The phrase for the week is "Contingency Planning” When I was growing up in Chicago, I loved to play chess. What I loved most about the game was trying to predict what moves my opponent might make and what I would do in response. I’m too impatient for chess now, but I have used those skills throughout my career and am confident it has been the foundation for much of my planning success stories. I call it contingency planning but the formal term is scenario planning. It is so much a part of how I approach my personal and professional life, I rarely realize I’ve engaged this tool. In order for this level of planning to work, you must be committed to the amount of time it takes to sift through all the possible outcomes or scenarios. Often, a person will only plan for the outcome they want and when things go awry, they are back to square one--researching, planning, etc. Often there is a mourning period before they are able to regroup to begin again. Meanwhile, I
The word for the week is "Values” We all strive to work in today’s dynamic times without compromising our values. When the way we want to live your lives is aligned with our actions, we are happy. When they are in conflict, unhappiness sets in and conflict ensues. This conflict destroys your ability to be creative, to innovate and grow personally and professionally. This week complete this awareness exercise to discover the behaviors that tell the world what you feel is important, what guides your life, your values. List your top five values. Next to each value, state your behaviors that are evidence to you and the world that these are your values. For example: My number one value is family. Everyone will know this because I rarely work evenings and weekends so I can spend time with my family. When you have completed the five values and evidence, put this in a safe place. Next, identify five people to help you with this awareness exercise--a spouse, c