The Daily Saint

10% Now May be Better Than 100% Later

Photo by Minxlj

Have you ever heard of "chunking" in a productivity context?  It's probably a distant relative to batching, where you group like-tasks and then do them at the same time.  Chunking on the other hand, is that simple process of taking a project and dividing it into bite-sized pieces that can be tackled, one step at a time.

What's a Project?
All of the following are projects:

• Doing your grocery shopping for the week
• Buying your Aunt Helen a gift for her 75th birthday
• Completing your budget review for the next fiscal year

In short, a project is anything that requires multiple steps in order to be completed.  That's the good news.  The flip side is that your project list just grew exponentially!

Why 10% Now?
The 10% now thinking that inspired this post is really simple and it has roots in the classroom.  My senior students are notorious for waiting until the last minute to complete their papers and projects.  They currently have about six weeks to complete their final assignment in high school and yes, most will wait until the final days to even begin their work.  I can relate- I was a chronic procrastinator too.

The idea is simple: do something, anything now that works towards the completion of your project.  This has several benefits including:

• Emotional: you'll feel better about yourself because you'll be overcoming procrastination
• Physical: you'll be engaging the mind, sharpening your abilities to start and then finish something
• Social: you'll be setting a good example for those around you

But It's Genetic!
Several studies have been tossed around in the last few years, citing the genetic qualities of procrastination.  Interestingly enough, scientists have found ways to stimulate certain genes and suppress others, turning even the laziest of monkeys into workaholics.  In humans, a small tipping point, in this case doing 10% now, will also trigger something in us that will accomplish the project better than if we had waited until the last minute to accomplish things.

How to Begin
In order to practice the 10% now concept, start with a simple project that we all can relate to: laundry.  In my house, we do the laundry on the first floor and then put everyone's pile of clothes on the steps going upstairs.  When a person goes upstairs for something, they take their pile of clothes with them.  Sure, I could do all of the 'laundry steps' at once, but by chunking it delegates some responsibility to other members of the family and makes it easier for me.

Which projects do you currently have that can use a little 10% of movement?

4 Incredible Videos That Will Inspire You to be More

Part I of Rob Commodari's talk in Dallas, TX.  Rob was speaking at the Sherwin Williams National Sales Meeting.  Rob was featured recently for his creative work in real estate.

Part II Part III Part IV

Cultivating Spirit-Led Service in Daily Life

I just finished Plain Living, a Quaker Path to Simplicity and was struck by the chapter on Spirit-Led Service.  Clifford Haigh (1962) said,

"This is a vocation just as truly as some more obviously seen as such- the vocation of ordinary men and women called to continual unspectacular acts of loving kindness in the ordinary setting of everyday."

What can you do today to perform some small act of service towards someone in your home or at work?  It may seem unspectacular in the moment but indeed is what most of us are capable of at any given moment. 

Are You a Spectator or a Participant?

Photo by HometownInvasion

If there is one thing that GTD teaches us it's to close the open loops in our life.  These often revolve around our project list.  It's often the  seemingly small projects ('buy gift for Claire') that we leave open until the very last minute, when we are forced to do something ('only one day until Claire's birthday').  The lesson?  Act on your thoughts and keep your projects moving...somewhere and somehow.

My students and I have been studying a critical event from the 1960's which I believe encourage the closing of some open loops and the opening of others.  Vietnam War?  Nope.  Labor movement?  Not even close.  We've been studying what is known as the Second Vatican Council.

Vatican II was a meeting (actually a series of them) which lasted from 1962-1965 and involved nearly 2500 Catholic bishops.  Some key decisions were made at Vatican II, including the groundbreaking idea of holding worship services (Mass) in the language of the people.  But that's not even remotely close to being the most important aspect of the council. 

What Vatican II did for Roman Catholics and for the world was to encourage people to go from being spectators to participants.   When we become participants, we take responsibility and that of course involves risk and vulnerability.

Some areas in life in which we can move from spectatorship to being players might include:

• Leadership at work: rather than being a complainer, a participant takes action where he can and does his job to a high level.
• Leadership at home: rather than putting himself first in the family, a participant seeks to lift up those around him.  What can I do to make my home happier for those around me?
• Leadership in your community:  close an open loop (i.e. the school board is spending money irresponsibly) by running for office, volunteering on a committee or hosting a party.

