How many times have you dreamed about stopping what you are doing and stepping out courageously to build a new life around your passions?

How many times have done it?

Well, I know that when I lived in the corporate hamster wheel, I peered out and admired people who just stopped and decided to get off the wheel and do something different. I remember one talented engineer in our company in particular. One day he gave notice; he had purchased a resort on a lake in northern Minnesota and THAT was his new career and life. That was that!

I found myself and perplexed and envious! How could he do that?? How could leave our company and choose such a different life away from the hustle and bustle of the metropolitan area?

How did he get the courage to just STOP what he was doing and START something brand new???

Well, I have concluded that for most of us it is actually VERY DIFFICULT to make such a stark choice without some other circumstances in some way pushing us there.

Even Steve Jobs needed a push. In 2005 he made a commencement speech at Stanford. The speech is on the “Stanford Channel” on Youtube. So, Steve Jobs, one the most talented, creative and influential technology leaders of our generation took each “forced” departure from “what he was doing” as his opportunity to embark on something new.

He tells about how he dropped out of college.  He felt that college was an extreme financial burden on his working class parents and decided to drop out.  He stayed to attend college unofficially, slept on the floor of friends, and attended classes in which he had an interest.   He dropped in on a calligraphy class…which he claims is the basis for the first Mac having wonderful typography.

He points out that you can only connect the dots when looking back, not when looking forward.  So sometimes you need to trust your gut try things and take the road less taken.

He then talked about getting fired from Apple at age 30, the company he created.  As a public failure, and rejected, he started over.  He said that getting fired from Apple was one of the best things that ever happened to him.  He entered a wonderful creative period in his life, created Next, created Pixar and met his wife, the woman of his dreams.

He emphasizes that what kept him going was that he LOVED what he did and that kept him going.  It just gets better and better as the years go on….he encourages each of us to keep looking for what we love and don't give up.

He then told about his diagnosis with pancreatic cancer, which as most of us know is often incurable.  His turned out to be a VERY RARE curable type, but it certainly gave him a dramatic perspective on how limited our lives can be.  He encourages us to follow our courage and intuition, live our own lives, not the life of others.

So, I think you know my theory….but I will repeat it here.

Each of our lives is developed by a series of choices we make over time….I like to call these “thriving choices” because hopefully over a lifetime, we determine for ourselves which choices make us thrive and which don’t…and hopefully choose more of the former!

When we choose to NOT do something, or to procrastinate something, THAT is a choice that has consequences.

When we choose to do something that does not turn out the greatest, we need to learn, choose something different and move on.

Sometimes we get signs or signals that it is time to choose to stop what we are doing and do something else.

Sometimes people or circumstances outside of our control make those choices for us…force us to take that new and different step in life.

No matter, what the circumstances, WHAT I choose to do next is MY CHOICE. I might as well move forward and try something, right?

And I do believe that in these continued tough days when many people are on the receiving end of a forced choice…it is good to remember that even the world's best get "forced" and choose to move forward with a thriving choice.

Steve Jobs did just that and it seems to have turned out well for him!

If you would like to hear Steve’s inspirational speech click here for the link.

Have a great day!

Barb

Theodore Roosevelt said: “Far and away the best prize that life offers is the chance to work hard at work worth doing.”

Aesop said: “Beware lest you lose the substance by grasping at the shadow.”

And likely our current day “expert” on purpose, Richard Leider said (and says!) “The purpose of life is to live a life of purpose.”

These are but a few quotes of many from leaders, philosophers, and average people espousing the importance of purpose.

Why did and do so many write about it?

Well, it seems to me that achieving “purpose” in life is a little like losing weight for most of us: we know we will be healthier if we do it, we have tried to do it MANY times, but it seems to continue to elude us. Then, we are reminded of our inadequacy because some person in the direst of circumstances achieves it.

Many of you know about Viktor Frankl, the author of Man’s search for Meaning….written as he survived in concentration camps in World War II. For those of you who are not familiar with Viktor’s story, Man’s Search for Meaning is likely the world’s best simplest and most poignant books about “purpose” in our lives. He wrote the book and sewed it into his clothing so that it would not be found by the Nazis. Then he wrote it quickly once the war ended and he was freed.

Viktor’s observation is that even in inconceivably horrible circumstances, some concentration camp prisoners survived….in fact they LIVED….lived to give tribute to others who did not, lived to build lives beyond the horror their experience, and in some cases, lived to rejoin life with friends and family. He wonderfully theorizes about and provides proof of the importance of purpose/meaning as the major factor for Holocaust survivors.

