How to Become a "Positive Workaholic"
If you're like many small business owners, you log at least
50 -- possibly closer to 60 or 70 -- hours a week in the
harness. You may put in a few late nights each week...
spend some hours on Saturday (perhaps even Sunday)
wrapping up details...tend to start vacations a day late and
return a day early...slip away from the family in the evening
to handle a few "just gotta get to" papers, bids, plans, etc. In
the constant battle to keep your bottom line in the black, you
do the work of two or three employees.
In short, you may be a workaholic. Many workaholics are
guilt-ridden, driven souls who -- either due to fear of failure
or genuine personal choice -- exist only to work. They
neglect their own needs, the needs of their loved ones...even
their own health. Ironically, even the business eventually
suffers. As they become increasingly task oriented rather
than results oriented, the time they put in becomes selfjustifying
and their productivity plunges. Eventually, they can
become so completely addicted to work that they burn
themselves out...and burn out their personal relationships as
well. They can end up broke, alone and in poor health,
plagued with stress-related illnesses.
But it doesn't have to be that way. You can become a
positive workaholic! Positive workaholics live fast-paced,
full lives. They work hard, but they also play hard. Most of
all, they get a lot done and are generally successful in their
business and personal lives.
How to become a positive workaholic: You are a resource.
When it comes to efficient, quality productivity, you are a
machine that creates value. You are also a human being.
How can you operate at maximum effectiveness and
efficiency when it comes to building and running your
business...and also maintain a satisfying life for yourself and
others away from work? Here are a few suggestions:
· Strive for balance in your life. Successful
workaholics see themselves not just as business
owners, but also as spouses, parents, members of
the community, sports fans, charitable volunteers,
boaters, etc. Though they may not mix business
and pleasure, they make sure they include a
healthy mixture of both in their lives on a daily
basis.
Suggestion: Devote at least one focused hour
each day to something (A) you value and enjoy and
(B) that has absolutely no connection to business.
· Be goal-oriented. If you enjoy work for work's
sake, just dig a ditch each morning and fill it in each
afternoon. Positive workaholics work to achieve
specific objectives. They map out their life goals
and their business goals. The work they do every
day is undertaken to help bring them that much
closer to their objectives.
Suggestion: Start by setting aside some time
today to sketch out your most important business
goals and personal goals...things you'd like to
achieve or do by the end of this year. Put a star
beside the single most important one on each list.
Then develop the daily and weekly activities that
will virtually guarantee your success in achieving
these goals. This will give you tremendous focus
each day.
· Boost your efficiency. Time can be your enemy
or your friend. But people who achieve success in
business and satisfaction in their personal lives do
so partially because they have learned to
accomplish more in less time.
Suggestion: Structure your time as if it were gold.
Don't walk into work, look around and then decide
what needs to be done. Instead, begin each day
with a to-do list of what you need to accomplish
during that day. That way you can hit the ground
running each morning and move steadily and
efficiently from task to task.
· Enjoy the trip, not just the goal. Positive
workaholics enjoy what they do...and the daily
process of doing it. They love to get up and go to
work in the morning...and they love to go home in
the evening. They resist feeling guilty about either
putting in too much time or taking too much time
off. If they've planned their work and leisure time
properly, they can focus on each separately and
forget the other.
Suggestion: Build in rewards for yourself and your
family...something to look forward to outside of
work. Maybe it's the Thursday all-you-can-eat
buffet for lunch at your favorite restaurant or going
to a movie in midweek. This expands to get-away
weekends and at least one extended vacation each
year.
· Build in family time or social time every
day...even if you have to schedule it by the clock.
This helps safeguard the things you really care
about.
Suggestion: Actively plan family time. The best
kind of activities tend to be daily routines. Consider
things like planned dinners together; helping
children with homework; reading bedtime stories;
cooking dinner together; etc. This is one of the
great advantages of being a business owner. You
can leave work at three o'clock to catch your
daughter's softball game, spring for pizza with the
team afterwards, then put in a few extra hours in
the evening.
· Learn to live in "daytight compartments."
Owning a business is a high-stress way of life. It
can be difficult to simply walk away from work and
turn off the problems and concerns of the day. But
that doesn't mean it's impossible. The idea is to
plan with broad vision, but to live each day as if
there were no yesterday and no tomorrow. Focus
only on the one right smack in front of you.
· Suggestions: Some business owners take a
shower every evening after they get home,
symbolically washing away the cares of the day.
Others may put in long, grueling, highly-structured
hours during the week; then on Friday afternoon,
they take off their watches, devote themselves one
hundred percent to family and social activities and
refuse to even think about work until Monday
morning. Most of all, no briefcase ever gets in the
front door.
· Take time for daily renewal. This could also be
referred to as recharging your spiritual batteries. It
is very easy to lose sight of the forest for the trees
as you slog through a daily schedule. Before long,
you could become lost... doubting yourself and
questioning the basic premises about your life and
your values.
Suggestion: Block out even just half an hour each
day for prayer or meditation, to read a few pages
from an inspirational book or to listen to a cassette
on self-improvement.
· Watch your health. Keep yourself physically tuned
up and in peak form, and avoid using alcohol or
tobacco as stress relievers. This will make you
more efficient, able to focus more on work, get by
with less sleep, require fewer sick days and be
overall more productive. There is a direct
connection between physical fitness and work
productivity. (A recent study showed absenteeism
among workers who had a high level of
cardiovascular fitness was 25% to 40% lower than
for less physically fit workers.)
Suggestion: Get regular exercise... even if it only
means taking the dog for a half-hour walk each
day. Also, learn to eat intelligently. Some foods
give you energy, help strengthen your body; others
drag you down. Talk to your doctor.
The bottom line: Workaholism needn't be a dirty word. On
the contrary, it can be a very positive thing. By becoming a
positive workaholic, you can build a prosperous business life
and enjoy a rewarding and succesful business.
Dr. James A. McCain is a Management Consultant in Rexford, New York
and may be reached at Business Works, 518-383-3337, or through his web
site at www.bizdrsolution.com.

