Comments on: Time Management Secret #9: Does What You’re Doing Even Matter?—3 Questions to Ask Yourself… http://www.deceptionsecrets.com/2009/06/10/time-management-secret-9-does-what-youre-doing-even-matter%e2%80%943-questions-to-ask-yourself%e2%80%a6/ Been lied to lately? Or could you tell--how to master deception, lying, and conversation... Mon, 06 Feb 2012 10:13:37 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7 hourly 1 By: Jef http://www.deceptionsecrets.com/2009/06/10/time-management-secret-9-does-what-youre-doing-even-matter%e2%80%943-questions-to-ask-yourself%e2%80%a6/comment-page-1/#comment-120 Jef Sat, 20 Jun 2009 04:01:17 +0000 http://www.deceptionsecrets.com/?p=928#comment-120 hey, Jeannie, you're ahead of me: I still don't understand what my teachers tried to tell me! I ignored nearly all of it, then went out into the world and tried to figure everything out from scratch. Long road. But what I was after? None of them knew it anyway. (But I do vaguely remember what you're talking about here!) Thanks Jeannie! -jef hey, Jeannie, you’re ahead of me: I still don’t understand what my teachers tried to tell me!

I ignored nearly all of it, then went out into the world and tried to figure everything out from scratch.

Long road.

But what I was after? None of them knew it anyway.

(But I do vaguely remember what you’re talking about here!)

Thanks Jeannie!

-jef

]]> By: ***jeannie*** http://www.deceptionsecrets.com/2009/06/10/time-management-secret-9-does-what-youre-doing-even-matter%e2%80%943-questions-to-ask-yourself%e2%80%a6/comment-page-1/#comment-119 ***jeannie*** Sat, 20 Jun 2009 02:48:59 +0000 http://www.deceptionsecrets.com/?p=928#comment-119 Now I understand why in school, my teachers always told me to work on the difficult tasks or answer the difficult questions first, before the easy ones... Thanks Jef Now I understand why in school, my teachers always told me to work on the difficult tasks or answer the difficult questions first, before the easy ones…

Thanks Jef

]]> By: Jef http://www.deceptionsecrets.com/2009/06/10/time-management-secret-9-does-what-youre-doing-even-matter%e2%80%943-questions-to-ask-yourself%e2%80%a6/comment-page-1/#comment-118 Jef Sat, 20 Jun 2009 00:46:23 +0000 http://www.deceptionsecrets.com/?p=928#comment-118 Most people focus most on: What they want to do, What's fun, or What's easiest. What SHOULD be done usually comes in last place of things to do. Having the discipline to reverse this, and put what should be done first, that's the trick... for all of us, really. What makes focus easier? Doing what you love. If you enjoy your job, your business, your invention (think Tom Edison) then focusing on it is easier. The catch? Even when we love what we do, the peripheral necessities may not be so fun... like invoicing, marketing, returning calls, dealing with patent attorneys... so we tend to not focus so well on the stuff that's not so attractive, even when it's related to what we enjoy. Try focusing on just one thing. When it's done, focus on just one other thing. Make a list, follow it, and knock 'em out one by one. -jef unfocused. Most are not disciplined Most people focus most on: What they want to do, What’s fun, or What’s easiest. What SHOULD be done usually comes in last place of things to do. Having the discipline to reverse this, and put what should be done first, that’s the trick… for all of us, really.

What makes focus easier? Doing what you love. If you enjoy your job, your business, your invention (think Tom Edison) then focusing on it is easier.

The catch? Even when we love what we do, the peripheral necessities may not be so fun… like invoicing, marketing, returning calls, dealing with patent attorneys… so we tend to not focus so well on the stuff that’s not so attractive, even when it’s related to what we enjoy.

Try focusing on just one thing. When it’s done, focus on just one other thing. Make a list, follow it, and knock ‘em out one by one.

-jef

unfocused. Most are not disciplined

]]> By: ***jeannie*** http://www.deceptionsecrets.com/2009/06/10/time-management-secret-9-does-what-youre-doing-even-matter%e2%80%943-questions-to-ask-yourself%e2%80%a6/comment-page-1/#comment-117 ***jeannie*** Fri, 19 Jun 2009 14:29:00 +0000 http://www.deceptionsecrets.com/?p=928#comment-117 And here's my struggle, Jef: focus and discipline. No life ever grows great until it is focused, dedicated and disciplined. - unknown author.. And here’s my struggle, Jef: focus and discipline.

No life ever grows great until it is focused, dedicated and disciplined. - unknown author..

