Gaia Community: Kerul's Blog

Time Management Pitfall #2 - Using Your Calendar For Appointments

http://kerul.gaia.com — Mon, 11 May 2009 22:27:50 GMT

Do you ever say you want to do something and then not follow through? Yeah, right - who doesn't do that sometimes. As you might imagine, it's a recurring theme when I coach clients. Usually, there are one of two things going on (and often both):

1. You haven't committed enough space in your calendar to accomplish the task. The simple fix for this is to estimate from 25% to 300% more time than you think you need and schedule it for specific times/days.

2. You have some (often unrecognized) resistance to the goal which is metaphorically like having one foot on the accelerator and the other on the brake: you're using up your gas but going nowhere.

I discuss these sorts of things in Productive Procrastination and give you real solutions that work. And during the month of May you can get this book free when you order Stop Procrastinating Now (yes, that's two books for the price of one) through this link: http://tinyurl.com/dlq53r

You'll pay $16.95 plus $4.95 shipping (for medial mail delivery in the USA - for shipping elsewhere, please email me at kerul@newleafsystems.com) and you'll get both books.

For more ideas on making good on your goals, see the article below.

On a personal note, Darla arrived at our doorstep on April 30th. She's a little bundle of a puppy, yet feisty, smart, and completely adorable. She's also our dear Gracie's half sister (same father), but 6 years younger. She hasn't met a thing she doesn't want to bite, and she's not yet housebroken, but she's getting there. Gracie and Violet growl and snap at her, and she respects them - they're better at teaching her manners than we are!! To see this cutie-pie, visit her album at http://tinyurl.com/cpqpx7

Wishing you all optimal procrastivity, as always, and a fabulous May,

Kerul

Kerul Kassel, Author of Productive Procrastination - Make It Work For You, Not Against You and the award-winning Stop Procrastinating Now - Five Radical Procrastination Strategies To Set You Free, both available atwww.Procrastivity.com

7 TIME MANAGEMENT PITFALLS THAT ARE COSTING YOU MONEY, RESULTS, AND THE MOST PRECIOUS COMMODITY ANYWHERE - TIME

What NOT To Do To Get Dramatically Better Results

Don't Use Your Calendar For Appointments (only)

This is a very common pitfall for many small business owners and professionals. We sit down in November or December to create an annual business plan, then review it in the middle of the next year. That's definitely helpful, especially if you have a staff that will be responsible for implementing the plan. But unless you're clear about how that plan dictates your important actions, and unless you integrate your own personal plan into the mix and review those plans each week - breaking them down into smaller increments and actions - it's probable you'll have difficulty achieving your goals and dreams.

We fail to establish plans because we get daunted by the idea of creating them, or we get so busy with details that there's little time to devote to something that feels less urgent. We also think it will take too much time and be troublesome and awkward to implement our plans, and we get overwhelmed by all we need to do.

Some of us create to-do lists, which in the end frustrate and shame us - that's not a very productive strategy! (Request my Special Report "3 Simple Secrets To Tripling Your Productivity Sustainably" at www.StopProcrastinatingNow.com for more on effectively and efficiently completing to-do's).

Others fill their calendars with recurring daily and weekly tasks which they then ignore, usually because these actions aren't sustainably designed or scheduled.

Once you accept these initial reactions, and how normal they are, you can get beyond them to the few minutes each day it will take to focus on the critical and important actions that will give you the results you want.

Composing a plan for the day, using your calendar and longer-term objectives, takes just 5 minutes or so, and can easily result in a 50-300% increase in productivity. Doing this in the morning, or the evening before at the end of the previous workday, gives you a head start and sharpens your focus. When you take a few minutes to plan each day ahead of time, using hoped-for weekly and monthly milestones as a guide, you automatically prevent a whole lot of poorly-used time. Regularly glancing at that daily plan 4-6 times during the day, you'll be able to weave in any newly developing circumstances, while still making swift advancement.

INSPIRATIONAL QUOTES

By failing to prepare you are preparing to fail. ~ Benjamin Franklin

Plans must be simple and flexible....They must be made by the people who execute them. ~ George S. Patton, Jr.

It is a bad plan that admits of no modification. ~ Publius Syrus

Tags: time, calendar, schedule, prioritize, time management

Compare? Beware!

http://kerul.gaia.com — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 18:38:21 GMT

A NOTE FROM THE PROCRASTIVITY NICHEPERT Would you believe, my dear readers, that the day after I wrote about my brother's death I received a call from my cousin that my uncle had passed away?

You know how they say things come in threes? Well, that was my third, and hopefully last, death in the family for a very long time. My uncle was elderly, and I wasn't that close to him, but it was still sad.

Mainly, though my concern was for my mom, who was again out in California. I didn't want her to break her neck to get back east, host my cousin's family at her home, and have to see another family member get buried so soon after my brother. I was able to go up and do it for her, and persuade her to stay where she was. And a blessing was that I got to better know my cousin and her adult kids over the days they stayed with me.

This additional disruption to my business, study, and personal responsibilities set me back farther, and I found myself making comparisons with others who were accomplishing more. Ever do that? It can work for you but watch out! More about this below.

Also below is a link that one of my brother's friends sent with lovely tributes to my brother, for those of you that wanted to know more about who he was. Thank you for the many expressions of sympathy you sent me - I'm so grateful for you all.

