The Little Book of Less=More (How
to change your life by doing less)
January
Less=More: FUN, 85 Years Old, Visualisations, Affirmations, My Possibility,
Change Now! Have a Break, Roles in Life, My Updates, Organic Growth, More, Self
Promotion, More of the Less Bit, Organic Goals, Goals, Vision and Action,
Newspapers, TV, Sleep, Less, Introduction.
Feb Less=More:
Attributional Thinking, Success Motivates, Motivation and Luck, Mind Maps,
Priorities, Word Strings, Conscious Competence, Morning Pages, Unblocking The
Artist (Creative Expression), Mix with Positive People, Winning Formula – If
you want something doing then do it yourself, Confidence, Perspective, Work
Patterns, People, Awareness, Synchronicity, Breaking Promises!, Equal =, Play
Big in Life and Shine Your Light, What’s the Worst that can Happen?,
Perception, Good Days and Bad Days.
March Less=More:
Perfectionism, More Georgia, He’s Stupid Enough to be Neutral, Move On,
Anti-Role Models, Role Models, Sunshine and Vitamin D, Risk and Failure, Twix,
Doing Less Again!, Fitting it all In, Family, Paradox of Leadership, Commit,
Timetable, Neuro Linguistic Programming
(Six Step Reframing Outline), FreeCell, Quality of
Time, 2 Chairs, 3 Perspectives, Motivation Again!.
April Less=More: Sharpen the Saw, Reframing,
What Can You Give?, Action not Words, Play to your Strengths, Windsurf or
Cycle, 5 Memorable Things per Year,
Legacy, Anger, Commitment Again, Just Do It!, Roller Coaster Day, Smile,
Live Today, Animal, Dreams take time to come true, Eat LESS, Form Storm Norm
Perform, Shoot for the Stars and Hit The Moon, !, Get Up
Early and Go Out for Breakfast, Book Shop, Top Dog, Underdog, Parts of
Yourself, I Can’t Even Motivate Myself!, Myers Briggs, Beware of Symptoms and
not Cures.
May Less=More:
Having a Child, Group Psychology, Peer Mentoring, More Chaos Theory, Pain to
Change, Repeated Patterns, Tension for Change, Don’t believe the Hype, Looking
Forward, Be Careful of What You Ask For, Nothing, Coaching, Rhythm, Energy
Level, Hitting the Low, and Dreams, Give it a Go, Change, Can You Face What
You’ve Become?, Just one good thing each day, Yet More of the Less, Degrees of
Separation, Give and Take, Bad Hours, Be
Honest with Yourself, Sleep, Chaos Theory, Dreams Coming True Again, Draw a
line now and Start Again, What is it You Really Want in Life?, You are what you
Eat, Roller Coaster, Commit and all else will follow.
June Less=More:
Fate, Motivation Quote, Call Reluctance and Motivation, Kick Start, What Colour
is Your Parachute?, Best Use of Time, Nothing to write about. Baby Grounding,
Have a Dream, and Put in the hard work and it pays off later, Possibility
Again, Open your mind, Easy Networking, Luck, Joy, Money, Beating Oneself Up,
How to be an Artist, More Chaos Theory, Having a Child, Group Psychology, Peer
Mentoring, More Chaos Theory, Pain to Change, Repeated Patterns, Tension for
Change, Don’t believe the Hype.
July Less=More:
Back to Less, Hang in There, Back to my Goals, Conditions for Lack of
Creativity, Creative Watersheds.
August
Less=More: Perfectionism, Think Big, Time Out for Nature, Scott Adams,
Making the Time, Home by the Sea, Bouncing Back, Catch Phrase, Adversity,
Coincidences and Public Speaking, Life Plan.
