Life

What do you do to get what you get?

QUOTE: “If we keep doing what we’re doing, we’re going to keep getting what we’re getting.” – Stephen R. Covey

Ohhhh Soooo True. This reflects us in every aspect of our lives from how we treat people, how we drive, what we think, what we watch and then mimic, what we listen to and then say out loud… Think about it.

How are you going to change what you’re doing to change what you’re getting?

4 Reasons To Leave Your Mobile Device At Home On Purpose!

Or accomplish the same thing by turning it off for 24 hours – and leaving it off.

A friend just posted a comment on her facebook wall: “Like a fish outta water today. Left me cell phone home…. uggggg”.

Here was my reply: “So what type of work are you getting to do that you normally wouldn’t get to do if you had your phone? Mixing it up either intentionally or by accident let’s you find creative ways to handle projects differently. This is a good thing.”

Here’s my challenge: Next Monday I want you to leave your cellphone, iPad, blackberry or whatever you use to connect with mobilely (is there such a word? ) at home.

Why? For the very reason that it may happen for real one day and you need to have a backup plan.

1) Do you have all your contact names and numbers someplace other than your mobile device?

2) How would you notify your contacts that you are sans a mobile device?

3) Do your contacts have an alternate way of reaching you and the same goes for you reaching them if they are mobileless (another new word?)?

4) Would it be such a bad thing to permanently schedule (that means letting your network of contacts know this) one day a week off the grid? What type of work would you get done that you normally wouldn’t?

I’m sure there are a ton more reasons to do this but for putting together this post I’m just lighting the fire I’ll let you all add the wood to keep it burning.

I hope I’ve got you thinking about this one as you can take this example to an extreme and try to figure out what you would do if all cell / internet services were down.

Your ideas are always welcome – please comment below.

On a side note Happy Upcoming Father’s Day to all you Dad’s out there.

Another great resource for conquering your fear(s)

Seth Godin once again has pointed me in the direction of a great resource.
 
fear.less a free digital publication launched on May 3rd.

“fear.less is a free online magazine that empowers people through unique stories of overcoming fear.”

Read this new publication either online or download it via PDF to digest later and then share it with friends when you’re done. I’ve been receiving a number of publications in this format via email for sometime now and this new endeavor by Clay & Ishita is yet another example of a compelling read free for our consumption and packed with real world examples of people struggling with and conquering their fears.

Time Spent Elsewhere

The Pocono Tweetup tribe has been keeping me very busy.

I love them for that because it means they have been pushing me past my comfort zone.

An unfortunate consequence is I have less time to spend here.

A fortunate consequence means I have to rethink where else I’m spending time and rethink the value of those activities.

Are you being challenged by your friends both offline and online to break out of your comfort zone?

If not take Seth Godin’s lead “Maybe you need new friends”.

What activities are you spending time on?

Rethink the value of that time which is spent elsewhere!

Change – Not Because You Have To But Because You Want To

Making that decision to break up the normal routine isn’t always easy but then again change never is. At our tweetup this morning Jason mentioned something along those lines – let’s see it ah had to do with finding new opportunities as change forces us to look at our world differently.

I’m certainly not the first one to have talked about this but it bares repeating every now again. We get caught up in what’s comfortable in our life, at work, with our friends and the types of activities we do. It’s only when we are forced in a new direction because of outside influences do we dare to explore new territory. I say let that force come from within yourself so you can experience life on a new level, share new meaning with new friends, find something you’re passionate about and make it part of your work week and offer to help more people that are struggling with one thing or another.

Wow this certainly took a turn I wasn’t expecting… as I am by far the most comfortable of people and when it comes to change I usually try to fight it off with a big stick.

I have to chalk up my departure from the comfort zone to sharing time with people that inspire me, support me and push me to take bigger steps. They would be my new friends at Pocono Tweetup – thanks… – Bruce

Green Cleanup

In my past post entitled Clutter Cleanup I asked a question about looking for functional items you no longer use that could be donated to local businesses. This is a great way to unclutter your space and help someone save some money. But what about those electronic devices that no-one could really use and or no longer function like they’re supposed to. What to do with them? In cruising around online this morning I can across this website via Amazon.com: Green Earth Exchange.

Here’s the quick and dirty – visit their site, search for all the stuff you want to get rid of working or broke it doesn’t matter, if it’s on their list you describe it’s condition, you’ll get an appraisal and you can print out a prepaid shipping label, pack up the stuff and ship it out.

If the items match up with the expected appraisal you’ll get an Amazon.com gift card for the appraised value and if not then those items will be recycled responsibly.

Now that’s a great way to clean out a closet and get some money for your efforts.

