Tag Archives | focus
dreams and wishes. 62/365

5 Tips to Help You Achieve Your Dreams Now

By on January 20, 2012 in Inspiration, Personal Growth
dreams and wishes. 62/365

Image by nicole.pierce.photography ♥ via Flickr

“You know those goals you’ve set for yourself, those dreams you’ve been waiting for the perfect time to live out? It’s time.” – Maria Shriver

What have you been waiting for? It’s the rare person who does not have dreams, goals, wishes; those someday, when the time is right, maybe when I have more…whatever.

NEWS FLASH…

There is no perfect time, no right circumstance, and no magic window of opportunity. There is only now. Now is the time to stretch out of your zone of security and comfort and reach higher. As my very wise father used to say, “Get your rear in gear!” (Except he used a slightly different word that I will not print on this blog for sensitive eyes to read.)

I have some tips to impart before you embark on your quest for all of those magnificent dreams:

Get very specific about what you want

Ambiguity is the kiss of death for dreams. Be crystal clear, be specific, and if possible be vivid. Be able to explain your objective to a complete stranger – You don’t have to actually do it. Just be able to if you needed to.

Be sure that it’s still right for you

Dreams and ambitions change with time. What we wanted in our 20’s may be radically different from what we want in our 40’s. Question if the vision you had for yourself is still the future you really want.

Have your fantasy

In other words, it’s more than thinking outside the box. That phrase is so over-used that I don’t think we even pay attention to it anymore. What I want you to do is, not only think outside the box, think over the box, think under the box, forget the box even exists and think on a blank canvas. However, don’t forget that there are still opportunities inside the box. I just want you to open your mind to all possibilities (Ahem…without any illegal substances please!)

Gather the troops

Enlist help wherever and whenever you can. Telling people what you want gives you a measure of accountability. Moreover, you never know where your most valuable resource may be found. Mentors and potential partners are everywhere. For example, when I was first trying to get my career as a freelance writer off the ground, I made an off-handed comment during a massage (one of my favorite gifts) about wanting to write full-time to the massage therapist whom I had never met before. I was floored when she told me she had a friend who was looking to get some help with his blog. Hello! That’s opportunity knocking. Who knew!

Full steam ahead

Be bold. Be courageous. Be determined. Don’t be afraid to do something that makes you (or someone else) uncomfortable. Stop making excuses…If you don’t have the time, drop something else. If you don’t have the knowledge or skill, get it.

Every day that goes by is another opportunity lost. Are you going to keep wishing and hoping and complaining or are you going to go after what you want?

Now, be brave and tell me what you want. I’m listening. Put it out there. You never know what kind of support you’ll get. Post a comment or share it on our Facebook page.

 

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English: Quads Aces, to represent poker games.

BUSINESS IS A GAME

By on January 6, 2012 in Success
English: Quads Aces, to represent poker games.

Image via Wikipedia

I loved this concept from Tony Hsieh.

BUSINESS IS A GAME

Everything I know about business I learned from poker: financials, strategy, education, and culture.

FINANCIALS

  • The guy who wins the most hands is not the guy who makes the most money in the long run.
  • The guy who never loses a hand is nor the guy who makes the most money in the long run.
  • Go for positive expected value, not what’s least risky.
  • You will win or lose individual hands, but it’s what happens in the long term that matters.

STRATEGY

  • Learn to adapt. Adjust your style of play as the dynamics of the game change.
  • The players with the most stamina and focus usually win.
  • Hope is not a good plan.
  • Stick to your principles.

EDUCATION

  • Never stop learning. Read books. Learn from others who have done it before.
  • Learn by doing. Theory is nice, but nothing replaces actual experience.
  • Just because you win a hand doesn’t mean you’re good and you don’t have more learning to do. You might have just gotten lucky

CULTURE

  • To become really good, you need to live it, breathe it, and  sleep it.
  • Be nice and make friends. It’s a small community.
  • Have fun. The game is a lot more enjoyable when you’re trying to do more than just make money.

Tony Hsieh is the CEO of Zappos.com and the author of Delivering Happiness. Tony’s (longer) blog post is Everything l Know About Business I Learned from Poker.

What are your thoughts? Do you agree? Disagree?

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Make a Difference in Your Productivity in Just One Hour

By on December 12, 2011 in Productivity
An

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Simple Steps

Implement a daily Focus Hour. We bandy about strategies for focusing and concentrating our mind on technical or creative pursuits, but the single most useful tactic to get more done in less time is to eliminate all distractions and “uni-task.” But, but…people need me…I can’t be out of the loop. Really? Even for an hour?

Try it for a few days and you’ll see for yourself how valuable it is. For 60 minutes each day, preferably at the start of your day, shut off and shut out everything else and just focus on doing whatever task or project you’ve chosen. If you can’t manage 60 minutes, try 30. Any time you can carve out will help.

I have been doing this, not every day, but several a week and even I am shocked at how much I can get done. (Confession…I have to leave my phone downstairs and out of earshot so that I am not tempted to peek at messages.) But I am getting more comfortable with the disconnection as I start to see results.

