spark new thinking!

Barb, I guess I won't tell you how my wife is ...

2012-02-07T21:59:39.735-05:00

Barb, I guess I won't tell you how my wife is completely jealous of my shower time. Something about how I spend more time in the shower than I do cuddling on the couch...

Any hotel with a Speakman gets an extra star in my...

2012-02-07T21:58:00.260-05:00

Any hotel with a Speakman gets an extra star in my rating.

I'm totally with you on this one Mark. Every t...

2012-02-07T21:48:01.596-05:00

I'm totally with you on this one Mark. Every time I check into a new hotel for the first time, the first thing I do is check the shower to see if it's sporting a Speakman.
Great points about lasting value through simplicity and reliability... Metaphors be with you!

Intriguing post as I wasn't sure what you were...

2012-02-07T18:04:06.170-05:00

Intriguing post as I wasn't sure what you were about to post or what secret you were going to let us in on. Now I have to tell you, this has to be a man thing. I want to get a shower and get out. No matter the shower head. Sorry.
I imagine all the men reading this are saying Oh I want one of those!
I will not be letting my husband read this because he'd be ordering one before I could wrest the computer out of his manly hands.
So I just say continue to enjoy your obsession/affair/whatever. I'll keep my old shower head until hubs finds out there is a much improved one!
Enjoyed reading this. A new fan, Barb
www.barbwhitti.blogspot.com
Writing: the ups and downs

I'm not sure if this has been good or bad. For...

2012-02-07T14:56:59.998-05:00

I'm not sure if this has been good or bad. For the most part, I've spent around 22 weekends in each of the last 10 years (I'm 48) practicing from 10-7 on Saturdays and 10-5 on Sundays with the Racine Kilties Drum and Bugle Corps. Monthly winter practices are indoors learning the music and visual basics, then we go outside all spring and summer perfecting an 11-minute show. One weekend "off" each month of the summer (you mow the grass.) I would spend the week counting down the hours at work until I'd have the opportunity to ROAST on an August weekend on the artificial turf field. On occasion I watched fellow members (my wife) get carted off to the hospital from the heat during marching practice -- or performance. But now I'm done marchng. I'm going to "focus" on my career -- but have no idea what you "normal" people do with weekends. I don't even own a TV. I need help with this. What do I do with 52 weekends??!!

Me, too, Dick.

2012-02-02T13:18:49.670-05:00

Me, too, Dick.

One of my favorite things to re-energize on the we...

2012-02-01T15:29:52.866-05:00

One of my favorite things to re-energize on the weekends is go to church. That is where I get a fresh perspective, connect with others, get encouraged, encourage others, and have an opportunity to serve.

Dick

Here's a note I was emailed from a reader: Hi...

2012-02-01T08:29:59.597-05:00

Here's a note I was emailed from a reader:

Hi, Mark.

First, yes, I remember the Loverboy song from the 80s. I was in high school then. What a sad philosophy to have stuck in our heads at that age – that we’d all be workin’ for the weekend when we got out in the “real world.”

And, yes, your article resonated with me. I love my job, and in general, I don’t dread Mondays, but I really like your encouragement to think ahead about what I can do to be more refreshed and recharged. Like many others, I’m sure, I tend to think about what I “need to get done” this weekend. Your list of questions is particularly good. I’d love to see something like that from you every week.

So how am I spending my weekend? I’d already planned a retreat with some friends, where we’ll be working on our families’ photo albums. This is a fabulous way to reflect on the great things in our lives, to spend some quiet time in thought, to create something our children will treasure and to “unplug” for a couple of days. After reading your article though, I’ll also build in some exercise (to be followed by a dip in the hot tub!) and try to finish up Step Away From the Baggage Claim.

Thanks for the encouragement,
Julie

Cindy, I feel your pain. I find it hard to unplug ...

2012-01-31T21:42:01.281-05:00

Cindy, I feel your pain. I find it hard to unplug on the weekends, but I have never regretted it. Good luck!

A lot of great information as usual! Inspired by y...

2012-01-31T19:02:48.431-05:00

A lot of great information as usual! Inspired by you I'm going to... this is hard for me... I'm going to unplug this weekend, all day Saturday and Sunday. Woo Hoo I said it, now I have to do it. Thanks Mark! Cindy

Alyson, You made my day. I feel refreshed by YOUR...

