I know there can be alot of pressure around this time of year, but I actually love these last few weeks. In keeping with the spirit of “lists” this time of year, here are my top reasons.

1. We slow down. There is an ending date by which people want to do business every year. Today it is the weekend before Christmas. Next week, we all get a free pass.No one calls. No one emails. It feels like August in Europe. We don’t have to accomplish anything. For at least, one week we are guilt free.

2. We take time off to be with their family. I do not believe that life/work balance really exists. This week belongs to your family and friends. See #1.

3. We stop to reflect on their year. We look back on our celebrations, our accomplishments and our failures. We stop and say thanks to those who have been on the journey with us.

4. We make resolutions. I am not a big fan of making resolutions but the intention is in the right place. If we strive for minimal acheivement and make just one, we have more of a chance to achieve it. We have a chance for the change to stick.

5. We give each other gifts. We think about our clients, friends, and families and shop for something they might like or something they might need. Having an excuse to give someone a gift is alot of fun.

6. We greet each other with a smile. We say “Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, and Happy New Year”. This beats “hey, how you doing?” or “bye”.

Why do you love/ hate this time of year?

When I was on vacation in the mountains is Utah this past summer, I walked a stone labyrinth at the beginning of each day. Carrying only my sunglasses and hotel card in my pocket, I felt light and free. Since the labyrinth is a circular path, there is really no where to go. This actually was freeing. I could walk with intention, but just the same, just walk and not have to accomplish anything specifically except whatever came up for me.

We need to live our business lives more like this. There always isn’t some place to go or something to acheive. Many times, we just need to enjoy and be where we are. We can make alot of progress this way.

I always talk about striving for minimal achievement. Trying to focus on doing one thing at time. This is becoming nearly impossible in a culture that rewards “multitasking”. When we do more than one thing at a time, we not only lose the quality of the work, but also the enjoyment. Moving at high speeds is just plain unhealthy, and I am as guilty as any of doing this.

JoAnn Pavin, at Soylutions sent me an article about the “slow down culture”. I had been talking to her that the art of having a meal slowly is gone. Sometimes we do not even sit and eat in our fast food culture. I value the time that my family and I can sit down to dinner together without rushing. Having dinner with a client or prospect still is the best way to build a relationship. In this area, the French with their long meals have it right.

The letter, attributed to Dominic Savio appears in many places on the web. I do not know if it is a true letter. But it makes some good points.

“This no-rush attitude doesn’t represent doing less or having a lower productivity. It means working and doing things with greater quality, productivity, perfection, with attention to detail and less stress. It means reestablishing family values, friends, free and leisure time. Taking the “now”, present and concrete, versus the “global”, undefined and anonymous. It means taking humans’ essential values, the simplicity of living.

It stands for a less coercive work environment, more happy, lighter and more productive where humans enjoy doing what they know best how to do. It’s time to stop and think on how companies need to develop serious quality with no-rush that will increase productivity and the quality of products and services, without losing the essence of spirit.”