Work Life Balance | Warwick Merry CSP CVP

Archive For: Work Life Balance

The Transience of Life

These are some stunning Mr Lincoln roses from our garden.

They look stunning. They smell magnificent. We have three bushes out the window (two Mr Lincolns and one Camp David – they are very Presidential!) and when the window is open the breeze wafts the joyful aroma through.

In a couple of weeks these flowers will be dead.

During their short life they have brought emotion and meaning to others. We have loved and appreciated them. Maybe someone walked past and saw them and smiled because of the one they love. Maybe they walked past and missed someone who used to be in their life who loved roses. Often our impact can be deep and unknown to us.

Sometimes the blooms last for a long time and sometimes they go well before their time due to hungry possums, disease or a mistake while pruning.

Our lives are like that of these roses.

Sometimes we bring joy just by being there but to others we may bring discomfort, through no ill will of our own. Sometimes our lives are shorter than we want and others times our inner strength sustains us.

It is important to enjoy life while you have it. Enjoy the interactions that come your way. Learn to recognise the short term inconveniences for what they are – short term. Adjust to live with the long term inconveniences.

Like a rose, sometimes you have manure spread around you (physical or symbolic) but understand it will make you stronger and while it may stink, you will end up smelling like roses.

How is Your Personal Expression?

This is our dog, Winston the Wonder Poodle.

He will often show his happiness, excitement and delight by running around in a crazy manner, often referred to as Zoomies. We call them Circle Work. It is a way he expresses himself with no concern of what others think.

Whether he runs circles through the lounge, kitchen and entry way or does massive circles around the paddock when we are up at the shed, or this simple circle work up and down the couch, he is not ashamed to show how he feels.

We can get so hooked up on the negativity or the expectations and “shoulds” of the world that we sometimes forget to express how we feel. Then, if we do get the urge to show how we feel, we worry about “what will other people think.”

Be like Winston.

Show the world how you are feeling through your words, actions and behaviours. There are so many fabulous things happening in our world that we can forget to enjoy them or show people how they make us feel. It’s time for that to change.

How do you express yourself?

Something Extra

Mad World – Ice Haloes

It seems important that people have a hobby. Have a place they can go where the focus is entirely on them and they are relieved of any responsibilities or cares, even if it is only for a short time.

Some people have said to me, “My kids are my hobby” or “my business is my hobby as well”. That doesn’t compute! The way you get relief from your responsibilities and stress is to take on more responsibilities and stress??

It is not selfish, it is self care. That something extra gives you time to be truly you and reconnect with what counts.

One of the things I do is sing. A bit over a year ago I decided to push myself and join a quartet. We are called Ice Haloes and we just put out a video of one of our latest songs, Mad World. You can see it above.

We are getting ready for a concert in Melbourne on Fri 25th October. No doubt I will keep you informed.

What is your “Something Extra”?

Home made chair with view of Australian country side

I have taken up the hobby of woodworking. It is a great way to turn off my head for awhile and focus on doing things with my hands. I have to be honest, I am not that good. My attention to details isn’t too flash as I get sidetracked and want it to be done NOW!

But a few YouTube videos, some scrap pallet wood, a few basic tools and even the crappiest of woodworkers can make some thing useful. This is the Viking Chair I made (or Star Gazer or Celtic Chair or African Tribal Chair – it has many names) for up at the shed.

It is amazing how the lessons you learn in one area helps you be better in another. So much learning happens when you try not to force it. I have found when I am coaching some of my clients that lessons in patience, new skills and different approaches in my woodwork apply equally in coaching them or in what they are attempting.

It is not just overcoming fear of failure (although that it part of it) it is willing to admit you don’t know everything and trying a new path. It is about being Bigger, Bolder, Better.

I highly recommend you try something new. The life lessons you learn will serve you well. At the very least, you may get a chair out of it!

In this fast moving world that we have, it seems like everyone’s on the hustle. We’re always busy trying to get more.

I know on my Get More Success podcast (and I’m hoping that you listen to it GetMoreSuccess.com) many of the people I speak to are always trying to get that next level of success and they forget that they’ve already achieved success.

