Pots, Black Kettles, Glass Houses And Stones (General)

When I was young, I would hear the saying, “isn’t that the pot calling the kettle black?” and I always wondered what that really meant. As I grew older, I began to understand the meaning more thoroughly and then recognize the application in real life. Usually, one person complaining about the behavior of others, when they regularly do the same thing themselves. I think we all have tendency to do that at times, some of us more than others, some of us pots, some black kettles. It seems easy to identify and enumerate all the shortcomings in other people and other organizations, however, “upon further review” sometimes those are exactly the same shortcomings that we have ourselves, or are present in our own organization. It is really easy,( especially as a business coach) to identify what people should be doing, and tell businesses how they should be acting, but are those really things that you practice yourself? Sometimes the answer is “yes, absolutely!” and sometimes it is “notsomuch.” Recently, I approached a gentleman at an event and introduced myself. He seemed very reluctant to engage, yet I persisted in trying to learn more about him. He informed me that he had been unemployed for a few months, yet had recently found a job and was now doing some networking. Then he blurted out that he had called me a few months ago, left a voice message and had never received a return call. Ya know, sometimes you feel bad, and sometimes you feel really bad! I apologized for not calling him back and muttered some lame explanation, and then apologized for my excuse. I teach people to respect others and to treat the client professionally and here before me was an example of how I had failed to practice what I was preaching! (another good saying but that is another story) Now, earlier this year I told you about being overwhelmed with demands on my time and that one of my goals was to get more organized, and more efficient, however this encounter forced me to once again realize that phone messages, emails, letter requests, facebook, tweets, breakfasts, lunches, dinners, and coffee are really about people, and not goals to be managed, and that there are only so many hours in a day to serve. So, what do you do? If you want to perform at 100%, you must reduce and restrict access to insure that you can fulfill all the demands on your time. Or, do you continue to allow free access and just do your best to meet all the demands you can, knowing that some are going to be disappointed? Tough call, but the decision will lead you to coping with the overwhelming demands that today’s business environment places on us as business professionals…and I do not see it slowing down in the future! I try to remember that these requests, demands, and inquiries are not just tasks on the to-do list but behind each one is a person! For me, it has become an ongoing struggle to balance the “task oriented” mentality required to raise fund, and manage the center, with the “people oriented” needs that are part of every small business that we serve in a given day. It is a good challenge, and one that keeps me wondering, writing, and seeking a solution. If you have any solutions, or suggestions,… why not write a response below and share it with other readers… or maybe I am alone in this …would not be the first time! So, for all of those whom I have not called back, I sincerely apologize, I am working through my call backlists! …and for those who owe me calls, reports, and decisions…relax. I understand and I forgive you… because people in glass houses should not throw stones!