lack of concentration

Dear Mr Ghadi,
Try an age old method and that is Whatever you try to memorise, write down on a piece of paper without seeing.
Regards

I have the same problem with my Lack of Interest in other people’s shortcomings.

Drink mass quantities of Jack Daniels.It’ll clean you out and then you can go on (paraphrased from Jimmy
Buffett).

Don’t worry so much about the phone number thing….odds are you won’t meet a hot chick while you’re drunk. Odds go down even further that she’ll give you a correct phone number.

GHADI,
One approach you can adopt is go see you doctor, you might really be thick. (I don’t think is your case, but just to be on the safe side).
You gave no information about your workload, projects, tasks, and deadlines… staff that comes strongly with Six Sigma. And here I speak also about my experience: I have sometimes six meetings per day (about different topics) and pages of notes. I also don’t remember it all.
So second, take a look on the workload you have. Other experienced BB might disagree with me but once here was a discussion about time dedication of BB. Stan said success of a BB strongly depends on the dedication; BB must be 100% dedicated to projects.
And this is also my case, where I am closing IMPROVE on my first project, in MEASURE with second project and meanwhile I am 100% quality manager.
Take care
Silviu
 

A wise man once told me the reason we have a written language is because  not everyone can remember everthing. Sounds like your tring to do to much start writting it down or you can do what i do. I bought a digital voice recorder. Cost about 40$ records up to 60 hours of material.

Ron, Gingko Biloba…are you kidding. I used to date her and I guarantee you I’m trying to forget!! Now, her sister….WOW!

Six – you reminded me that I friend told me recently – We all have photographic memories…some of us just have more fillm than others!…or a larger memory card may be more applicable nowdays.

BC, pretty incredible. Now the question becomes…what can they do with that skill? Is it an end unto itself or is there value in it?
Appears there are tools one can learn to improve one’s recall capability yet I feel I might get caught up in the process and not be able to translate it into anything of use in what I do. I’ll have to think about that.

BC, that was a good one……who are you again?
I do remember that’s why I come here…I get a bunch of good laughs amid some snippets of good advice.

See I told you guys, Drinking is the best way to improve memory. I had to read the whole article, but I knew I would find it somewhere.

Could be a Yager Bomb or one of these tantilizing concoctions from around the country
“Bull” Drinks
 
S.O.B.
No, it’s not what you think. Your mother won’t get offended with this one. It’s Stoli Orange and Red Bull. Served as a highball on the rocks. Ask the guys at Freeskier Magazine about this one. An orange wedge for garnish.
Bazooka Bull
It’ll blow your mind out of the canon! It’s Bacardi Limon and Red Bull. Served as a highball on the rocks. Tastes like a Bazooka Joe Bubble Gum.
Blaster
It started in Europe and made its way to Denver. Presentation is important with this. A pint glass with a can of Red Bull on top with it’s tab open so that the can will rest on the glass and pour on its own while the bartender pours the Jagermeister into a shot glass. Drop the shot of Jager into the glass of Red Bull and chug. Also known in Breckenridge as a “Bullmeister”.
Dirty Little Bastard
Created by some bartenders in Montana, this one consists of a pint glass filled with ice and a shot of Bacardi 151, fill with Red Bull and a float of Jagermeister. Drink it through a straw till it’s gone. Keep your hands on the glass, not the person sitting next to you.
Depth Charger
There is some controversy over this one. Whatever they call it, it’s much like the Blaster only you substitute Stoli Vanilla and Grand Marnier for the Jager. Remember, presentation is important. Create fun!
Chambull
Simple! Champagne (the real stuff made in France!) mixed with Red Bull. Bring on the bubbles. Champagne glass with a cherry on the bottom.
Kiss-A-Bull
A little flava added to the bull. A shot of apple, grape, cherry, watermelon, or peach Pucker and Red Bull. Served as a highball on the rocks. A cherry garnish is a nice touch.
Tish & Terry
Created by the bartenders who discovered it in Portland, Oregon. Finlandia cranberry vodka and Red Bull. Served as a highball on the rocks. Lime wedge garnish.
Bull Royale
Ladies and Gentlemen alike enjoy this one. A shot of Crown Royal and a half-shot of Amaretto Di Sarrono with Red Bull. Served in a highball on the rocks. Cherry garnish.
Bullgarita
A south of the border favorite. Red Bull with Jose Cuervo tequila, triple sec, and lime juice. Salted or unsalted. Served in a hurricane glass on the rocks. Lime wheel garnish.
Ronin Bull
Created by a sushi grill and bar in Boulder. Raspberry fused sake, Stoli vodka and Red Bull. Served in a highball on the rocks. Awesome!