]]> By: Jef http://www.deceptionsecrets.com/2009/06/10/time-management-secret-9-does-what-youre-doing-even-matter%e2%80%943-questions-to-ask-yourself%e2%80%a6/comment-page-1/#comment-116 Jef Tue, 16 Jun 2009 15:47:06 +0000 http://www.deceptionsecrets.com/?p=928#comment-116 Checking email is a HUGE drain. You're smart to turn the bell off and limit to 3 times a day--for most of us that's plenty enough. But if you're really feeling crazy some day, just do 9 and 3... say this to most people and their eyes will roll back in their head and they'll fall over. The reality: If they checked it once a week they'd still never miss an email from anyone. Secret: Bigs things are made out of... little things! (think you already know that) Glad to hear that by just tweaking a few 'little' things you were able to get more done. Very cool Amy--stay at it! (Another Secret: If we don't stay vigilant, we ALL slip back into the habits that work against us--cruel but true) Your vow worked, nicely done and a great example for all of us. Thanks Amy! Checking email is a HUGE drain. You’re smart to turn the bell off and limit to 3 times a day–for most of us that’s plenty enough. But if you’re really feeling crazy some day, just do 9 and 3… say this to most people and their eyes will roll back in their head and they’ll fall over. The reality: If they checked it once a week they’d still never miss an email from anyone.

Secret: Bigs things are made out of… little things! (think you already know that) Glad to hear that by just tweaking a few ‘little’ things you were able to get more done. Very cool Amy–stay at it! (Another Secret: If we don’t stay vigilant, we ALL slip back into the habits that work against us–cruel but true) Your vow worked, nicely done and a great example for all of us.

Thanks Amy!

]]> By: Amy Shropshire http://www.deceptionsecrets.com/2009/06/10/time-management-secret-9-does-what-youre-doing-even-matter%e2%80%943-questions-to-ask-yourself%e2%80%a6/comment-page-1/#comment-115 Amy Shropshire Tue, 16 Jun 2009 03:10:50 +0000 http://www.deceptionsecrets.com/?p=928#comment-115 Quick update- I vowed today to only check my email at 9am, 1pm, and 8pm (not having an alert show every time a new message comes in), I "made" myself work on an important project rather than one that isn't due for another week (but more fun), and suggested that someone else on my team was better suited for an assignment than me. I actually got things done today. Think I might do that again tomorrow! P.S. I'm one of those people who thinks multi-tasking is NOT a good thing. Can't wait to read your post! Quick update- I vowed today to only check my email at 9am, 1pm, and 8pm (not having an alert show every time a new message comes in), I “made” myself work on an important project rather than one that isn’t due for another week (but more fun), and suggested that someone else on my team was better suited for an assignment than me.

I actually got things done today. Think I might do that again tomorrow!

P.S. I’m one of those people who thinks multi-tasking is NOT a good thing. Can’t wait to read your post!

]]> By: Jef http://www.deceptionsecrets.com/2009/06/10/time-management-secret-9-does-what-youre-doing-even-matter%e2%80%943-questions-to-ask-yourself%e2%80%a6/comment-page-1/#comment-114 Jef Mon, 15 Jun 2009 02:53:38 +0000 http://www.deceptionsecrets.com/?p=928#comment-114 Amy, some great points. When you said, "I’m letting my desire to stay on top of things to keep me from finishing anything!" you really got my attention. You're not alone, a lot of us unwittingly try handle more than: 1-we need to, 2-is ours to worry about, or 3-matters. The result is... no results. Time is the mother of a whole lot of 'evil mistresses'! And you alluded to another: Procrastination. Nasty one. Don't you think that sometimes we busy ourselves with stuff that doesn't matter--because subconsciously we want to avoid something that doesn't appeal to us... but really DOES matter? Am I confessing? No. Maybe. I'll be posting on some related stuff before long, so stay tuned... a hint? Well, it has to do with another 'evil mistress': Multi-tasking. Thanks Amy, and please make good on your promise, let me know how your new angles of attack work out! Amy, some great points. When you said, “I’m letting my desire to stay on top of things to keep me from finishing anything!” you really got my attention. You’re not alone, a lot of us unwittingly try handle more than: 1-we need to, 2-is ours to worry about, or 3-matters. The result is… no results.

Time is the mother of a whole lot of ‘evil mistresses’! And you alluded to another: Procrastination. Nasty one. Don’t you think that sometimes we busy ourselves with stuff that doesn’t matter–because subconsciously we want to avoid something that doesn’t appeal to us… but really DOES matter?

Am I confessing?

No.

Maybe.

I’ll be posting on some related stuff before long, so stay tuned… a hint? Well, it has to do with another ‘evil mistress’: Multi-tasking.

