Not So Boring 3rd Quarter

Leslie Jasper
Group Sales Manger
Des Moines Performing Arts

It’s IOWA STATE FAIR time! 

And, although “Nothing Compares”… really, nothing does… I am here to remind us of all the great happenings as we wrap-up the remaining summer months, in addition our beloved Iowa State Fair.  Just in case someone wants to load their August calendar with something other than the Butter Cow or Porkchop-On-A-Stick!

If the Iowa State Fair really DOES occupy most of your August days/nights, be sure to check out these awesome places and events that make our community and state not so boring after the fair, too! 

“Not So Boring” Happenings

(Find past happenings here and here)

I-Cubs

“Dog Day” August 12, bring your dog to the park for a game and enjoy dollar hot dogs!

www.MILB.com/index.jsp?sid=t451

Fridays at the Fountain

Free live music Friday nights at the West Glen Center in West Des Moines.  Family friendly.

August 9 and August 23

www.WestGlenTownCenter.com

Nightfall on the River

Nitefall on the River, presented by Veridian Credit Union, is an annual summer music series at the picturesque Simon Estes Amphitheater.  All Ages Shows, tickets $22-$31.

Final two shows of the summer!

Owl City, August 9 and Hanson, August 28

www.NightfallDSM.com

Des Moines Social Club

Fireball is back in a big way. It’s the ball of all balls. This year they’ve got sizzling sets by The Envy Corps and The Olympics, pair that with a fire-tastic performance by Chicago’s Pyrotechniq — all happening at the beautiful Simon Estes Amphitheater.

August 15, 7:30p.  Advance tickets $15 or $25 at the door.

www.DesMoinesSocialClub.org

Science Center of Iowa

Don’t miss the Science Center of Iowa’s 15th Annual Fundraising Event & Auction, one of the most talked about celebrations in Des Moines! With amazing live and silent auctions, delectable cuisine and cocktails and live music, the event is an exciting celebration of SCI and our commitment to informal learning.

August 23, 6p.

www.SCIowa.org

“Dancing on the Lake”

It’s the last one of the season!  Every Thursday night, come out and learn to dance social dances like salsa, swing, line dancing or contra dancing. Lessons start on the Overlook Terrace at 7:30 and the dancing begins at 8:00.Each week (June – August 22 ) will feature a different kind of dancing and music.

www.DMGov.org

Iowa Wineries

Did you know Iowa has over 70 wineries to explore?  During the remaining warm months, plan a road trip to visit these beautiful destinations and sample their delicious wines!

For a complete list of Iowa wineries:

www.CatchWine.com/wineries/iowa/

www.TravelIowa.com/attractions/wineries

Principal Riverwalk

Check out one of downtown’s hottest attractions, the newly finished riverwalk, starting at Walnut and Court Street in Des Moines.  Featuring a new “rest stop” that offers drinks, food, and a gorgeous view, The Riverwalk Hub Spot.

Ewing Park STAR Party

Bring your picnic blanket and come to Ewing Park to view the Perseid meteor shower! SCI and Des Moines Astronomical Society (DMAS) will have telescopes set up for you to experience this annual cosmic event. The action in the sky doesn’t get started until later, but the fun starts at 6:00 pm with activities in the park. August 10

www.DMGov.org

Parks and Recreation

There are only a few weeks left to take advantage of the pools and outdoor water fun!  Most pools close for the season September 2.

Des Moines Parks and Recreation

Gray’s Lake Bike Rental and water sports

www.DMGov.org

Big Creek Marina

www.BigCreekMarina.com   

Windsor Heights Parks and Recreation

www.WindsorHeights.org/index.htm

Waukee Parks and Recreation

www.Waukee.org/parksandrecreationdepartment.html

Polk County Conservation

www.PolkCountyIowa.gov/conservation

Knoxville Raceway

The biggest sprint car race in the world with the top drivers in the sport.  Join us for Knoxville Nationals, A four-day racing extravaganza that includes music, food, camping, expo and more that ends each night with some of the most exciting racing you can ever experience.

