Miscellaneous

Recognize Mr Magoo? He's the myopic old cartoon codger who could never see clearly enough to get anywhere without running into, off of, or over something or someone. I loved that guy!

Reflection: It was the fallout from the ‘too-much-ness’ of life that triggered the launch of my business those oh so many years ago. And, although time has marched on, the challenge lingers.

A central concern of many of my readers and clients is that there is still too much to do and not enough time and energy to accomplish it all. Expectations have mushroomed, the fallout is more widespread than ever, and the dust of confusion still hangs overhead.

Perhaps that’s why I felt an immediate kinship when I was introduced last week to the work of Ann Latham and her organization, Uncommon Clarity.

When it comes to dealing with overload, Latham boils it down to the essentials. In her view there are five possible responses:  accomplish more, delegate, cut corners, postpone, or abandon.

Well, actually, she acknowledges a sixth possibility as well: not choosing at all. However, that option pretty much guarantees more of the same – or worse – by way of outcomes.

Action: As you tackle your load this week, pause to see if this five-part triage brings any clarity to the dust ups in your daily life.

• Is there a way to accomplish more by focusing more tightly on the task at hand, or adopting some other take on that old saw, work smarter, not harder?
• Who might be better positioned, by virtue of available time or ready skill, to take one task off your hands?
• Is there a way to streamline an action or to reduce a standard without causing significant damage to the outcome or your reputation?
• Can one or more tasks be delayed or postponed to another time – fixed or indefinite – to offer more ease in the moment without creating a crisis later on?
• Given current circumstances and resources, is it time to simply abandon a project or an idea instead of burdening yourself with the weight of another ‘would be nice, but isn’t going to happen’ expectation?

Quote Of The Week: We will get better results and live better lives if we are careful, thorough, accurate and consistent where it counts, and speedy, efficient, and satisfactory everywhere else. – Ann Latham

Resource Of The Week: For more ideas on addressing life’s overload, check out Latham’s article, The Worst Mistake You Can Make When Overloaded.

Readers Write: In response to last week’s message, Take A Bow, Pause reader JR writes: I’m loving how you can also paint with words. This reminded me of the strange antics of geese this past week while volunteering at my daughter’s school field trip – which reminded me that I was volunteering! Bow taken! Merci!

P.S. –  And JR’s closing, ‘merci’, reminds me that I had an inquiry this week from a reader who works with our federal government. She wanted to know if the Take A Bow booklet was also available in French. If you are part of a bilingual organization that would also be interested in a French version, please contact me. If there’s enough interest, I’m open to the idea.

Last week’s meandering about the place of advice in our lives (Pause 12.10 – Ce M’Est A Vis) really struck a chord with Pause readers. Rather than try to excerpt just one comment for the Readers Write section of this week’s Pause message, I decided to provide this link that summarizes the reactions. You’ll also find a lively commentary of post-backs at the end of the Blog post for the same message.

Thanks to all who took the time to write and share their views. Special thanks to a couple of my Francophone readers who so kindly corrected my French noting that the title phrase should actually read: “C’est Mon Avis”. I’m always grateful for those who are able to fix my errors. And, it shouldn’t come as a surprise to me that the Old French source (circa 1300) would have evolved to something more current.

Enjoy the read!

JR writes: Ce m’est a vis was… brilliant!  Best quote and resource of the week ever!  Who is more expert in advising me about my life and career than the person who created them in the first place?  I find, when the ship’s taking on water, my internal muse goes mute, and I flail for a friend’s PFD rather than buoying myself up with my own truth.  Thanks for this very timely reminder. (more…)

As February unfolds I will be giving away 29 copies of Press Pause…Think Again. One book a day. These books will go to people YOU want to inspire and encourage.

You probably know that February is heart month. It’s not only a time for people to tend to their physical heart health, it’s a time for us to tend to the emotional heart health of those we care about. I want to help you with that cause. Here’s how it works.

Think of someone in your circle of acquaintance who may be struggling or disheartened – someone who could use a little more balance, perspective or appreciation in their everyday life at work or at home. Email me that person’s name and postal address along with a thought or two about why they could use a lift and a gift. Put these words, 29 Gifts, in the Subject line. You can find my email address in the Contact Us area of the Pauseworks Website Home Page.

Each day I will draw the name of one lucky recipient from the entries received. When your nominee is chosen, I will mail your honoree a personalized complimentary copy of Press Pause…Think Again as a gift in your name – and let you know it’s on its way.

Send as many entries as you wish. All entries received will be included in the draw bucket right through to the end of the month.

I’m excited to be helping you help others to ‘Press Pause…Think Again’. A Happy Heartfelt February to you all.

I just returned from several days of learning and sharing with my speaker colleagues at our annual CAPS Convention in Toronto. As with most experiences, I try to harvest the goodies before they fade into the background and life moves me ‘on to the next’.

Here are some of my take aways from this year’s conversations. Some are more specific to the entrepreneurial world of speakerdom – but many have general life application. So I thought I’d share them all.

Alan Weiss: Real wealth is discretionary time.

Bob Gray: If you want to remember something – or want others to remember – tie the idea to the whackiest, goofiest, silliest, most disconnected image possible. It confuses the brain and anchors the memory.

