Many have heard me say in the past:  “Assuming means that you can read someone’s mind…and I have never had that work out for me!”  Remember?

Well this week I want to use this TRIPLE III TIME message opportunity to offer even more detail to these long term words of advice.

First, I believe it’s important to point out that given all of the change we have experienced in just the last few years…nothing in the world of work can be assumed as the same.  People in certain jobs have changed…products and services have changed…so don’t apply the ASSUMING approach to any of these areas.  You will be let down.

Second, think about the whole category of communication.  Are there really just one or two standard professional ways of sharing a message or document?  NO!  Therefore if you are ASSUMING you will get a return phone call, letter or maybe a personal visit…don’t hold your breath!  You will be let down.

Finally, one of the biggest drivers of ASSUMING falls under the categories of work and family traditions.  Think about these statements.  “We have always done it this way.”  “We always meet on this date, time and this location…IN-PERSON!”  How many assumed strong traditions have faded or have been greatly altered in the recent years?

My TRIPLE III TIME advice is to try and limit the personal and professional discomfort resulting from the ASSUMING situations you become involved in.   Because “Assuming” Has No Value.  Rather take it upon yourself to answer questions more completely, make necessary phone calls, attend in-person meetings, make appropriate reminders even if seemingly unnecessary.  And most importantly help others beyond expectations.

The results will be a better adjustment to change factors, better quality communication, more positive revision of traditions and less assumption pitfalls!!

Did I just hear someone say:  “Are you a little more calm now!”

This week’s TRIPLE III TIME message recommends that you put yourself in the “witness chair” and directly ask yourself a series of questions that all revolve around a major leadership issue:  “Are You A Good FINISHER?”

• Do you finish a project completely before starting another?
• Do you have a habit of starting multiple projects/initiatives but only following through and completing the one or two that you like?
• As a leader do you assume the “starter” role and delegate FINISHER work to those that work with you?
• Do you work with others that have to wait for you to move forward so they can do their work…because you are not a good FINISHER?

There are many more questions that can be asked in relation to the basic:  “Are You A Good FINISHER?” challenge…but this TRIPLE III TIME message will try hard to be focused.

I believe establishing and maintaining professional priorities centered on being a good FINISHER is critical to serving as a high-quality leader.  In my old and new worlds-of-work…if I say I am going to do something…I am going to do it.  This priority setting stance is then my driver to ensure I also retain an exemplary FINISHER position on the achievement/completion of promises I have made!

Good intentions often don’t come with good FINISHER results.  Also being recognized as the King or Queen of great ideas…does not hold much leadership weight…if a good idea is never firmly initiated and operationally FINISHED.

This week take an extra solid look in the mirror and ask:  “Are You A Good FINISHER?”  Are you a positive (or not so positive) professional example in this area?  Look around at others in your circle-of-colleagues…do you “stand-out” or “stand-behind” as a good FINISHER?

Be thorough and honest.

“Within you resides a beast that has the potential to devour your energy, focus and productivity.  For lack of  a better term, let’s call it the Beast of Disorganization.  The Beast feeds on bad habits!  The Beast absolutely loves bad habits!  It cannot survive without them.  The Beast especially loves the fact that disorganized people don’t think of simply changing their habits, but seem to look everywhere else for solutions to their problems.  If you are not currently organized, there is a good chance you will never get organized or stay organized until you change some of your counterproductive, chaos-generating habits.”

This Beast of Disorganization paragraph comes from a book entitled:  Getting Organized by Chris Crouch.  And if you were to read his entire self-help book, we all would rethink our answer to the question contained in this week’s TRIPLE III TIME title:  “Me…Disorganized…No Way?!”

Today I believe most of us operate in a zone of “Disorganized Denial”.  Even those who feel and come across as totally together and organized…may be so structured that they don’t leave open spaces for creativity and innovation.  Think about some questions Chris includes in his book…do you:

• Operate in an extremely cluttered environment and can’t even maintain reasonable order in your workspace?
• Can’t effectively and efficiently process and follow up on your incoming paper, e-mails, voice mails, etc?
• Can’t seem to establish, determine, or stick to your priorities?
• Haven’t learned to use your time in a rational manner?
• Can’t seem to stay focused on…or follow up and get closure on…simple tasks and projects?
• Can’t handle many of the basic skills critical to your success?

We could continue to debate “Disorganized Denial” and your level of potential disorganization…but this TRIPLE III TIME message is more about offering some very basic suggestions to improve your overall life/work organized status.

Let’s try focusing on a few helpful factors:

1. Use the control YOU have over your ability to be at least somewhat organized.
2. Don’t allow yourself to be/get “crowded” in your mind or physical space.
3. Work on one thing at a time. Multi-tasking may work on occasion but not effectively as a life-style.
4. Don’t have “stacks-of-stuff” everywhere and argue you know where everything is.
5. Prioritize and stick to them.
6. Likewise as you prioritize make sure your priorities have a REAL purpose.
7. Remember the idea of keeping things simple makes a lot of sense.
8. Don’t let technology or social media contribute to potential disorganization.
9. Embrace the organizationing actions that lead to great project completion.
10. Finally, everyone has how to get better organized advice…but it’s YOUR job to take action.

