Gumption

Compartmentalizing vs Multi-Tasking

To compartmentalize means to divide in categories, separate sections, or spaces.

Multi-tasking is when you perform two or more more tasks simultaneously.

Functionally, when you?re trying to do something – they are opposites.

Does having a conversation with your spouse work when you?re checking email on your smart phone?

With so many choices available in our modern world, the phrase multi-tasking was borrowed from computer technology and thought an effective way for human living.

But the human brain works best when focused on one thing at one time. Starting and stopping – or switching – is what occurs between tasks. Continuous multi-tasking may be contributing to shorter and shorter attentions spans.

Completing tasks and feeling happiness occurs in single compartments – not in simultaneous moments.

Folk wisdom includes:

To many irons in the fire
Who follows two hares catches neither
To do two things at once is to do neither

When you take 100% responsibility for your thoughts, actions, and interactions with others, you are essentially compartmentalizing.

It takes Gumption to say no to multi-tasking.

Are you willing to say, “No” and take responsibility for your thinking, getting thinks done, and improving your relationship with others?

?Man, what are you doin? here??

Piano_Man_logo

In Billy Joel’slegendary song Piano Man, the lyrics go:

And they sit at the bar and put bread in my jar
And say, “Man, what are you doin’ here?”

The bar patrons are apparently awed by the Piano Man’s talent and performance.
It’s better than expected.
The performance doesn’t fit with the expectations of a local dive bar.

When you’re at work, does anyone ever ask you, “Man, what are you doin’ here?”

Responsibility

Dear Reader. Hopefully you’ll see the irony of this post appearing a few days late. All the pieces were in place for my Responsibility post to appear as originally scheduled last Thursday. Despite good intentions, it did not happen. I take responsibility. Drop-the-ball is as drop-the-ball does.

Strength#5_Responsibility

Tom Rath’s book Strengths Finder 2.0revealed my top five strengths. My number five strength is responsibility. Wow! It’s a good thing – I’ve based my career on Gumption, or personal responsibility. It’s a relief to learn I’m practicing what I preach – LOL!

People with the responsibility theme, or strength, take psychological ownership for all that they commit to do – large or small. They feel emotionally bound to follow through to completion. When they can’t deliver, they try to make it up to the person to whom they’ve committed.

Responsibility people feel that apologies aren’t good enough. They believe that excuses and rationalizations are unacceptable. They can’t live with themselves until restitution has been made.

Ouch! Knowing this about myself makes me want to be careful for the commitments I make … and explains a lot about myself.

[Read more…] about Responsibility

My Ideal Sponsor Partner

To achieve my goal of sharing the message of Gumption with every student in Montana, I’ll need to find a sponsor or sponsors.

Here are the main characteristics I’ll seek in my ideal sponsor partnership:

Education. First and foremost, all sponsors will have a strong focus and commitment toward education. They are open-minded to new ways of doing things. They believe that education is a lifelong activity. They know that only an educated person can live a truly free and creative life.
Montana. A love of and strong commitment to the state of Montana. Helping Montana will be at the core of our partnership. Both my partners and I believe in the Montana lifestyle, the outdoors, and the preservation of our way of life. I planted my flag in Montana in 2006. I imagine Montana being my primary home for the rest of my life. I love Montana.

Montana?s Youth and School Demographics

MT_Schools-Public:Private_byCategory

In my last two posts, I’ve mentioned that Montana has total of 148,500 students in the 967 public and private schools. Here is a further breakdown of those numbers and some other interesting demographic details.

There are actually a total of 148,538 students in Montana’s public and private schools; 140,833 – public; 7,705 – private.
High school always encompasses grades 9–12.
There are 214 high schools in Montana: 182 – public; 32 – private.

How I Will Speak to Every Student in Montana about Gumption

See larger image at the end of the posting

In my previous post, I presented a grand vision for speaking to every student (K-12) in the state of Montana at all 967 public and private schools. It will take three-plus years to complete.

Here is how I intend to physically accomplish this big task.

Sponsorship – The schools will not have to pay a dime. I’ll fund the project via sponsorship. My goal is to find a single, primary sponsor who will fund at least 50% of the project. Other sponsors will be brought on board as either regional sponsors or specialty sponsors to fund specific items such as gifts and single-item needs.
My Job – My job will be pretty simple. Go to each and every school and deliver the message of Gumption to every single student – with passion. Second, and equally important, I will act as the conductor. I need to create the music and dance between the youth, the schools, the sponsors, and my team.

Gumption

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