UNEASY LIES THE HEAD THAT WEARS THE CROWN

By Vernalee

“Uneasy lies the head that wears the crown,” a slogan which originated from a William Shakespeare play - describes a person who has great responsibilities, power, and prestige and is constantly worried; a person who subsequently doesn’t sleep soundly because of the pressure. The uneasiness proliferates and the stress of it all can turn their hair from black to white almost overnight.

The expression fits people who are charged with making weighty decisions – leaders, executives, entrepreneurs, CEO’s, parents, care givers, and the like. Sleepless nights, stress, and worry are accompaniments to the “crown.” Balancing activities, duties, and responsibilities so that nothing tilts is part of the process. The wearer of the crown becomes a juggler who must maintain equalization in their lives and those of others. Careful and cautious they must be to manage it all and minimize the stress. Not only do they have extremely weighty decisions to analyze and make, all eyes are upon them at all times! The expectations can be overwhelming and unrealistic. Are the constant observers pleasurably watching, hoping that the wearer of the crown succeeds or waiting to see them faIl? Who knows? While most sleep (Zzzz), they know not a snoring moment as they are usually in deep thought determining the next steps. Figuring stuff out comes with the territory.

The scrutiny in general and the stress in particular can be unbearable at times.

Stop!

Speaking of pressure, it can be heavy enough to make one scream. If this describes you ... Go ahead; release it, let it out! It is imperative that you stay “cool, calm, and collected.” When your release valves are open, they help you manage more efficiently, remain less stressful, and make wiser decisions. Some days when the crown becomes too heavy to wear and the conscious bothersome, the desire is to take it off and throw it in the trash ... which is unrealistic because among other things, there are too many people who are dependent upon you.

Ok.

What now? Wise up, make prudent decisions, and get an occasional good night’s sleep! With time, graduate and become indoctrinated with sensible maneuvering namely – to take one day at a time.

To those who wear the crown, there is no rest for the weary. However, I invite you to let the admonition of Matthew 6:34 soothe your soul. “Don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today.” Smart thinking! Right? With age does comes wisdom! Photo credit: historic royal palaces

I ONLY HAVE TWO HANDS

By Vernalee

Hold on! Wait a minute! Give me some time to catch up. There is only so much that I can do in a day. Admittedly, I am capable of performing several tasks simultaneously, but truly I only have two hands! You may think differently, but it is a biological fact. For most of us, multitasking becomes a necessity of survival at home and at work. Being a Jack or Jill of All Trades who can do – a little bit of this and a little bit of that – helps. Versatility is the name of the game. In our fast paced environment, if you cannot walk and chew bubble gum at the same time, you are in trouble. It is wise however to analyze tasks and determine an approach before you get started. By doing so, you can review the options, techniques, and time savers. Becoming more tech savvy is a critical necessity. Technology and its gadgets have simplified and added speed to many functions. They have enhanced our productivity and made us “Working Wonders.” They add more horsepower which fuels our levels of expertise, efficiency, and organization. Tasks that once took hours now only take minutes. Proficiently is the name of the game. The more time that I can save on tasks; the more time I have for myself. It’s just that – plain and simple. So watch me intelligently and efficiently work; then, watch me comfortably and enjoyably relax! That doesn't mean that you can still send tasks my way. Now, if you do disregard my “no work zone“ status and send work anyway during my rest and relaxation period, one of my hands can ignore it, while the other can pretend that it doesn’t exist. That's why I have two! Photo credit: www.ruthnazrullah.com

TOO MANY COOKS IN THE KITCHEN

By Vernalee Here we go! The phrase, “Too many cooks in the kitchen” generally refers to too many people working on the same project with no central direction while achieving inferior results. Let’s move this scenario from the kitchen. When directions to perform tasks are coming from too many people, you usually end up with an organized mess! The absence of leadership is a major stumbling block. It begs to ask, "Who’s in charge?" Is it - Everybody, somebody, anybody, or nobody!

Think about it! If there is a strong leader, it doesn’t matter how many cooks - there are. A good leader gives clear cut and solid directions. A good leader trims the fat. They are followed and they follow. They even do what the said they would do. Imagine that? They are credible, respected, and their judgment is trusted. They even know how to stop talking and listen! Wow! They are what they purport to be; they walk the talk. People follow them instinctively in the kitchen, in the office, in life. Who wants mediocrity? A good “chef of a leader“ provides recipes that can be followed. When that happens, we can “cook“ up a storm, sit back, relax, and eat a delicious full course meal. Now that's what I'm talking about! Photo credit: www.medium.com