The Afternoon Sun

There is just something about that afternoon sun.
 
I am drawn to the sun like the Energizer bunny is drawn to that battery of his.  I am absolutely happier when the sun is out, and I am more productive when the days (as measured by dawn to dusk) are longer.  It is easier for me to get up and get going when the sun has already risen, and I tend to think more optimistically when the sun is shining brightly.
 
All of this begs the question of why in the world I live in Chicago, but that is a topic for another day. For now, let’s just say that living in an area that experiences way more than its share of clouds and cold makes me appreciate the sun even more when I can get it, especially when I go on vacation to find it.
 
As much as I love the sun, the afternoon sun, which I define as the sun between 4:00 and 6:00 is my favorite.  Having just returned from a sunny vacation, during which I had plenty of time to think about the afternoon sun and to contemplate its wonderous effect on me, I thought I would share a few of my observations in the hopes they might resonate with you and inspire you to seek out your own sunny time.
 
While there are many qualities of afternoon sun and many ways that I have found to enjoy that time, I can summarize those qualities and source of enjoyment in three words; 
Warmth, Reflection, and Opportunity.
 
My guess is that if I posed the question of whether you prefer the heat or the cold, the answers would be pretty evenly split, but the concept of warmth unites us all.  Warmth is that center of the thermometer that everybody can agree on.  Whether you gravitate toward the heat of a summer day or you like the cold crisp air of winter, you seek warmth as your comfort zone.  I have never met anybody who prefers to be subject to blazing heat or freezing cold twenty-four hours a day!  
 
I have been fortunate to experience afternoon sun in many places and climates and when it comes time for that sun to tilt toward its final descent on the horizon for the day, the warmth it generates is my definition of perfection.  On what has been a hot day, the less pleasant elements such as humidity and the fiery mid-day burn subside and are replaced by a temperate glow.  On a cold day when it takes a little longer for the sun to reach its full potential, the afternoon sum often creates the warmest time of the day and eases the harshness of a greyer, less inviting sky.

I have also found that the afternoon sun creates the best time to reflect on the day.  I think this is so because enough of the day has transpired for me to have a good idea of what has been or will be accomplished, but there is still enough time to influence that direction one way or the other before the day ends completely.  In fact, although I am inside right now, I am enjoying a view of some afternoon sun as I write this article and reflect on these observations and where they are headed.
 
A feeling of warmth and a moment of reflection always lead me to contemplate my next opportunity.  I always say that you can’t possibly know where you are going without first understanding where you are and where you have been.  The afternoon sun amplifies my appreciation for the day and what I have experienced and, at the same time, whets my appetite for the opportunity presented by the remainder of the day.  Sometimes, the opportunity is a nice dinner or a card game with my family.  On other occasions, it might be an event that I have looked forward to for a long time.  The opportunity may be as simple as a chance to write a few thoughts down. However small or insignificant the opportunity may be, there is still an opportunity to consider during that afternoon sun.
 
I find warmth, reflection, and opportunity in my afternoon sun and I have defined that as my favorite time in a lifelong appreciation and pursuit of the sun.  My ability to understand and savor these moments brings me joy and a feeling that I have gotten the most out of a day.  Whether or not the afternoon sun means the same thing to you is irrelevant as long as you seek and appreciate your equivalent on a regular basis.
 
Does the warmth that I describe in my afternoon sun define a feeling of comfort and respite for you?  Your warmth may just be your peace of mind or the perfect balance of your emotions.
 
Do you make it a point to reflect each day?  Do you take time to soak up and celebrate something that has gone well?  Do you give thought to things that didn’t go according to plan and figure out how you will do things differently the next time?
 
Do you see opportunity around the corner?  Do you spend a few minutes figuring out where you are at in the day and then set a course for capitalizing on that moment before that day ends?
 
Any day in which you experience warmth, reflection, and opportunity is a great day!  If you have found that time or place to regularly enjoy these things, hold on to it and appreciate it fully.  If you have not, seek it out and don’t stop until you’ve identified it.
 
One last thing about the significance of that afternoon sun and I think about it every time I have the pleasure of enjoying that time with a clear and unobstructed view of the sky. Eventually, that same sun is going to set on the horizon in front of me and rise on the horizon behind me again tomorrow.  My job is to get the most out of the day in between!
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​This article is part of Scott Arney's educational series, entitled The Serial Decision Maker.

The Value of Evaluation

Over the years, I have spent a lot of time identifying skills and character traits that I believe are direct contributors to career success.  In some cases, those skills are unique to the work that we do at the credit union.  In many more cases, however, I find that certain skills and character traits will help you to be successful no matter the life’s work you have chosen or where you are at on that path, whether it be just starting out or heading toward retirement.
 
I almost always apply those thoughts to myself first.  I think about skills that I have developed along my path and that have helped along the way.  More often, I think of the skills I still need to develop and my personal areas of improvement.
 
Of the skills that I have worked on and developed during my career, my ability to evaluate is at or near the top of the list of skills that have helped me create value for myself and my teammates.
 
When I can effectively evaluate the needs of our members and then provide them with solutions, our members are better for it and our organization gains business.  When I can accurately evaluate our personnel, our employees are continually placed in the best possible position to succeed.  When I can efficiently evaluate developments and trends in our business and our industry, we will gain an advantage over our competition because we will likely act sooner and achieve our goals more quickly then they will.
 