Wishing you optimal procrastivity, and a glorious spring (or autumn, if you're in the southern hemisphere),

Kerul

Kerul Kassel, Author of Productive Procrastination - Make It Work For You, Not Against You and the award-winning Stop Procrastinating Now - Five Radical Procrastination Strategies To Set You Free, both available at www.Procrastivity.com

COMPARE? BEWARE!

We've all done it, and we usually end up miserable because of it. Comparing yourself to someone else usually ends up in feeling less intelligent, attractive, strong, fit, wealthy, wise, successful, or sexy than you felt before you began comparing. And that depletes your self-confidence and your can-do attitude, which also decreases productivity and increases procrastination.

Is it ever a good idea to compare yourself with someone else? If you do it in a constructive way, it can be (and no, I don't mean when you come out on top in the comparison). In comparing we usually come from a perspective that we need to be the best, or we don't count (think reality TV shows), or similarly that the way we are or the way we do things is wrong and someone else is right.

What if there was room for many right ways, many forms of success, wealthy, beauty, strength, and wisdom? There ARE! We've been brainwashed into believing otherwise, but we can retrain our perspective. Instead of having that better/worse/right/wrong either/or, observe what it is you admire, learn what it is that that person is doing that you might experiment with or adjust to make into your own version. Rather than ending up jealous (believe me, I have SO been there), you end up respecting and possibly befriending others, and finding new and interesting ways of living, working, conducting yourself.

And you discover how the differences between you and someone else even out. It's almost never happened that I've met someone who seemed very admirable, but when I got to know that person better, understood their problems and challenges, I felt like gathering up my problems and weaknesses and running like hell the other way, feeling blessed to have mine and not theirs.

Who are you comparing yourself to, and how is that helping or hindering you?

A TRIBUTE TO MY BROTHER

A number of you were curious about who my brother was, and how he touched so very many people. Here is a link, put together by colleagues, friends, and people he generously helped in his industry, with photos, tribute quotes, and more: http://tinyurl.com/clbxmg

Inspirational Quotes

"If you compare yourself to others, you may become vain and bitter; for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself." -- Max Ehrmann (Desiderata: A Poem for a Way of Life)

"Don't compare yourself with anyone else. If you do, you are insulting yourself." -- Source unknown

Tags: success, self-development, comparing, self-growth, confidence, self-esteem

Hard-Core Prioritization - When Death Pays a Visit

http://kerul.gaia.com — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 20:12:54 GMT

I beg your pardon, dear readers. It has been a challenging few months, and while I'd love to think that most of you are hanging on my next newsletter or blog post, trust me, I'm not that misguided. I apologize, though, for completely ignoring you all in January, but I had reasonable cause (as the title of this post indicates).

The minor challenges of fostering a pair of heart-worm positive, unneutered male dogs in October through November (and finding them the most wonderful adoptive homes - for which I'm so very grateful), and the rapid decline and death in early December of my beloved horse, Venus, whom you may remember from previous blog posts, left me drained, but capable enough of attending to my business and completing the doctoral coursework I'd committed to. But there was more to come.

While hosting company and completing some coursework, and just as I was wrapping some gifts at my Florida home on the afternoon of Christmas Eve the phone rang. Incredibly, it was the police in New Jersey telling me they had found my brother, dead, in his townhouse. Incredible because my brother was only 53 and hadn't been ill at all that we knew of. He was my only sibling, and he and my mother were very close. She was out in California awaiting his arrival - how was I going to tell her this terrible news? How could I let her make the flight back alone? What about my friends, who were visiting from abroad and weren't leav*ing for a few more days? Who could I find to go identify my brother's body? And what had caused my brother's death?

These were the questions crowding my mind in the frantic, adrenal-filled minutes after the call. Most of them I found answers for quickly (though we're still awaiting lab results from the autopsy). It's a little over a month afterward, and we're getting through it. Aside from being a (very sad) life milestone, it's been a reminder in hard-core prioritization, the kind that dire/urgent circumstances necessitate, but which also offer a broader perspective upon reflection. What mattered most in the days and weeks after than phone call was not the same as what had mattered in the days preceding it, and the event and aftermath have skewed my focus and energy.

That's been uncomfortable, even though it's normal. For example, I didn't prioritize my own health and well-being, and left myself open to a set of viruses and exhaustion. Business was completely put on hold. But I wouldn't do it any differently if I had to do it over again. Like the psalm says, there's a time for everything.

It's a 7 Habits cliche, I know, but how would your priorities change if death or terminal illness touched your family? What would you do differently? What would you spend more time on, and what would you let go of?

Some people ask themselves this question regularly, to wipe away the fog of misplaced urgencies, fads, and social pressures from their long-term lens of closely-held values and lived satisfaction. Most of us require occasional reminders.

Tags: procrastination, procrastinating, procrastinator, death, time management, priorities, prioritizing

What Does Your 2009 Look Lke?

http://kerul.gaia.com — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 18:50:57 GMT

As I write this there are only 29 days left of the year. How has your year gone? Are you happy with how things have been going and with the direction and pace for the balance of the year and for 2009?