There’s something very important about living in the present and enjoying the day that you have. Now, that doesn’t mean you spend all day lounging around doing nothing, or maybe it does on certain days. But at the very least it is important to acknowlede that you have achieved some level of success.

Some days it may be as simple as getting up! Other days it is kicking a serious goal. Whatever it is, it is important to enjoy the success that you have and enjoy the present moment.

Too often people are so busy striving that they forget what they’ve already achieved. It is sooooo important to acknowledge how amazing you are and some of the great things that you’ve done.

So go you good thing!! Keep being amazing and enjoy your success!

Do You Fear the Dark Clouds?

No matter what is happening, no matter how gloomy to dark clouds appear, there is always a touch of brightness.

Whether it is business issues, personal problems or simply things not going the way you want them too, here is where to find, not just a touch, but a BURST of brightness.

I don’t mean start stealing from the rich! Robin Hood did something way more powerful than that.

I recently spent two weeks touring the UK. So how could I not visit Sherwood Forrest.

The visit had me thinking about Robin Hood. While redistributing the wealth was a great deed, his most powerful act was spreading the message that people did not have to live under a tyrant. Spreading his ideas, thoughts and helping others create a dream that was worth living for, gave something far more valuable than money.

While Robin Hood may be a fictional character [spoiler alert], you aren’t.

Do you have a message you need to spread?
How can you authentically and genuinely share your message to others?

For some it will be a simple conversation, coaching a team mate or sharing information. Others will want to take it further and share it from the stage.

If you are in Melbourne on Thursday 23rd, join me for a one day intensive on how to Get More Speaker Success.

Discover more info here http://GetMoreSpeakerSuccess.com

The Food Of Love

Sometimes you just need a bit more love in your life. Love for you, love for your fellow person, love for a cause. Shakespeare said it best.

Have you achieved some amazing things in your life? Things that made your family, friends, colleagues and clients go “WOW”.

When you achieve these things and the people in your life say how cool it is, do you go, “Yeah but it’s only….” or “Nah but it is not as good as … ” or “Yeah, but anyone could have …”?

You may find that your perspective is robbing you of some pleasure and acknowledgement of success.

We often get hung up on the detail and the micro perspective of a situation or actions. We focus on what we did wrong and not on the progress or the impact of what we have done.

That is why I love this lookout tower at Mitchelton Winery. It must be so easy to get stuck looking at label designs, menus for the restaurant, the chemistry of the wine making, the details of the grape harvest and so on.

But from the top of this look out you can see the hundreds of acres of grape fines, the motel wing, the rivers edge chapel area, the art gallery, the full car park and the large number of very happy customers.

Don’t rob yourself of the pleasure of your hard work and skill. Make sure you look at the full perspective of what you have done and when someone gives you a compliment, say “Thank you”.

Want to Do Something Delightful in the Dark?

Photo: DialogueInTheDark.com.au

At the recent Australasian Incentives and Meetings Expo (AIME2019), I got to meet some fabulous puppies and some amazing people!

They work with Guide Dogs Australia to host the Dialogue in the Dark sessions.

I have always admired the massive amount of training and care that a guide dog needs. Even more so since my friend Vic started training and caring for puppies for Seeing Eye Dog Australia. But this conversation (or dialogue) was a fabulous one to have.

What is Dialogue in the Dark, I hear you ask. Well it is a simulated tour of Melbourne done in the dark!

Don’t worry though, you get a white walking cane to assist you and some very capable guides (usually visually impaired people so you are operating on the same level playing field) and often their canine friends.

That’s not all they do. They also run individual and team activities conducted in complete darkness and delivered by these professional facilitators with blindness or low vision.

The workshop place you in unpredictable situations similar to many business landscapes, highlighting the importance of effective communication, leadership and trust. It also provides a great reminder about the importance of human interaction.

Dialogue in the Dark workshops have been operating for 30 years in more than 40 countries.