The value of evaluation is not by any means limited to our work.  Doctors who evaluate accurately and expeditiously save lives as a result.  Accountants who do so save their clients money.  If you think about it, you probably turn to the person that you normally seek advice from because they can develop a clear understanding of you and your situation and then help you achieve your desired result.  They are evaluating every step of the way as part of that process.
 
So, now that we’ve established the power and importance of evaluation, you might ask how you develop that skill if you have not done so already.  I have some good news for you.  It starts with you!
 
(If this is not good news, then you clearly haven’t read enough of my articles and posts, for if you had, you would know that this is exactly where you want the responsibility to be.  When the task is in your hands, you hold all the power.  And, when you focus on what you can control, you will accomplish a lot more than you ever thought you could!)
 
So, the fact that developing strong evaluation skills begins with you is good news, but the next step can be tricky because it requires that you look straight into the mirror, literally and figuratively, and honestly assess yourself. What are your strengths and the things that you are most proud of when it comes to your skills and accomplishments? What are your weaknesses or downfalls and the things that you are most disappointed about when it comes to your career?  How much ownership have you taken in your career?
 
If you can take this step and really do the hard work that is necessary to see yourself for who you really are, strong suits and faults, positives and negatives, then you will take a giant leap toward becoming an excellent evaluator.  The next step, however, is even more difficult.
 
The next step is to present your evaluation of yourself to someone you trust and encourage them to be candid as to whether they agree or disagree with your evaluation.  As difficult as it is to be honest with yourself, it is even more difficult to be candid about yourself out loud and in front of someone else.  There is just something about the innate protector in you, and in all of us, that throws up a barrier when you are about to feel exposed or be vulnerable.  Push through that barrier and then practice pushing through it by doing it again with someone else, who’s opinion you value.
 
However uncomfortable it may be to evaluate yourself in front of someone, make yourself do it and you will eventually be okay with it.  I am not telling you it will ever be easy, but I am telling you that if you can evaluate yourself accurately and without fear of discussing the bad with the good, you will unlock the key to being a great evaluator of just about everything else around you.  Why?  Because there is no more difficult evaluation then a self-evaluation.  
 
When you understand who you are and what the positives and negatives are that comprise you, there isn’t anything you can’t evaluate accurately and there isn’t anything to be afraid of when someone else is evaluating you.  No one can possibly know you better than you know yourself when you have learned how to self-evaluate.  No one will be a better advocate for you than you and no one will be a harsher critic of you than you.  In that sense, you have effectively set a standard for yourself higher than anyone is going to set it for you, which is the ultimate in power and control.
 
If you are truly committed to self-improvement and comfortable with the fact that you can always learn more and achieve more, no hurdle will be too difficult to clear, and you will consistently be open minded enough to see each situation and person you encounter objectively and clearly.
 
When you are on solid ground with yourself and you have learned to be a strong evaluator as part of that process, you can turn your sights to further career aspirations and achieving new goals.  Every business and every profession needs people who can evaluate fairly and consistently.
 
Strong evaluators are also excellent strategists.  They are also sound critical thinkers.  A strong evaluator can serve as a leader who is showing the way by describing and explaining what is needed to complete a job or achieve a goal.  A strong evaluator can also be a sounding board or provide support to someone who thinks they have a solution to problem, but may need positive reinforcement or an alternative view.
 
That is the value of evaluation.
​
​This article is part of Scott Arney's educational series, entitled The Serial Decision Maker.
​

Perfectionists Kill Progress

I have a huge admiration for self-disciplined, switched on people who put forth a strong effort every day.  I very much appreciate people who hold themselves and the work they produce to a high standard, especially when that standard exceeds any reasonable expectations that others could place on that person.
 
I applaud all students who study with a goal of getting an A+ on everything they do.  I am impressed by competitors who compete to win every race every time.
 
Committing yourself to a pursuit of excellence will serve you well no matter the cause.
 
A pursuit of perfection may be a different story and, if you consider yourself a perfectionist, I am going to ask you to reconsider whether or not you want to own that title.  First, however, I would like to illustrate what I believe is the difference between a person in pursuit of excellence and a person who is pursuing perfection.
 
I believe that a pursuit of excellence equals achievement, progress, and leadership.  Conversely, a pursuit of perfection equals delays, hindrance, and stagnation.
 
There are a few reasons for these contrasts, but let’s start with the concept of each.  Excellence and the perception of it is an inclusive, broadly defined term that most people can easily identify with.  Perfection, however, is a highly subjective, exclusive term that to most people represents an unattainable standard.  In fact, the old adage of “I’m only human” is simply another way of saying that no one is perfect.
 
Some of the basic fundamentals of goal setting mandate that worthwhile goals must be measurable, attainable, and realistic.  While you may have a slightly different idea of excellence than I do, it will be infinitely easier for us to find common ground in that definition and how we will achieve it than it will be for us to agree on what perfection means and how, if ever, we will achieve it.
 
It has been my experience that perfectionists use the fact that perfection is out of reach more as an excuse than as a way of defining progress.  Perfectionists tend to miss deadlines because the product of their work isn’t “perfect” at the time the result is needed.  Perfectionists tend to tinker with and often amend the nature of a project or its scope because they cannot achieve a perfect outcome.  Additionally, perfectionists tend to be poor delegators because they believe that no one will do the work as well as they do nor will anyone else be as focused on perfection as they are. 
 