August 7 – 10

www.KnoxvilleRaceway.com/Event/53rd-Annual-Knoxville-Nationals

Blank Park Zoo

Last month of Zoo Brew!  Every Wednesday in August, starting at 5:30p.

www.BlankParkZoo.com

New View Wine Tasting at Glen Oaks

It is time again for New View to host an After Hours event this week on Thursday, July 11, 2013 at Glen Oaks Country Club.  We are pleased to have Ashley Damos, a Certified Wine Specialist and Assistant Wine & Spirits Manager from the Mills Civic Hy-Vee store lead us in wine sampling.  As a Certified Wine Specialist, Ashley brings a wealth of knowledge about different types of wine, wine regions, food and wine pairings, and more!

Ashley has chosen six types of wines for us to sample: Riesling, Pinot Gris, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Red Blend, and Cabernet Sauvignon.  The selected wines are from California, Oregon, Washington, and Argentina!  Many of the wines we will be sampling have rich histories or Iowa ties.  Ashley will provide sampling sheets for all attendees to record information such as the Vineyard name, grape varietal, region, year, taste profile, and price at the Mills Civic Hy-Vee Wine & Spirits store.  Participants can present the sampling sheet to the Mills Civic Hy-Vee Wine & Spirits store to receive a 10% discount on all wine purchases from Thursday night after the event through Sunday, July 14, 2013!

The event will be from 5:00-7:00 p.m. and include two flights: white and red.  The white flight will occur at approximately 5:30 p.m. or soon after a sizable crowd has arrived, while the red flight will occur at approximately 6:15 p.m.  There will be no charge to participants for sampling while supplies last.  During the sampling, Ashley will discuss each wine, including its Vineyard, history, taste profile, and more!  In addition, Ashley will be available throughout the entire event to answer all of our questions about wine. 

Thank you, Ashley, for your help with this event, and we look forward to seeing everyone on Thursday, July 11, 2013 from 5:00-7:00 p.m. at Glen Oaks Country Club.  

What Five Years has Taught Me

Kathleen Riessen
Partner - Measured Intentions

How do you a grow a business in a bad economy? How should I find clients? What can I offer my clients? Why would I quit a perfectly good job to go out on my own? How can I juggle being a mom and a business owner?

These are just a few of the questions I asked myself five years ago as I began Measured Intentions. This June, we celebrated our fifth year in business. Read on to see the top five things I learned that could help you succeed in your career as a professional, whether or not you are a business owner.

       1.  Surround yourself with people smarter than you. Within the first few months of the business, I added a business partner that had a different skill set than mine. We did this again a year later. These partners helped define the business and carry it forward. In my case, these partners were equity stakeholders; however, they don’t need to be. They could be vendors that act as partners or they could be mentors or advisors for you.

       2.  Network. Be a well networked person. Don’t just attend events – get involved. I spent the first few years of the business attending all sorts of events both in and out of my industry. Now, I don’t have as much time so I am selective on what I attend; however, I still understand the power of networking and make time each week to maintain relationships and build new ones. Sometimes people are hesitant to talk to me at a function since I am a business owner. I was in your shoes not long ago so don’t be shy. I wouldn’t be at a function if I didn’t want to meet you.

       3.  Give more than you receive. Figure out how you can help others. They will work extra hard to help you. Often times in our business we connect people that can be mutually beneficial to each other. Most of the time it doesn’t result in any direct benefit for us but that is okay. It always pays off in some way over the long term and it makes us feel good.

       4.  Know Your Value. You must determine that you and what you offer are valuable before you can convince someone to buy from you. This takes a lot of self confidence and can easily be rocked. Trust me, it will be rocked, which leads me to my next point.

       5.  Keep going. There are days when you feel like throwing in the hat. When you wonder why you are doing this. When you wonder if you can pay the bills. Those are the days you put one foot in front of the other and keep going.

