Be Here Now

One of the sayings at my company (and probably most larger corporations) is "Be Here Now."  It means that whatever you are supposed to be doing at that moment, do it with your entire mind/body/etc. so that you can accomplish it efficiently and with focus and then move onto the next thing.

It's a very simple and obvious concept (much like "to lose weight you just eat less and exercise more") but often proves difficult to execute. 

When at work, you are supposed to be working.  That is what you are paid to do.  But besides Mr. Molly, I don't know anyone who just comes into the office, sits down at their desk, and works their butt off for 8 hours straight.  Most people will do a little work, then check the internet, then do a little work, then email or IM a friend, then do a little work, then take a walk, then do a little work, then write your blog post, etc.  Even when you are at work and actually WORKING it's sometimes hard to "be here now."  How often do you see an executive in a meeting checking their blackberry/iPhone to see what emails they are getting or when/where their next meeting is going to be?  You're talking and you know they aren't listening.  It's frustrating.

Then you go home and you're supposed to be spending time with your children.  But there is so much other stuff to do, you feel like you have to multi-task.  You're checking your personal email, figuring out what's on TV, what's the weather going to be tomorrow, what do I need to buy at the grocery store, did I switch the laundry yet?  You're getting texts from your friends and calls from your mom.  Meanwhile your kids are in the basement screaming "Be here now!!!"  or they would, if they were in corporate america and knew what that meant. 

How many times when you're out to dinner or at a bar with friends or your spouse is your phone out on the table?  What if you get a text, what if there is breaking Facebook news? 

Why is it so hard to "Be Here Now"?  Why are we so distracted and why do we feel it would be so horrible to miss out on anything? 

I guess the first step is to admit that you are not "being here now."  So now that I've admitted it, the much harder part it to execute on it.  However, this weekend I am going to have a visitor in the Dream House who executes on "Be Here Now" better than anyone I have ever met in my life.  No matter what she is doing, she is focused and in the moment.  I really respect that, and I'm going to watch her this weekend and try to learn a few things.  Can't wait to see you old friend!