The by-product of a perfectionist, especially when there are multiple perfectionists in an organizational setting, is that progress is slow at best because the focus is on an unrealistic standard for achievement instead of the effort needed to achieve.
 
Delays and an unwillingness to delegate ultimately will bring progress to a screeching halt.  Not only are things not getting done, no one is learning anything because the perfectionists are too sidetracked chasing a mythical objective.
 
No matter what your standard is or how you define progress, there are things that you can control and things that you cannot control.  Any coach or manager that is tasked with running any team or business predicated on multiple people subscribing to the same vision and core objectives will tell you that they are much more concerned with the effort than the result.  Why?  Because the players on the team and the employees of the business control the effort while the result is at least partly reliant on others, whether they are a rival team or a clientele.
 
The pursuit of excellence focuses on the effort and the journey you take to achieve your goals.  The pursuit of perfection focuses on the end result and intrinsically creates obstacles that block your path to get there.
 
The pro-perfectionists out there will also tell you things like mistakes are unacceptable and that they will not accept anything less than 100% satisfaction from the people they serve.  I respectfully disagree with this as well.  Whether you accept mistakes or not, they are going to happen.  I suggest that you categorize those mistakes in order to better understand them.
 
For example, if the mistake in question is a simple error in execution, while not desired, it should be easier to understand than, say, a mistake involving a lapse in judgment.
 
If a teller mistakenly gives you $20 less than you asked for because some new bills stuck together in her drawer, it is a mistake that must be corrected, but it is also easy to understand how it happened.
 
If, on the other hand, that same teller takes your withdrawal amount from your checking account instead of your savings account as requested and hopes that you won’t notice because there are 10 other people waiting in line and looking impatient, the mistake is unnecessary because it could have been completely avoided had the teller exercised common judgment and basic decision making skills.
 
As far as the client satisfaction is concerned, well that is about as subjective as the concept of perfection.  If you ask ten people what satisfactory customer service means to them, you are likely to get ten different answers.  Satisfaction, just like perfection, is a moving target and representative of a result that is likely never to be achieved despite the best intentions and highest quality effort.
 
As a business leader and a sports coach, I can speak from a first-hand perspective on both fronts.  Given the choice between an employee or a player who labels themselves a perfectionist and an employee or player who will maximize their effort every day in an attempt to continue to progress and improve, I will take the person who is committed to the pursuit of excellence every single time.
 
Besides, nobody is perfect.
 
This article is part of Scott Arney's educational series, entitled The Serial Decision Maker.

​The Power of Observation
        
I realized at an early age that when it came to competition, I was never going to be the fastest, or the strongest, or the smartest.
 
Fortunately, I also realized, around the same time, that there were certain things that I could work on and ultimately be as good at as any other competitor out there, particularly when it came to living life.
 
It is always important to be aware of your shortcomings, but when they are only shortcomings because you are comparing your abilities with others, it is equally important to not allow your awareness of those shortcomings to stunt your growth.  In other words, not being the fastest or the strongest is very different than not being as fast or as strong as you can be.
 
If you focus on what you can do versus what you cannot, you will always create an advantage for yourself.  You cannot now nor will you ever be able to control someone else’s workout routine, diet, or work ethic. You can only control your own.  So, if you focus your efforts on yourself and you do not spend time worrying about what someone else is doing or not doing, you will automatically have more time and energy to devote to the pursuits that are truly important to you.
 
One of the more powerful tools that you can fully control and develop is your personal power of observation.  Refining and honing your observation skills will directly and immediately improve your ability to focus, organize, plan, and most importantly enjoy your life.
 
When you effectively pay attention to your surroundings and the environment in which you operate, you will be more aware of how and why things are happening.
 
When you are more aware of what is happening around you, you will be in a better position to organize your thoughts toward what you should or should not be doing in relation to those happenings.
 
When you have your thoughts organized, you can put a plan in place that places you in the best possible position to succeed today and going forward.
 
When you are following your own plan, you are much more likely to enjoy your life because you are making your own decisions and creating your own consequences.
 
If you make it a point to actively observe the people who you work with on a daily basis, you will gain perspective as to who they really are, what motivates them, and where you might share some common ground.  When you have a handle on these things, you can figure out how to work together and ways in which their strong suits will compliment and supplement yours.
 
This type of awareness is a very powerful attribute to utilize if you wish to be an effective leader.  When your words and your actions accurately reflect the thoughts and motives of those around you, people will want to work with you and even follow you.  When those around you follow you naturally as opposed to simply being told to follow you, the bond that you share and the teamwork you produce together will be much more significant than anything that is artificially generated.
 
Purposeful observation will not only help you in your career, it will help you to be a better family member, friend, and ultimately a better person.  If you know that someone you care about needs an encouraging word because you were alert to their mood, you can take action that ensures you are the one delivering that needed encouragement.
 
When you demonstrate the meaning that others have to you and in your life, those same people will often reciprocate in the emphasis they place on you and the things that are important to you.  Family ties can be more meaningful and friendships can be more rewarding.
 
The act of effective observation can also directly enhance your own life’s experiences.  The more you are aware of the events in which you participate, the more vivid your memory of that event will be.
 
