Coping with “good” stress

There’s a delightful irony in modern America – just how much we worry about our stress levels. I’m not usually too preoccupied with it except when it comes to losing sleep; I don’t function without sleep! I could actually feel the doors of opportunity beginning to open this week after a lot of work and now working with a consultant. Hard work with results always feels good.

But then come the sly thoughts about ‘now what?’ and thinking that I need to figure out how to negotiate the sale when the phantom offer in the future comes. What marketing do I need to go along with the new look? And so forth… It’s all good but it’s still stressful and my brain won’t turn off when I want it to. So a deep breath and lots of reminders that it’s all just one thing at a time, one foot in front of the other.

The best part is I now feel that my “brand” is solidifying. I know what I represent in the market place and how all those pieces fit together. That’s been holding me back for some time so having the confidence is a huge part of moving forward. I can’t wait to see where it all leads!

Technorati Tags: getting things done, good stress

The No Excuses Project: Finding the strength to climb mountains

Excuses come easy for things that are a means rather than a goal.  That’s where truly being fit falls for me – I basically couldn’t care less. Until it means not being able to get to that mountain side where rumor has it rare gems still hide deep in the earth. Then I really care! So how to keep that in focus on an average day when all other priorities seem higher?

The first thing is to combine it with other projects from the obvious (losing weight) to the less obvious like treasure hunting. It’s a little like parking at the far end of the lot to get more walking in, not a huge deal but it adds up.

The second thing is to up the effort of working out (more inclines, and the like) and lastly to spend one day a month (the whole day) out doing real exertion from hiking to whatever – pack a lunch and plan to sweat.

The hardest part is simply to fit this in with everything else – getting rid of excuses doesn’t magically create more time in the day. It just means you don’t waste what you have.

Believe it or not – this post concludes the year. Next week I’ll do some wrapping up and reflecting on what I’ve learned.

Holding myself accountable

• The garden – I could wish it looked a little better but basically things are on track
• The house projects  – progressing slowly but also in the works
• Chores – doing better
• Treasure hunting – amazing what you can do by mail these days.  Making definite progress
• Travel – trip all booked for a week in San Diego; that will probably be it for this year.
• Friends and family – a little behind in email but otherwise on track
• Romance – doing a little more inner work in that area and feeling good about it
• Writing – a bit behind here
• Photography – progress on getting things out and researching more opportunities
• Jewelry – an off week except for identifying next steps
• Losing weight – a much better week for exercise and hey, the jeans are fitting better already
• Medical – off the dentist for that crown this week (next doctor after that’s all concluded)

Technorati Tags: common excuses, getting things done

The No Excuses Project: Getting fit

It might seem like the goal of getting fit is the same as losing weight and I suppose they can go hand in hand. But there are plenty of skinny people out there that can’t make it up a steep hill and that’s what makes it distinct.

Not being skinny can even serve as an excuse for getting to this later. Unfortunately it’s not something that can be achieved sporadically – lifting weights or going on a hike once every two months will not get you a cumulative result. Without a doubt, I don’t have time and I’ll get to it later have been my favorite excuses for not making an effort. And yet as goals go this one plays into so many of the others from travel and treasure hunting to photography (got to get up that mountain!)

Next week: The steps to make it happen

Holding myself accountable:

• Treasure hunting: more research and concrete plans for San Diego
• Travel: on track for a week exploring San Diego in September
• Writing: no action this week but clear steps outlined for the next few months
• Photography: research and submission for a multi-leg competition (I guess finding these things a week before the deadline beats a week after)
• Jewelry: a quiet week except for planning next steps
• House projects: a week off to recover before tackling the closet again
• Garden: keeping up with the plan
• Losing weight: finally making some strides to forging a  new exercise routine
• Friends and family: on track for making time to socialize
• Romance: made some changes to my environment with more to do

Technorati Tags: excuses, getting things done

The No Excuses Project: Writing on top of everything

Excuses don’t have to be innovative to be effective in holding you back. That’s certainly the case with the ones I’ve used to delay various writing projects or leave them half started on the top of the filing cabinet. The cure is no more exciting really.

