jasonwomack

[jasonwomack]

The even pages…they’re a surprise. I have to turn one over to get there.

Each morning I wake up at 5123, I read a daily note. Different than (the old) Sunday Note from MGM that I used to write, these are short. Deep. Meaningful. Often impactful. But, on “even page” days, I have a different ritual. See, the even pages are on the left. So, I have to turn one over to get there. 

My process is I hold the corner of the page and breath in … twice. I ask a question, whatever jumps to my heart. Lately, the questions have been bigger. Deeper. More meaningful. Searching for impact.

Maybe it was because I read some feedback a leader sent me about a program I ran. Or, that I got to help a couple of colleagues hone their presentations. Maybe because big changes are coming to my life - personal AND professional ones. Whatever it was, my question was answered when I turned today’s page:

  PS: The book is “The Daily Stoic.” I bought it the first Monday I lived in Montomgery, and have read the “daily” every morning I’ve woken up at home. I *did* get the kindle version - it was $1.99 at one point - but for some reason the words on a page speak to me differently than on-screen.

[jasonwomack]

The Next 180 Seconds

Today, have you asked, "Where did the time go?" Each day, 1,440 minutes go by; only later can we ask ourselves if we used them well, managed them poorly, or should have done something different. Asking where the time went won't make you more productive tomorrow. If you want to get more done, change the question you ask.

You can't change what you did, but you can choose what to do next.

Would you like to consider a thought experiment? Here goes: After you finish reading this self-coaching article, your focus will go somewhere. As your coach, I wonder two things: (1) how do you decide what to do next, and (2) how long do you stay focused on it? If you'd like to test the power of these two questions, go ahead and reflect on your day so far today. Go back to when you first woke up, and think about each thing you started...and how long you spent doing it.

In my work with clients over the past two decades, I have found that time and time again, people miss the importance of staying focused during their "next." How many "nexts" do you have in a day? That is, how many things do you start, and how long do you spend before you start the next one? One of the critical productivity hacks that I teach people is to stay longer in the next thing. Many times, focusing for just a bit more time has a significant impact.

"How much longer do I have to stay in my next?"

That is an excellent - and wise - question. My first response will be, "it depends." But, I will follow it with some of the best advice I give those I serve: Stay in it for another 3 minutes. That's it. After you think you're doing something and are about to go on, set a timer for 3 minutes and review, rethink, reflect on it. If you do this two or three times a day, you just might find you fix something, make something better, or decide to do something differently.

Here are specific things you can do to test this tactic:

After you type an email, set a timer for three minutes. Reread, edit, rewrite or add something to that email to make it even easier for the recipient to know what you need them to do, what you need them to know.

After you end a meeting, spend three minutes (close your eyes?) and review what you said, what you thought, what you feel. Then, capture a follow-on action into your to-do list system before going on to the next thing.

Right before you walk into your house tonight (or, leave your home office and walk into the living room if you're working from home!), spend three minutes focusing on what you want to have happen when you see those people you live with and love with.

Change your focus today, and be more productive tomorrow.

[jasonwomack]

The Sunday Note from MGM (Montgomery, AL): Jue 28th, 2020

[jasonwomack]

This video - posted by The Chicks - was posted yesterday.

Once again, I'll ask the man in the mirror, "Brother, what're you #makin that people can point at?"

#WhosWithMe ???

[jasonwomack]

BOOK REVIEW: Leadership From 30,000 Feet

5 Retired Generals Psychology/Sociology of Leading 2019 / 193 Pages Table of Contents/Organization

Part 1 - Commitment Part 2 - Courage Part 3 - Competence Part 4 - Compassion Part 5 - Character

Stand-Out Lines

Page 31: "Committed leaders pledge themselves to the tasks at hand every day." Page 54: "...your organization must view you as someone unfazed by precarious situations." Page 82: "I sought out senior pilots and tacticians in the squadron who were willing to spend time with me so I could learn from their experiences." Page 131: "Compassionate leaders recognize that everyone struggles with life at one time or another, then they do all they can to assist." Page 177: "Leaders with character stand up for their team members."

My Opinion

A book to be read by those wondering, "What's it like to go to sleep at night knowing that thousands of people know you're their leader?" So, grab a pen, get comfortable, open your notebook, and maybe even pour a favorite (morning OR evening) beverage. Then, settle in for story time.