Thanks Amy, and please make good on your promise, let me know how your new angles of attack work out!

]]> By: Amy Shropshire http://www.deceptionsecrets.com/2009/06/10/time-management-secret-9-does-what-youre-doing-even-matter%e2%80%943-questions-to-ask-yourself%e2%80%a6/comment-page-1/#comment-113 Amy Shropshire Sun, 14 Jun 2009 23:18:16 +0000 http://www.deceptionsecrets.com/?p=928#comment-113 I think that I'm the poster child for this post! I end up working 12-15 hours a day and never seem to cross anything off my to-do list. I've recently become aware, however, that like you said, I allow things that aren't productive to get in the way of getting things done. I'm letting my desire to stay on top of things to keep me from finishing anything! That "stuck in the planning" mode that was mentioned is an evil mistress! You think you're being organized, but really you're keeping yourself from moving forward. I also think that the further behind I get, the more of a tendency I have to "hide" and put things off further. If its already 2 days late? Whats 3? Thanks for the tips! I'll have to try them out and let you know how I'm getting on! I think that I’m the poster child for this post! I end up working 12-15 hours a day and never seem to cross anything off my to-do list. I’ve recently become aware, however, that like you said, I allow things that aren’t productive to get in the way of getting things done.

I’m letting my desire to stay on top of things to keep me from finishing anything! That “stuck in the planning” mode that was mentioned is an evil mistress! You think you’re being organized, but really you’re keeping yourself from moving forward. I also think that the further behind I get, the more of a tendency I have to “hide” and put things off further. If its already 2 days late? Whats 3?

Thanks for the tips! I’ll have to try them out and let you know how I’m getting on!

]]> By: Jef http://www.deceptionsecrets.com/2009/06/10/time-management-secret-9-does-what-youre-doing-even-matter%e2%80%943-questions-to-ask-yourself%e2%80%a6/comment-page-1/#comment-112 Jef Fri, 12 Jun 2009 18:09:56 +0000 http://www.deceptionsecrets.com/?p=928#comment-112 It's easy to get caught up in all the 'stuff' that really takes us away from what matters. "Simple is good." Well said, Jeannie! We have to consciously just put the brakes on and stop to think, 'am I making this too complicated?'. When we allow things to get unnecessarily complicated, that's when we're most likely to start doing 'stuff that doesn't matter'! Simplicity is easier, leads to more results... and takes a bit of effort to stick to, of course. But well worth the effort, 'cause it saves so much more! And you hit on something else, getting 'stuck in the planning'... it's better to get going imperfectly than plan endlessly, trying to get everything just right--it'll never be 'just right'. Thanks Jeannie! -jef It’s easy to get caught up in all the ’stuff’ that really takes us away from what matters. “Simple is good.” Well said, Jeannie!

We have to consciously just put the brakes on and stop to think, ‘am I making this too complicated?’. When we allow things to get unnecessarily complicated, that’s when we’re most likely to start doing ’stuff that doesn’t matter’!

Simplicity is easier, leads to more results… and takes a bit of effort to stick to, of course. But well worth the effort, ’cause it saves so much more!

And you hit on something else, getting ’stuck in the planning’… it’s better to get going imperfectly than plan endlessly, trying to get everything just right–it’ll never be ‘just right’.

Thanks Jeannie!

-jef

]]> By: ***jeannie*** http://www.deceptionsecrets.com/2009/06/10/time-management-secret-9-does-what-youre-doing-even-matter%e2%80%943-questions-to-ask-yourself%e2%80%a6/comment-page-1/#comment-111 ***jeannie*** Fri, 12 Jun 2009 14:35:59 +0000 http://www.deceptionsecrets.com/?p=928#comment-111 I agree with you both Jef and Rob - Jef thanks for simplifying it and Rob it's great to see it from a soldier's point of view. And yes Jef you are right, this can be applied to everything. Simple is good and yet I need to make an acronym for this and make space for it in my brain - AMS: Advertise, Maintain, and Sell. For a person like me who needs structure and more self discipline, the acronym will help as I plan my income-producing and other activities for the day. I'll be careful not to get stuck in the planning too. Jeannie I agree with you both Jef and Rob - Jef thanks for simplifying it and Rob it’s great to see it from a soldier’s point of view. And yes Jef you are right, this can be applied to everything. Simple is good and yet I need to make an acronym for this and make space for it in my brain - AMS: Advertise, Maintain, and Sell. For a person like me who needs structure and more self discipline, the acronym will help as I plan my income-producing and other activities for the day. I’ll be careful not to get stuck in the planning too.

Jeannie

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