Posted on May 16, 2018
By Nan Russell
I once worked for a boss who was never wrong, never made a mistake or a bad decision. All you had to do was ask him. To his staff he was Teflon-man. Nothing stuck to him and everything came sliding toward us.
Accountability was not a concept he practiced unless things turned out well and then, he claimed the credit. But if they didn’t, he immediately embarked on endeavors to identify someone responsible. Being called to his office typically meant he was looking for information and trying to decide whom to blame.
Justify. Justify. Justify. Like a battle cry, he commissioned reports, graphs, charts and enhanced documentation whenever his boss questioned him. He found it easier to dig his heels into a position than admit he might have been wrong or change his mind. Working for someone I couldn’t respect eventually led me to transfer departments.
But it still baffles me. People do make mistakes, they do trip up sometimes and they do, on occasion, speak or act in error. And while there’s nothing that says we should be happy about it when we do it ourselves, trying to act (continue reading →)
Posted in: Winning at Working |
Tagged: accountable, blame game, finger pointing, fix it, initiative, lack of accountability, mistakes, Nan S. Russell, ownership, success, Winning at Working |
Posted on April 30, 2018
By Nan Russell
The reality is, effective people are highly productive. Part of that stems from enhanced self-managing skills, but a significant contributor is the way these people think about and use their time. They’re judicious and thoughtful about its use.
As Charles Duhigg, author of Smarter Faster Better puts it, “‘Productivity’ means different things to different people, but at it’s core, it’s about thinking a little more deeply about the choices we make every day.”
To that end, here are some time management and productivity tips to spark your thinking about your own time-use. One of my tips happens to be #18.
26 Helpful Time Management Tips and Techniques
Posted in: It's Not About Time, Tips |
Tagged: better results, increase productivity, increased productivity, It's Not About Time, more productive days, Nan S. Russell, time management tips, tips to increase results |
Posted on December 6, 2017
By Nan Russell
That year, Christmas was just another task on my to-do list. No magical feelings of the season took hold; no yuletide cheer; no gleeful joy; no warmth of goodwill; no sense of spirit. It was just more stuff to do. But, it was that Christmas that changed my thinking.
Come back with me a few decades. Somewhere between moving from California to Pennsylvania, starting a new job, buying a house, and juggling childcare logistics in a state where we knew no one, I was neck-deep in life-overload as Christmas approached.
But, I was determined to make it a special one for our family of three since it was our first Christmas away from our families. I used sleep-time to write personalized cards heralding our address change, decorated the house before work, insisted on baking cookies at night, and agonized over the perfect gifts to be bought, wrapped, and mailed to California relatives. As the day approached, my exhaustion took hold, but my festive enthusiasm didn’t.
I was convinced it would all be worthwhile watching our son’s delight opening presents. My husband tried to calm my growing to-do list with common sense which I chose to overlook. I went overboard decorating a house still void of furniture and hunting endlessly for the season’s must-have toys for our only child. Instead of a handful of gifts he had dozens. I visualized how thrilled he’d be with each, convincing myself it was only his delight I sought.
Christmas morning arrived and delight from him was not what I got. Instead of a joyful day (continue reading →)
Posted in: In the Scheme of Things, Life |
Tagged: Christmas, gift of time, give the gift of time, how we spend our time, In the Scheme of Things, It's Not About Time, Nan S. Russell, stress at Christmas, the holidays |
Posted on November 15, 2017
By Nan Russell
The man in front of me in the breakfast order line at the food court, in one of the busiest airports in the country, wanted a “full” cup of coffee. He kept raising his voice, yelling at the woman to “fill his cup to the top.” His words peppered with angry comments about her not giving him his “money’s worth.”
His voice was loud; his attitude hostile; his words caustic. Despite how rude he was, she remained calm, professional, and polite throughout the challenging encounter. Even from my close vantage point, I didn’t detect a hint of irritation in her demeanor.
People trekking to their gates paused to see what the commotion was. The upheaval, as it appeared to me, was about a person angry over something other than coffee, and taking whatever it was out on a stranger attempting to fulfill his request.
Maybe he couldn’t control what was happening in his life, but he could control how much coffee he got. Who knows? After the fourth time he shouted at her about not satisfying his request for a “full cup of coffee” and accusing her of “stealing his money” by not giving him what he paid for, she glanced my way. Shooting her an encouraging look, her eyes smiled in return.
