"Had a meeting lately?"

I coach a lot of business people, helping them set professional and personal goals and moving strategically from where they are to where they want to be, in essence, listening to their lives. Much of what we talk about is taking action on values that are important to them.

One of my common themes is that most meetings waste productive time. We put folks in comfortable chairs in luxurious, climate-controlled rooms with something to eat and drink and suddenly everybody feels like they have to say something so they can stay in the room longer.

One of the people I coach sent me something recently which reads, “Are you lonely? Tired of working on your own? Do you hate making decisions? Then hold a meeting! You can see people, show charts, feel important, use a laser pointer, impress your colleagues, and eat doughnuts all on company time! Meetings…the practical alternative to work.”

But you know, there is one meeting that’s worthwhile everyday: meet with God as you listen to life and make a life, not just a living.