Category: Productivity & Effectiveness

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.

Today’s Quote of the Day

Carl Setzer

Felt it important to add something positive to the world this morning. So much anger, negativity, distrust and simple rage, I’ve grown a bit weary of the internet. However, I still see great value in the platform.

Anyway, with that, I thought this quote by Einstein was perfect. People are important, but we need to focus on goals, build a mission and drive forward. We need to allow toxic people to go and bring healthy people into our orbit.  Positive energy can feed back into itself, growing powerful and more effective. It’s not magic, taking time and focus, too. But it pays off

Anyway, what will you do to make this real? To make not just your life, but the world a better place? I’d like to know.

 

A Meditation On Motivation 

Carl Setzer

​The question you should be asking isn’t “what do I want?” or “what are my goals?” but “what would excite me?”

~Tim Ferris

I’m still not sure what it is “I want”, in terms of a long-range vision. Or, more specifically, what it’s is I don’t want. Rejecting ideas, goals, opportunities is what’s hard for me. It’s hard to say “no” to opportunities, even ones that haven’t materialized, or even transitioned slightly from concept to reality.

Having too many things on your to-do list is a sure way to fail at everything.

Saying “No” is the kernel of planning, of living a life of vision, mission and purpose.

When we think in terms of excitement and energy, the challenge of choice changes. I find it much easier to deselect things that don’t energize me. That are boring, draining. Cool sounding things often change when we consider the actual work.

Spend as much time as possible doing activities which give you strength, energy and life.

Good Ol’ Dilbert and To-Do Lists

Carl Setzer

Well, I still like making to-do lists. To be more specific, I like checking the boxes off as “complete”.

 

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The Life Affirming Steven Covey’s “Big Rocks” Video

Carl Setzer

This concept had a powerful impact upon how I see the world. With that, this video was life-changing.

A very basic notion: take a moment and figure out what’s most important. Then act on that. Schedule those things FIRST, then work everything else in.

Nothing more dreadful to imagine than, at the end of my life, realizing I never did what’s truly important to me.

That said, watch this. Then act on it.

Monday Thought

Carl Setzer

Here’s a positive way to look at Mondays.

And, if you have no mistakes from last week to clean up, then it’s a great day to set a productive rhythm.

The Respect of ‘why’, or Obedient Serfs Don’t Innovate

Carl Setzer

A mediation on today’s post by Seth Godin: “The respect of ‘why'”.

Questionsall was my first Twitter handle, and is the title of my poetry blog, and my very first site here on Blogger.  I deeply value questioning, on probing. I don’t accept things at face value.

I believe the path to a great life comes through questions.

  1. What do I want to do with my life?
  2. What feeds my soul?
  3. What makes my heart soar?
  4. What steals my energy? My passion? My joy?

Wise leaders accept the value of questioning. Everyone on the team needs to value the mission, share the dream and the goals. Then, and only then, will you have a team of innovators.

Obedient serfs don’t innovate!

If you appreciated my writing, would you please give this a “like”, and consider subscribing. 

It’s Never Too Late To Start, It’s Never Too Early, Either

Carl Setzer

Grabbed the above image from Pinterest. 

Some great wisdom on this image. I often get stuck in “I should’ve done that years ago”, yet can also be paralyzed by “maybe I should wait…”, whether it’s more detail, risk aversion, or just fear of the unknown. It’s hard to avoid self doubt and recrimination.

With all this, I’m re-evaluating quite a bit of my life right now. Questions like “what do I want to do with my life”, “what skills do I want to build”. With that, all of my social media is being evaluated, too.

I need to focus. One of my challenges: all the things I’m trying to do. All the sites that I’m trying to manage, all the communities that I’m trying to be part of.

I expect I’ll drop some of my sites, and move others around. I might even launch a new one. We’ll see.

I want my efforts and resources to be building something. And something cool.

Have you done this sort of evaluation before? How’d it go? What advice do you have? I’d love to hear it.

Success Leaves Clues 

Carl Setzer

This morning I woke early. It was not planned (generally isn’t). 

I brain-dumped on how I could be managing all my projects better. All the things I think I could do better. 

I realized how weird it might be to get excited about this. 

Remember: I’m focused on growth. I don’t want to be focused in maintaining an illusion of perfection. If there are no challenges in my life, I’m not challenging myself. I’m not growing. I have no interest In staying in that state. Now, I admit that there’s something to be said for a stresses existence. And there are times I wonder why I do THIS to myself. 

I want to grow. I want to do better each time. That doesn’t happen by sitting around congratulating myself. 

So, yeah, I’m pretty stoked about my analysis. There are things to grow. Success leaves clues. I spent time looking for them.

Today’s Meditation: Exploring Mission

Carl Setzer

I seek something greater
A life of energy, joy and passion
Owning my mission

I want a richer life than simply chasing empty ambition. 

I adore this idea!

Carl Setzer

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Here’s a great way to keep yourself focused on the positive elements of life. I don’t know if I’ll do the jar idea, but maybe a special journal or something like that.

Anyway, this was shamelessly swiped from Giggles and Tales.  Go check our her site! It’s worth your time.