It really is a great book if you have not read it….and it is NOT very long…so for those of you who are “airplane ride” readers, this would be a perfect book to take on your next trip.

I was reminded of a more modern day example recently.

In March the DVF Awards honored 4 women who embody the spirit of Dian Von Furstenberg’s mother, a holocaust survivor who “refused to be a victim”.

This year, one of the honorees was Ingrid Betancourt, the French-Colombian presidential candidate who spent 6 and a half years in captivity in the hands of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Columbia.

How did she survive and LIVE? Betancourt speaks powerfully about her time in captivity and how thoughts of family carried her through.

Her quote: “There is something no one can take away from you. It’s the freedom to be who you want to be.”

So, it comes back to choices, doesn’t it?

How do I choose to live my life on a daily basis?

Will I choose to be a victim or a survivor?

Will I choose to get off that “hamster wheel” I have let myself get caught up on….to take time to consider how I want to live the rest of my life?…..perhaps seeking a greater amount of “purposeful” work for myself???

Well, if you want to read another terrific book to help you ponder “purpose”, Richard has just updated and rewritten his landmark book The Power of Purpose. The original version was a huge bestseller and was translated into many languages.

The new version is even MORE terrific than the first….it that is even possible!!

Here are handy links to both books I mentioned here  if you want to check them out! (The Power of Purpose is available in electronic as well as paper formats!)

Have a great day!

Barb

My gift to all of you this morning is this delightful article by one of my favorite authors here in Minneapolis MN, Harvey Mackay.

In my businesses I see a lot of people terrified about getting out of their comfort zone…and their growth is stifled by this fear-both in business and their

personal lives. Read this and see if you can see any similarities in your own behaviors….

Elizabeth

"The African impala can jump to a height of over 10 feet and cover a distance of greater than 30 feet. It's a remarkable feat to observe — so effortless and graceful, a real defense mechanism necessary on the predator-filled savannas.

But put these magnificent creatures in an enclosure in a zoo surrounded by just a three-foot wall, and the animals will not jump if they cannot see where their feet will land. They will be killed rather than risk the unknown.

Many humans share these characteristics. They thrive in familiar territory, doing what they know is safe and comfortable, but they won't take any risks for fear of failure. They would rather watch opportunities pass them by than jump over the wall.

And then there is the barnacle which makes one single and lasting decision about where it's going to live. After it decides, the homely little creature spends the rest of its life with its forehead cemented to a rock or attached to a ship. It survives by capturing food with its feathery legs and fending off predators. Not a glamorous existence, to be sure.

Again, parallels can be drawn to human behavior. Some people will attach themselves to a job or company with no intention of doing much other than eating or being eaten. Even if I were stuck on a luxury yacht, I know I'd get bored in a hurry.

Have you ever wondered how a little stake in the ground attached to a chain can restrain a four-ton elephant? These powerful creatures must be trained to stay with their keepers. For the first few days they are in captivity, the elephants are tied to bamboo trees with heavy rope. After trying unsuccessfully to free themselves, the animals give up, and can be restrained thereafter by a rope anchored to a small stake.

Certainly the stake is no match for the elephant's power, but these largest of land mammals have learned to be helpless. Chances are you've worked with a few elephants, who won't leave their comfort zone even though they have plenty of strengths to protect them. Their spirits are broken and they step back at the least resistance.

Of course, we can also learn plenty of positive lessons from animal behavior.

In the 1930s, a leading zoologist concluded it should be impossible for a bumblebee to fly. That is because its size, weight and the shape of its body are all wrong in relation to its total wingspread. Fortunately, no bumblebees have ever studied aerodynamics so they just naively keep on doing what they should logically be incapable of doing.

We work with people like that too. They buzz around, doing the seemingly impossible without giving it a second thought. No explanation for what they are able to accomplish: they just do what needs to be done, and along the way, they pollinate ideas and make them grow.

Watch a duck navigate across a lake. It looks so smooth and steady, floating along, like a postcard from the north woods. Look under the surface, and observe how hard the webbed feet are working. Then look at the wake the duck leaves behind. A ten-pound duck, less than a foot wide, opens up an angle of at least 40 degrees, with ripples extending more than 50 feet. The duck has left its mark–more than 600 times its size!

