Hey everyone, here we go. . . . . .
IN OUR WORLD This may be the most insane week of the year for me. The Challenger Pro Tennis Tour is in town. My club is the host and Creative Ventures is one of the sponsors. I have clients coming every day for the day session and then again for the night session. So this is how my day goes:
- 3 AM – 6 AM Work
- 6 AM – 8 AM Morning workout
- 9 AM – 11 AM Work
- 11 AM – 4 PM With clients at tennis tournament
- 4 PM – 6 PM Evening workout
- 6 PM – 10 PM With clients at tennis tournament
Now mix in a couple of breakfast meetings and a major client presentation today and you have my week.
You can check out the live streaming feed of the tournament at www.frontrowtennis.com The set up rivals any ESPN feed you have ever seen.
Next week I spend the ENTIRE week in
Man, I love being busy!
THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW
I have had the opportunity recently to start a simplification process for a client. This is one of our most requested services; “Steve, can you simplify this report, Steve, can you create a simple presentation around this data, Steve, can we work around a simple communication cycle or sales process or division report.”
This need to see past the organizational clutter becomes imperative in chaotic times. You need to conserve time and energy to focus them around moving forward. REMEMBER – all reports are about the PAST.
Inevitably this project will come down to an understanding of systems and patterns. It seems humans are instinctively drawn to building systems. When ever a problem pops up, we build a system. No matter how simple the system starts, it’s naturally grows and with it comes exponential complexity. We shy away from solutions in favor of systems. Face it, when things don’t work, we want to DO SOMETHING. That something usually takes the form of creating a system of perceived connected pieces to insure the thing that didn’t work will work again.
Here are a few systems hints to help you take a look at the complexity of your world.
- The Creative Ventures Law of – “Don’t ask a fish about the water”: If you are in the system, the system tends to become your reality. Ask someone OUTSIDE the system to help.
- SEE: On a white board define a map of the system. Start at the beginning with the very first step. It might be a phone call, or a log in to an electronic site. You have to find the beginning. Then draw a map of the beginning to the end of the system. This will give you a visual link.
- SIMPLIFY: Now, that you can see the system, what pieces do not directly support the desired outcome. This is a hard part, because you will want to protect the system. People become caught up in “the way things have always been done”. It’s a form of situational inertia.
These three steps will begin to give you an understanding of the system and insight into its patterns.
ENTERTAINMENT
MOVIES: PUSH – Another thriller movie making for another great time at the theater. The fall and winter serious movies (many were very good) are giving away to an early spring of fun action movies and comedies.
NetFlix Fans: The Caveman’s Valentine: This great little mystery has been making the rounds on the movie channels. It stars Samuel L Jackson as a homeless former piano prodigy who now lives in a
TV: I have not seen anything this week but my DVR has my favorite shows ready for some down time viewing: House MD, Lie to Me, The Mentalist, Burn Notice, Monk and Psyche.
BOOKS: Money Makers – By Anne Marie Fink is a great book about sharpening your edge and not putting all your energy into yesterday’s successes.
MUSIC: In honor the great halftime show at the Super Bowl, here is one of my all time favorite Springsteen songs, performed live – Jungleland!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tGU0z1DGO8E
WEB SITES: Good source for research.
http://www.freenewsarticles.com/
SOUTH OF
Some day you will need to take a stand.Bruce Springsteen
Drop me a note with your comments at steve@creativeventures.com
Thanks for stopping by and until next time, Adios and Aloha.
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