This is the time of year to spend just an hour or two (or half a day or more, if you have that much available - most of us don't, though) thinking about what you want your life to look like next year, perhaps even starting with a longer range plan. What changes do you want to make in your career, business, studies, and/or personal life? It's amazing how much a little bit of thought and a few small actions can make such a huge difference in success and satisfaction. More about this below, in Procrastivity Tip/Exercise.

I'll be a guest on Patricia Weber's fabulous teleconference series about selling for people who hate sales. See below for details.

Some sad personal news: just yesterday we sent our old mare, Venus, to the Rainbow Bridge (http://rainbowsbridge.com/Poem.htm) . Age got the best of her, and she was in constant, severe pain in spite of the best pain medication and care available. Please consider giving your pets a hug in her memory.

On a more pleasant note, we found homes for both Luke and Bo, the two foster dogs we had for a month and a half. The boys came through their heartworm treatment and recovery beautifully, and were ready for placement when the perfect adoptive homes found us. We feel so lucky with these two wonderful families and how opened their hearts to these rescued boys who were so close to being put down because there are too many dogs ending up at shelters.

PROCRASTIVITY TIP / EXERCISE

Regret is one of the worst feelings, particularly when it's about what we could have done and didn't do. Many people regret not having spent enough time with their loved ones. Others wish they had applied themselves more toward leaving a legacy, such as writing a book. Another common regret I hear from workshop participants and audience members at speaking engagements is completing an area of study or certification process. Failing to pay enough attention to business development and management is a *huge* one for professionals and entrepreneurs.

What is it you'd like to change, finish, or try in 2009? We often get overwhelmed trying to make changes, but my professional experience is that It's probably easier than you think. Start by setting aside time on your calendar, perhaps an hour or two during an evening (or whenever your circadian rhythm urges) to do a little planning. Here are some easy steps:

Make a short list of the areas of your life you want to make changes in, as mentioned above (examples: business, career, studies, health, relationships, volunteer/contributory, fun). Don't make the list more than 8 or so items long.
Focus on each area in turn: what changes do you want to make?
Now, based on those changes, what actions or projects do you need to plan in monthly, weekly, or daily. You may end up dropping some things because too many will leave you feeling too daunted to even start.
Break down projects into tasks, and give them deadlines.
Now break the action steps and takes down further: what do you need to accomplish this month toward any particular goal. You needn't make progress on every initiative each month - some will take less time, some might be put off until later in the year. As long as you keep referring to the annual list through out the year, you'll be fine.
Put a recurring reminder or appointment in your calendar at the end of each month to return to that annual plan (which has also been broken down into shorter term deadlines) to plan the following month. You don't have to plan all months now. Just plan January and maybe February right now if more seems too much work at the moment. Count on 15-20 minutes for this.
Put a second recurring reminder or appointment in your calendar each Sunday night or Monday morning (weekly, is the idea) day to refer to your plan so you can plan the action items into your week. This is a 10 or 15 minute task - that's all!
Put a third recurring reminder or appointment into your calendar each day to refer to the weekly list and see what action you might take today so that you've completed the items by the end of the week. Five minutes a day, to be 50-100% (or more) more productive.
Be flexible and don't expect that you'll get everything done on time! That would be nice, but it's not really that likely, so don't beat yourself up for not following the plan rigorously. The idea is that you'll make a lot more progress by using a plan than if you didn't make and/or follow one. The plan is a tool to serve you, not a torture device!

Try it, and let me know how it goes or if you need help. If you have a different planning technique you'd like to share with readers, send it along and I'll include it in a future Procrastivity Pipeline issue.

Hate Selling but Gotta Sell Something (Even If It's Just Making Yourself Someone People Want To Know)?

I'm a guest on Pat Weber's teleconference series this month: December 8, 2009 at 12pm Eastern/NY. The subject: "How To Finally Conquer The Plague Of Procrastination" (couldn't you have guessed?)

Pat Weber is an award winning - top selling salesperson and sales manager and America's #1 Sales Coach for Introverts, Shy and extroverts reluctant to sell. She is a recognized expert in print, publications like Entrepreneur, as well as radio, The Small Business Advocate radio show. She assists her clients in sales, leadership and learning to speak with more confidence, deliver effective presentations, and increase sales by 100+%. She published her first book, Sales Skills for An Unfair Advantage, in 1998, and is currently writing "The Introverts Unfair Selling Advantage." Register for the special teleclass at http://www.askpatweber.com/ where you can also ask any particular question you have about procrastination.

   Hope you can join us for this class!

   Wishing you optimal procrastivity, and a fabulous holiday season,

Kerul

Kerul Kassel, Author of Productive Procrastination - Make It Work For You, Not Against You and the award-winning Stop Procrastinating Now - Five Radical Procrastination Strategies To Set You Free, both available at w ww.Procrastivity.com

Tags: goals, goal-setting, plan, planning, time, time management, success, satisfaction

2 Terriers, 2 Henrys, and 2 Heathers - Amazing Misunderstandings

http://kerul.gaia.com — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 00:21:04 GMT

What an incredibly serendipitous synchroncity of experience I had yesterday - I'm still processing it. Within the span of a few minutes I experienced a set of three misunderstandings, which turned out to provide exactly what I needed to solve a puzzle that led to the rescue of my neighbor's two dogs, all within an remarkably short period of time - about 35 minutes.

