As you can tell, from the recent lack of posting and the most recent Bunny Days post, I'm in a bit of an odd place. Bunny Days, for me, are a clear indicator that I am not settled or, more precisely, not centered. I've been running through some ideas about why this might be the case. My tentative theory is this: I've been so focused on efficiency (doing things right) that I've lost my perspective on effectiveness (doing the right things).
Take a look at HTR. The focus to date has been freeing myself "from" silly HAVE TOs. While that has been extremely valuable, it is really only the first step. The next step is understanding what I have freed myself up "to" do. I have very efficiently worked myself into a position that I have time to consider what I should be doing to be effective. I have a lot of experience with efficiency, so this has been fairly simple for me.
I have a lot of experience with identifying effective use of my time as well - but only in a business context. In the business world, there are very clear goals and objectives. The company, followed by the businesses within the company, followed by the units, departments and groups nested within each larger organization, establishes a direction and intention. As a fixer, I design my work efforts and products to support those goals. It is just a matter of alignment, really, or occasionally sorting.
In my personal life, I use the same approach for short term goals - as you have seen during HTR - but I have not been able to pull this off for long term (>1 year) goals. In fact, I can't even seem to consider long term goals. I have come to the startling conclusion that I have no idea what I really want to do in the big picture, strategic sense of the word. And I suspect that this is largely due to a complete and utter lack understanding of my "central self". So, for the next few days or weeks or months, I will be researching ways to differentiate between my central and calculated selves. To be honest, I'm not sure how - or even if - this will work, but I know that I have to try. Otherwise, I'll keep driving myself crazy with Bunny Days and vague dissatisfaction and talking continuously to all of you about the same. How boring would THAT be?
Showing posts with label HTR Phase 2. Show all posts
Showing posts with label HTR Phase 2. Show all posts
Tuesday, September 4, 2007
Thursday, August 23, 2007
Calculated vs Central Self, part 2.
I said in last week's post that there were several implications to discuss from the calculated/central self theory. However, it has been a full week since I wrote about this, so I'm pulling a paragraph from that post to get us all back on the same page.
"The Art of Possibility says that there are two versions of a person called the central self and the calculated self. Everyone seems to assume that the central self is obvious to us, which is probably a discussion for another post. But the interesting theory in The Art of Possibility is that the calculated self is created as a result of childhood survival strategies. My understanding of the theory is that each child survives by figuring out how to get what they need to feel safe. These strategies are the foundation of personality and, particularly, for stress response behaviors. If you take a look at those last 2 sentences, they implications are fairly astounding."
Last week, I looked at this in terms of work culture and environment where many people join to create a whole, but that is only one area of application. If this theory is correct, then it should play out for the individual as well. And that is where I'm struggling with the concept. If, as the theory states, our personalities are formed by the survival strategies that we developed in childhood, then how do we ever learn to be adults?
Let's assume that, for me personally, my childhood survival strategy was to smooth things out as much as possible. I created a safe place for myself by ensuring that there were no bumps in the road to create stress for anyone else. Then a career as a professional optimizer would make sense for me. But how did I learn to change the "child fixer" behavior to "adult fixer"? Is it just a matter of learning new skills in line with a personality that was created many years ago?
And what does it mean if I decide that I'm really a designer and not a fixer/optimizer. Does that mean that the personality I developed as a child is being overwritten? Is it possible to develop a new version of personality based on adult understandings? Or is this an example of finding some element of my "central self"?
As you can see, I have more questions than answers. As always, I rather like this phase of the process. I have some more moodling to do on the subject before I get any useful output, I suspect. And, of course, this is all seen from my point of view (5'4 - a little taller in heels). Other perspectives (oh, ADAW) are welcome!
"The Art of Possibility says that there are two versions of a person called the central self and the calculated self. Everyone seems to assume that the central self is obvious to us, which is probably a discussion for another post. But the interesting theory in The Art of Possibility is that the calculated self is created as a result of childhood survival strategies. My understanding of the theory is that each child survives by figuring out how to get what they need to feel safe. These strategies are the foundation of personality and, particularly, for stress response behaviors. If you take a look at those last 2 sentences, they implications are fairly astounding."
Last week, I looked at this in terms of work culture and environment where many people join to create a whole, but that is only one area of application. If this theory is correct, then it should play out for the individual as well. And that is where I'm struggling with the concept. If, as the theory states, our personalities are formed by the survival strategies that we developed in childhood, then how do we ever learn to be adults?