You can see the interchange between leadership/participation and the closing of loops.  The best online resource for a Vatican II overview can be found here. I believe that we are all capable of leadership which is a fancy word for being a participant ... in life.

Public Workshop This Week: Meet The Daily Saint in Person!

I'll be speaking this week at a public workshop and would love to meet as many TDS readers as possible.  St. Vincent de Paul church in Stirling, NJ is hosting the event, called "Bible 101" on Sunday, March 2 at 7pm in the church meeting room. 

If you live in the area (or feel like driving!), stop by and bring a friend. 

My talk will be entertaining, funny and very practical.  I'll be focusing on the basic structure of the Bible, key points from Mark's Gospel and detailing a simple "how to" for daily Scripture reading.  Even if you're not a big Bible reader, it should be a good time and I'd love to meet as many folks as possible. 

God on the Job

I often think about the balance/integration of one's faith with one's work.  How much of God do I bring into my job?  When is one imposing their faith on another person?  These questions haunt me and bless me at the same time. 

Perhaps the answer is not as important as the continual process of asking.

Dr. Margaret Benefiel, author of Soul at Work, Spiritual Leadership in Organizations has the following opportunities to offer:

"Work, Spirituality and Religious Commitment." Workshop at Spiritual Directors International Annual Conference. Margaret Benefiel and Greg Heylin. March 29. Washington, DC.

         

"Spiritual Leadership." Rolling Ridge Retreat Center. Margaret Benefiel and Larry Peacock. May 6. North Andover, MA.

         

"Grounded in God: Decision-Making and Discernment in Congregations and Organizations." Intensive course offered at Andover Newton Theological School. Margaret Benefiel. May 9-15. Newton Center, MA.

         

"Grounded in God: Decision-Making and Discernment in Congregations and Organizations." Intensive course offered at Woodbrooke Quaker Study Centre. Margaret Benefiel and Helen Rowlands. June 8-13. Birmingham, England.

7 Ways to Create a Culture of Innovation

Photo by Terry Wha

How do you help those around you tap into their creative mojo?   I've asked myself this question several times in the past few months, looking for ways to motivate my team and generate true innovation.  The answers, although sometimes elusive, have been fascinating and easy to apply.

So how do you do it?

Let me be clear in saying that I am not the CEO of a corporation.  I am the team leader for a small group of educators who work very hard and try to deliver content every single day.  I admire them and support them, and they know it.  This forms the foundation for the direction that I point them towards.  If they felt that I did not care, the tips I am about to share might fall on hollow ears.  On to the points of application:

• "Model the good" (3 John 11)  This New Testament quote holds true for an individual who attempts to lead a team.  Your group needs to know that you care enough about yourself to care for them.  Modeling "good behavior" is essential, be it your time management skills, your virtue, or your ability to do what they do.  I cannot evaluate my teachers if I do not practice good teaching skills on my own.
• Raise the bar.  Making statements such as, "We can be the best team in our division," or "You have what it takes to be innovators in your field," raises the bar.  Lift the expectations and you'll get more from your team.
• Monitor and share creative moments.  Last week, our team was given the task of looking at our work and then sharing one creative action that we'd try in the following week.  We then shared these with each other.  A small step but one which few departments do on a regular basis.
• Pioneer one new initiative. Choose something doable, then go after it with full force.  A project, conference, or product gives the group something to work on together.  Encourage your group to see themselves as pioneers in the field. 
• Get off site once a year.  Go out for dinner, attend a workshop or try out an executive retreat.  The value of going off site far outweighs the cost of doing so.  It may be a bit scary at first, but go for something that folks are comfortable and then you can branch out into the more ambitious team-building events that make every group bond on a deeper level.
• Talk every single day.  My group is small and our facility is compact so it's easy to talk every day.  If your team is spread out or in different geographical locations, find a way to talk every day.  Use email, Skype or Jott, but communicate every day.
• Work on your craft together.  If your team is in sales, talk about the art of selling.  If you are an engineering team, find ways to train within your field.  If you are teachers, share your successes in the classroom.  Your team needs to know that you are still working on your game too.
• Have fun.  Share stories, give each other the business and celebrate success.  Laughter brings even the staunchest of folks together.  Boring people rarely generate creative ideas.
  