Here's what happened: I was out walking my dogs when a neighbor pulled up in his car [btw, names have been changed to protect the guilty ]. Ronnie told me he was looking for two terriers. "Hmm. Two terriers", I said, "Jack Russell Terriers?" "Yes, I think so", he replied, "Henry was sitting for them and they got out." Here, in the very first moments of this episode, I'd made my first two misunderstandings. I thought Ronnie was talking about his two-doors-down neighbor, who I'll call Dr. Henry. I knew that two sets of Jack Russell terriers lived near Dr. Henry, and recalled that two weeks earlier another neighbor, Cathy, had found them wandering near her house. "Look around Five Oaks Drive," I told Ronnie.

After walking my own dogs, I got in the car and started looking for the terriers. I went to Five Oaks Drive and the first person I saw was Tony, putting up his holiday lights. "Hey Tony, have you seen some loose terriers running around?" "Yeah, a he said. "A tan one." This had me confused. The JRTs (Jack Russell terriers) are all white with black and brown markings. "Heather got it and took it to the community center." Okay, I thought, well, it's a lead.

A few doors down I saw Laurel walking her two dogs - the very next person I came across. "Hi Laurel. Have you seen any loose terriers?" "Yes, there were two, actually, Bonita and Chloe, but Chloe got away. I have Bonita in my house and was going to bring her to the community center. Do you want to pick her up?" Chloe? Bonita? I thought both sets of JRTs were male. Off I went to Laurel's house anyway.

Meanwhile, I called Ronnie's wife, Kay, who was out in another car looking for the dogs, to tell her I'd potentially found one of them. She arrived at Laurel's just as I did, with Andy - another neighbor, one who lives near me (not Kay). I wondered why he was with her, but Laurel came up with her dogs and in I went. Kay and Andy had left to meet me at the community center, as we thought the other dog might have been brought there. Bonita looked like a sort of poodle - not a JRT in any way! Now I was more confused than ever.

As I pulled up to the center, Andy got out of the car. That's when it dawned on me that I'd gotten it wrong. It wasn't Dr. Henry who was sitting these dogs, it was Henry, Andy's father-in-law. Bonita, the dog sitting in my passenger seat was the Francis's dog, Andy and Henry's next door neighbor; Henry had been sitting for the dogs while the family was away. These were two Wheaten Terriers. If I'd made that connection right away I NEVER would have looked for them on Five Oaks Drive. I'd have looked a mile away, and would never have found them.

Kay said that Chloe was supposed to be brought home, so off I drove with Bonita to Henry and Andy's house. When I got there, there was no Chloe. It took some digging and some more driving around before I realized that Kay had her own misunderstanding: the community center told her than Heather was taking the dog home, which she thought meant back to the Francis's house. I realized "home" might have meant back to Heather's home. I called Heather and she was in church - she hadn't found any dog.

Uh oh. Down a wrong track. Back to Tony's. It turns out he has another neighbor named Heather - who house I went to and knocked. Sure enough, she had brought Chloe home - her home. Chloe was nervous on the drive home but was soon reunited with Bonita, back at the Francis's. Turns out Henry hadn't closed the front door properly and the dogs had gotten out.

What I've been pondering is how my misunderstandings led so quickly and directly to finding the right dogs, and that the very first people I met up with, based on my misunderstandings, happened to know where the dogs were located. I've found myself not only in wonder at it, but also attempting to apply meaning to this experience. Is it just coincidence? Or did I have intuitive hits that led me to the right place at the right time, even though with mistaken ideas?

Connecting with and utilizing my inner guidance system has been a goal of sorts for me. Could this be evidence that I'm making headway with it? Might it just be an interesting set of circumstances, a confluence of fortuitous moments leading to a happy ending?

What are your thoughts?

Tags: intuition, inner guidance, intuitive, gut feeling, mistakes, misunderstanding

What Elections Have To Do With Procrastination Abdication

http://kerul.gaia.com — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 18:33:26 GMT

It's Election Day in the U.S. as I write this, and it also marks the first time I've ever run for a "government position", as a supervisor on my little town's board, sort of like a town council. This is the height of my political ambitions - I never would have thought I'd even be a "candidate" in a public election. Speaking of candidates, if you live in the U.S., please make the time to vote. My opinion is if you don't vote, you've abdicated your right to complain about the political situation.

Similarly, on the subject of procrastivity, when you make a choice to procrastinate on something necessary, important, and/or of high priority, you've abdicated your choice to complain about that decision. And procrastination is virtually always a choice (rather than something about which you're out of control). More about this below, in Procrastivity Tip/Exercise.

On a more personal note, we're fostering two dogs right now (yes, we fostered a dog last year, too) and they're looking for loving "forever" homes. Bo and Luke are long-time buddies who were found wandering in Georgia, ended up in a shelter and were about to be put to sleep before we offered to foster them. They're so beautiful, loving, and docile, and want so badly to please. They'll make they're new owner(s) feel so adored! Luke is a flat-coated retriever, and Bo is a lab/golden retriever mix. If you're within a 6 hour drive of Orlando, FL, and want to know more about them because you'd consider giving one or both of them a permanent loving home, please email me at kerul@newleafsystems.com.

