Productive Moments

Despite how productive I’ve been of late, I’ve been exhausted and it's taken a tremendous amount of energy to get myself moving.  Love that double edged sword!  Thankfully - this week - I have some energy … woot woot!

I have a slew of projects I’m juggling this week - with unrealistic timelines for all of them … but also a depraved certainty it will all get done.  

In the midst of all the chaos and clutter my brain had an unrelated moment of clarity or knowing.  Everyone I talk to lately is frustrated with their jobs.  Some have more toxic situations than others, there is a general sense of disappointment around places we work or people we work for failing to do or be better.  To be clear - not everyone I know is actively seeking work elsewhere, or wants to leave their job or profession … some - yes, all - no.  

I think more and more people are frustrated that others aren’t meeting their standards, their drive, ambition, professionalism, level of care, empathy, innovative and/or critical thinking etc.  I’ve been there.  Pick a job … I’ve been there.  It’s frustrating … moments when you just want to scream “what the actual f ck” … truthfully, when I listen to the stories of people I care about … I want to cuff a few people and spoiler - it’s not the people I care about.  It honestly makes me wonder why more people don’t work for themselves.  If I could figure out how my competitive advantage - that thing that makes me different, that value add - could be monetized … I would totally start a side hustle and work to turn that into a viable income and build a business. 

Simple right?  Ha!

I know it’s not.  I know it's a lot of work. I know more businesses fail than don’t.  

I would do it anyway.  

I’ve spent my entire career building programs from varied stages of maturity.  Change management, leading change … that’s where I shine.  How to monetize that?  No idea.  

But I digress … 

I’m feeling motivated, energized, productive … while I’m adding to my plate … starting a business isn’t something I’m adding today. I’m actually trying to think of something motivating to put in a letter … it's a delicate balance … motivate, don’t preach.  Also … it’s unsolicited … which is never a good idea.  Also, it’s a letter because I won’t be there in person … It's a long story which can be summed up in one word - timing.  

I think part of the reason I’m feeling energized … it’s been a light meeting week.  Virtually unheard of … which means, I’ve had some heads down time, some quiet, some stillness.  I’ve been able to focus on doing things instead of talking about things … It's been a welcome change of pace.  While meetings aren’t chaotic, balancing doing work with meetings often feels chaotic … it’s an interesting thing chaos … always present, until it isn’t.  Like a dark room before flipping on a light.  Like most things, it’s also not linear, and can be subjective.  Everything around me is chaotic and yet, it also isn’t.  I have areas that are ordered and others look like everything exploded.  Usually my mind doesn’t function well in clutter, yet I’m able to think, disappear from my physical space and become laser focussed on the thing or things in front of me.  

I’ll take the wins where I can and be grateful for them.  I mean, the clutter isn’t going anywhere in the next month - well, technically it’s moving - and will get worse before it gets better.  I compartmentalize - a lot.  I have my work silo, my outside silo which includes all things I do socially, my current space, my new space, myself etc.  It’s a delicate balance feeding each space, knowing where and when to say no … it’s more art than science and it’s hard to say if you’re getting it right or wrong.  

Today feels like a good balance between all my buckets … a day filled with small wins and productive moments.  It’s those moments that compound over time and can have the most incredible outcomes.  I like those moments.