E - Caffin8 with Lena

A Real Toiler with Work Life Balance by my definition of WLB

2009-06-30T00:33:00.000-07:00

Someone recently said to me show me someone who is successful (number 1 in their field) that has Work Life Balance. Well, I didn't have to look far....check this story out!

I was delivery training last week to an amazing group of health professionals. One of the participants was a very wise, mature, and beautiful gentlemen who absolutely stunned me with his story.

He is now retired from his profession but remains in the industry to support its continued growth, and to support those who are taking the practice to new levels.

This amazing man shared that he had taken 20 years to complete and achieve his degree. He did this while supporting his wife in her journey, and while also raising 8 children through to adulthood and to achieving their own degrees. Like I said - Just Stunning!....and successful!

So...Theres one, and I'm sure there are many more stories on the planet like this where success has come with WLB - Love to hear them by the way...

The media recently covered a story on, Shot Put legend and advancing star, Valerie Vili and Partner who separated to pursue their sporting dreams and successes. Just Stunning and successful - what a story that will be in years to come I'm sure.

So here is an example that some say is the epitome of a Healthy Obsession that has no regard for WLB. There are, again, many more stories like these. I'd love to hear these too.

So whats the difference between the two examples really?

They're both hugely successful by there own account and others, have a stunning story, have sacrificed, have focussed, and still focus on achieving the ultimate in their arenas, and being the very best they can be....

Is the difference is Work Life Balance?? What do you think?

Not letting this one go by without a world view....check it out!

2009-06-29T23:05:00.000-07:00

Well folks this one is about me (and maybe you too). I've been meaning to write a regular blog to connect with the world outside the world that the four walls around me create. Up until now I've been a slack arse. I'm ok with that now though coz Im away again!!

I've been following a few blogs over the past months and often thought "GEE I think I might have something to say about that" but it wasnt until a day or so ago that i came across one that really tipped the scale for me. The other side of the scale being "What the F*#^@#? (friggen heck that is) I've gotta say something about this" and, Yep find out what, and how the rest of us think about it.

Thanks to that writer for having such like thoughts! I dont think alot of the content but i love that it was so against my grain that I will now make it my business to present the otherside of the coin over the next few days and put it out to the world to get a wider take/view....

I'd like to hear the world view (from whatever perspective) and look forward to a healthy discussion about the huge misunderstandings around this topic...

Anyway, so what is the topic? Ok - The blog was about Work Life Balance....I have seen a number of blogs that are similar but this one in particular got me going...the content that is! hehe

I'll explain in brief and then await your worthy thoughts over an e-coffee.

In essense the writer said that "Theres No Such Thing as Work Life Balance (WLB). My interpretation was that the suggestion was that its a myth, and that if you're spending money on trying to learn about it and get it into your organisation, or life then you're wasting your time.

As a woman, business owner, and servant of the community my auto response thoughts went straight to the area in my brain where i store The BullShit Bits that slip through. I think that work life balance is essential and that success is not dependent on being a obsessive complusive twit!

Anyway I thought that before i pack it away to bed permanently as complete crap that I would to put it out there to you for a bit of a belt around.

Work Life Balance - B.S or Wot? What do you think/feel/understand or whatever about the WLB? Hope youre up for some healthy and open discussion!!

I Get Knocked Down But I Get Up Again

2007-10-03T16:07:00.000-07:00

If you are serious about getting into business and maintaining busines you really need go to develope a savvy that endures the knocks. You must also develope a mindset that operates as a switch to turn what seems to be a knock into an opportunity.

I'm going to be talking about developing that certain savvy. So, pull up a pew with your cuppa coffee and your sticky bun and enjoy...

What is this savvy? What do we call it?

The word for this savvy is resilience - Bounce Back Ability.

Resilience is the ability to get back on the horse after being thrown off it. When i was young and breaking horses in my dad used to say to me "Now that you've been thrown off you have to get back on to teach the horse that your not afraid of it" I love that saying and to this day i live by it. If anything even slightly rattles my cage i take this attitude in hand and sock it to it.

