Cycles

18/6/2016

Do you try to live and work in perpetual 'summer' mode?

One thing you notice living in a temperate climate is the changing of the seasons. In autumn and winter, we see nature dying back, retreating into hibernation. In spring and summer, we see it springing back into life again. It’s as if winter is resting and summer is thriving. It’s a similar rhythm to sleeping and waking. Down-times allow us to recharge so that we have the energy we need for the up-times. Try going without sleep for a night or two and you quickly realise how vital it is!

Confucius said wisely: ‘If the land is always filled with sunshine, it will soon turn to desert.’ These words resonate down through the ages and yet, in the 21 century, our technology (e.g. electricity, light, on-line) and culture (e.g. consumerism; competition; on-demand) are driving us incessantly towards continuous activity, constantly straining to achieve, to out-perform. Busy-ness is equated with value (if you don’t believe me – try telling your boss and peers at work that you’re not busy). No rest.

In order to sustain this lifestyle, we live on caffeine and all sorts of other stimuli to keep us going, running at peak performance. As a consequence, physical and mental health suffers and we feel caught in a perpetual rat race where only the fittest survive. Organisational KPIs drive us to lower costs and higher results, always with an anxious look over one shoulder to keep an eye on the global competition biting at our heels. Resources are getting scarce and the environment is at risk.

So here we are and it’s tempting to think, ‘We’re all doomed’ and to cry out in protest, ‘Stop the world, I want to get off!’ Or we can pause and reflect: What is driving our leadership and business beliefs and behaviour? What could the benefits be (e.g. energy, sustainability, effectiveness) of building autumn & winter periods into our organisational plans and cycles? What ecological principles can we draw on? What could that look like in practice? What are we willing to do to make it happen?

28 Comments

Shanti

19/6/2016 01:12:08 am

Profound!

Nick Wright

19/6/2016 10:22:05 am

Erm...thanks, Shanti! :) All the best. Nick

Ericka Krystalyn

19/6/2016 10:24:23 am

So true! I have worked with many fantastic people who would need this autumn & winter periods in their lives. They have worked until they acquire physical pains to the extent they become basically useless to the company. Literally used and then thrown away.

Are we at our company's disposal? One would think that the higher authorities are watching them slog for the company and even wait for that pat on the back when all you end up getting is that darned ol' boot in your behind! Nick You should sell this idea to auditors and ISO organizations where this concept of downtime is made compulsory in order for people and company productivity 😃

19/6/2016 10:30:19 am

Hi Ericka. I can relate to the situation you describe. I worked with one organisation that, with good intentions, tried to run on constant 'summer'. It attracted highly motivated people who shared its vision and aspiration. Over time, the cracks began to show with more and more people experiencing symptoms associated with stress.

I remember one person saying to me satirically that they thought it would be a good idea to replace the drinks machine in the staff room with an antidepressant dispenser! Around the same time, I heard of a business in London that had installed resuscitation machines in office corridors for 'when' people have heart attacks!!

Your comment about ISO made me smile. :) All the best. Nick

E.G.Sebastian (CPC)

23/6/2016 03:09:59 pm

It's one of my top 3 fave quotes ever "Stop the world - I want to get off!" (was that a Woody Allen quote?) -- Hmm... as far as applying "season" to serving my clients, I'd say that each client individually has the "season" effect - and when one "loses it's leaves and turns into winter" - meaning (the opposite, really), that they don't need me any longer and they stop working with me (winter to my bank account from this client); then a new season starts with a new client :)

But... many of us totally love what we do and we love doing it year round. I started implementing a strict 2 to 3 vacation "rule" only in my 5th or 6th year of this business (coaching/speaking/consulting - started in '03). We usually take 4 to 7 day mini vacations (go to Florida Keys in the winter, and hang out with the Iguanas); and take at least one 10+ day vacation in the mountains (and a few mini-vacations). My daughter goes to Clemson, so we turn our visits into hiking adventures :)

