Ep 79 - Demolishing Goals and Solving Problems with Holly Zink, Research Administrator

Solving problems, goalsetting, and being purposeful at work are just of the a few subjects we'll learn about in today's episode. Holly Zink, Research Administrator, and founder of www.idogrants.org, gives us a lot to think about!

Episode outline:
1:58 I Do Grants
3:00 Getting involved with grants
3:50 Non-profit vs. for-profit grants
5:00 Holly's background and education
5:45 Identifying roles for self-development
7:10 Making goals meaningful
8:00 Conducting a life audit
8:45 Personal productivity
9:45 Problem solving
11:10 Creativity
12:45 Goalsetting and goal demolishing
13:10 Progressive elaboration in project management
15:30 Work-life balance and role transitions
17:30 Life coaching backed up with research
19:40 Researching on Google Scholar
20:40 Researchgate
22:50 Leadership and personality
24:00 Gallup ClifftonStrengths Assessment
24:40 Bullet journal and journaling for self-reflection
25:00 Write down goals for a 42% boost in achieving them!
29:00 Mission statement vs. vision statement
30:20 Business plans and business plan research
38:30 The secret to a more purposeful life is...

For more information about Holly Zink and her company visit www.idogrants.org.

Download full transcript

Ep 50 - Manage Your Busy Life Like a Delicious Three-Course Meal

Do you the experience beauty every day? We’ll delve into the secret to crafting a fulfilling life. We’ll cover such subjects as: project management, creativity, the benefits of gambling, increasing self-control, the connection between innovation and imitation, jazz legend Gary Peacock and his approach to peak performance, and we’ll hear about a a yacht worth $570 million dollars.

Episode Notes:

8:00 Jazz bassist, Gary Peacock on Creativity

Wakes and funerals can be inspirational

10:00 Mary Poppins’ Role of Governess

11:00 Innovation Needs Imitation

12.30 Benefits of Gambling for Older Adults

13.30 Increasing Self-Control

16:00 David Geffen’s Yacht

Best wishes in your pursuit to manage your busy life with purpose, creativity, and fulfillment.

An Essential Leadership Development Skill You Need is to Identify Your Roles

Today, I’m starting a streak and eager to see how long I can keep it going. I’m exercising on the treadmill every day for 25 minutes - time enough to watch one episode of the original Twilight Zone tv show from the fifties. There are 156 episodes. It might not sound like much of a challenge but I’ve tried for decades to make a habit of daily exercise - let’s go!

Each day, I’ll share a self-development lesson from a Twilight Zone episode. Here goes.

Ep. 1 “Where is Everybody?”

A man with amnesia wanders through a small town without people. Turns out he was in the Air Force doing an isolation exercise where he was in a tiny room for 20 days without outside stimuli. He loses touch with reality because of the isolation.

Leadership Development Skill - Identify Your Roles

We’re social animals and need to make meaningful connections with others. In my book, “All the Hats We Wear: How to be Joyful, Productive, & Fulfilled,” I start with identifying life roles - the many hats we wear. Once you identify the 15-20 roles you play (or should be playing), focus on crafting them into works of art. 15-20 is a manageable amount to curate. Also, there are four types of roles: mind/body/spirit, giving/receiving, personal, and professional. 

Once you define your roles, expand your network for each one. If you have a Meditator role, go on a meditation retreat with other passionate meditators. If you have a role of Roller Derby Queen - yes, I know someone who is on a team, your experience deepens with your teammates and your new roller derby community. By the way, the best roller derby nickname I’ve heard is Holly Wanna Crack ya! Define your roles then seed community and expand your network in each.

Related resources for identifying roles and other key leadership development skills:

Assume Big Bold Roles

The Benefits of Identifying Your Past and Present Roles

Work Life Balance Tip

Most Powerful Time Management Skill Podcast Episode

Identify Your Top Roles - Forbes Article on Productivity

Team Roles and Responsibilities - Indeed Article

Play Your Roles - Franklin Covey Leadership Article

Work Life Balance Tip: Transition Between Roles Decisively

Some think the All the Hats We Wear system (HATS) is too broad. They say, “All my roles - that’s everything. It’s too vague!“ Although HATS takes into account all areas of your busy life, it focuses you to a single point. The HATS system helps you begin from the moment of decision between all roles. Imagine a pie diagram with 16 sections. Place a dot in the center. That’s where you reset naturally with this time management system. You can spend time in any of your roles. You can be fully immersed in any role yet switch to another at the drop of a hat. Our ability to effectively transition between roles creates our level of fulfillment. Download the helpful Time Tracker self-assessment tool to see which roles you’re spending the most time in.

HATS is a powerful system for managing your busy life because it makes it easy to transition effectively between roles. It’s a beautiful approach to work life balance!

Our ability to effectively transition between roles creates our level of fulfillment.