Jim's Pond - Exploring the Universe of Ideas
"Beware when the great God lets loose a thinker on this planet. Then all things are at risk. It is as when a conflagration has broken out in a great city, and no man knows what is safe, or where it will end." --Ralph Waldo Emerson
Wednesday, August 20, 2003

Discipline & Focus

So many things compete for my time. It's easy for me to get distracted. Especially when some things are easier than others to figure out. And then some things are much more interesting. Here's a sample:

  • budget (dealing with FY03 and FY04 right now. Will soon start dealing with FY05 about the time that FY03 is resolved.)

  • Security Issues

  • Am I spending too much time with Public Education Issues?

  • Am I spending too much time on Higher Education Issues?

  • Politics (Internal, external, State, Federal, etc.)

  • E-rate

  • URTA

  • Network Operation

  • Network Engineering

  • Touch America and its bankruptcy

  • Nemo

  • Cisco IOS

  • State and University Purchasing Policies

  • Advocate Roles

  • Communication (within the department, between departments, with stakeholders and others.)

    and on and on and on. There really isn't an end to this list. I haven't even scratched the surface of concerns, issues, responsibilities.

    I also think of myself in terms of Ethernet. Only one bit on the wire at a time. Only one thing I can do at a time. And for much of my management career I've had the attitude of getting things off my plate as fast as I can. That methodology has always worked for me personally. Sometimes it makes those that deal we me feel shortchanged. Like I don't care or something. Hard to explain exactly.

    But recently I've been trying a different approach. Stay with a problem, issues, discussion, longer and try to get to a good resolution place. It takes a great deal of strength, physically, emotionally and mentally, for me to do this. It is more rewarding and gives me the chance to gain a greater degree of understanding.

    Still, only one idea can capture my attention at any one time. Being right-brained helps me shift gears rapidly and in no particular order. Another trait that seems to, at times, annoy those who deal with me. I'm trying to change how that trait affects my behavior.

    All this brings me to now. How do I handle my job as a director and UEN employee? Right. Discipline & Focus. Remember that only one thing can be done at a time. Much of how I'm judged by my boss, peers and staff depends on the quality of my work, delivered one effort at a time.

    This week I'm concentrating on developing Network Operating Agreements at the State's Colleges and Universities. I want to get these done within the next month. I have a good start with appointments set at 5 of the 10 institutions. It should be a productive and interesting project. As long as I focus..........
    8:51:39 PM    comment []






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