23/6/2016 03:21:18 pm

Hi E.G. and thanks for the note. What struck me in reading your example of work with clients is that some types of work have natural starting, doing and ending phases - whether that be, say, coaching or working with projects. I worked with one leader who always marked the end of a project, assignment etc. with a ceremony of some sort - e.g. a meal together where he would thank each person individually and present each with a personalised gift. It created an opportunity for affirmation and conclusion - a ritualised ending - that marked completion and celebration of something important. That enabled us to leave something behind psychologically and emotionally before moving onto something else next. In stark contrast, I know people whose jobs feel never-ending, relentless. If they achieve a goal, their bosses simply raise the expectation bar. Very depressing and demotivating. I like the way you choose to build 'seasons' into your annual work cycle. A great example. All the best. Nick

Daniel Smith

23/6/2016 03:23:59 pm

I went for a few years without winter, moving from Shanghai to Brisbane when things got cold and back again. But deliberately structuring time to read, rest, recharge and refocus is a critical part of my planning.

Having countercyclical habits helps - for example, I took a week of May to live in Shinjuku, Tokyo, so I could enjoy an intensive week of Aikido training. And with my kids getting older, I'm trying to allow two weeks off at each changing of the season while they have school vacations.

23/6/2016 03:26:50 pm

Hi Daniel. What an interesting example of quite literally not experiencing winter! Can you say a bit more about what you mean by 'countercyclical'? I like the idea of creating cycles around other cycles such as school terms, vacations etc, especially if our own work doesn't have its own natural phases. All the best. Nick

Frankie Doiron, PCC, BCC

24/6/2016 04:36:10 pm

What a great analogy, Daniel!

Yolanda Gray

23/6/2016 05:05:03 pm

The only thing I've kept as priority is scheduling time with those who are most important to me. My husband and I take vacation--one long, a few minis, which have to be pre-scheduled depending on what we have going on. And I visit my aging mom and son on the other coast. I work at being totally present. I do struggle with the need to be creating and working especially as ideas come to mind--all the time. I like the idea of a ritualized ending of a project or group coaching program or workshop. I also find that summer is a great time to create as so many are out on vacation, their children out of school, etc. There is a lot of daylight--great for creativity and getting outside to "think" on things. Right now in my second year of a new career, I am working rather relentlessly to get things in place where I can "slow down, smell the roses" more. Great insight and thank you for the post.

23/6/2016 05:23:03 pm

Thanks Yolanda. You've made me think how in current 'developed' societies we need to create rhythms, including breaks etc, because they are no longer, in effect, imposed by the seasons. In low-tech agricultural societies, people's lives revolve around and are governed more by day and night, sowing and reaping etc. Sounds like you are proactive in creating healthy and life-giving patterns and relationships in your life. All the best. Nick

24/6/2016 04:37:04 pm

Yolanda Gray, so true :) - I schedule my family time (it's set on my calendar), and if my wife wants to go out or needs me to attend some event with her, she knows that we have to put it on my calendar, or else it will not happen (1. I'll forget; 2. I'll schedule something else for that time).

And, yes... that's a great goal: run your business in a way that you can slow down at times to "smell the roses" :) - Luckily, in my business, I do not have slow months. I can take vacations when I choose to :) But it took many years to get to this point (hence the importance of investing time and $$$s into learning how to build a profitable and successful biz).

26/6/2016 09:49:26 pm

I'm not looking for "slow months" after I'm up and running E.G. Sebastian! But I'm happy to put in all the hard work to get there.

Sandra Whiles

24/6/2016 09:32:39 am

Thanks nick. Made me think about some of my recent coaching experiences. I think that it's important as a coach to wander and get a balance between bright spring and summer positivity and more challenging autumnal and winter challenges. As coaches our boldness to challenge and stay comfortable with a bit of discomfort can really help our clients get insight and transformation.

24/6/2016 09:35:26 am

Thanks Sandra. That sounds really profound to me..! Can you say a bit more about what 'get a balance between bright spring and summer positivity and more challenging autumnal and winter challenges' could look like in practice - perhaps with examples? Many thanks. Nick

Richard Boston

26/6/2016 09:43:19 pm

Nice. Reminds me of crucible experience and the hero's journey.

26/6/2016 09:44:00 pm

Thanks Richard. I'm not familiar with that...could you say a bit more? All the best. Nick

Robert Dickman

26/6/2016 09:44:38 pm

In the brilliant film "Being There" Peter Seller's character Chancy Gardner speaks of the cycles of nature.It's worth getting if you haven't seen it.