Let's assume that, for me personally, my childhood survival strategy was to smooth things out as much as possible. I created a safe place for myself by ensuring that there were no bumps in the road to create stress for anyone else. Then a career as a professional optimizer would make sense for me. But how did I learn to change the "child fixer" behavior to "adult fixer"? Is it just a matter of learning new skills in line with a personality that was created many years ago?
And what does it mean if I decide that I'm really a designer and not a fixer/optimizer. Does that mean that the personality I developed as a child is being overwritten? Is it possible to develop a new version of personality based on adult understandings? Or is this an example of finding some element of my "central self"?
As you can see, I have more questions than answers. As always, I rather like this phase of the process. I have some more moodling to do on the subject before I get any useful output, I suspect. And, of course, this is all seen from my point of view (5'4 - a little taller in heels). Other perspectives (oh, ADAW) are welcome!
Friday, August 17, 2007
Calculated vs Central Self - Art of Possibility musings
I’ve been one poor correspondent – I’ve been too, too hard to find… But it doesn’t mean you ain’t been on my mind!
I got terribly distracted for some time there and – unfortunately – it was right in the midst of a series of thoughts on The Art of Possibility. So, just as a recap, I’ve already talked about practicing the practices and scarcity thinking. The good news is that I have personally been making great strides in practicing my new practices and avoiding scarcity thinking. Working through these two concepts has been incredibly helpful for me.
This week has me thinking about one of the other big ideas that I picked up in this book. I should explain that I am currently sitting on the 26th floor of one of the World Financial Centers in Manhattan. For me, this environment brings up a recurring area of concern – that of the calculated self.
The Art of Possibility says that there are two versions of a person called the central self and the calculated self. Everyone seems to assume that the central self is obvious to us, which is probably a discussion for another post. But the interesting theory in The Art of Possibility is that the calculated self is created as a result of childhood survival strategies. My understanding of the theory is that each child survives by figuring out ho w to get what they need to feel safe. These strategies are the foundation of personality and, particularly, for stress response behaviors. If you take a look at those last 2 sentences, they implications are fairly astounding. There are several areas of those implications that I want to discuss, but I only have time to get to one today. And, I’m sitting in what I see as “the calculated self center of the world”, I’ll talk about the effects of this theory on work.
The business world in which I work encourages and rewards very specific behaviors. Again, each individual has strategies to obtain what they need to feel safe. As adults, our definitions of “need” and “safe” have been refined over time. Do I need to keep up with the Jones’ or do I need to be in complete control of my environment? Am I safe when I’m an executive? Am I safe when I have a certain $ value in the bank? Regardless of the individual need or safety requirements, there is only one way to meet the requirements. Our survival depends on pleasing the local representatives of our corporate entities. Each corporation effectively re-creates the conditions of childhood again managers acting as parents and departments acting as tribes.
I like this theory because it is consistent with my experience. I see competing siblings and tribes. I see blatant needs couched in acceptable terms. But perhaps I’m just cynical. What do you see?
I got terribly distracted for some time there and – unfortunately – it was right in the midst of a series of thoughts on The Art of Possibility. So, just as a recap, I’ve already talked about practicing the practices and scarcity thinking. The good news is that I have personally been making great strides in practicing my new practices and avoiding scarcity thinking. Working through these two concepts has been incredibly helpful for me.
This week has me thinking about one of the other big ideas that I picked up in this book. I should explain that I am currently sitting on the 26th floor of one of the World Financial Centers in Manhattan. For me, this environment brings up a recurring area of concern – that of the calculated self.
The Art of Possibility says that there are two versions of a person called the central self and the calculated self. Everyone seems to assume that the central self is obvious to us, which is probably a discussion for another post. But the interesting theory in The Art of Possibility is that the calculated self is created as a result of childhood survival strategies. My understanding of the theory is that each child survives by figuring out ho w to get what they need to feel safe. These strategies are the foundation of personality and, particularly, for stress response behaviors. If you take a look at those last 2 sentences, they implications are fairly astounding. There are several areas of those implications that I want to discuss, but I only have time to get to one today. And, I’m sitting in what I see as “the calculated self center of the world”, I’ll talk about the effects of this theory on work.
