On Productivity

In business, productivity is output relative to input. The more I do with what I have, the more productive I am. If Ajax Manufacturing used to make 50 widgets out of 50 thingies, and now they can make 60 widgets with those same 50 thingies, Ajax has become more productive.

You hear all the time about "personal productivity" - getting stuff done. You might have a daily To-Do list that you plow through. Possibly you are disciplined in your scheduling - a time for everything, and everything in its time. Perhaps you are great at prioritizing – making certain you complete the most important stuff first. Maybe you have read all the books, bought all the software and hit all the webinars in hopes of finding the secret elixir to personal productivity. However you measure your personal productivity, chances are you define it as getting stuff done.

To be sure, getting stuff done is important. I believe, though, that we have a tendency to overlook two important ingredients to having a productive day: Have I improved someone else today, and have I improved myself today.

It is important to have an “others” focus. We have family, colleagues, friends, and even total strangers whose lives intersect ours every day. What impact do we have on those around us? Are they better for having encountered us today? Sometimes there is direct interaction. Often, we influence others in a passive way – they observe what we do, how we act, or how we react. Are our passive influences in concert with how we would want to interact with others directly? Sometimes, the things I do or do not do - or say, or do not say - make things needlessly more difficult for someone else. That is counterproductive.

Those who know me well know that I love to learn. I want to improve myself in some way every single day. It may be professionally, in my personal relationships, spiritually or in terms of character, or making better health choices. Any day that I do not accomplish something positive in my own life has been counterproductive.

At the end of the day, I reflect. Have I made someone else's life better or brighter in some way today? Have I improved myself in some way today? If the answer to either of these questions is "no," regardless how much stuff got done, it was an unproductive day.

A Little Gold in a Plastic World

I find that we often focus on the "typical" - what some of my music friends would term the "ordinary, B-flat" things in life. We go to school. We go to work. We get involved in this and that. And much of it becomes background, with the occasional bit of foreground that we treasure all the more.

Last night I had a rare opportunity. At least, I assume it's rare; I've not heard others talk about it. My son gave a recital, and several of my good friends from college attended. They came not because of their friendship with me, but because they are genuinely interested in the lives of my children.

Karl and Fran, who are in the middle of a move to Georgia, had their daughter's wedding two weeks ago and lost Fran's sister this week, were there. Karl accompanied my son on several of the pieces he played. Cal and Vicki, who live about an hour away, were also there. Cal spent quite some time talking with my oldest - a flutist - about Celtic flute and about Celtic music in general. Rian and his wife Jill, who live about an hour away from us, came too, along with their children and a couple of extras. My oldest will soon begin teaching their daughter to play flute.

Some time ago Cal, Vicki, Karl, Fran, Rian and I were sitting at the "music table," talking about what we thought our lives would be like, and forging the friendships that would stand the test of time. Friendships that have a foundation in those shared experiences in school, but are not permanently lodged there. Although we have fond memories of those times - and refer to them often - our friendships keep pace with what is currently happening in our lives. Each is an integral part of the fabric of the other's families.

I treasure the fact that they came to my son's recital; that they came not because of me, but because of him. A bit of 24-karet gold in an otherwise plastic world.

Introduction

Hi! I'm Paul Case. Welcome to my blog!

I am a business and IT professional, founder and president of a non-profit organization, a former Army officer, and a student at University of Michigan - Flint.

As time goes on, I'll be talking more about these various roles and my experiences. Social media can be a great way to connect with others, and a tool for professionals to exchange information and ideas. Hopefully, you will find this blog helpful in getting to know me.

I will be posting updates to this blog on at least a weekly basis. The plan is to keep the blogs relatively short and informative. Sometimes I'll invite discussion. Other times, I will simply give you a peek into my experiences. Either way, the goal is to make this blog enlightening.

Thank you again for stopping by. I hope you won't be a stranger!

Warm Regards,