What do Joan Rivers, David Letterman and Rich Brauer have in common?

Joan Rivers, David Letterman, Garry Shandling, Bob Newhart and others, all moved their careers ahead by guest hosting The Tonight Show while Johnny Carson was on vacation. No doubt my guest hosts will meet with fame and fortune when they take over for me while on vacation March 2 through the 10th. 

Yes, these fine folks all enthusiastically answered my call to sit in for me. Interestingly, as the time approaches there are some nervous jitters. So, I'm asking you to show your support, call the show with questions and comments, post your greetings on the Mary in the Morning Facebook page and generally make them feel loved and adored.

How lucky am I to have friends offer to do my job for me while I'm gone?  They are all choosing their own guests and topics, some of which I'm aware, but most remain under wraps. 

Here's the line-up:

Tuesday March 2: Steve Wade, Executive Director, United Way of Northern Michigan                                         
Wednesday, March 3: Karyn Hertel, Director, Marigold & YOU-FM

Thursday, March 4: Rich Brauer, President, Brauer Productions

Friday, March 5:  Bryan Crough, Community Development Director, Traverse City

Monday, March 8:  Brett Gourdie, Publisher, NM3 (Northern Michigan Men's Magazine)

Tuesday March 9:  Bonnie Alfonso, President, Alfie Logo Gear

Wednesday, March 10  Karyn Hertel, Director, Marigold YOU-FM

Rich Brauer asked if I would be listening to the show while I'm gone. No, I will be sitting under a palm tree with a Margarita in my hand reading a trashy novel considering if it is time to turn over for a more even tan. Now, I'm a little jittery wondering why he wanted to know. Hmm....

Should have posted this sooner!

No, actually, I'm blogging on time... this time. Is procrastination your enemy? I admit that I am a first-class over-achieving procrastinator. I can't wait to bond with my "better later than now" brothers and sisters at Marigold Forum on Thursday 2/18.

For a long time I bought into the research that said procrastination was a game of perfectionism. If there was any doubt that the end result would be less than perfect, we would delay starting the project at all. As with so many other theories, this one is being tossed out the window. I've never been a card-carrying perfectionist so I always wondered about the validity.

Here is my theory on my procrastination, because it seems to get worse as I get older: If I hit a roadblock in my project or chore, where I don't know exactly how to do something, I bail. At least for a time being, because I'm going to need to figure something out. At 46, I seem to think I should know everything I need to know and if it is going to require work (ugh!) to learn something, I put it off because I'd rather spend time doing what I know.Yes, I am ashamed. The strange thing is, I love learning new stuff, but I want to do it on my terms, not out of necessity. 

How about you? Why do you procrastinate? Have you figured out a way to leave this club? Can you come to my house and figure out why I can't view .pdfs anymore?

Post your comments here and please join us at Red Ginger on Thursday 2/18. CLICK HERE TO REGISTER. NOW!

Your friend,

Mary Rogers

Aha! Guest Blogger: Robyn Marcotte, Aha! Leadership

Today’s Aha!    

Great ideas can come from the craziest places…

Don’t underestimate the source of a great idea. Over the past week, I can’t tell you how many times I have said “Aha!“ or “Wow! …that’s an awesome idea!   “The simplest comment can be so profound.  And it can come from the most unexpected person or place.  So, check this out…

I am on the treadmill watching Oprah (yes, I am a closet Oprahaholic…) and she is having a conversation with some big important movie star using Skype.  If you’re not familiar with Skype it is a free online video telephone.  Seriously, it’s like George and Judy Jetson used to use in the old cartoon “The Jetson’s”.   Anyway, I thought to myself …Oprah keeps using this Skype gizmo to have guest on her show.  Why does she do that? Well there are probably at least two reasons good reasons: 1) it saves on travel costs and 2) it saves a ton of time shuffling last minute guests to and from Chicago.   I thought to myself… that’s it, I can use Skype to  connect with customers all over Michigan.  It’s free… it’s fast … most important it’s fun!  I now Skype 6 to 10 times a week and beam myself from location to location in minutes.  Pretty cool!

My point, open your eyes… your ears and your mind…  There are so many great ideas out there that can be used to solve so many different problems.

A couple of days ago, I was in a leadership meeting at our church.  Just like the for profit sector, non-profit organizations are getting creative with cost cutting ideas.  We learned that the janitor came up with a $12000 per year cost cutting idea.  Get this… by closing off one section of the massive parking lot on weekdays the church saves money by not salting the parking lot. Because the parking lot fully surrounds the building there are over 6,000 other parking spots to choose from.  Besides the demand for parking is obviously the greatest on Sunday morning.  So, none was really inconvenienced by the change.  Now … that is a simple idea from a truly unexpected place.

If there is one thing that I have learned over the years it’s that sometimes we just look too hard and take ourselves way too seriously  when looking for great ideas.  So, today put on your pink sunglasses and go out looking for ideas.  See every encounter, every interaction, and every situation as an opportunity to spark a new idea.  I guarantee you will be amazed at how many great ideas you’ll spot.
Just think of the possibilities….
Pay it forward and share your Aha! comment here!

     

Robyn Marcotte
Aha! Leadership LLC.

Robyn.Marcotte@ahaleadership.com
248.882.2354
www.ahaleadership.com
Skype: robyn.marcotte