The business world in which I work encourages and rewards very specific behaviors. Again, each individual has strategies to obtain what they need to feel safe. As adults, our definitions of “need” and “safe” have been refined over time. Do I need to keep up with the Jones’ or do I need to be in complete control of my environment? Am I safe when I’m an executive? Am I safe when I have a certain $ value in the bank? Regardless of the individual need or safety requirements, there is only one way to meet the requirements. Our survival depends on pleasing the local representatives of our corporate entities. Each corporation effectively re-creates the conditions of childhood again managers acting as parents and departments acting as tribes.
I like this theory because it is consistent with my experience. I see competing siblings and tribes. I see blatant needs couched in acceptable terms. But perhaps I’m just cynical. What do you see?
Tuesday, July 31, 2007
Scarcity thinking: Art of Possibility musings
In one of the early chapters of The Art of Possibility they introduce two related ideas. The first is that we live in a world of measurement where comparisons are our only way to prove our own success. I'll tangentially talk about that in the next post about Calculation. Today, however, I want to talk about Scarcity. (Look at that word. Doesn't it look bad? It looks like scar city and it sounds like scare city. Yuck!)
Scarcity thinking is something that HTH and I discussed at length when we started our business. Scarcity, as an operating principle, means that you have to take what you can from everyone else and hold on because there is not going to be enough. It is a competitive, "only the tough survive" model. And, as a model for surviving, it is extremely effective. It does not work for me, however, as a model for small business or for my current life.
In the society that I inhabit, there is more, more, more, MORE out there than anyone could ever want or need. And I do mean anyone! Within a 2 mile radius of my house, there are thousands of goods and services for sale. TLC has several shows devoted to people dealing with the overabundance of STUFF that they have added to their lives. As a country, we are facing such an overabundance that we are actually trying to figure out how to deal with increasing obesity in our population. In other words, our population is made up of people who, just like me, have thoughtlessly eaten themselves into a much larger size.
For me, these examples are about our honest, human confusion. When something feels wrong, we all revert to behaviors that comfort us. We build bigger houses to feel safer. We try to feed emotional hunger with physical food. We don't take time to think about what we have, so we fall prey to the "need" to buy more. Maybe I have it all wrong, but it seems like our "survival" techniques are continuing into a world where the objectives are more about growing and thriving. And, since we haven't slowed down enough to think about that, we haven't changed our behaviors to match.
I say we, but all I can say for sure is this: in the back of my head, there is some part of me that believes that there is not enough. Even when I am consciously aware that there is more than I can ever need. Even when I know that I am doing myself a disservice by thinking that. Even when I consciously argue with that voice. And that has to do, in part, with the way I frame my view of the world.
I have been able, at times, to modify this thinking in specific areas. HTH and I worked to end scarcity thinking in building our business. We are aware that this market is more than large enough for our business and half a dozen similar companies to be profitable. I'm in the middle of changing that thinking in my food choices. I have lost weight recently, not because I'm on a diet, but because I'm changing which foods are in my house in abundance.
There is one place, however, that I have a lot of trouble with abundance thinking - which is what I'm calling the anti-scarcity thinking. I just went through the mid year assessment at work. Just about anytime that I deal with the administrative aspects of my work life, I get very grouchy and snarly, because the processes are built on scarcity thinking. I know that this is normal. I know that there has to be a way to reward performance and encourage certain behaviors while discouraging other behaviors. I even believe in that! But I don't like where my mind goes when I am in process. As part of HTR Phase-2, I had been trying to figure out why. Fortunately, this book had some great language that fit with my moodlings on the subject to date. I'll talk about that next post!
Scarcity thinking is something that HTH and I discussed at length when we started our business. Scarcity, as an operating principle, means that you have to take what you can from everyone else and hold on because there is not going to be enough. It is a competitive, "only the tough survive" model. And, as a model for surviving, it is extremely effective. It does not work for me, however, as a model for small business or for my current life.
In the society that I inhabit, there is more, more, more, MORE out there than anyone could ever want or need. And I do mean anyone! Within a 2 mile radius of my house, there are thousands of goods and services for sale. TLC has several shows devoted to people dealing with the overabundance of STUFF that they have added to their lives. As a country, we are facing such an overabundance that we are actually trying to figure out how to deal with increasing obesity in our population. In other words, our population is made up of people who, just like me, have thoughtlessly eaten themselves into a much larger size.
