Episode 133 - Reduce the Number of Fires
Watching the news last night I felt compassion for weary firefighters who were exhausted, grimy and bruised. They provide an invaluable service but what a way to make a living! Then I thought of some of my neighbors: they come home looking the same way – and they work in nice, air-conditioned offices!
Do you spend your business day fighting fires? Does your work feel like one crisis after another? Do people dump their problems on you and expect you to solve them? If you do, then here are 4 smart tips for cooling off and finding fast relief.
Understand that 9 out of 10 emergencies are not. They have learned to masquerade as crises to get your attention. People around you may have learned how to make the right noises to get you to jump. You don’t need to worry about missing out. A true crisis will find you every time.
Don’t try to be a hero by solving everyone else’s problems. Teach people where to find answers for themselves. They need to learn to be as smart as you.
Empower people to solve their own problems. This means you have to accept that they won’t solve challenges like you and you won’t always agree. So what? Put your energy into more important stuff.
Stay focused on accomplishing your most important tasks.
Don’t let yourself be too easily distracted and you’ll find you’ll fight fewer fires.
![[del.icio.us]](http://smarterbytheminute.com/wp-content/plugins/bookmarkify/delicious.png)
![[Digg]](http://smarterbytheminute.com/wp-content/plugins/bookmarkify/digg.png)
![[Google]](http://smarterbytheminute.com/wp-content/plugins/bookmarkify/google.png)
![[StumbleUpon]](http://smarterbytheminute.com/wp-content/plugins/bookmarkify/stumbleupon.png)
![[Windows Live]](http://smarterbytheminute.com/wp-content/plugins/bookmarkify/windowslive.png)
![[Yahoo!]](http://smarterbytheminute.com/wp-content/plugins/bookmarkify/yahoo.png)
![[Email]](http://smarterbytheminute.com/wp-content/plugins/bookmarkify/email.png)