Nine of Hearts

The number nine is represented by IX in Roman numerals.  That symbol will be featured in this week's post.  We are approaching Memorial Day when we remember and pay tribute to those men and women who have given their lives in service to our country.  It is fitting that we should take time to acknowledge the sacrifices that were made by those who volunteered to protect our freedoms.  They should be remembered every day, not just once a year.

As we pause to reflect and thank our military heroes, it is also a good time to let our own personal network of friends and family know that they are appreciated.  Highlight occasions when they had an influence on you.  Your progress and accomplishments are a memorial to where you have been, where you are, and where you are going.  Create a table with the categories Look, Listen, and Learn across the top as column headers.  For your row labels, use the colors red, yellow, and green.  Of course, this probably makes you think of a traffic light. 

 Let's examine the people, habits, situations and experiences that will make us stop, proceed with caution, or go as we pause to look, listen, and learn.  Try to be observant of your surroundings so that you will see what options are available to you.  When you look for opportunities, have a clear vision of what you want.  Consider the pixels that form the big picture.  If the resolution meets your standards, then go forward.  However, when you look and there are obstacles in front of you, slow down and be careful as you continue.  You don't have to nix your next move, just adjust your route.  As you look to reach each milestone on the way to your destination, recognize any issues, or risks that may hinder you.  Stop and analyze possible options to fix the problem.

Sometimes you have to make decisions based on what you hear instead of what you see.  That is why it is so important to listen with the intent of understanding.  As you listen, be aware of what is being said betwixt the lines.  Remember that what is not said is just as significant as what is said.  Go to the next conversation with key information that will benefit you.  When you have to respond immediately after you listen to something, try to present your reply as an elixir to benefit the others involved in the conversation.    Do not listen to things that are designed to make you lose focus.  We are a society of multi-taskers with too much to do and not enough time to do it.  The ingredients that go into the mixture that is your to do list should complement one another, not clash. 

Finally, you should learn something from everything that you see and hear.  Even when it seems that you have wasted your time, there is a lesson that will help you.  Rise like a phoenix and share your tactics with others.  You may need to learn some things over and over again until you recognize them in different formats and presentations.  It is okay to maintain and consult an appendix of prior approaches and outcomes.  Don't worry if you learn some bad habits along the way.  You can filter those through your productivity matrix to reduce their impact and eventually eliminate them.