BG2: ‘I’m too old!’ really means ‘Leave me alone. I’m in my comfort zone.’

Mike Domritz:  If you want to have more of an impact, ask people how they are going to USE the information they’ve just heard. Don’t ask how much they liked you, your information, or the presentation itself.

Donald Cooper: In reply to a question about retirement: I’m doing the best work of my life. Why would I stop?

Laura Stack: Stop trying to break through the wall. Go for the open door and the people who already want what you’re doing.

LS2: A brand is what happens in the brain of your audience.

Cheryl Cran: Want to know how your work is received by Gen Y (the millenials)? Ask one of them to critique your presentation, your writing, your materials, your website. They’ll tell you what they think.

David Gouthro: What’s your mindset? Critical or appreciative? Choose to travel your day as a Gem Collector not a Crap Detector.

Cameron Hay: We cannot afford speakers who are mediocre in front of our members. Our program is our brand.

Mark Sanborn: There are no singular solutions. We each offer a piece of the puzzle.

MS2: Success is just an early warning indicator of failure.

Sam Horn: People don’t want more information; they want epiphanies.

Hope these ideas give you a little food for thought, too.

After a summer decision to start marketing my artwork on the web, it’s taken a bit of searching around to find the right service. I think Fine Art America might just be it. And so, as of today, I’ve launched a new art website.

In addition to making originals available for sale directly through the artist (that would be me), it makes reproductions of the images available in all kinds of formats from greeting cards, to paper based prints (on their own or matted and framed) to reproductions on canvas and acrylic. And FAA handles the order fulfillment and delivery, so I can spend more time painting and share my work as I work.

Check out the Pat Katz – PauseWorks Studio offerings. Let me know what you think of the service – and of course, the art. I look forward to keeping in touch and sharing more of the art from the PauseWorks Studio.

On September 8, between 50 and 60 friends, family, clients and colleagues joined me in celebrating my 25th anniversary in the speaking business, the launch of my latest book (Press Pause…Think Again), and the public debut of my watercolor paintings and prints.

It was a great afternoon. It felt so good to be surrounded by all of these supporters and encouragers. I’m grateful for their presence in my life.

I’m also delighted to still be doing what I love after all these years – helping others ease their loads while building a more thoughtful and appreciative world.

I’m relieved to finally have the latest book off the press and on its way into the hands of people who are looking for a bit of relief and encouragement.

And, I’m tickled by the positive reaction to my adventures into the world of art.

I thought you might enjoy sharing in a few images from the event. You can see more photos from the day in my Facebook album. You can learn more about the new book and arrange for your very own copy by visiting the Pause Shop. Please stay tuned for upcoming bulletins on the art front.

Not all parks are manicured and green. This Court of Honour space in the Jardins du Palais Royal in Paris is unlike any public play ground I’ve seen anywhere.

The entire courtyard is ‘paved’ with stone and concrete. ‘Planted’ throughout the area are black and white striped posts and pillars, varying in height and width.

On the day we visited, the place was literally teeming with life. Adults reading, resting, and soaking up the sun.

Children racing and chasing each other in their self-invented games or enjoying solo moments with books or their own thoughts. Not  a tree or flower in sight – but extraordinary all the same.

What do a London teapot, a street artist, and a performance stage have in common? Not much. Each unique and slightly weird in their very own ways.

This fellow seemed rather grumpy sitting as he was on the display shelf in the lobby of the Montague on The Gardens in London. Life as a teapot can be tough!

The UdderBelly upside down purple cow caught the eye of this prairie farm girl as we made our way around the circuit on the London Eye. It’s a temporary performance theatre and stage perched on the Southbank, London. Certainly is colorful!

Street performers seem to be everywhere throughout Europe. I’m accustomed to seeing mimes and dancers, but this is the first time I’ve seen a psychadelic lizard on a bicycle. Drop a coin or two in his bucket and watch him pedal like crazy!

We’re two weeks into our Euro adventure and have now moved from the UK over to France. i thought you might enjoy a few photos of our England experiences and also a few photos of my paintings from the road.

Unfortunately, techno issues preclude my normal photo postings to the blog so I’m trying a work around by posting images to a photo album in Facebook, and providing you with a link.

Let’s hope it works. if not, there will be lots to share when I’m back in Canada again.

Here is the link:

Click here

REFLECTION: Last fall, I gifted my grandson with a subscription to a popular children’s magazine. I received, in return, a postcard to send the little guy indicating that the magazines would soon be on their way. I mailed him the postcard and also told him what to expect.

When I checked repeatedly with his Mom through the late fall and early winter about whether the magazines had started arriving, the answer was always no. In fact, they never even received the postcard announcement of the gift itself.

So, now, three months later, I finally decided it was time to call the magazine offices and demand an explanation. Irritated would be a pretty accurate description of my state of mind. I grew even more irritated by the time I held through the voice mail queue to eventually lodge my complaint with James, a real live agent. I laid out my problem fact by fact – in a tone that may have held just the slightest of edges.

On looking up my subscription account number, James immediately explained the situation. (more…)