Making the Time
Time Management is something that I have always thought of myself being pretty good at. Turns out I suck.
How did I come to this realization? After many years of implementing time management best practices including GTD, Notecards, Lists, Monthly Priority Schedules, etc. – I still find that I just have got way to much stuff I want to do, and many times I don’t focus on the important things the I NEED TO DO. Common for most of us I would imagine, but it has become abundantly clear to me over the last 2 years that there will never be a lack of things to do, but it is what you pick DOING or NOT DOING which determines your success.
If you are taking the time to read this, then perhaps you are aware of my personal and professional journey over the this period. Needless to say this professional change and has been hard. Really hard. I would like to tell you that I approached this change with eyes wide open, knowing what I was getting into – but I would only be fooling you and myself. Talking to others who have made similar professional changes requiring them to get out of their comfort zone and really test their internal fortitude – really hard is our common thread. This is not intended to come across as a complaint, in fact it is this challenge of doing something difficult and hard that is so exciting – dare I say ‘addicting’. I love the challenge. I love the hard work. I love the building of something from nothing. Hard work is what I pride myself on. At the same time, I need to continuously be honest with myself and realize what things I have let slip as a result of intense focus on this work.
Power of NO
I have long been a believer that your NO is your most powerful YES. It is ok to say NO to things. Much easier said then done. I have learned that I naturally like to please. I like to help in any way I can, and this ultimately leads me to saying YES to a lot. What I have found is that by saying YES to just about everything I am in fact saying NO to certain other things. I am saying NO to many of the Not Urgent but Important things (Stephen Covey Q2). That has to change.
No Pain, No Gain
Hard work doesn’t make any bit of sense if you don’t gain and learn something from it. Turns out the last year and half I have learned more about myself then I ever thought I would. I have also been rewarded in ways that I am experiencing for the first time. This is my motivation. Just this week I was inspired by a post from a friend Bryan Krausen – about his recent change. This dude is a rockstar who gives every bit of himself to anything he attaches to, and he took the leap to get out of his comfort zone. Inspired.
Accountability
Recently, the topic of community has resurged for me, and I am blessed to be surrounded by some great people in my life. My family keeps me accountable. The vBrisket community keeps me accountable. Writing this in a public forum keeps me accountable. Healthy community makes us better, and accountable to what we say we are going to do and discern what we should or should not focus our energy towards.
Why do I write this and share? Because many of asked how the transition in career has gone, and I have to be honest – it has been hard. Rewarding – no doubt. Eye opening – incredibly. Tiring – Yes. Would I do it all over again knowing what I know now – Without any question. Do I need to get better – I think we all know the answer.
