Thinking About Thinking

Do you find yourself completely drained at the end of the work day but frustrated because you didn’t have time to think about what you were doing? Were there projects you worked on that you didn’t have the time to complete as well as you wanted? You just needed to get them done. If you feel like the little boy plugging the leak in the dam only to have another leak spring up elsewhere you’re not alone.

The world is moving so fast it’s hard to keep up. Quality suffers because of time demands. There never seems to be enough time to take a few minutes to think, review and develop creative solutions to our problems. We’re stuck on a business treadmill that seems to be gaining speed. Sound familiar?

That is what business is like for so many of us today. Communication is instantaneous and worldwide. Social media, email, smart phones, mobile devices and the internet make many people’s days hectic and sometimes overwhelming. Clients and prospects demand instant service while your email and voicemail is growing like wildfire. It’s no wonder that stress levels are increasing and people feel overwhelmed.

Unfortunately, for business to run effectively and grow; people need to be able to gain their composure, take inventory on where they are relative to where they need to be and to think about creative solutions for their business.

So what’s the answer? Creating time to center ourselves, de-stress and block out time to think things through and be creative. It really only takes some minor adjustments to our daily routine to get refreshed and take the time to think and develop creative ideas.

Tip One: Easy Meditation

New age proponents suggest meditation and mindfulness and offer it as a solution to businesses. Many large corporations are bringing in consultants to train their employees on how to do this. The practice is fairly simple and just requires some minor adjustments in your day. Meditation can be done in as little as 5 minutes right at your desk. Sit comfortably in your chair, close your eyes and clear your mind by concentrating on your breathing.

Breathing slowly and deeply from the diaphragm, just relax and focus on listening to the sound of your breath as you inhale and exhale. Those 5 minutes will clear your head, lower your stress and allow you to refocus.

Tip Two: Fresh Air

As the weather gets better a short walk at lunchtime concentrating on the walk, the sun’s light and warmth as well as the fresh air can do wonders to clear your mind and invigorate you for the afternoon’s work.

Tip Three: Planning Your Day

Plan time regularly to stop, think and review your work. Spend a few minutes looking for creative solutions to your issues and problems. Schedule time, just like an appointment, for this important work. If your job is time sensitive, break the time up into smaller, frequent time periods that overall allow you to achieve the same results as one longer period. Actually, shorter more frequent periods may be more effective as consciously and subconsciously you’ll be contemplating the issue at hand. Allowing time to think and create solutions is critical to a growing and profitable business.

Tip Four: Be Easy to Work With

Keep in mind the people you deal with every day and the clients and prospects you handle are suffering from the same time demand and stress you are. Try to make sure that the interaction they have with you doesn’t add to their stress but instead reduces it. When you present yourself and issues in a positive way, that attitude is often mirrored back at you.

Boy does all that I just wrote sound really good! Now if I could just put the things I mentioned into play. That’s right, I suffer as much as any of you when it comes to being overwhelmed and stressed. In my case I like to throw in a little dash of procrastination to spice up the mix. The answers aren’t easy but like they mention in most treatment programs the first step is admitting you have a problem. They say misery loves company so just know I feel for those of you suffering like me and I hope all of us find the ability to take control of the situation. The world would be a better place if people had the time to think, reflect and be creative. Let’s hope we get it.

Pay It Forward

Before I end my column I want to mention an extraordinary program practiced by an IIABNY member who recently received an award for their commitment to community service. For one day anyone who went to purchase a cup of coffee at the local café were told it was already paid for and they needed to “pay it forward” by doing a good deed for someone else. That act of unselfish community service is typical of John and Kevin O’Brien who run their family agency in Glens Falls, New York.

The O’Brien brothers don’t like the limelight but on the night of the award they decided to use the opportunity to help some more people. During the acceptance speech John asked everyone to reach beneath their chairs as 5 lucky people would find a “pay it forward” placard that entitled them to receive $90, the cost of the dinner ticket for the event. The only requirement was that the recipients pay it forward somehow. They also challenged everyone in attendance to anonymously do something nice for someone at work the following day and keep the “pay it forward” efforts going. The O’Brien’s epitomize the charitable spirit that resides in all of us and I sincerely thank them for setting such a great example.

Our staff here at IIABNY is trying to determine how we can take the O’Brien’s lead and incorporate an unexpected random act(s) of kindness that only asks that the recipient “pay it forward”. Knowing how many caring and generous people there are in our industry I would encourage those of you that read my column to seriously consider creating your own “pay it forward” program. Imagine how it will feel to participate in such an awesome program with the possibility of having such a far reaching effect. All started by the simple and unselfish acts of kindness of 2 brothers who run a family insurance agency in Glens Falls, New York.