Just about the time when I think my business couldn't possibly get any more complicated, I'm reminded that it's all relative. Some days are a piece of cake and almost effortless (that would be most, actually). Other days take a little more finesse, creativity, insight and dedication.
I was reminded this morning that working with a difficult client, an indifferent short sale negotiator or a clueless selling agent is not nearly as difficult as interpreting a panel board that controls a busy restaurant. It's all relative. I spent time in the electrical field today assisting my son on an electrical repair. It's good for me to keep my skills up, and he's still learning so it presented a teachable moment.
I always say it's a chance for me to do something mindless. Of course that's rarely a good way to describe a task that could burn a house or business down, but what I mean is that when you've done something so many times that it becomes rout, it seems mindless to you. That doesn't mean precautions aren't taken and important, but it's familiar territory. It might be mind-boggling to an observer, but again, it's all relative. Not all days are overwhelming and all consuming, but some are.
I find the best way to avoid those overwhelming days is to:
- Always stay up on the latest information in your field.
- Keep your focus throughout every opportunity, and avoid getting distracted by squirrels (unassociated or less important things).
- Know when to ask for help, and be quick to do it.
- Don't volunteer your thoughts if your thoughts are 100% clear and sure about a situation. It's better to say, "I don't know," or "I'll find out," than it is to say "I'm sorry. I was wrong."
- Pace yourself. Rushing can lead to extended hours and mistakes. I hesitate to say slow and steady wins the race. But, how about "steady" wins the race. It's easy to miss things when you're rushing.
- Keep valuable resources on speed dial. Your speed dial might include Google search, but knowing where to get information is nearly as important as knowing all information.
- And remember, tomorrow is another day. You get to start over with a fresh mind, fresh eyes and fresh energy.
Winning or losing in life are really played out the same way. In one scenario you're confront with a lot of choices and you chose the right path, and in the other you face the same choices but you chose the wrong path. And once in a while, those paths cross and get fuzzy and everything is grey and your final destination is in question. Ironically, when you're on the other side of most events you suddenly have 20/20 vision. The goal in life is to have that perfect vision on the front side of each situation. That starts with keeping everything in perspective and being prepared to best of your ability.
Keep in mind, that every situation is relative to the moment and your preparation to meet the moment. When I opened the control cabinet in the restaurant this morning, I felt saying, "Whew! I was hoping for an easy day." But, then my nearly 40 years of experience and training kicked in and off we went to a successful day. I was able to do a little juggling at the same time. I handled all of my real estate transactions through my iPhone and the electrical repairs in person. Just another day in paradise.
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