More Proof
 The Buffalo Theory        by Cliff Clavin:        I have not seen anyone explain this as well as Cliff Clavin, on “Cheers.”One afternoon at Cheers, Cliff Clavin was explaining the Buffalo Theoryto his buddy Norm. and here’s how he explained it:”Well ya see, Norm, it’s like this… A herd of buffalo can only move asfast as the slowest buffalo. And when the herd is hunted, it is theslowest and weakest ones at the back that are killed first. This naturalselection is good for the herd as a whole, because the general speed andhealth of the whole group keeps improving by the regular killing of theweakest members.  In much the same way, the human brain can only operateas fast as the slowest brain cells. Excessive intake of alcohol, as weknow, kills brain cells. But naturally it attacks the slowest and weakestbrain cells first. In this way, regular consumption of beer eliminatesthe weaker brain cells, making the brain a faster and more efficientmachine. That’s why you always feel smarter after a few beers.”

Chad,
So, by extension of the concept to the Theory of Constraints by Goldratt, Herbie should be killed and the rest of the scout team will then be able to move faster.  Extending this to process thinking, we should kill the slowest process in the value stream, and then the other processes won’t be subordinated to it.  I can forsee the extinction of the scouts – and it makes a heck of a case for balanced process cycle times.  Hmmm . . . I’ll have to think about this concept.
Shooter

SS Shooter:Your choice of name isn’t very subtle for someone who lives in a country where colleagues routinely shoot each other, and students shoot their class-mates because they’re unpopular. (A point lost on you previously.)In the past you’ve also stated to argue point and counter point is pointless, but I’ll try anyway.Your last post was totally out of order!!!!Lawrence

Stop this bickering, I can’t concentrate!

BC,
Good point.  It also fits my home in Texas, and it fits the western garb worn by Mikel Harry, as well.  The bad part is that I risk offending the cows / steers and the native Americans.  Hope my wife doesn’t find out – she’s part Cherokee, and she’s pretty good with a knife.  The good news is, in my current state of going bald, it won’t be noticed if she scalps me.
Cowboy

Lawrence, unfortunately we can’t have all had the privilege of being born in whatever wonderful country you reside. I presume, where no one commits an atorcity against their fellow countryman.
However, due to economic limitations, family, friends, church, etc. we are stuck here and must do what we can to minimize the awful things you mention….all this while having to put major efforts into shoring up our borders to minimize illegal entry by all peoples of the world.
Amazing, isn’t it? How many want to get into this deprived land?

Shooter,
Good point!  And I’m sure the unfortunate ones who were let go felt as if they had been shot.  I hope none of them actually shot themselves (maybe some did?).
“Our people are our greatest asset.”  Imagine a company that actually practices this.
BC

Brandon,
My problem with the performance review system is that they are flawed, in thier application as well as the thinking that goes into them.  The once a year specials are useless.  Worse, they are harmful and really do not achieve their stated aims. 
When was the last time you heard someone exclaim, “Oh boy, it’s performance review time! I can’t wait!”  That time of year is dreaded by management as well as by the workers.  As a leader, I give real time analysis, coaching and performance improvement mentoring to my people.  Deming has a lot to say about the folly of the performance review system.  It is a demotivator, in most cases.
Get rid of people who are defiant, refuse to obey the rules, steal, get drunk at work, take drugs, etc., etc?  Sure thing.  I’ll be the first to walk them out the door and say “good riddance to you!”  But to arbitrarily tell someone who plays by the rules, works hard and does their best that they are scum and not needed because we have a policy that says the bottom 10% performers must go?  I’d better take a good look in the mirror and wonder about myself before I do that.
Shooter

Shooter,
I agree with you about “annual performance review.” How do we reconcile that concept against the principle that you don’t blame the worker for the results of a poorly designed process?
My company, like most large companies, has a periodic and annual review process. The stated purpose is so that you know how well you are doing against your goals so that there are no surprises at compensation review time. Nevertheless, I am almost ALWAYS surprised at compensation review time! Try as I do to see the correlation between my work performance and my pay, there is often very little apparent correlation. Some years when I think I’ve had a great year, my compensation is mediocre and some years when I felt I struggled, my compensation was great.
Fortunately, we got rid of most of the people who thought “MBF” meant “Management By Fear” instead of “Management By Fact.” There are still a few around, but as the trail of dead bodies in their wake continues to grow, they may eventually become a casualty of their own methods.
We can only hope.

Couldn’t agree more Six.
The majority of the people I’ve managed over the years knew, real time, where they stood. I say majority because I have some flaws as well. Both with walking the walk each day and in flawed judgement on my part…I’ve come to realize in hindsight. People are highly complex units…us included. But ain’t they a kick!

