Monday Motivational Memo: Using Time Well

August 8, 2011 by Scott "Q" Marcus Leave a Comment

Take five minutes now – save countless hours later.

“There’s never enough time to do something right first time, but there is always enough time to go back and do it again.” – Anon

The only area in which we are all identical is that we each have 24 hours in a day. Successful people use their time better. That’s really the only difference.

Again, another memo inspired by true-to-life experiences… (Aren’t they all?)

I have about five pairs of shoes. I keep them under my bed. Unfortunately, whenever I need to grab a pair of shoes, the pair I inevitably choose is the wrong one or a mismatch. Eventually, I have to get down on my hands and knees and search under the bed for the pair I want. Of course, by this time, they’re all messed up. I get frustrated. I get annoyed. I could solve the problem simply by arranging the shoes in some sort of logical order. However, I keep saying, “I don’t have time; I’m in too much of a rush.” Instead of taking a few moments to make it work long-term, I get to be frustrated over and over and over again – which of course uses more and more time.

Today, I got smart. I rearranged the shoes.

What have you been frustrated about that you could very simply solve by taking a few minutes to correct right now?

Do it – and then post a comment to let everyone know what you did. We’ll all feel successful together.

Note: Every Monday, a new motivational memo is posted. Subscribers to ThisTimeIMeanIt.com’s coaching service get this – and many more benefits – sent to them directly. If you’d like to know more, follow this link.

Using Emotions & Feelings for Effective, Long-Lasting Change

August 3, 2011 by Scott "Q" Marcus Leave a Comment

**I am currently reading The Wealthy Speaker by Jane Atkinson.**

Between its covers, Ms. Atkinson, devotes few pages to discussing cash flow or spreadsheets, while much ink is dedicated to changing one’s thoughts about money. It is her premise that our income basically determined more by how we think than by the actions we take. Of course, those considerations then produce behaviors, which lead to results. Therefore, if we “dig down” and adjust them, we will do what we do in an altered manner. This provides fresh results improving our business.

In effect, change your thoughts; change your financial life.

The barricade is our ol’ buddy, Denial.

As she mentions, thought patterns, much like a river cutting a path through granite, our etched into our psyche over time, with much repetition. To refashion such embedded patterns takes a great deal of effort — and it’s not like we’re not busy already, right? Besides, “there’s always tomorrow.”

The author suggests that such transformation only occurs once “we’re hit by a two-by-four.” Of course, she’s speaking figuratively, not literally. (I hate it when people say “literally” when they mean “figuratively.” Sorry, pet peeve…)

Let me expand: Suppose you’re in a floundering relationship. You didn’t get there overnight; it began subtly, “the small things.” For example, you don’t talk as much. “It’s no big deal,” you think, “We’re just busy right now.” That might be accurate; having said that, “something” still feels off. But, you put it to back burner until you have more evidence — or time.

After awhile, your “couple’s time” becomes more sparse. You are roommates more than partners, on parallel tracks with no intersections. Logically, you can explain it away. “We’ve both got so much on our plates; things will get back to normal soon.” No action taken.

Soon, intimacy, in all its forms, has become a memory. There is now real distance, even a bit of resentment. Nobody brings anything up; you’re not even sure you want to broach the subject. Also, the chasm is now an additional barrier. Oh sure, you’re thinking about “making some changes” when things settle down. For now, it’s “stay the course.”

Then comes the two-by-four: He wants “out.”

[Read more…]

Finding the Positives

August 1, 2011 by Scott "Q" Marcus Leave a Comment

Catch yourself doing something RIGHT today.

This was actually triggered by something that happened to me today. I was moving a table to get to an electric socket. In the process, I knocked a ceramic mug of pens off the table. I caught the mug before it hit the ground and therefore prevented the pens from spilling all over the floor.

[Read more…]

Monday Motivational Memo: Staying Motivated

July 25, 2011 by Scott "Q" Marcus Leave a Comment

Before giving in, don’t say “I Won’t,” say “I won’t right now.”

Then wait 10 minutes and see what happens.

Will power is not the ability to say “I’ll never do it. It’s the ability to say “I won’t do it right now.”

If we can take a few minutes and settle down what’s going on inside us, we have an opportunity to change it. To that end, tell yourself, “I will wait 10 minutes before I decide what to do.” Then, do something, anything, except what you were going to do. Make sure you change your environment – and for goodness sakes – don’t set a timer!

What usually happens is that the feeling passes. We get distracted. We go on to other things. Before we know it, 10 minutes has become 30 or 60. Once we realize how well we’ve done, we have the opportunity to feel good about our success instead of disappointed in giving in.

Even if you then decide to do what you were going to do, at least it’s now a choice and you don’t feel like you’re a victim to your own habits.

Accepting Compliments Helps Avoid Bad Habits

July 18, 2011 by Scott "Q" Marcus Leave a Comment

A compliment denied is punishment self-inflicted.”

We are very quick to beat ourselves up – and incredibly slow to congratulate ourselves. We also tend to dismiss it when others do, by showing off our “big but.” You know…

A friend says, “Wow! You look like you’ve lost a whole lot of weight! You look great!”

We reply, “Yeah, but, I’ve got so far to go.”

Or, someone says, “You are a great mom! I can’t believe how well you take care of your children.”

And again, “Yeah, but, you should have seen me last week. I was like a banshee.”

There is a tremendous difference between being proud of what we do and being conceited. Each time we deny a compliment — or beat ourselves up over a mistake – we avoid the opportunity to feel good. That engages our habit (whether that be eating, drinking, smoking, stress…) and we end up feeling worse, furthering the drive to engage in the habit.

Remember, if guilt & shame were motivational, we’d all be happier, healthier, and more successful.

Enjoy a compliment this week – and pass one on.

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