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The art of getting things done

I believe there is an art to getting things done. I believe there is an art to managing your time so effectively that it results in nothing less than the greatest sense of accomplishment. I believe that setting goals that ignite your passionate side will help you prioritize and ultimately reach them in a timely manner. Setting lofty goals that YOU want to accomplish, once attained, creates a sense of overachievement. Who wants to be known as an underachiever?

In order to reach your goals and check off the large items from your "todo" list you need to find what works best for you in order to knock off the little things along the way. For someone like me, the art in getting things done is understanding how to build a team of the right people who support you and make up for your weaknesses. You must not only recognize, but embrace your weaknesses and surround yourself with others who may be stronger than you in those areas. Once you do this, find your method to understand and properly delegate to your team.

In the end, the art in getting things done is effective time management, setting purposeful goals and embracing delegation.

#geterdone motivation

The greatest all say it… "I’ve failed over and over, it’s why i succeed”, Jordan. “I have not failed, I just found 10,000 ways that won’t work”, Edison. But Churchill said it best, “success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm.” The ability to pick yourself up, “try-fail-repeat", rebound, and learn from your mistakes are what create the greater likelihood for success and greatness. So why don’t we see this philosophy embraced and encouraged in schools and in business? The fact is, all great leaders and human beings (no matter their gifts, talents, or skills) have failed and have failed often. But their greatness is because of their ability to turn failure into fuel.

Beyond inspiring posters and the good coaches, how is failure actually perceived others? Can techniques on overcoming failure and building confidence be taught and actually rewarded? The idea that overcoming failure leads to learning and building confidence is not new, but yet, it’s not practiced.

Our educational system, that rewards those who receive better letter grades, perfectly illustrates the exact “results driven” world we live in. Failure is a process that should be embraced. Failure is the process that leads to success. What if schools began rewarding this process that I believe drives innovation and personal growth versus letter grades?

Fear of failure is paralyzing and yet it has been ingrained in us from our first learning. This deep-rooted mindset has severely limited our desire to take risks simply because we fear failure…or in other words, choose paths that we believe are “safer”. Are you cultivating results driven organization only? Or are you allowing your employees to innovate without fear of failure. Results are important, critical even, but creating a culture that embraces trial and error, learning, innovation…”failure” without repercussion, may take your organization to a whole new level. Think of it this way, encourage people to take off training wheels, ride on two wheels, fall down, AND stand back up. But here’s what’s vital: assessing what happened and understanding what happened before trying again is far more powerful than issuing a grade memorializing ones riding technique.

I encourage you to remove self doubt and any fear of failure you may have and maybe you will reach new heights of your dreams.

#fear failure fearoffailure @overcomingfailure success

Motivate your team by laying the foundation for an inspiring culture.

I’m going to try something here - blogging right on my linked in feed. I’m sure I’ll go down some rabbit trails and tangents, but maybe I’ll stay on point. I purchased Enviro Clean, Insurance Reconstruction Services, and Tech Design Build (Greenville Kitchens) in Q4 of 2016 from my folks. So now I’ve had 1 full year under my belt. I wanted to share some thoughts about business ownership:

I love it. I love business ownership. That simple. I love my team. I love making decisions. I love developing strategy. I love learning from successes and from mistakes. I love helping people. I love solving problems (although sometimes exhausting).

It’s stressful. There are moments and days that are hard and stressful. I have the stomach for that. I don’t often wear the stress outwardly, but internalize most of it and work out stuff in my head. Through that, I’ve learned I need not only a company leadership team I trust, but outside friends who like to “talk shop.”

There is not enough time in the day. Ever. My “to do” list grows faster than I can cross things off it. That’s ok. To own a business you have to be comfortable with no “off” button. Work comes home with you daily - even it’s just taking up mental bandwidth. But, if you love it, who cares?

There’s not enough time in the day (part 2). What personal sacrifices come with owning a business? Family time? Personal time? Hobbies? Sleep? Nutrition? Relationships? I sleep less. Damn. That is my #1 sacrifice. I eat a little worse - I’m working on it and very aware of it. (I’m drinking a little more too - damn). My kids still have my undivided attention when I’m home. I won’t sacrifice that - although I am traveling a little more now with our FLORIDA venture. I am exercising less than I want - but just put a stationary bike into my office and a rowing machine in my dining room. I’m making the time.

