jalléCafe

10 Minute Blog

I miss writing my blog.  During the last few weeks, a new project swept me into a transition.  Uncovering new needs and needing to find new solutions.  I keep telling myself that it will be worth it in the end.

But where is the end?

Tonight, I needed to write.  To remind myself of the Voice I'm trying to cultivate.  I've faced a whirlwind of client deadlines, work processes that could do with some revisions, and people who all have their own emotions, reasonable desires and stresses.

This is a normal time in life. Transition.  Uncertainty about choices made.  Fatigue from the emotions carried.

  I cannot make everyone happy.  I'm a bit behind on many things personal, plus a few professional.  And so tonight as it rains in Zurich, I'm taking home Thai food after a little jog at the gym.  And I'm mentally walking along the sunny path from my apartment to Lake Zurich.  I hear the water that always soothes me. 

Tomorrrow will be a new day.

Week # what? Unheard conversations

I gave a speech -- facilitated a conversation really -- last week at a large corporation.  "Silent Truths: What we don't say even at the coffee machine" was the title.  We talked about what people don't talk about.  About the voices in our heads during business meetings that say to us, "Hey, isn't there something more valuable that you could do with your life than listen to that guy over there rant about how great his department is or how terrible the management is or how busy she is all the time (like she's the only person in the world who has to work for a living?)"

We talked about why we don't stand for ourselves more at work.  Why we let people waste our time instead of saying, "Can we just get back to the agenda please?"

Why we for "political reasons" just accept that we are powerless to make our work places respond to our desires for respect, being valued, doing work that matters to us.

I thought about this later; do I always say what I mean?  Are there times it does not serve the common good to do so?  Is the truth nearly always silent?

You can see tonight I have more questions than answers. But in the moment we discussed it together, the group at the large corporation and I, we all felt more energized.  More willing to try again.  More powerful in our small moments of expressing our perspectives.

And that's a good reason to give the voices in our heads a place to be heard.

Neumarkt: provoke brilliance

Maybe people here spend so much time in cafés because such settings encourage the "brilliant next step" I noted in my Sunday night post.  Look at this one: who couldn't have a brilliant idea in such a charming spot?

It was here, earlier in August, that Sandra and I plotted the final details of our Fall  seminar & workshop schedule that launches this week.  Dreamed of our vision.  Realized both the uncertainty and rare opportunity of starting something new.  Even the rain did not matter!

You can find this café at the top of the Old Town in Zurich. Next to the restaurant of the same name. In a wonderful area for exploring on foot.  Maybe the expected Swiss dog will be waiting for you (did you spot him?)

NEUMARKT
Destithek, Banketträume, Zunfthaus, Theaterbar, Sommernachtstraumgarten
Neumarkt 5
8001 Zürich

Phone 044 252 79 39

Week 35: Very billable

In professional services, we talk about "billable hours."  These are the hours we track to later invoice to our clients at an hourly rate.  It's one of the common hassles of the business:  remembering what you did every hour and putting it in some kind of system often enough to invoice monthly.

I prefer 30 minute chunks and tend to round generously down if in doubt. I prefer to overdeliver in the long-run. I had an attorney who actually invoiced me 30 rappen (about 24 cents) for an e-mail that said, "Thank you. Please send me a copy for my files."  Bet he never rounds down.  I've always remembered this.

Last week, I billed and billed.  Meetings and then follow-up.  Meetings and then follow-up.  Deadlines.  Stimulating work.  Fast pace.  Strong progress.

I was exhausted. And I know by this time in my life that I must beware of burning-out or fraying edges. 

On Friday, my colleague Sandra and I talked about the great energy the develops when you are fully engaged in fast-paced work.  An incredible amount can get done.  The funny thing is that the pace that is so productive and fun does NOT often help find the really great idea.  It seems that it's still in those quiet moments, when you are finally not supposed to be thinking about work...that the great idea appears. The inspiration.  The unexpected, brilliant next step.

Amazing.  And a good reason to take your foot off of the accelerator.  To round down generously with yourself regarding your own productivity, even when you are having fun.