As a long-time executive assistant and project coordinator, I continually search for ways to eek the most out of my time. This is my collection of tips and tools to master your time.
With coronavirus forcing us to transform education and interpersonal communication, the folks at Zoom now find their tool becoming the defacto standard, education and beyond. Plenty of organizations (churches, businesses, non-profits) are utilizing Zoom (why Zoom and not Google Hangouts? Skype? I’m not entirely sure at this point, but think it was because the reached out first…I should explore this at some point).
I’ve been a fan of Steve Dotto for years, and highly recommend his videos for guidance about things tech. Steve created this video (below) as a tutorial for many of the basic features. So, if you haven’t used Zoom, or haven’t used it extensively, I highly recommend Steve’s video. My wife (a teacher), who’s used Zoom quite a bit the past few weeks picked up some great tips. It’s highly worth your time.
Listening to Rufus Du Sol, reminded how much I enjoy electronic music and one of my regrets: when I had the chance to study music formally, I opted not to. Insecurities spoke too loudly, drowning out passion. I loved studying music theory, exploring the way audio elevations interact with each other. Memories of improvisation workshops, and the compliments I received for my commitment to rhythm.
Now, though, my poetry echos my musical tastes. Symmetry, rich harmonies, layers, textures, all blending into something far greater than the sum of the parts.
The difference between music and poetry: in poetry words flow in single streams. Together, yet alone; they can’t interact. Several words flowing together at the same time create a pile of textual vomit. Music allows multiple people singing multiple lines simultaneously with their interaction making them greater. Much the way different colors blend into new colors, different feelings, telling a story with each dab.
I often play with the idea of restarting this path. Of exploring all that can be done with today’s computers, today’s sampling gear, today’s synthesizers. I could create words, sung, standing upon each other, blurring, blending into something greater, into something beyond whatever could be imagined. Words building upon words, interweaving with tones, textures and rhythms, pushing through feelings, ideas, the power of souls intermixing and exploding with something more powerful than any human element could be, do, express on it’s own.
With all this, when I was younger I listened to music deeply, richly. I listened to the chords, the words, exploring what the composer communicates with that interplay. Did the pleasant, kind words take on irony with the minor or diminished chord interwoven? Words stacked with changing chords, showing tension, motion, landing on a major chord, resolution, release.
Then there’s the blending of older music, ancient music, such as Enigma, taking ancient chant, interweaving new tones and auditory textures, creating something linking the ancient with the rising sun, with a newness of being, something that both exists from antiquity and yet is brand new.
Lesson: passions drive live, make it beautiful. Explore them fully, deeply, richly. Humanity needs no more bitter business people, soul’s stripped of joy. No, we need more passion, joy, aliveness.
Bring that into being, my friends.
Here is the song by Rufus Del Sol that got me going. Enjoy!
As a martial artist and Star Wars fan, this speaks to me deeply. The reminder to keep trying, to keep getting up and trying again. Never give up on your goals.
I’ve heard about our language of self love recently. Fortuitously I stumbled upon this graphic that, in my estimation, explains the different types well.
One thing I’ve been focusing on lately: deliberately doing things that give me energy. Part of Stephen Covey’s “Sharpening Your Saw”. These deliberate actions that help you get better, recharge you, ensure you have the energy to accomplish your goals.
I want my life filed with vigor and joy. Seeking out what fuels my soul is critical. I don’t want to simply be drifting from exhausted night to exhausted morning. This list helps guide me regarding those actions. Do you find it helpful? I’d love to hear your thoughts.
Ah, good ol’ Gary V! I deeply appreciate his raw “get the fuck off your ass and get to work” videos. See, I dive deep into over-thinking. Churnimg through “what-ifs” is reflexive. And second guessing my choices? I’m a master at that, too. And it drives me nuts. I KNOW it’s a waste. I KNOW you can’t know how any choice would play out differently. Yet my brain churns through this nonsense. These videos are a good reminder to be vigilant against that and stop that waste of energy, that degradation of confidence. Forward! Move forward. Move, and forward. Don’t look back.
“The difference between successful people and really successful people is that really successful people say no to almost everything.”
― Warren Buffett
Mr. Buffett’s quote resonates with me a couple of ways.
It’s so easy to get caught up in busyness that we lose sight of effectiveness.
Focus is key. Stephen Covey phrased it as “area of influence” vs. “area of concern”. We spread our focus away from the places where we can make an impact, we lose our effectiveness.
A good friend of mine has a phrase “don’t step over dollars to get to nickles”. Keep your eyes on your goals, and let that determine what’s important.
We must spend time reminding ourselves what’s important, on where we are trying to go.
Lastly, life is short. Focus it on what’s important.
