for the Journey

i’ve come across a wonderful idea that i just have to share.  i’m not entirely certain it’s an original idea (i think a friend read it in a book and related it to me anecdotally to make some point that is long since forgotten), but whatever.  it’s mine now.

the thought is that there is no difference between your business goals and your personal goals.  you are personally invested in doing well at your job, so in the final analysis they are all personal goals.  this has been an enlightening concept for me.

i bought a notebook when i got my last promotion.  it’s a small spiral-bound dealie with a divider in the middle, separating it into two sections.  on page one, you will find meeting notes from my first day as a project manager.  the entire first half of the notebook is filled with similar jotted tasks and outlines, sometimes marked with a sloppily scrawled star to denote added importance.  some pages are filled to bursting, and some contain only a few numbers where i was counting god-knows-what.

the middle divider page has a pocket that holds index cards (some of which have project action items written on the front), a memorial card from my grandmother’s funeral, and a cute girl’s phone number.

the back half of this notebook is filled with personal writings, reflections, doodles, a drawing of a website layout that i had in my head one day, and other non-workish things.  oh, and more pages with mysterious numbers written in my handwriting.  what the hell do i count anyway?

this little notebook represents balance in my life.  i have it with me at home, it sits on my desk at work.  it helps me to manage all of my business and personal goals- which are really just my personal goals.  one side is used by analytical me, the other side by creative me.  all things in balance.  when one half of this notebook fills up, it’s a sign that i need to concentrate a little bit more on the other.

and the business side just ran out of pages.

balance for the Journey,

-louie-