My wife is remarkable. She is my my #1 and I don’t treat her that way often enough - she supports the changes and challenges this past year has brought on. Thank God I have her...

Cash is king. What? We’ve all heard that - but managing cash flow is no joke. It can be crushing and is my #1 stress. We do emergency work - GET IT DONE NOW! And then often have to wait 60 days, 90 days or months and months to get paid and sometimes still have to fight over the value of the service we provided. Developing a bank of working capital will be the most freeing day to grow.

If you see opportunity - timing is never right - so F^%*ing go for it. I mean it. Find a way. I bought a business and saw opportunity to launch a Florida branch less than a year later - timing may not be perfect from a time and cash flow perspective, but sales and personnel are perfect timing.

Surround yourself with YANGS. I’m a YIN. My right hand person is my professional yang. She does the things I know I’m weak and she follows through. Or find the complimentary pieces that fill your pie. I have my strengths, I get to focus on those and grow those. I’m not concerned with building up my weaknesses but rather surrounding myself with people whose strength is my weakness.

Your team is critical. Surround yourself with people you TRUST. Hiring people with integrity and work ethic is the most important. We are all continuing to learn and do our jobs better - it’s much harder to teach working hard or honesty.

Make your vision visible and get the buy in from your team. Motivate your team by laying the foundation for an inspiring culture. Support them and build them up. Gone are the days of managing by fear or by the fist. I get my biggest reward when I am able to inspire those I work with.

So I think I’ll stop there. I didn’t expect to write a list - but a list of 10 thoughts seems like a pretty good start. More to come…maybe.

Funny story of bad parenting: I was blessed and able to take my family to Aruba over Thanksgiving a few weeks ago. My sons (13 and 9) both ride ATVs at home and were beyond excited at the prospect of renting them on the island for a day. Well, you’ve got to be 16 and have a valid drivers license to rent one. Did that stop me? No. I taught my son to lie about his age. We even practiced. Caleb, how old are you? 16 he’d say. What year were you born? 2001 he’d respond. REPEAT. He had it down. You see, when I was 12 my father taught me the same lesson. We rented small boats. I wanted my own so we lied about my age. I got caught and when the water cop asked me not my age, but what year I was born, I wasn’t prepared. I responded 1978. “wait...uhhh...no, my sister was born in 1978, i was born in 1974″ that was my actual response...nice try kid. I had to follow him back to shore. Why did he question my age? I was speeding in a no wake zone. I created waves in an area that for whatever reason they didn’t want waves. This year, my son and I were prepared, we didn’t get pulled over, he didn’t crash or have any issues. He even smiled ear to ear when we drove to a gas station to fill them up and on the “main roads of Aruba”. He did great. Actually it gave me confidence in his responsibility as he grows and gets his license in a few more year. He’s a great kid.

Ok - what’s the point? I don’t know - I was just thinking about the ripple effect of ones actions and decisions. These decisions didn’t hurt anyone and there are hopefully no long term consequences in them. But I was thinking about the wake I did create and how it moves not just in one direction, but in all directions - 360 degrees. So how might that have impacted others? What about the wake of your decisions or your attitude and how you treat others, talk to others, choose to interact with others?

I believe in thinking before you act (even if just a split second). definitely if you are considering getting angry or responding in a negative way - give yourself a 5 count, pause, then respond. Consideration before making decisions is of the utmost importance. Every action creates a reaction. Every decision has a ripple effect - it creates a wake in every direction. Your decision will impact another who may make a decision that will affect another. (now i’m confusing myself) Think of the great chess players, they aren't making strategic moves based on 1 or 2 reactions, but they are making game decisions thinking how it affects their opponent and their other game pieces 5, 6 or even 12 moves in advance. So think before you act...think how your move may have an affect far down the road.

