Outside the Cubicle

Tags

2balance, challenge, Construction, Front-end loader, Marketing, outside the box, Public relations, team building, teamwork

SHERI I’ve seen great talent stifled in cubicles day after day until the creative juices are sucked out of them.  They have so many rules and policies stuffed down their throats they feel strangled by the environment they’re in.  Yes, there’s the token ping pong table or Wii game but they know it’s a death warrant to be seen actually using these pieces of “time wasters”.  Is it any wonder that creative blocks become the norm?   At 2balance we’re determined to keep ourselves challenged, fresh, energized, excited, and ready to experience something new.  We can’t just say we are open to new experiences; we have to actually create them and experience them.  This is why we have our 2bChallenge.  Yes, it’s normal events for many but it’s always a new experience for us.  This week we learned how to operate a front-end loader.  We went from a wonderful lunch and learn at Hickory Hills Country Club with client Betsey Miller of 2B Organized and then headed over to another client Regional Ready Mix to learn something way, way out of most of the team’s comfort zone.  What did we learn?  We are fearless!

JACKIE Our last “2b challenged” was the scariest for me.  Shooting the gun was a pure adrenaline rush; riding the zip-line was exhilarating, but climbing into the cab of the massive (at least from my perspective) front-end loader was intimidating.  The controls seemed easy enough to learn – gas, brake, forward, reverse, a single lever to raise and lower the scoop.  Not so easy when that big machine started rolling.  My mind went blank and simple statements such as “pull the lever back” or “give it gas” sounded like a foreign language.  Our instructor, and one of our favorite clients, was there with us to show us how to work the machine.  He walked us through the process of operating the front-end loader and then stepped aside to let us try it alone.  Even though he told us we couldn’t hurt the machine, couldn’t roll over, couldn’t mess up, I was frightened.  I did it though.  Perhaps awkwardly and without much style, but I walked away without a single injury to myself, my team or the equipment. Victory!

The day of our challenge, we attended a luncheon seminar at Hickory Hills Country Club presented by another of our clients.  I went from lunching with the girls to driving a piece of heavy equipment.  It made me realize how diverse our clients are, how lucky I am to work with so many types of people and types of businesses and how much I love what I do.  I have been challenged every day since joining 2balance and it is a wonderful thing to reach beyond what you think you can do and find that you can do whatever you set your mind to.

KATE Our latest 2balance challenge had me strolling down memory lane recalling my youth for two reasons.  One, it was much like playing in a giant sandbox.  Two, my Dad was in construction and I was around construction equipment growing up – but Dad never let me drive.

After a quick lesson, we each had a chance to try out our new skills and gain a whole new appreciation for those who drive heavy equipment daily.  When I told Dad how much I enjoyed our latest adventure he said, “It’s in the genes.”

ANDREA When we pulled into Regional Ready Mix and saw all the big trucks, equipment and machinery, I knew I was already out of my element.  Sheri walked the team over to a monstrous tractor of some sort which she said was called a “front-end loader” and that we would each learn to drive and operate it.  Again, out of my element.  I was scared and uncomfortable and very nervous.  I shamefully do not know how to operate a lawn mower so how was I going to be able to maneuver a front-end loader that requires a ladder to get into it?   I watched Kate and Jackie take their turns but that did not help with my comfort level.  When it was my turn, I climbed way, way up and was given a lesson on how to drive but more importantly, how to operate the bucket.  My first few attempts were very nerve racking but then I started to feel more confident and actually enjoyed this challenge.  I went from fear, to comfort, to enjoyment in my accomplishments.  I realized how wonderful it can be to conquer a fear and to be out of your element.  This challenge was another reminder that we can learn new tricks and what a sense of confidence that comes with it.

