We all face a daily challenge of managing myriad activities to required or desired outcomes.  It becomes even more complicated when many of these activities are delegated to us at the request of others.  All of this leads to a growing execution gap.
 
Trouble begins with our own view of these activities.  Are they simply Intentions, or will they become Actions.  To paraphrase a well-worn aphorism in a business context: The road to nowhere is paved with good intentions. Businesses can't achieve their goals and grow without entire teams of people focused on worthwhile actions that create value.
 
To adjust our perspective of daily activities first requires a shift in how we describe them.  Are they important enough to deserve commitment, or do we communicate about them using Wiggle Words that offer us an excuse if they don't happen?  Things worth doing deserve clarity regarding the actions that will be carried out.  A results-oriented change in vocabulary is followed by a corresponding commitment to action.
 
Your Commitment to Action deserves a place of visibility, because:
 

• Visibility creates awareness;
• Awareness creates accountability;
• Accountability drives results.

 
For most of us, the simplest and most powerful place to achieve this sort of accountability is via our calendar.  If it matters, schedule it; when you schedule it, protect the time and see it through.  Creating daily habits in such “small” things will lead to greater results in “big” things over time.
 
Pave your road to excellence with Actions, not Intentions, then……..Enjoy the Journey!

When was the last time you actually watched a sunset?  I don't mean just glancing up at the sky and momentarily admiring the brilliant colors and shifting light; I mean when was the last time you really watched this daily spectacle unfold?  Viewed in the right setting, sunsets are magical.
 
Days may occasionally seem long, but they do come to an end. The sunset gives us spectacular proof of that reality. As the earth spins and the sun appears to move across the sky to the west, for the longest time not much appears to happen. Yet when the sun nears the horizon, the entire process seems to speed up.  Suddenly it appears to be happening faster, yet the only thing that's changed is our perception.
 
In life and work, it can seem like there's plenty of time to accomplish key initiatives, but then you find time quickly running out at the end of the day (week, month, quarter or year).  As you approach the end of a period, time appears to accelerate. The reality, however, is that time is the one constant that was with you all along.
 
If you want to achieve significant goals, rather than simply complete endless task lists, it's necessary to capture time for working on those things along the way.  Planning for them is the first part, then scheduling for them is essential to getting them accomplished.  Steve McClatchy writes about these realities in his book Decide; if you want to figure out how to make this happen in your own life, it's worth your time to read it.  Important things deserve their own place under the sun and on your calendar.
 
Making the most of each day is a sure way to enjoy the journey. Done well, you'll even have a few minutes to spare at the end to enjoy the sunset!

​Are you known for excuses, or for explanations?  When issues arise, no excuses are sufficient. By the same token, when things are running smoothly, no amount of explanation is necessary.  What happens between those two situations will define your relationships.
 
In a business service relationship, issues (sometimes referred to as problems) arise frequently.  That's the nature of what happens when service meets people.  There's a natural human tendency to become defensive in such situations; it's easy to fall into the trap of making excuses as the service provider.  When excuses are given, however, you suddenly turn one issue into two; you now have the original issue to resolve, plus a question from the affected party regarding your commitment or ability to resolve it.  The very words “Its not my fault” convey an abdication of responsibly for what happened and, by inference, suggest the resolution might also be “not my job”.  It's a perilous spiral.
 
To acknowledge the issue and take ownership for resolving it is the hallmark of a service professional in any industry.  This is where explanations come into play. There's a fine line here, because the client may not want an explanation regarding “how” the issue arose; they may not even care.  Their desire may be simply for the issue to go away, so they can concentrate on their other priorities.  Depending upon the seriousness of the situation, it is often better to simply say “I'll take care of it for you” and then go do so.
 
There are complex situations, however, that can cause small issues to accumulate and become bigger problems.  That's when a carefully worded explanation can make all the difference.  Done well, you provide context for the issue along with your commitment to resolve it.  This can be important for preventing future issues from arising, since there are often aspects that only the client can handle from their side.  This is where you have the opportunity to become a “Trusted Advisor” for the client; you're using your knowledge to both handle a current situation and help the client improve their future state.
 
A long-time client, who I've known and respected in multiple roles through the years, recently said: “I don't want excuses. I want solutions.”  That's very straightforward advice worth taking.  Try eliminating excuses from your vocabulary and replacing them with thoughtful explanations. Both you and your client will benefit and you'll both Enjoy the Journey more!