Intentions vs. Efforts

Originally Posted on  Creating Success! Blog.

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It’s Okay to Say “No”

I have always said that a vital key to success comes from your ability to say, “no;” not in saying, “yes.”  –mwgrigs

Etymology Word of the Day: Triage

Triage (tree-ahz) v.  – 1721, “action of assorting according to quality,” from French triage “a picking out, sorting,” from Old French trier “to pick, cull.” (from Etymonline.com)

“The urgent problems are seldom the important ones.” –Dwight D. Eisenhower

The ability to triage, specifically when differentiating between what is urgent and what is important, is the mark of every good leader.

There is no shortage of urgent things clamoring for attention in our lives. Indeed, that is often what consumes the majority of our days. Whether in the board room or on the social scene, urgent is the order of the day. The challenge is making sure the important does not suffer under the demands of the urgent.

We live in a time-starved, instant-gratification, consumer-driven, media-saturated society that is bent on perpetual motion, overindulgence and continuous stimulation. It seems that from the moment the alarm clock chimes we’re operating in deficit mode. As an unfortunate result, often the truly important things take a back seat to that which happens to be in front of us at any given moment.

Here are a few simple tips to help you sort through the daily barrage and focus on what is indeed most important:

Tip #1: Just say no – I’ve always said that success is measured by one’s ability to say no, not in saying yes. Learn to decline those things that do not need your direct attention or do not support your overall goals. Allowing others to take appropriate ownership releases you to key in on the important things in your day and in your life.

Tip #2: Handle the important things before they become urgent – An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. This is one of my weak points. It’s not that I don’t care; I just get overwhelmed because I forget Tip #1! Deal with the important things when they’re small enough to handle quickly and save yourself loads of trouble on the back side.

Tip #3: Remember that technology is the vehicle, not the destination – Too often, the enjoyment of the moment passes by while we’re fixated on capturing it and posting it on Facebook, Twitter, or Pinterest. Don’t let your virtual connections interrupt your in-person connections. Turn your phone off when you’re in meetings, block out dedicated time to check/respond to emails, and set limits on your social media surfing. Regaining control of your time helps you establish what is truly important—and lets others know it too.

Tip #4: Make a list – If you’ve ever grocery shopped when you’re hungry, then you know you’re almost powerless to defend against all of the “data” flooding your senses. The same is true when prioritizing your day. Make a list and stick to it! Start with the most important tasks of the day, adding the less-important items at the end. Even if you don’t complete your list, writing them down serves as a subconscious referee for your mind and helps you stay on target.

What is half of 8?

For most, the immediate answer will be 4. Others, who think themselves cerebrally gifted, might respond with zero (the numeral 8 cut in half horizontally). How many answers can you come up with?

If you’re like most, you probably thought the question was focused on finding a solution: 8 divided by 2 equals 4. That’s an analytical and problem-centric approach to the question. Perhaps not until you saw another answer of zero, and its explanation, did you consider this might be something more than an exercise in arithmetic. In fact at that point, it was no longer a question about finding a solution, but became a question about finding possibilities.

Hi, my name is Mike Grigsby, welcome to my blog. My day job is an IT  manager for a large police department, but I’ve amassed a veritable treasure trove of experiences over my time in the workforce: military veteran, preacher, graphic designer, police officer, business owner, web developer, marketing director, entrepreneur and organizational development guru. At first blush it sounds like I didn’t really know what I wanted to be when I grew up. Ironically, all of those experiences have two things in common: 1) me; and 2) the exploration of possibilities.

A friend of mine recently asked me the question, “What is half of eight?” Like many of you, I snapped back with the number 4. As they explained the exercise as an exploration of possibilities, I took inventory of my work experiences and realized I’ve been exploring possibilities for a long time. Are you exploring the possibilities in your life or is “4” your final answer? My hope for this blog is to share my thoughts and insights, comedies and tragedies as I explore an inexhaustible supply of possibilities.

Not sure what this blog will look like over time, how often I will post, or if people will ever bother to pay it a visit. What I do know is that every post will have two things in common: 1) me; and 2) the exploration of possibilities.

Welcome!