For me, these examples are about our honest, human confusion. When something feels wrong, we all revert to behaviors that comfort us. We build bigger houses to feel safer. We try to feed emotional hunger with physical food. We don't take time to think about what we have, so we fall prey to the "need" to buy more. Maybe I have it all wrong, but it seems like our "survival" techniques are continuing into a world where the objectives are more about growing and thriving. And, since we haven't slowed down enough to think about that, we haven't changed our behaviors to match.
I say we, but all I can say for sure is this: in the back of my head, there is some part of me that believes that there is not enough. Even when I am consciously aware that there is more than I can ever need. Even when I know that I am doing myself a disservice by thinking that. Even when I consciously argue with that voice. And that has to do, in part, with the way I frame my view of the world.
I have been able, at times, to modify this thinking in specific areas. HTH and I worked to end scarcity thinking in building our business. We are aware that this market is more than large enough for our business and half a dozen similar companies to be profitable. I'm in the middle of changing that thinking in my food choices. I have lost weight recently, not because I'm on a diet, but because I'm changing which foods are in my house in abundance.
There is one place, however, that I have a lot of trouble with abundance thinking - which is what I'm calling the anti-scarcity thinking. I just went through the mid year assessment at work. Just about anytime that I deal with the administrative aspects of my work life, I get very grouchy and snarly, because the processes are built on scarcity thinking. I know that this is normal. I know that there has to be a way to reward performance and encourage certain behaviors while discouraging other behaviors. I even believe in that! But I don't like where my mind goes when I am in process. As part of HTR Phase-2, I had been trying to figure out why. Fortunately, this book had some great language that fit with my moodlings on the subject to date. I'll talk about that next post!
Thursday, July 26, 2007
Musings on The Art of Possibility, part 2
Before I start talking about the new ideas that I found in this book, I should point out that there are a number of objections to this particular work. They range from the lack of applicable exercises to the fluffy tone to the fact that the concepts seem to draw heavily from the controversial work of Werner Erhard without attribution. I can see why people might object. In fact, I even agree with the objections. But for me, those objections miss the point. I found a few good ideas in the book that resonate with me. So, I'll talk about those for the next few days.
So, today is all about the word "practice". Merriam-Webster shows both verb and noun versions of this word. The verb is "to carry out, apply" or secondarily "to perform or work at repeatedly so as to become proficient". The noun has more to do with habits - "a : actual performance or application b : a repeated or customary action c : the usual way of doing something."
The Art of Possibility uses this word to frame the work that has to be done to enter the world of possibility. The premise is that I have practices now that need to be changed to make anything different. There are a number of practices that they recommend in the book. But, conceptually, this framework is pretty important, so I will try to talk about how I see it.
As a musician or doctor (both of whom use the word practice, albeit differently), there are a number of events that occur in a closed room with no witnesses. Musicians play scales or sing nonsense syllables. Doctors read papers or research new treatments. These things are not done with a particular intent to perform any action in front of even one single person. They are done to build familiarity, to prepare for the flow of action that will come at some point in the future, and to settle the practitioner into a better relationship with his/her subject. And that is why I am excited about the idea.
All of this relates, of course, to HTR Phase-2. Changing my life and changing my own mind has been a very complex task. I have spent some time in examining the dark corners of my brain and trying to pull myself outside of me to see my own frame. But, in the end, it is the little habits (practices) that seem to make the most difference to my daily life. And there will be days that those practices will not come easily, but that is OK. In the scheme of things, I've only been practicing them for a very short time. So, as I continue along my path, all I really need to do is practice the practices until I get them to where I want them. And THAT is a really cool idea!
So, today is all about the word "practice". Merriam-Webster shows both verb and noun versions of this word. The verb is "to carry out, apply" or secondarily "to perform or work at repeatedly so as to become proficient". The noun has more to do with habits - "a : actual performance or application b : a repeated or customary action c : the usual way of doing something."
The Art of Possibility uses this word to frame the work that has to be done to enter the world of possibility. The premise is that I have practices now that need to be changed to make anything different. There are a number of practices that they recommend in the book. But, conceptually, this framework is pretty important, so I will try to talk about how I see it.
As a musician or doctor (both of whom use the word practice, albeit differently), there are a number of events that occur in a closed room with no witnesses. Musicians play scales or sing nonsense syllables. Doctors read papers or research new treatments. These things are not done with a particular intent to perform any action in front of even one single person. They are done to build familiarity, to prepare for the flow of action that will come at some point in the future, and to settle the practitioner into a better relationship with his/her subject. And that is why I am excited about the idea.
