First 50 Days

Here's what I learned today.  To be an effective Prez/CEO, you sometimes have to re-write your definition of "Jerk."  For me, I've always felt that I'm being jerk if I don't let someone talk until they're talked out.  I sit, and nod, and do all the "active listening" stuff I'm supposed to.  I stay engaged.  I let them go round and round.

I can't do that anymore.

No seriously.  I can't.  I still do, but then something doesn't get done.  Remember something.  There's only so much you.  And you need down time.  And you need food time.  And you need sleep time.  And you need spouse time.  But really, don't forget the down time.  Your growling stomach will advocate for food time.  Your eyelids will advocate for sleep time.  And your spouse's "oh, that's right, you also live here" expression will advocate for spouse time.  But then there's just plain old "down time."

Down time means recharging your batteries, be they mental, physical, spiritual, or socio-emotional -- to use Stephen Covey's model.  (If you're an introvert like me, this is doubly important, because most forms of recreation that involve other people can leave you even more tired.)  But -- about down time -- if you deprive yourself of it, you won't notice it.  It has no advocate.  But, without down time, you start to resent your work.  (Or at least I do.)

Here's the point of my ramble.  You want to believe that as the beneficient boss, you can give anyone as much time as they need.  "I'll just do that other task tonight."  And then you realize that that was time you were going to spend with your wife.  "I'll just do that other task after she goes to bed."  And then you realize that you're also too tired.  "I'll just do that other task in the morning."  And that's when you sit down to do the task and realize you spent its designated half hour surfing the web.  Why?  Because you needed down time -- you just didn't know it.

Now, how does one learn how to be a "jerk?"  Well, being a jerk, I have lots of opinions.  But first, I have to go do a show.  (Down time sometimes means show time.)  Sorry to be a jerk.  More tomorrow.