Strategic Discipline Blog

Lack of Discipline: Workaholism

My recent return to meditation has given me a keen sense of value on the separation of my mind from the physical.  A friend of mine and former client wrote a blog this past week on “Workaholism” that I would encourage you to read.  If you’d like to read the full article in Fast Company you can find it here.

Speaking to my wife this morning I can recall times when I was so driven to work, and the value I felt my life had was so connected to the contribution I was making at work that I completely ignored some of the most important moments in our life.  Instead of spending time with my two sons and my wife immediately after they were born I was promptly back to work the next day to make sure my position and the business I was managing was operating properly. 

Looking back it was a clear case of improper values, and a fear, if not a guilt that my entire self-worth was wrapped up in my work.   I feared that if I spent time with Michelle and my new born son that I would be jeopardizing my position.  

Meditation has relieved a great deal of that guilt and pressure, and I’m so appreciative now of what I have, yet so disappointed for the way I responded in the past.  Read the article Alan Fendrich wrote on “Workaholism” and see if you find yourself identifying with any of the characteristics and habits that make up a workaholic. 

If you do I encourage you to re-evaluate your works habits.  A good book to read that can be extremely helpful and adjusting your thinking and emotions on work habits is The Power of Full Engagement by Tony Schwartz and Jim Loehr.

In reality Workaholism is just another manifestation of failing to properly discipline ourselves. 

Good News – Bad News 

Many of you know that today is the day I expected to get the results of my second biopsy that was performed on Monday of this week.  I’m still planning to visit the University of Iowa Hospital Clinic this morning at 10 AM but with a different priority. 

Last evening Dr. Carter called me with the news that my cancer is definitely in remission.  He had planned to meet with me today at noon to fill me in, yet he said this kind of news is easily delivered over the phone.  I can’t tell you how relieved, excited, appreciative and thankful I am for that news.  It was an emotional evening again.

With it came some challenging news as well.  University of Iowa Bone Marrow Transplant would be immediately move toward giving me a transplant, unfortunately the recent radiology on my lungs show that I’m still suffering from a lung infection/pneumonia that will prevent me from moving forward until it is relived.  (Wade Hiner and Steve Peterson if you have any help on how to get beyond pneumonia please let me know.)

I’m encouraged that the gravest challenge I had to survival and living the life I’ve envisioned is diminished or eliminated for now.  However I must get this pneumonia cured in order to move to the next phase of my recovery. 

Thank you again for your prayers, encouragement, and support.  I feel overwhelming blessed to have so many people I know and don’t know supporting me. I hope you will continue to support, pray and encourage me as I overcome this temporary interruption in my treatment.  The sooner I can conquer it the faster I will be in Bone Marrow Transplant and on my way to.

The last couple of weeks I can’t tell you how many times I’ve cried feeling appreciate for everything that has happened to me.  I feel this challenge of AML has truly been a blessing to me.  I’d be remiss I feel if I didn’t discuss with you the great feelings of happiness and joy I have around so many little things that occur to me each day.  Just this morning having breakfast with my wife together was one of the moments when I broke down into tears.

As parents, managers, and leaders I feel we fail to ever come close to appreciating what we have and the value of the people that work with us.  My intention next blog is to explore that with you and hopefully help you appreciate what you have, yet also realize the benefits that come to you and the people you appreciate by recognizing them.