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Pinkie

Tags

2balance, Bass Pro, challenge, guns, team building

"Pinkie"

ANDREA When Sheri pulled out “Pinkie,” her pink 38 revolver, and said that we were headed to the shooting range, I got so tickled at the thought of these four girlie women in dresses and heels headed to target practice.  I think the security woman at the target range was as surprised as we were to see us and she let us know that we were not her typical clientele.  Kate (who cannot navigate Springfield any longer after being gone less than a year) volunteered me to go first.  I was very nervous.  After donning the attractive glasses and ear protectors, they sent me into the freezing cold shooting gallery.  Randy spent a few minutes teaching me how to shoot and then let me go for it.  Again, I was very nervous.  As soon as I shot the first bullet, my entire body reacted.  My ears hurt from the incredible explosion, my body had adrenaline rushing through it and I began to sweat profusely.  I couldn’t wait to get the gun out of my hands and sat it down immediately while announcing “I don’t like this.”  I was told I needed to shoot one more time.  Again, I was very nervous.  But, I also was determined to experience this more fully and picked up the gun and fired again and again and again.  I became more comfortable with each bullet but also began to realize the incredible weapon that I was holding and the magnitude of damage that is possible.  I gained a new respect for firearms and their power.  I was happy to finish my round and get away from “Pinkie” but also appreciated the opportunity to try something that was out of my comfort zone.  It was not a physical challenge, but a mental one, and I was proud that I was able to complete something that frightened and challenged me.

KATE Talk about something outside of my comfort zone–today was my first time shooting a gun and it was such a rush.  But I very much felt the weight of responsibility in handling the gun (in spite of the fact that it was pink) and was quite nervous.  I don’t think it’s such a bad thing to be nervous about shooting a gun. While I hope I never have to use one, I’m glad to know that I can.  (Andrea, I still know my way around Springfield.  I just can’t talk and drive at the same time, proving my husband right.)

JACKIE What a rush.  I was asked to reach beyond my normal day today and do something challenging, something that was new to me.  Shooting a .38 revolver, pink no less, definitely fit the bill.  I was surprised by the power and humbled by the power of that little gun.  Such a tiny action–to pull the trigger, but oh what a powerful reaction.  I was fearful, nervous and elated all at the same time.  I guess that is the essence of a challenge, to push through the fear so that we can feel the elation of conquering that which scares us.

SHERI Yes, I own a pink revolver.  It was a “gift” and something I never expected to have in my possession.  I’ve been fearful of anything more powerful than a BB gun my entire life.  But here it was – a gift.  I put it away and didn’t think about it and then after hearing about recent home invasions decided that I should at least know how to shoot it if for some horrible circumstance I was forced to protect myself or my loved ones.  And so off I went to my first visit to the gun range at Bass Pro. I loaded it twice and fired and was a good shot.  I then took it home and put it away.  Until yesterday.  When thinking about our first 2bChallenge, I decided that it was time to pull “Pinkie” back out and let everyone experience what I had.  The first thing I noticed was that shooting a gun was nothing like I imagined from all the movies and television programs I had watched over the years.  A revolver is much more powerful than I anticipated.  It demonstrated true life is nothing like the movies.  It made me understand that I could be hurt as well as the target I was aiming it.  It reminded me of the responsibility that I had while handling a little pink revolver.  It confirmed that I could do things that were completely outside of my everyday world and do them well.   I think the team all learned something about themselves in this first 2bChallange.  And we all learned that Kate can hit a bullseye on her first shot…

Team Challenge

Tags

2balance, challenge, comfort, explore, outside the box, team building, teamwork

Challenge.  We say we want “something that challenges us” especially in relation to a job or adventure.  But we often believe it’s someone else’s responsibility to challenge us.  

Comfort.   We all like comfort although we know that it often leads to complacency, boredom and even laziness. 

Explore.  We declare we want to explore and discover new things and we call ourselves insights “leaders” but often we’re only rehashing what someone else has discovered or delving into the things that we’re already comfortable with.

As a challenge to my team to not become too comfortable with who we are and what we know and where we explore; we will be delving into new experiences that are certainly outside the box for us.  What I want to do is force us outside of our comfort zones.  Experience things that we don’t experience on a day-to-day basis, build trust in one another as a team and help us to understand that we need to constantly be pushing ourselves to explore and create new opportunities for our clients.   The only way this will be a learning experience is if we all support one another through our fears and insecurities which is part of what 2balance is all about.

Tomorrow we will start our first exercise and we hope you will participate along with us.  Read our blogs, call to join us and make recommendations on what you would like to see us tackle.