PROCRASTIVITY TIP / EXERCISE

When you procrastinate do not beat yourself about the choice you've made as that's only going to dig a deeper procrastination hole for you. Instead, you're better off simply accepting responsibility for your choice, recognizing that you can make a different choice in the next moment, hour, day, or whenever the next opportunity for action arises. When you're at choice in this way (and not on a self-bashing spree), you're more likely to choose to take positive action.

Catch yourself in the moment you're making a choice to procrastinate. Stop justifying and rationalizing, stop agonizing and struggling, and ask yourself if you're willing to take responsibility for a decision to procrastinate. Are you okay with it, and will you be okay with it later today, tomorrow, and next week? If so, move on to something else. If not, note the costs you're choosing to pay through lack of action and then just sit with that decision, without indulging those self-critical voices telling you you're bad. I know it seems counter-intuitive because it *feels* like you're bad, but those inner critics usually just make you feel less self-confident, less master of your own destiny than is good for you. Try it, and let me know how it goes.

Wishing you optimal procrastivity,

Kerul

KERUL IN FIGURE MAGAZINE AND ELSEWHERE!

My newest media mentions are the September/October issue of Figure magazine, and the October issue of Auctioneer magazine. I'll be quoted in an upcoming issue of Woman's Day and in the July/August issue of Eating Clean. I'll also be quoted in a soon-to-be-published book titled Say "Yes!" for a Change! chapter on defeating procrastination. These are only a few of the many places I've appeared recently, as I don't usually note media hits on websites and in many trade magazines.

Inspirational Quotes

If you take responsibility for yourself you will develop a hunger to accomplish your dreams. ~ Les Brown ~

The willingness to accept responsibility for one's own life is the source from which self-respect springs. ~ Joan Didion ~

We have a Bill of rights. What we need is a Bill of responsibilities. ~ Bill Maher ~

Man must cease attributing his problems to his environment, and learn again to exercise his will -- his personal responsibility. ~ Albert Schweitzer ~

Tags: procrastination, self development, procrastinate, empowerment, balance, wisdom, elections

Don't Batten Down The Hatches In A Recession

http://kerul.gaia.com — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 17:39:26 GMT

A NOTE FROM THE PROCRASTIVITY NICHEPERT

I just got back from a fabulous cruise (long story, but we didn't have to pay for it) where my husband and I had a dolphin encounter and parasailing experiences, both of which we'd never done before and we absolutely loved.

During the cruise I had a lesson in flexibility, an opportunity for growth. Such lessons can sometimes be painful, but they lead to great insights, easier relationships with others, and less friction in life in general.

For many people (though not all) it's a down economy. Dozens of my neighbors have walked away from their homes and mortgages, friends have lost their jobs. It's a challenging time, for sure. It's easy to fall into a sort of batten-down-the-hatches-and-hold-tight mentality, to avoid any additional pain, but that would be a mistake.

A slow economy is an excellent time to put effort into upgrading your personal leadership and self-management skills (and it doesn't have to be painful! People who read my procrastination books feel better about themselves after reading them, AND they change their habits for the better!). Those who invest time and effort in self-development, whether personally or professionally, not only have an edge financially, they're also more likely to find better options and opportunities than the rest of us, so they experience more fun, more joy, more ease. (See some more ideas below, in the tip/exercise section.)

As for me, I've been getting development books from the library or buying them used (you may even be able to get a copy of one of my procrastination books used on Amazon or eBay). Rather than spending money on networking dinners, I'm stepping into more leadership positions in my community I'm running for the "town council", am now the treasurer of my town's developing community garden, and am attending the Citizen's Academy, an 8 week educational experience given by the county Sheriff's Office And, finally, while I've made really good progress, I'm continuing to work on increasing my flexibility and compassionate responses in all interactions. As my husband will tell you, I'm not always successful, but I can't let that stop me from trying!

PROCRASTIVITY TIP / EXERCISE

Don't batten down the hatches. A recession is a great opportunity in many ways. People are often less busy. Rather than take solace in endless hours of less valuable activities, like web surfing, television, reading trashy (though fun!) magazines or books, reduce some of that by 30-60 minutes a day.

It's the rare person who doesn't want to develop themselves in a variety of ways. Below are some methods for opening the door to improvement, including the most important one (mentioned last):

Take a walk. The benefits are huge. Enhancing health, fitness, and outlook, and spending quality time with a family member or friend/neighbor if you walk together are just the icing on this cake.
Listen to a CD or tape or read books or watch videos. There are loads available from libraries, or used on eBay and Amazon, with subjects from time management to getting organized, increasing fitness, raising motivation levels, improving reading or communication skills, and so much more. Listen on the way to and from work, or during your walk, or before bed for 10-15 minutes.
Attend community classes and events like continuing education classes, town fitness classes, and self-improvement classes offered at houses of worship. If you can't find anything you like, start your own class or group! You don't need to be an expert, just interested, with 2 or 3 other people who are interested in the same thing.
Remove the words "Yeah, but..." from your vocabulary for the next month and see what happens. Instead of looking for reasons why you can't ____ or why ____ won't work, look for ways they *can* work.

Devote 1 to 4 or more hours a week to your own growth and improvement. After all, if you don't invest in yourself, who will?

Try one or two of these ideas, and email me about your experience!

Are You Tired Of Failing To Take Action On Your Important Goals, and Then Beating Yourself Up For It?

There IS another way! The Procrastination Solutions Kit is a comprehensive package that includes an e-book, a recording, worksheets, and more.

