I'm not in a Hurry, I'm Driven

I was accused today of always being in a "Hurry"...?

Those of you who know me well, know quite clearly that I have not been in a "Hurry" in many years.?As far as I am concerned... If you are in a hurry at any time, you have not planned well enough, but that's the Project Manager in me.??

I caught up with this individual and questioned them further about their observation, and as it turned out, the feeling was that as I was observed walking through the office I'm always moving quickly and have a look on my face that screams "Get out of my way!" (oddly enough... most people do).?I laughed and my introspective side took over quickly.?I realized rapidly that my demeanor of being in a "Hurry" comes from the intensity of purpose that I carry in the office.?It may be the "Lead, Follow, or Get the Hell out of my Way!" attitude that I approach in my Professional and Personal Life, which drives me; but it really comes down to the Distinct Lessons that I have followed through the years.??

The Marine Corps taught me how to "Improvise - Adapt - Overcome," but the true lessons of how to accomplish that in a REAL manner come much earlier from my Father.?He drilled three things into my head from the time that I was old enough to listen.?Everything gets done with three things:?Integrity, Intensity, and Attention to Detail.?Approach everything with these three things and you will always succeed, even if you fail.?It took me a lot of years and struggles to wrap my mind around this one, but it's true, and has never let me down yet.?Here's my take...?

Integrity:

?"Live so that when your children think of fairness, caring, and integrity, they think of you." (H. Jackson Brown, Jr.)

“A man has Honor, and Integrity if he holds himself to an ideal of conduct though it is inconvenient, unprofitable, or dangerous to do so." (Walter Lippman)?

Whenever you do something, and whatever you are doing MUST be done for the right reasons.?Many people that I have dealt with throughout the years have not thought through their personal value system. They’re not sure who they are or what they stand for, and they wait until the breaking of a crisis to make their decision. At that point, it’s too late. Faced then with great pressure, you will be more prone to take the route which is easier in that moment. Decide now what you will and will not compromise on. Then, when faced with ethical choices, the decision will have already been made.?Seriously, I know individuals that have a moral compass which is so skewed that I'm surprised that they can find their way across the proverbial street.?

In all things... Quit the rationalizations. There are always a million reasons to compromise your integrity. You hear them on the news every day as corporate executives struggle to justify their fat bonus checks. We just watched Congress get paid during a shutdown that they caused, while hundreds of Thousands were laid off, and Servicemen's families were being denied Death Benefits.?You can always come up with justifications that seemingly make good sense and let you sleep better at night. However, at the end of the day, when you place your rationalizations on a scale next to integrity, you’ll realize you sold out something priceless for a measly pittance. There’s nothing more valuable than your good name and the ability to look at yourself in the mirror each day with a clear conscience.?

In reality, there is no justification to a, "Means to an End" that does not begin with your own personal Integrity.?The journey towards an accomplishment or decision is just as important as the destination itself. Even if you are richly rewarded at the end, if you cannot look back on the means used to get there with anything but shame, your victory will be hollow indeed. Taking personal responsibility for your life is the heart of integrity.?It is the ability to own up to the fact that you are in control of your life, and you are responsible for both your successes and your failures. Nobody else but you.?

How many people do you know who act like social chameleons; they are a different person with you, but different at home, different at work, and different when traveling, ect. Instead of being a single self, they live as multiple selves, transforming into who they think each group wants them to be. William James, the philosopher and psychologist, said that men have “as many different social selves as there are distinct groups of persons about whose opinion he cares.”?So, the question becomes... Why do you care about other’s opinions???

"Patterning your life around other's opinions is nothing more than slavery." (Lawana Blackwell)

Be who are. Say what you mean. Do what you say you will do. Don’t just talk the talk, walk the walk.?

Intensity:?

"Any person that's not working with the same amount of intensity and passion that I do, I don't want to know." (Zakk Wylde)?

