IN THE PRESENT

"The secret of health for both mind and body is not to mourn for the past, nor to worry about the future, but to live the present moment wisely and earnestly."
-Siddhartha Gautama

We spend so much of our lives focusing and stressing on the past and the future that we tend to forget about the present. How can we grow and become better individuals if we only focus on what happened yesterday, or if we direct all of attention on planning for the future?

Looking back at on all of the experiences and adventures we have encountered in our lives, we must feel fortunate for each and every one. They have helped mold and shape us into who we are today and the paths we inevitably follow. As much as it is helpful to have your past guide you to make decisions about the future, so many of us dwell on what has happened in our past. It can be difficult to let certain things, situations and moments go, however, it becomes be extremely difficult to move forward and live in the present.

Furthermore, this can also be said about focusing so much on the future. Planning is one the keys to success. Although, when there is so much of an emphasis and focus on looking down the road, the present and your surroundings is lost. We need to pay attention to how being aware and in the moment affects us now more than ever, but will also affect us down the road.

Next time you get caught up thinking about what you could have done, should have done, or what you need to do, and what you should do, take a deep breath in, and open your eyes because you don’t want life just pass you by.

- Nina Mathers

Think Before You Speak

Back in university, while I was earning my acting degree (which has, so far, definitely been worth the money invested), I worked with a theater company. As someone who enjoyed the idea of special FX make-up, I actually apprenticed under the company's head make-up artist, and was able to put it to great use for characters like Ebenezeer Scrooge as well as many, many Halloweens.

Now, the head make-up artist and his wife used to love going to all sorts of conventions, including the Star Trek ones, because they'd generally walk away with the first prize for their costumes (the attached picture? Not either of them - but I needed an appropriate visual). Were they big prizes? Frankly, I doubt it - in fact, I have no idea what they won. Maybe it was just for pride... but whatever floats your boat, I guess.

Anyway, during one of the tutorials, they were showing the pictures from the most recent convention, where they were done up as Klingons. As per usual, the costumes were astounding - with the make-up being absolutely flawless. So good, in fact, that as I was flipping the pages I asked about one part in particular - the stage teeth. The crooked and somewhat discolored look was perfect for a Klingon.

"Where did you get those unbelievable fake teeth?" I asked her without looking up.

Yes. For those of you that have an uncomfortable feeling that you know where this is going - you're right.

"... those are my own teeth..." was her quiet response.

"Oh," I said.

Brilliant recovery? No. But what would you do? I followed that up by carefully scrutinizing a few more pages as I turned through the album in painful silence, before asking about the Borg costumes that came later and pretending I hadn't just put my foot so deeply in my mouth I was choking on my mid-thigh.

Regardless, I learned a valuable lesson at that moment, and use it as a metaphor throughout life - I try to pause for one moment and take as much in around me as possible before I speak. Or, in the immortal words of a caution sign my mother once put on my wall:

"Be sure brain is engaged before putting mouth into gear".

Words to live by.

~Guy

What’s it going to be today?

On the heels of feedback, maybe we need to break down our approach to delivering. Maybe we need to focus on one topic per day to make it easy and to make it a habit in terms of just delivering.

I was thinking of a new way to convey feedback or just another way to hold team mates accountable. Was thinking that it could be easy to have each day a different theme…

Humm, maybe even post your intensions on your cubby. So what does that look like?

Well, first thing in the morning, post a note on your locker. ‘today will be all about the team doing towels’ then, all day, call on team mates for towels. Eg. Have you done a load of towels yet today? Or, do you know how many towels are in the bathroom? Or, how many towels have you rolled today?

This way, you have let your intensions known but posting a note for all to see and you are following up with your focus. The final piece of the puzzle is offering help or ideas to those who may need help or those who just aren’t regularly performing the IF towel service. ‘can I help you roll those towels?’ or, ‘lets unload this dryer and refill with those wet ones’ or, ‘lets both get some towels on the rack’

So, what else could we focus on during the week? Maybe it looks like this:
Mon: team energy
Tues: towels
Wed: hellos
Thurs: fitness challenge
Fri: cleanliness

The daily tasks can be switched each week and even switched completely or replaced with more pertinent topics (ie. Profiling, event promotion, etc.)