When I look back at the last five years, I see the steep learning curve and all that we have accomplished. I am sure that in the years to come, I will look back and say the same thing. If I remember the five points above, then I know I will continue to be successful.

Kathleen Riessen is a Partner at Measured Intentions, a marketing consulting firm in Urbandale, Iowa.  

Making a Lasting Difference

Steve Chapman
President & CEO
Ruan Transportation Management Systems

Several months ago, New View’s Danny Beyer, whom I had never met at the time, requested a meeting with me to discuss my career and how individuals can make a difference in their communities. While flattered, I was not sure why he contacted me instead of other community leaders. However, we met over coffee and talked about the importance of volunteering, getting involved and giving back within our community. We had a great conversation, and it caused me to think back about myself at his age and my desire—just like his—to make a difference.

Last week, Danny sent me an e-mail asking if I would be willing to write New View’s guest blog for June. He said it would be great if I would write about personal mentors who I have been fortunate to work with in my career. As I think about the many individuals who both intentionally and unintentionally mentored me throughout my career, I realize they made a lasting difference in my life. And I am now at a point in my life when offering my time and guidance to younger, determined generations is so very important. I hope to impact them the way my mentors impacted me.

I have been very fortunate to have had a successful and rewarding career. That process began with the best and most important mentors in my life—my parents. My parents taught me that I truly can do anything as long as I am willing to put in the time and effort required to succeed.  When I needed help or did something wrong, they were always there to pick me up, allow me to learn from my mistakes and get on with my life. They taught me values that will always guide my life and my decisions. I was taught that there is right and there is wrong—nothing in between. As a result, decisions came easy for me because I never looked beyond what was the right thing to do. My parents taught me the importance of caring for others and always putting their needs above my own. 

After completing my studies at Drake University and entering the workforce, I was determined to succeed in business. But I also wanted to succeed in being an engaged citizen within my community. So with every opportunity I was given, I worked extremely hard to make a difference, and the impact of my efforts on others was always in forefront of my thought process. I was taught that success is shared, and it always felt better when that success had a positive impact on others. As my responsibilities expanded, I looked for ways to get involved and give back to this community in which I was so fortunate to live. That is where my second group of mentors came in.  

One thing I learned quickly was that the most involved and successful business leaders in our community welcomed individuals like me to the table as long as we were willing to work. I first became involved in what was then the Greater Des Moines Chamber of Commerce by volunteering on various committees focused on economic development. It gave me the opportunity to meet and work with successful, philanthropic individuals like John Fitzgibbon, Bill Knapp, Marvin Pomerantz, Dave Miller, Connie Wimer, David Hurd and many others. Each of these individuals—whether they knew it or not—guided, coached and mentored me in so many ways. They taught me so much, but most importantly, they taught me the importance of giving back. At the time, they made it clear that they did not expect my financial contributions to the community to be the size of theirs but, as my career grew, so should the size of my contributions. They were always willing to offer their time to help me better understand the needs of our community and how to address them. I feel very fortunate to have become close friends with many of the leaders who truly define this community.    

In fact, I was asked to speak at the funeral of a friend and mentor during their last days of life. This individual was such a strong personality and leader that once I hesitantly agreed, they proceeded to tell me what they wanted me to say at their funeral. I was directed to not speak about them, but rather about this great community and the work that still needs to be done. It was a demonstration of leadership that never fades because it is instilled in others.  

The leaders and mentors I have been so fortunate to know taught me the importance of working together within our community to overcome challenges, create opportunities and make it an even better place to live, work and raise a family. It’s people who truly make a difference through their willingness to stand up at the right time for the right cause—and Des Moines has been blessed with many leaders who selflessly donate their time and financial resources to the community. 