All of this relates, of course, to HTR Phase-2. Changing my life and changing my own mind has been a very complex task. I have spent some time in examining the dark corners of my brain and trying to pull myself outside of me to see my own frame. But, in the end, it is the little habits (practices) that seem to make the most difference to my daily life. And there will be days that those practices will not come easily, but that is OK. In the scheme of things, I've only been practicing them for a very short time. So, as I continue along my path, all I really need to do is practice the practices until I get them to where I want them. And THAT is a really cool idea!
Wednesday, July 25, 2007
The Art of Possibility
As expected, HTR Phase-2 is really difficult for me. Although I am fairly comfortable with introspection, I have never had a great deal of interest in understanding the mechanisms behind my own thought processes. But, for me to really get rid of some HAVE TOs, I ... well, there really is no other way to say this ... I have to do this. Weird, huh?
So, I've been on the lookout for some ideas to help. One of the most common is the idea of framing. It basically says that the world that we see is contained by our own point of view - our "frame". We can't see our own frames very well and we are usually not aware of their impact on our perceptions. This makes them very difficult to change.
I did have something cross my path last week, however, that jolted my frame a bit. The book is called The Art of Possibility. It was written by a husband/wife team. He is a symphony conductor, she is a family counselor and they do business consulting together. You can see why I was intrigued - especially since I found it while questing for Ommi books.
I sent it to her and she decided I needed to read it, too. She was going to send me her copy but decided to re-read it. I can't send my copy to any of you because I will be doing the same. For those of you who don't know, that is fairly unusual behavior, but it is necessary in this case. There was something about the first few chapters that I resisted. I'm not exactly sure what it was, but I'm pretty sure that I didn't get much out of them. In fact, if I had not been on an airplane with the choices being this book or "Blades of Glory", I'm not sure that I would've read far enough to get past it.
But I did. Have you ever had the experience of struggling through an idea? I remember feeling this a lot in Quantum Mechanics in college, but I've been feeling the same thing lately in the HAVE TO reductions. I knew the answer was in there, but I couldn't get it to come out into the part of my brain that could deal with it. The language in this book helped me to verbalize several concepts that I have been fighting through. It isn't that the words or ideas are necessarily new. It has to do with the application of them to life as I know it in corporate America and outside of that structure. So, I'll talk about a few ideas that come from this book over the next few posts. And, yes, Ms. AD, this is for you!
So, I've been on the lookout for some ideas to help. One of the most common is the idea of framing. It basically says that the world that we see is contained by our own point of view - our "frame". We can't see our own frames very well and we are usually not aware of their impact on our perceptions. This makes them very difficult to change.
I did have something cross my path last week, however, that jolted my frame a bit. The book is called The Art of Possibility. It was written by a husband/wife team. He is a symphony conductor, she is a family counselor and they do business consulting together. You can see why I was intrigued - especially since I found it while questing for Ommi books.
I sent it to her and she decided I needed to read it, too. She was going to send me her copy but decided to re-read it. I can't send my copy to any of you because I will be doing the same. For those of you who don't know, that is fairly unusual behavior, but it is necessary in this case. There was something about the first few chapters that I resisted. I'm not exactly sure what it was, but I'm pretty sure that I didn't get much out of them. In fact, if I had not been on an airplane with the choices being this book or "Blades of Glory", I'm not sure that I would've read far enough to get past it.
But I did. Have you ever had the experience of struggling through an idea? I remember feeling this a lot in Quantum Mechanics in college, but I've been feeling the same thing lately in the HAVE TO reductions. I knew the answer was in there, but I couldn't get it to come out into the part of my brain that could deal with it. The language in this book helped me to verbalize several concepts that I have been fighting through. It isn't that the words or ideas are necessarily new. It has to do with the application of them to life as I know it in corporate America and outside of that structure. So, I'll talk about a few ideas that come from this book over the next few posts. And, yes, Ms. AD, this is for you!
Monday, July 2, 2007
Laundry as an indicator
Is your laundry reflective of what is going on in your life? I've had 2 fairly major changes in the last 6 months and I can see them both when I fold my laundry. Is is just me or does this happen to you, too?