The funny thing is that there are tons of topics we as a team need to be aware of and too many to list that we as a team need to be holding each other accountable to..

So, what’s your daily focus?

Team bonding

What is bonding? Why is it necessary? Does it work?

The definition of Human bonding "is the development of a close, interpersonol relationship between family members or friends. Bonding is a mutual, interactive process, and is not the same as simple liking. Bonding typically refers to the process of attachment that develops between romantic partners, close friends, or parents and children. This bond is characterized by emotions such as affection and trust. Any two people that spend time together may form a bond. Male bonding refers to the establishment of relationships between men through shared activities that often exclude females. The term female bonding is less frequently used, but refers to the formation of close personal relationships between women"

Obviously, when you are bonding with co-workers this bond created is based on trust and respect. As our job is so personalized and hands on it is rare that we actually get to “bond” besides the work place.

However, when the opportunity arises, it is amazing what a difference it makes.

This past Saturday night, the West Van IF team had an ugly Christmas sweater gathering. We started off at Robson square by skating in our ugly sweaters around the rink and listing to live carolers.

We then made our way to Joshy J's place for a potluck dinner and games. The food was delicious, the setting was spectacular, charades was a lot of fun and the awards were classic.

It is great to be social with your co-workers that you spend every work day with. Even though we naturally have fun and change and challenge others every single hour, it is great to take that fun outside the work environment and get to know everyone a little better. We bonded, we laughed, we talked and we found out my about our co-workers.

Today, the team was energized, we reminisced about our Christmas gathering and we worked hard for one another. We are now even more that before a tight team that doesn't want to let each other down.

Team bonding works!

Consistency is Key

I had a great conversation with a client today about a recent adjustment to their training program. After experiencing back pain for the fourth year in a row this fall, the invididual decided to add an additional (third) training session in the facility about a month ago. Four weeks into the new approach, he hasn't felt this good with his back in years, and his general flexibility is also way up.

When he was most surprised that one extra session had such an immediate and effective impact, I told him that it was a matter of consistency and routine. By adding an additional session, not only was he burning more calories and improving fitness overall, he was bridging the time between the original sessions when his body would recede into negative habits and posture, as opposed to the increased strengthening we were now working on. The benefit was more than just adding 33% more during the week. It maximizes growth and continuity of progress so less time is spent undoing the damage of daily rigours and stress so we can spend more time and effort improving.

Many people underestimate the importance of consistancy and routine. I often think of one of my roommates on these situations. Though very aware of health and fitness, working in the bar industry leads her to drinking and partying a regular five to six days a week. The seventh day she eat and drinks very consiously and well, takes many many vitamins, and pats herself on the back generously for "balancing" her life. So where is the problem?

She continuously frets about her appearance in a bikini (it's December, get over yourself) and body tone yet rarely (one or twice a month) finds her way to the gym, based on the idea that she does a lot of walking at work. And her diet? Frightful the majority of the time, and overcompensating the rest. Though by weeky total standards she may be close to fine, on a daily basis she's a complete mess. What good does it do to be the world's healthiest person one day a week when the other six days are spent eating greasy appetizers and boozing in excess? Further more, if she's still unhappy with herself and her health, why does she not change her routine?

The bottome line is this; What you do most of the time is what will affect you much more and last longer than what you do some of the time. Consistency is what makes the difference between constantly fighting to find balance in a hectic life and fine tuning a weekly routine
each day to maintain optimal levels of satisfaction and well being. When a routine fails to produce the desired results, a change is necessary. But that change must come in the form of positive habits as opposed to one time solutions or knee jerk reactions and instant crash diets. Think about it... would you rather build a healthy lifestyle based on positive habits, or fight hard for ten days every two months taking necessary risks to make up for poor choices. Everyone slips up once in a while, but its the routine that saves us from the exception. When the exception becomes the norm, there is no direction or order to bring the individual back on track, and efforts to make up lost ground are wasted spinning wheels in mud and undoing bad habits instead or moving forward and improving our health, allwoing us to do the things we want to do while feeling and performing the best we can.

