“Anything can be accomplished if we are willing to pay the price.”
I happen to believe this.
However, part of this statement causes lots of thought, confusion, angst, and down right anxiety for me. What is the price?
The easy answer, I guess, is that the price depends on what we want to accomplish. The greater the accomplishment, the greater the price. Right?
Maybe?
It seems to me that the greater the clarity of focus, the greater the likelihood of accomplishment. There is an old Chinese proverb that says “If we chase 2 rabbits, we catch neither.” On second thought, maybe, giving up on the second rabbit is the price we pay to catch the first. Maybe giving up on some of our dreams, allows us to achieve others. This would argue for prioritizing what we really want. We must also assure that our priorities are not in conflict. We cannot both spend more time with our families AND spend more time gaining expertise in a time consuming hobby. The fewer the priorities, the greater the likelihood of accomplishment. The more congruent the dreams, the greater the likelihood of accomplishment.
The price may simply mean realizing that we cannot accomplish everything. Sacrificing something, a dream or dreams, money, time, fame, relationships….may make way for the accomplishment(s) we truly desire.
I guess we need to be careful about what we really want. Maybe I need to change the tense here…maybe I need to be really careful about what I really want!
Since I started writing this I think I understand “the price” a little better. Hope you do too.
Sunday, April 25, 2010
Saturday, April 17, 2010
Next Play
Today is April 16, 2010. For the past 27 years or so this day has meant a day to do nothing but chill. As a CPA with a tax practice the filing deadline of April 15 has traditionally caused an approximate 2 month concentration of work and stress. But today, this April 16, I am not chilling…I’m planning.
I have long advised my athletic daughters that the most important play or point is always the next one. I’ve decided to take my own advice. Either after a good point or a bad point in tennis or volleyball the point is over. It is time to move on. Next play…where do we go from here? How can we put ourselves in the place of most potential to succeed now?
Today I am looking at the next play. There are lots of details to follow up on, lots of action items to implement, lots of decisions to be made, and lots of opportunity to seize.
April 15 is over and tomorrow April 16 will be behind me. I’m excited. I can’t wait until Monday!
Next play please!
I have long advised my athletic daughters that the most important play or point is always the next one. I’ve decided to take my own advice. Either after a good point or a bad point in tennis or volleyball the point is over. It is time to move on. Next play…where do we go from here? How can we put ourselves in the place of most potential to succeed now?
Today I am looking at the next play. There are lots of details to follow up on, lots of action items to implement, lots of decisions to be made, and lots of opportunity to seize.
April 15 is over and tomorrow April 16 will be behind me. I’m excited. I can’t wait until Monday!
Next play please!
Sunday, March 7, 2010
Factoid
Listen and Silent have the exact same letters. I know there is some deep meaning in there somewhere.
Friday, February 26, 2010
Unknown Unknowns
Currently I am working with 2 clients that are facing some very large decisions. The details surrounding the decisions are not relevant; however, the decisions themselves are very relevant.
Sound like double talk?
Not really.
What I mean is… that the result of the decisions are not relevant…but the decision making process is very relevant. I have often related to my children that neither I nor they will always make the right decision, but we should always make decisions right. (For the record, I, myself did make a wrong decision back in the 8th grade. I don’t remember what it was, but I do remember that it resulted in a trip to the principal’s office and contact with the “board of education”.)
These two clients are approaching the decisions in radically different ways and with radically different levels of stress. Remember, the result of these choices will follow the businesses for years to come.
Client number 1 is fretting about making the wrong choice. Yet he is not doing much else. He paces and thinks, paces and thinks. What if I make the wrong decision? He is feeling lots of stress.
Client number 2 has made several very important lists. He has listed the known knowns. (What he knows to be true.) He has listed the known unknowns. (The things he knows he does not know…and maybe can only find out by making the decision.) But the list he does not know how to compile is the one of the unknown unknowns. (He simply does not know what he does not know.)
This client, then, began asking questions. Good questions. When do I have to make the decision or when is the opportune time? Have I gathered enough information to make a well informed choice? Have I consulted my trusted advisors? Do I know anyone else that has been in a situation similar to this? He is trying to find out information that he does not even know that he doesn’t know. He is on a mission and is energized by the process.
Who do you think is more likely to make a right decision? Who do you think is making the decision right? Easy choice here, correct? Client number 2 of course.