This poem, "Plain Old Oyster," attributed to David Cohen, really captures what a determined spirit can achieve:

There once was an oyster, whose story I'll tell

Who found that some sand, had gotten into his shell

It was only a grain, but gave him great pain

For oysters have feelings, although they are plain.

Now, did he berate the harsh workings of fate

That had brought him to such a deplorable state?

"No," he said to himself, "Since I cannot remove it,"

I'll lie in my shell, and think how to improve it."

The years rolled around, as the years always do,

And he came to his ultimate destiny … stew.

Now the small grain of sand that had bothered him so,

Was a beautiful pearl all richly aglow.

This tale has a morale, for isn't it grand,

What an oyster can do with a morsel of sand?

Think … what could we do, if we'd only begin,

With some fo the things that get under our skin.

Mackay's Moral: Even the turtle knows you have to stick your neck out to get ahead.

Barb and I have been working on big projects individually and haven't been  been as active here in the blog world

but we promise to send you an update shortly as we are designing new sites and blogs separately! As always, we welcome your input and

comments on this article, this theme and midlife in general!

Elizabeth

Here at New PrimeTime.com, we have been overwhelmed with the magnitude of exciting projects so our posts have been less than consistent!

We are re-examining directions, and Spring is a perfect time to look with fresh eyes and renewed vigor at the crossroads of passion and purpose and projects….

This article seemed perfect and so nice to connect with you, our friends and community! Enjoy and yes we will bring you up to date with our new direction shortly!

The Crossroads of Passion & Purpose

What drives a woman to get out of bed and face each day with undaunted optimism? What gives a person the consistency to work toward an unrealized goal without immediate reward?

Why, when certain leaders speak of ideals and vision, do others lay down their weapons of defensiveness and join in the battle?

This trait cannot be purchased. It has no price because it is not for sale.

What is it? It is passion.

Passion motivates and encourages. It pushes, yet at the same time leads.

Does it create greatness? It fuels greatness.

Those that possess it find a wealth untold. It gives activity to idleness and purpose to activity.

It is a motivating emotion that few find, but many search for. No treasure map or even GPS can locate the source.

But is passion enough?

When you arrive at some trivial destination will you be happy? You may, but you will be empty.

It is as if you have taken a long journey and are now out of gas. Your passion has fueled new perspectives and new opportunities, but to what end?

Passion without purpose is a dead end.

Purpose helps one realize possibility. It brings direction and reason to change.

Change — for the sake of change — is like running in place and hoping to arrive at some new destination. It is subtle madness.

When one has purpose each new step brings new horizons into view. New perspectives become manifest on the landscape of learning through experience.

How does one find purpose?

It rarely comes all at once. To many it comes not at all. Why? Not because it can’t be found but because it can be hard to find.

Purpose is found gradually, even like a great snowball slowly growing in speed and size as it rolls toward its destination.

Many are not willing to invest in something that won’t come to fruition until later.

Great leaders, thinkers, and statesman see purpose come clearly into view after they toil with some great thought over time.

They see a need and feel it stir something deep within their soul. Rarely all at once, but little by little they see and understand.

This understanding grows great within the soul, heart, and mind. It permeates actions and objectives.

This understanding surpasses knowledge. Its value far exceeds all of worldly possessions.

It cannot be sold, but it can be given — through leadership, service, mentoring, and teaching.

How rich is the soul that understands why they were born and for what end they were created.

It begins with passion and passion finds purpose. And where passion and purpose meet, you have found mission."

This is adapted from a post by Carl Woolson from the MAX Living site…and I found it relevant and inspiring…I hope you did too..

Elizabeth

WHO SHOULD CONSIDER AN INNER CHILD DATE?

This is a light-hearted look at life…and a Valentine's gift to you,my friend and if I may be bold enough..a member of my community!

I was thinking of a special that would convey  a nice message to celebrate this special day…and came up with this whimsical concept of an iner child date that truly resonates with me…hope you feel the same way…

"Anyone who may be feeling burnt out, stuck, stagnant, resentful of responsibilities, blocked creatively, time challenged, over-worked, over-burdened, and/or stressed out to name a few.

We are all creative beings. We are all powerful beings. Our power is great! We can use that power to create or destroy.

Our number one priority is to take care of ourselves. We must fill our own cup to overflowing and then serve from the saucer. We take care of others from our overflow. Service is its own reward. When we let others drink from our cup, or we allow our cup to dry out we will get resentful.

