“Manage your performance like a professional athlete, like an elite Olympian and what that means is paying attention to what you do best of all and making that even better.”- Marissa Brassfield

Happy Thursday!!!

Welcome to our second edition of Transformation Thursday. Our first post included useful tips on how to plan and Execute with an illness. Today we are focusing on efficiency.

Dictionary.com defines efficient as performing or functioning in the best possible manner with the least waste of time and effort. In case you missed that like I have over many other times I viewed the definition – the least waste of time and effort. I struggle with the wasting of time when I use Netflix and Hulu to decompress. Sometimes I lose track of time and before I know it, I have wasted a few hours binge watching. Then I find I am ranked up and ready to finally talk with my friends about episodes they saw weeks ago.

What a difference we could make in not only our own lives but those of others if we were not wasting time and effort. At least that is what I tell myself when I feel the urge to watch one more episode. Anyway, I digress – back to the purpose of the post.

At the beginning of the post is a quote from today’s TransformationThursday Video Clip. The quote is from Marissa Brassfield, a Productivity expert profiled on Entrepreneur.com YouTube Channel. The video topic is How to Be Ridiculously Efficient.

The video begins with a statement I have added to my weekly remember this list in my calendar – “Manage your performance like a professional athlete, like an elite Olympian.”

This video is short so it can be viewed in one sitting and during a short break. Other nuggets of truth include:

• “Pay attention to what you do best of all and make that even better.”
• “Time Management was a way to level up my income.”
• “Being productive is the how and they why is the constant pursuit of freedom.”
• “Most of the time when people aren’t, they are working on things they have no business doing.” (Aren’t = Productive)
• “Anyone can be effective – it’s just what are you working on? What are you focusing on? And what are you committed to?”

Such wise words of wisdom that are applicable to everyone. She goes in to explain each of these nuggets and also offers tips and resources which reinforce her principles.

I plan to implement her productive procrastination tip the next time I need a mental break. Take a few moments today to view the clip. Hopefully you will find nuggets of truth for your life.

If you have suggestions of other video clips to include in this series, leave me a comment below.

Til next time,

“When you’re finished changing, you’re finished.” – Benjamin Franklin

Happy Thursday!!

Today I start a new series on this site – Transformation Thursday. This series will highlight informative video clips which will give you a brief boost of motivation and/or information. It is my belief we can learn from the mistakes and successes as well as the experience and insights of others. This process enables us to continue on a path of personal growth.

As you embark on this journey with me, you can expect to receive links to various podcasts, YouTube channels and other resources. Each with the purpose of transforming one aspect of your thinking, living or working.

This first week, I want to introduce you to one of the first YouTube shows I subscribed to – Alexis aka Miss Trenchcoat. My introduction to her videos was through a search for recommendations of Productivity book reviews as I endeavored to make my reading list of 2017. Her easy manner of speaking as if you were there in the room with you along with her catchy channel name, led me to watch a few other videos and ultimately to subscribe.

The video I am recommending today is How to Plan and Execute with an Illness. This is a short video of a little over 8 minutes in duration so it makes an easy viewing for anyone willing to watch but have limited time at their disposal.

Yes, the topic may refer to an illness but everyone can use her practical tips. Below is my brief recap of the tips discussed:

Tip 1: Accept and Honor your situation – Understand where you are right now versus what you perceive should be where you are.

Tip 2: Cut back on your priorities – You are your most important priority.

Tip 3: Create a detailed plan of action – Planning your day will help you focus on the most important tasks.

Tip 4: Execute with grace – Maintain a list of actionable tasks which you can work on when you regain strength.

Take a few moments to view the full video and maybe you will find some nugget of inspiration to motivate you today.

Til next time,

“Don’t fear failure, fear being in the exact same place next year as you are today.” – MichaelHyatt.com

How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time! That is a common answer to the question but I often wonder, why eat the elephant at all? There are a multitude of articles, blog posts and research regarding habits associated with elephants. You know what – I don’t care. I DO NOT WANT TO EAT ELEPHANTS.

I want to eat brussels sprouts and asparagus. Maybe I might even eat a little salmon with a lemon butter dressing. I know you are shaking your head at this moment trying to figure out what is the point of this post. Bear with me, its coming. The secret to managing large projects or achieving goals is saying NO! That’s rights two letter word is all we need to keep ourselves traveling down the menu of life where we have options on what we want to eat and when we want to do it.

Now don’t misunderstand me to say that uttering “NO” will make your life miraculously better. It won’t! There are some things and some people where the word No will be interpreted as white noise. No matter how many times you say it, it’s like zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz. Doesn’t matter, asked again. You know like your boss, kids, spouse, parents, _______ (insert your example here). But there are others who will be surprised but will have to accept your decision if you either:

1. Stand firm in your decision and don’t show any signs of wavering,

2. Reframe their request for help into a manner which gives them back the power.

I don’t know about you, but if there is too much going on around me; my ability to get things done goes down hill and I really begin to sweat the small stuff. My mind and motivation disappear as fast as the downhill ride on the highest roller coaster you can ride. The only thing that has helped me is sage advice received during a conference (that I can’t recall the name to but never forget the best breakout session I attended) which indicated – DON’T ACCEPT THE MONKEY!

If you have never heard of this concept, Harvard Business Review has an excellent article – Management Time: Who’s Got the Monkey? The basic premise is – you have to be in control of your timing and your work demands. This is accomplished by not accepting the problems“monkeys” of others. Let me write that again, do not accept the monkey that belongs to someone else. Of course the article provides a more thorough detailed process for determining “Who’s Got the Monkey” but the principle works whether you are a student, parent, employee, manager, entrepreneur – EVERYONE.

This brings me to the point of this post, I sometimes get frustrated with the realities of life. In that moment, I spend a few minutes searching Pinterest for motivation or perusing my podcast/audible library to determine ways to get back on track. For the last month, I have successfully completed the daily goals I identified by returning to the principle of the monkeys. As a result, I now have time in my day to return to my daily walk break and if I choose to – lunch away from my desk. In addition, I am using this same principle with children and enjoying their enthusiasm as they have the opportunity to try new things. My stress level has decreased and I find myself much happier.

Til next time,

Get control over the timing and content of what you do – William Oncken, Jr & Donald L. Wass. Management Time: Who’s Got the Monkey? Harvard Business Review