From its Aussie base in Docklands, Dialogue in the Dark offers a range of professional development workshops, team building tours and school experiences in partnership with Guide Dogs Australia. It also provides more than 20 people who are blind or have low vision with employment, training and development opportunities.

And, the best part is that all the revenue generated from Dialogue in the Dark is re-invested into the operation.

If you are after something fun and different to do or you want to take your team (of have your boss take your team) on a great team building exercise, I highly recommend Dialogue in the Dark.

So do you feel like a tour of Melbourne in low visibility? It is one of the most delightful things you can do in the dark!

Top 10 Technology Tools to Tame Your Troubles

This is the view from my seat as I type todays post. In it is so much technology that I would have only dreamed about in the past.

My good friend and speaker buddy, Dave Staughton asked me a couple of weeks ago, what are the top 10 technologies that I use in my business. I could only narrow it down to 19 – some of them I use constantly and others intermittently.

Here is the list for you: (Click on the heading for more details. No affiliate links just more info!)

Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones.

I use these every time I fly, for making phone calls (did you know they have a mic in them and are great for phone calls?), in co-working spaces and in cafes. I have the old version with the cable, and still I am a huge fan.

Zoom.us

This software is GOLD! From recording podcasts, meetings, connecting with absent friends/family, webinars, integrating with Facebook, it is fabulous. Starting price is…. FREE! I am fortunate, my professional association, Professional Speakers Australia is currently finalising a deal so it’s members get a substantial discount.

Rode Video Mic Me shotgun mic

I bought this to use with my phone but then set it up so that it records into the computer. A discreet microphone so that when I do webinars and online work, you don’t see a microphone but you hear it’s impact. (It is the small mic resting on the red handled prop in the picture)

Shure SM58 mic

That is the big mic on the boom arm. While it is not the ideal mic for recording podcasts (loving the look of the new Rode PodMic) this one makes my voice sound smoother and deeper. Just what I want for my recordings. I had the mic from my singing work so thought I may as well use the good gear I already have before I head out to buy something else.

Zoom H4n Digital Recorder

I have a few of the Zoom Recorders. Originally I bought them for my choir performances but this H4n is brilliant for recording face to face podcast interviews and also for recording my speaking performances.

Smart Phone

I mean, who hasn’t got one nowadays. Even the biggest luddites are conforming. Even though it is mainly used to watch cat videos, there is so much that it can do.

Video editor (I use iMovie)

On both the phone and the computer, this software is easy to use and does amazing things.

Sound Editor (I use Garage Band but have a hot spot for Adobe Audition)

Same, same as for the Video Editor comments.

Canva

Such an intuitive service. Easy to create some amazing graphics, slides, posters, marketing collateral and so on.

DropBox

I barely know it’s there yet it automatically backs everything up, including my photos from my smart phone. I could smash my phone and my computer right now, go out and buy another one and within an hour or less I would be good to go without losing any of my data, images, video or anything else I hold dear.

Honorable Mentions

Send Pepper (Part of Ontraport) – for CRM and Newsletters
HostGator for hosting all my websites and podcast
Laptop for doing all the work on (I use a Mac but the next one probably won’t be a Mac)
LinkedIn for networking
Green Screen and Box Lights (so much more video nowadays, so these are essential)
Selfie stick/tripod
Pen and Paper (Sometimes, you have to go old school!)
G Suite for email, calendar, docs, sheets, etc
The DPA Headset mic that I talked about here.

What about you? What are your favourite technologies that help make your life easier?

How’s Life?

Socrates famously said at his trial for corrupting youth, that an “Unexamined life is not worth living.”

While “not worth living” is a little harsh, it is evident that there is great value in examining life to squeeze extra value out of the lessons learned or to reflect on situations to consider if there was a lesson there at all.

Consequently, I have created what I call a Regular Results Review. It is a simple one page document you can quickly use to assess the year, what you did well, what you would do differently, what opportunities you have coming for the year ahead and a few other things as well. It is a great way to consider the year that has just passed and how you can get the most out of the year ahead.

To get your copy of the Regular Results Review, simply click this link and it will open for you.

