Category Archives: Productivity

Life Planning: How a Life Plan Can Help You Avoid the Drift

Life Planning:
How A Life Plan Can Help You Avoid the Drift

What does a life Plan do?
About a year ago, Daniel Harkavy and Michael Hyatt published a book titled Living Forward. I read it and recommend it highly. In Living Forward, they describe the importance of having a written life plan. At first glance, this idea may seem a bit over-the-top and lofty, but after going through the process of creating one last year, it has helped me in several ways.

Above all, it helps me to be intentional about how I live my life. I want to look back on my life 5, 10 or 20 years from now and see that I have lived a worthy life of significance. Simply, my life plan clarifies on paper what is most important to me, charts a course for action in getting to where I want to be in life, and serves as a regular reminder when I review it. It keeps me from drifting through each day, week and month without purpose. My life plan reminds me to live a life of intention, designing it for my purposes and desires. During my run-of-the-mill day, I can bounce my decisions, time and tasks against the intentions in my life plan. This provides clarity in purpose and has been a tie-breaker when assigning priorities. I hope that it keeps me from any regrets.

What is Drift?
I emphasize being proactive and acting on life, rather than the alternative which is to drift through life. Drift is an insidious, unintentional and silent villain which robs us of becoming all that we can. The drift never takes us to a place that we intend. It is a slow pull that we often don’t even realize. When lives crumble, they don’t happen in a day. They fall apart over time because of inattention to the important. That can be the effect of drift.

Think of it like a boat Captain adrift with no sail, map or rudder. She is not only unaware of her position, but also subject to the weather and the currents, with no way of making corrections. A life plan provides the figurative sail, map and rudder. While still subject to the weather, winds and currents, it allows the boat Captain to stay in control and make it to her intended destination.

Avoiding the drift is important because according to the authors, its consequences cause:

* Confusion — No clear direction or perspective. Our lives are not guided with purpose and meaning. We just go from one thing to the next, seemingly   unconnected.

* Expense — Causes us to waste time, money, and health among others.

* Lost Opportunities — We lose the ability see opportunities and to go down paths that would enrich our lives. We don’t see them because we are distracted in the here and now.

* Pain — Lack of planning and action in the areas most important to us, can lead us to painful troubles. This can occur in our marriage, health, finances, profession, family and other areas of our lives.

* Regret — No one wants to look back and wish things had been different. “If only I……….(you fill in the blank.) It becomes even more frustrating when we realize it is a result of our lack of planning and attention to how we want to live our lives.

What’s in a Life Plan?
So what is in a life plan? Harkavy and Hyatt suggest specific contents be included. I’ve used their model and customized it to reflect what I think is important. Your Life Plan should inspire you and sit well with you. When you review your Life Plan, it should capture your dreams, goals, beliefs, and values. Here’s an outline of what I’ve included in mine:

  • A mission statement – a short statement about what I believe my life is about
  • My envisioned eulogy – admittedly macabre, but necessary to envision the end game and provide context
  • My most important areas of life – physical, spiritual, mental, financial, relational, professional, etc.
  • What constitutes for me a successful day, and life? How do I measure if I’m on track?
  • An action plan for each important area of my life – it includes a purpose, envisioned future, my WHY, the benefits, where I am now, specific commitments to get me there, and obstacles and pitfalls to be mindful

If you know what you want in life and have a plan to get there, then you are leaps and bounds closer to “succcess.” Harkavy and Hyatt remind us that most people spend more time and attention planning vacations, weddings and car purchases than they do their own lives. I found the introspective process of building a Life Plan is as valuable as the end product itself. It need not be a long document, and does not need to be perfect, because it will change. It is not hard to do, but requires that you set aside time to do it. It will never be complete, but will always be under revision and adjustment as life progresses.

“My definition of success has two parts. The first is when my intentions, words and actions align–integrity. The second is when they are progressively moving me toward my goals and how I want to live my life.”

My definition of success has two parts. The first is when my intentions, words and actions align–integrity. The second is when they are progressively moving me toward my goals and how I want to live my life. My life plan plan helps me to live my definition of a successful life. How do you define success? How do you know if you are on track? If you want to dive deeper into life planning and how to create one, check out https://livingforwardbook.com.

Be Your Best!


Our TV Watching Habits

Our TV Watching Habits

I’ve been scrutinizing my TV watching habits lately. It seems I’ve been watching a lot more and I believe I’m worse off for it.