Today, I still consider myself that young businessperson looking up with respect to the leaders who have mentored me and made a lasting difference in my life. Now, I’m honored to have the opportunities to speak to organizations like the Greater Des Moines Leadership Institute and United Way’s Education Leadership Initiative, as well as work with young people, like Danny, who want to get involved in their community. I was taught well by my many mentors, and I will do everything I can to continue to teach the importance of getting involved, giving of time and resources and always acting for the right reasons.

The 4th Annual Barley PAR-TEE

The Who, What, Where, When and Why of this

Unique Fundraising Opportunity

Let me start by expressing my sincere gratitude to the Board of New View for helping us to make this event - the 4th Annual Barley PAR-TEE on August 3rd - as known as possible to the community.  My name is Justin Bogers - Marketing Manager of Link Associates.  Link serves over 1,200 community members with intellectual disabilities, and their families, to help provide our consumers with "opportunities to achieve their personal goals" and live the best lives possible.  We provide a full spectrum of services for our consumers to help them reach their goals - case management, vocational, leisure, residential, transportation, anything they would need to help them live at their best.  However, we cannot complete this mission without the support of our community.  Our fundraiser is aimed at helping us achieve this mission, while providing the contributors a fun, exciting, unique way to celebrate.  What is the Barley PAR-TEE?  In short:

The Barley PAR-TEE is a distinctive event combining the sampling of a large variety of beers from local micro breweries with an amusing twist on golf involving golf clubs and tennis balls.  Golfers will be allowed two clubs of their choice with “putters” being provided on each “green”.  This unique game of golf will be played on the pasturelands at Hawkeye Antique Acres (exit 117, I-80).  To compliment the day of beer tasting and this innovative golf experience, the Iowa Barbeque Society will be serving a tantalizing BBQ meal with live entertainment provided by local area bands.

When I give this description, the statement I typically hear is "Golf?  Well, I'm no good at golf."  Let me assure you - there are no Tiger's, Phil's, or Zach's at the pasture golf - not your regular run-of-the-mill golfing adventure.  Take a little bit of farm game, mix in tennis balls, a few golf clubs, themed holes, fairways, and unique putting situations, and you have pasture golf.  Last year's theme was Schools of Iowa.  Picture this: Step up to your tee box at the U of I hole and you are challenged by a board with red Solo cups set up for a game of beer pong.  In order to advance your ball to a certain spot, you must put your ball into one of the cups - pong-style.  At another hole (AIB), you get to the green and see a... file cabinet turned sideways with an open drawer?  How will you hit the ball in?  Well, by using a giant number two pencil, of course!  Slingshots, singing competitions, javelin throws, hog calls, tire irons, wood ponies, and many other creative designs have kept the "golfers" engaged and having a great time - without having to be avid golfers.  We are actively seeking creative four-somes for this year's theme - Reality TV!  Just think of it... Survivor, Are You Smarter Than a Fifth Grader, Cupcake Wars... Honey Boo Boo.  Prizes will be given for your creativity - like best team spirit and other awards!

 How about the beer?  Samples will be ready for your taste buds on August 3rd at 2pm from Confluence, Exile, 515, Twisted Vine, and many other local, incredible brewers - ready to show the great options this area has to offer.  Our goal is to spotlight these talented brewers because they are choosing to be a part of our event.  Please, if you happen to be out visiting one of these fine establishments, thank them for being a part of the Barley PAR-TEE on August 3rd, and let them know that you will be there to support them and Link's mission.  Not a drinker, but still want to be involved in the event?  Are you going to be the DD?  We have a deal for you and will have you covered as well!

What if you get hungry during the event? Is there food?  We've got you covered.  We will have a tantalizing BBQ pulled pork meal, courtesy of the Iowa Barbeque Society, with baked beans, chips and a drink.

A great addition to the change in venue (formerly at Living History Farms), and increase in time (now 2pm-9pm), is that we will have multiple bands performing throughout the event.  We are currently working on some staples of the local scene, and are proud to share our first confirmation of Randy Burk and the Prisoners!  They will be our second band on stage that night.  As soon as we have a chance to confirm with the two other bands, I will let everyone know.  Keep an eye on the Facebook pages for additional, up-to-the-minute information regarding the BPT.  BPT and RPB - absolutely!