Thank you so much for your support this year. The feedback I get on my writing and content is great and inspires me to create more.

I hope you have a fantastic festive season and that next year brings you great things.

You Must Have A Safety Cushion to Prevent Pain

As the Dread Pirate Roberts said, “Life is pain… Anyone who says differently is selling something.”

That being the case, I had a good dose of life on the weekend!

We were at the shed and while my gorgeous wife and our friend went into town, I thought I would pop up the ladder and do a couple of things that needed to be done.

So often we have talked about how important ladder safety is, particularly as the shed has a concrete floor. In fact, I was joking with my personal trainer about it a week or so ago as it is one of the main reasons men over 55 are admitted to hospital!

Anyway, I set the ladder. The kitchen bench was in the road so I positioned the ladder into what I thought was a safe place. As I was about two and a half metres in the air, it turns out that position was NOT safe. The polished concrete did not give enough resistance to the feet of the ladder and I am a heavy bloke so, at the end of the day, the laws of physics stayed true and gravity worked!

On the way down I grabbed at the bulkhead over the kitchen (which I successfully pulled down), grazed my shin, landed on my feet with my forearms on the bench all while forcing the knife block into the microwave and bending two of the knife handles in the process. The ladder itself can now go around corners so it will be recommissioned as a climbing frame for beans, roses or some such plant.

With loads of broken glass from the microwave, my first check was had I cut myself. The answer was NO! Phew!! Then it was time to sit, calm down and assess the situation.

Turns out all I got was a bruised ego, shin, hand and forearms and one hell of a fright. Yay for me!

So we know have a new protocol for climbing ladders.

It is not to be done if only I am there
Ladder must be stable with safety person holding it
Must have better ladder
Where possible, have a huge bed of cushions underneath
If in doubt, don’t

So Step one, get a better ladder. This is what I will use from now on (ignore the wheels, they are coming off!) Super stable and with working platform!!

What about you? You probably don’t climb ladders. Maybe the risks you are facing are not physical. Maybe it is financial, project based, competitive risks or something completely different.

What are your protocols for managing risks? How can you make sure you have a massive bed of cushions to minimise your negative impact and/or pain?

PS The Latest Episode of the Get More Success Show is all about dealing with Uncertainty and how to thrive in it. Evan Leybourn is the head of Business Agility Institute. Check out our conversation here.

How to Answer the Burning Question, “Was it worth it?”

As I have mentioned many times, my gorgeous wife and I have a small farmlet about 90 minutes away.

We were there again this weekend and I spent a couple of hours foofing around with some fencing that needed the box stay restrained, the droppers re-aligned, some significant wire repairs and most of the wires re-tensioned. During the process, it started raining heavily (of course!)

Was it Worth it?

To do all of this work, I had bought some equipment: 1.5km of medium tensile wire, a wire spinning jenny, wire strainers, gripple strainers, gripples, staples, fencing ties and some other gadgets as well. I am sure it was over $500 worth of stuff (most of which will last a long time and be used for many fencing jobs).

Was it Worth it?

My wife and her friend were sitting in front of the fire, enjoying drinks, cheese and nibbles on a gorgeous, relaxing Saturday afternoon while I was out there with Winston the Wonder Poodle accidentally putting to much strain on an old wire, struggling with high and medium tensile wire, trying to tie knots that will last for years and getting harassed by horses.

BUT WAS IT WORTH IT?

When it comes to measuring success of any venture, you need to consider the three R’s. ROI, ROO and ROE. Specifically Return on Investment, Return on Objective and Return on Energy.

ROI – Financially, it probably wasn’t worth it. I could have paid a handyman $100 and they could have done the work. But longer term, the financial side of of the equation will pay off. There is a lot more fencing to be replaced and a bit to repair. Having our own gear gives us the freedom and flexibility to do it when we want and cheaper than getting someone else to do it.

ROO – It was certainly a worthwhile objective. The big hole in the fence meant that cows from next door were coming to and fro as if they owned the place. Now that fence is fairly solid and I have a lot more confidence. My objective to have it animal proof (except for the Kangaroos) has been achieved. It also looks a lot tidier.