Do you sometimes wonder why certain conversations or circumstances are easier to remember than others?  Many times, it boils down to whether or not you were paying full attention at the time the conversation or event was taking place.  The more attention you pay at the time an event is occurring, the easier that event will be to remember.
 
If you remember your past more vividly, you will create memories that are more fulfilling and useful to you.  As an example, if you remember specifics about a decision that went wrong, you will be far less likely to make that same mistake in the future.  Conversely, if you specifically remember how great it felt when a particular decision you made helped you to achieve success, you will be far more likely to appreciate that success and go after it with even more determination the next time.
 
Observation is a key component of participation and being an active participant in your career and your life is so much more rewarding and fulfilling than when you are standing on the sideline as a disinterested bystander.
 
Just like so many things in life, it is up to you to make your power of observation a priority.  It will take some work and determination on your part, but the payoff is totally worth it!
 
This article is part of Scott Arney's educational series, entitled The Serial Decision Maker.

My List of Lists

And now for something really original…a list of lists!  Just when you thought you had seen or heard of every list imaginable and received every bit of advice you could from lists and the people who construct them, I’ve got one more for you.
 
I am a big believer in lists.  I use them as memory tools, especially as I get older.  I use them to help keep me organized.  I use them to keep my priorities straight.
 
I thought it might be fun to list my favorites.  You get to decide if it was fun to read through them.  Here are my top ten in no particular order.
 
To Do List
This is arguably the best-known list of all time and for good reason.  I prefer to construct one daily.  For really busy days, I will draw one up the night before so that I give myself a chance to sleep a little better knowing that I at least have a handle on what I need to do when I wake up.  
 
The value of a to do list is virtually limitless because you can apply it to your work or at home.  It can be as detailed as you like or just cover the highlights.  Besides the more obvious benefits, such as the organization and structure that a well written to do list can add to your day, it can assist you in other ways as well.
 
I always feel a sense of accomplishment when I complete something on my to do list and, as I am fond of saying, there are few joys greater in life than crossing something off of your to do list.
 
Yet To Do List
This is more commonly known as a bucket list, but I think that sounds kind of morbid and I try not to be a cliché guy.
 
This is a broader list and probably one that you do not add to or delete from very often.  I love this list because it often forms the basis for happy thoughts and grand dreams. I like to remind myself that there are always sights to see, people to meet, and new things to experience, and this list is a great reminder of those things.
 
Grocery List
Believe it or not, I enjoy grocery shopping.  I generally do the grocery shopping for our family and this list helps me to be efficient and, to a certain extent, contain cost.
 
When I shop for our family, I try to do so once a week.  That means the pressure is on for me to remember everything for all meals for the next several days.  My enjoyment would evaporate quickly if I was stressed about the task. My grocery list keeps me on point, so I remember what we need, and I am not as tempted to stray from the list and buy a bunch of things we don’t need.
 
If you are not a big grocery shopper, then you can adapt this list for your own shopping habits.  Maybe you are a big do-it-yourself weekend warrior and you spend a lot of time at your local hardware store.  If so, a list like this is going to come in handy.
 
If you’ve read this far, you might be thinking that my list of lists is pretty mundane.  Please keep reading.
 
List of Accomplishments
In my mind, I invented this list. 
 
In my desk drawer, I keep a list of the ten things that I have done in my life of which I am most proud.  This is not an ego thing.  It is a source of inspiration for me on a tough day.  It is a great reminder that I have had some wonderful experiences and I need that reminder the most when I have a day when I feel as though I don’t know anything, and I am not doing anything right.
 
This list helps to keep me focused on the things that are most important and determined to move forward with the intent of adding accomplishments to my list.
 
Daily Reflection List
I replay every day at the end of that day.  Good or bad, work day or vacation day, I take a few moments and reflect on what the day entailed and my role in it.  
 
My reflections involve a lot of questions, such as what did I learn and whether I found something to laugh about?  The exercise is meant to help me make sure that I got the most out of that day and to help me continue to move forward with purpose so that I extract as much as I can from the next day as well.
 
If you ever feel that your daily demands take you away from what matters most to you in life, this is a great checkpoint.  If your reflection isn’t heavy on the amount of time you spent on things that you enjoy and that help you achieve fulfillment, you have a chance to think about why and then set out to get a little closer to those things tomorrow.
 
Assets and Liabilities List
About once every three months, I draw up a list of assets and liabilities.  If you are not in the practice of doing this, I highly recommend that you start.
 
Financial health is a vital component of your overall peace of mind and a big part of your financial health is derived from how engaged you are in the management of your personal finances.  If you have a solid understanding of what you have accumulated (your assets) and what you owe (your liabilities), you have taken the most important step toward making informed decisions about your finances.
 
Financial health is not exclusively a derivative of wealth.  It is, more importantly, a derivative of your own understanding of what you have, what you owe, and what you are going to do increase what you have and decrease what you owe.
 
Discussion Points
This is the only list on my list that does not include the word list in the title, but it is nevertheless a list.  I use this list when I am going to make a speech, organize a soccer practice, or even if I want to have a conversation starter in my pocket when I am about to meet someone for the first time.
 