How much time have you lost as a result of procrastination? Never mind all your life... how about this week? Did the guilt of putting something off until the last minute stop you from doing something you really wanted to do? Spend more time with your family? Go out and have some fun? Procrastination can be debilitating and it's murder on your self esteem.

And what is that worth to you?

Clients regularly pay me hundreds of dollars a month to have access to my techniques for being productive and procrastination-free. But this entire package is available for just $49 US. I could tell you it's "less than dinner and a movie for you and a companion " .

But never mind about that. Let's compare it to something much closer to your heart... how about all the time you've wasted feeling like a procrastinator, all the opportunities you feel you've lost by putting things off.

How much is your time worth? I'll tell you this - it's worth a lot more than $49. http://www.stopprocrastinatingnow.com/

Wishing you optimal procrastivity,

Kerul

Tags: recession, economy, self-improvement, self-development, leadership, procrastination, procrastinate

The 5 "G"s of a Strong September Start

http://kerul.gaia.com — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 20:44:32 GMT

Summer has had its unofficial end. As many of you know, I took time off this summer to attend to some personal and scholarly initiatives, doing a minimal amount in my consulting and coaching business. It's paid off in that way, and it also gave me the time and space to think of new strategies to continue to evolve my business in the changing economy.

I see the week after Labor Day as a sort of second New Year's, a chance to make a fresh start with renewed vigor and the strategies to support those efforts. So how can we start the new "season" off strongly, and maintain that effort through to the holidays (and beyond)? Here's a hint: don't ask yourself for all the answers! See the tip below for an explanation of the "5 G's" to make your success easier.

On a personal note, we now have a new horse, Dakota. He's a 16 year old quarterhorse gelding with a dominant personality, and he'll play a big roll in the personal leadership program I'll be developing over the next couple of years, as will my other two. Interestingly, he loves women (though he tries to push us around), and is always trying to think one step ahead of whoever he's with. He's definitely a personal leadership challenge!

Here we go: The 5 "G"'s of a Strong September Start

"Don't ask yourself for all the answers." What kind of tip is that???!! It's breakthrough tip, the kind that gets you out of your "If I could just figure it out" or "I have to do this on my own" mentality that keeps you stuck in a rut.

Here's what I mean: by maintaining the "figure it out" mindset you cut yourself off from ideas, concepts, resources, contacts, and networks that make achieving your goals (and dreams) much easier and require less effort to attain. Instead, seek out the opinions, advice, referrals, leads, strategies, and other materials and people that can help you. This is an active opening on your part, where you aren't sitting around waiting for things to be delivered to you. Rather, you're out there in a number of ways, always keeping your antennae alert for the best opportunities. It will take a little practice to weed out the so-so opportunities from the really good ones, but that's part of the process, and you never know who you'll meet along the way.

Below are some methods for actively opening the door for opportunities:

Get out: Attend meetings and conferences in your industry or areas of interest, including small local groups as well as national or international meetings.

Google it: Research on the internet, and follow leads, no matter what your goal is. Allow yourself to go down a few rabbit holes when it seems appropriate, See who is doing what, and how, what current trends are, and how you might tweak that info for your own personality and needs.

Get advice: contact people who are doing similar things and ask for their advice, for contact information of others who might be helpful, for resources they suggest. Email them and just ask. Sure, some won't answer, but people are often flattered and happy to help. You don't need to follow their advice, but it can spark ideas and enthusiasm you didn't have before.

Give of yourself: volunteer your time and effort (in reasonable doses and depending upon your other commitments and dedication to your goal) toward an organization or initiative related to your goal/dream. This puts you in contact with all the latest developments, the movers and shakers, those in positions of influence, as well as openings and opportunities that may help you reach your goal more swiftly.

Gab about it: talk with people you respect, those who are likely to be supportive, friends/relatives/acquaintances/neighbors accomplishing their own goals and dreams, and ask for their perspectives and ongoing support, in whatever small way (just asking you how it's going, for example) they might be willing to offer.

Devote 1 to 4 hours a week to widening your net and putting yourself in the path of opportunity in these ways, depending on your schedule.

Try one or two of these ideas, and email me about your experience!

Wishing you optimal procrastivity,

Kerul

Kerul Kassel, Author of Productive Procrastination - Make It Work For You, Not Against You and the award-winning Stop Procrastinating Now - Five Radical Procrastination Strategies To Set You Free

KERUL IN BUSINESS WEEK!

It took a few months to make it to publication, but an interview I did with a reporter from Business Week has finally come out. I was asked to play played devil's advocate about entrepreneurs taking vacations. I have to say that this article doesn't present my balanced view of the need for and the benefit of vacations, but the article as a whole does present a balanced view.

Here's the article at the Business Week site:

http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/08_68/s0808074587262.htm

and here it is on my website:

http://www.productiveprocrastinationbook.com/Business-Week-Kerul-Kassel.html

Enjoy!

Tags: end of summer, starting over, new beginning, september, back to work, goals

Don't Focus on Time Management - Try Resource Management Instead

http://kerul.gaia.com — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 17:07:40 GMT

It's a mistake to focus on Time Management - Check out Resource Management

August 8th, 2008

All of my clients hire me because there's something they want they haven't yet been able to accomplish on their own. They know they need to not only do things different, but see things differently, too, they just don't know how. Usually, they've focused on improving their time management so they can fit more in, but this is a narrow and limiting trap.