#dontburnbridges #think

I’m learning to “play” banjo. I’m obsessed. The banjo in the photo was my grandfather’s - Popsie. He died May 5, 1995 - the morning of my junior prom. I didn’t know he played banjo until after he passed away. I didn’t know a lot about him until after he died. I was nearly 17 - but not old enough to take a real interest in who he was; an artist, barbershop/choir singer and WW2 vet - looking back and hearing more stories, he was quirky for sure. (if you haven’t noticed yet, I tend to use a lot of “- dashes” when I write.) (also, i’m thinking this blog experiment is going to be more of a stream of consciousness).

Back to the banjo experiment. I’m learning because I’ve always loved the sound and rhythm of a banjo. So this banjo actually just hangs above my desk at my office. I bought a Deering a few months back. I’m driving my wife nuts, but my youngest daughter, Ellie, loves when I play - sometimes is 3 minutes at a time...

Why? I don’t know. I think something in me is driving it - so I say, in part, I am learning to honor my grandfather. But it’s work. Now it’s become more than that. It’s a goal - to learn to play. I’ve found, when i commit to a goal, when I say it out loud and put it out in the universe to know I’ve set the goal - I reach it. So, i’m turning 40 on May 13, 2018. Not happy about it. I’ve said for personal gain only - I want to be comfortable playing banjo in front of others AND be in the best shape of my life. The 2nd goal is shifting - not because I can’t do it, but my priorities are shifting - life is fluid and you have to be willing to adjust as needed. So instead of “the best shape of my life” which would require me giving up on some other things I want to do (and need to do - given the time commitment) - I’ve decided i’m just going to be in great shape. Comfortable running a 10k, playing hockey or pick up hoops, cycling 40 miles, swimming laps and maybe rowing?

Back to the banjo - why? Steve Martin has always been my favorite comedian/actor. LOVE HIM. did you know he is a master?

I have another grandfather I never really knew, Leo. My mom’s father - sort of estranged from our family (not getting into that). So this past year I welcomed him into my life (and me in his). He passed away a few weeks ago. That was harder on me than I thought. He was also a WW2 vet and hero (and my other grandfather - i’ve been blessed to have 3 - Papa Jack, I don’t want to leave him out of this story without mentioning how awesome he was - and yes, also a WW2 vet and hero). Ok - so Leo, as I grew in my relationship with him, I also learned HE TOO PLAYED BANJO! Pretty great

So - 2 of my grandfathers played banjo. I’m going to learn. I’ve committed and I love it. I love playing and singing in front of my children and they know it. And one day, God willing, they will remember fondly of their old man constantly playing banjo around the house.

#banjo

Being Genuine

I love people. I love meeting people and (most of the time) love learning about them - although I do struggle with a$$holes. I was shaped at an early age by a simple Dale Carnegie concept: “Be genuinely interested in other people and get them talking about themselves.” Both are critical. It’s easy to pretend interest, but learning to be genuine in your interest in so important. Fake it until you make it creates a self fulfilling prophecy. I’ve found behavior can be practiced and one will develop as a result of that practice. I’ve practiced confidence when I’m nervous or fearful or uncertain, I was an incredibly shy child and taught myself to be an extrovert (i love public speaking and still get butterflies in my stomach), I smile often and practiced on becoming an optimist even when there is no reason to be...

So the idea of how to meet people and network better and have more fruitful relationships - you MUST be genuine. You must show genuine interest in their life and not be stuck on waiting to share your own story. Make the conversation about them...not yourself. You don’t need to relate, you don’t need to find a common connection, and you certainly don’t need to “1-up” their story. You just need to LISTEN and be genuine about it. And what if you don’t care? That’s where the practice comes in... force yourself. Pretend. Enough practice, you will eventually learn to love to listen, engage and learn from and about others.

So when I first meet someone (networking event, on an airplane, or wherever) I ask 5 simple questions while being Genuine, Sincere, Authentic…(I credit these simple questions to a Vistage speaker i heard about 10 years ago and have practiced since) 1. Where are you from? 2. Have you lived here all your life? OR 2. What brought you here/there? 3. Do you have a family? (of course the answer is yes - feel free to probe) 4. What do you do? 5. What did you want to be growing up?

Give it a try!