Help create a better life for members of our community by contributing in some way during the Barley PAR-TEE fundraiser.  We are still actively seeking business sponsors (from $250 up), four-somes, individual golfers, donations, and ala-carte style participants.  All proceeds go to the Link Associates Foundation to help us in our mission.  I look forward to seeing you on August 3rd, starting at 2pm, at Hawkeye Antique Acres, for the 4th Annual Barley PAR-TEE!  For more information, go to barleypartee.com, check out our Facebook event page and fan page, and find our YouTube video - with a sweet voice-over.

National Running Day

Chris Burch
Director of Racing and Events
IMT Des Moines Marathon

Did you know that our nation recently celebrated National Running Day? Running in the United States is becoming more and more popular and my guess is that you are noticing it. From what was considered a man's sport some 40 years ago, running is attracting more than just the high school cross country or track standout these days. Woman are buying more running shoes and signing up for more races than men these days. Many of them are taking the family on vacation and spending hundreds of dollars at expos. Races today are more like events that provide destination experiences and platforms for fundraising and awareness than who can cross the finish line first competitions.

Running is following such a popular trend that even local events such as Dam to Dam, which has been around for more than 30 years, sells out in a number of days and the Living History Farms Cross Country Race in hours. Want to be a part of the Farms race? Don’t leave your computer when online registration opens. First time national events saw huge numbers of participants in Des Moines last year including more than 20, 000 in the Color Run and 12,000 in the Glow Run alone. Let alone mud and obstacles.

What may have been described as a cult sport some twenty years ago, running is now as main stream as it gets. Name a magazine advertisement or television commercial that focused on running. You probably can. Five years ago. No way. So what is causing the surge in popularity? For starters the sport is accessible at a time when many things in the daily grind are becoming less and less accessible. There is minimal equipment to buy. There aren't any membership requirements, rental fees or contracts to sign. And many runners start and finish their run from the front door. No getting stuck in traffic just trying o get to your workout.

Running provides opportunities to exercise control in a number of different ways. It provides an opportunity for goals and objectives to be met and set; a time for personal reflection, imagination, and the chance to sort out the day’s events. Running provides for the theater of competition. Personal improvement, self satisfaction, and enjoyment in a sport that offers many personal returns only add to the physical and well being benefits of regular exercise.

Perhaps it is the collective energy and spirit of those ideals that is making running so popular. More and more people are discovering the sport and celebrating it with others at running events from the church on the corner 5K to ultramarathons and 100 mile races. Des Moines was recently named the Outstanding Runner Friendly Community of the Year in 2012. If you seem to notice more people out running over the lunch hour or through the neighborhood on your commute home for work, perhaps instead of asking yourself what you think those people are thinking, you should ask yourself why aren’t you thinking like them.

Don't Forget to Press Flesh

John R. Stokka
CEO DomiKnow, Inc.

Welcome to the new digital age. We can share a picture with the world in seconds with Instagram or Pinterest. The era where we can share every thought, desire, action in seconds through Facebook and Twitter. Yes indeed, we can post, email, tweet, pin, check-in, update, follow, like, and share with relative ease and efficiency, but should we?

I recently "caught" two people in my office going endlessly bantering back and forth with each other about something fairly simple over internal email. Instead of getting up and walking across the room to have a 2 minute conversation, they had exchanged several emails over a couple days about the topic. Not only is it inefficient, it is an environment that can breed contempt, misunderstanding, and a myriad of other issues in an organization that is growing at the pace as quickly as ours.

There is no denying that social media is here to stay. It has changed the way we communicate and the way we do business. It's an extremely effective medium for certain types of messaging. But don't forget to press flesh. That's right, the good old-fashioned face-to-face meeting intro with a handshake. There is no substitute for looking someone in the eye and having a conversation.
The digital world is a wonderful efficient method of communication that should augment, not replace every other activity that we've developed and evolved over thousands of years of human existence.

