After weeks of Type A slicing and dicing, Melissa d’Arabian, stay-at-home mom, kept her focus and chopped nine culinary-schooled competitors to become The Next Food Network Star.  The runner-up, Jeffrey Saad, had this to say about Melissa.  “I thought she would be gone the first episode.”   The lesson here:  Default thinking can cook your goose.

Now to Rome where Michael Phelps beat Milorad Cavic in the 100m butterfly… again.  Cavic took his eye off the race to indulge in a little Type A trash talking about Phelps inferior Speedo LZR Racer swimsuit.  Phelps stepped over Cavic’s snide remarks and crossed the finish line in world record time.  Cavic’s post-race comment about Phelps?  “He’s the man.”  Guess there isn’t much to say when your mouth is full of crow.

Interesting that this marketing campaign coincides with Microsoft’s announcement they are laying off 1400 people today and 5000 over the next 18 months.  Now that’s what I call personal.

Guess it’s only ‘everybody’s business’ at Microsoft when sales are strong.

While we face uncertain times, are you also downsizing your dreams? You don’t have to. In fact, there’s no time like the present to experience the sweet spot of success.

America has managed its way through every economic peak and valley. As a country, we’ll weather this one, too. But, will you?

Many executives and professionals are feeling like they can’t pursue the path they’d laid out. Whether it’s early retirement, family vacations or launching a treasured pet project, many feel that if they don’t hold their cards close to the vest they’ll lose everything. That’s pretty sad because it doesn’t have to be that way.

You see, there’s one thing guaranteed to help you weather this (and any other) storm.

Living in the sweet spot. That’s the secret. During my many years as an executive coach, I can tell you that those who thrive in any economic circumstance are those who have learned that success and meaning are bigger than a dollar bill. They’ve come to not only understand what the sweet spot is, but they’ve found theirs…and they’re doing just fine right now.

The Sweet Spot is within your reach

What’s your definition of the sweet spot? More money? Increased time with family? The time to develop projects for which you have passion? To experience more meaning and purpose?

Let me know.

“Among the hits to families’ budgets lately, many people are taking an added blow: control over their time.

The economic downturn is forcing many to defer dreams of striking a better work-life balance. As past recessions have shown, downturns tend to quash luxuries such as choosing to cut back to part time, dropping out for a while to stay home with the kids, or taking a sabbatical.”

Have you been telling yourself that in these hard economic times you can’t afford NOT to work that 60 hour work week? Are you worried about what your employees will say or your boss will think if you go home before the midnight cleaning crew?  Don’t let your work life balance go down the financial drain.  Get creative.

Here’s a great time stretching and de-stressing tip from a couple of rocket scientists I work with at Ames Research Center in Palo Alto, California.  These two fellows had promised their wives they would do their best to cut back on their 60+ hour work weeks.  Like true scientists, they hit upon a previously unseen solution.  Instead of commuting to work individually, they now car pool.  Each morning they do their daily 30 minute tag up meeting while driving.  Each afternoon, instead of meeting in the office for their usual end of the day hour-long debrief, they head home with the car serving as the end of the day office.  This small change cut their 60 hour work week to 52.5 hours.  An added bonus:  they use the buddy system to hold each other accountable.  They are happy and their wives are even happier.  Good job, guys!