracking who won what battle. Scorekeeping creates winners and losers – not the best way to build a relationship! Being amicably together is more rewarding than being self righteously solo.

* Every relationship takes work, especially at the start. Each day, re-commit to your partner. Once you commit to making this relationship the best ever instead of wondering or dithering about the choice, everything changes for the better.

* Work from your interests and backfill the shortcomings. Dave works in the kitchen and loves it. I work in the garden and love it. Neither one of us cares to vacuum and dust, so somebody else does that for us – and we love it.

* Build an affection (or at least a good-hearted tolerance) for your partner’s collection of stories, jokes and anecdotes. You’re going to hear a lot of them – again and again and again.

* Appreciate each other’s strengths and take advantage of them as a team. I was more patient with the kids when they were little. Dave was much better with them as teenagers. Between us, we made one pretty decent parent.

* Never lose hope. I keep hoping Dave will learn to dance. He keeps hoping I’ll enthusiastically embrace every new technology. Talk about springing eternal!

* Speak your mind. Make your wishes clear. It’s more of a shortcut to understanding than trying to guess the meaning behind the words or lack thereof. Let your partner finish their say before you shoot your ideas into the air! Some people stop to think between words.

* Travel many roads together but at least a few apart. Solo experiences to toss in the mix make the ongoing conversation that much more interesting.

* Applaud and support each other’s enthusiasms – whether you share them or not. Hot rods, fishing, or needlework may not be your passion, but how cool it can be to have a ringside seat for someone else’s delight and engagement in learning and creating.

* Forgive and forgive again. Holding grudges just eats you up from the inside out. Besides, (note to self) you’re not that perfect either.

Entrepreneurs come in all shapes and sizes … they are young and old, very educated or with little formal education, they are male or female, they know they are entrepreneurs at an early age or they find out later! They come from all walks of life, geographies, religions and cultures.

Some entrepreneurs are great business people and some not so much, some are great at the “start-up” but not good at growing a business, some are good when they surround themselves with the right people and some are extremely independent and successful.

There are however some characteristics that are common among entrepreneurs.

They will “do what it takes” to make their product/idea/service into a viable business.
They are resilient … they will battle through adversity.
They are passionate about their “baby”.
They will sacrifice to reach their goal.

There are lots of people with ideas. There are lots of people who get an opportunity. There are also lots of people who find reasons not to proceed with their idea or to chase their opportunity. The relative few who chase their dream will have set backs, will encounter road blocks and “nay sayers” and will sow seeds of self-doubt … but they keep “doing it”.

The economy is tough out there. There are a lot of entrepreneurs battling all the usual issues in addition to the tough economy. They are finding it tougher to get financing, their clients are cutting budgets and everyone around them is absorbed with their own woes.

Without entrepreneurs creating new companies this country would be in a bad way … small and medium sized businesses are the biggest employers in Canada, creating the most new jobs and contributing the most to the health of our economy.

Entrepreneurs can sometimes be crusty, might even be hard on people as they battle towards success … but we need them!

Hug an entrepreneur … they may be our best bet to get through the current economic mess!