Question everything, move forward, enjoy the journey.

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Crystal ball

The Single Most Important Productivity Tip

By on November 28, 2011 in Productivity, Simple Steps, Success

Crystal ball

Image via Wikipedia

Simple Steps

From the mailbag…

The question I am most often asked is… “What is your best productivity tip?”

Oh, there are so many, but the answer I give just might surprise you…

It’s not, do the most important thing first.

It’s not plan your day, every day.

It’s not eliminate distractions.

It’s not write everything down.

It’s not even set aside a power focus hour.

 

It’s BE CRYSTAL CLEAR ON WHAT YOU ARE TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH.

Because if you aren’t clear about what you’re trying to do or why you’re doing it, then the rest doesn’t really matter. You can be organized and efficient, but if you’re doing the wrong things then you are not being productive.

You are simply wasting your time efficiently.

Question everything, move forward, enjoy the journey.

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Pearl nl: Parels de: Perlen

Productivity Challenge: Streamline

By on November 2, 2011 in Productivity
Pearl nl: Parels de: Perlen

Image via Wikipedia

Though it may seem counter-intuitive, our biggest gains often do not come through expansion. Instead, we frequently find that when we pare down our schedules, streamline our activities and simplify our choices we can actually become more focused and more productive.

Bear with me, this is actually relevant to life and business at large…

Back-story – For the last couple of weeks I have been complaining to my husband about my need for an armoire (free-standing jewelry/accessory case for you guys out there.) I just haven’t been able to find what I want; right color, right size, right price so I have been dragging my feet.

New idea – This weekend out of nowhere (I have no idea where these flashes of insight come from,) it occurred to me that if I simply pare down my jewelry collection to those items that I really love and actually wear I probably wouldn’t need a bigger storage unit. Think of the money I could save! Plus I wouldn’t have to waste time each morning sorting through those unnecessary and unlikely options. (I usually wear the same few favorite items anyway.)

Why didn’t I think of that before?

Simple. We’re humans. We like to hold on to things.

My jewelry is just a small example. This applies not just to other spaces and aspects of our lives, but how we conduct our businesses and develop our careers as well.

Instead of thinking of new ways to expand your business or new products to develop, new hobbies or causes to join or new avenues to explore, try choosing one area, one space, one project, one interest and really focus on simplifying, organizing or honing that area to its most useful and productive state.

My challenge: To pay attention to what jewelry I actually wear this entire month and then give away the rest.

What will you be streamlining?

Question everything, move forward, enjoy the journey.

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How to Use Focus to Improve Productivity and Results

By on October 26, 2011 in Productivity, Success
Focus = Improved productivity, faster progress, efficient time management & better results

Watch today’s Productive Life Minute…

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Celebrate...

Self Indulgent Birthday Gift to Myself

By on October 23, 2011 in Life Balance, Personal Growth
Celebrate...

Image by Јerry via Flickr

As a very self-indulgent birthday gift to myself, I’m going to share my favorite poem of all time. Though it may not be relevant to business; it is most certainly relevant to life.

Happy birthday to me! 

I have a beautifully framed version of this poem sitting on my bookshelf, given to me by a dear friend, that I look at every day to remind myself to be thankful for each day I am given. In the spirit of gratitude I’d like to share it with you.

If I Had My Life To Live Over

If I had my life to live over, I would have talked less and listened more.

I would have invited friends over to dinner even if the carpet was stained and the sofa faded.

I would have eaten the popcorn in the ‘good’ living room and worried much less about the dirt when someone wanted to light a fire in the fireplace.

I would have taken the time to listen to my grandfather ramble about his youth.

I would never have insisted the car windows be rolled up on a summer day because my hair had just been teased and sprayed.

I would have burned the pink candle sculpted like a rose before it melted in storage.

I would have sat on the lawn with my children and not worried about grass stains.

I would have cried and laughed less while watching television – and more while watching life.

I would have shared more of the responsibility carried by my husband.

I would have gone to bed when I was sick instead of pretending the earth would go into a holding pattern if I weren’t there for the day.

I would never have bought anything just because it was practical, wouldn’t show soil or was guaranteed to last a lifetime.

Instead of wishing away nine months of pregnancy, I’d have cherished every moment and realized that the wonderment growing inside me was the only chance in life to assist God in a miracle.

When my kids kissed me impetuously, I would never have said, “Later. Now go get washed up for dinner.”

There would have been more “I love you’s”.. More “I’m sorrys” …

But mostly, given another shot at life, I would seize every minute… look at it and really see it … live it…and never give it back.

© Erma Bombeck

Question everything, move forward, enjoy the journey.

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10 Ways to Make Change Work for You

By on October 10, 2011 in Simple Steps

Simple Steps

Change is not the enemy. In fact it can be the best friend you never knew you had.

