Svaha: the time between seeing lightning and hearing the thunder
I will be eternally grateful for your great gift of taking in to the fullest extent what it is that I have to offer, living it, and then reflecting it back in terms of the potential experience of others. You have given words to a process that defies words. And you’re constantly in a position to help me continue to hone that, deeper and deeper and more and more resonantly, who I am and what I offer, which is truly invaluable. — Jon Hansen, The Remembering Room, Richmond, Illinois
What you’ve sent me is so darn perfect it hurts! It’s a sheer pleasure to work with someone who writes as beautifully as you do — and in “my” voice. — Ariane Goodwin, Ed.D, smARTist® Telesummit, Millers Falls, Massachusetts
You have a real gift for words. You’re really, really good at it. — Sherry Essig, Priority Ventures Group, Raleigh, North Carolina
You’ve built such integrity of message in your company. I know that’s because it springs forth intrinsically, but you stay so focused at your core! I can’t think of a better way to phrase that laser-beam focus you have. It’s funny, because in someone else, laser-beam focus would be intense, but somehow you manage to make it much more kind and easy. — Jessica Albon, Thrive Your Tribe, Winston-Salem, North Carolina
I’ve never worked with anybody in the way that I’ve worked with you in terms of trusting in your abilities to the level that I have. — Catherine Hajnal PhD, Eight Branches Consulting, Vancouver, Canada ... facilitating and nurturing joyful living
You have an uncanny ability to see through what is being said and surface all the “unsaid” issues. Then you quickly give candid feedback and have a tremendous toolbox to help me move forward through your expert guidance of the right tool.
I have worked with many facilitators/coaches/counselors relating to work and personal situations. Your skills are exemplary and moved me faster than I ever expected. — Jennifer Baker, Fishers, Indiana
You bring both a spiritual perspective and some real-world hard-headedness. — Janet Bailey, Mindful Time Management, San Francisco, California
Brava! I wish I could draw a picture of me — you’d see me in a deep bow to you!
I read your newsletter as soon as it hits my in-box and you’re always right on with your advice. I had to let you know that this issue is particularly brilliant.
I will definitely keep this info — and your contact info — in a secure place.
Thanks so much for sharing your insight and wisdom. — Debbie Rodgers, CGA
“I don’t have time to start that now!”
Have you said that recently?
You might be contemplating a project that has real heart and meaning for you — one of those big-goal projects that really matter. Or it could be a straightforward “to do” around the house or in your garden.
You could just be thinking about decluttering your clothes closet.
“I don’t have time to start that now!”
For some people, it’s a habit they learned in grade school. Teachers and parents are fond of creating Good Work Habits. Once you start something, you’re supposed to persevere until you finish it. And that means you need a nice big chunk of time.
Maybe it’s something you learned at work. Skillful project management includes accurately estimating how long project tasks will take. Then you plot those tasks on a calendar in nice big chunks of time, and off you go.
Now, there are certainly some tasks that require those nice big chunks of time. I’d hate to paint a room in five-minute increments!
But a lot of goals you probably think of in terms of hours or even days are very well suited to nibbling at in fifteen- or even five-minute increments.
Decluttering is one of my favorite examples of how effective getting incremental can be. I’ve had clients tell me that they need to spend a whole weekend decluttering their office, garage, or clothes closet. And maybe it’s true — maybe, all told, it will take fifteen or twenty hours to really complete the project.
I don’t know about you, but just thinking about that makes me feel tired. And with everything else I need to do on any given weekend, my immediate reaction is — you guessed it! — “I don’t have time to start that now!”
Get incremental.
The easiest way to get incremental about a project is to pick a nibble of time and then go for it. Got ten minutes before leaving for an appointment? You’ve got a ten-minute time-nibble (a.k.a. increment).
Garden maintenance? Pick up your pruning shears, rake, or weeding tool of choice, and get to work — for ten minutes.
Researching a new career? Spend ten minutes Googling. Start a list of websites and other resources to investigate later, when you have another time increment available.
Menu planning and shopping list? Take your ten minutes and decide on dinner for the week. Write it down. Do the shopping list later.
Get creative about what you can do in the time you have. Obviously, you’re not going to mow the lawn in ten minutes (but you might be surprised at how long — or short! — it really takes; time yourself next time and see!). But once you pick the topic area — gardening, menu-planning, changing careers, cleaning the garage, decluttering your closet, or whatever it may be — you’ll be amazed at how much you can accomplish in fifteen, ten, or just five minutes.
And those five, ten, and fifteen minutes add up. You’ll quickly start seeing progress, which will encourage you to keep on nibbling.
When you’re done with one project, you’ll discover you’ve created a habit. Next time you have a time increment available, you’ll look for another project to start nibbling at.
Who knows what you might be able to accomplish? Certainly a lot more than if you just keep saying, “I don’t have time start that now!”
“People get trapped into thinking about just one way of doing things.” Erik Weihenmayer, U.S. acrobatic skydiver, long distance biker, marathon runner, skier, mountaineer, ice climber, and rock climber — and blind since age 13! 1968 - .
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