How to Bring Self Confidence to a Higher Level

Photo by Feuillu

"One important key to success is self-confidence. An important key to self- confidence is preparation."  Arthur Ashe

When I came across this quote, I had a bit of an "aha" moment as I remembered what a mentor had told me years ago about time management.  He explained that he was not the smartest, nor funniest, nor best looking.  His gift, he discovered years earlier, was his ability to prioritize commitments and prepare for each week.  Not exactly what everyone strives for but he practiced and practiced until he got it down.

Then he became a true master of time management.

When you can see your weekly review as a skill, you're getting deeper into the game.  The preparation-follow up-preparation cycle becomes the backbone of your ability to prioritize commitments.  Thankfully, it gets easier with time.

What Arthur Ashe is also reminding us is that confident people are prepared people. The two go hand in hand.  What can we prepare for this week?

1. Calendar
2. Meetings
3. Diet & fitness
4. Relationships
5. Fun
6. Spiritual growth

And we could go on and on.  A truly prepared person sees the "edgeless" activities (spiritual growth, fun, relationships, etc.) as projects with action steps.  Not that a Valentine's dinner with your better half is merely another project, but it has multiple steps which need be carried out in sequence.  Translation: project management. 

Looking at the Valentine's dinner as an example- if you are prepared for Feb. 14th, chances are it will go better and you'll feel great about it.  Makes sense.

What can you do, besides being a prepared person, to boost your self confidence?  Here are some tips:

1. Customize your routine.  This is an essential component to an organized (and prepared) life.  Nail your wake up times and going to bed times.  Streamline how you get ready for the day.  Simplify your steps in the morning.  Then, do it all again.
2. Understand your personality type. Use the Myers Briggs personality type indicator as a tool to better understand yourself.  Once you accept your level of extrovert-introversion, you'll be much cooler with how you treat your own personality.  (oh, and how you treat others)
3. Hang with the best and brightest.  Network online, via phone or snail mail with those who are confident.  Meet them at conferences and find out where they hang.  You don't want to be a stalker, just someone who learns how to meet those who are successful.   My students get a kick out of who I've met and interviewed over the years.
4. Dress for success. What you wear does make a difference.  This is not just interview advice.  The next time you don't feel well, dress better.  The next time the weather is crummy, dress better.  The next time you are about to meet someone important, dress better. 
5. Go where you want to be.  If you want to be the boss, check out his/her office the next time you have a meeting.  Imagine yourself hosting visitors and facilitating meetings.  If your neighborhood isn't what you want it to be, go for a drive and observe how other streets are organized and what types of houses are there.  Get the flavor of the dream and then stoke your fire by visiting its origin again and again.
6. Find a mentor. A mentoring agency can be a huge help with improving self confidence.  A good mentor is like gold and can become a secret weapon in the road to success.  My mentor, Gerry, is a trusted advisor, a genuine friend and a sounding board for my ambitions and failures. 

10 Sure-Fire Ways to Beat the February Blues

Photo by kool_skatkat

It's that time of year again, when the cold doesn't go away and the days are dark.  A former boss of mine once said, "Never make a big decision in February," and I think that he was right.  It's not a time of year that, in the Northeast U.S. at least, is particularly cheery.

What can you do to combat the February blues?  Here are some sure-fire ways that will pick you up and get you smoothly into Spring:

Change your voice mail message.  Sounds so basic but give it a try and see what happens.  Your callers will also know that you have a pulse and are keeping it real.

Move around your furniture.  A change in layout, placement, or even pairing can go a long way.  Furniture placement is definitely an art so figure out what works for you and then enjoy what you've created.  Generative activity is one of the best triggers to the brain to stimulate happiness.

Purge your closets. Tossing 'stuff' is also a great way to maintain simplicity and combat the winter blues. 

Clean your car.  Since you have to spend time in the car on a regular basis, keeping it clean makes a lot of sense.  You'll maintain a healthier space but the act of cleaning will also give you a boost to make it through February.