It is imperative we know what fills our cup. This is where the Inner Child Date comes into play. When we take the time to allow that little child inside of us to run the show we refuel, we get inspired, we fill our cup.

The “rules” around the Inner Child Date are as follows:

Once a week for 2-3 hours engage in an activity selected by the little child inside of you. There is no multi-tasking. If you go for a walk and you have a dog, you do not walk the dog. This activity is done by yourself and for yourself only. For twelve consecutive weeks the activities must be unique. At the end of twelve weeks reflect on which activities refueled you the most. These dates should be top priority and treated as if they are the most important event scheduled on your calendar with the most important person. Do not cancel a date with your inner child.

Here are some ideas for low cost to no cost Inner Child Dates:

Draw with crayons.

Make paper airplanes and fly them.

Spend time in nature – beach, mountains, river.

Lie on grass and look at the sky. Do you see animals in the clouds?

Take a train ride.

Make a fort with blankets.

Dress up your pet.

Go to the beach.

Go bike riding.

Make a sandcastle.

Go to a park (my favorite is swinging on the swings).

Send postcards to friends.

Make a collage.

Visit a museum.

Go to the bookstore, hang out and read in the children’s book section.

Make a list of 50 things you love.

Go to an aquarium.

Visit an amusement park.

Go to a petting zoo.

Buy balloons.

Write a story about your pet.

Compliment strangers.

Make a lemonade stand.

Go ice-skating.

Go roller-skating.

Play solitaire.

Take a pottery class.

Sing in the shower.

Take a dance class.

Sing into your hairbrush and dance around the living room.

Buy “lucky socks.”

Drink a chocolate malt.

Wear a fake tattoo.

Make jello.

Dress up for no reason.

List 100 people you love.

Read a joke book.

Put glow in the dark stars on your bedroom ceiling.

Write a letter to Santa Claus.

Buy and complete a puzzle.

Watch The Wizard of Oz.

Dress up like a Rock Star.

Write a love letter to yourself.

Visit a sacred space.

Make a card for someone you love.

Write a thank you note.

Speak in rhyme or pig-latin.

Paint with watercolors.

Make hand shadows.

Make a sock puppet and create a character.

Buy a goldfish.

Make a mask.

Dress like your going to a masquerade ball.

Make a book of quotes from your friends.

Look at your old photo albums.

Go to a toy store.

Buy a squirt gun and squirt things on a walk.

Go fly a kite.

Collect beautiful leaves.

Bake homemade cookies."

Thanks to my new Facebook Friend, Orna Walters, for creating this great concept…

check him out at http://www.creatingloveonpurpose.com

Happy Valentine's Day! I love and appreciate you!

Elizabeth

On a slightly different note…Is it REALLY a Small World? Canada, Canadians and a Spot of Humor in Good Fun

These inquiries are clearly compiled from many different countries and I think as a fellow Canuck myself, it is important to laugh at

the silliness of humans…this is in good faith and thanks to Andrea Lee, one of my favorite coaches(also a fellow Canuck!) for reminding me of these

questions. With these upcoming Olympics, take a moment to respect the effort, hard work and tremendous levels of achievement of each one of these

awesome Olympians! Motivation, drive, passion and purpose and extreme effort are all qualities that each one of us as entrepreneurs must have to achieve

our true potential…so enjoy, smile and share a light hearted moment with me in celebration of the Vancouver Olympics!

With Vancouver hosting the 2010 Winter Olympics, apparently these are some questions people are asking. These have been excerpted from a greater article about questions posted at various tourism websites.

(I'm choosing not to ask who was paid to compile or answer them.)

Note: I've removed the countries of origin from the questions. It's all in good fun, and well, maybe just a little bit of a public service announcement.

Q: I have never seen it warm on Canadian TV, so how do the plants grow?

A. We import all plants fully grown and then just sit around and watch them die.

Q: Will I be able to see Polar Bears in the street?

A: Depends on how much you've been drinking.

Q: I want to walk from Vancouver to Toronto – can I follow the Railroad tracks?

A: Sure, it's only four thousand miles, take lots of water.

Q: I have a question about a famous animal in Canada, but I forget its name. It's a kind of big horse with horns.

A: It's called a Moose. They are tall and very violent, eating the brains of anyone walking close to them.. You can scare them off by spraying yourself with human urine before you go out walking.

Q: Are there supermarkets in Toronto and is milk available all year round?

