Tag: solution

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Get Movin’

Recent research suggests those who sit at a desk for six hours or more each day are 40 percent more likely to die within 15 years than those who are stationary less than three hours. That should be a scary statistic for a lot of folks – including me sometimes when I have a full day of phone coaching sessions and then write a blog entry.

There are many ways to overcome a sedentary work style including getting up and walking around or visiting peers instead of emailing and calling. Exercise is good, too, which is why I awaken at oh-dark-thirty three days a week to swim. (Sidebar: The YMCA closed its indoor heated pool last week for three months to remodel. Until the weather gets too cold, they’re utilizing the outdoor pool. Monday it was an unseasonal 60 degrees at 6:45 a.m. That will wake you up when you hit the water.)

Perhaps the best solution would be to work in a field that doesn’t require sitting all day. There are certainly a lot of career options available – nursing, waitressing and lawn care come to mind. Postmen and policemen use to walk, but that was a generation ago.

This morning – sitting at my desk during a coaching call – I saw someone who combines the perfect wage-earning/exercising program. Outside my window a man was placing door hangers. What struck me is how he was dressed: dry-fit wicking muscle shirt, nylon shorts, running shoes, sun glasses and iPod band around his arm with ear buds connected. Then I noticed he was running, pretty much sprinting, door-to-door. And this was no spring chicken. He had gray hair.

I envision this gentleman spending all day running around neighborhoods. Certainly not getting wealthy distributing advertising materials, yet enjoying the fresh fall air and making his heart healthier. So, after you read this, get up and go for a walk. If you need inspiration, think of the ‘door hanger guy.’ Of course, if you’re really motivated, go for a swim. You can think of me while you’re doing laps.

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Modest Proposal

With the nation days away from what President Obama called ‘Economic Armageddon,’ the sides negotiating a solution seem destined to raise the debt ceiling and ‘kick the can down the road’ until after the 2012 election. It appears his request that we ‘eat our peas’ might not happen. (Of course, as the NFL proved yesterday, hard deadlines tend to inspire quick resolutions to challenging disagreements… so stay tuned.)

During a coaching session this morning, a client asked for my thoughts on the deadlock among House Republicans, Senate Democrats and the White House. “It’s sad we’ve come to this point,” I said. “You would think there would be a sense of statesmanship for finding common ground, giving on some positions and resolving differences.” His reply made me think.

“It’s the fable of the scorpion and the frog playing out,” he said. “Our elected leaders are willing to stand on ideological ground – even if it means catastrophe – then shrug their shoulders and say, ‘What did you expect? You knew we were politicians when you elected us.'”

I believe there is a solution to change that attitude: term limits. Six years for the president, eight years for a senator, four years for a representative. No reelection campaigns. No additional fundraising. Work everyday you’re in office to make things better… and go get a job afterward. That’s how it works for Boards in the charitable world; do your time and move on for fresh ideas and new energy. (Key: Stagger the first few years so everyone doesn’t leave at once, then keep it in place for, say, a few centuries.)

While I’m not a Constitutional Law expert, I’m guessing Congress would have to pass this bill and the president would need to sign it. There’s probably a better chance of them agreeing to tax hikes and deficit reduction in the next seven days than that happening. Of course, every sweeping change throughout history started with someone asking, “Why does it have to be this way?”

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