Until the Buzzer Sounds...

November 26th, 1994, at a Region II semi-final for the local division II high school football championship. Plano High East High School Panthers are trailing behind John Tyler High with just under 3 minutes remaining. What follows is a summary of the last 180 seconds.

3:00 - Plano East scores a quick touchdown to bring the score to 41-23. They follow up with short onside kick, which John Tyler High fumbles - Plano East recovers on John Tyler's 44 yard line.

2:34 - A quick pass by Plano East quarterback to his receiver, and they gain 26 yards to be brought down at the John Tyler 18 yard line.

2:24 - John Tyler's defence blitzes Plano East... the Plano East quarterback scrambles, and dumps a pass off that is miraculously caught by his running back and run to within 11 yards of the end zone. John Tyler holds them back for the next two plays, and on the 4th down and with 5 yards to go... Plano East completes a pass for a touchdown. Conversion: good. Score: 41-31.

1:24 - Another onside kick, another fumble, another recovery. Plano East runs a screen pass, and takes it to the 12 yard line where the receiver steps out of bounds and stops the clock. Complete pass on the next play, but miss the two point conversion - score is now 41-37.

0:45 - Again, an onside kick by Plano East. And yes - John Tyler High fumbled it once more, allowing Plano East to gain possession at midfield. Miss the first pass, then on 2nd and 10 they complete another screen pass in the face of a hard blitz, and take the ball to John Tyler's 22 yard line.

0:24 - A 22 yard pass... complete. Into the endzone, make the conversion - score is now an unbelievable 44-41 for Plano East!!!

The crowd is on their feet!! This is possibly the most incredible comeback in football - with 3 minutes left, the team scores three touchdowns and two conversion to go up by 3 points!! John Tyler's coaching team and players are too shocked to be embarrassed or angry - what the hell happened? Special teams? How could you fumble the ball 3 freakin' times??!!! Plano East is jumping for joy - the "never give up" attitude paid off... their sideline is ecstatic! They know they've made history!!

Plano High's kickoff squad heads out - they are the heroes, having successfully completed not one, not two, but three onside kicks... they are going to be remembered forever, not only in their high school, but the town, the record books, on youTube... FOREVER.

With the last 11 seconds counting down, they finally kick the ball as far as they're capable. John Tyler receiver Roderick Dunn actually catches the ball cleanly at the John Tyler 3... and starts running it back. At the 20, he cuts sharply to the sideline, and then cuts back downfield just before stepping out. He reaches the 50 yard line, and Plano East still hasn't taken him down... to the 40... the 30... the 20... the 10...

And into the end zone.

Final score - John Tyler High School 47. Plano East High School Panthers... 44.

PLAY.

EVERY.

DOWN.

...because it isn't over till the buzzer sounds. Ever.

~Guy

Make your intensions known

I want the straight goods. I want feedback…I can handle it…

Well, maybe not. Quite commonly, our teammates are always saying these things and in reality, they can’t take the straight goods or the straight feedback.

Now, the wvan leadership group learned something very valuable this past quarter and it now it just seems like common sense.

Don’t give feedback without a solution.

Ok, lets break this down…don’t give feedback without a solution! That’s it! Wow, what a concept but think about it. Transfer it into everyday life and think how amazing the outcome can/ could be. The straight goods accompanied by a solution.

What this does, is positions the deliverer of the information in a place of understanding and a place of caring. It means that not only do you care enough about that person to provide advice (constructive feedback) but you care so much that you are offering a solution that may make the transition to their resolution…wow, that’s amazing!

Now, we just need to say thank you and execute the feedback and carry out the solution!

No seriously, if you give feedback, get into the habit of offering a solution too, it may even make you more comfortable with delivering said feedback. God knows, we ALL need help with this and the reason is quite simple. It takes confidence to continually deliver the straight goods and perseverance to be consistent versus just giving up on someone.