Find Courage & Be Courageous. Have Faith not fear. Share. Love.Create & Exude Energy. Energize Others around you.Be Passionate whether it's work or play.Simplify. Be Kind. Always. There is no reason not to be and every reason to be. Even to those who make it difficult Make time to exercise. Make time to pray or meditate.Listen. Be Humble. Speak only truths. Don't lie. Build trust. Build Loyalty. Laugh & make others laugh, but not at anyone else's expense. Be fair be just.Serve. Teach. Learn. Respect. Give. ForGIVE.Teamwork.Gratitude - always. Don't complain. Give hugs. Be authentic - for yourself and for others.Let go of regrets. Let go of grudges. Enjoy progress. Enjoy life. Enjoy people. Enjoy yourself. Enjoy the journey. Enjoy your success. Embrace it all.Discover your purpose. Do it. Think, but don't over think. Make smart decisions and don't over analyze. Be thoughtful. Appreciate others for who they are. Appreciate your surroundings for what they are. Enjoy the sun. Live in the light.

#mantra bekind hope

Don't just set goals that get you excited; set goals that make you a little unsettled or even scared. The drive that comes from the latter will ignite your passion, expand your comfort zone, sharpen your focus and result in a greater probability for success

Eric

#success motivation goals passion growth

Schnebly Road was one of those times. I call them “remember when” moments, experiences, or stories. They become stories you can share for the rest of your lift. Remember when we drove down Schnebly Road after dark? It too nearly 2 hours, Josh white knuckling the entire drive, Eric (a few birthday cocktails deep) running in front of the car pointing out majors drops or bumps in the “road”, and the laughs that ensued. But in the end, as stressful as it was “in the moment”, we have a story to tell and reminisce about. Josh laying in the smooth pavement he worked so hard to reach. Schnebly Road will forever be a fond memory when we get together and say “remember when we drove down Schnebly Road in Sedona! (and Josh, Candace, or Laura might add …and almost died!).” In the end, we triumph or succeed or win or maybe we lose, but learn something. Many "remember when” stories are are during positive experiences… however, many are in the face of adversity or obstacles. If during these moments, you are able to recognize and acknowledge you are experiencing a “remember when” moment, you will look back on that time in a positive light. These are the remember when moments that allow us to grow. If one is able to stay positive in the face of negativity, be resilient through obstacles, and persist through adversity, that person will come away with life changing "remember when” experiences and stories. I believe that every person alive is here for a reason and has purpose that is greater than any challenges they encounter.

To my oldest son, Caleb. In your first year of Boy Scouts, remember when we backpacked Mount Greylock? Immediately he’ll remember the struggles not only he faced, but his fellow scouts faced. And if I ask him if he wants to do it again, he’ll reply with a resounding YES! To my son, Samuel. Remember when you drove the golf ball on the green in the parent-child golf tournament when you were 8? We played your ball because no one else was on the green. You saved the hole. To my daughter, Claire. Remember the first time you sang on stage? Do you remember how you felt? How will this shape your goals? To my daughter, Eleanor. Do you remember when you first went skiing? The feeling of going fast. You were only 3, but the feeling will stay. To my brother, friend, and teacher, Frank. Do you remember when it was us, fixing the roof in Lisbon, painting the walls, building a brand and a company and growing together? Of course you do. So many lessons and all i have to say is remember when we fixed the roof in Lisbon.

"Remember when” moments are more than just memories. They are experiences that will resonate and restore emotions for your entire life.

#rememberwhen

I’m blown away how many lessons can be taught to young children (and adults) in a simple (and sometimes long) game of monopoly

If you think you might have a mold problem, let Enviro Clean inspection and testing services put your mind at rest. We can make sure it doesn't get worse. RI, CT, and Southern MA.

Yep - I’m a mold expert

#mold moldremediation moldcleanup moldexpert

It’s simple. There is limited time in every day. The work/life balance can be a struggle. I could work unlimited hours - there are always things on my “to do” list. The same goes for being home - household work or my kids activities... so where does one find time for oneself? I’ve been struggling lately and not only does it show up physically in my belly - it shows up mentally...So in the race that is life, I’m recognizing I need to make a bigger effort to block off time for running, biking, swimming, whatever - get that oxygen flowing to my brain and the blood pumping fast through my heart. With that, i’ll be a better leader in my company and a better father and husband at home.

#ratrace exercise

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