Linchpin – 2nd Copy Goes To Mike

Wow – Seth Godin doing what he teaches…

I received a 2nd copy yep that’s right a 2nd copy of Linchpin Seth’s new book. In the book Seth talks about giving gifts. This book then will be my gift to a good friend Mike Beckenbach. Read Mikes’ blog at: http://beckenbachpr.com/Blog/.

Seth ran an experiment where he offered to send at his cost a preview copy of his new book Linchpin to the first 3000 people that would make a donation to the Acumen Fund. 100% of the donation went to the fund so in reality the preview copy was a gift from Seth to begin with. Now he sends me another copy as appreciation for acting on his preview offer and making a donation. A letter from Seth came with the book that reinforces the act of giving.

Buy two copies of “Linchpin” from Amazon.com now – keep one for yourself and give the other one away.

Seth thank you. The art that you bring to this world is an example we all can learn from.

Over the next few weeks I’ll be looking for ways to “Give more than I Get” that I can roll into my daily routine and carry forward with me for the rest of my life.

What gifts can you give?

How does your art affect the lives of those around you?

Share and inspire. Thank you.

Clutter Cleanup

Yesterday – Sunday the 7th of February I started the process of putting some of the items that I’ve rescued from the upstairs closet on my favorite auction site. Below you will find the links to these auctions not so you can bid on them unless you are a avid vintage micro-computer collector but so that you see I am following through on my promise to de-clutter.

BOOK: Force Heretic I – Star Wars – The New Jedi Order
(update: SOLD – I also sent the winning bidder my copy of Force Heretic II – which I just finished reading [no extra charge just glad to see it go to a good home])

BOOK: Access 2 for Dummies by Scott Palmer
(update: NOT SOLD – going to Salvation Army unless someone wants it – shipped to you [USA only] at no charge – hurry though)

BOOK: Deke McClelland’s Look & Learn Photoshop
(update: NOT SOLD – going to Salvation Army unless someone wants it or I find a local business that can use it – shipped to you [USA only] at no charge – hurry though)

BOOK: Accounting With Lotus 1-2-3 by Kaz Ochi
(update: NOT SOLD – going to Salvation Army unless someone wants it – shipped to you [USA only] at no charge – hurry though)

Today I pulled a bag of old computer power cables from the closet and it was an easy decision to not keep them as I now use a laptop as my primary computer. So the cables came to work with me today and will go to the IS department and be used as backups when needed.

Note to self: as I clean out my closet it seems as though I’m filling up the IS departments. Oh well at least it’s with items that can be put to use if need be.

I wonder if there are a few items lying around in your closet that could be donated to a small business to help them keep down costs on things like older but functional printers, computer cables, phones even how-to tech books etc.. what do you think?

Another Book – Day 20 of the Clutter Challenge

Day 20 of “Getting Rid of the Clutter”.

BOOK: Access 2 For Dummies

1) Do I really need this? – Nope

2) Does it help me on my life’s journey? – No

3) Why am I keeping this around, truthfully? – Got it from a friend long ago. Never really used it. I was always a dBase / FoxBase / FoxPro database kind of person.

How many things are hanging around your space that friends have giving you that you never used or don’t use anymore?

Look around, dig ‘em up and ship ‘em out – you’re doing great, keep it up and soon you’ll have room to breath and feel free of the burden of things.

One more gone. Another candidate for the auction site. This weekend is gonna be auction city with all the items rescued from the closet so far.

How are you doing with the clutter challenge?

Have you shared your stories with your friends?

If so I’d love to hear about them as well and I’m sure everyone else reading this would take an interest and give their support for your challenge. – Peace

Clutter Progress and I Miss You

I miss you…

It’s been a busy past 2 weeks since my last post. I’m not gonna make excuses as to why I’ve neglected you. You are important to me and I value your readership – Thank you for that.

Clutter Progress…

Although I haven’t been posting my daily closet clutter finds I have been diligently pulling out one item a day. So far I’ve rescued a stapler, keyboard, 2 fax modems, 6 books, 4 old hard drives and a pair of gloves. The stapler came to work with me and is being used by my office mate Mike. The keyboard went to the IT department and will most likely sit in their closet until someone needs a replacement. Fax modems, they have been photographed and will be up for auction this weekend as will the 6 books of varying computer topics. The old hard drives are going through a download / copy off what I can process and then they too will be up for auction. The pair of gloves have found their way into the trunk of my car as a backup / good to have around in an emergency type item.

So things are moving along. I find this one item a day challenge easier to manage then I thought. Breaking my decisions down to just one item is less frustrating then looking at the closet as a whole and wondering how to deal with it all.

Oh and by the way todays item was a box of VHS tapes (yes I still have a VHS recorder and player). The tapes are being recycled into my weekly recording of LOST episodes – now that Jack, Kate, James, Hugo, Ben, Locke and everyone else is back on the little screen.

How is your closet looking these days? Any lighter? A little more space?

Let me know.