Chris Barrow’s Blog

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To add more depth to my Tweet of a few minutes ago.

I’ve been away from home for 11 days, training, consulting and coaching – also visiting with family in Manchester (last weekend) – and arrived back just before 22:00 last night after an epic 330-mile drive from Dartford to Falmouth.

The last three working days have been back to back workshops – and I normally expect to be somewhat hoarse after “all that speaking” – but not to wake up at 04:30 this morning with a temperature and a raging sore throat.

The fact is that we all have to recognise the message when our bodies or minds tell us that they have “had enough” – and mine is saying just that.

Fortunately I have three days at home now before leaving again on Monday morning – and a chance today to catch up and prepare.

I find myself repeating a process that I have written about before.

In the foreground of the photograph you see the pile of post that has accumulated down here whilst I have been away.

I add to that a very long “to do” list that has built up in my Franklin Day-Planner.

Paperwork does not play a significant role in my life, currently due to the world-class efforts of my personal assistant Phillippa Goodwin.

I delegate at Olympic Gold Medallist standards:

• set a task
• set a deadline
• agree a feedback system when the task is completed
• DON’T INTERFERE
• trust

That approach empowers Phillippa to run the admin side of my professional life better than I ever could.

However, there is a general build up of domestic “stuff” that we all have to tolerate (I have thought about employing a butler – but I think you would all laugh at me).

So I return to the “pile of post” that you see before you – and slip into the time honoured protocol of:

• making a list
• prioritising the list
• doing the A’s first etc

You’ve heard me say that so many times.

So here goes with my desk day – tempered by my sore throat and general burn out.

We’ll see how it develops – steady as she goes.

I’ll be expecting lots of sympathy……..