A fun TOP 10…on an always important topic.  Give improved organization a chance…it can only help!

Whether I am working with young adult students or workers employed in any sector and at any level, the costs related to additional education for skill development are always a concern.  Tuition, housing and book fees at a university, customized training for your leadership group and/or video-conferenced CNC instruction all carry significant cost factors that impact individuals or a specific company…who are just trying to promote the value of continuous learning.

However, today I believe the assumed value of historic education options has shifted due to cost and skill need prioritization.  And as a quiet but effective and efficient compromise…Express Trainings & Learnings opportunities have been steadily introduced in multiple unique online formats.

Check out the following examples:

• Grow with Google: Google Analytics Academy
• HubSpot Academy: Design Foundations:  Building brand guidelines and consistency
• FEMA – Emergency Management Institute
• Alison: Empower Yourself
• edX – Harvard University Entrepreneurship in Emerging Economies
• Coursera – University of Michigan: Successful Negotiation:  Essential Strategies and Skills

And now you are asking:  “What are the points I am trying to make in this week’s TRIPLE III TIME message entitled:  Express Trainings & Learnings?”

Well first in general I would like everyone to consider the examples given and challenge yourselves, co-workers and those you supervise to seek out quality, no-cost, no-travel online Express Trainings & Learnings courses as a means of creating a customized continuous professional improvement/development plan.

If you are selective in your choices…you will challenge the “you only get what you pay for” belief with credible no-cost options.  You may also come to realize that many in the HR profession do not know what they don’t know with regard to the wide range of available new age Express Trainings & Learnings.

Change has happened and continues in this area.  Employers are giving more consideration to the quality personal traits of job candidates FIRST and understand that direct job training and learning maybe just a click away.

A concluding final fun thought or two:  Modern is…as Modern does.  Or better yet:  Future is…as Future does.  Are YOU Modern and Future doing.

Doesn’t it seem like today everyone believes we no longer have 24 hours in a day!?  That work time goes by somewhat slow…but home and recreation time races by.  That no matter how effective and efficient we try to be with our time management plans…that we never seem to finish one task well enough to satisfy ourselves and thereby move forward to the next project frustrated.

Reality?  Fast & Diversified…that seems to be the “life-pace new normal”!  So with that in mind let’s take this TRIPLE III TIME message opportunity and talk about Investment Strategies For Your TIME!

First we need to specifically consider your TIME as a special company asset.  What do I mean?  Think about your TIME as:

• Something only you own
• A limited resource
• Something non-renewable
• Priceless

Then think specifically how you “spend/utilize” your TIME asset everyday.  Consider workplace and personal products or services you complete/deliver.  This approach may be very difficult…but it is the only means to determine if you are getting an appropriate Return-On-Investment (ROI) for your TIME.

Consider TIME draining activities like:

• Are you “triple-guessing” yourself on a decision already made?
• Spending an inappropriate amount of time with those who chose to do the minimum?
• Participating in “old-news” actions and not future-building issues?
• Finding yourself working for technology demands…rather than making technology work for you to advance?
• Focusing so much to make sure everyone is doing everything correctly….that innovation is ignored?

Bottomline: Devising Investment Strategies For Your TIME is a very personal consideration.  Just like no one invests their savings the same way…no two people should invest their TIME the same way.

Give yourself some TIME…to consider your TIME investments.  I believe your ROI will be worth it.

First we have all heard the saying:  “Don’t sweat the small stuff!”…right?  In fact I believe there is even a series of books all about learning how to not get caught up in the little life/work issues.  And yes I believe it is easy and almost natural to sometimes worry too much for too long about things that maybe you really don’t have control over.

But now you are asking…why does this week’s TRIPLE III TIME:  “Don’t Sweat The Small Stuff” (or should you?) message seem to indicate that that philosophy is all wrong?

Let me explain.

As I observe the world of work from any angle…I believe the “small stuff” is what separates good from great in so many ways.  In support of this belief, let me toss out a few examples to ponder.

• Calling someone back reasonably quick as part of professional courtesy.
• Turning work assignments in early because it’s the right professional thing to do.
• Share communications to all involved…so they don’t “hear it on the street”.
• Compliment those who “go the extra mile”…their smiles are an immediate gratification for both.
• Recognize return business with much more than they expect.
• Notice students who arrive early for class…it will have a lasting effect.
• Don’t hoard the gift of respect…apply it with skill.
• Remember holding a grudge can go both ways and creates professional arthritis.
• Accepting compromise (at any level) sets a replicable example.
• Say you are wrong…when you are.