24-Hour Hike- The Sons of LIght

24-Hour Hike. I took a short video every break. Breaks are about 8-12 min. There are alot of my ALERT brothers in this video, each have made a huge impact on my life. Do hard things in faith, trust God and you will be amazed at what he can sustain you through. and the Growth that He gives you on the other side . Soli Deo Gloria (For God's GLory)

Virtus et Honor(Strength and Honor)

Cadre of unit 42 and unit 42 http://www.alertacademy.com/alert/pdf/prayercalendars/080089-unit-42-prayer-booklet.pdf

Pain is a Gift.

PersonalityStyle.com - Jonathan Shepherd

PersonalityStyle.com - Jonathan Shepherd

Your Personality Style Preview:
Jonathan is a fact finder and does things "by the book". He can be sensitive if others are being critical of his work, especially if they have not carefully reviewed all the data. Jonathan clarifies expectations before undertaking new projects, and he works hard to meet standards. Jonathan will typically maintain a neat and orderly work environment.
Jonathan values close, personal relationships, and he will often put the needs and desires of those who are loyal friends ahead of his own needs. He is an even-paced individual who thrives in a peaceful, harmonious environment. Jonathan will work to avoid conflict and sudden changes in his lifestyle and finds joy in keeping tradition.Jonathan prefers a rational and moderate approach when first entering new situations and tries to avoid extremes. He likes the company of others, but Jonathan is equally comfortable spending a quiet evening alone. He is a realist who will always weigh his options before he makes a decision to move ahead.Jonathan would prefer things stay the same, rather than to risk a new venture (unless it is proven and true). He is typically peaceful and low key, and is usually seen by those around him as a good friend and listener. He tends to adopt a "wait and see" attitude about things, rather than taking charge of a situation, usually preferring to let others take the lead.