When he gets to the point that the timing is right and he has gathered good information he will simply “plant the flag” and move forward in a confident manner. Will his decisions always be right…I doubt it… but his batting average sure will be better than client number 1 and his stress level will be much more manageable.
Do you have any unknown unknowns? It is difficult to answer that. How would you know?
Sound like double talk?
Not really.
What I mean is… that the result of the decisions are not relevant…but the decision making process is very relevant. I have often related to my children that neither I nor they will always make the right decision, but we should always make decisions right. (For the record, I, myself did make a wrong decision back in the 8th grade. I don’t remember what it was, but I do remember that it resulted in a trip to the principal’s office and contact with the “board of education”.)
These two clients are approaching the decisions in radically different ways and with radically different levels of stress. Remember, the result of these choices will follow the businesses for years to come.
Client number 1 is fretting about making the wrong choice. Yet he is not doing much else. He paces and thinks, paces and thinks. What if I make the wrong decision? He is feeling lots of stress.
Client number 2 has made several very important lists. He has listed the known knowns. (What he knows to be true.) He has listed the known unknowns. (The things he knows he does not know…and maybe can only find out by making the decision.) But the list he does not know how to compile is the one of the unknown unknowns. (He simply does not know what he does not know.)
This client, then, began asking questions. Good questions. When do I have to make the decision or when is the opportune time? Have I gathered enough information to make a well informed choice? Have I consulted my trusted advisors? Do I know anyone else that has been in a situation similar to this? He is trying to find out information that he does not even know that he doesn’t know. He is on a mission and is energized by the process.
Who do you think is more likely to make a right decision? Who do you think is making the decision right? Easy choice here, correct? Client number 2 of course.
When he gets to the point that the timing is right and he has gathered good information he will simply “plant the flag” and move forward in a confident manner. Will his decisions always be right…I doubt it… but his batting average sure will be better than client number 1 and his stress level will be much more manageable.
Do you have any unknown unknowns? It is difficult to answer that. How would you know?
Sunday, January 17, 2010
My Tomorrow
My day will start early tomorrow. A client has requested a two hour appointment beginning at 6:30 am to discuss an important strategy decision he is facing. I will then return to my office for our team’s regular 9:00 am Monday morning WIP (work in process) meeting. We are attempting to expand this meeting to not just go over what is on the agenda for the week in regard to projects in the office, but to also set each or our 3 biggest goals for the day/week.
A lunch meeting will follow with a potential new client who was referred to us and is currently simply looking for a second opinion related to the tax structure of his businesses. I will attempt to go much deeper than this with him. Tax structure is important but what is his ultimate vision for his operation? My experience tells me that he may not have a clear picture of his “perfect” operation or what the critical success factors are for him to achieve that vision.
At 2:00 another meeting! An investor group representative is stopping by to discuss several accounting issues, project management, and liquidation scenarios related to the ultimate sale of the project. This may not sound very exciting… but to these business guys the success of this project and ultimate “cash out” is very important.
Later in the day, 4:30 or 5:00 my wife and younger daughter have an appointment with her volleyball coach and mentor. Are we putting Caroline in the place of most potential to earn an athletic scholarship? Is this what she really wants? If so, what is our continuing strategy and action steps? These are some pretty big decisions and there is lots of information to gather.
After all of this “busyness”, I already know what I will be thinking at the end of the day. Did I do enough, did I really help anyone, what could I have done to improve on the day’s tasks? You see I am cursed with something I call “positive discontent”. No matter how good things seem. I just cannot allow myself to be totally satisfied or content. There will always be something that I could have done to “make it better” or I could have been more effective in some way.
I don’t think I am a perfectionist. I do enjoy the quality completion of tasks. But I think I enjoy examining and improving the process as much, or more, than getting to the end.
I am looking forward to tomorrow. Busy days like it don’t come along too often…thank goodness! There would be no time to get the actual work done. The planning days are the most fun. They allow days like tomorrow to happen with out unbearable apprehension. I consider my “positive discontent” an asset. It helps keep me sharp. I need every advantage I can get!
A lunch meeting will follow with a potential new client who was referred to us and is currently simply looking for a second opinion related to the tax structure of his businesses. I will attempt to go much deeper than this with him. Tax structure is important but what is his ultimate vision for his operation? My experience tells me that he may not have a clear picture of his “perfect” operation or what the critical success factors are for him to achieve that vision.