I suggest they focus on what I call "resource management". These resource not only include time, but also available energy, effort, motivation, systems and processes (of various kinds), environmental structure, support, money, and more.

You may recall that last month I wrote about partnering with others as a strategy to help you follow through with goals. That strategy employs a number of resources: motivation (in the form of accountability), support (encouragement from your partner), systems (the phone, email, reminders, etc, that you use in your partnering relationship), and process (the goal tracking that you both use to help you follow through from one interaction to the next).

By considering all available resources, not just time, when planning and following through on your objectives, you'll probably take less time and energy. For some tasks you might realize that you can delegate, barter, or hire in help, thereby reducing your time commitment to near zero. There will likely be other tasks for which certain processes and systems can be put in place that so that finishing requires less motivation from you and expedites the accomplishment.

Btw, there are loads of strategies in my book Productive Procrastination, available at http://www.productiveprocrastinationbook.com/kerul-kassel-books.html .

PROCRASTIVITY TIP / EXERCISE

Below are a number of exercises to choose from. Pick one or two and experiment with them. Remember to have a playful, experimental attitude so that you remain encouraged and lighthearted (the opposite really reduces your available energy to continue tweaking your self-leadership.

If you didn't try the partnering exercise last month give it a whirl this month. If you deleted last month's newsletter and want another copy, just email me and I'll send it to you.
Use your calendar more effectively by scheduling appointments with yourself to work on tasks, committing to time slots anywhere from 30 minutes to 30 hours. Employ reminders (use your computer, PDA, voicemail, or cellphone) to help bump you into action.
Reorganize the top of your desk, as well as your computer desktop, so that it works more intuitively for you. Remove anything you don't use (at least weekly).to a farther distance, such as a drawer, file cabinet or storage (including electronic folders, and electronic storage hardware and/or services). Clearing your space clears your mind. Less clutter, less friction, less struggle, and more ease and speed.
Similarly, declutter and resolve other areas that are reducing your energy and motivation. End or resolve situations/relationships that are "energy vampires". Set boundaries and stick to them (you can always ask for help in sticking to them). Declutter your spaces (one drawer at a time is fine). Get enough rest and good nutrition so that you have ample energy to accomplish what you're aiming for.
Let go of misplaced expectations, "shoulds", "ought-to's", and any goals that aren't well-aligned with what you really value.

Try one or two, and email me about your experience!

Wishing you optimal procrastivity,

Kerul

Tags: procrastination, self development, procrastinate, time management, balance, wisdom, organize, goals, goal setting

Important Anticrastination Strategy

http://kerul.gaia.com — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 18:13:17 GMT

As many of you know, I've just embarked on a doctoral journey. I'm making great progress, and am learning oodles. I'm blessed to have a wonderful "study buddy" for one of my courses. (More about this important procrastination-busting strategy below.) A discussion with my fellow student earlier this week made me realize how grateful I was for our relationship. Sometimes we take for granted the things that are working, right?
PROCRASTIVITY TIP / EXERCISENo matter what your goal or task, whether it's a one-time project or a long-term habit you'd like to sustain - or anything in between - pairing up with a partner can mean the different between struggling, and failing, in frustrated isolation versus progress, success, and ongoing support.

Set up regular contact, whether through email, phone, or in-person. Perhaps you'll exercise together (I also have a buddy for this), or you'll each be working on a long term career plan, or maybe just getting and keeping your email file system well managed. It can be anything, personal or professional.

Start by thinking of a few people to ask. You want to be choosy about your partner, because a partner who is unlikely to follow through may bring you down with them. You don't need to have the same goals. Though that can work nicely, pairing up is more about the support, accountability, scheduling, and goal-keeping that keeps you moving toward your objectives.

Begin with a trial run of a few weeks or a month or so. Establish how often and when (days/times) you'll be in touch, and how long each contact session will last (it could be as little as 10 minutes or as long as an hour or more, depending on the goals). Discuss how firmly you'd each like the other to hold your feet to the fire about your goals, but don't berate each other - that will damage the relationship's potential, and won't do either of you any good.

During each contact session set goals to achieve until the next time you talk, recording them (in your computer or PDA, for the next appointment time) so you can refer back to them the next time.

You might have a number of different partners for different goals. A couple of years ago I had 5 goal partners at once: one for working out, another for writing one of my books, a third for helping me improve my business marketing, and two more (we had a 3-way buddy system) to help me achieve a coaching credential.

Research does show that if someone else is holding you accountable to a goal you'll be considerably more likely to follow through.

Try it, and email me about your experience!Love, success, and happiness,
Kerul
Kerul Kassel, Author of Productive Procrastination - Make It Work For You, Not Against You and the award-winning Stop Procrastinating Now - Five Radical Procrastination Strategies To Set You Free

Tags: accountability, acheiving, buddying, goal, goals, management, procrastinate, procrastinating, procrastination, procrastinator

Taking a breather

http://kerul.gaia.com — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 20:18:53 GMT

Taking a Breather

I don't know about you, but for me it's time to take a breather, to recharge and refresh. But that doesn't seem to align with being really productive, right?. Ah, it does, though. In order to be at your best, you need to occasionally get some distance and take a day, a week, sometimes more, to do very little, to not even think about those things that have you tense and frustrated. You need this space - consider it an investment in your productivity, your business, your career, and your mental/emotional/physical health.

