Comments on: When is the best time to plant a tree? http://theconsultingaccountant.com/2010/01/when-is-the-best-time-to-plant-a-tree/ Confessions of a Lazy Accountant... Fri, 09 Jul 2010 03:13:43 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Bruce http://theconsultingaccountant.com/2010/01/when-is-the-best-time-to-plant-a-tree/comment-page-1/#comment-557 Bruce Wed, 19 May 2010 20:55:10 +0000 http://theconsultingaccountant.com/?p=595#comment-557 I agree: We're never too old to learn and it's never too late to start (anything)! I agree:

We’re never too old to learn and it’s never too late to start (anything)!

]]> By: Ric Payne http://theconsultingaccountant.com/2010/01/when-is-the-best-time-to-plant-a-tree/comment-page-1/#comment-515 Ric Payne Thu, 22 Apr 2010 07:07:25 +0000 http://theconsultingaccountant.com/?p=595#comment-515 And I'd add that I recently read about some research findings relating to "happiness" that indicated that the things that were associated with people being in a happy state at work were NOT stability and the absence of change and challenge but rather a sense of growth, learning, mastery of difficult tasks, sharing a common "worthwhile" vision and working with colleagues towards its accomplishment. Does this describe the environment in your firm? Could it? Here are some thoughts: Do you have a vision that is clearly articulated and discussed? Do all your team members buy into it? Do your team know how and where they fit into the big picture? Do you encourage people to take on challenging tasks (delegate)? Do you give them room to fail in the knowledge that nothing is learned when there is no failure? Do you celebrate wins (=accomplishments of any sort no matter how small) publicly and vocally? These are the things that <a href="http://principa.net/downloads/1/articles/volunteer_mindset.pdf" rel="nofollow">turn your team into volunteers</a> as opposed to conscripts. And I’d add that I recently read about some research findings relating to “happiness” that indicated that the things that were associated with people being in a happy state at work were NOT stability and the absence of change and challenge but rather a sense of growth, learning, mastery of difficult tasks, sharing a common “worthwhile” vision and working with colleagues towards its accomplishment. Does this describe the environment in your firm? Could it? Here are some thoughts: Do you have a vision that is clearly articulated and discussed? Do all your team members buy into it? Do your team know how and where they fit into the big picture? Do you encourage people to take on challenging tasks (delegate)? Do you give them room to fail in the knowledge that nothing is learned when there is no failure? Do you celebrate wins (=accomplishments of any sort no matter how small) publicly and vocally? These are the things that turn your team into volunteers as opposed to conscripts.

]]> By: Ed Wielage http://theconsultingaccountant.com/2010/01/when-is-the-best-time-to-plant-a-tree/comment-page-1/#comment-481 Ed Wielage Tue, 23 Mar 2010 03:18:25 +0000 http://theconsultingaccountant.com/?p=595#comment-481 Reminds me of a story about Thomas Jefferson. Later on in life he told his gardener he wanted to plant a particular type of oak tree. The gardener told him that this particular variety took a 100 years to mature. Jefferson told his gardener "then we must get busy". Reminds me of a story about Thomas Jefferson. Later on in life he told his gardener he wanted to plant a particular type of oak tree. The gardener told him that this particular variety took a 100 years to mature. Jefferson told his gardener “then we must get busy”.

]]> By: Bob Harper http://theconsultingaccountant.com/2010/01/when-is-the-best-time-to-plant-a-tree/comment-page-1/#comment-450 Bob Harper Mon, 08 Mar 2010 00:37:31 +0000 http://theconsultingaccountant.com/?p=595#comment-450 And,the best bit is that learning is where the most fun is! And,the best bit is that learning is where the most fun is!

]]> By: Joanna Gyuire http://theconsultingaccountant.com/2010/01/when-is-the-best-time-to-plant-a-tree/comment-page-1/#comment-389 Joanna Gyuire Mon, 01 Feb 2010 23:18:34 +0000 http://theconsultingaccountant.com/?p=595#comment-389 Ric, This is great 'food for thought'. Michael and I shared a chair lift at heavenly with a gentleman who was 82 and had started skiing when he moved to the states in 1993 - this means he was 65 when he started. After skiing just 2 seasons he decided to buy a house in tahoe and winter there just to ski - it's amazing that some people use being 'too old' as an excuse... i think being 'old' is just a state of mind... Ric,

This is great ‘food for thought’. Michael and I shared a chair lift at heavenly with a gentleman who was 82 and had started skiing when he moved to the states in 1993 – this means he was 65 when he started. After skiing just 2 seasons he decided to buy a house in tahoe and winter there just to ski – it’s amazing that some people use being ‘too old’ as an excuse… i think being ‘old’ is just a state of mind…

]]> By: Kerry King http://theconsultingaccountant.com/2010/01/when-is-the-best-time-to-plant-a-tree/comment-page-1/#comment-386 Kerry King Mon, 01 Feb 2010 09:03:43 +0000 http://theconsultingaccountant.com/?p=595#comment-386 I agree: We're never too old to learn and it's never too late to start (anything)! I agree:

We’re never too old to learn and it’s never too late to start (anything)!

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