Sept Less=More: Have you plateaued?, Creativity,
Life and getting on with things, Action Fork, What do Dream
Mean?, Tired, What God
Wants, What really matters, If you keep on doing what your
doing, What’s Important?, Kick Starting Yourself, First Things First, Sharpen The Saw and Set Goals, Will you have any regrets?, Persist,
What Matters?, Just Write,
Setbacks, Gut Feel and
Luck, SuperNetworkers, Complete One Thing Every Day, Pushing the Boundaries again, Think Big, Commitment
Phobics
Monday 30th
September 2002
I’m struck by those
who think they know it all and those who always believe they can improve and
learn more.
I’m struck by the group I’m training
this week who are open to learning, and at the same time don’t take it all too
seriously.
One person I had a few weeks ago was a
nightmare. He thought he knew it all and
there was nothing he could learn.
When I asked his manager how good he
thought this person was, he said not very good!
So in other words this guy has plateaued
and wasn’t going anywhere.
Do you think you know it all?
Have you plateaued and can’t improve?
Are you coachable?
Do you listen and learn from other
people?
Sunday 29th
September 2002
“In 1968, a
University of Michigan study divided 475 participants into two groups.
Both groups were asked to find solutions
to the same assembly-line scheduling problem.
The were given identical instructions,
with one exception:
The second group was told to “be
creative”
The result: 52% of people in the second
group came up with what experts deemed “high quality solutions,” compared with
39% in the first group!”
Lesson: Just asking people to be
creative, makes them more creative.
Saturday 28th
September 2002
I couldn’t think of anything to write about so I thought I’d put
the word “life” into my quotation library and then pick a lucky number, and
look what it came up with!
“Few things in
life are less efficient than a group of people trying to write a sentence. The advantage of this method is that you end
up with something for which you will not be personally blamed. - Scott Raymond Adams (1957–
) US cartoonist, author, created comic strip "Dilbert"
1989 Dogbert, in Building a Better Life
by Stealing Office Supplies: Dogbert's Big Book of Business, 1991
Scott Adams of course my favourite!
So just to cap it I’m going into the Scott Adams Dilbert website
to generate a mission statement on the random mission statement generator…….
Shit, I think they’ve removed lots of the stuff off the Dilbert
website, including the random
mission statement generator, ah, found it again!
“We strive to collaboratively promote parallel solutions as well
as to completely administrate economically sound benefits for 100% customer
satisfaction.”
Thursday 26th September 2002
Just reading Business 2.0 Magazine Sept 2002.
I prefer Fast Company, when I can get it or they get off their
distribution arses and deliver it, and Business 2.0 can be a bit snide and lack
carrot, it’s more stick.
But it is improving.
Just reading the beginning of an article, “Obstacles in Your Way? Don’t
Freeze - Improvise”
And there’s a quote I’ve heard before from Yogi Berra (I get confused
with Yogi Bear!)
“When you come to a fork in the road, take it!”
In other words don’t freeze with indecision or procrastination, but stay
in action.
Wise Charles Pinsent always claims that top executives are paid to make
decisions.
They don’t make good decisions, just lots of decisions, in fact less than
40% are good decisions but nevertheless they make them.
So don’t freeze in the headlights, like the one and only animal I’ve ever
run over, a bunny rabbit, on the first day after I’d past my driving test,
Go make some decisions and get in action, improvise as you go along.
Wednesday 25th September 2002
I had the most intense dream last night.
One of those that felt like an epic, and just so real.
I also had one today (fell asleep on my day off!)
The key I’ve learnt about dreams is not to read too much into the events
of a dream.
To try and remember as much as possible by going slowly through the dream
a few times.
And then to distil the essence of the dream.
In one word, what was the essence of the dream?
Was it hope, passion, fear, worry, joy, guilt?
That usually sorts what dream meant, pretty quickly.
Pick a word.
Tuesday 24th September 2002
I’m really tired tonight, just finished a training course today, and I’m wiped out, plus the excitement of my daughter’s first birthday.
Sometimes it’s best to take a rest, and sometimes it’s interesting to
write and see what flows, as I’m doing right now at 10-00pm in the evening.
