This week I had a great breakfast meeting and left excited about the rest of the day. I got in my car and checked email and texts before I got on the road because only selfish idiots do those tasks while on the road but I did want to see if anything in the day had changed before I got rolling.
I sat there for a minute or two but evidently a lady in a giant gas guzzler (yes, I’m being judgmental) wanted my parking spot so
There aren’t many resources that I couldn’t live without, but this is one of them. It’s all about procrastination.
Tim Pychyl, Ph.D. is the Director of the Centre for Initiatives in Education and an Associate Professor of Psychology at Carleton University in Ottawa. Tim’s website, Procrastination Research Group is packed with helpful resources to help people better understand and deal with procrastination.
His podcasts feature
Re-entry from a week-long vacation. It was a mostly lazy week at the beach with family. A little bit of sightseeing, but mostly kicking back and relaxing. Upon my return I woke up energized and ready to take on the email and tasks that had collected in my absence.
The laptop went along in order to spend some time writing and of course my iPhone was tucked safely into the carry-on — but I still unplugged almost completely. My life and career have been built so that everything doesn’t collapse if I’m out of touch. I work because I love what I do but I also work in order to have enough money to not work.
Many people not only crave busy-ness but require it and
I feel strongly about the word contentment. It’s a fantastic goal, to be contented.
However I get push-back from a well-meaning colleagues, friends and random people who believe I’m on the wrong track. Most feel that contentment is for lazy people who settle for mediocre.
Most accomplished people have rules they live by. Tom Coughlin, Coach of the New York Giants, was being interviewed about his book Earn the Right to Win: How Success in Any Field Starts with Superior Preparation. He shared four rules he lives by that set him up to achieve tremendous success. Try them on for size…
If you ask someone for help, whether or not they are able to help you, ask them this…
“And what can I do to help you?”
Via a LinkedIn poll 90% of respondents said they never get asked this question – even after they have helped someone. When we help someone it shouldn’t be with the goal of getting something in return, but asking this simple question is just old-fashioned kindness.
Passive. Complacent. Resting on one’s laurels. Unambitious. Mediocre.
Those are words some people believe are synonymous with being “content.” That somehow being content connotes settling for less than one might achieve.
I could not possibly disagree more.
Contentment holds an important position on what I call the Life Mood Scale, shown below. And you’ll note, Complacence is there, too.
Here are a few things people do when they should be listening:
Anything with a smartphone (Unless actually using it to talk so someone. Do people still do that?)
Thinking about what we’re going to say next
Deciding the other person is wrong
Finishing the other person’s sentence
Looking at our computer screen
I once asked a colleague/friend to meet with me to give me feedback on a new direction for my business. As we delved into the subject she shared some thoughts that almost instantly put me in defense mode. I tried to hide it but I’m fairly certain my body language and word choice betrayed me.
Advice is a tricky thing. Often you need it but aren’t comfortable asking for it because to do so means a level of vulnerability. Other times you don’t actually want advice when you talk about challenges, you just need for the other person to listen in order to be able to draw your own conclusions.
Know when to shut up. Of all the communication skills you can develop, knowing when to “zip it” can come in pretty handy.
Sometimes, despite all the evidence to back up your viewpoint, and in spite of the obvious flaws in the other person’s way of thinking,
If you’re having a tough day — or even if you’re not — here are 11 very simple things you can do to make your day (even) better. Try one or more and see how things change for you.
Make it vague. Lots of folks make resolutions like, Get in Shape, or Get Organized or Stay in Touch with Friends. What the heck do any of those really mean to you? Specificity is extremely important because at some point — on January 2nd perhaps, you’re going to have to dive into this task. If your plan is vague, or non-existent, you won’t know what actions you need to do. And coming up with those actions
The Food Network is fascinating. Particularly the Challenge shows. This is where extremely talented bakers have a limited amount of time to create magnificent sugar sculptures that soar six feet into the air, or bake elaborate, whimsical cakes that boggle the mind.
Of course, lurking in shadows
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