2012-01-31T17:21:16.106-05:00

Alyson,

You made my day. I feel refreshed by YOUR comment! Thanks.

Mark - Your thoughts - which are typically reverse...

2012-01-31T17:01:10.459-05:00

Mark - Your thoughts - which are typically reverse of my normal thinking - are REFRESHING to me. I can't tell you how much I appreciate your perspective. Thank you!
Your # 1
Alyson :)
(Fundraiser, lover of life, crazy person! LOL.)

Terri, that's awesome! Glad to know a) the Jus...

2012-01-31T11:04:59.904-05:00

Terri, that's awesome! Glad to know a) the Justin Bieber article inspired you and b) That you're doing cool things like "Moment of Zen" in your office. Nice!

I guess I’m on the right path. I use my weekends a...

2012-01-31T11:00:54.917-05:00

I guess I’m on the right path. I use my weekends and most evenings to get organized and recharge my batteries. I do that by taking care of my physical and emotional needs, planning and preparing for the next day, communicating positively with family and friends, asking for help when I need, offering help when I can. I also check my professional, financial, personal and spiritual progress. It’s like “sharpening the saw”. After a restful night, I’m ready for more work, challenges and fun.

Whether one hates his/her job or not, consider bri...

2012-01-31T10:56:19.795-05:00

Whether one hates his/her job or not, consider bringing those refreshing vacation moments into the work place. We started a Moment of Zen in our weekly team meeting which was triggered when I shared an article you wrote last year about Justin Bieber. Sometimes it's relevant to work, sometimes it's just something fun. It's cause our whole team to seek out Moments of Zen throughout the whole week. They're mini moments of refreshing.

Very good article and I plan on taking 10 minutes ...

2012-01-06T17:04:08.414-05:00

Very good article and I plan on taking 10 minutes right now to think about my "Next G!"

Jean, you already lead change...you could probably...

2012-01-06T14:21:08.971-05:00

Jean, you already lead change...you could probably teach that class! :)

Kris, if you ever need to REALLY get away, I know a great space in Columbus.

After writing my post today, I read this article o...

2012-01-06T14:13:29.965-05:00

After writing my post today, I read this article on Forbes.com and immediately thought, THIS is what I hope people heard in MY article! http://www.forbes.com/sites/jessicahagy/2011/11/30/how-to-be-interesting/

As soon as I'm done posting this, I'm goin...

2012-01-06T12:55:46.826-05:00

As soon as I'm done posting this, I'm going to schedule "private work time" on my calendar so I can get out from behind this desk and focus on projects that I never seem to have time to do. My poor coworkers are always working on projects and I'd love to help them only my position requires I be available to clients at all times. With my trusted side kick Tracy, I can now schedule this time. Thanks for this push Mark.

Very inspiring article, Mark! I am currently pursu...

2012-01-06T09:53:33.424-05:00

Very inspiring article, Mark! I am currently pursuing my Masters in Management and Leading Change at Antioch University. My goal is to finish by September 2012. Next G here I come!

Thanks for the comment, Jim. What I like about it ...

2011-12-02T07:32:13.299-05:00

Thanks for the comment, Jim. What I like about it is that it forces you to take a look at how you really treat people.

"Treat other people the way I treat you."...

2011-12-02T02:06:37.918-05:00

"Treat other people the way I treat you." this will work for those who can be a consistent in example @live-buzz.com

By the way, I never answered how I became debt fre...

2011-11-30T09:32:11.147-05:00

By the way, I never answered how I became debt free. I followed Dave Ramsey's plan for financial peace. Pick up The Total Money makeover at amazon or www.daveramsey.com. And if you can, sign up for his Financial Peace University course. Best thing you'll ever do.

No stress, no unemployment! Woo hoo! It's a gr...

2011-11-30T09:30:00.875-05:00

No stress, no unemployment! Woo hoo! It's a great year!

There is no greater job than a stay at home mom. H...

2011-11-30T09:28:59.335-05:00

There is no greater job than a stay at home mom. Hardest job in the world. Know what that means? NOBODY is perfect at it. It sounds so cliche', but you only get one shot in this life and they're only little once, so if that's your dream, don't let perfection stand in your way.