A: No, we are a peaceful civilization of Vegan hunter/gathers. Milk is illegal.

Q: Can I bring cutlery into Canada?

A: Why? Just use your fingers like we do!

As always…..let's connect through conversation and the best way to start? By adding a comment here on our blog!

Thanks

Elizabeth

People do what they want to do.

I was talking to a friend recently about a recruiting question. The question was how to draw a specific type of individual to a new organization that was being developed. The new organization was going to be similar to a world class organization currently operating in a different location.

This conversation brought up one of my old favorite mantras: People do what they are motivated to do…either through intrinsic motivation….or through rewards that can be provided.

Yes, most of us sometimes will do what we don’t necessarily WANT to do, but what we are OBLIGATED to do. Or some of us find something that we WANT to do after trying it…even though first it seemed unpalatable.

However, over a longer period of time, I believe that people will always migrate toward those activities that they have learned that they WANT to do….so why not simply try to find people for whom your opportunity is the most natural fit?

So, for recruiting/selling people, you need to ask and answer 4 questions:

1. Who is my target audience?
2. What does my target audience want? (and be careful NOT to ASSUME what that what YOU want is what your customer/recruit wants)
3. What do I have to provide that fills what these people want…that will motivate them?
4. What do I have to offer that is BETTER than alternatives available to my customer/recruit?

Sounds like Sales or Marketing principles, doesn’t it? You see, I think it is quite simple. Recruiting and Sales are more similar than different….right? Recruiting is simply selling an organization.

My questions are VERY similar to questions that a favorite marketing mentor Alex Mandossian advocates. His urge to his students to clearly be able to answer: Who is your target audience? What problem do they need solved? How can you help them solve their problem?

So, if we simply can accurately answer the 4 questions above and put some simple structure and process around recruiting efforts, it WILL yield more targeted and more effective recruiting of the RIGHT people.

How do you determine “what people want”? Here are a few suggestions:

1. FORGET what YOU want. It is so easy to assume that what drives you will drive others. And it does….for some, but not enough of them…and often NOT your target people.
2. Do your research. Yes, take just a little time. Come up with a set of questions and find out what motivates and thrills your target people.
3. AVOID asking  people the question: “What do you want?” People often cannot tell you what they want. So if you are in recruiting mode…..instead, ask questions like: “Describe a job/career that you heard about from a friend that sounds thrilling to you?” or “The last time, you had that “sparkle in your eye” what were you doing or thinking about ?”

So, how do you “motivate” others?

Find out what they want; tell them how your opportunity best fits these “wants”.

Some friends have appreciated this framework….hope it helps you also!

Please let me know….either way!

Have a great week!

Barb

As my friend and colleague Elizabeth Harrington pointed out in her recent post,”Taking care of business starts with taking care of yourself." (Cited as Harvey Mackay’s moral).

I would ask…in addition… are you attending to your “brain health”.

What do I mean?

In my research about making thriving daily choices toward a more successful and satisfying life, I have found an increasing amount of research regarding how many of us are becoming increasingly less effective in our lives as the maelstrom of inputs into our daily lives tempts us to hop from thing to thing to thing.

Some of us THINK we have ADD or ADHD, right?  Some of think we just have poor “executive functioning.”

According to Dr. Edward M. Hallowell, a foremost researcher and thought leader on attention deficit disorder and dealing with worry and managing excessive busyness…in addition to other related topics,

…we could be suffering from a recently recognized neurological phenomenon…

…called ADT (attention deficit trait).

As Dr. Hallowell writes in his article, “Overloaded Circuits, Why Smart People Underperform” (Harvard Business Review January 2005) , “Marked by distractibility, inner frenzy, and impatience, ADT prevents managers from clarifying priorities, making smart decision, and managing their time.”

“ADT isn’t an illness or character defect.  It’s our brain’s natural response to exploding demands on our time and attention. “

Hallowell suggests 3 ways to combat ADT.  I thought I would share them here:

1)      PROMOTE POSITIVE EMOTIONS.  He reports that negative emotions, particularly fear can impede proper brain functioning.

What to do? He suggests purposefully choosing to spend at least 4-6 hours a day interacting with someone you LIKE…someone with whom you are comfortable…so that your brain’s “executive” center can “perform at its best”.

2)      TAKE PHYSICAL CARE OF YOUR BRAIN.  Yes, here we go again, our physical health is VERY important for all other types of success in our lives.  Dr. Hallowell notes that “ample sleep, a good diet, and exercise are critical for staving off ADT.”