Friday, June 29, 2007
HTR Phase 2 - the challenge
The challenge in phase 2 is to spend all the time necessary sorting through the silliness INSIDE my head while remembering to engage with the world OUTSIDE of my head. And by engage, I mean talk about something other than the stuff I'm sorting out inside my head. In other words, I'm trying to figure out how to do this without becoming self absorbed.
So, to this end, I'm doing several things. I've started listening to NPR again. I do this while I'm otherwise occupied with household stuff, but I am listening. I find it helps me to at least vaguely recall the world out there. That would be a plus, right? I'm regularly recording with CAVU - which is very involving but not all about me. I'm making it a point to go out and do social things. HTH and I went out to see a friend play this week, for example, this past Wednesday.
Other than that, though, I'm open to suggestions. Any ideas on what I can do to avoid being ridiculously self involved during this "sort out my own brain" phase?
So, to this end, I'm doing several things. I've started listening to NPR again. I do this while I'm otherwise occupied with household stuff, but I am listening. I find it helps me to at least vaguely recall the world out there. That would be a plus, right? I'm regularly recording with CAVU - which is very involving but not all about me. I'm making it a point to go out and do social things. HTH and I went out to see a friend play this week, for example, this past Wednesday.
Other than that, though, I'm open to suggestions. Any ideas on what I can do to avoid being ridiculously self involved during this "sort out my own brain" phase?
Wednesday, June 27, 2007
HTR Phase 2 - The Sort
So, combining my recent UK phrase with the plans for Phase 2 (working on my own personal HAVE TO generation mechanisms), I'm focusing on sorting out my body. I've spent years stressing myself into this ridiculous situation. So, now I'll have to spend at least a year sorting it all out. That - as they say - is something of the bad news.
The good news is that my fabulous friend AD has already found a great tool to help me do this. I've joined sparkpeople.com. As most of you know, I am not overly fond of the communities that tend to form around fitness or weight loss goals. The "community" on those sites is not typically based in anything that I consider reality. This one, however, is working for me for several reasons. The designers and community are focused on life as I understand it. They have articles about behavioral ways to deal with all of the most common weight loss and fitness goal killers - you know, the ones that are all in your head? Yeah... And they have great tools. The site track calories, fat, carbohydrates and protein of the food I actually eat instead of requiring me to eat their diet. They give me a range of values of each category and then analyze my diet for me. They recommend strength training exercizes that I can do at home. They track the calories that my elliptical says that I've burned. They recommend foods and have healthy recipes. AND they give me points for working out and points for reading articles and points for posting on the message boards. I love points! So, we're only 3 days in, but I think that this might be just the thing for me!
And, just for the record, AD recommended it just in time. The bridesmaid dresses she picked out are lovely and very flattering for all body types. But I would much prefer to be in wedding pictures in a much smaller size!
The good news is that my fabulous friend AD has already found a great tool to help me do this. I've joined sparkpeople.com. As most of you know, I am not overly fond of the communities that tend to form around fitness or weight loss goals. The "community" on those sites is not typically based in anything that I consider reality. This one, however, is working for me for several reasons. The designers and community are focused on life as I understand it. They have articles about behavioral ways to deal with all of the most common weight loss and fitness goal killers - you know, the ones that are all in your head? Yeah... And they have great tools. The site track calories, fat, carbohydrates and protein of the food I actually eat instead of requiring me to eat their diet. They give me a range of values of each category and then analyze my diet for me. They recommend strength training exercizes that I can do at home. They track the calories that my elliptical says that I've burned. They recommend foods and have healthy recipes. AND they give me points for working out and points for reading articles and points for posting on the message boards. I love points! So, we're only 3 days in, but I think that this might be just the thing for me!
And, just for the record, AD recommended it just in time. The bridesmaid dresses she picked out are lovely and very flattering for all body types. But I would much prefer to be in wedding pictures in a much smaller size!
Thursday, June 7, 2007
HTR, Phase 2
What I want to write about at the moment is the wonderfully beautiful functionality of my new rolling briefcase/carry on. But I promised an explanation of how sewing relates to HTR Phase 2, so that is what you will get. Don't be surprised if you get a second post today.
Somewhere in the last several months, it occurred to me that HAVE TO reduction is really a multi generational project. The fact that I see it that way, and am comfortable saying it to you, is a sure sign that I have been doing too many huge corporate projects recently. But that doesn't mean that the concept is wrong. As HAVE TOs go away, other activities will naturally arise to fill the newly freed brain and calendar space. So, Phase 1 finishes and Phase 2 commences - whether you plan for it or not. I like to have a plan. It makes it so much easier to deviate appropriately if I have a plan.