I used to dream of going to bed at 10-00 in the evening and getting up at
5-00 in the morning, giving myself lots of time.
Well, be careful of what you ask for, because generally I do go to bed
between 10-00 and 11-00 at night, and Georgia wakes us at 5-00am for a feed,
thought it’s usually Annie who gets up for that one, and I take the next shift
at 6-30.
It’s amazing what happens when you learn to write (see Artist’s Way
again) and then just let it flow.
I also don’t know what to write with my other pieces but let’s see if
this has helped.
Monday 23rd September 2002
Just read this off one of those lists people email you.
“Maybe
God wants us to meet a few wrong people before meeting the right
one, so that when we finally meet the person, we will know how to be
grateful.”
Thinking about it, that sounds about right!
Sunday 22nd September 2002
I can’t stop
thinking about this story taken from Stephen Covey’s First Things First.
“Years ago, I was visiting with a young woman
in the hospital who was only twenty-three years old and had two small children
at home.
She had just been told she had incurable
cancer.
As I held her hand and tried to think of
something to say that might comfort her, she cried,
“I would give anything to go home and
change a messy diaper!”
As I thought about her words and my
experience with my own small children, I wondered how many times both of us had
changed diapers out of a sense of duty, hurriedly, even frustrated by the
seeming inconvenience in our busy lives, rather then cherishing precious
moments of life and love we had no way of knowing would ever come again.”
It brings tears
to my eyes just thinking of the sadness of the young woman dying, and tears of
gratitude to appreciate every moment of my life.
Saturday 21st September 2002
…you’re going to
keep on getting what you’re getting.
“One definition of insanity is “to keep
doing the same things and expect different results.””
So if you’re
happy with your lot then keep doing what you’re doing, if you’re not happy with
your lot, learn to be happy with your lot or change!
Friday 20th September 2002
Just started
reading Stephen Covey’s First Things First.
It’s
profound. I’ll write more about it
tomorrow.
Thursday 19th September 2002
It’s been very
interesting this morning to go through, slow non-start today.
Just by doing
what I want to do, write, I’ve kick started the day.
I’m ready for
action, and as I’m in more of a writing mood than talking mood, I’ll send some
email contacts and follow-ups instead of phone calls.
I’ve turned
myself slowly, very slowly, into action, by asking myself what I’d like to do,
allowing myself to do it, and then benefiting from the consequences.
Right now, I
can’t stop writing!
Wednesday 18th September 2002
Just bought First Things First Steven Covey, a follow up book to 7
Habits of Highly Effective People.
Covey has a very
dull on the taped version of 7 Habits, but the book is good, though sometimes
more stick than carrot.
Let’s see how
this book is.
I’ll report back
when I’ve whipped myself into shape, thought writing a review here might be one
of things I have to drop doing!!
And of course
I’ve just noticed the coincidence of writing about Sharpening the Saw yesterday
and then buying First Things First today!
Monday 16th September 2002
31st
July 1998. My black plastic bags in back of my car yet again for another
broken relationship, Desperado on the car CD, looking out of the car window for
the last time at my home, just said goodbye to my wife for the last time.
Very little hope and optimism.
But
at that moment in the car I said to myself, “Tony, it won’t happen today or
tomorrow, or next year, or even the year after, but in 5 years time I will be
happily married with 2 kids.”
I
couldn’t see how or even if it would happen, but it did.
And
that’s been my philosophy ever since.
It
won’t happen today or tomorrow, but in a few years time I will achieve the
dreams and goals I have.
And
let me tell you another story.
Suppose
you were to come upon someone in the woods working feverishly to saw down a
tree.
“What
are you doing?” you ask.
“Can’t
you see?” comes the impatient reply. “I’m sawing down this tree.”
“You
look exhausted!” you exclaim. “How long have you been at it?”
“Over
5 hours,” he returns, “and I’m beat! This is hard work.”
