Tag: productivity

Thinking about effectiveness

Carl Setzer1 Comment

I came across this quote from Steve Jobs this morning:

“Deciding what not to do is as important as deciding what to do.” — Steve Jobs

I’ve found answering the question “what do I say no to?” the hardest. Whether it’s because I loathe disappointing people, or simply letting fascinating ideas go, saying “no” is highly challenging for me.

What about you? Does “no” flow easily of of your tongue? How do you go about de-selecting work? Oru time is limited, so it’s our focus that’s golden. How do you protect that?

Some Thoughts While Re-Organizing My Life

Carl Setzer

I finished my final final and turned in my final project for fall quarter yesterday. Now, I’m in the process of getting my feet back under me. I have a few hundred emails to go through, so will be spending some dedicated time go through them all.

As I work to process all the stuff, I read this gem: “Malcolm Gladwell’s 3-Word Reminder to Stop You from Overthinking“. Overthinking and analysis-paralysis are perpetual problems for me, but I continue to work on them. Articles like this help remind me of the importance of keeping my brain under control.

A few excerpts that I’m clipping/posting on my wall.

Nothing kills progress faster than indecision!

Uncertainty of the future shouldn’t freeze us but rather free us.

“This belief we have that the future is knowable is crazy. People need to have the freedom to take more chances.” — Malcolm Gladwell

I need to remind myself that the world rewards those who have the stones to keep moving forward regardless if they don’t know their destination

So, I, too, resolve to live by his last line: “Screw it, let’s go!”

Monday Morning Meditation

Carl Setzer

Mondays are a gift

Beginnings: great potential

How will you use it?

#Insecurities: A #Haiku

Carl Setzer2 Comments

Meditating on things that hamper growth. Insecurities fill that for me. Especially as they’re often unfounded and irrational, to the point of annoyance. Well, that’s how I feel when I can step back and look set them rationally. 

Writing is one way I cope. Putting them down on paper helps me deeply. 

Also, this shows me the power of daily affirmations. Taking the time to deliberately challenge these destructive mental models…actually, proactively challenging them, is important. Stay ahead of the corrosion. 

A Few Thoughts On Challenges

Carl Setzer
Challenges Ahead

I’ve been asked, many, many times if “x” will present a challenge. And, far too often, the context of that is “kill the project”.And that’s the wrong thinking. EVERY project will have challenges. Internal, external, whether inertia or outright attack, things will rise.

Before running away from challenge, we need to remember value. What are we trying to bring to life with the project? And then dive deeper into the cause of the challenge. Can it be overcome? At what cost? Does this negate the value of the project?

I’ve bought into the notion that “everything in life is easy if you’re aligned with the universe”, and that “challenges are signs of divine disfavor”. Perhaps not quite as dramatic as this, but the point’s still there. Challenges shouldn’t be existential. Anticipate they’ll come and remember your why, and you won’t descend into fear driven chaos.  

Productivity’s Great Challenge

Carl Setzer

The biggest challenge

Most of us will ever face

Is to simply start

A Productive Day

Carl Setzer

A productive day 

Maintaining my focus helps 

Fewer distractions

The sun is up. It’s time to change the world!

Carl Setzer3 Comments

The sun is now up
It’s time to change the world
You are important

There’s so much work to be done to make this world kinder, just and equitable. 

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.

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.