Some weeks just get the better of me, you know?
Actually, this week that I’m writing this did not get the better of me. This week I had some extra time on an airplane and thought to myself “What should I do about the weekly email when I just don’t find the space and time I need to write it?” Better write it now.
So you’re seeing this email because the week you’re reading it, something got the better of me.
Writing to you each week is a privilege, and I’m honored that almost half of you open this email up and read it each week. And it’s a correspondence that matters to me. I learn with and from you every week. I don’ t want to skip writing it ever. But even more important to me is that I not skip sending it. And there will be a week – or several – when I need an email like this waiting in the wings.
Now over to you. What’s something really important to you, something timebound that has a repeating deadline? Something you can’t or really don’t want to miss? Think about it, I’m happy to wait.
Got it? OK.
So what’s the plan for when you can’t get to it?
Not “if.” When.
That shift right there is the difference between stressed and resilient. “If I can’t do it!” lights up all your stress chemicals and pushes you a step closer to overwhelm or burnout. “When I can’t do it” requires planning and communication but takes a lot of the stress reaction out of it. Acknowledging for sure that some day you’re going to miss that deadline means you think of a backup. Or change the expectation you’ve set. Or recruit an understudy who can step into that role for that performance.
So tell me, please, what is it you’ve committed to doing and what is the plan for when you can’t? Hit reply – I’m really interested to know. And since I won’t remember exactly what this email said when I need it to be sent, it will be a very cool surprise to me to read your response!
All my best,
Dr. G