“Well
why don’t you take a break for a few minutes and sharpen the saw?” you inquire.
“I’m sure it would go a lot faster.”
“I
don’t have time to sharpen the saw,” the man says emphatically. “I’m too busy
sawing!”
Stephen Covey “The 7 Habits
of Highly Effective People”
You
have to take some time out to Sharpen the Saw, both in you current job and
future planning, otherwise it’s going to take a lot longer than 5 hours to saw
the tree down, and you’re not doing your family any favours either.
I
understand the grind and having to earn the money now, but that shouldn’t stop
you dreaming and setting goals for ideally where you’d like to be in 5 and 10
years time.
And
guess what? It starts to come true.
It
won’t happen tomorrow, and you don’t have any time tomorrow.
Things
don’t change overnight, and it doesn’t mean a drop in salary to change things,
you’d be amazed at how when you set things in place they start to happen in
weird ways.
You
have to allow yourself to dream 5 years hence write it down, and it starts to
happen.
Saturday 14th September 2002
Whether you love or hate someone, ask yourself this, if they died would you have any regret.
If you would, then do something about it. Now!
If you wouldn’t, then fine.
Treat everyone as if it’s the last time you’ll see them.
Thursday 12th September 2002
How many times to you have to keep doing what you’re doing in order to achieve what you want?
Answer. As many times as it takes.
The route of most success is persistence.
If at first you don’t succeed, try try try again.
Never, ever, ever, ever, ever give up.
Tenacity.
Wednesday 11th September 2002
What matters?
Life matters.
Life is so precious; we only get one chance (as far as I know!).
Every second of every day is precious.
Appreciate it.
Enjoy it.
Tuesday 10th September 2002
Sometimes you just have to take a first step to get the momentum going.
I simply can’t think of anything to write tonight.
And yet here I am writing!
It’s a very powerful piece of advice, to Just Do It!
Just write.
How often have we put off writing those letters, emails, proposals,
reports and regret leaving to the last minute, when we could have started it
ages ago by doing this.
Just pick up the pen and write.
Switch the PC on and type.
Any old crap!
It’s better than nothing.
Monday 9th September 2002
I was just about to delve into Tom Peters’ book to deliver some wisdom for today, and I just realised I’ve left it on the plane.
What a pisser.
It’s interesting to see how I cope with disappointment and setbacks.
I pout, I whinge, I curse, I pace around, I sit on it and think about it
and try to come to terms with it.
The best one I ever did, was wake up bolt upright in a tent in the South
of France, in the middle of the night, and realise that I’d left my Dad’s gold
Rolex watch in the shower room of the campsite.
My Dad had died a couple of years before, so the watch was very precious
to me.
I dashed into the washroom but alas never found the watch.
I wonder what happened to it.
I wonder where it is now?
At times, even now, I curse the person who took it.
Someone was asked recently how you deal with setbacks.
You turn them into your story of how you overcame them, how you faced up
to adversity and won.
It must work because I’ve filled today’s writing with the loss of Tom
Peters and my Dad’s watch!
Sunday 8th September 2002
I don’t know how
I do it, but I do things sometimes that I can’t always see the payoff for and
then I get a big payoff.
Lots of things to
do last week and I distracted myself by writing my profile for a website, Ecademy.
Am I wasting my
time here Tony or doing something useful.
I thought I was
distracting myself.
But the time
spent seems to have paid off, by making many great contacts leading to
potentially very big things.
I don’t get it
sometimes with my luck.
I’m not the best
networker, I’m not the best prospector, or the most focused, and yet sometimes
I seem to get very lucky.
I think I
sometimes underestimate my own gut feel which tells me when to do something,
even though there is no immediate benefit.
I guess it’s the
thinking time we all need to give ourselves and the time to do the things which
are Important but Non-Urgent, instead of being snowed under with Urgent things.
So following my
gut feel, sometimes I don’t even know I’m doing it, can lead to what appears to
be lots of luck.