At 2:00 another meeting! An investor group representative is stopping by to discuss several accounting issues, project management, and liquidation scenarios related to the ultimate sale of the project. This may not sound very exciting… but to these business guys the success of this project and ultimate “cash out” is very important.
Later in the day, 4:30 or 5:00 my wife and younger daughter have an appointment with her volleyball coach and mentor. Are we putting Caroline in the place of most potential to earn an athletic scholarship? Is this what she really wants? If so, what is our continuing strategy and action steps? These are some pretty big decisions and there is lots of information to gather.
After all of this “busyness”, I already know what I will be thinking at the end of the day. Did I do enough, did I really help anyone, what could I have done to improve on the day’s tasks? You see I am cursed with something I call “positive discontent”. No matter how good things seem. I just cannot allow myself to be totally satisfied or content. There will always be something that I could have done to “make it better” or I could have been more effective in some way.
I don’t think I am a perfectionist. I do enjoy the quality completion of tasks. But I think I enjoy examining and improving the process as much, or more, than getting to the end.
I am looking forward to tomorrow. Busy days like it don’t come along too often…thank goodness! There would be no time to get the actual work done. The planning days are the most fun. They allow days like tomorrow to happen with out unbearable apprehension. I consider my “positive discontent” an asset. It helps keep me sharp. I need every advantage I can get!
Sunday, January 3, 2010
Leapfrog
Sometimes when talking with business owners I ask them where they see their business operation in 3-5 years. The most often response has to do with a financial position. When talking with my younger daughter about her life goals (she is 16 now) the most often response after “I’m not sure” is “Doing something that makes me happy”.
I see both of these initial responses as a sort of “leapfrog” answer. Though not wrong in any sense, the business owner and my daughter have leapfrogged over the details (cause) directly to an outcome (effect). I believe that we live in a cause and effect world, a sort of “reap what you sow” environment.
Most of my involvement with my clients revolves around “causes”. Once we have worked through defining a desired outcome or effect, we begin to explore together what may “cause” that outcome to become a reality. From there, implementing systems and processes to put the client in the place of most potential to achieve the outcome is our single minded focus. It is surprising that most business owners know exactly the outcome they want but have put in little time or effort in effecting processes that deliver what they desire.
As for my daughter, she must first discover what it is that makes her happy before she can leapfrog directly to happiness. My wife and I see our parenting “job” with her as one not unlike what I do with my business clients. I must help her discover the “causes” of her happiness. This can lead to some very interesting (and fun) conversations!
In the business world, owners tend to want to beat themselves up a bit about what they have not done in the past. This exercise is totally irrelevant to our task at hand of brainstorming causes. Sometimes we have a 10 minute “purge session” just to let them get it out of their system. We talk about all the woulda, coulda, shoulda’s…but only for a specified time. We then throw that list away. Irrelevant!
Where do you spend your time and effort? Are you thinking about the outcome (effect) or thinking about detailed strategies (causes)?
Leapfrog is a great game…but sometime it prolongs the ultimate “win”.
I see both of these initial responses as a sort of “leapfrog” answer. Though not wrong in any sense, the business owner and my daughter have leapfrogged over the details (cause) directly to an outcome (effect). I believe that we live in a cause and effect world, a sort of “reap what you sow” environment.
Most of my involvement with my clients revolves around “causes”. Once we have worked through defining a desired outcome or effect, we begin to explore together what may “cause” that outcome to become a reality. From there, implementing systems and processes to put the client in the place of most potential to achieve the outcome is our single minded focus. It is surprising that most business owners know exactly the outcome they want but have put in little time or effort in effecting processes that deliver what they desire.
As for my daughter, she must first discover what it is that makes her happy before she can leapfrog directly to happiness. My wife and I see our parenting “job” with her as one not unlike what I do with my business clients. I must help her discover the “causes” of her happiness. This can lead to some very interesting (and fun) conversations!
In the business world, owners tend to want to beat themselves up a bit about what they have not done in the past. This exercise is totally irrelevant to our task at hand of brainstorming causes. Sometimes we have a 10 minute “purge session” just to let them get it out of their system. We talk about all the woulda, coulda, shoulda’s…but only for a specified time. We then throw that list away. Irrelevant!
Where do you spend your time and effort? Are you thinking about the outcome (effect) or thinking about detailed strategies (causes)?