The best thing about all of this digital communication is how much of the norm it has become. And in nearly every rule, there lies the value of the exception. If you are willing to make the phone call, if you are willing to go and have the one-on-one conversation, if you are willing to write a personal letter and drop it in the mail... Then guess what? As much as social media and digital communication have become the norm, you will stand out in a crowd of tweeters and posters as a true communicator. Those who understand this will have a leg up on everyone else in whatever they endeavor to do.

Website - http://www.domiknow.com

Facebook - http://facebook.com/domiknow

Twitter - @domiknow

LinkedIn - http://www.linkedin.com/company/domiknow

Leading the Way: You may need to adjust your leadership style

Alex Taylor
Associate Director
University of Iowa
Tippie School of Management

I recently enjoyed a couple of great reads about leadership functions and styles that served as a catalyst for some introspection: What are the functions of a leader and how do they perform them?
In his book, “A Force for Change: How Leadership Differs from Management,” John Kotter lists three primary functions of a leader:

1 Strategy — A leader establishes direction by paying attention to the market — industry, customers and employees — then develops, plans and implements the mission, vision and strategies for the long term success of the organization.
2 Communications — A leader aligns people and resources by sharing and communicating the organizational plans and strategies so that employees, customers and partners understand, embrace and commit to these goals.
3 People management — A leader motivates and inspires by appealing to and tapping into emotional and rational values and needs of employees, customers and others to work toward shared goals and collaborative results.

So if these are the leadership functions, what are the styles?
John Hendry, author of “Between Enterprise and Ethics: Business and Management in a Bi-Moral Society,” identifies four leadership styles — authoritative, participative, empowering and servant — as they might pertain to Kotter’s functions of a leader.

Authoritative leaders cut through or eliminates red tape, process and politics to make definitive decisions. Their conviction and confidence can inspire others to follow and/or do as their told.

Authoritarian leaders sometimes convey a “my way or the highway mentality”, which can backfire when employees don’t believe their input matters or their voices are heard.

Participative leaders enable others to provide input, but remain the final decision-makers. By encouraging participation, these leaders gain good insight and ideas that enable them to validate and/or adjust their decisions accordingly.

This style can help build consensus to guide and align organizations. However, if input of others never gets incorporated, a participative leader risks losing the loyalty and support of employees whose ideas perceptively fall on deaf ears.

Empowering leaders facilitate and guide others to make decisions as talented subject matter experts. These leaders must check their egos at the door, trust the talents and experience of subordinates, accept some uncertainty, and be able to recognize and acknowledge the success of others.

To be effective, an empowering leader must set clear limits of authority, establish shared and measurable goals, and be able to restrain empowered employees from running amok.

With planning and management, an empowered environment can be very innovative and entrepreneurial. But left unchecked, it can spiral out of control and the inmates can take over the prison.

The servant leader often can be found in smaller organizations and not-for-profits, working side by side with others to provide direction.

When they lead by example, these leaders demonstrate they are not above doing the work expected of others. This style can garner the respect of others and can be inspirational.

However, there are some people who prefer authoritarian leadership and a servant leader might appear weak and/or ineffective.

Just as we periodically measure and adjust our organizational focus to accommodate changing economic, financial and political environments, I believe it’s equally important to measure and adjust our leadership styles to stay relevant and effective.

So, what functions do you lead, and how do you do it?

Booze, Sex, & Money

Dr. Anthony Paustian
Provost at DMACC West Campus

Booze, Sex, & Money

Three ways to focus and improve the quality of your work

By Dr. Anthony Paustian

If you’re like most people, odds are you’re swamped; so much to do and so little time to do it. We go through our days trying to balance ever-growing responsibilities, which, if done simultaneously, make us feel more productive. We call this “multitasking,” and people believe the better you are at it, the more effective and efficient you will be. We tend to view multitasking as a positive, frequently sought-after attribute. In fact, as many of you read this, you’re also responding to text messages, watching the news, eating lunch, reading the paper, and planning the rest of your day.