Over time, I have found that I do not need to write down every word of a speech before I make it to deliver it effectively.  I just need to make sure that I have some organization to my thoughts and that I don’t forget the key topics, and this is where the use of discussion points is helpful.  Similarly, I don’t want to be on the soccer field trying to come up with the next drill on the spot while a dozen 12-year old girls are screaming at me.  I have gotten a lot of use out of jotting down a short list of drills and games before each practice, so I have a reference point as we go.
 
For meetings, it is always helpful to have an outline of the main points I hope to cover, especially if I am meeting someone or a group of people for the first time and I am not sure how it will go or what to expect.
 
So far, I’ve gone heavy on the types of lists that help me to stay organized or otherwise on track.  Let’s finish with a few that are a little more fun.
 
Top 5 Favorites List
You can insert any number here, there is nothing magic about five. It also doesn’t have to be about your favorites.  You can substitute words like Greatest instead.
 
I include this list and use the number five because I have developed this one in response to questions from my kids over the years.  As they have grown up they have asked me about my times and experiences and often want to know, what my favorite (moment, trip, dinner, etc.) has been.  I usually struggle to narrow the answer to one favorite, so I have gotten into the habit of giving them my top five.
 
A list like this is also a good way to start an impromptu conversation with co-workers and friends.  What are your top five favorite movies, books, songs, or television shows?  These questions can lead to a fun discussion and help you to get to know people a little better.
 
Desert Island/Dinner Party List
These are actually two different lists that serve roughly the same purpose.  The desert island list involves the few things that would be essential to you if you were stranded on a deserted island.  You can decide how to limit the number of items and what is not allowed.
 
The dinner party list is the six people (alive or dead) that you have not met and would invite to a dinner party if you had the chance.  I used to ask this question during interviews thinking that it would be a good way to ask a question that the interviewee had not anticipated and to gain insight into that person’s values and heroes.
 
Whether you make these lists for yourself or you are asking others what would be on their list, it can be fun to talk about these topics and you may learn something from your answers or from the answers of your friends and colleagues.
 
Christmas List
I am going to finish strong here and go with the old standby.  Feel free to insert any holiday at the front of the list.  The point is that it is your wish list for whatever occasion you want to apply it to. 
 
Just remember to also make the list of the wishes you hope to fulfill for others, the gifts and experiences that you will give and share.
 
There you go.  I hope that you enjoyed reading the lists as much as I enjoyed writing about them, but I’ve got to go.  Now that I have written this article, I must make a new list of ideas for possible future articles.

This article is part of Scott Arney's educational series, entitled The Serial Decision Maker.

​Count Up
If you count up and purposefully use that time to understand what you are doing and why you are doing it, you will be far more likely to also work toward making your future dreams a reality.  

​​Are you a count up or a count down person?
 
I am a count up person.  There are several reasons why I am, but I think it all started with Sesame Street.  I always liked the Count.  I still do, and he always counts up.
 
So, why does it matter?  When you count up, you focus on the present and what is actually occurring.  When you count down, you focus on the future and what has yet to happen.  When you focus on the present, you also focus on what you are doing.  If you think too much about what has yet to occur, you also tend to think too much about what you haven’t done. 
 
When I am at the gym and running on the treadmill, I always monitor my exercise time by counting the time I have spent running not the amount of time that I have left to run.  I find that when I count up, my focus is on what I am doing, and, because of that, I feel more accomplished while I am working out.  If I were I to concentrate on the time that remains for me to exercise, I would be focused on what I have yet to do and more subject to fatigue and discouragement.
 
The benefits of counting up rather than down are even more applicable when you think about aging.  Can you imagine how depressing it would be if you noted how many years you have left on earth each birthday instead of how many years you have lived?  Of course, this question pre-supposes that you know how long you are going to live and none of us know that.  This just underscores my point.  
 
As you age, it is natural to become more aware of time, how fast it passes, and especially how much time you have remaining before life’s “big inevitable” occurs.  If you spend too much time thinking about the things that you cannot control, such as how fast time goes, then you’ll miss the best part, which is the present. Every moment that occurs and passes is unique and will never occur again.  If you miss that moment because you are worried about a moment that may never happen, you’ve lost time that you can never get back and you have nothing to show for it.
 
Counting up allows you to be much more aware of what is going on around you and it gives you more time to remember what has occurred.  Of the three stages of time: the past, the present, and the future; the past and the present are the only two that are real and factual. The future is merely a dream, or a perception and it isn’t promised to anyone.
 
With that in mind, there is only one way that you can make the future that you dream of a reality and that is by focusing on the present and using your past and current experiences to prepare for that future.  Dreams are only inspirational if you can turn them into reality and the only way to do that is to use the moments you are experiencing now and have experienced in the past to prepare to reach that dream.
 
If you count up and purposefully use that time to understand what you are doing and why you are doing it, you will be far more likely to also work toward making your future dreams a reality.  Your mindset will be one of reflection and accomplishment, which are important cornerstones to future success.
 
A key part of decision making is to make decisions based on what you can do and to emphasize the actions that you control.  Virtually every major decision you make will have to consider, at least in part, what someone else is going to do or how they will react. There will undoubtedly be variables and conditions that are beyond your control.
 
Your job, in making consistently good decisions, is not to predict the future or be responsible for what others are going to do or not do.  Your job is to be responsible for your own actions and be prepared for whatever the actions are of others or the conditions that will arise that will ultimately influence your plan or objective.  If you do that, you will also make the most out of today.
 