Ok…I will admit that some of these examples aren’t normally small…but if handled simply and correctly they should stay small.

Finally, think of a real life occurrence of each of these examples and maybe if you just sweat the small stuff…there will be less BIG stuff.

It has been quite some time since we have selected or used the term EMPOWERMENT as part of a TRIPLE III TIME message.  Yes I have utilized the intent of EMPOWERMENT in many of my consultant activities and in a unique way also in my teaching approaches.  However just to make sure we all are thinking about the topic of A New Day For EMPOWERMENT in the same manner… here is the GOOGLE EMPOWERMENT definition:

“The process of becoming stronger and more confident, especially in controlling one’s life and claiming one’s rights.”

So why are we suggesting “A New Day?”

As we exit the COVID hangover era, I believe it is even more critical than ever to follow an EMPOWERMENT philosophy with workers (and students) in all areas.  Our last three years has seemingly clouded the meaning and expectation of full-time work, what it means to mentally and physically be “on-the-job”, re-understanding that doing the minimum is not good job performance, and if wages/benefits go up… so to should the level of job completion responsibilities.

I do understand that the “pool” of qualified employees is low and the concern for retaining good employees is high… so over-extending the principles of EMPOWERMENT may not seem timely.  However, I believe that highlighting the importance of high-quality personal and professional responsibility as a workplace culture, will do more to help recruit more appropriate candidates and retain those who understand your/their performance cause.

Taking solid steps toward initiating A New Day For EMPOWERMENT will create a new return-on-investment from your workforce (or class of students).  Give it a try.

It is the New Year:  2023!  And by now we have all heard about the multiple New Year resolutions/promises/wishes…that are put on the “to-do” list by everyone!  However, (just to be difficult) I am feeling really confident that NO ONE has put out a new year resolution that says they will create and climb A Quarter-By-Quarter “Growth Chain”?!

Ok…go ahead and ask:  “What is he talking about when he refers to A Quarter-By-Quarter “Growth Chain”?

 Well I believe everyone needs to have at least an informal process and schedule to motivate themselves in the area of personal/professional/ or organizational development.  Too often we make pledges and plans to initiative and accomplish certain things…but somehow they get lost in the everyday-isms.  By creating and climbing A Quarter-By-Quarter “Growth Chain”, I am confident measurable achievements can be made.

How do you start a “Growth Chain”?

First close your eyes and picture a traditional supply chain design that identifies “scaling-up” over 2023’s four (4) quarters.  Second consider a personal/professional/or organizational development you will like to address at the beginning level of your Growth Chain.  The development challenge doesn’t have to be “world-changing”…it just has to be something you feel would make a difference if initiated!  Then as you make progress and move your first challenge up the Growth Chain over a ninety (90) day period…you would start another objective again at the beginning level.

Can you see it?

Using a supply chain visual has always been helpful to me as a director and consultant.  Applying this approach in a personal…”Growth Chain” way allows you to focus…be creative…flexible…and recognize achievements.

Good luck in 2023 and have fun with your Quarter-By-Quarter “Growth Chain”!

As I have thought about this final TRIPLE III TIME message for 2022, my mind has gone in a ton of different directions!  First I thought about a “BEST OF” III list for the year…Nah?  Then I considered highlighting a couple experiences that have come my way as a teacher, consultant, parent and/or friend…again NAH?  Finally, as I zeroed-out all of the ideas that just didn’t seem to qualify as a special year-end, extra meaningful message, an almost too natural, too appropriate topic idea came to mind:

Lessons About Expectations!

What exactly am I referring to when I suggest discussing Lessons About Expectations?

Well this past year I had assigned myself a lot of high expectations with regard to what I wanted to achieve professionally in multiple areas.  High expectations in my role as an innovator and organizational development consultant.  Creativity expectations as a college instructor and campus director.  Attendance growth as a student recruiter and event sponsor.  And renewal of connections with friends and colleagues to expand my network of great, inspiring people!!

For those that really know me… even good progress in one or all of these areas would register as “expectation-adequate” in my mind.  Right or wrong this is/has been my style.  But I found there are some very life-style Lessons About Expectations when I selected my TOP 5 for 2022:

• Two great speakers told me (as I whined about poor attendance at their event): “Marv the people who are meant to be here…ARE…so be proud!”
• One quiet student told me: “I have learned more in your class than in any one of my high school classes…so don’t change anything!”
• A successful businessperson reminded me: “Most groups have not experienced the good times/people you have…so be patient and help them at their speed!”
• I complain that I never know how many people REALLY read these III messages…then I get an email from someone in Australia that says: “I really liked the one about your father last year!”
• A long-time friend/colleague explained that: “Marv you don’t always need a TOP 10…5 points to consider will do!”

So although there are other very valuable 2022 Lessons About Expectations… please enjoy these TOP 5 as we look forward to 2023.