Change your website or blog design. Why not mix it up?  If you use Wordpress or Typepad, there are many templates out there which are easy enough to install.  Try something out and ask for feedback from your readers.  Why not create a contest that would let the readers choose the look and feel that they enjoy the most?

Streamline your desk. A clean desk is essential for maximum productivity.  More than that, it keeps you in the zone and allows you to tune out visual distractions.  Keep it simple, nothing more and nothing less.

Clean out your wallet or handbag.  Similar to purging a closet, a journey through a wallet or purse reveals all sorts of things.  Clean it out and you'll be amazed how much lighter it is when receipts and unnecessary items are tossed.

Go for a new look. Mix it up with a new hair style, an affordable wardrobe makeover or one new accessory which you'll use regularly.  If your health insurance provides for new glasses, why keep wearing that old pair with the broken nose-pieces?

Take a mini-vacation. A long weekend during February makes a lot of sense.  It doesn't have to be far from home nor expensive to make this idea happen. 

Throw a party.  Invite a small group of your good friends over and call it a "Winter Blues" get together.  Invite everyone to bring a dish and then enjoy the night!

5 Easy Steps Towards a More Spiritual Life

Photo by Grantmac

Too often people confuse religious with spiritual.  When I begin my course on world religions with 18 year old seniors in high school, I begin with a profound premise: all people are spiritual, some are religious.  As most seniors are, to one degree or another, skeptical, this is a good starting point.

While there will always be skeptics among us, consider the emerging evidence of the practicality of a spiritual life:

• National Geographic: more Western doctors are trained in meditation techniques than ever before.
• Duke University Center for Spirituality, Theology and Health: dozens of case studies conducted in the last seven years which point towards spirituality as an asset in battling mental and physical illnesses (interesting to note that Duke is not alone: University of Florida, George Washington and other secular institutions also have centers for spirituality and health).
• National Institute of Health: not only is it becoming more common for doctors to discuss faith with patients, NIH researchers argue that it's rational.

The point in all of this? Activating our spiritual principle makes sense.  One has to have the "want to" to be more and more spiritual.  Then, context supports your personal growth.  I've felt for years that my spiritual life benefits immensely from the inspiring lives of those with whom I work. 

Here are some other suggestions for leveraging more spirituality in everyday life:

Dial Back the Media. If you're not at least a bit concerned about the captivating role that the media plays in the lives of young people, watch the PBS Frontline special, "Growing Up Online".  Don't give in to the hype that says you must be reached at all times and in whatever manner. 

Take a Regular Sabbath.  Whether it's a weekend on the beach (smooth!) or an afternoon at home in your pajamas, sabbath is good for the soul.  Ancient Jews practiced sabbath as a way to slow down and give God some time in their lives.  Try it out for a month and I'm pretty sure that you'll be convinced of the value of sabbath time.  What to do during your sabbath?  Enjoy nature, cook something elaborate or simple, spend time with your family, watch a great movie, take a nap...the list goes on and on.

Beta-Test Your Prayer Life. Just as software companies beta-test their products in order to see how it works in 'real time', why not apply the same principle to your prayer life?  Pray during the day and especially on the two bookends (morning and evening).  Let it be conversational and have it fit within your spiritual tradition.  Just try it for a week and see how it works!

Get Serious About Your Morning Ritual.  Become a morning ninja by waking at the same time every weekday and going through the same steps each time.  It's not being obsessive compulsive (ok, maybe a little bit!)- it's about freeing your mind and soul to read sacred texts, talk with God, and find time to cultivate your spiritual life.  Working out can be a spiritual work if dedicated to God so it's not a bad idea to mix that into your a.m. routine.

Find a Community That Feeds You. Shop around and visit different groups and faith communities.  There are literally tens of thousands of houses of worship in the U.S., surely one of them fits your personality and style.  My family and I generally look for a community that is friendly, family-focused, practical and relevant to our life journey.  Keep it simple, don't over-think your choice and trust your gut.

These steps are a solid beginning.  St. John of the Cross once said that the mystical life doesn't even begin until about the age of 40.  The key is this- if you start nurturing your spiritual life now, you'll reach 40 and start seeing things in a different life.  If you're over 40 (no problem), you may have an advantage due to more life experience.  Either way, start today and see what God does in your spiritual life.  Drop me a line if I can help in any way.