Create time
Make time today
to reconnect and ground
to remember your dreams
and set intentions for what’s to come.
Author: Nick Gaswirth
Should you be doing that? 6 questions to ask
- Is this stealing my time?
- Is my attention being diverted from what I actually need to be doing?
- Is meaningful communication being traded for superficial connection?
- Am I distracted?
- Am I using this to procrastinate?
- Am I on __[insert favorite social media site here]__ ?
Many activities we participate in happen automatically, impulsively, without much thought. Take stock of your day and observe areas that suck up your time. Tomorrow, make it your mission to claim an extra hour for yourself by eliminating frivolous habits and unnecessary distraction.
29 thoughts from a 29-year-old
- Decide to get it done. Commit. Go.
- Goals will keep you on track.
- Fears take on tricky disguises. Call them out or enlist the help of someone who can.
- Helping others is one of the best things you can do with your time.
- You will learn more traveling than sitting in a classroom.
- Relationships are containers for growth.
- Be kind.
- Laugh more.
- It’s OK to make mistakes.
- It’s OK to admit you’re wrong.
- It’s OK to say no.
- Sometimes you don’t know what you want. Do what you enjoy, instead.
- Metabolism can be cruel; eat healthy, get sleep, be good to yourself.
- Take more risks.
- If it excites you, do it.
- No one else will know your value until you do.
- You don’t need permission to act. Stop waiting to be told.
- Finished is better than half started.
- Give others permission to recognize your worth.
- Stop waiting for perfect. “Good enough” is just fine. Perfect doesn’t exist.
- Nothing is permanent.
- No decision is irreversible.
- It’s never “too late.”
- People can change.
- Love is what happens after the butterflies fade.
- Home is a place you create for yourself.
- Get outside daily.
- Dream big. Great, now dream bigger.
- Hold nothing back.
It might not work.
The moment before you ship.
There’s a second of hesitation. You question whether you’re going to look like a fool, if your idea is stupid, if you’re wasting your time.
I had one of those this week.
Actually, I was petrified. I was trying something new, and I was scared it wasn’t going to work.
When you face moments of “This might not work,” do you turn around or keep going?
I wasn’t sure what was going to happen with #cxchat. I’ve seen twitter chats before, and I’ve questioned their value. I wasn’t convinced participants share authentically and reveal honest opinions. I was worried that no one would show up and thought I would be answering my own questions.
If you overcome fear and risk looking like a fool, good things can happen.
Not only did people participate, they shared. They shared their successes, their tools for creation, their secrets for building communities.
Digital strategists, managers, entrepreneurs, comedians (here’s looking at you, Matt Haze), designers, coders, coaches, artists, producers, writers, strategists, and marketers from all over the nation joined in. Responses were generous, thoughtful, honest, real. One of the participants even designed an incredible booklet for all to share; it’s now featured on Slideshare.
You can see what else was discussed during the chat here.
New connections, new resources, new perspectives.
I’d say #cxchat was a success. I’m glad I didn’t let fear get in the way.
(For those of you who missed it, we’ll be hosting another #cxchat Tuesday at 4pm ET.)
The next time you think, “This probably won’t work,” dive in, headfirst, and relax knowing most mistakes can be corrected. Who knows, you may stumble upon something great…
When “some” is better than “done”
It’s tempting to delay beginnings. Starting a project carries a certain amount of anxiety and trepidation. Eventually this emotional upheaval is conquered, and a new relationship forms — a protective, cautious, calculating awareness of your dream. Your time, energy, passion, love, and sacrifice have been invested into this work, and your pride is as stake. Suddenly, progress is never just right, the piece is never perfect; it lies unfinished.
It’s up to you to define the dividing line between obsession and creation. It takes honesty and acceptance to separate work you’re proud of from slop that requires more attention. However, if you don’t begin, you won’t have anything to revise or shape. Your idea will be just that — an abstract concept with no real testing power.
What if you could accept a tolerable first iteration? Embrace the fact that unless you’re lucky or highly skilled, there’s a good chance you’ll look back at your first draft and cringe. Set specific goals and concrete checkpoints to overcome perfection paralysis and create something rather than nothing.
Do you wonder how other people get started? Not sure how to label finished from needs work? Ask others for tips during today’s twitter chat, 4pm EST (use #cxchat).
Twitter chat 6/4, 4pm EST #cxchat
Mark your calendar. I’m hosting a twitter chat Tuesday, June 4 at 4pm EST.
If you’ve never participated in a twitter chat before, check out this handy resource. Twitter chats are great for creating new relationships, asking questions and polling groups.
#cxchat will focus on all things connections. I’ll post a few topics to get us started and welcome your suggestions (send an email to info@projectexponential.com). Professional and personal questions are fair game, things like:
- What’s the best way to ask for a LinkedIn recommendation?
- How can I leverage connections in my job search?
- What’s the benefit of follow-up calls?
- How do you nurture and build a tribe?
- How have you successfully managed conflict?
- What relationships have been most meaningful to you?
You can find some other tools to help you participate here.
Look for me from 4-5pm EST on Tuesday @redheadlefthand and send any questions my way.