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Pay Attention!

Two weeks into our Katrina efforts the question was asked "how long do you think this will go on?" The discussion was interesting. The question was intended to prompt our thinking to long term help instead of just crisis response. What it prompted was a realization that our society has a very short attention span.

Our attention stays on something as long as nothing distracts us, or until we get bored with the subject. The media, which so often focuses our attention on specific issues, can have tremendous influence on what we see as a need. Katrina was the lead story for many weeks, and Rita's arrival may have even extended that timeline.

One of the ongoing challenges in this effort is the fact that people are beginning to tire of the hurricane news stories. The media depends on sales- so if the customer is ready to move on, then they move on.
That is how they survive in the marketplace, and I understand. What I would like to change is the mindset that news equals need.

There are thousands of people still living the nightmare of destruction. For many of them, there is no end in sight. There are huge numbers of people that "FEMA and friends" have not made contact with. They wait hour by hour for some signs of help to arrive. It doesn't.

Even in our community, where so many have done so much, the number of people offering to help has radically declined. Most are back to life as usual - dealing with the stresses and concerns that existed before the storms.

Let's find ways to remind each other of the ongoing efforts for those in need. Let's encourage donations and workteams to make it into the Gulf Coast. Let's not have people wondering why no one is paying attention anymore.

assistingcommunities.org

Spanish Fort UMC has launched a web site designed to connect those in need with groups and individuals who want to help. We would like to offer this free service as a part of our ongoing relief efforts.

All you need to do is go to www.assistingcommunities.org and click on the “join” button. You will be asked to create a user name and password. Your username needs to be a valid email address in order to complete registration.

We hope that this site will enable many to connect that might not have been able to through conventional means.

From Fast Company

From the Fast Company blog

"The essence of genius is to know what to overlook." -- William James (1842-1910) Doctor, Psychologist, Philosopher
A client of mine uses a powerful tool to help his executive team decide what not to do with their time. He has each member keep a pie chart of where his/her energy is focused. When new projects come along, they discuss how sections and percentages should shift. "You've got to know where your energy should and shouldn't go each day," he explains. "Sometimes it's obvious and sometimes it's not. We've found explicitly talking about it every few months helps. Team members tend to feel more empowered in what they're doing and are more successful as a result."
Consider This:
In any endeavor, you get bombarded with more information than you can handle. If you try to focus on too much you'll scatter your energy - and lose your effectiveness. To succeed, sort out major issues from minor ones. Selectively disengage from some activities so that you can powerfully engage in others.
Try this:
1. Create a pie chart of how you currently spend your time & energy.2. Take note of areas where you might be spending too much energy on minor issues.3. Create a second pie chart to reflect changes you might make to improve efficiency/effectiveness/enjoyment. 4. Like the example above, try sharing the chart with others to get useful feedback on where you should or shouldn't focus your energy.
Question: How do you decide what to overlook?