Campfire Computing Part 2

Jun 14, 2009 | blog, happiness

As always its the simple things that make the difference, and so it was this weekend.  Ok, it’s not a campfire, but one of those fire-pit thingies that you can set up on the patio.  It’s been an incredible month since we’ve moved to our place just out of town, and we’re beginning to settle into a relaxing routine.

Amy, Brianna and I are enjoying the stars in the sky, and the crickets in the yard.  Watching the fire flickering away and playing “20 questions” to pass some time.  Its been awhile since we’ve had some quite time like this, and its nice to have it right in the backyard instead of several hours drive away.

There’s a lot of writing I do that never makes it anywhere.  Sometimes I think make a mistake in not publishing more posts when the muse strikes.  Like tonight.  There’s a lot of things that come to mind and, for once, I’m not going to talk business, or strategy or ideas around any of it.

Instead, it’s really about the simple things in life.  Family, quite time, a flickering fire, and getting a chance to listen to it all.

Oh, and an the occasional shooting star doesn’t hurt too much either.

So, for all of us rushing through our days and weeks.  Please don’t forget to take a day, an afternoon, or an evening, and sit down with family or friends.  Or simply take time for yourself and relax.  A few hours can make all the difference and is the recharge we all can make use of in our busy lives.

The Art of Listening

May 30, 2008 | blog, leadership

Listen To MeSometimes it’s good to just sit back and listen to the conversation around you. There are many voices out there, and many stories to be told by those voices. One of the best skills to have is the ability to listen.

It’s a hard skill to learn too. How often do we jump into a conversation, with the intent to add our experiences and perspectives? Its human nature to share, to participate, to interact. So it’s important to make sure that you take the time to listen to what people are saying.

The benefits of becoming a better listener are not simply limited to hearing what people have to say, it’s letting them to tell their stories in their own words. It’s the people and their stories that are important. Learning about them and what they need is how you can better offer services and products to them – if at all. After all, not everything we do, or service & products we offer are needed by everyone.

Taking the time to learn about people, their stories, their needs, concerns, and wishes help us build not only a better community, but a better understanding of what we can do to be a productive part of that community. All that can comes from listening.

Photo credit: JosephGilbert.org

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