26/6/2016 09:45:20 pm

Thanks Robert. I haven't heard of that. Sounds good! All the best. Nick

Judy Krings, Ph.D.,PCC

26/6/2016 09:46:05 pm

Living in Puerto Vallarta to escape the blustery cold winters of WI is amazingly joyful, Returning in May to resume a "spring" in the 50's and chilly rains until June make my husband and I smile. We LOVE our life-style brought about by my hubby's heart issues. It takes adjustment. Shifting cultures and way more responsibilities when we come back to the States is major, for 2 whole weeks! I enjoy this challenges of living in MX and we do without many luxuries of home. What we get instead is fantastic people, family love, more hugs, smiles, and terrific food and frolic at our stunning beach and mountain vistas. I remember 35+ years of darkness and freezing all winter and worrying if my therapy clients would make it in the blizzards. And $1200/month slow plow bills. Now I breathe! We are not ready to give up our home on beautiful, ever-changing Lake MI, but having water views along with sun, we know we are living the life worked our butts off to enjoy makes work a warm gift.

26/6/2016 09:47:50 pm

Hi Judy and thanks for sharing such a wonderful personal experience of the impact of - quite literally - moving between places and seasons! All the best. Nick

Sai Bhupalam

28/6/2016 08:51:59 am

I just read an article on resilience and it was talking about how important it is to avoid burnout and let the body, brain and mind rest. In my experience, it is up to each one of us individually to plan out our work - life - rest situations. The better we can do that, the better we can provide value to our clients.

A Silicon Valley entrepreneur made a multi million dollar deal and found out a few days later that he was overweight, had diabetes, sleep deprived and stressed out and he successfully changed his lifestyle and instead of going to happy hour every night he started hanging out with a mindfulness group.

28/6/2016 09:01:00 am

Hi Sai and thanks for the note. Yes, there is an increasing body of research that demonstrates how important rest is to our mental, physical, emotional and relational well-being. (I would add spiritual well-being to that list too). A good example is Hart's book, 'Adrenaline & Stress'. The entrepreneur you mention sounds like a wise person! All the best. Nick

Mark Cunningham M.A., M.S., ELI-MP

28/6/2016 06:56:18 pm

Corporate America is so driven and they don't really trust rest and rejuvenation for fear that the competition may gain a stronger foothold. This reminds me of a story I told two corporate management slaves one day while they visited in my office. As a matter of fact this story reminded me of myself when I first started in business for myself at the age of 28.

One day a young successful and driven young businessman was on a corporate retreat to Venezuela. He woke up one morning and walked out to the beach where all of the fisherman were going out with their nets and then bringing in their bounty of fresh seafood to sell to the local establishments. As they feverishly worked going out and back in again the young man noticed an older fisherman sitting in the shade taking stock of his daily bounty which he had already sold and enjoying the morning oceans wind and the open seas. The young man approached the old fisherman and asked him why he had stopped fishing in the height of all the abundance is fish still present. The old man looked at the young go getter and asked "why should I not stop?" The young man quickly responded that he could catch more fish and make more money. The old man asked then what?

The young man then said "so that you can sit back and relax and retire." The old man looked at the youngster and said, "that's exactly what I'm doing right now." The two corporate executives who were visiting me to find out why my numbers has slightly declined even though I had been named agent and franchise of the year for 3 years. After I told them the story, hoping they would gain an understanding of how my values and priorities had changed, they both looked dumbfounded with not even a clue to what I was taking about. I sadly smiled, shook their hands and told them that I had a golf t-time to make that afternoon. Lol

28/6/2016 07:01:05 pm

Hi Mark. What a wonderful, poignant, challenging, life-giving story! :) You lifted my spirits and made me laugh!! :) All the best. Nick

Lisa Carter

30/6/2016 09:26:11 am

Good for you Mark - that made me laugh too!

Terrence H. Seamon

4/7/2016 09:47:40 am

Your musing, Nick, reminded me of a conversation starter my wife came up with years ago, where she will ask someone "What are the seasons in your line of work?" It always leads to some interesting sharing.

4/7/2016 09:48:18 am

Hi Terrence. I love that question! :) Thanks for sharing. All the best. Nick

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