Category Archives: PODCAST

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Episode 014: How to manage the micromanager

Martial Arts Legend Bruce Lee does his classic pre-battle face down

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In a previous episode, “Confessions of a Micromanager” I talked about what’s really going on inside the head of a micromanager – using myself as the case study.

In that episode, I talked about “the problem”, how micromanagers operate primarily from a place of insecurity, fear, or a lack of control or trust. In some cases, their behavior comes from extraordinarily high standards. In this post, we explore “the solutions” on how to effectively manage the micromanager so that while that manager is getting on everyone else’s nerves, you will have some peace and sanity.

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Episode 013: Confessions of a Micromanager

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Early in my career, I worked for a person who was the very dictionary definition of micromanagement. It was so bad working for them they actually gave me heart palpitations for months. Because of that experience, I swore I would never become a micromanager. Until about eight years ago…

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Episode 012: Why I want a divorce from perfection

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Hello, my name is Mark, and welcome the Perfection Support Group. I am married to Perfection. I’ve been married to Perfection for over 30 years, but I’ve come to realize that I have a problem. Perfection has not been the spouse that I thought she would be.

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Episode 011: Why we really need a holiday from our screens

Girl on Mobile Device

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If you look around any waiting room nowadays, you notice people doing one of several things, but mainly one: they are using some kind of screen (phone, tablet, computer, TV) to pass the time. While our electronic devices have become necessary for work, communication, connection, and re-creation, at what cost does it come? I believe we sacrifice something of ourselves on the altar of “keeping busy”. Here is what I think we gain when we turn off the screens in our life…

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Episode 009: The toughest thing I’ve ever done as a parent

Child Crying - Oftentimes we have to allow our children to suffer and fall so they can learn life's lessons too

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As a parent, one of the things I dread is seeing my children suffer in any way. Several years ago, I was out walking with my kids, my [then] 4-year-old daughter was running far ahead of us, and my [then] 2-year-old daughter lagged behind.

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Episode 008: Letting go of power, opinion, and control

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The self-actualized person is no longer worried about basic needs, but rather they are driven by their personal need to evolve and fulfill their life’s purpose or mission. Someone asked Abraham Maslow (The author of the “Hierarchy of Needs” theory / concept), “How do you if know if you are self-actualized?” Maslow responded with the following…

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Episode 007: Would you invest in you?

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It takes complex calculation on Wall Street to determine how much a piece of a company is worth. I would venture to say that we could probably apply some of the same logic to determine how valuable we are to the organizations we own, run, or belong to.

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Episode 006: How to know if you are present, right here, right now

Kid Jumping

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One of the most challenging things for someone like me is the ability to be in the present moment on a consistent basis. Often I focus on the mistakes of the past or terrorize ourselves over every future scenario. I blow through my to-do list at the expense of the things that matter most in my life – time and intentional engagement with my family, connecting with colleagues and teammates, and my own personal re-creation.

It is very challenging for me to “stop and smell the roses” because I derive such pleasure from getting things done. The problem with this is, at the end of my life, the thing I will regret most is not enjoying life more. So I stopped to think about those moments where I was actually present, and here are some of the common characteristics.

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Episode 005: Email Common Sense 102 – Managing Our Time

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https://markabotros.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/E005_Email-Common-Sense-101_Time-Management-2.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: RSSFor some of us, writing good email may come easily, however, where we may struggle is in managing time where email is concerned. Often, we get into the office and the first thing we do is jump into email and allow numerous non-priority items to suck the day […]