Balancing Professional and Personal Life

Many of us tend to feel the need to have more than 24 hours in a day .There just doesn't seem to be enough time to get everything done.    Maybe that's because we have too many things on our plate.  Maybe its time to think about getting rid of some of them, prioritizing others and coming up with ways to de-stress and find the way to reduce the clutter in our head.

I spoke on this topic just this past weekend (May 3) at the Iowa Broadcast News Association annual convention.  It dealt with identifying why we are so busy (see this great piece on You tube for the truncated explanation https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=43noE0QS1IQ  ) But it also covered ways to to take the business out of life in an effort to find some balance as well as how to manage change when it hit us square in the face.

The bottom line for the latter is to recognize the aspects of change after it takes place.  We resist it...we are then indifferent to it...we have to go through its implementation and eventually, comes acceptance.  Recognizing those four steps then next time you get a phone call or an email or a person to person message that upsets the apple cart we should remember those four phases.

In the end doing so will make the process of going through change a little less daunting and fearful.  You will spend less time fretting about it so you can use your energy for more positive endeavors.

Rock Ballad Heaven

I'll admit to a little bias up front today.  I enjoyed the music of the 70's and 80's.  It's why I looked forward with anticipation to opening night of the production called Power Balladz at the Temple for the Performing Arts in Des Moines.

 I was not disappointed.

The idea of the production is pretty straight forward.  It's about the rise and fall of the guitar laden, big hair type of music of the era through the performances of an eight piece ensemble (five musicians and three singers, "Dieter, Scott and Mary)  From the opening cover of Night Ranger's "Sister Christian" to the finale of Queen's "We Are the Champions,"  the production keeps the audience engaged and allows it to participate at just about anytime it wants to.   (Could be why its labeled the "Ultimate Sing-A-Long.)

This is not just two hours of music and head for the exits.  The comedic element is evident right from the start and segments include involving  members of the audience on stage in an effort to test their knowledge of rock trivia .  The prize...shooting off  the "Frickin T-Shirt Cannon."   You can even find the cast and band interacting with the patrons in the lobby during the intermission

The musicians on keyboards, drums, bass, and a couple of mean guitars are a tightly  knit band.  You  would be hard pressed,  if you closed your eyes,  to distinguish whether you were hearing sounds from Whitesnake, Journey, Poison or Bon Jovi, or from five guys who came together for an off Broadway production. They rarely missed a beat and even on this particular night when I did notice one, the expression from the band seemed to convey, 'Where did that come from?"

The Temple for the Performing Arts is the perfect venue for this type of production.  The intimate setting allows for a number of opportunities for audience interaction.  Yes, the music is loud, but its not overbearing.  You have to remember this is about Power Rock Ballads with killer guitar licks and sometimes screeching vocals. All of that is present in Power Balladz but never once did I reach for the ear plugs in my pocket, brought just in case they were needed.

The only downside to all of this...is that Power Balladz is only at the Temple through Saturday, April 12.  We can only "Dream On' that the powers-that-be at Des Moines Performing Arts seriously consider bringing this production back to Des Moines.   The "Winds of Change" in the music industry have put the power ballad into the history books but it was nice for at least one night to "Come Sail Away" with the music that so many people "Faithfully" sing a long with anytime they have the opportunity.

Impressive Night at the Playhouse

I attended opening night of Les Miserables at the Des Moines Community Playhouse recently.  I am not a professional theatrical reviewer by any stretch of the imagination.   I attend because I like "live" theatre and I am compelled to write today because of the level of professionalism demonstrated that evening on the Playhouse stage.  Steve Barry as Jean Valjean, Maxwell Schaeffer as Javert and Katy Merriman in the role of Cosette provided what can only be described as tier one performances.  And this is not meant as a means to take away anything from the 46 other members of the cast who provided a truly enjoyable and spot on production.

And this was opening night.

There were of course a couple of technical issues that normally crop up for the first time the curtain rises and since this review is coming a week into the run of the show they have certainly been addressed.  But even with those shortcomings, Les Miz at the Playhouse was an outstanding production.  Barry's and Merriman's solo vocal performances on stage were of the caliber that made you close your eyes and just revel in the beauty of their voices.  Dani Boal also scored big time in the roll of Eponine when she commanded center stage herself n the second act.

 Les Miserables is a major undertaking for any theatre company but  the Playhouse cast and crew were up to the challenge.  It appears a lot of other people have felt the same way.

 https://www.facebook.com/DMPlayhouse 

 The final scenes will give you pause and a moment to reflect which is what good dramatic theatre is supposed to do.  It might also make you leave the building checking your calendar to see if you can squeeze in another performance before the show's run concludes Thursday April 13.

Making Some Time for Some Great Chaos

            There are all kinds of important aspects to life.  This is about one of them.         

            We can get really busy.  Just look at your calendar at home or the office.  If you are having trouble seeing the date listed for a particular day, there is an issue to be addressed.  This is often the case in my home which is only comprised of my wife, me, and the golden retriever. (Maggie).  There have times when our marriage has been referred to as a post-it-note marriage because we are active and often times pass each other in the wind.  Sound familiar?

            Then something happens that brings everything to a screeching halt.  One word, Family.  So it was this past weekend…and this could be any weekend in any year.  It was in fact a rarity because when you have family that includes four sons and a daughter, four of the five which are married and the fifth to be wed soon, and ten grandchildren with another one the way, getting everyone together in one place is indeed an accomplishment. 

            There is the laughter, the catching up, and the horsing around.  All of it happened, by the way, without the use of social media.  Part of the reason gatherings such as these are so infrequent is the fact that so many people are so busy.  After an experience that lasted only of the past 36 hours its clear there needs to be more of them. If you have a large one a small one, a challenge today should be to initiate an effort to get everyone together of what would be considered your immediate family.   This kind of time is precious and it is far too infrequent in today’s “busy” society.  But it’s a perfect opportunity to put that busyness aside and enjoy a type of chaos that is precious.

Examples from College Students

I have had the opportunity for the past couple of months to work with a two groups of young people who are really setting the example for others. A lot of non work time is spent doing work for Optimist International, one of the major service organizations in the country. We have found that college aged young people are really inclined to fit in to the community service model because they want to make a difference in the communities where they are spending a portion of their lives.

This was no more evident than over the past few months when Optimist Clubs came to be in Forest City (December) at Waldorf College and most recently, Iowa State University in Ames. (March) The group in Forest City is just 15 people but you have to remember enrollment on campus numbers in the hundreds and not the thousands. They plan to partner with the local elementary school as they attempt to brighten and improve the lives of children in the area. 41 students have jumped on the bandwagon at Iowa State University where students are still in a recruiting mode. They too will be working to positively impact the lives of children in the Ames area.  Both groups also afford their members leadership, and personal development opportunities as they work on strengthening and improving the nonprofit groups of which they are members.

What  is probably most refreshing is their attitudes. These students really have nothing but a positive outlook. I spoke last week with Drake University President David Maxwell who announced he was going to be retiring in June of 2015. He's been working much longer than I have with college students and he indicated he often tells his colleagues on campus that when they are feeling down, just to "go talk with a group of students." His point should be clear. Their outlook, their questioning, and their willingness to get something done should be something those of us in the older generation should emulate. A lot of us already do...but there needs to be so many more.

Just take a look at the headlines (remember my vocation is journalism) and I am certain any day of the week you can find half a dozen "needs" that should  be addressed in your community. Pick one and get involved. I know you will find, just like these new "community servants" in Forest City and Ames have found, that it will be a rewarding experience.