What to do? We have heard it before: avoid sugar and white flour.  Eat more fruits, vegetables, and whole grains.  A brisk walk or doing a few flights of stairs daily should be sufficient exercise.

3)   ORGANIZE FOR ADT. He suggests: “instead of getting sucked into the vortices of email or voice mail first thing in the morning, attend to a critical task.”

For paperwork, go back to the age old recommended OHIO rule….that is handle one item only once.  You know, that simple time management habit that we have ALL learned about at one time or another.

What to do? He notes that taking a brisk walk or going up a flight of stairs a few times a day should be enough.  And on the diet side… again, just one more expert tells us to avoid sugar and white flour…and eat more fruits, whole grains, vegetables and protein.

Seems simple doesn’t it?  I might start with #3 and work backwards so that I can be organized enough to do all 3 suggested steps!

How about you?

I love this CREDO-and will post it to my wall so I can look at it and feel bold and brave…fearless in the face of uncertainty and

chaos! This is inspirational and from a fellow alumnae of Teleseminar Secrets by my teacher Alex Mandossian! As mentioned on Friday I am feverishly

crafting and creating content for new  entreprenuring your life programs! What do you think is the most challenging part of being an entrepreneur?

Leave your comments below!

Entrepreneur’s Credo: Written in 1776, but it's still very true!

"Entrepreneur’s Credo

I do not choose to be a common man,

It is my right to be uncommon … if I can,

I seek opportunity … not security.

I do not wish to be a kept citizen.

Humbled and dulled by having the

State look after me.

I want to take the calculated risk;

To dream and to build.

To fail and to succeed.

I refuse to barter incentive for a dole;

I prefer the challenges of life

To the guaranteed existence;

The thrill of fulfillment

To the stale calm of Utopia.

I will not trade freedom for beneficence

Nor my dignity for a handout

I will never cower before any master

Nor bend to any threat.

It is my heritage to stand erect.

Proud and unafraid;

To think and act for myself,

To enjoy the benefit of my creations

And to face the world boldly and say:

This, with God’s help, I have done

All this is what it means

To be an Entrepreneur.

(Excerpt from Common Sense, written in 1776 by Thomas Paine)"

— Thomas Paine

Hi, I don't know about you, but I too often seem to have that BIG LOOMING project that I can't seem to get done, make progress on, get started.

OK, sometimes it is not that BIG, but it feels big.

Please tell me I am not the only one….pretty please!!

Well, my husband also does it, my sister does it, my sister's husband does it.  So, either it is some disease in my family or maybe we are not the only ones!

But the real question, is WHY do we procrastinate and HOW can we stop.

I found this great simple article today….from Psychology Today published in July 2005.

Here are a couple of great points from the article:

"Procrastinators are made not born. Procrastination is learned in the family milieu, but not directly"

"Procrastinators tell lies to themselves. Such as, "I'll feel more like doing this tomorrow." Or "I work best under pressure." But in fact they do not get the urge the next day or work best under pressure."

"Procrastinators actively look for distractions, particularly ones that don't take a lot of commitment on their part. Checking e-mail is almost perfect for this purpose."

And my personal favorite….a quote of Dr. Joseph Ferrari, PhD, one of the foremost leading experts on procrastination: "Telling someone who procrastinates to buy a weekly planner is like telling someone with chronic depression to just cheer up,"

So, procrastination is not nature, it is nurture…..we LEARN to do it.  Maybe from our family situation growing up or other environmental factors.

So, in my mind we CAN learn to NOT do it.

The article suggests that to STOP doing it, we should go through cognitive behavioral therapy.

This may be necessary for some of us, but I do think there are a few steps we can try ourselves.  Remember as adult learners, we LEARN through our experiences.  So, how about we create experiences ourselves in which we get things done and don't let ourselves get distracted.

Then let the success of those little wins, help us break the bad habits of procrastination?

It is really (again) about the daily choices we make, isn't it.  How about I make choices about my "to-do" list that are a little more consistent with my thriving??

I am going to suggest to myself that starting NEXT week, I will do 3 things:

1. Make my "to-do" list realistic.
2. Pick twice  a day to deal with email and not let myself LOOK at it other times
3. Recognize when I am letting myself become distracted with "easier" things that can occupy my day.

What do you think?

If you want to see the whole article, CLICK HERE.

Have a Great Day!

Barb