Three of Spades

Have you seen any of the popular 3-D movies this year?  When you put on the special glasses, there is the illusion of depth to the picture.  People and objects appear to be coming out of the screen so that you feel like a part of the action.  The three dimensions commonly referenced by the term 3-D are height, width, and depth.  This week the Three of Spades will represent how you can adjust those measurements to help you get the most out of your efforts.

Height = Distance
Are you a sprinter or marathon runner?  Do you do your best work in short, intense spurts?  Or are you better with a slower, long term approach?  Competitive athletes usually specialize in one form of racing.  However, it makes sense for you to have a balance between the two categories in order to reach the finish line for your goals.  If you have to complete a task in one week, you need to sprint to get it done.  It will help to set daily milestones to help you stay on track.  Focus on what and who puts you in the best position to move quickly and confidently.  If you have 6 months to finish an assignment, shift into marathon mode.  Your strategy will be more important than your speed. 

Width = Diversity
When you go to the dentist, you may be told to open wide.  The reason for this instruction is so that the dentist can use their tools to examine your entire mouth.  They must be able to view the top, bottom, front, and back teeth.  The gums and tongue are also examined.  They may even take x-rays to provide them with the big picture.  Use this same approach for assessing your support, or partnership options.  Expand your network of contacts to include a diverse group of people who can expose you to alternatives that may not occur to you.  This will allow you to customize your toolkit to handle a variety of situations.      

Depth = Determination
Do you remember the old Timex watch slogan, "It takes a licking and keeps on ticking"?  It was indicative of the product's durability and reliability.  In the commercials, you would see the watches being subjected to all kinds of pressure and abuse.  Each time the result would be continued performance of the product.   It's a wonderful trait to be able to keep going despite setbacks and stress.  It is not always easy to do.  Make sure that you maintain enough fuel (positive thinking) to keep you moving forward.  Have a supply of reading material that can refill your optimism tank when it runs low.  Recharge your batteries (routine) periodically to make sure your responsibilities and schedule complement one another.  Recognize when priorities change and make the necessary adjustments for your process and progress to keep working in your favor.  

You can go the distance when you are determined and diversified.  Take advantage of the 3-D opportunities that are presented to you.  You will make an impression that will be remembered for its special effects.  Leave a comment and share what you feel is your strongest dimension.