It’s my own fault because I allow it into my life. I think TV can be good when it informs, makes me laugh, enlightens my understanding of the world, provides for an otherwise un-accessible experience or makes me feel good to be alive.  And yeah, occasionally vegging out is okay too, until those occasions become too frequent.

But for the most part, unless I’m intentional about what I am watching, it turns out that:

  • My time can be better spent
  • It allows negativism and junk into my life
  • I am subject to manipulation and subconscious influence
  • Its passive and non-engaging.  Not usually good for me physically or mentally.

Time Can Be Better Spent

As someone who tries to cram a lot into each day, it’s important to me that I’m using my most valuable commodity as wisely as possible—my time.

The more time I spend in front of the TV, the more it robs me from doing the things that are important to me. TV watching doesn’t really contribute that much to anything that I want to get out of life.  While sitting in front of the TV, I’m usually not improving my life by enriching my mind, working on goals, and building relationships.

That’s not to say all TV programming is bad. In fact, I do make a disciplined effort to watch things I won’t feel guilty about watching.  But still, it’s too easy not to fall prey to the latest tantalizing news story (that has no impact on my life), become distracted by latest celebrity drama, or understand the intrigue with the Kardashians.  I don’t watch crappy TV on purpose.  I just hang on too long or flip the channel to something else that catches me in its web.

According to Nielsen Research, the average American spends 34 hour each week watching television. That statistic makes me feel better about myself (because I watch nowhere near that much), but I could still do better.  Time is the great equalizer.  No matter who you are, we all have the same amount.   I find it compelling that even the greatest people that have walked this Earth have achieved their accomplishments in the same amount of time I have each day.

Negativism and Junk

Our TV watching habits change our view of the world. At the end of an hour of news, you could only conclude that the world is a miserable place to live.  Violence, crime, hate, corruption, deceit, injustice, drought, flooding, wildfire, tornados, scandal, hurricanes, terrorism and anything other undesirable aspect of this world is the focus.  In the same way our bodies need a healthy diet, our minds need one too.  Strategy aside, some of the most popular reality programs are really about tantalizing our most primitive instincts.  We are witnessing the dumbing down of America.  The mental diet with which prime time drama entertains us is depressing.

How can we not be negatively affected in our emotions and our attitudes? Why do these type events and programs define news and entertainment of the day?  Because our human condition causes us to be captivated and entertained by sensationalism – and that brings ratings and money.  Producers will tell us it’s what we demand.  Our emotional engagement in negative content cascades into our lives causing division, anger, anxiety, fear and sadness.  You can be sure that what comes over the TV is NOT intended for your best interest.  In the end, it is in the best interest of the broadcast industry.

I also don’t NEED to know all the details about that bad stuff.

Manipulation and Influence

Our TV watching habits change our view of ourselves in the world. The day-to-day messaging programmers want us to believe about social norms, sexuality, race relations, religion, or political position are obvious.  It also changes our view of our value, who we are, what we need, what we want, and what is important.

Consider what the market wants you to believe.

  • You can re-enforce your social and political ideology by watching the [you fill in the blank] network.
  • This medicine will make your ailment go away.
  • You need to feel young and free by driving our sedan.
  • Smart people save 15% on car insurance.
  • Why not bring a lawsuit? You deserve to get even and will also get rich.
  • You absolutely must have that counter-top convection oven.
  • Your aren’t beautiful unless you are thin and have smooth skin.

I know I’m smarter than all that. But regrettably, I too sometimes feel more is better, stuff can make me happy, or I do need whatever they are trying to sell me.  Even explicit sex on TV doesn’t seem as shocking as it used to, nor is my expectation that I should have anything that I want right now.  Now how did I succumb to those ideas?

It’s Passive

Watching TV doesn’t require anything from me. It spoon feeds me.  I don’t need to expend any effort or output.  It doesn’t require me mental engagement nor physical exertion.  But that’s not good.

TV watching is often habitual and causes many sedentary and unproductive hours. If you’re like me, it usually includes the mindless eating of snacks or treats.  Most would agree that our greatest levels of satisfaction are a reflection of the effort we expend.  Hours in a worthy project, creativity in a piece of art, dedication to a cause, perseverance through a trial.  The more we put into something, the more meaningful is the result and the payoff.  When was the last time you felt better about finishing a TV program over a good book?