5 retired General Officers, 5 thematic chapters, and 5 stories each...we all know we can learn through the experience of others, and these men make it easier than ever. In fact, if you're reading this book, I recommend you START by skipping to the end of each chapter to review the bullet points that conclude each story. Put the book down - maybe for a week or two - and then come back after you've had a chance to think about the main points of each chapter. After this reflection, read their stories. Ask yourself, "What do these stories mean to ME? How do these kinds of situations appear or play out in MY life?"

My recommendation (based on what I know now having read this book) is to pick one GO at a time and read his stories chapter by chapter. I, of course, have some favorite stories of my own from this book, but I'll leave it to you to go and find yours.

Best,

JW

[jasonwomack]

It’s #Time. In the next 4 weeks I’ll #travel to 6 cities, speak at 4 conferences, and live one amazing life. #momentum (at Topa Topa Brewing Company) https://www.instagram.com/p/BrocOnchPyD/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1wd6pujeyuq1d

[jasonwomack]

3 steps to be more #innovative via ‪http://www.LeadersGetMomentum.com‬ 1. Log in to your account 2. Click to the curriculum 3. Take the #SelfAssessment https://www.instagram.com/p/BrlMiYTBlCi/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1ur3zachz54fy

[jasonwomack]

Sharing the stage with my best friend... thank you for the invite #Montgomery, #Alabama @mgmwerx_ https://www.instagram.com/p/BreguCpBHiA/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=atl2wn4rfs3x

[jasonwomack]

The first two, variations on a theme from yesterday or so. The third... something I’m working on for an early January #blog post. (at Topa Topa Brewing Company) https://www.instagram.com/p/BreO-fZhLdI/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1orri5xwzu9b9

[jasonwomack]

Maybe it was the beer, or perhaps it was me just thinking in steps like my newest #mentor ... but those few letters E X P E R - really do make sense if you put them in this (swipe to the left) order. #Experiment #Experience #Expert (at Topa Topa Brewing Company) https://www.instagram.com/p/BrdP6idBJL_/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1ijzofv54jw8t

[jasonwomack]

41 hours of travel to get to #Kuwait. 47 hours in the country. 45 minute keynote titled: “Mastering Workplace Performance.” It all starts with you... saying #yes. (at Hilton Kuwait Resort) https://www.instagram.com/p/BrY2G_ZhA9K/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=4l60yfu6wznk

[jasonwomack]

Let yourself let this sink in: 14 years. Fourteen Years. A decade and a half (almost). In other words...a long time! Like 5,110 days. So, if your not done with that thing you’re here to do, it’s ok. Put it off to the side. Come back to it. Put it away again, and come back...again. #MonaLisa #art #commitment #focus #momentum #getMomentum (at Topa Topa Brewing Company) https://www.instagram.com/p/BrWhu0khmDJ/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1n0n4wran99pc

[jasonwomack]

Please, share your answer with the #ifihadtimetothinkiwould (at Blind Tiger Ale House) https://www.instagram.com/p/Bqa4BFdBD3s/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1flrc7rqt3s6h

[jasonwomack]

Stairs. I always ask for a higher floor in the hotels I check into. Then, throughout my stay, coming and going, I use the #stairs. The front desk always laughs about it, “You know, the elevator is safe!” they say... It’s an easy way to get three - five more minutes of moving my body into the day. (at Four Points by Sheraton Manhattan SoHo Village) https://www.instagram.com/p/BqZjUsRBqyK/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=u66rt33q1noq

[jasonwomack]

Serving the USAF, sharing from all three levels of #leadership: the #heart, the #head, and the #gut. Ask yourself, what would #feel right? What do you #think is right? What #connects us to each other AND the higher #mission? (And, getting to share the stage with my best friends is the bonus...) https://www.instagram.com/p/BqSIVvqh7in/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=3u7y3li7zgov

[jasonwomack]

Heard someone frame it in a way my brain understands it. Process creates results. (at New York, New York) https://www.instagram.com/p/BqLWU7khbYk/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=zvdwbcvqvtfn

[jasonwomack]

When it becomes clear that everything matters. https://www.instagram.com/p/BqKWyZghMAL/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1xryrbw1l5ob0