However, multitasking is a myth. Sure, you can chew gum while walking, listen to music while vacuuming, eat while reading, or fold laundry while talking on the phone. But these activities don’t require higher-order, problem-solving skills or much brainpower of any kind.

Psychologists have studied the concept of multitasking for a long time. What they found is the brain is unable to focus on more than one thing at a time. When people multitask, they are actually shifting their attention from one thing to another at fast speeds, and each time they switch their focus between tasks, their minds must reorient to cope with the new information.

According to Earl Miller, a professor of neuroscience at MIT, “People can’t multitask very well, and when people say they can, they’re deluding themselves . . . Switching from task to task, you think you’re actually paying attention to everything around you at the same time. But you’re actually not.”

There are several reasons for this, but one is that similar tasks have to compete to use the same parts of the brain. For example, talking on the telephone and writing an email are nearly impossible to do concurrently because of what’s called “interference” by neuroscientists.¹ Both involve communication skills and contend for similar space in the brain.

Multitasking doesn’t make us more productive; in fact, the quality of our efforts suffers rather than if we focus on each task individually.

Another major downside to multitasking is the negative effect it has on our stress levels, as trying to balance a multitude of simultaneous activity makes us feel overwhelmed, drained, and anxious.²

Stop the Madness!

Although I don’t claim to be a model of efficiency (I get sucked into the false hope of multitasking with the best of them), I have learned how to effectively maximize my efforts and accomplish large tasks and projects. I have also realized time is finite, and we all have the same amount of it (24 hours per day / 7 days per week). In order to maximize my productivity, I adopted three strategies that greatly impacted not only the number of positive outcomes I can accomplish but also the quality of my work.

1. Set Aside Time

It’s human nature to deal with things as they come. Our days have a tendency to fill up on their own; as a result, we find ourselves constantly “putting out fires” (to use a common metaphor), becoming regularly distracted by the constant change in events.

Therefore, to do anything of quality and significance, proactively schedule time (even if it’s short amounts of it) when you will work on ONLY one task and nothing else. To write this piece, I had to schedule four hours on a Sunday afternoon when I would do NOTHING except write. I made sure I let the dog out, I took care of my physical needs, and I had a beverage by my side prior to working. I did nothing else during those four hours. I have employed this strategy for virtually every task of significance whether it was writing a book, designing a project, preparing a presentation, or creating a strategic plan. Not only was I able to accomplish each, but also I’m certain the quality of my work was much, much better because I was focused.

2. Find a Sweet Spot

I spend the bulk of my life in some unproductive locations. Whether it’s my office at work, my office at home, or home in general, these locations are ground zero for dealing with a constant stream of distractions. For me to be truly focused and productive during the time I set aside, I must work away from the normal, daily distractions at a secondary location where I feel creative and energized. For me, those places involve local restaurants and vacation spots. I wrote my entire doctoral dissertation at Applebee’s, my first book at Chili’s, and my most recent book, Beware the Purple People Eaters: A Personal Look at Leadership, at Subway (and most of the planning, outlining, and researching for that book was done poolside in Las Vegas). For whatever reason, these places allow me to focus, energize, and be creative. Find your place(s), and go there EVERY time you set aside time to focus (in fact, as I write this I’m sitting at Subway).

3. Go Off-Grid

Like an addict goes to rehab to cut off access to addictions, productivity needs to be cut off from distractions. Even if you set aside time and go to your sweet spot, it will be for not unless you unplug and disconnect. I’m convinced distractions will follow you if permitted. The phone will ring, text messages will appear, and emails will pop into your inbox, all of which are huge temptations screaming for your attention. And like most addicts, we are frequently unable to resist (did I mention booze, sex, and money?). Turn off your smartphone and disconnect your laptop from the Internet. Short of an emergency or crisis (which seldom happen), everything can wait.