Leapfrog is a great game…but sometime it prolongs the ultimate “win”.
Friday, December 25, 2009
Like & Love
Christmas night! Had a big day…lots of gifts, food and drink, visiting with family and friends, text messages, e-mails and phone calls…tired!
My wife, Jodi, gave me a very cool gift this year…a Kindle. It is a wireless electronic reading device. I am now able to download books to the Kindle in a matter of seconds. No more ordering and waiting for a delivery or going to the bookstore and paying full price. The Kindle will even read the book to you, if you like. Way cool. I enjoy books and now I will enjoy the Kindle! (BTW… I gave her a brand new vacuum cleaner…before you think badly of me, that is exactly what she wanted!)
Not only did I get a Kindle… but I received lots of other stuff too. Clothes, shoes, gourmet snacks and cheeses, several bottles of nice wine, a neat wine stopper, etc, etc. All these things I liked.
After a little while, with a full stomach and the Kindle, I have sat back and reflected a little on Christmas 2009. It was a good one. But one thing has bothered me... our older daughter, Sarah, was not able to be with us today. She and her husband, Marvin, drove in to Baton Rouge from Houston on the 22nd and left yesterday, the 24th, in order to be back in Houston for work obligations on Christmas Eve. Jodi, Caroline (daughter # 2), and I have missed her. This is the first Christmas in 24 years that I have not seen Sarah on Christmas day. (I hope this does not start a trend.)
In any event, it sort of hit me that I sure do like the “stuff” I got today. But I propose that as much as we all like the things money can buy, we love the things it can’t.
I would give up my Kindle in a heartbeat to have Sarah and Marvin at home with us a while longer. The things we love… we can’t touch. Things like relationships, conversations, laughter, contentment, a wink, excitement, anticipation, and a shared thought that hits those we love at the exact same time. I hope this makes sense to you.
A business application to the above thoughts? I think there is…it is not about just the money we can make from the delivery of a quality product or service, it is about the satisfaction (or even delight) we can bring others by how we deliver the product or service. Relationships trump stuff every time.
I hope you and your family had a great Christmas. And I hope your loved ones were there to enjoy the day with you. There is not doubt that the true meaning of Christmas also revolves around relationship. HIS was a gift that money sure can’t buy.
2010 is going to be a great year!
My wife, Jodi, gave me a very cool gift this year…a Kindle. It is a wireless electronic reading device. I am now able to download books to the Kindle in a matter of seconds. No more ordering and waiting for a delivery or going to the bookstore and paying full price. The Kindle will even read the book to you, if you like. Way cool. I enjoy books and now I will enjoy the Kindle! (BTW… I gave her a brand new vacuum cleaner…before you think badly of me, that is exactly what she wanted!)
Not only did I get a Kindle… but I received lots of other stuff too. Clothes, shoes, gourmet snacks and cheeses, several bottles of nice wine, a neat wine stopper, etc, etc. All these things I liked.
After a little while, with a full stomach and the Kindle, I have sat back and reflected a little on Christmas 2009. It was a good one. But one thing has bothered me... our older daughter, Sarah, was not able to be with us today. She and her husband, Marvin, drove in to Baton Rouge from Houston on the 22nd and left yesterday, the 24th, in order to be back in Houston for work obligations on Christmas Eve. Jodi, Caroline (daughter # 2), and I have missed her. This is the first Christmas in 24 years that I have not seen Sarah on Christmas day. (I hope this does not start a trend.)
In any event, it sort of hit me that I sure do like the “stuff” I got today. But I propose that as much as we all like the things money can buy, we love the things it can’t.
I would give up my Kindle in a heartbeat to have Sarah and Marvin at home with us a while longer. The things we love… we can’t touch. Things like relationships, conversations, laughter, contentment, a wink, excitement, anticipation, and a shared thought that hits those we love at the exact same time. I hope this makes sense to you.
A business application to the above thoughts? I think there is…it is not about just the money we can make from the delivery of a quality product or service, it is about the satisfaction (or even delight) we can bring others by how we deliver the product or service. Relationships trump stuff every time.
I hope you and your family had a great Christmas. And I hope your loved ones were there to enjoy the day with you. There is not doubt that the true meaning of Christmas also revolves around relationship. HIS was a gift that money sure can’t buy.
2010 is going to be a great year!
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