Outlier,
I’ve learned not to take comp reviews personally.  It depends on the performance of the company, the distribution of comp funds among departments, and the company’s perceived value of you.  Performance seems to have little to do with pay raises, with only some exceptions.
Kind of like the mistaken notion that people “add value” to a product and the market pays for the “value added”.  No, the market pays what the market perceives the value to be, not how much work was put into the product.
BC

I agree BC. You and I must work at the same company. I’ve been here for 15 years and I have learned to expect nothing at comp review time. That way anything above nothing is a pleasant surprise. The one constant I have seen is that if you maintain good relationships with your peers, business partners, and managers you usually do OK regardless of the other things in the “performance equation.” (Assuming of course that you are also doing your work.)

Brandon,
Yes, they are a kick and God love them all! 
There was a book out a few years back by James Hunter (the last name is right – not 100% sure on the first), called “The Servant.”  It was written in the story telling style of “The Goal,” and makes a good case that the job of a leader is to be a servant of their people – and, dare I say, to love them.  We still must manage the business and deal with the hard issues that arise – it’s not all about singing Kumbaya and holding hands – but a good dose of some human decency, kindness and walking a mile in another’s shoes goes a long way, in my opinion.  We all have our own human frailties and shortcomings.  That’s why I view my life as a continual improvement project and it’s a never-ending journey – at least until I assume room temperature!
Shooter
Shooter

Shooter, straight up on the mark. Performance reviews, I believe, are a means for HR to justify their existance. Whats more as a High Mid Level manager, I know most of the people are going to get the same raise regardless of performance which make the review even more of a joke, for both me and the employee. I once gave a supervisor that worked for me the best score possible on all accounts. To this day no one has said anything, which tells me that once it leaves my desk it is a meaningless SIGNED document. When I ask how a company this size could follow such a path of conformity, all I got back was it has to be done. Who says it has to be this way? what a waste.
Now can we talk about drinking or basketball, or something, getting depressed over here.

Why not talk about baseball!  The season is getting ready to start and we have lots of steroid discussions we can have!  That way, we combine sports, drugs and performance enhancement all in one topic, with some congressional oversite thrown in to make it real interesting.
Shooter

OK Six, if we’re going that direction let me say, right off the bat (so to speak) that, regardless of the fact that my personal performance has been spectacular over the last few years, it has nothing to do with the vitamin shots I’ve been taking. Those are strickly meant to be a general health supplement.
Just don’t want any misconceptions here regardless of who may come forward with a different story.

Chad, I don’t disagree with any of what you say….relative to the professional athletes. The problem with leaving it unchecked is the usage by those ehow will never be professional athletes and who will never have the overall medical attention that professional athletes have at the snap of a finger.
Young men & women…well, boys & girls across the country, perhaps the world, are dying or incurring serious medical challenges because they attempt to emulate these athletes by using this stuff. AND, they don’t have anyone who knows how to use it. They just pump it in, expect miracles and die.
The solution is beyond my grasp yet it must somehow be made public that this stuff is bad, won’t make you a super hero and may kill you.
That isn’t where public opinion is on this stuff right now. Or, at least it is not a broadly enough held opinion.
All I can suggest at this point is that we each take this message to any young people we have the opportunity to impact….Little League, Pop Warner, Rec Leagues, etc. And it cannot be the “Just Say No” campaign, it must be an informed explanation as to the effects. Our message must have credibility or it will be treated as all our other admonishments to youth as the dictorial adults.

Look what you started Six. I was laughing my head off at the posts in this string…now I’m sitting here with tears in my eyes.
In retrospect the laughter was just time passing dribble.
Now, at least, we have posted some thoughts that may touch someone who in turn may touch someone else and make a difference.
Aahhh…maybe it hasn’t been a lost day after all.
Believe it or not, I’m off to a Bible study shortly the topic of which is our responsibilities to our children; while mine are grown I do have grandkids. Coincidence or……

Thanks Six. It takes courage to profess our faith, especially in an arena like this. I’m pleased to do so and to see you share your heart.

Random thought –
 
Do you think that some of the first athletes said?
 
“Hey that guy is putting fruits and vegetables into his body, isn’t that illegal?”  He’s getting an unfair advantage!!!
 
Stevo

Totally.  It’s what I do.
 
Facts, ethics, morals and logic have little effect on me.
 
Stevo

Stan, then I am happy for you that you’ve not been touched by drug use by someone you care about. I have.
I had to learn a great deal about it. Part of what I learned is that it is a disease….at least in this case, not a choice. So I felt very sorry for this person that they had to deal with this burden. And it is as large a burden as anyone may be expected to carry.
Steroid use is a different matter…that I believe is a choice.

Theory of evolution and natural selection lives on
 

Stevo – at least you clearly qualify for a mayorial position in a major city.