First off – keep the focus on only two actual projects plus the regular blogging. For now that’s the meditation book and the road trip book. Until those are done, nothing else gets worked on

Beyond that, a hard and fast goal for each project to be done every two weeks. I’m great at polishing or staring into space so it’s important to take the focus off of the quality, at least initially.

That’s really all that needs to happen. If I keep to that the excuses won’t be taking charge. Like so many things getting into good habits will keep everything else flowing. That doesn’t mean there won’t have to be some juggling with all the other goals – that’s why a summary calendar is in the works.

Next week: Home improvement projects

Holding myself accountable

• Jewelry – almost caught up and a specific action plan in place for this week
• Photography – worked on marketing, but behind on taking new photos
• Family & friends – doing ok but a little behind on correspondence
• Romance – proud of myself for not falling into some old  that were tested this week- probably time to work on expanding my environment
• Losing weight – my horoscope promised better results. Right there that says enough about what hasn’t happened!
• Check-ups – on track for now
• Garden – keeping to the plan with good results
• Chores – had to do some catching up over the holiday weekend but now on track
• Travel – making plans for both the practical and the un – should be a busy year
• Treasure hunting – maybe a little behind here but even I don’t care for treasure hunting in the pouring rain…

Technorati Tags: excuses, getting things done

The No Excuses Project: Writing for profit

Maybe because it can be done basically anywhere, for any length of time, makes writing even more prone to excuses.  There’s really no good reason why anyone that’s said that they want to write a book hasn’t done so already. Getting published is something different; actually writing the thing is completely under your control. I know this and yet untold projects sit in an outline or first chapter state waiting for me to simply focus and finish.

Writing is something I very much want to be part of my overall career mix – from blogging to writing novels, photography books and so on. But somehow getting those projects completed is lagging, to say the least.

There aren’t really any new or special excuses at play for this one – the old stand-by’s do the job just fine:

• I’m too tired/ not in the mood (meaning I don’t feel creative)
• It’s too big
• It will take too long
• I don’t know where to start
• I’m not good enough (a couple more books on the subject will help, right?)
• I have too many other projects
• I’ll lose interest before it’s finished

Next week: How I’m going to turn this around and fit it in with everything else

Holding myself accountable:

The garden – needs weeding but is otherwise doing ok

Jewelry – is on track for now and the priority for this coming week

Photography – continues to take a back seat, not a good thing

Travel – the fund is growing, plans are being made

Romance  – possibilities are emerging

Treasure hunting – not on the current agenda

Chores – holding their own

Family and friends – doing ok

Losing weight – somewhere in the middle on this one

Medical health – off to the dentist next week

Technorati Tags: common excuses, creativity, getting things done, writing

The No Excuses Project: Dealing with what you don’t want to

A part of getting what you want to happen is getting the stuff you need to do (but don’t want to) out of the way so it’s not distracting. Personally, I have low tolerance for any kind of medical appointment when I’m feeling well – even though rationally I know they’re a good idea.  If only they didn’t keep having to be done I’d grit my teeth and get through it.  But, like most unpleasant tasks they are re-occurring.

So here’s how I’m tackling that so it stops being a nagging thought and simply becomes a normal part of life:

1) Whenever location or insurance changes I’ll select and confirm providers in the first three months

2) Every two years I’ll set aside two weekdays and get all appointments scheduled in that space

3) Every birthday year ending in 0 or 5 will be catchup for everything else that needs doing.

That’s it – nothing complicated, no overly aggressive schedule that I know I won’t keep anyway.  Just a means to an end and breaking it down so that it doesn’t become an overwhelming thing that has to be done immediately.

