CALENDAR FREEDOM … at last
Wednesday Dec. 19, 2018
I don’t embrace change very well – altering routine, plans or schedule is something stubbornly successfully resisted.
Progress for me comes very slowly by baby steps – little intentional tweaks in support of doing what we all crave – accomplishing more, handling more (choice or necessity) work, being more productive without falling behind, and doing it all better …
While I may hungrily devour reading anyone’s purported solutions/newer better ways, I’m an avid follower but rare adopter, of trends and new ideas about time management, new tools and creative strategies.
In reality we fall behind technology, we fall behind in grasping let alone doing the so-many things we need and want to do. In my reading I’ve found so many times – “do what Warren Buffet does”, which is to have three things you want to do all week. Someone wrote to me, suggesting simply reducing my daily list ‘by three’ items as a way to make a dent in the problem. Seems absurd unless you only have six things on your to-do list.
I’ve long been a ‘schedule everything’ person – not to make myself crazy but to make sure I don’t forget things. I’ve attended courses where the strategy is to block off sections of the day for certain activities – which isn’t perfect because calls and unexpected appointments (par for the course in my work) interrupt. But worse, is ‘what to do with those many other schedule things – the daily, weekly, monthly and countless other reminders to call, write or do something? What about that?
I’m not sure I should thank the person who said ‘remove three things from your list’ and I don’t think I need to thank Warren Buffet either. I think the reason this is working for me is because it fits so well with my inordinate concentration lately on focus. Focus, focus, focus. Each day I fill another trash bag, each day I have fewer tasks, less pressure closing in on me – which amazes me how much energy and fresh-legs I have.
So far, it seems to be working. Early days, but my energy level is elevated, each time I take something off my obligation list or ditch some long smoldering half-cooked idea I get a jolt of joy.
Something happened the other day – two of my three things for the day (a client meeting/property tour and a lunch got cancelled). I was ready to leave at 9AM, then suddenly I had the whole day free to do my ‘one thing’. I did it, then took the rest of the day for play.
My newest hybrid – wish me luck – is how I am building my 2019 calendar. Trying ‘the three’, three blocks of time every day. Nothing more. 6AM-9AM for writing/publishing things. 9AM – noon for real estate work. 1PM – 5PM, reserved for only one thing – that thing I need and/or want to be completely focused upon. None of this is intended to ignore incoming calls/e-mail or to not be non-responsive to needs of others – just to be less a slave to the task list, the call list and the ‘I wish I had time for list’.
Though I might reach mid-January and trash this whole scheme, so far I’m feeling calendar-liberated, more flexible, feeling more free than I have in a long while.
Reader feedback:
THINK LIKE WOODEN
I hope you were able to shed some light for them on the need to fix their service. But it's TRUE. People especially mentors don’t seem to understand that everyone is different. We all do, learn and have fun differently. What works for them not necessarily works for others. So making a service or system available for everyone to enjoy, to be successful should be priority one. But, it's not that simple. It just comes down to dollars and cents. Who can they get to spend the most money for my services, instead what kind of service can I give them for the money they are about to spend. Minds have to shift because there is no do over. - MJ, Calgary
Too bad you don’t mention the offending hotel. I would like to know so I don’t go there. One hotel chain I never hesitate to recommend is Fairmont. A few years ago, I spent time at the Banff Springs at Christmas; the ubiquitous online survey followed. I noted everything was great with two minor exceptions: check-in (my room wasn’t ready, even though I arrived after check-in time), and the suite I had reserved was disappointingly small – really not much bigger than a regular hotel room. They quickly got back to me, apologized and said if I would give them another chance, they would make it up to me. I responded that I had a birthday coming up, and would love to spend it with them. The General Manager’s assistant contacted me personally and worked out all the details. For the price of a regular hotel room, I got a huge suite with a gorgeous view. Ironically, when I arrived, my suite wasn’t ready, but I was offered free drinks in the lounge, and someone came to get me when my room was ready. When I got to my suite, there was a bottle of champagne, chocolate dipped strawberries, and a birthday card from the GM. Everywhere I went in the hotel, staff acknowledged me and gave me small gifts. On my birthday, I received another bottle of champagne and a birthday card from the staff. One day I went to the Chateau Lake Louise for lunch. When I arrived, they asked me if I was a guest of the hotel. I said no, but mentioned I was staying at the Banff Springs. I was served complimentary champagne with my lunch! The GM’s assistant checked in with me regularly to ensure I was enjoying my stay, and followed up with me after I went home. Now THAT’S service! It was definitely a birthday to remember!, DAB, Edmonton, AB