Behind the scenes, most people who are truly successful live lives that can only be described with one word intense.?They are intense about their work, their time, their relationships, and life itself. We use a different thought process than most people.?On the outside looking in, you may not always be able to notice.

Really, it's the opposite. Successful people only appear to have it all together because of the intensity it takes to create that appearance in the minds of others, but what exactly is that intensity, and where does it come from?

Intensity is living with an extreme sense and awareness of your purpose. Be driven in whatever you do and acknowledging that you have a limited amount of time to accomplish your vision. We are all born with a ticking clock, and you should live every day with both the Grace and Intensity that comes from being blessed enough to have woken up on the "Right Side of the Dirt" this morning.?Nobody lives forever.?

What most people miss, however, is that intensity is not a state of mind, it is a state of emotion.?Pursuing anything with intensity requires that you be emotionally connected to it. You must possess a commitment to be that vested in anything that you do.?I'm not saying that you need to be emotionally invested in your grocery shopping, however you SHOULD be emotionally invested to getting it done correctly, and in the right manner, so that your family is taken care of appropriately...

Ask yourself two questions, in everything you do, that will keep you in constant motion: What's important now? What's next? If you focus on these two questions, it will be almost impossible for your intensity level to drop. They will keep you moving and making lists to prioritize what needs to get done "Right Now" as well as what is meaningful.?Honor your family members and close friends. When you keep the people who matter most as top priorities in your life, you will constantly be reminded of a major reason to strive to do better. Seek to honor them in all that you do.?

Keeping your intensity level up will not only make you more productive, but it will also make you more aware. Time will no longer just slip away and get wasted on the things you know are not important, in both your professional and personal life.?When you are able to focus in on only the things that truly matter, amazing things can happen.?

Attention to Detail:

?"Discipline is based on pride, on meticulous attention to details, and on mutual respect and confidence. Discipline must be a habit so ingrained that it is stronger than the excitement of the goal or the fear of failure." (Gary Ryan Blair)

“Success in any endeavor requires single-minded attention to detail and total concentration." (Willie Sutton)?

The slang term “the devil is in the details” has a number of different senses. All of the meanings for the term boil down to the fact that it is often the small details of something which make it difficult or challenging. These details can prolong a task or foil an otherwise straightforward dealing. Like many proverbs which involve the devil, it is meant to sound a note of caution. It may also be used to excuse or explain the obfuscation of an otherwise very simple project or task.

In one sense, one might say attention to detail is the ultimate reference to a very small but ultimately important series of components of a larger task. For example, performing a scientific experiment in a laboratory is a hugely involved task which can sometimes be highly dangerous. A small error at the beginning can translate into a useless experiment at the end, so experimenters are reminded that they MUST approach everything with Attention to Detail. This reminder is intended to encourage the scientists to check their work, and to be thorough and careful in the lab.?Great workers in any field learn to never take shortcuts and develop a routine to do the same thing the same way every time.

Going back to some earlier writings, it really comes down to expectations and the right questions... Generally, an agreement may look reasonable at first glance, but a closer examination of the terms and "small print" may reveal a problem. People who routinely sign such agreements usually learn to look them over very carefully, looking for the snag or issue which might ultimately make the deal untenable. This attention to detail is the hallmark of successful people.

Looking out for the small details in life is generally a good practice, since it greatly reduces the risk of surprise. While some surprises are pleasant, those planned by a lack of attention to detail are generally not, so it pays to avoid pratfalls which are preventable by remembering that the "Devil's in the details." These behaviors and practicing an attention to detail is also often rewarded by the world in general, as you will gain a reputation for being careful and thoughtful as well as difficult to fool.?You will also realize very quickly that you will begin to notice nuances around you that will give you a MUCH clearer view of the people and the venues that you involve yourself in.

In general, I'm never in a hurry, but if I'm trying to get something done, and you are not helping, or may be hindering me you may just want to get out of the way.?I have a LOT to do, and the clock is ticking...