So, my original plan went like this:
Phase 1: Get my current HAVE TOs under control. This meant job management and house management.
Phase 2: Pick up my new HAVE TOs. Small business management. Other?
Phase 3: Sort out my HAVE TO generation process. Check my foundational assumptions. Figure out what my brain is doing when it makes any event a HAVE TO.
See, the plan? Very logical, yes? But it won't work. I'll be traveling for the next 2 weeks (yes, it is only 2 now - but wait! there's more). Then I'll be home for a week, gone for a week (to Switzerland), home for a week, and gone again for a week (to training). In other words, for the next 6 weeks, I'll be home for 2. So, if I pick up the small business work, all I can do is build my style of business systems in place - and then hand my systems back over to HTH who has systems that work for him in place already. Not a good plan.
So, I'm moving onto the Phase 3 as Phase 2. Since it primarily requires my brain and a few outside resources, it will work well with my travel schedule. But I'll confess that this was probably Phase 3 because it is the most difficult for me to do. There are no clear cut deliverables in this phase. It is all pretty nebulous and HIGHLY introspective. Since I'm an activity driven, cross-it-off-my-list kind of person, this kind of work is easy for me to skip.
To help my list driven brain, I'm using a few different resources to shape this time. I'm looking at some of the exercizes in The 4 Hour Workweek. I'm also working through some exercizes on Christine Kane's blog. Her song "If I Were Me" (lyrics here) was one of the inspirations for this phase of HTR. Coincidentally, her blog has included exercizes for working through some of these same ideas in the last few months. As we know, I need small bite sized tasks to get through this big idea, and she seems to think that way, too.
But, some of my shaping is in response to my personally warped world view. A number of my regular HAVE TOs are built on a strange foundation. I call it "camoflague" or "don't look at me". It is a version of "Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain." I base my appearance - clothes, hair and makeup - not around my personal preferences, but around what I think will be the most invisible in any setting. It is pretty easy to do, since retailers build their business on the concept of mass appeal. But I don't really like much of the stuff I own.
So, FINALLY, we get to sewing. My objective is to make some clothes that I really like - fabric, fit and function. As an added bonus, I'll learn new things (patterns! zippers! waistbands! interfacing! button holes! ) and have an additional creative outlet.
Sewing is not going to be the answer to Phase 2 for most people. That solution comes from my particular wierdness. But I'm thoroughly enjoying both the activity and the humor of sewing as a means of dealing with my own brain. In my world, humor is pretty critical to work through any such serious undertakings. Or, as HTH likes to say, "If you're laughing, you're not leaving!"
Somewhere in the last several months, it occurred to me that HAVE TO reduction is really a multi generational project. The fact that I see it that way, and am comfortable saying it to you, is a sure sign that I have been doing too many huge corporate projects recently. But that doesn't mean that the concept is wrong. As HAVE TOs go away, other activities will naturally arise to fill the newly freed brain and calendar space. So, Phase 1 finishes and Phase 2 commences - whether you plan for it or not. I like to have a plan. It makes it so much easier to deviate appropriately if I have a plan.
So, my original plan went like this:
Phase 1: Get my current HAVE TOs under control. This meant job management and house management.
Phase 2: Pick up my new HAVE TOs. Small business management. Other?
Phase 3: Sort out my HAVE TO generation process. Check my foundational assumptions. Figure out what my brain is doing when it makes any event a HAVE TO.
See, the plan? Very logical, yes? But it won't work. I'll be traveling for the next 2 weeks (yes, it is only 2 now - but wait! there's more). Then I'll be home for a week, gone for a week (to Switzerland), home for a week, and gone again for a week (to training). In other words, for the next 6 weeks, I'll be home for 2. So, if I pick up the small business work, all I can do is build my style of business systems in place - and then hand my systems back over to HTH who has systems that work for him in place already. Not a good plan.
So, I'm moving onto the Phase 3 as Phase 2. Since it primarily requires my brain and a few outside resources, it will work well with my travel schedule. But I'll confess that this was probably Phase 3 because it is the most difficult for me to do. There are no clear cut deliverables in this phase. It is all pretty nebulous and HIGHLY introspective. Since I'm an activity driven, cross-it-off-my-list kind of person, this kind of work is easy for me to skip.