Now you might be asking "whats this got to do with business?" Well, it only has everything to do with business. Just recently i watched a documentary on TV, 20/20, about an entrepreneur by the name of Henderson who had some major dealings with IRD. According to the story IRD went out of their way, on a number of levels and for a number of years, to ruin him. The point i make is that at every level he was thrown from the horse and at every level he got back on the horse and eventually showed it who was in charge. Just as it has it Mr Henderson purchased the building that the relentless IRD branch resided in and called it 'Henderson Building'

Now thats a fantastic story. There are many of these success stories out there and many of them will be thanks to the Resilence Savvy of the entrepreneur or business owner. I hope you get a sense of how important it is to understand just how much impact this savvy has on the surival, Maintenance and grow of your business.

The next thing to briefly raise is this notion that knocks or falling off the horses is bad, terrible, crippling or worse. So, on the one hand - Yes, we do need to have this get back on the horse attitude...and we need to agree on this. On the other hand, we also need to have to ability to assign better meaning to what happens to us. For example, when we fall off the horse we say it is either a good thing, or a bad thing. Well, this is typically how we the human race respond to the event. What I'm suggesting here is that which is not so typical. I'm suggesting that you slow down when it comes to saying whether something is good or bad. It was Will Shakespeare who said "Something is neither good nor bad, it's thinking that makes it so" So, with that, SLOW your thinking DOWN. Dont be in such a hurry to label things. You see, when we slow down we give ourselves time we need to truly see and appreciate the opportunity that such an event provides us.

My partner, Colin Cox, engineered a wonderful quote. I like to call it the V8 and it goes something like this: "A setback is a setup for a comeback" Bloody brilliant isnt it! Yes! And, even more brilliant than you may realise. This is the attitude or modus operandi that we must adopt if we are to be leaders who respect learning and own healthy growing businesses. Now, my quess is that being a success or having a successful business is important to you so i would encourage you to write those 8 words on the sumo cinema of your mind so that when you are about to call something 'a bad thing' that you are fully tanked with the headgear to slow your thinking down, reframe it to ensure the opportunity is recognised, and then learn respectfully from it.

So thats a little on the HOW ? If you would like to learn more or the 'How to' and to get a full grasp of this phenomena find our more about our Self leadership programme for business that will give you the tools to perform out of your tree. If you'd like to find out more about this then post your interest and i'll get back to you in person.

Coffee was great!

Starting Business from Scratch?

2007-09-27T20:32:00.000-07:00

While the thought of going into business sounds exhilirating you really need to suss a few things out first. Dont be fooled by the ectasy you feel when you think of chucking the J.O.B in because while it gets you going and you get a new sense of empowerment the new business venture you have in mind may have a ride install for you that will really quickly remove any feelings of exhiliration or ecstacy you may have had at the onset and swipe you of all personal power. There are a number of great books out there that i would advise you start reading...preferably before you embark on the journey.

Now, dont get me wrong - i'm all for business ownership - what i am wanting to impress upon anyone who is new to business, or has a great idea and is amped to get started, is the importance of doing some ground work before jumping in. If you're thinking of getting into business ASK for some suggestions. I've been in business for a lot of years and i tell you what ASKING for another perspective has literally saved my ARSk!

In the meantime i'll be posting a bunch of tips and stuff and inviting others to jump on in with their thoughts and experiences so i encourage you to start here on your journey to sussing things out.
For those of you reading this who are already in business if youre wise you wont think you know it all...in fact you will be more like me and be thinking and asking yourselves "what dont i know that i need to know" and if youre not you should be!

Ultimately what i'm saying here is that this is good for all business stances from entry level to us old fullas. Ecaffin8 is your business - so make it your business to utilise this medium to enhance your knowledge, your networks, and make it a breakfast meeting you finally make it to but in the comfort of your home or office. I look forward to you getting your cuppa coffee or tea and a sticky bun and joining me for some Move Ahead Conversations.