Next week: Fitting writing into the career mix

Holding myself accountable:

Hate to say it but pretty much everything went on hold this week due to the day job taking over briefly.

Technorati Tags: getting things done, time management

Technical upgrades

My big accomplishment for the week has been redesigning my mobile technology so that I can get everything done.  It should be simpler than it is but with phones and mobile broadband, smart phones vs netbooks there’s a lot to work out.  The final resolution is to downgrade the cell phone, upgrade the netbook and add mobile broadband to my cable account.  The end result should be no more unreliable wifi and being able to do everything internet related on the road.  I hope.  I’ll find out in about a week when everything arrives.

Beyond that, I’ve been working on organizational things – the plan is to get back to be more consistent with posting and get the newsletter really up and running.  It’s not exciting or glamorous  but it makes that stuff possible. I’m looking forward to more creativity this week.

Technorati Tags: efficiency, getting things done

Follow through

It might not look like much but it’s been a big week for getting things out the door and into other people’s hands. Pictures off to a new gallery to see if that might be a fit, a submission off to a museum exhibit/competition, and a donation prepared for a black-tie fund raiser auction; all for photography. I don’t expect anyone of these things to be a big break but rather steps towards more presence in the art community and recognition. Brand building in other words.

I also know what I have to do to push the websites to the next level and gradually working through how to do the individual steps. The inconsistent wireless on the train has me eying all the new gadgets out there but the monthly bills have me holding back! I’m hoping something shows up soon that will make my work time more consistent.

Doesn’t mean that looking out the window is always a bad thing – between typing the first paragraph I saw a sea otter on the beach (very rare where I live) and a bald eagle trying to get altitude with his catch. If there were a sound track it could be a Nature special.

I’m looking forward to planting the vegetable garden this weekend and getting a little more spring cleaning done. Gradually things are falling into place.

Technorati Tags: getting things done

Have I stayed busy or gotten something done?

Recently someone asked me how things have been going in the last month and I found myself struggling for an answer.  I certainly wasn’t lounging around watching TV but no major accomplishments came to mind either!  Then I look at my white board to-do list and I know I’ve taken some major steps – the difference will come in the near future when either I continue to push forward or not.  The second and third steps as it were.  That will be the deciding factor in whether I was doing interesting busy work or actively pursuing business.

And I’ve been monitoring my excuses – looking for where I’ve been stopping myself including trying to do too much all at once.

So what have I gotten done this week that is really progress? Well, I’ve been applying for some contract gigs that would help with cash flow, setup social media networks for three different blogs, created a goals tool that can be emailed out to new subscribers, and spent a day collecting new sea glass so I won’t be caught short handed. None of these matter if I don’t set up the subscription list, make the jewelry or post to the blogs so it’s up to me to carry those actions forward!

My next steps are to get those things done and start more aggressive marketing to boutiques for the jewelry – requesting appointments and showing the work.

Technorati Tags: busy work, getting things done

Re-doing is still doing

Are you one of the people that would far rather be trying out something new rather than refurbishing an old one? Like a skill, a project, a website. I suspect that’s typical of many, and even more so of those that head out into the land of self-employment and entrepreneurial endeavors.  Unless you’re a flipping something like houses or .coms  sooner or later you’re going to have to revamp what you’ve done and keep repeating the process.

I’ve hit that stage on a few things and it’s hard to believe that a website I sweated over two years ago, getting it just they way I wanted it, is now outdated and needs to be revamped.  Truth is, it should have been done at least six months ago.  It doesn’t really matter how much I did or didn’t put into it, customers don’t know and generally don’t care – I’m sure a few would be sympathetic but not to the point of buying!

The trick is not to see it as broken, or in need of repair but rather necessary maintenance that keeps everything moving forward at optimal speed, if not the left most lane than at least somewhere in the middle.  It really is as important as tackling something new and exciting – at least that’s what I’ll be telling myself this weekend:-)

Technorati Tags: entrepreneurship, getting things done

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