To help my list driven brain, I'm using a few different resources to shape this time. I'm looking at some of the exercizes in The 4 Hour Workweek. I'm also working through some exercizes on Christine Kane's blog. Her song "If I Were Me" (lyrics here) was one of the inspirations for this phase of HTR. Coincidentally, her blog has included exercizes for working through some of these same ideas in the last few months. As we know, I need small bite sized tasks to get through this big idea, and she seems to think that way, too.
But, some of my shaping is in response to my personally warped world view. A number of my regular HAVE TOs are built on a strange foundation. I call it "camoflague" or "don't look at me". It is a version of "Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain." I base my appearance - clothes, hair and makeup - not around my personal preferences, but around what I think will be the most invisible in any setting. It is pretty easy to do, since retailers build their business on the concept of mass appeal. But I don't really like much of the stuff I own.
So, FINALLY, we get to sewing. My objective is to make some clothes that I really like - fabric, fit and function. As an added bonus, I'll learn new things (patterns! zippers! waistbands! interfacing! button holes! ) and have an additional creative outlet.
Sewing is not going to be the answer to Phase 2 for most people. That solution comes from my particular wierdness. But I'm thoroughly enjoying both the activity and the humor of sewing as a means of dealing with my own brain. In my world, humor is pretty critical to work through any such serious undertakings. Or, as HTH likes to say, "If you're laughing, you're not leaving!"
Tuesday, June 5, 2007
HTR phase 2
I'm afraid that this post will be a bit of a teaser. You see, instead of blogging tonight, I'll be heading out with HTH and D2 to do some family errands. Nothing urgent, but it is nice to go do things together, so we will.
So, I'm contemplating Phase 2 of HTR. Phase 1 was getting my urgent Have Tos under control. For me, that was my job and my household management. Obviously my job is not entirely under control since I'm heading out for a 2 or 3 week business trip. (Yes, I still don't know if I'm going to Switzerland. I sent them a polite note today pointing out that I leave in 4 DAYS and need to know what to pack for.) But it is far more manageable now than ever before. And the house is workable as well. So, Phase 1 is in maintenance mode. No worries.
Phase 2 should be adding in the things that I would like to take over for our small business - all of the "business" side of thing, really. But, as mentioned above, I won't be here for 2 (or possibly 3) weeks. So the natural order of the Phases will have to change. I'm skipping to Phase 3 and calling it Phase 2.
But what, you ask, is Phase 2? Well, I don't really have time to post about it tonight! But I'll give you a hint. Today I expanded my technical sewing skills exponentially. To date, my technical skills were limited to some form of hemming. My technical skills did not even include remembering how to thread my machine properly on the first try or understanding what those random extra presser feet did. But today! Today, I sewed a zipper! And I learned (thanks to my friendly sewing tech support) what a zipper presser foot looks like! And I modified a pattern! And I made a pair of pants - with no waistband yet, but only because I have yet to acquire fusible interfacing! It was lovely. And totally consistent with Phase 2. And I'll explain all of that tomorrow.
So, I'm contemplating Phase 2 of HTR. Phase 1 was getting my urgent Have Tos under control. For me, that was my job and my household management. Obviously my job is not entirely under control since I'm heading out for a 2 or 3 week business trip. (Yes, I still don't know if I'm going to Switzerland. I sent them a polite note today pointing out that I leave in 4 DAYS and need to know what to pack for.) But it is far more manageable now than ever before. And the house is workable as well. So, Phase 1 is in maintenance mode. No worries.
Phase 2 should be adding in the things that I would like to take over for our small business - all of the "business" side of thing, really. But, as mentioned above, I won't be here for 2 (or possibly 3) weeks. So the natural order of the Phases will have to change. I'm skipping to Phase 3 and calling it Phase 2.
But what, you ask, is Phase 2? Well, I don't really have time to post about it tonight! But I'll give you a hint. Today I expanded my technical sewing skills exponentially. To date, my technical skills were limited to some form of hemming. My technical skills did not even include remembering how to thread my machine properly on the first try or understanding what those random extra presser feet did. But today! Today, I sewed a zipper! And I learned (thanks to my friendly sewing tech support) what a zipper presser foot looks like! And I modified a pattern! And I made a pair of pants - with no waistband yet, but only because I have yet to acquire fusible interfacing! It was lovely. And totally consistent with Phase 2. And I'll explain all of that tomorrow.
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