Category: Productivity & Effectiveness

As a long-time executive assistant and project coordinator, I continually search for ways to eek the most out of my time. This is my collection of tips and tools to master your time.

Some Thoughts On Motivation

Carl Setzer

A few months ago I made the decision to live move effectively. I’ve been feeling stuck for some time, with the associated feelings of powerlessness and frustration. I’m not a fan. 

I’ve understood for decades the power of the mind. That we can actively, proactively engage our thoughts and change the way we interact with the world. And that doing so is powerful and game-changing. 

I was stuck in some old frustrations: regret, guilt, getting overwhelmed with all the potentials. All come from fear. All weren’t rationale. All held me back. And I got sick of it. 

I’ve also known that what I feed my mind impacts my energy, my focus and my drive. I’m now shifting what I put into my head. What I watch, listen to. 

I’m reading more. Such works as Good To Great, The Power of Habit, The 4 Disciplines of Execution. Every day I want to grow. Every day I want to be better when I go to bed than I was when I woke up. 

I’m starting my day with a focus on motivation, on positive energy. This week, I’m opting for motivational videos (the one below is what I watched today). It does feel a bit silly right now, even with all I’ve studied showing the truth to doing this. When I get past the notions of “what others might think”, though, I feel better. The day feels lighter, and have more energy. It’s easier to say “no” to the things that hold me back. 

The funniest part in all this: “what other’s might think” has done nothing for me. It adds nothing to my life. And, really, in the end, what have I to loose? 

One day at a time. One action at a time. Each moment, each step, each day moves me forward. And that’s where I want to be. 

You going to join me there? 

https://youtu.be/vPMQdVdR0gw

Today’s Motivational Video

Carl Setzer
https://youtu.be/kak8PEl_v1I

I’m working on filling my mind and soul with positive energy. Here’s a short video to help focus on the right things, those things that enable us to do great things, to push past our perceived limits. 

Go and do great things! 

We Quibble And Quarrel, Ignoring The Fire Around Us

Carl Setzer

I’m surrounded by dissention, anger and invective. It makes me want to scream. 

There are so many critical discussions, history making decisions that we need to make as a society and as a species. 

Why do we seek out, aggressively, so many petty things with which to bicker and squabble over? I watch, time and time again, people waste monumental energy over the minor and leave the critical ignored. 

Perhaps it’s easier, and less frightening, to engage with the petty than with the important. It’s also useless. 

A Few Thoughts On Challenges

Carl Setzer
Challenges Ahead

I’ve been asked, many, many times if “x” will present a challenge. And, far too often, the context of that is “kill the project”.And that’s the wrong thinking. EVERY project will have challenges. Internal, external, whether inertia or outright attack, things will rise.

Before running away from challenge, we need to remember value. What are we trying to bring to life with the project? And then dive deeper into the cause of the challenge. Can it be overcome? At what cost? Does this negate the value of the project?

I’ve bought into the notion that “everything in life is easy if you’re aligned with the universe”, and that “challenges are signs of divine disfavor”. Perhaps not quite as dramatic as this, but the point’s still there. Challenges shouldn’t be existential. Anticipate they’ll come and remember your why, and you won’t descend into fear driven chaos.  

I need to remember to “Sharpen My Saw”

Carl Setzer

I tweeted this earlier today:

So, here’s a bit more insight. I’ve known for years the importance of taking care of yourself. What’s called, in Franklin Covey parlanence, Sharpening Your Saw. This analogy states that the lumberjack who never sharpens his saw, doesn’t take care of his tools, slowly loses his effectiveness and, eventually, the tools, the saw in this case, fails.

It’s easy to get caught up in all the busyness of the world, of my modern life. My office is running pretty short-staffed right now. (If you’re interested in working with us, all our open positions have been posted on our Facebook page.) There’s so much to do, it seems indulgent to take some time for one’s self.

Yet, we…well, “I”…need to remember that not taking care of myself means decreasing effectiveness and eventual collapse. I’m not some strange superbeing who is exempt from all the rules that others are bound by.

I spent my morning journaling time considering this. Most of my refresh time has been reflexive. I want to shift to a more deliberate approach. The main reason is to avoid hitting the proverbial wall and THEN trying to figure out how I get more energy. No, I’m going to spend time daily doing things that feed my soul, that rejuvenate me and make me better. Substituting coffee (or worse) only creates a bigger problem down the road.

So, what do you do to recharge your soul? That gives you zip in the morning? I’d love to hear what works for you. I delight in hearing what inspires folks. So, drop me a note below.

Today’s Quote of the Day

Carl Setzer

Felt it important to add something positive to the world this morning. So much anger, negativity, distrust and simple rage, I’ve grown a bit weary of the internet. However, I still see great value in the platform.

Anyway, with that, I thought this quote by Einstein was perfect. People are important, but we need to focus on goals, build a mission and drive forward. We need to allow toxic people to go and bring healthy people into our orbit.  Positive energy can feed back into itself, growing powerful and more effective. It’s not magic, taking time and focus, too. But it pays off

Anyway, what will you do to make this real? To make not just your life, but the world a better place? I’d like to know.

 

A Meditation On Motivation 

Carl Setzer

​The question you should be asking isn’t “what do I want?” or “what are my goals?” but “what would excite me?”

~Tim Ferris

I’m still not sure what it is “I want”, in terms of a long-range vision. Or, more specifically, what it’s is I don’t want. Rejecting ideas, goals, opportunities is what’s hard for me. It’s hard to say “no” to opportunities, even ones that haven’t materialized, or even transitioned slightly from concept to reality.

Having too many things on your to-do list is a sure way to fail at everything.

Saying “No” is the kernel of planning, of living a life of vision, mission and purpose.

When we think in terms of excitement and energy, the challenge of choice changes. I find it much easier to deselect things that don’t energize me. That are boring, draining. Cool sounding things often change when we consider the actual work.

Spend as much time as possible doing activities which give you strength, energy and life.

The Life Affirming Steven Covey’s “Big Rocks” Video

Carl Setzer

This concept had a powerful impact upon how I see the world. With that, this video was life-changing.

A very basic notion: take a moment and figure out what’s most important. Then act on that. Schedule those things FIRST, then work everything else in.

Nothing more dreadful to imagine than, at the end of my life, realizing I never did what’s truly important to me.

That said, watch this. Then act on it.

https://youtu.be/ciBRcrOgFJU