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The End of Time Management from The 4-Hour Workweek by Timothy Ferris
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I've been reading a book that I think that everyone should read called The 
4-Hour Workweek by Timothy Ferris.
Within its pages are amazing ideas for simplifying life and increasing its quality. Ferris shares his experiences and experiments on making life manageable while going for his dreams.
In chapter 5 - The End of Time Management he throws out a handful of questions and one command that he feels we all need to answer/follow ASAP...
1. If you had a heart attack and had to work two hours per day what would you do?
2. If you had a second heart attack and had to work two hours per week, what would you do?
3. If you had a gun to your head and had to stop doing 4/5 of different time-consuming activities, what would you remove?
4. What are the top-three activities that I use to fill time to feel as though I've been productive? These are usually used to postpone more important actions (often uncomfortable because there is a chance of failure or rejection). Be honest with yourself, as we all do this on occasion. What are your crutch activities?
6. Learn to ask when attempting a task: "If this is the only thing I accomplish today, will I be satisfied with my day?"
7. Are you inventing things to do to avoid the important?
8. Instruction: Stop multitasking. Ferris writes surrounding it that "if you prioritize properly, there is no need for multitasking . It is a symptom of 'task creep' - doing more to feel productive while actually accomplishing less."
He then goes on to discuss things that keep us from focusing and suggests some great remedies. Our distractions include Facebook, checking e-mail constantly (and feeling that we always have to answer every email as it comes in), phones, people, etc.
He suggests that we work to limit our distractions by setting concrete time frames for projects to be completed. And I love this one...he stresses that we only look at our e-mails two times a day - at 12pm and 4pm. This way we don't work for a few minutes...skip back over to Outlook and read our mail...then go back to work...check back in a few minutes, etc.
I'm so darn guilty of checking my email every few minutes and have to admit that it's so distracting!!
You may be thinking..."well what if something important comes in?" Ferris suggests letting all colleagues and clients in on your practice and to create an Out of Office/Busy automated email that tells recipients to call your cell phone if there is an emergency.
Finally, today I used Ferris' method for staying on course with projects and/or dreams. He instructs readers to list projects and then apply 3 tasks per project. The tasks should be monumental...and serve to push projects forward. This may mean making difficult calls, completing a key document, etc. By eliminating tasks that just keep us busy...and focusing on the real heart of the subject and making smart choices that push things forward toward success.
We all have to admit that sometimes we keep putting off...and putting off...because we are afraid of rejection or are lazy or....we just don't plain respect ourselves enough to push forward.
Ferris calls for an end to all of the silliness...and invites us into bold living which requires smart action rather than fluffy busywork.
More on 4-hour Workweek tomorrow! And I recommend you buy the book if you want to get more out of life and take the first step towards following your dreams.
Also, for more inspiration visit Timothy Ferris' Blog...
- Post by Jen Engevik of Project BE Bold
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Right Livelihood: Noble Eightfold Path - Part 5
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The 5th precept of the Noble Eightfold Path surrounds the way we choose to use our talents and select professions. It states that we should earn our livings legally and peacefully.
This means that we should conduct ourselves honestly, speak with kindness, honor the agreements we've made, refrain from cheating and avoiding forceful behavior in an effort to make money.
Let's face it...we've gone through a wild period of time throughout the world. Far too many of us have worked for organizations (banks, mortgage companies, manufacturers, etc.) that have been run on greed, mistreatment of employees and lies. Buddha states flatly that this is not the way to run businesses. And I'd guess that he would recommend not working for a company that lies, cheats and steals its way to success.
Many believe that the only way to get ahead is through the above practices, but Buddha would say that success is relative and that when gained wrongly will come back to bite us in the end. We reap what we sow -- whether it is financial or moral collapse -- we feel it deeply.
Our attachments bring frowns to our faces, cancer to our bodies and strife within the human family. The past few years of financial collapse and pain have revealed to us that gradual financial gain done ethically, honestly and with regard to the entire human family may have kept us from collapse.
Right Livelihood can be achieved -- it can be done by honoring humanity, choosing a profession that truly reflects our passions & talents, creating products that will better the environment, avoiding greed, paying employees what they are worth (because they will give soooo much more), treating employees with honor and refraining from success gained by force or brutality.
A few questions we must ask ourselves include:
- Do I believe in what I work for? (if you don't -- you may want to rethink your career)
- Are my products & services causing suffering to others or the environment?
- Am I fully utilizing my talents and passions?(if you aren't, you may want to make a change -- you were given your talents for a reason)
- What steps can I take to follow my passion and/or find a career that is in line with the Right Livelihood principals?
The Noble Eightfold Path calls for us to do the right thing, even if it causes financial pain. It hinges on the reality that when we do the right thing we gain riches beyond our current comprehension!! What is the use of gaining all the riches in the world when our minds, bodies and souls suffer as result?
- By Jen Engevik of Project BE Bold
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