What I learned from my week off

August 3, 2008
  • I can go without email and be okay.

    Limited myself to 5 minutes a day and it worked beautifully. I was able to ‘catch up’ after the week in about an hour. I’m going to start having a set length of email time 2-3 times each day and see if it helps my productivity.

  • I suck at really turning it off.

    As much as I want to disconnect from everything Internet, I have anxiety when I can’t do even the most mundane of tasks (reading feeds, checking what ppl are up to on Twitter). Suggestions?

  • My team are rockstars.

    I have been blessed to have a team of people that have the skill set and desire to make my company better everyday. They don’t just cash out when the boss is on vacation. They are always looking to make what we’re trying to do mean something. I’m so lucky to have them.

  • I need to keep focused on what makes me happy.

    I think a lot of us end up having jobs that we do just to collect the check and that’s fine for the short term but over the long haul it never truly satisfies. This ties into my #2 but I missed working this past week because I enjoy it and the people I work with so much.

  • Push to be even more transparent

    This isn’t a realization I had just this week but a personal development goal I want to improve even more on. Many say that I’m too transparent and as a CEO you need to be careful on what you say. I disagree. I have gotten more respect and support for being open than if I kept it to myself. I just want to try and be even more transparent even if that means exposing vulnerabilities.

Alrighty, it’s time to turn off the ‘vacation responder’ and get back to work!

Back to Work!

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  • @Brent - I'm definitely down with the accountability game. Day 1 has been pretty good without emails but still finding other ways to not get what I planned done. Heh, always improving!

    @Gene - Appreciate the compliment. Following in your footsteps is something I'll think I'll always work to achieve and I loved the 2nd phrase. Hah!

    Hopefully my 'good' judgment can be my guide, in transparency, in hopes that I don't step over that line of privacy whereby I begin to effect others.
  • Thanks for sharing that, it means that what I have been thinking for a long time is not totally abnormal.

    • e-mail doesn't need to be answered within minutes. I figure days works better.
    • I limit myself to a group of tech blogs and a group of business blogs as must read every day. Twitter addiction is another matter. Maybe twice a day is enough but darn it some of those feeds are so interesting.
    • The absolute key to any great business.
    • This one is in a constant state of flux. Happiness vs passion vs what is necessary.
    • I go back to the phrase " it is better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all". You could say "it is better to have been honest and transparent than follow the management gurus 10 best management practices".

    You never really arrive at the ideal you think you need. It is a constant dilemma. Just when you think you have arrived bang - something else happens. The neat thing, the vital ingredient that I see as having changed is that now people like you and Brent are talking/writing about it. Years ago one would have been considered 'weak' to share this. That is a big step.
  • I relate to most of those.

    * I'm going to try your email thing too. Let's keep each other accountable. Via email.

    * Lately, Ive been turning off the "data" part of my blackberry unless I need it. It's been unnerving, but really refreshing.

    * Of the people I've met from your team, I have to agree. They're awesome.

    * I'm struggling with this one literally right this second. Working on a proposal for a giant potential project that I'm realizing I don't have much passion for. Hm.

    * Yeah, keep the reality coming.
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