So, back to the Count for a moment.  For me, he is my earliest memory of counting.  Now, it has been a long time since I watched Sesame Street, but I remember that whenever he was faced with a problem or a question, he always found the answer by counting and he never did so by counting down.  He knew that the answer to his question was to count up until he figured it out.
 
In fact, I think it was the Count who said, “Count Up, ha, ha, ha, and leave the countdowns for New Year’s Eve.”
  
​This article is part of Scott Arney's educational series, entitled The Serial Decision Maker.

​What Do You Have To Offer?

In his first speech as Prime Minister and on the threshold of possibly the most daunting task ever to be faced by a human being in the history of mankind, Winston Churchill famously noted that all he had to offer was “blood, toil, sweat, and tears.”
 
At a time when it seems as though more and more of you are asking what is in it for me, my question is, “What do you have to offer?”
 
When you think about choices involving your work or your personal life, do you approach the decision by first looking at what you think you will gain or do you first consider what you are going to give and what is going to be required?
 
Considering the end result of any decision and what that may provide to you is a vital piece of information and absolutely worthy of your consideration, but it shouldn’t be the first thing that you think about.
 
As an example, if you were to enter into marriage thinking first or solely about the joys that married life will provide you and what you think your spouse is going to do for you, you may be setting yourself up for some extreme disappointment.  I don’t mean to imply that your spouse will disappoint you.  What I am pointing out here is that you should not engage in the practice of developing expectations of someone else before you know full well what you expect from yourself.
 
The only way to properly prepare for a happy and fulfilling marriage is to first take responsibility for what you will be bringing to the union and what you are committed to doing for and on behalf of your spouse.  If you don’t look at it that way you certainly shouldn’t expect your future spouse to think about it any differently.
 
Conversely, a decision maker at a well-run business would never think of making a decision led by what he hopes to gain without first thoroughly analyzing the costs and the resources that will need to be expended to achieve that gain.  In most cases, those costs will be incurred before the desired result is achieved, so it would be reckless to not give full consideration to what those expectations are and how far beyond those expectations he will be willing to go, if needed, before determining if the potential gain is worth the effort required.
 
Clearly, the most important question to consider before you start down any path is what you are willing and able to do to achieve your goal.  The future, and therefore any intended result, is not promised to anyone.  In many cases, the only thing that you can be sure of when you make a decision and act on it is the effort that you will put forth.  This is where your focus should be.
 
So, instead of thinking about how much more money you will make if you go for that promotion, think first and foremost about what you are willing to do to earn that promotion and, if you get it, what you will be willing to continue to do in order to excel in your new role.
 
Before you decide that you are going to go back to school because that credential will look great on your resume and the degree will create additional career opportunities, be sure to first look closely at the amount of time you are willing to commit to your educational pursuit and what impact that time commitment will have on other aspects of your life. 
 
Prior to counting on someone to give you guidance, love, support, or insight, you need to ask yourself how you will enrich the life of this person and what you will be willing to do prior to or in exchange for these benefits.
 
If the only thing that you can count on is your own effort and determination, then you should always be willing to take the first step.  Whether at work or home, what you are willing and able to give will be the most important influence on whether or not the pursuit or the goal you are considering is worth your while.
 
Focusing on what you can do and what you can give will help you create situations that you can control or, at a minimum, exert a positive impact upon.  When you do that, you are taking charge of your life and steering it in the direction that is most beneficial to you.
 
It also provides you with a way to separate yourself from everyone else because you are giving thought to things that they either don’t or won’t think about.  When crunch time comes, you will be better prepared.
 
For the best example of how much one’s will and what he or she can give ultimately influences the outcome, let’s turn back to Churchill.  Later, in that same speech, he said…”you ask what is our policy?  It is to wage war, by sea, by land and by air, with all our might and with all the strength God can give us…”  Take a minute and think about how different the world would be today had Winston Churchill not made this commitment?  How different would things be today had he not to given everything he had to the cause?  What it would be like for us had he not willed his nation to follow him and then ask yourself, “What am I willing to do?”
 
So, what do you have to offer?

This article is part of Scott Arney's educational series, entitled The Serial Decision Maker.

Stirred, Not Shaken
I have been shaken on enough occasions to know that I much prefer to be stirred

When it comes to my martinis, I prefer them to be shaken.  When it comes to my emotions, I’ll take stirred over shaken anytime.
 
As I get older and continue to have experiences and learn about life, I find that certain things bother me more than they used to when I was younger.  There are also plenty of things that bother me a lot less than they used to and the biggest influence, on whether something bothers me or less than it did before, seems to be by own perspective.
 
It is probably the same for you.  While your perspective is likely to be different from mine, you have still developed over time and shaped it based on your own perceptions and experiences.
 
It stands to reason that if you gain experience on your job, what seemed like a big problem when you first started may now not even register on your list of worries.  If you deal with a situation effectively, that same situation is not going to present the same level of concern to you the next time around.
 
Conversely, you may not have given much thought to your health as a kid or a young adult, but as you age it is natural to pay more attention to it and to even develop concerns that didn’t previously exist regarding an injury or an illness and your ability to recover from it.
 
I have also noticed that some of the things that bother me more have a cumulative effect.  I have been shaken on enough occasions to know that I much prefer to be stirred.
 
