I saw an interesting website recently. It is called Playing with Time (http://www.playingwithtime.org/ ) I found myself engaged in their Gallery (click on Things to See and Do, then click on Gallery). Here they have short digital time-lapse films of all sorts of events. Some of them are short, 0.7 seconds for a cat lapping milk, to the shifting of the Continental Plates over 240 million years.

While I enjoyed several of them, the one that took a woman's face through 69 years of life in 10 seconds really struck me. In particular it occurred to me that the picture was a representation of her life and all that had happened to her during that time. 69 years in 10 seconds.

We are all "playing with time" every day. Often we want to fast forward time towards our goals, or slow down time spent on vacations or with loved ones. In fact, I believe that our ability to play with time to our advantage is one of the most important skills we can learn. My suggestion? Go to the website and enjoy some of the very interesting effects. But while you are there, think about time, your thoughts about it, and your abilities to manage and use it. It will be time well spent!

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Verbal communication skills matter to all of us. I know, not everyone is a trainer or speaker by trade like I am, and I know that many people hit "send" in their email program more often than they pick up the phone, but our verbal skills still matter.

Try this... Describe a corkscrew without twirling your finger or using other gestures. Scientists say only one person in 100 can do so.

Did you succeed?

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Sometimes we try too hard. We try too hard to solve problems. Occam's Razor is a principle developed by William of Occam, an English philosopher and Theologan. The principle, is that a problem should be stated in its basic and simplest terms. In science, the simplest theory that fits the facts of the problem is the one that should be selected. (You can learn more by Googling on Occam's Razor - or go to: http://www.2think.org/occams_razor.shtml )

Charles Kettering, the inventor and businessman from the early automobile industry had a sign outside his door. "Today we will think.... so leave your slide rules out here." We don't have slide rules, but we have calculators, spreadsheets, linear models, focus group data and a myraid of other tools. Am I saying we shouldn't use the tools we have? No. But I am saying that William of Occam and Charles Kettering have something we need to keep in mind. You see Kettering had another sign inside his office. It read: "The problem, when solved, will be simple."

We have to think. And we have to expect simplicity. When we do these things and relax - the elegant, obvious answers will emerge.

We need to keep all our tools, but don't let them replace using our beautiful brains.

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February 2004 Training Magazine (http://www.trainingmag.com) cites research conducted by the Employment Policy Foundation, that says that by 2011 (just 7 years from now), when the first of the baby boomers turn 65, available jobs will outnumber available workers by 4.5 million.

This has huge implications for those leading businesses. The challenge to keep and train their people will be more important than ever. There will be more than just a job shortage, there will be a huge shortage of leadership experience.

The Kevin Eikenberry Group plans to be here to help organizations deal with those challenges. :)

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Starting my blog... is a strange thing. I'm excited to share my thoughts on business, personal and professional growth and achievement, and ideas I have and read from others. All will be meant to help you and your organization reach your goals and objectives. I am considering this a grand adventure, and a great opportunity for learning. Adventure and learning - a pretty good combination!

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