Healthy Lunchtime, Healthy Business
I think a lot of people, including business owners, will try to speed up everything to try to outwork AI. That’s just not possible. That’s an express road to burnout.
Instead, maybe it’s time to focus on the human things that will still be necessary. Identify what in the business really needs a human touch, and focus on that. Instead of trying to work at AI speed, work at human speed. That’s how you get off the highway to hell, and start building yourself a fulfilling life.
One way to do that is to eat like a human being. Most people do this in other countries around the world, because it benefits business as well as people. The 20th of June is Take Back Your Lunch Break Day, which can get us all on the path back to humanity.
What’s the Right Amount of Hermit for Your Business?
You’ve probably noticed there are all kinds of weird themes for days, weeks, and months. June, for example, is both Zoo and Aquarium Month and LGBTQ+ Pride month. This particular week has the intriguing theme of… hermits. Yes, it’s Hermit Appreciation Week.
One Hunnert Nazi Scalps
In the movie “Inglorious Basterds”, World War II ends slightly differently: members of the Resistance (including an American bunch of basterds) incinerate Hitler and the Nazi high command in Paris. This revisionist history movie is incredibly satisfying, at least to those of us who prefer when Americans were fighting Nazis, not kowtowing to them.
Why Business Owners Benefit From Taking Time for Creativity
I can’t draw. Well, I’m pretty good at stick figures, so I’ll give myself that. I do okay with paintings if I go to one of those paint ‘n sip places, but my painting doesn’t usually have a strong resemblance to the instructor’s.
Like a surprising number of financial planners I know, I enjoy writing. (I even wrote a book on productivity – more here!) That’s my creative outlet, as it is for lots of people.
Can Meditation Work For You?
Some of us logical types have a hard time with meditation. It can seem pretty woo-woo, especially when you take a look at some of the people who practice it daily or those who call themselves meditation gurus.
Night at the Museum… for Your Business
What’s your favorite museum? Just because you’re an adult doesn’t mean you have to give up museums.
Want To Be More Effective In Your Business?
I’m very excited that my book is coming out on Kindle in a couple of weeks!
Is It Just a Spring Clean for the May Queen?
Two questions for business owners on the advent of May Day (5/1):
1. Are you hiring (salaried) people for hours or for results?
2. What does your neighborhood smell like right now?
Per My Last Email…
Oh, email, what a love-hate relationship we’ve had over the years. April 23rd is, for whatever reason, National Email Day. For any business owner who’s feeling overwhelmed, reviewing your email policy can help you focus on the important things instead of wasting your time reviewing messages.
What Kenya Taught Me About Life and Business
What’s on your bucket list?
One of my items was going on a safari in Africa. When a feminist writer I follow (Jill Filipovic) announced her writing/yoga/safari retreat in Kenya, I knew this was a great opportunity. I’ve also been told that it’s better to go on safari sooner rather than later because climate change is affecting the landscape. And I am so glad I jumped at the chance to go.
Is Consistent Peak Performance a Luxury?
If you’re a business owner, you know that performing at your best helps you succeed in business, whatever success means to you. Granted, no one can be at their very best every single day – life happens! However, the more often you can attempt it, the more likely you are to achieve your goals.
So why do you treat as a luxury one of the biggest factors in top performance?
For Business Owners Who Are Physically Active
Have you ever done something athletic in your adult life? Done a triathlon, a marathon, climbed Everest, or anything similar? A weightlifting competition? Anything that you’ve trained for - maybe a 5K run or walk?
If so, then you know not every day is a day to go as hard as you can. Training plans for most of these events include recovery days, where you might do some easy yoga or go for a walk. For its best performance, your body requires some rest and recovery, both during training and afterward.
Is There a Link Between Productivity and Healthspan?
You’ve probably started planning and saving for retirement, at least financially. Have you planned for your mental and physical health in retirement? If not, now is a good time to start!
March 17 is Wellderly Day. American culture has made it harder to get to old age in a healthy way, just as it makes paying attention to important tasks harder. However, you can push back on both – and the sooner you start, the better.
The Belief in “More” Leads to Burnout
Here in the US, we tend to think that “more” of practically anything is ideal. If medium fries are good, a large must be even better. If a half hour of exercise is good, then eight hours a day is better. If a multivitamin is good, one with even more vitamins in it is better.
Sometimes more is better, but very often there’s a ceiling past which more actually harms you. Too much of certain vitamins can damage your body. People have died drinking too much water as they were running a marathon.
Many of us pride ourselves on hard work, and of course, more is better, right?
Unplug For Productive Performance
If you discovered you were addicted to drugs (including alcohol and nicotine), gambling, or sex, what would you do? Or even if you didn’t think you were addicted exactly, but you thought your usage was too heavy and interfering with your life?
Flexibility in Your Business Framework
Have you ever been to the top of the Empire State Building in New York? (Or any other skyscraper?) When you go out to the observation deck, especially on a windy day, you’ll feel the platform sway a little bit.
That’s a feature, not a bug.
One Quick Trick To Get $hit Done in Your Business
Since the beginning of the year, how many days were you frantically busy yet ended the day feeling like you didn’t accomplish anything?
What If Productivity Is Like Healthy Eating?
Like many other Americans, I’m working on losing weight. It’s going so-so, but then I realized eating is just like productivity!
OK, I know that sounds ridiculous, but it’s true.
Can You Hear Me Now?
My parents used to laugh because I’d get mostly As and Bs on my report card for school subjects, but Cs in conduct – because I talked a lot. And if you’ve been on a call with me, I’ve probably told you that I can talk about my subject 24/7. When I was a kid, I stretched out the cord on the telephone on the wall so I could talk to my friends after school.
People don’t talk as much anymore… and that’s actually a bad thing.
Is “Fun at Work” an Oxymoron?
As a business owner, are you still enjoying your business? Is it still fun, at least sometimes?