I fully recognize that not all is right in the world and that there are things that I can personally do to try to improve myself and how I perceive and handle those things.  I also take steps to ensure that whatever negatives I perceive and whatever issues there are that may upset me are kept in their proper place.  In other words, I recognize the negatives, but I focus on the positives, which brings me back to the stirring of emotions.
 
It is also true that, the older I get, the more I find to be thought provoking, action motivating, and emotion stirring.  These are the things that I try to focus on, so here is a partial list of the many things that move me.
 
Exceptional effort. No matter the vocation or the task at hand, if I witness someone putting forth an exceptional effort to clear a hurdle, defeat the bad guy, achieve an objective, or otherwise make a positive contribution, it stirs my emotions.
 
Genuine commitment. When I am aware of someone who has demonstrated that they have committed their personal resource and energy to a cause greater than themselves, it grabs my attention.
 
Invested parents. Parents who take their job seriously and devote themselves to creating and raising children who will grow up to be people who are great friends, neighbors, and citizens inspire me and instantly earn my respect.
 
Courtesy.  A simple thank you for a kind gesture.  Holding the door for someone.  Being polite.  Respecting others, especially those that are older than you.  These are all great examples of courtesy and, unfortunately, examples of things that I see less and less of.
 
Fiscal responsibility. I very much appreciate those that have taken the time to get their financial house in order and then manage it effectively, whether it is an individual, a business, or other organization. Everything from your household to our world society runs better and more efficiently when people make good financial decisions and take that responsibility seriously.
 
Achievement.  If you set goals and then set out to achieve them, you will be a better person.  I, too, will be a better person because I will be able to simply focus on my tasks at hand without worrying about carrying your weight as well.  When you do your part and I do mine, we’re both stronger.
 
There are many other things on my list, but I think you get the idea.  I try to remember these things, especially when I am shaken by something that causes me concern or worry.  When you are on the lookout for inspiration and your heart and mind are open to being stirred, you will always be better suited to absorb and effectively handle the moments that shake you.
 
What types of things stir you and when was the last time you thought about something meaningful or took action toward something important?  If it has been awhile, you may want to consider drawing up a new list or paying a little more attention to what is going on around you.
 
In the meantime, I’ve got emotions to stir and a martini to shake!

This article is part of Scott Arney's educational series, entitled The Serial Decision Maker.

Great Expectations
We cannot choose all of our circumstances, but we can choose how we deal with our circumstances

What do you expect of yourself?  What do you expect from life?  What do you expect to accomplish?  Do you ask yourself these questions and if you don’t, why don’t you?

Whether you have taken the time to ask yourself these questions and develop answers directly relates to the quality of life you will lead and whether or not you will attain your goals and live a purposeful life. 

It never ceases to amaze me how many people meander through life without any direction or without ever giving any thought to why they are here or where they are going.  In fact, it would be hard to imagine a greater tragedy than a life unfulfilled simply because the person living it did not take the time to ask a few questions, commit to some thought, and expect something from themselves.

Whether we apply them to our own direction or not, expectations exist everywhere everyday.  Your boss expects you to show up for work.  Your spouse expects you to be home for dinner.  The cashier expects you to pay for the groceries you buy.  Expectations actually form the basis for our daily lives.  Without any expectations, we would all be struggling against random chaos in an order less world.

With expectation, however, comes responsibility and with responsibility comes the possibility of failure.  Perhaps that is why more people don’t take the time to develop their own expectations.  For some, it might be easier to live a life devoid of challenge and responsibility than it would be to live a life in which you risk failing.

I think that the only real failure you can experience is that of not trying.  Failure of any other kind can actually be a motivator and a learning experience. 

Those who have taken the time to set an expectation, accept a challenge, and get into the arena know that the disappointment of not achieving an expected outcome is often times more than offset by the thrill of the pursuit.  Participating in the game is always more exciting and fulfilling than sitting on the sideline.

If you don’t expect anything from yourself, you not only ever have a chance of winning or achieving; you don’t even get to get into the game.  Some could argue that an expectation less life is safer, but no one can argue that it is more fun.

You are probably aware of the importance of setting personal goals for yourself, but setting goals without first forming valid expectations can lead to discouragement and frustration.  Much like your basement forms the foundation for your house, expectations are the foundation on which your goals are built upon.

Convincing yourself of the importance of setting expectations for your life will open many doors for you especially if you understand that without committing to doing it, you will not ever get to where you are going.  If you are not happy where you are and you aren’t clear on where you are headed, it is because you have not developed any expectations.  This is the difference between living a life that relies solely on luck that may never materialize and living your life, the one that you and only you were destined to live.

Creating expectations of yourself will help you to grow exponentially.  If you do not know what you expect from yourself, it is impossible to know what you expect from others.  If you do not know what to expect from others, you will likely be unable to ever enjoy a fulfilling relationship with anyone.  You will not be able to determine the qualities of a good friend if you don’t even know what you are looking for from a friend.  It is also nearly impossible to enjoy a happy marriage if you don’t even know why you are getting married in the first place.

Conversely, the process of expecting things of yourself will lead to expectations of others.  While it is true that you cannot experience disappointment or hurt if you never knew what to expect anyway, it is equally true that you will also never experience true love or unbridled joy and once you have experienced these things, you will immediately know that the risk is totally worth it.