As professor of journalism studies Bob Franklin wrote in his 1997 book Newszak and News Media:  “Entertainment has superseded the provision of information; human interest has supplanted the public interest; measured judgement has succumbed to sensationalism.”

TV Watching habits

“Entertainment has superseded the provision of information; human interest has supplanted the public interest; measured judgement has succumbed to sensationalism.”  — Professor Bob Franklin

All-in-all, if I were an alien and my only view of this world were provided through television, it would be very distorted. Granted, I’ve focused on those ways that television drags down our lives.  We all know there is good programming too.  It’s the stuff that inspires us, makes us optimistic, teaches us and causes us to appreciate being in this world.  It’s hearing the stories and experiencing a world where there’s beauty and goodness.  Maybe that is what I should have written about.

So what do you think about your TV watching habits? As for me, I want to fill my time, energy and mind with the good stuff.  Unless I just want to veg out.  Then I’ll just watch Big Brother.

Be Your Best!


Don’t Prioritize your Schedule, Schedule your Priorities

Managing Priorities is the Key

As a productivity junkie for the longest time, I was always trying to figure out how to get more done in less time.  I figured that if I could only get up earlier, stay up later, fit this in here, or multi-task there, I could get more done.  I thought that by doing more, I could come closer to achieving my goals and dreams.  As it turns out, I was chasing the wrong thing.  It’s not about managing your time, but managing your priorities.
Stephen Covey  (1932-2012) explains this concept well in his book “The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People,” with the Life Quadrants diagram.  As the diagram indicates, the things we spend time on have an urgency and importance.

Urgency vs. Importance

Those things that are more urgent beg to be done now. The more urgent they are, the less control we have.   Those things that are more important contribute most to our relationships, goals and well being.  The more important an activity is, the more focus and perspective it brings to our life.
The more time we can spend doing the least urgent, but most important things, (Quadrant II) the more we can live according to our  values, mission, priorities and dreams.  Admittedly, quadrant II is the hardest area of focus (but the most important), because it doesn’t scream for our attention and demands intentionality.  We don’t  typically “drift” into Quadrant II.
LifeQuadrants
Quadrant I — You need to deal with stuff here.
The quadrant of “Deadlines and Fire Drills.”  In Quadrant I are the urgent and important things of life.  Bad things happen if they aren’t dealt with.  These may include:
  • Paying bills
  • Changing the baby’s diaper
  • Changing a flat tire
  • Homework assignments
  • Keeping appointments
Quadrant II — Set your sights here.
The quadrant of “Growth and Quality of Life.”  In Quadrant II are the least urgent, but most important things of life.  These are the easiest activities to avoid, because there’s not a looming deadline.  It’s potentially the most lucrative area to spend your time because this where we move life’s needle.  Examples include:
  • Exercise, fitness, and health
  • Goal setting and planning
  • Date nights
  • Reading and Writing
  • Hobbies and other passions you want to master
  • Creating following a budget
  • Volunteer service
  • Spending family time
  • Prayer and meditation
  • A business venture
  • Professional development
Quadrant III — Avoid.
The quadrant of “Deception and interruption.”  Quadrant III is that place where unimportant things rob your time.  They tend to be urgent, but unimportant.  Typically, this is where others demand things of you that don’t contribute to your goals or relationships. It’s easy to stay in this quadrant because it feels like we’re doing important things.  They can include activities like:
  • Answering emails and phone calls
  • Interruptions from colleagues
  • Meetings
  • Texts
Quadrant IV —  Stay Away at All Costs.
The quadrant of “Excess and Waste.”  These activities are time wasters, and we instinctually know it.  They suck out the ability for you to live productively and meaningfully.  They are neither urgent, or important.  Don’t feel too bad, however; if some of these things contribute to a meaningful area of life (such as genuine rest and relaxation, intellectual stimulation, contribution to goals, quality time with others, etc.) then they can be safely categorized as Quadrant II.  The key factor may be how often and long you find yourself doing them.
  • Social media
  • TV binge watching
  • Video games
  • Web surfing
  • Shopping
I encourage you to soak-in the above diagram and evaluate your activities against your priorities. For even more clarity on this, read Stephen Covey’s “The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People.” Ask yourself, what activities dominate most of your time?  You can be assured that Quadrant II activities will get you closer to being the person you want to become.  It’s really about priority management, so much more than time management.
Be Your Best!