Distraction-Proof® Advisor Ideas

My son, Jack, goes to a college that strongly promotes the perspective that those who have benefited from privileged lives (most of the people at his school) need to give back and make the world a better place for others who haven’t had the privileges they have had. That is a great value to teach.

However, Jack was recently expressing his concern for a number of his classmates. “It’s great that we’re encouraged to be innovative, compassionate, and to improve the world,” he told me, “but a lot of people I know are so overwhelmed by the need to change the world, the tremendous significance of everyday things gets overlooked.” He explained students are exceedingly stressed-out about coming up with their own “big idea” or creating the next Google or Facebook. Some are anxious that they will be failures and their lives will have no significance unless they make a huge, amazing mark on the culture.

Jack said he definitely wants a career he loves and a job he’s passionate about, but he believes being a reliable friend, a great husband, and fantastic dad are also a significant contributions to the world.

“Not everyone is going to create a Fortune 500 company. However, I think fully applying yourself to everything you do is what makes you truly successful — especially when it comes to relationships with family and friends,” he explained. (Turns out kids actually do watch and listen to their parents!)

This holiday weekend can be a good time to slow down and recognize the significant impact of ordinary, everyday interactions with people. I often ask my coaching clients to consider

• On a scale of 1-10, how is your marriage? What single activity would bump it up a notch and make it even richer? (Ideas might be giving a genuine compliment each day, regularly doing small favors and not looking for recognition, recognizing and saying thank you for something your spouse does.)
• On a scale of 1-10, how are your relationships with your children? What single action could you take that would develop these even deeper? (Maybe it’s taking the time to read one story to them each night, or setting a weekly one-on-one date time, or sharing a skill like shooting a basket, or woodworking, or knitting.)
• On a scale of 1-10, how is your health and fitness? What one action would move the dial up one point – giving you more physical and mental energy? (Perhaps it’s making a commitment to a class at the gym, saving deserts for a weekend treat, or getting to bed earlier.)

Business- and financial-oriented goals are great, however remember the old story that no one ever lay on their death-bed and lamented, “I wish I had spent more time at work.” How are you applying as much energy and effort as you give to growing your career to making the day a little more significant for the people you live with and interact with every day?

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