Are you counting days until the next moment, project, experience or thing you get to do or shifting your mindset to make today count? The subtle shift in mindset as leaders and team cultures allows us to be more effective, and in the end, create a future that is worthy of looking forward to.
SHOW NOTES
1:47 – Jason introduces Season 4 episode 8 of the podcast. Welcome back to the podcast and thank you for listening. We wish to create content that engages your mind and heart and allows you to step back and think and add some positivity to your life. This podcast is about a quote that resonated with Jason that he first saw many years ago and the story that he tells about what it means and how it relates especially well today.
2:30 – Please leave a review for the podcast
3:40 – We can’t control everything but what we can control is our response. Still a lot of work to do but wanted to remind the audience what is within our control is the temperature we create in the organizations and teams we work with. If you have a suggestion, please send it in to info@jasonvbarger.com
4:50 – Jason talks about how it is an easy environment for counting days. To socially distance, to quarantine, has lead to an environment of counting days. Jason’s family has been counting down the days for spring break. Maybe people can get away or at least get in their car and drive a little bit away. Jason talks about his three children and how they are counting the days until school is over. Many are counting the days to take that trip, to get the vaccine, to see loved ones, so many things that people are counting on and for now. Many are counting the days until new projects and when they can see people again in new ways.
So many people are counting the days for so many things, counting the days to see loved ones, to go on a trip, until school ends.
7:50 – Jason went to Denison University and played college basketball there. During the dog days of the preseason when every day is a workout and prepping for the season ahead. These usually aren’t very exciting days. On this one day, the couch put up a motivational saying. It said, don’t count the days, make the days count. Usually, you want in and you’re tired and you just dismiss it but in this case, Jason stopped for a moment and it really hit Jason and he remembers this to this day.
10:45 – Real motivation is something we have to do daily. You may hear that quote and just pass it by but maybe there is some wisdom with those words. What does it look like instead of counting the days, how do we make today count? To actually better prepare us for what lies ahead? Then the statement moves from simple motivation to important wisdom.
13:06 – So many people live in a world of managing time vs investing time. It is a different approach to how we look at time. Do we invest our time in the highest priorities or do we just end up managing our time in a reactionary fashion?
15:20 – Jason talks about the time matrix and the four quadrants of how to organize time. One of the first steps is to properly identify beyond the mission but what items are important or not.
19:10 – Where we look is where we go. Our time, our energy, our focus, what we give our attention to is what we manifest. How do I make today count? It is all about alignment for mission and purpose to accomplish something that is greater than you.
20:20 – Jason talks about finite life and the infinite thinking needed as well. There is a finite reality to life, there is only so much time that we get to do. There is a finite shelf life for every stage of life. Even the finest athletes, Serena Williams, Lebron James, to Steve Jobs, there is a finite amount of time. There might be a team you are on now that you feel excitement for the work but there is a finite-ness and understanding that time is finite helps us shift our mind to help embrace, how do I make today count? You might be on a team that you are not excited about and you are looking for the next thing. Some seek newness with relationships or teams, not every organization is going to last forever. How do we breathe life into what we are doing so that
24:50 – For teams and organizations how can you find joy in what you are doing today? Jason talks about the mindset shift to make time to find joy and seek out to be part of joy today. By understanding what progress looks like today is a great opportunity to get closer to your mission. Lastly, clarity around the next action about what we need to do to make today count.
What does it look like to make these days count?
Questions to Ponder
- Take an inventory of your average days, step back and look at how you spend and invest your time. Where are you investing your mindset and your time?
- What does it look like to make today count rather than just happen?
- What is the action, what does it look like to bring joy to bring a focus of what does progress look like?
- What is the clarity next action that will help you transition from just counting the day to making today count?
Remember we can either manage time or invest time. Don’t just count days, let’s make days count.
If you like the podcast, have a question, or just want to share your thoughts about daring to begin please leave a comment below or please leave a review on Apple Podcasts or Google Podcasts.
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ABOUT THE THERMOSTAT
Conversations and micro-thoughts to engage your mind and heart.
A thermostat is proactive. It sets the temperature in a room. Controls the temperature. Regulates the temperature. But in today’s distracted, fast-paced and digital world, it’s easy for individuals and organizations to act more like thermometers, slipping into reactionary thinking, becoming scattered and inconsistent. The most compelling leaders, teams, organizations, families or collection of humans of any kind operate in thermostat mode. They calibrate their mind and heart to set the temperature for the vision and culture they want to create. Jason Barger, globally celebrated author, keynote speaker, and founder of Step Back Leadership Consulting, is the host of The Thermostat, a podcast journey to discover authentic leadership, create compelling cultures and find clarity of mission, vision, and values.