Expectations are yours and yours alone.  They are personal to you and can be adjusted by you at any time.  It isn’t even that important that you set them properly, at least not at first.  Over time, primarily through trial and error, you will become very skilled at developing them and the process will get easier.  You just have to take the time to understand yourself and your surroundings, and then to figure out what all of it means to you and what you are going to do about it.

Through honest reflection and self-realization, every single one of us has the power to be great and to do great things.  We have 100% control over how much thought we will put forth and the actions that will originate out of those thoughts.  We have absolute power over the life we lead and whether that life will lead us to laughter or reduce us to tears.

Having a dream is an important part of living a rewarding life, but simply dreaming about something won’t make it happen.  You must actually take the step of turning your dream into an expectation before you will ever achieve anything worth dreaming about.  Once you have done that, the work begins so you might as well make sure that you arrive at a meaningful and significant expectation for yourself if you are going to be working hard toward achieving it.

We cannot choose all of our circumstances, but we can make it a point to choose how we will deal with whatever our circumstances are so no matter what, make it a point to have your answer ready the next time someone asks you, “Well, what did you expect?”

If you are setting expectations for yourself and leading a fulfilling life, than I expect that your answer will be…greatness!
​
This article is part of Scott Arney's educational series, entitled The Serial Decision Maker.

Fritos

I graduated from college many years ago, 30 to be exact.  I was one of the fortunate few who knew exactly what I wanted to do for a career.  In fact, I knew from the time that I was in middle school that I wanted to work in banking.
 
Upon graduation, I began the interview process.  There was one interview, more so than any of the others, that I was particularly excited about and that was because it was with one of the largest banks in Chicago at the time.  They brought me in to interview for one of their management training positions and their program was considered one of, if not the best of its kind in the area.
 
The interview process was pretty rigorous, and it included multiple meetings with several different people.  This was understandable because the bank wanted to be absolutely certain that they hired the right people since they were going to be investing a few years of time, money, and resources into individuals who they were going to train to learn every aspect of the business and to eventually be managers and leaders of the bank.
 
The last round of the interview process was a full day of meetings with a variety of people at the bank who had completed that very same training program.  I made it that far and then anxiously waited to hear from the Human Resources Manager.  A few days later, he called me to let me know that I had not been chosen for the program. I was devastated.
 
I kept replaying the entire process over and over, especially the meetings on the last day. I just couldn’t figure out what I had done wrong or where I had fallen short. After about a week of torment, I called the Human Resources Manager backed and asked him if he wouldn’t mind sharing any more details with me so that I could use the information to be better prepared for interviews elsewhere and ensure that I would learn from the experience. 
 
He told me that it had been a very difficult decision, but that it had ultimately come down to the answer I gave to one question out of the hundreds that I had been asked on that last day.  One of the interviewers had asked me if I could sell.  My answer was that if it was a product or service or cause that I really believed in, I could sell, but if it came to selling something like Fritos, I didn’t think I would be very good at it.  (Short disclaimer:  I like Fritos and did at that time as well.  I remember giving that answer, but have no idea why I randomly selected Fritos.)
 
For a long time afterward, probably for years, I thought about that call.  For a good part of that time, my thoughts centered on how unfair that outcome was.  I had put everything I could into that process.  I was fully prepared and left nothing to chance.  At that time in my life, that job was all I really wanted, and I fell short because I said I didn’t think I could sell Fritos only after stating that I was confident I could sell something I believed in.  For that statement to be the reason I didn’t get my dream job seemed unjust and unreasonable.
 
I don’t remember how long it took me to get over my disappointment, but I remember exactly what it was that helped get me over it.  Not too long after I learned that I did not get the job with the bank, I did get a job with a Commercial Finance company.  It was a great opportunity that led to many more great opportunities and it ended up being exactly the type of company and environment that I needed to get started and advance my career, but that isn’t what helped me get over the disappointment I had felt.
 
I finally got over it when I realized that the bank was right not to hire me for that training program. After I started to develop my skills and pursue my career, I realized that I was not a salesman.  I understand sales and I very much appreciate its role in how business is done, but I cannot sell, and it does not matter how much I believe in the product or service that I am presenting.  Selling is just not part of my skillset and I am okay with that because I eventually figured out who I am and who I am not.
 
The past participant of the bank’s training program who interviewed me that day and asked me the question about sales knew that I needed to be a strong salesperson if I was going to be successful in that program and he knew I wouldn’t be before I even knew it based on the answer I gave him. 
 
I didn’t know he was right until I understood who I was, not just who I wanted to be.
 
That bank did me a tremendous favor by not hiring me.  While I undoubtedly would have still gained tremendous knowledge, and had the opportunity to be part of a top-notch team, it would have been a costly lesson for me if I had somehow still gotten that job only to realize that I was not a fit and that I was going to have to start over someplace else.
 
Success in any career you pursue will largely depend on your own ability to identify your strong suits and highlight them repeatedly.  Your success will also rely on your ability to identify your weaknesses, accept them, and find ways to work around them or collaborate with others who have the skills that you lack.
 
Trying to be who you think you want to be is okay when you are young and just starting out.  The process can be a great learning experience if you are paying attention and building from what you learn.  At some point, however, it is much more valuable to figure out who you really are.  
 
Being you and continually trying to be a better you will ensure that you progress and move forward through your life and career.  
 
This article is part of Scott Arney's educational series, entitled The Serial Decision Maker.