Mindful Musings - Strategic Plan for Life

The topic of my executive coaching session tonight was strategic plan for my career. I had to admit that I didn't have any idea as how to do strategic planning where my career is concerned. I truly wonder if it is the strategic planning part that seems difficult or the feeling that any plan I make will be thwarted by a cruel fate?

I do think I need to put some effort into strategic planning for my career so that I have something to be working toward. It may be nice to go sailing on a favorable wind but who knows where that will take me?

Maybe I can work out some of the details of the strategic planning method "Swim Lanes to the Future" by modeling my career goals as the strategic plan. That would achieve two important things although something a little simpler to plan than my career goals might be adviseable.

For more information about "Swim Lanes to the Future" send an inquiry. That's all for now.

Basecamp Advertisement

Advertisement - If you are looking for a very good team collaboration tool for project management check out the Basecamp button over in the lower left-hand column of this Blogsite. I use Basecamp for product development for Home Field Advantage products and am quite happy with the functions and features.

Basecamp is strong on collaboration and ease of use even if it is weaker on project planning methodology. The to-do lists and milestone features are good and the ability to post information and manage collaborative work are great.

If you like Basecamp and proceed to subscribe through this redirect, HFA gets a referral credit for my subscription. Be sure to use the referral code Homefield if you subscribe. I think the tool is very good and the subscription is well worth the minimal cost.

Let us know about your experiences and ideas. Happy Camping. David Etherton

Mindful Musings - Jan 23

Mindful Musings, January 23rd - Reading

Since I began commuting to NYC in the fall of 2005 I spend much of my train time reading books. I was always an avid (or rabid) reader at least since I taught myself to read at age 3. In the later part of my life my reading time had been reduced to a couple of pages at night before bed. I was convinced that the back and forth eye movement too closely simulated REM sleep and so made me drop off no matter how interesting or stimulating the book. As a result I was only able to finish a couple of books per year.

With 2 hours of train time and another 40 minutes on the subway, I have been devouring books at the rate of about one per week. Frequently I will also take my book to lunch, whether at Roto Roli or a local Cafe so I can experience a little time away. I had begun with the best sellers from business and leadership. The Tipping Point, Blink, Execution, Good to Great, Blue Ocean Strategy, and others. I would like to see the list of the top 20 as I probably have read 15 of them.

Easily the best are the three books by Marcus Buckingham (with co-authors for the first two). First, Break All the Rules followed by Now, Discover Your Strengths gave insights into managing and self understanding that began a transformation in my thinking. MB's third book, The One Thing You Need to Know is a landmark book. After reading that I brought some of the ideas to my work team, namely the emphasis of Clarity of Purpose and the four questions: Who do we serve? What are our strengths? How do we keep score? and What actions can we take today? I recommend that book for every manager/leader if you only will read one book this year.

I will also add to my favorite read list the book by John Naisbit, Mindset. Afterall, a guy who rote the book Megatrends that sold 9 million copies must have something important to say. His comparison of USA, EU, China and India are worth the effort to read.

After the business books I also went for literature that I had neglected in my earlier life. Most notable are the books by Ayn Rand including Atlas Shrugged and The Fountainhead. I love the fact I heard that people when polled consider Howard Roark as one of the top four arhitects even though he was fictitious. He really came alive in Ayn's writing. I also read several books of poetry but I must admit that poetry is a mystery to me. Maybe I am too left-brained to really get it. It fascinates me but I will leave that topic to another musing.

Of course my favorite genre remains Science Fiction and I have recently been re-reading the Hyperion series of four novels by Dan Simmons. I have to rate Simmons as the best author writing these days as he also does other genres including horror and general fiction. He is as creative as they come and his writing is poetic prose. I have to also give a nod to Peter Hamilton. He is the most wildly creative and imaginative writer and I read his recent two-part novel, (find out name) and Judas Unchained.

I will have to see where my future reading takes me. I have to admit that I have to bring the books up closer to me without my glasses as my arms are not long enough with them. I still have the wish and desire to write and to create, maybe someday soon I will put fingertips to keyboard again...

Enjoy the day, above anything else, create.

Tales from the Train - Jan 22

Tales from the train - January 22nd, 2007

I am sitting on the 6:03 train getting ready to leave Penn Station in New York. The train has just begun rolling, the conductor has just come by to look at my ticket, and I have just finished reading my current book, 'Endymion' by Dan Simmons. Next will be 'the Rise of Endymion' which complete the four part 'Hyperion' work. Good and creative stuff!

I realize I owe the readers of this blog more information about the train fatality yesterday. It turned out that someone had committed suicide by stepping out into the tracks in front of my train. I did hear the body move under the train and that is a very grisly thought. The NJ Transit dispatched another train and we were on our way within an hour of the accident. The photos from the blog earlier are from my cell phone camera.

How to make this blog useful to the people I would like to reach for Home Field Advantage? Well, I guess I am starting with keeping myself interested and then may reach out to others as collaborators. Co-creators. Co-inventors. Participants in creating something that has yet to exist.

When the train hit that poor person I was working in the HFA Basecamp site as well as was listening to a Podcast called "the Accidental Creative." I found this on iTunes as one of the offerings of free podcasts. All about how to be a better creative talent of whatever artistic endeavor.

Home Field Advantage is starting to take shape with an initial set of product ideas as well as with plans for the formation of a company. Home Field Advantage, LLC is about to be born. Pretty exciting stuff.

Of course it would be exciting to get that first check for something produced and bought. Entrepreneurship can be lots of fun. I just hope it is not a distraction or substitute for something important or meaningful.

Well, I will close this installment of 'Tales' to rest my mind a bit and to let it float into the air. There is always too much to do or to even think about so no sense in trying to get it all done or thought today.

The final line in my recent book seems appropriate... 'I wish you sweet dreams, and health, and quiet breathing.'

Quote of the Day - Jan 23, 2007

"Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic." -- Arthur C. Clarke

My Office

My office in 201 Philosophy Hall

Roto Roli on Amsterdam Avenue

One of my favorite lunch places. I suggest the Chicken Frankie. Kind of like a burrito but tastier.

Dolphin Smile logo - the enigmatic smile

Dawn over Morningside Heights

Dawn over Morningside Heights as I walk across the Columbia University campus from Broadway to Amsterdam at 116th Street.

Location of death on Northeast Corridor

This is the location of the death that happened on the NJ Transit Northeast Corridor line before noon on Sunday, Jan. 21. The suicide happened near Metropark Station.

Train involved in the accident

Death by train.

Death on the Train

Instead of my usual 'Tales from the Train' I am writing this installment from a NJ Transit train on the Northeast Corridor around Metropark. We were tooling along and I head something hit and bounce along the undercarriage of the train that I am in. The train horn blew a sustained tone as the train came to a stop in several hundred feet. We have just been informed that there was a fatality and we are awaiting transfer to another train.

Got to go now. More later.