ROE – No doubt I could have hung out in front of the fire just relaxing. But the sense of achievement I got from tapping into some skills I hadn’t used since I was a teenager was fantastic. Knowing I have made the fence animal proof once again means I no longer have to wonder about how to get the animals back and what sort of impact they may have on our property or the horses.

So Was It Worth It? Definitely.

Here’s the thing. So often we do things, socially, around the house, at work, for others and we don’t consider “Was it worth it?” In my experience, this is particularly true for businesses who sponsor events or want to exhibit at trade shows. Often this is because we don’t know WHY we are doing it. So how can we tell if it is worthwhile if we don’t know why?

It is important that we take the time to calculate if our effort was worth it and if we got the results we were after. If we didn’t consider why not and what we can do differently next time.

That way, you can always answer the burning question, was it worth it.

PS If you are considering Sponsorship or Exhibiting, join me on a free online session on How to Get the Foundation Factors of Sponsorship Right.
Click here for more information on the session or to register.

Can You Help With a Bale?

Sorry the photo is bad but it was taken back in the day when we couldn’t see the photo immediately after taking it, so it will have to do.

It is my dad, feeding out hay in the “Bull Paddock”. It was rare to have so many cattle in here but it was because, at this time, 1/3 of the farm was flooded and under water so the cows went wherever we had space.

Times have changed.

Those trees aren’t there anymore. In fact, the house got burnt down six months after our family sold it. (It lasted over 100 years in our family and six months in someone else’s!)

For many farmers, the grass isn’t as green either.

That is the life of a farmer. Constant changing of factors beyond your control.

While farmers have developed a reputation for complaining about the weather (it probably is the most discussed topic), no amount of complaining changes it.

Too wet and it washes the crop away or makes it impossible to put your cattle on it. Too dry and everything dies and you have to sell or kill your animals. That Goldilocks Zone where everything is “Juuuuust right” is so rare.

Add to that the prices you are paid for your crop, cattle, milk or produce is typically set by someone else and it becomes a challenging life. My Uncle and Aunt say “Farming is the kind of thing that looks great from a car window”.

Out of interest, the milk price today in Victoria is about 44 cents per litre according to Dairy Australia. According to correspondence to the Australian Parliament from the Australian Milk Producers Association, the milk price in 1985 was about 32 cents per litre. That is about 1% increase per year. Far less than the CPI. Some dairy farmers are being paid less per litre than what it costs to produce.

The current drought in NSW and QLD is reaching crisis point. No doubt you have seen footage, images or heard stories about the complete lack of feed. So I am going to do a little something for the farmers and I am hoping you can help.

If you are in Sydney on Tuesday 7th of November, I will be hosting a LinkedIn Panel Session for LinkedIn Local Sydney and all proceeds will be going to Buy A Bale to get more hay for our farmers.
This will be an amazing session with some great speakers who will share their experience on how you can make the most of LinkedIn. You also get to ask as many questions as you want.

Our fabulous line-up of speakers include (click on their name to check out their LinkedIn Profile):

JILLIAN BULLOCK
Award Winner for ‘Best Use of LinkedIn 2018 Australiasia’ from the Social Media Marketing Institute, and a Certified LinkedIn Ninja.

JANE JACKSON
Best Selling Author of Navigating Career Crossroads, ‘Your Career’ Podcast Host, and Career Management Coach

ANNA McAFEE
Global Founder of LinkedInLocal and the Aussie lady who started a viral global movement

GEOFF ANDERSON
Video Producer, Best Selling Author of ‘Shoot Me Now’, and Keynote Speaker

DION WOO
Entrepreneur and co-founder of LInfluencers, a group who leverage the influence of companies, individuals and charities

You can find out more or book a ticket here.

If you are not in Sydney and still want to help, you can donate to Buy a Bale here. To help us track our campaign, if you can please put under “How Did You Hear About Us” – Other and then put our campaign number, RASN94911 in the details field.

Thanks for your support. I hope you can help with a bale.

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