30 DAY RULE
Thursday Jan. 17, 2019
Getting started on any project, chapter, tough conversation or morning column takes one of two forms.
First, to have a plan, to have given it some thought – perhaps ideas about structure, purpose and reaching desired outcomes.
Second, to just wade in, start talking or working. Most activities are so routine as to not warrant planning. But maybe we need to pause routine things long enough to assess ‘what process am I using?’ or wonder if any planning is required useful toward achieving a better outcome.
I’ve been starting more things than I finish for most of my working life …
I don’t think that is a problem. I think it a good thing. Where I’ve held myself back largely is not realizing soon enough which things should be ditched. Too much energy spent ‘not ditching’ things which ought to be. I spent recently, room by room, file by file, pile by pile just ‘ditching things’. Deliberately. Taking time to look first, decide if this activity fits and where it fits. If it doesn’t fit it either goes in trash or goes to my ‘re-think’ pile. I went through several days of ‘not getting anything new done’ but I cleared large volume of ‘just in the way’ stuff.
I’ve found my new mantra to drive what I keep and what I throw; if I haven’t touched something or dome something on an idea, file or project within a month – why hold onto it? I’ve made a 30 day rule.
If it is worth keeping, worth keeping, worth moving along then it needs regular attention.
Otherwise, it simply wastes time and distracts from focus.
Reader feedback:
MAKE UP YOUR MIND
Great thoughts. My take is wealth doesn't just include money, it includes Health and Happiness. While we go through life being wealthy in health and happiness, most blue collared people have not experienced wealth tied to money. No doubt a dream we would all love to have. The ability to give to valued Charities without a blink of an eye, to be able to instill hope into the lives of the younger generations. To be able to give back in a huge way to our Communities would be amazing, but very few will be able to make that happen. So we are just grateful for what is and Thankful for our Health, Our Families and Friends. For me, I consider that my Wealth, MJ, Calgary, AB
