| “Do the difficult things while they are easy and do the great things while they are small. A journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step.” – Lao Tzu
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Posts Tagged ‘Stress’
Focus-One day at a time
Tuesday, December 13th, 2011One Day
Tuesday, June 14th, 2011Recently, I have spoken to many people lately who have felt a ton of anxiety in their daily lives.
The reasons are all over the place – some personal and some professional. If I were to tell you some of their stories you would probably comment that some people are big babies while others have really difficult circumstances.
The interesting thing about anxiety is that it is always a result of our perspective. A job loss may be devastating to one person (someone in their first career with a ton of debt) and a blessing to another (someone who has always wanted to start their own company).
It all depends on how you view the circumstances.
Because perspective is so important, during stressful times, I often advise my clients, my friends and myself that you should change your perspective to focus exclusively on the day.
That’s it. Don’t worry about tomorrow, next week or next year. Just execute what’s in front of you.
You’d be amazed at how much your perspective (and your anxiety) changes when you’re only concerned with the next 24 hours.
CJ McClanahan is the Founder of reachmore, which teaches small business owners how to build a business that runs without them. For more resources on business leadership, please visit reachmore’s seminars.
How to Get out of a Funk
Monday, September 20th, 2010The other week, I was in a funk; A deep funk. Have you ever been there? The times when you feel like you can’t get out of bed, can’t do anything right, and there is a dark animated cloud raining on you wherever you walk?
Everyone at some time or another feels like that, even if it’s only for a brief moment; especially when you are in the high pressure position of being a business owner.
Our challenge as leaders in the business community is to get out of a funk as fast as possible, so we can get back to the task of leading people towards a shared vision.
Here are 8 tips to getting out a funk quickly and unscathed:
1. Exercise – Moving your body creates energy and raises your endorphin levels, which are thought to be connected to euphoric feelings. If you want an immediate boost to your attitude, just start moving!
2. Eat Well – If I want to fall asleep, I don’t take Unisom or Tylenol PM, I eat McDonalds! Foods that are high in fat and sugar affect our brain function, energy levels, and our ability to focus. If you want to get out a funk, eat nutrient and water rich foods like vegetables and fruits, and drink a ton of water.
3. Avoid Alcohol – Following a tough day, I’ve been known to say, “I need a stiff drink!” That’s exactly the opposite of what I need. What I need to feel refreshed is good nutrient rich food, meditation and journaling, and a bit of exercise. Alcohol robs your body of water and zaps your cells of energy. It is also a depressant – which makes you feel exactly the opposite of what you want to create when you’re in a funk.
4. Get Rest – Not getting out of bed when you don’t feel like it is not helpful to getting out of a funk, but consistently getting 6-8 hours of sleep is. Treat your body to a couple of nights of good rest, and just watch your mood improve.
As usual, I am a tease. I will give you the other 4 tips in my next blog. See you next week!
Jamar Cobb-Dennard is the Vice-President of Business Development for reachmore, which teaches small business owners how to build a business that runs without them. For more resources on business leadership, please visit http://blog.goreachmore.com.
Think like a Dog
Monday, June 21st, 2010When I used to let Jenna’s dog, Sadie, out to the bathroom, she used to doddle on her way back in. I would call her and call her, and she would never come back inside. As soon as I went outside after her, and got close enough to grab her collar, she would shake me off and start running toward the door!
Dogs are special creatures, and I often wonder what they are thinking. I must be a high “I” (for more on what it means to be a high “I”, email me at jamar@goreachmore.com), because I actually care what dogs are thinking about me. Especially Sadie when she was defiant and kind of rude!
Animal cognition researcher, William Roberts, says that dogs only think in the moment. They do not have episodic memory, so they can’t think behind or ahead of what is currently happening. They can perceive and follow a command that you taught them in the past, but can’t remember how they learned it. Basically, dogs live in the moment.
That’s why they are excited every time you come home from work. That’s why they’re always in a good mood. That’s why they always do everything “all out”.
Now, they do have the ability to perceive the meaning of something through circadian oscillators, which are regular fluctuations of hormones, temperature, and neural activity. That’s why they like to eat around the same time, and get a stupid grin on their faces when you bring out that orange ball they love to play with.
I think we should take a page from the book of dog living, and live entirely in the moment. Forget about the mistakes, pain, and successes of the past. Live in the moment. Go all out in what you are doing right now. Don’t worry about the future – lamenting about the stresses or loneliness to come, just focus on your energy and intention on this very moment.
Your dog is always happy and productive. Act like him, and you can be too!
Jamar Cobb-Dennard is the Vice-President of Business Development for Reachmore, which provides leadership coaching for small business and executives. For more resources on business leadership, please visit http://blog.goreachmore.com.