This week I’m working in Amsterdam, a city I have only visited once before, at the age of twelve, on a family holiday.

There is so much to inspire here…

Having visited the Van Gogh Museum, I expected that one of the paintings would be my theme today.  In the event, I was so absorbed in the experience and so clear that I wasn’t going to photograph any of the artwork, that all I can say is that the whole permanent collection is an inspiration.  In any case, I highlighted art as inspiration as few weeks ago with ‘Flaming June’.

It won’t surprise you that I spent a lot of time in the Museum bookshop and almost invested in a book of ‘inspiration’ taken from the letters of Van Gogh (written to his brother, Theo).  One quote that struck me was this:

“I keep on making what I can’t do yet, in order to learn to be able to do it”  Vincent Van Gogh

It surprised me to realise that what we might think of as a prolific creation of art, was to the artist ‘work in progress’ and that every painting was a learning experience rather than a demonstration of skill.

(It also reminded me of that quote from a certain fast bowler that I posted in June!)

So, what is my inspiration of the week?

The cyclists!  Amsterdam is well known as a city where the bicycle is a principle mode of transport and several people warned me to watch out for them – ‘they come at you from all directions!’

A few days in, I’ve got into the (necessary) habit of checking for cyclists at every junction before I even think of crossing the road.  This morning, I was musing on why they feel like such a hazard…

Two things:

1.  They go FAST!

2.  Most don’t indicate.

…and then I thought, in the spirit of recognising that the things we are inclined to criticise in others are often reflections of ourselves, where in my life do I do that?

Not literally, because I actually never learned to ride a bike.

But where in my life do I go quickly and forget to tell other people where I’m going?

I found my answer.  Your turn…

Travel is a significant part of lots of working lives.  Some people love it, but for some it’s stressful, tedious or an unwelcome drain on time.  As more of us use technology to communicate with colleagues on different continents, the time we actually spend face-to-face is reducing and the need to make it count is greater.  If you’re worn out by the travel, you’re unlikely to be at your best to do business.  Here are some of my top tips for enjoyable international business travel and hence more productive time spent with your colleagues or clients in other countries:

 

Planning

• If it’s possible, and especially if I’m travelling out of office hours, I plan NOT to work while I’m travelling.  I indulge in a good book and regard it as a treat.
• When I plan a trip, I don’t automatically go for the cheapest option.  If I can reduce the stress or discomfort by spending a bit extra, then I go for it.  (One of the perks of being my own boss!)
• I make realistic plans about what I can get done whilst travelling.  Assuming that I can make phone calls or answer emails at specific times just creates more stress.
• I tell people well beforehand that I’m going to be away, so that they are not frustrated by having to wait for a response from me.
• If I’m going to need to call people who are in a different time zone (like home) I plan when I’ll do that and write it in my diary.

 

Packing

• If I’m leaving home before midday, I always pack the day before I travel.  That gives me overnight to remember any last-minute items.
• When I used to travel all the time, I had a toilet bag permanently packed with travel sizes of everything and an extra toothbrush, hairbrush and other essentials.  It’s lighter to carry and saves time when packing.
• I prefer to check in as much as possible and not have a heavy ‘carry on’ bag to lug around the airport.  And it means I don’t have to compete for space in the overhead lockers.  Yes, it means waiting in the baggage hall. I can read some more of my book…
• When I get to my hotel, I unpack everything.  It saves rummaging around in my bags to find things and it’s easier for re-packing!

 

 

Jet-lag

There are both physical and psychological factors involved in jet-lag/

For the psychological:

• I set my watch to destination time as soon as I get on the plane.  That gives me the whole flight to get used to it.
• I resist the temptation to calculate what time it is at home and focus on destination time. (This is why I plan calls in advance – I know that it’s a sensible time to call without having to calculate it)
• Wherever I am, I do the things that it’s normal to do at that time in that location.

 

For the physical:

• Sometimes the reason you wake up at odd times after shifting time zone is because it’s a mealtime at home.  Eat something for dinner that will take a while to digest and keep you satisfied until breakfast.  (Pasta with cheese is my favourite)
• Drink lots of water.  Air travel is dehydrating and it can leave you feeling disoriented and make it harder to concentrate.
• If the urge to sleep comes at the ‘wrong’ time of day, take a nap, but only for 90 minutes.

 

General

• Enjoy the experience!  We live in a time when it’s possible for lots of us to travel the world at modest cost.  Our grandparents didn’t have this opportunity and it seems unlikely that our grandchildren will.
• Despite the hassle of parking, of airport security, of airline food and of baggage halls, we are fortunate to be able to cover such great distances so easily.  Consider the alternative!!

 

 

 

I first came across this quote many years ago and it made me feel better about having been told I was ‘unreasonable’.

In the days when I had a ‘proper job’ I did sometimes make myself unpopular by challenging the status quo or refusing to accept something that clearly wasn’t working.  Early in my career I learned to challenge processes, activities and assumptions rather than people.

So why did I bring this quote out again this week?  I was talking with a prospective client who is involved in IT Transformation and he described his role as being to ‘challenge everything’.  That sounds very demanding to me and possibly likely to provoke some resistance.

I think it’s important to remember George Bernard Shaw’s words:

“…all progress depends on the unreasonable man”

And the unreasonable woman of course!

No matter how tough it gets, remember that when you’re labelled as ‘unreasonable’, you’re supporting progress.

In this episode Wilma and Dianne compare their favourite Olympic viewing so far, discuss the passion and ‘will to win’ of athletes and consider the parallels in working life. We talk about why a lot of people aren’t passionate about their work and share our views on recent sports team managers who have left their roles.

Book mentioned:
‘The Anxious Generation’ by Jonathan Haidt