Rapid Fire Learning: 5 Things I learned in January

Share your learning!
Uploaded by Robert Pollack

Great challenge from Rosa Say over at Joyful Jubilant Learning:

Quick! What are 5 things you've learned so far in January, 2007? Keia manawa - Seize the moment: This is a right here and now stream of conciousness exercise. You've learned way more than 5 things, (trust me, you have) but the first five you can now think of are likely the ones that have made the biggest impression on you this month, and they are worth tracking, they are your JJL01.07 FIVE!

Game on!

5 things I learned for January? How about:

1) I can't do it all myself. - I've asked a few people for help this month, and I plan to ask more in the coming months. I often focus on helping others, rarely do I focus on getting help. I'm realizing people WANT to help, and that I'm depriving them of some joy by not asking them to do so. Sorry about that. This will be a theme for me in 2007.

2) Reading and learning are important. Execution is where it's at. - I'd always read about managing projects, and watched others do it. Starting in December, and now through January, I was the project manager for a rather large project. I learned all about meeting minutes, status updates, and more. (Thanks to many for their help with this, and especially to Tim Johnson for provided such a good path to follow in your books and on your blog.)

3) Changing your attitude means changing your perspective. - A few days a week, I take a drive along the lake to get to work. Really helps put things in the right frame of mind for me, and focus on enjoying the little things.

4) Coffee is great, sleep is better. - Man cannot live on 5 hours of sleep alone. Not even with 48 ounces of coffee a day. Not even if that's Alterra's extra strong coffee. Trust me!

5) I can be involved in too much. Saying no is the right answer. - I am fortunate that I get many opportunities to do some really GREAT stuff. I often pile more and more on, and do things pretty good. I can do things GREAT...If I'm willing to commit to less things, NOT more.

Your turn. What 5 things did YOU learn in January? What 5 things are you hoping to learn in February? If you haven't learned anything yet, never fear, January isn't over yet, if you seize today!

[If you love Saturdays, you'll love Phil Gerbyshak's book 10 Ways to Make It Great!]


Technorati Tags: learning; january 2007, jjln, 5things

Comments

[Char]

Phil - I am definitely with you on 4 and 5! The trick with learning to say no is to say no and not feel any guilt. Therein lies the challenge!

[Tinu]

Do you find that you have trouble permanently breaking the sleep is great rule? Sometimes my body seems to revert back to five hours all by itself... and I know it's not enough sleep for the every day.

[tim]

Phil...love #1...still struggling with #4.

Back to #1 - I'm often hesitant to ask for help because I don't want to ask people to do things that I wouldn't be willing to do myself. Unfortunately, if I'm bad at something then I'm even more unlikely to ask for help because I think, "If I don't like doing this, nobody else will either!"

But I'm learning that's a myth. I just need to find people who are good at the things that I'm weak at and ask them to help. Because if I ask for help in the area of their strengths...they will jump at the chance. (Do I sound like Marcus Buckingham yet?)

Now back to my coffeepot...

[Ted Demopoulos]

This coffee thing? I resemble it!
As far as addictions go though, it's not a bad one.
I'm sooo guilty of #5 on your list -- and great list overall too.

[Deb Call]

Thanks for letting us peek over your shoulder, Phil. Boy can I relate to these. But #1 is the toughest for me. I think deep down I don't feel "worthy" enough to ask for help, and that I don't want to "bother" people. Don't get me wrong, I do ask for help, but it still feels mighty uncomfortable. More often than not, I also feel so relieved with the help I do get when I ask.