We are amazing human beings! How in the world do we do what we do? How do we cope with the constant demands of us/our time? Everything we do each day, all the people with whom we interact, all we accomplish is nothing short of a miracle. Welcome Jugglers!
Autopilot is when we do something we don’t think about. Consider driving, as experienced drivers we navigate, we respond to the flow of traffic, we accelerate, brake and change lanes while we pay attention to signs, lights, exits, etc. We get in the car and go. Have you ever arrived somewhere and not thought about how you got there?
Autopilot can be helpful and yet, today we will explore how “going through the motions” in life deserves a second look. What happens when your day to day life is in autopilot? What if we considered being engaged in our routines and consider what it would take for someone to actually step into our shoes for a day, a month, a year, a lifetime?
My eyes opened to this when I arrived in Beijing to begin a work assignment. In the mid 90’s, western management systems were less common. In the US, customer service and “empowering the workforce” were common philosophies – less so, in China. It was an opportunity to really think about everything I’d learned and implemented with staff in the US. How might I translate this into operational environments within a different culture? This process of questioning processes and desired results opened me up to a deeper understanding of evaluating what tasks contributed and detracted from the desired outcome. And, I was amazed at how much I learned about myself and how I think.
No portion of my life was “normal” during this time. In a new environment, none of my previous habits were repetitive. Everything was new, experiences were not familiar and as such, my eyes were wide open. Life was engaging and I was learning something every day.
Remembering this time in my life helps me to pay attention to this day. Evaluating how someone steps into another’s shoes at home and work can be achieved. The desired outcome is clear – allow for those impacted by another’s absence to know what this person did, who they talked to and what they handled in their day to day lives.
As we juggle everything, pay attention to the pieces in the puzzle of your life! Paying attention to the little things, goes a long way to paving a smooth road ahead. Contingency planning at home and work benefits people in measurable and profound ways. The Living Planner can help you assess what is in place, at risk and available for you to plan for life.
Many thanks for the opportunity to be a part of your lives. Contact us to learn more about how we work with individuals, business owners and employees via Email or online @ The Living Planner #CareForPeopleCareForBusiness