I’m sure that in that busy airport, this woman gets her share of “crazy people.” But (continue reading →)
Posted in: Tips, Winning at Working |
Tagged: choice, Compassion, crazy people, grace under pressure, holiday stress, Nan Russell, Nan S. Russell, Winning at Working |
Posted on November 13, 2017
By Nan Russell
“We must try to contribute joy to the world. That is true no matter what our problems, our health, our circumstances. We must try. I didn’t always know this and am happy I lived long enough to find it out.” ~ Roger Ebert
Some people collect coins or books, kaleidoscopes or post cards. While I can add my name to tangible collections through the years, what I really collect is quotations that speak to me, like the one above. As if a treasure unearthed, when I find a quotation that nudges me, inspires me, or touches my soul, I savor it.
I added this one to my collection after the 2013 death of Pulitzer Prize winner and acclaimed film critic Roger Ebert, whose cancer battle left him unable to speak for the last few years of his life.
While reading about his life, I found his words humbling. They were written by Ebert after more than a decade with debilitating and disfiguring health issues. I’m grateful to have found Ebert’s words. Every time I read them, they encourage me to try a bit harder, to be less self-absorbed, and to contribute more joy.
It’s not hard to contribute a bit of joy every day — acknowledging others’ contributions, holding the door, smiling at a stranger, being there for family or friends, helping a neighbor, listening without judgment, or telling someone how much we care.
Still, we often don’t. We get caught in our swirl of life — our own busyness and dramas and troubles — absorbed in (continue reading →)
Posted in: In the Scheme of Things, Life |
Tagged: a bit of joy, better world, In the Scheme of Things, joyful, kind, more joy, Nan Russell, Nan S. Russell, Roger Ebert, show up, thanksgiving, tolerant |
Posted on November 15, 2016
By Nan Russell
My new book will be out in January. Here’s a preview:
What’s it about? Achieving what you want at work and in life, and thriving in the process, goes beyond time. Readers will glean specific strategies, tactics, and self-managing behaviors to enable results, increase effectiveness, and enhance well-being. It’s Not About Time offers real-world how-tos, reflective exercises, and tips that yield higher returns on invested time, insights about the choices we make, and periodic doses of “tough-love” peppered with reality trends.
What are people saying? “For all you busy-holics out there, THIS book is your wake up call! This is not another cheesy self-help book, but a call to action to take back control over your life. Nan’s experience driven insights inspires you to step back & reassess the energy you are putting into areas that aren’t serving your soul. A must read for aspiring dream-makers, make-it-happeners, and life-maximizers of the world!” —HANNAH BISE, Director of HR & Employee Development, Daydreamer Concepts
Posted in: It's Not About Time, Life |
Tagged: It's Not About Time, Nan S. Russell, own life driver, self managing, self-management, time management |
Posted on April 20, 2016
By Beth Pelkofsky
I’m a colleague of Nan’s. I frequently post here about work, life and sometimes the blending of the two. Nan is busy this week working on her new book, It’s Not About Time, being released this Fall. So, I offered to post to her Current Musings blog.
Many of you know Nan is an avid quote collector. “A good one can encourage alternative thinking, offer nuggets of wisdom or nudge me towards new areas of consideration,” explains Nan.
Here is one of my favorites of Nan’s —
“While wishing and hoping makes you a dreamer, acting and doing makes you someone who can turn dreams into reality.” – Nan S. Russell
Is there something you can do this week to move forward one of your dreams? Go do it!
Posted in: Quotes |
Tagged: Beth Pelkofsky, Doing, dreams, hoping, Nan S. Russell, quotes, reality, wishing |
Posted on May 8, 2015
By Nan Russell
“Why are you always working?” My mother’s voice echoes now in my head. It was a question she frequently raised over the years about my career, especially when she felt I was overstressed or losing my work-life balance. “I like working,” I’d always answer. And that would usually be that. At least until she asked again.
When I was little, my mother was the only woman on our block who worked outside the home. She started out of necessity during difficult financial times for our family, when I was four, continuing past my college graduation. She worked beyond when she “had to,” finding satisfaction in contributing at a job she liked. Still, for her, work and life were always separate, and her “life” was what happened outside of work.
That’s not the case with me. Maybe it was because (continue reading →)
Posted in: In the Scheme of Things |
Tagged: balance, choice, life, life vs. work, Nan Russell, Nan S. Russell, time, work |
I once worked for a boss who was never wrong, never made a mistake or a bad decision. All you had to do was ask him. To his staff he was Teflon-man. Nothing stuck to him and everything came sliding toward us.