I guess it goes
back to my theme recently, that more butterfly wings you set flapping the more
chance of a hurricane being created.
“The more I
practise the luckier I get.”
Thursday 5th September 2002
I’m reminded
today of Networking as the most powerful tool to make progress in this world.
Malcolm Gladwell
in his book Tipping Point, talks about super networkers who know
10,000+ people, where most of us know 1000 if pushed.
You can either
become a SuperNetworker, or track down a SuperNetworker if you want things to
happen.
I say this
because I’ve just been contacted by someone who’s becoming a SuperNetworker,
and I’ll bet he reads this!
Hello Thomas
Power of Ecademy!
Wednesday 4th Sept 2002
Felt crap today,
tired and with a headache.
But at least I
got one thing done today.
Get at least one thing
done and completed every day, and when you look back you’ll have 365 things
done in a year!
A bit like this
piece of writing for today!
Tuesday 3rd Sept 2002
What is acceptable?
Whatever you’re allowed to get away with.
In other words, the boundaries are often beyond the rules.
The example I heard today, is putting the ball into the scrum.
The rules say the ball must be fed equidistant between the two hookers.
The reality is that the scrumhalf feeds the ball to the hooker to the
degree the referee will allow.
The scrumhalf finds this out by testing how much the referee will allow.
In other words they test the boundary of what is acceptable, way beyond
the rules.
We don’t play big enough in life, and allow ourselves to be knocked back
for testing what the boundaries are.
Go test the boundaries and play big.
Monday 2nd Sept 2002
“The greatest danger for most of us is not that our aim is too high and
we miss it,
but that it is too low and we reach it.” Michelangelo via Tom
Peters!
Sunday 1st Sept 2002
Following on from
perfectionism yesterday, it leads to commitment phobics.
I haven’t been
commitment phobic for many years.
Perfectionist yes,
commitment phobic no.
Commitment comes
easy to me.
I know about
committing first and all else will fall in place.
But I observe it
so much in people, holding out for the perfect partner, or not committing in
case something better comes along.
Or regretting a
decision made.
Best of all is
trying to commit to a partner and being put off by thinking about being with
them for 5, 10, 20 years. Or life!
Stop thinking
this way.
You don’t know
what tomorrow holds, let alone 20 years time.
People are wasting
their lives away waiting for the right thing to happen, and it never happens.
Women now in
their 40s wanting children, and wondering what happened, where did the time go.
Men in their late
20s and early 30s (and sometimes late 30s and 40s), messing their girlfriends
around, stringing them along whilst their partner’s biological clock ticks.
Get on with it.
Better to commit
and fail than not to commit at all.
Better to Promise
big and deliver less than not to promise and do nothing.
Perfect Partner,
Perfect Marriage. Forget it.
And guess what,
those that find the perfect partner, are invariably the ones who split up.
Yippee! I’ve found the article I was looking for.
It’s about what
binds couples together. Romantic Love.
If we only used a
score card to find our partner, when someone comes along who scores higher,
we’d be off like a rocket.
But romantic love
is the sealant that binds us beyond the score card for the perfect partner.
Guardian Unlimited | The Guardian | Passion ploys
“Staying single has costs,
such as loneliness, childlessness and playing the dating game with all its
awkward drinks, dinners and sometimes breakfasts.
At some point it pays to set up house with the
best person you have found so far….
How can you be sure that a
prospective partner won't leave the minute it is rational to do so - say, when
a newly single Tom Cruise or Cindy Crawford moves in next door? One answer is,
don't accept a partner who wanted you for rational reasons to begin with; look
for a partner who is committed to staying with you because you are you.
Committed by what? Committed by an
emotion that the person did not decide to have, and cannot decide not to have.
An emotion that was triggered by your objective mate-value and so will not be
alienated by someone with greater mate-value. An emotion guaranteed not to be a
sham because it has physiological costs like tachycardia, insomnia and
anorexia. An emotion like romantic love.”