Karl Edwards presents Working Matters

Category: Loving Monday

  • Loving Monday: Neglected Babies First

    This is going to be a great week.

    This is going to be a great week because you are going to start it off by doing something for yourself.

    While buying show tickets, game tickets or indulging in a high speed traffic ticket may be what first comes to mind when you think of doing something for yourself, I’m looking for something that will enthuse us about going into work this morning.

    My suspicion is that there is a “neglected baby” somewhere in your office. A neglected baby that has been crying for some time, but can’t get your attention because you’ve been so busy with everything else.

    Your neglected baby might be a messy workspace that keeps you from working effectively. Do something for yourself. This is the week you will commit to getting it organized.

    Your neglected baby may be a pet project that no one else believes in… yet. Do something for yourself. This is the week you will take one specific and concrete step toward its implementation.

    Your neglected baby may be a key relationship with an old friend, colleague or mentor. Do something for yourself. This is the week you arrange an uninterruptible telephone conversation.

    Neglected babies don’t do well on their own. And we don’t do well with them screaming bloody murder in the background. Do something for yourself. Make this a great week by attending to one of your neglected babies.

    Leave a comment and let us know what you’ve decided to do!

    On your side,

    – Karl

  • Loving Monday: Initiative is Power

    So maybe the coming week doesn’t look the brightest. Cranky co-workers, immature boss, impossible workload, shifting deadlines.

    Try adding something new to the mix. Add something small. Add something bright.

    Do something yourself to make work a brighter place to be this week.

    Buy flowers for your desk. Buy flowers for someone else’s desk.

    Brew some gourmet coffee and serve everyone. Buy donuts for the team.

    Post a humorous cartoon. Send everyone an appreciation email.

    Taking the initiative is an act of power. In the midst of so much that is out of our control, even the smallest initiative will affect your attitude for the better.

    Try it. Report back and let us know what you did.

    On your side,

    – Karl

  • Loving Monday: Looking Forward to Whom?

    Whom are you looking forward to seeing this week?

    Who believes in you, appreciates you, or simply accepts you as you are?

    Who will make you laugh, help you out, or take you at your word?

    Finding people at work we look forward to seeing is a crucial component of loving Monday. The work itself may get complex, stressful and/or overwhelming. But if there is a relationship or two that can make you smile, go the extra mile with you, or you can’t go without seeing, then you’ll be surprised at where the energy will come from to get out of bed and get yourself moving in the morning.

    Coming back to people who are important to you can make Mondays a highlight.

    What stories from this past weekend did you come into this morning?

  • Loving Monday: Knowing What You Want

    What do you want out of this week?

    Anything at all. Do you know?

    Don’t filter. Take five and brainstorm freely.

    Do you want to finish a project? Do you want to broach an awkward subject? Do you want to hear someone say, “Thank you?” Do you want to design something new? Do you want to approach a problem differently? Do you want to have a clean desk? Do you want an uninterrupted afternoon? Do you want to go home early? Do you want to work more collaboratively? Do you want to avoid a boring meeting? Do you want to tell someone they’re special to you? Do you want to fire a client?

    Anything. Get it out. Write it down. Carry it with you discreetly or post it where everyone can see it.

    And then go for it. Aim for it. Make it happen. Do it. Try it. Take a step toward it.

    Let something… let just one thing you want inspire you this week.

    Post a comment letting us know what you want out of this week.

    On your side,

    – Karl

  • Loving Monday: Do It Today

    What’s the one thing that, more than any other, you want to get done this week?

    I know there are many candidates all shouting for your attention. But which one do you want to see completed most of all?

    Do it today.

    Yeah, go ahead and do it this morning. Get it done. Start the week off with a success that is important to you.

    Give yourself the gift of diving into and polishing off a significant task right off the bat. It’ll feel great.

    If it’s not a one-day project, then break it into three parts and complete the first part now.

    You’ll give yourself a great Monday and set yourself up for a week of making and acting on choices.

    On your side,

    – Karl


  • Loving Monday: Authentic and Engaged

    Whatever happens this week, you have a choice. You get to choose how you will respond.

    That’s quite a bit of power when you stop to think about it.

    Just knowing we control our own responses is a big relief and a boost of confidence for many of us. It’s a nice reminder to receive every so often.

    So what might that response look like? Some responses are more effective than others. I’m learning that we can experience a certain amount of peace in good circumstances and bad when our responses are authentic and engaged.

    Be ourselves and be involved.

    Sound simple? It is. The situation may not be simple. The series of choices you next need to make may not be simple. But if you can be true to yourself and resist withdrawing, side-stepping or otherwise avoiding the people and challenges that come your way, I promise you will feel much better about both yourself and your work this week.

    On your side,

    – Karl

  • Loving Monday: Framed in Thankfulness

    I’m going to start this week off by saying thanks. In fact, I’m going to come up with seven (7) things I’m thankful for.

    I have a feeling that if this week proves as complicated as most, I’ll need to be prepared ahead of time. It’s just not that easy to remember what I’m thankful for after Wednesday.

    Starting each day on a note of thankfulness frames the day ahead in terms of life being a gift.

    We choose our mindset before events, people and the unexpected have a chance to suggest something different. We equip ourselves with a healthier starting point from which to confront the challenges that will inevitably arise.

    The gift of life I have been given includes:

    1. My wife and three kids
    2. Rose buds
    3. Accepting friends
    4. Rhythm and an occasional dance move
    5. An eye to see individual faces in every crowd
    6. Morning crunches (this one’s a stretch)
    7. Extended family support everywhere I look.

    What are seven gifts in your life that you can remember in thankfulness this week?

  • Loving Monday: The Gift of You

    You are a gift the rest of us need this week.

    On behalf of those you will encounter, thank you for being who you are.

    Thank you for your choices. Thank you for your perspective. Thank you for your working style. Thank you for your demeanor.

    This place would be less without you. Less strong, less rich, less thoughtful, less wise, less bold, less vibrant, less beautiful, less alive.

    You know how many of your particular distinctives are impossible for me to include here. Thank you for every one of them.

    Thank you for showing up today. Thank you for showing up fully yourself. It’s going to be a better week because you are here.

  • Loving Monday. A New Weekly Feature.

    Getting out of bed on Mondays, is your dominate feeling one of anticipation or dread?

    Do you feel like you’re being drawn into the new week or being dragged into it?

    Today we begin a new weekly series entitled, Loving Monday. Let’s start the week off together with a brief encouragement to step into our weeks with an intention to show up authentically, engage fully, and make it a good week for ourselves.

    Whatever our circumstances, we have choices for how and whether we will engage. By accepting ownership of those choices, we can experience a rich sense of accomplishment in the midst of our complex, if not difficult, lives.

    Let’s encourage each other to step into each Monday determined to greet the week with anticipation, resolve and a good sense of humor.

    Together, I am confident we will look forward to loving Monday!

    On your side,

    – Karl