These three simple actions have a huge positive effect not only on my productivity, but also on the quality of my work. They allow me to focus intently for scheduled blocks of time while putting my best efforts toward the desired task. Although they might be simple in concept, they aren’t always simple to do. They require discipline and, most of all, frequent practice. Start by creating a routine and setting aside small amounts of time. You might be shocked at what you can accomplish when highly focused for only 30 minutes a day.

For more information on this topic, see the upcoming fall issue of Celebrate! Innovation Magazine (www.dmacc.edu/ci/magazine2013/welcome.html) available early September.  For more on this and other topics, please visit www.adpaustian.com.

©2013 Anthony Paustian. Used with permission. All rights reserved.

¹Hamilton, J. (2008, October 2). Think You’re Multitasking? Think Again. Retrieved May 9, 2013, from the NPR (National Public Radio) website: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyid=95256794 
²Multitasking: Can It Help You Get More Done? Retrieved May 9, 2013, from the Mind Tools website: http://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/newHTE_75.htm

West Des Moines Leadership Academy

Amy Seidelman
Vice-Chair, West Des Moines
Leadership Academy

I’ll start this post with a warning:

Readers, beware – my enthusiasm for the West Des Moines Leadership Academy might just jump off the page at you.

As a graduate of the inaugural 2009 class of the Academy and its current Vice-Chair, I am pleased to introduce our group to anyone who hasn’t had the opportunity to participate in the academy, hasn’t attended one of the many events that evolved from our Academy class projects, or doesn’t know someone who comes to work the 4^th Friday of the month with a renewed sense of purpose in life and work (due to their attendance at class the day before, of course).

There are many great leadership organizations in the state and in cities around West Des Moines. As an alumni-driven group, the Board and Committees of the West Des Moines Leadership Academy strive to make our approach to improving leadership unique.

We touch on topics everyone can benefit from like team building, coaching, conflict management, and situational leadership, but we also focus on supporting individuals on their quest toward personal and professional development.  This year, that included a strategic approach to goal setting, tapping into creativity, and generating the “escape velocity” we need to make positive change in our lives.

We spend about a third of our time exposing the Academy class members to real community issues through experiential learning, simulations, and guest panelists. One of the most influential learning opportunities is the class project, which in the past has varied from focused youth-oriented mentoring work to more large-scale community events! If you’ve attended events like Putt Your Best Food Forward, the BoosterPak Bash, the Hy-Vee Stash Mob, or the 2012 Morsel Combat, you’ve attended a Leadership Academy sponsored or run event.

Taught by local leaders, this program was created to build leaders in the West Des Moines area and our surrounding communities. The program’s balance of leadership training, community experiences, and networking opportunities makes it one of a kind.

I’ve saved the best part for last – we are currently accepting applications for our 2013 -2014 class, which starts in September 2013 and ends with graduation in June 2014. We generally meet on the 4^th Thursday of the month with the exception of some dates we move for holidays, orientation, and graduation.

What we look for in ideal WDMLA candidates:

·         a commitment and motivation to serve West Des Moines;

·         leadership in employment and/or volunteer organizations that translates to influence on important issues; and

·         the ability to honor the time commitment required by the program.

Please take a moment to check out our website. Scan the Alumni and Current Class pages for anyone you might know and can ask about the class. Look at next year’s class dates to see if they’ll work for you. Most importantly, visit the online application and review what you’ll need in order to submit yours soon.

Whether you ask your employer to sponsor this great learning experience or decide to “put yourself through” the WDMLA, you’ll find great value in the leadership lessons and connection to our community you’ll develop. If you are considering asking your employer to sponsor you, you can share these employer testimonials with them as well.

As a potential applicant, you’re on the verge of some serious networking and the start of some amazing friendships. I, for one, can’t wait to meet you!