WorkingAwarenessNetwork : monday morning minute

Click Here to View Sierra's Video

I'm Jason Stein and you'll need to use your imagination for a "Gooooood Mooooorning" today. 

I'm recycling today's post from another one of my blogs and continuing to learn videocasting, so no audio today.  

I know some of you have seen this, but really can we have too many reminders about becoming a rule breaker?

I've probably broken at least 5 spelling and syntax errors already

Children often remind us to break the rules.

For example my daughter Sierra and I sent my sister, JoJo, this video.

While we were recording live Sierra said "Happy Birthday" to her aunt.

Now, JoJo's birthday isn't until June 10th, but when you're breaking the rules who cares!

You can wish people "Happy Birthday" three months early, wear shorts in the middle of wiinter, and even make up words like SIQUA.

The results from our 22 second video made JoJo's day. Not to mention the people in her workplace were begging JoJo to play it again and again.

We all get stuck in ruts in our work and end up trying to follow the leader, but isn't it the black sheep rule breaker that finds new paths, creates new adventures, and ultimately makes the world a better place. 

Monday Mindfulness 

This week stretch your comfortablility and go break some rules?

Love this MMM, Hate it, or just want to share what rules you're breaking.  Take a moment and fill out the comment box below.

Recently, my cousin Erik, from Extended Horizons, sent me an article from the Washington Post.  The Post played a trick on morning commuters at L’ Enfant Plaza in Washington D.C. 

They convinced one of the leading violinists in the world, Joshua Bell, to dress up like a struggling musician and play for people as they rushed to work.  After 1,097 people passed by in 43 minutes, the scientific experiment was over and the results were in. 

Only a few people stopped at all and listened to the beautiful music.  Mr. Bell who usually makes $1000 per minute performing received a mere $32.17 for his public concert.

Would you have stopped?

Busyness is an epidemic.  In my trainings, I often ask participants if they work at the computer and work on the phone at the same time?  Almost all of them do.  How many take a breaks to close there eyes and listen to some tranquil music or just the beauty of everyday sounds?  Occasionally a lone ranger will raise their hand.

And why is this?  People report over and over again it is because they are too busy.  They have more to get done that they can possibly complete.  There is not enough time to stop and listen.

But what is the cost?

Is the the busyness you experience at work getting carried over into your personal life?  Are you rushing around so much that you don't even know what you may be missing?

Monday Mindfulness.

This week take a few minutes and pay attention to sounds.  Listen for a child's laughter, or someone giving a compliment.  Really take some time to pay attention to your auditory awareness.  You may just find that beautiful notes are being played right there in front of you.

Last week I was tagged by Dawud Miracle.  Dawud didn’t tag me as in being spray painted on a wall nor did he touch me and then run away.  

In the age of the internet, Wikipedia describes a tag as a (relevant) keyword or term associated with or assigned to a piece of information (like picture, article, or video clip). Thus it describes an item and enables a keyword-based classification of information.

In this specific case of tag, Dawud asked me, on his blog, this great question, that all started with another blogger, Alex Shalman.  Tag: What are my absolute gotta get goals?

I must admit, I’m not always a big fan of viral questions spread on the internet, but hey, Dawud didn’t tell me I was going to get bad karma for life if I didn’t share this with 10 people.  And it got me thinking about what is most important to me and why.

My Answers?

To grow old with my family.  Careers come and go, friendships come and go, but family is always there.  I love my family.  The favorite part of my day is eating dinner at the dinner table when my wife and daughter, our sharing and laughing. To watch my children graduate high school (yes, I said children. Our second is due September 5th).  I was going to say college, but in 13 more years who knows what the future will bring to education.   

To connect as many good people together as I can.  We live in a society fueled by cynicism and fear, and, for many people, it’s hard for them to create healthy community.  I want everyone in the world to know that they are not alone. Like pieces in a puzzle, there a people who fit perfectly in each of our lives.

To do good works in the world in a way that also provides financially for my family.  It’s vital to my soul to have work that is meaningful.  It is equally important that this work allows for my family to live a comfortable life.

There are a lot of other goals, like to become a household name, have a net worth of 10 million, be on the NY Times BestSeller List, but when reflecting, they are goals and not Gotta Get Goals.

Monday Mindfulness

This week ask yourself,  "What are my Gotta Get Goals in this lifetime?"  I know you're busy and it’s a big question.  Plot some time in your calendar and make an appointment with yourself to write out your answers.  And please feel free to share them in the comment box below. I would love to know.

PS Speaking of goals, I've always wanted to give a church service and guess what?  I will be this Sunday April 15th at the The Whole Life Church in Lake Oswego, Oregon. 

If you live in the area I'd love to see in person.

Have you found yourself a bit anxious about money lately? 

The thought of unpaid bills or the task of trying to squeeze in some more time away from work has left you feeling a bit freaked out and totally overwhelmed.

You may find yourself taking that age old advice to just put your head down and get more done.  The problem is as you keep working harder more work is showing up and the rainbow at the end tunnel has turned into three more appointments and 100 more emails to respond to. 

Instead of being driven to get ahead you may be driving yourself head first into a panic zone.

How can we avoid slamming into the panic zone when relating to money?

The first step is to pay attention to the three following zones that we all live in and identify where you are: 

The Comfort Zone – This is a safe zone and in this zone we know what we like and what to expect.  The challenge is we may repeat habits with money that don't serve us and keeps our finances stagnating in the same place.

The Learning Zone – This zone gives us the ability to grow and expand as we learn new skills and we create a new relationship with our finances.  This helps us form new healthy strategies.

The Panic Zone – This is where we are no longer learning.  We either begin to withdraw, become aggressive, or completely shut down when relating to our finances.

Although stepping out of your comfort zone may not be easy, it will serve you to get into the learning zone even if it means you may hit your panic zone every now and again.

There is something quite empowering to observe the voices of defensiveness or paralysis around finances without taking permanent residence in the land of worry and panic. 

Monday Mindfulness

Notice when you've surpassed your learning zone and you've landed right in the middle of your Panic Zone when relating to thoughts about money this week.