From time to time it’s beneficial to shake things up and get out of a rut, even if you think that rut is working for you! You’d be surprised at what a measurable difference a small change in routine, environment or process can make. Change can be a valuable success and happiness tool if you learn to make it work for you instead of avoiding it at all costs.

Commit this week to making just one change in the way you live and work.

10 Change Suggestions to get you started:

  • Rearrange your furniture in your office or a room at home – Especially if you work from home (I recently moved my desk so that I was no longer facing the wall and immediately found I was happier and more productive.)
  • Change the colors that surround you – Colors have been scientifically proven to affect mood and creativity (you don’t have to paint your walls…new curtains, a throw pillow, flowering plant or an inexpensive wall hanging can work.)
  • Wear something different – Buy something completely different from your usual wardrobe, even a new tie or scarf will work or wear favorite clothing in a new combination.
  • Shift your normal routine – Do you always get groceries or go to the bank on the same day? Do you always check your email first? How about when you take breaks and lunch? Shake it up and see how it works (you can always go back.)
  • Try out a new commuting activity – If you normally talk on your mobile phone or listen to the news, how about listening to an audio book instead or try a silent commute (might be uncomfortable for some, but I find the silence to be great opportunity to mull over creative ideas.)
  • Expand your social circle – Eat lunch with someone different, invite a colleague or acquaintance for coffee, ask a neighbor to dinner ( you never know where you will find your next friend mentor or business contact.)
  • Swap activities – Do yoga at lunch instead of sitting in the lunch room, try Zumba instead of the treadmill, Pilates in place of yoga or biking instead of your usual morning run (altering your exercise routine not only keeps it more interesting, but also is more effective at improving your fitness and health.)
  • Eat a different meal – If you always have a bagel or muffin for breakfast, try having eggs or yogurt and fruit instead (the extra protein will increase you alertness and energy level.)
  • Examine one firmly entrenched process and see if you can tweak or overhaul it (well established processes and equipment that may have worked quite well at one time, may not be the most effective method now.)
  • How about changing your attitude or behavior – Gulp! This is the toughest, but by far the most effective change strategy (If you notice that you complain or criticize often, try remaining silent when the urge strikes.  Or if you’re always late, make it a priority to be on time for a week and see how it feels.)
Most importantly…Smile…It changes everything.

Question everything, move forward, enjoy the journey.

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P question

What’s Your Intention – Be More Successful

By on September 30, 2011 in Questions, Success
P question

Image via Wikipedia

Question

What is your intention?

That may be the most important question you ask yourself every day. In every aspect of your life, work, home, relationships, actions or choices, knowing your intention gives you the proper focus and direction.

If you don’t know what your intention is then you are floundering about like a tiny rowboat in the ocean. You will get tossed back and forth at the whims of the moment. But if you know what your intention is, if you know what you really want to get out of every day, interaction, relationship, task, and activity, then you are more likely to get it.

That does not mean that every single action we take must have a complex intention. It might be as simple as my intention is to be to be curious, observant, kind and open to new possibilities. That is broad enough and yet clear enough to set your course.

Question everything, move forward, enjoy the journey.

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Hands.Pen.Paper.DupontCircle.WDC.17sep05

Why You Need to Do a “Mind Download” Daily

By on September 19, 2011 in Life Balance, Productivity, Simple Steps
Hands.Pen.Paper.DupontCircle.WDC.17sep05

Image by Elvert Xavier Barnes Photography

Simple Steps

Our minds are really like human computers. If we want to improve our productivity and efficiency, we need to empty the cache of temporary “files” and reboot for our brains to perform at their peak levels. Otherwise we can suffer from brain overload with too many circuits firing at once and so many programs (thoughts) running in the background that we either “freeze up” and can’t remember anything or simply process the information much more  slowly than we’d like.

Sounds difficult. But it’s not. It only requires a few minutes and some manner of recording your thoughts.

Choose your time – Try first thing in the morning and again before bedtime, but if that doesn’t work for you any time can work. I prefer to sit with my morning coffee for a few minutes and let my brain wake up. I apparently need the caffeine kick to form coherent thoughts.

Choose your method of recording – You can keep an electronic list on your mobile phone or computer, use a voice recorder or similar app or go the traditional pen and paper route. Though I tend to be a “techie” by nature, I still prefer to use a pen and pad for this process.

Now, take just 5 minutes and write down whatever is in your head or on your mind. Sounds doable.

And I mean everything… Not just tasks, but thoughts, concerns, questions and ideas too. You can sort them later, just get them out of your brain so that they can stop cycling through and using up precious brain power and space.

Once you’re finished you can add any tasks to your ongoing tasks list (you have one of those right?) Add any new ideas to an idea file to pursue later and record questions or concerns in a journal to mull over at another time. (If you never go back to mull them over, then they weren’t that important.)

By making it a habit to take just a few minutes each day to empty and organize your brain, you can drastically improve your ability to focus, complete tasks, achieve goals, find better balance and increase your energy. Not bad for 5 minutes work.

Question everything, move forward, enjoy the journey.

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