Email

I have had a lot of discussions lately with friends and my wife in regards to email.  When did we become the slave to it, instead of it being a communication medium?  How many of us are constantly watching it and dealing with items the minute they drop into our inbox?  I have been like that in the past and am tired of it.  My new (well OK have been only doing this for one day but will let you know how it is going) way of doing things is as follows:
1. I have Outlook open, but not on my screen at all times.  I will focus on what I am doing and check it every so often, but it won't be in front of me.
2. I will stop thinking I need to respond immediately and set the new framework that if you need me right away - pick up the phone (thanks Larry).
3. I will pick up the phone and talk to my clients more often.  Email is great for details, but should replace a phone call or, even better yet, a personal meeting.
4. I have set my phone to check for email every 15 minutes during work hours and every 60 after hours (OK I set work hours as 5 am to 6 pm).
What do you think?  I would be interested in finding out.

Late Night

Wow a late night last night for my wife, Christina. After being gone
on vacation last week the work on her desk just kept building. She
was up past midnight, and is not close to being caught up. Tonight
might have to be another night of it (dad is not nearly as good as mom
when kids get tired) but I try to help her stayed as focused as
possible. I use to keep track of this sort of stuff but I know that
you never get ahead doing that (learned that from reading The Go Giver
- great read if you haven't done that yet). Give this concept a try
if you keep score - it is quite the freeing feeling!

What is your day like?

So I am back after a week and guess what - not too overwhelmed. A
few email during vacation with a phone call or two and everything is
running fine. Is this what you are like, or are you needed all the
time? I would rather have the process in place for the tasks do I can
work on the relationships - bring it on.

Back to Work

So vacation is over and now it is back to work. While it is sad to
think about on one hand (waking up to an alarm clock is one thing) I
look forward to getting back at it - I miss it. Can you say that? If
not find something you can say that about - life is too short!

Day 3 = Fishing

Well day 3 is in the books, and so am I, well almost. We left Dubuque and travelled the hour south to the farm. What beautiful landscape - I had forgotten. We got to the farm and played for a while (four wheeler, mule and golf cart were out) before we headed to the neighbors pond for a little fishing (one hour and 2 fish). I forget how peaceful the farm is and miss it sometimes, but think it too would get old. Oh well, overall another fabulous day with the family!

Day 3

Well day 3 is in done and I seem to be more tired than when the vacation started. Museums and water parks (oh yeah and a 13, 3 and 2 year old) will do that to you. It is amazing that reading your email only 2 times a day (when no one is looking) you can stillbe productive. How does that happen? I thought you needed to watch email all the time. Guess this is one more thing i didn't understand correctly. Oh well i am sure it won't be the last :)

Day 2

Day 2 is over for vacation and it finds us very tired. We visited UNI and Loras and ended the day at a great water ark in dubuque. Nothing like ending the day overlooking the Mississippi (beautiful river) with loving family. This is the longest vacation i have taken with the family and am really enjoying the time - is was long over due.

First Day

Well vacation starts today and it has already been completely different than my plan (and I am not as flexible as I wish I was). It started with our basement flooding again this weekend - so we have been pulling up carpeting again and trying to dry everything out (seems to be going better than last time). Then the storms closed the golf course - so no golf with Noah and Christina (which is good and bad depending on how my game looked). Christina and I did have "adult time" with a nice lunch and now going to a movie (can't remember when that happened last time) but had to make time for a confernce call. This is what I mean when I say an integrated life - there needs to be time for everything but you need to prioritize things correctly (and correctly is different for everyone).
Well need to get back to the conference call (and email, paying bills and the 20 other things doing at the same time).

Stop to smell the golf ball

I had a great afternoon of golf with a good friend. I needed some time to relax and discuss everything from our wives, to our kids, to work, to sales. I never realized how important a person, I will call him a brother, can be to vent to share and to laugh with was until you for a little while with out one. I love my wife and kids but every so often you need another guy to talk to - and I know that Mike will always be there for me, and I for him.

RMA

Today for my Relationship Mastery Academy (see Keith Ferrazzi for more
information) I was to work on a story from my past that I could share
with others. This was to help create a bond with others without being
fake. A way to be real and to show vulnerability (one of the four
mindsets from Keith). While thinking of this it made me think (and I
know my wife Christina would agree) that most people hear my stories
all the time. There is no wondering if this is real, I always roll
like an open book. Do I get screwed sometimes by doing that? You bet
- but I wouldn't have it any other way. Life is too short to be
fake. Be real or be gone!

Sent from my mobile technnology!
Thanks!
Joddey Hicks
The highest compliment you can give us is the referral of a new
client. If you know of anyone who could benefit from any of the
services we provide your company, please keep us in mind. Thanks!

Renewal of Dedication

OK so here we go again. I think of blogging not so much for others, but for me to vent/put thoughts down / think out loud. I think this is very theraputic and I miss it (it has been a while). I will try to continue with this and see where it takes me.