The most common question I’m asked lately seems to be:
“How do you get so many things done?”
To be perfectly honest – it’s a question I would never have anticipated anyone would ever ask of me – as I’ve mentioned here before, before I got into blogging I used to be quite…. well…. lazy.
But since getting into blogging and starting my own business I have turned that around – at least on a work front (Mrs ProBlogger would still like me to do the dishes a little more). Over the last 6 years there may have only been 1-2 days when I didn’t post at least two blog posts – deadlines were never my forte but I’m somewhat obsessed about them now.
Today while out for a walk (something I try to fit in most days) I was pondering this change in me and trying to work out what was behind it. I came up with two things that at the least play a part in this for me and decided to whip out my iPhone and record them as a mini podcast (or walkcast).
PS: my 2nd point reminds me a little of a line in a poem by Rudyard Kipling that I’ve been pondering lately titled IF.
“
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds’ worth of distance run,
Yours is the Earth and everything that’s in it”
I’m sure there are many interpretations on it – but for me the idea of an unforgiving minute is that time is something that you can’t get back. The next minute of your life is something that will be gone for ever in 60 seconds – in that way it’s unforgiving.
So Kipling suggests filling it with sixty seconds of distance running. Sixty seconds of effort that will make a lasting difference. You might not do a complete marathon in sixty seconds of effort but you’ll certainly be a step closer to it.
The old saying “Love what you do and you’ll never work a day in your life” springs to mind. It is a lot easier to find motivation when you feel a sense of purpose and connection to the whole enterprise within each thing you do.
Darren,
I am a walker too. For me, walking is like plugging myself into a charger. If I am pondering over how to do something the answer seems to come and my brain is somehow more open to receive it. (oxygen?)
I hope we can get more audio-walk-pods from you! Great post.
Deborah
Hi,
I agree with bbrian017 it is easier if you like what are you doing, but some times you have to do some chores you don’t like. And here where procrastination take place. I like a book from Brian Tracy (Power Time) but it is to complex. I liked more the GTD system. There is a black hole that will try to catch us always, the emails… for me this is the most difficult to control. We have to have a clear purpose and goals to win over procrastination and interruptions.
Regards,
Melvin Ramos
Consider the following truths:
– You are not the doer.
– Silence is the most eloquent form of expression.
So, take it easy Darren. It matters little what you do/produce/think. The only thing that matters is who you are.
Peace,
Stan
Seems everyone else hit the nail on the head! When you do what you love it isn’t work. Blogging and building businesses creates Wealth which in turn creates Financial Freedom.
With every blog post, every new step toward achieving your goals, you get that much closer to freedom. For Entrepreneurs, that is what it is all about!
Blessings,
Ron
Glad you brought up this subject!
The Power of Full Engagement by Jim Loehr is a book you guys should check out. Good into on “energy management” which is as important as time management.
Those lines are really inspirational one … and thank you for giving required boost up.
Thanks, interesting
I love the scripture in Ephesians 5:15-16 (from the Amplified Bible): “Look carefully then how you walk! Live purposefully and worthily and accurately, not as the unwise and witless, but as wise (sensible, intelligent people), making the very most of the time (buying up each opportunity).”
So true! When you are doing something you really enjoy, you make time for it. Period! It’s a priority just because it’s not a job, or something you HAVE to do, but something you WANT to do.
However, I’ve accepted that there will never be enough “time” and there will always be more to do than you can manage with your online business.
Once you see it for what it is, than you can move forward and just continue to set goals and take actions and not get so hung up how am I going to get it all done but rather what can I do right NOW at this very moment that will take me closer to my ultimate goal.
You start with the first brick, than the second and by the time you know it, you’ve built your house. Stay in the present and stack those bricks the best way you know how.
Thanks Darren for this inquiry…really great stuff!
Interesting. I think that having those goals be important is crucial! For me, they sometimes feel so far out there that they seem more a dream than a goal. I find myself not taking them very seriously.
What works for me best is a daily list and time constraints for getting them done! If I give myself 30 minutes to get something done, it will be. If I think about becoming a successful blogger by the end of the year, I go read a book.
It’s just me!
Like the saying
“ If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds’ worth of distance run,
Yours is the Earth and everything that’s in”
Does it mean use every second you have, becasue once its gone – Its gone !
Sobering thought
great post man…well for a full time blogger like me is only three things to achieve your goals…work work and yes,worh…awesome post man,keep them coming,very usefull…
Thank you for useful articles. I think working with people is very hard, I can not motivate others to follow me.
I like when you talk about this type of stuff in your posts. Perhaps could you continue to do this?
many may seem to get tired after a lot of hard work but my advice is just enjoy your work and respect it, you will never get tired!!!
I think the key for you that we can’t miss as readers is that you were walking… The most memorable thing you said in 30days to BBB was to live life. Or something like that – the point is that you have to have a life to blog about a life.
I can spend hours and hours just getting creative, and researching and streamlining processes = things I love to do.
But at the end of the day I don’t feel half the peace of mind that I do after a day of monotony with my kids, going for a walk, a home cooked meal, and watching the girls read books before bed. The monotony of regular life seems peaceful, and the the excitement and passion for what I do balances that out. Usually I’m FAAAR over to one side or the other… but thats what keeps me challenged. However this post challenged me to think and plan a little farther ahead.
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