PROCRASTIVITY TIP / EXERCISE

Schedule a day (at least half a day, if the thought of a full day makes you too uncomfortable) of unwind time. This is time alone, just for you, with no obligations, responsibilities, or tasks. If your home environment makes you think of all you have to do, take a ride elsewhere.

What you do is up to you, with these caveats: no artificial inputs - in other words, no tv, movies, videos, email, no books, magazines. etc. Your brain needs to rest, along with your body. This means less cognitive input.

Ideas: If you have a quiet park not far away, go sit on a bench and watch the clouds, trees, birds, etc. Sit near a body of water and watch the water move. Take a walk or bike ride somewhere quiet. Go for a hike or take a canoe, kayak, or rowboat if you own or can rent one for a few hours (take water and a cell phone - be safe).

Try it, and email me about your experience!

Love, success, and happiness,

Kerul

Inspirational Quotes

"People who cannot find time for recreation are obliged sooner or later to find time for illness." ~ John Wanamaker

"RECREATION, n. A particular kind of dejection to relieve a general fatigue." ~ Ambrose Pierce

ABOUT KERUL

Kerul Kassel is an author and expert in procrastination and productivity - "PROCRASTIVITY". As the founder of New Leaf Systems - a consulting firm dedicated to creating higher performance outcomes and business profitability - her clients have included NASA, Sony, Hilton, and Volvo.

Kerul's professional experience includes investment and real estate management as well as 20 years of leadership in for-profit and non-profit organizations. She is the author of the award-winning book "Stop Procrastinating Now" and the upcoming "Productive Procrastination." For more information, Kerul can be reached at Kerul@newleafsystems.com.

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Are You Tired Of Failing To Take Action On Your Important Goals, and Then Beating Yourself Up For It?

There IS another way! The Procrastination Solutions Kit is a comprehensive package that includes an e-book, a recording, worksheets, and more.

And what is that worth to you?

Clients regularly pay me hundreds of dollars a month to have access to my techniques for being productive and procrastination-free. But this entire package is available for just $89 US. I could tell you it's "less than dinner and a movie for you and a companion " .

How much is your time worth? I'll tell you this - it's worth a lot more than $49. http://www.stopprocrastinatingnow.com/

Tags: time off, day off, personal day, vacation, taking a vacation, recharge, recreation

Planning, Made Easy, Quick, and Simple

http://kerul.gaia.com — Fri, 14 Mar 2008 17:50:53 GMT

I know I'm not the first one to suggest that success is made much easier and quicker by planning your business and personal goals and following the plan. Duh, right? It's a straighter line to get to a destination you've thought about and decided on, one that has a set of criteria and measurable results, as well as some kind of process or method for taking action. You're more likely to reach your destination, and you're more likely to get there more directly, with less effort, time, or struggle.

Planning sounds like such a great idea, right? So why do so few us do it? See if any of these reasons sound familiar:

We think that the planning process is complex, cumbersome, and time-consuming, and we're too busy running our departments or businesses to bother.
We've planned before and found it painful and depressing when we didn't accomplish the goal.
We doubt our abilities and worry we won't be able to achieve our goals, and it's a lot more comfortable; to avoid or ignore a plan than do it and "fail".
We get caught up in daily details and forget, then get frustrated with ourselves and give up the idea of planning on a regular, daily basis because we haven't yet gotten into the habit.

But there's a simple, low-effort fix for every one of these reasons. Let me assure you than planning truly does not have to be time-consuming or complex - those characteristics are actually what make it hard to follow through with! With minimal practice it can take as little as an average of 5 to 7 minutes a day - and garner you 50 to 300% higher productivity as well as much more satisfactory results. Isn't 5 to 7 minutes a day worth that kind of return?

While it's best to tailor a set of no-fuss planning strategies to each person individually, based on their inclinations, preferences, and strengths, here are some basic planning suggestions:

Put a daily planning reminder in your computer calendar or PDA; choose only 1 task that will definitely put you closer to each of 4-6 of your plan's longer-term objectives (so no more than 4-6 plan-oriented tasks per day); schedule that task in your calendar for a specific date and time slot, no more than 90 minutes per task (preferably 30-60), and leave 5-10 minutes at the end of each hour for recharging your physical and mental energies so you stay in the flow.

Tags: planning, easy, quick, simple, worry, low effort, strategy

New Beginnings!

http://kerul.gaia.com — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 16:42:35 GMT

Don't be afraid if things seem difficult in the beginning. That's only the initial impression. The important thing is not to retreat; you have to master yourself.- ~ Olga Korbut

All difficult things have their origin in that which is easy, and great things in that which is small. ~ Lao-Tzu

Tags: new beginnings

What horses have to do with effectiveness

http://kerul.gaia.com — Thu, 14 Feb 2008 16:37:54 GMT

Lessons from Natural Horsemanship

Kerul and Goldi

It's not an obvious metaphor, but natural horsemanship carries some powerful themes of self-leadership. I just returned from a 2 week
course called "Liberty and Horse Behavior" at the Parelli Center in Florida, and while the name of the course doesn't sound like it has
much to glean in the area of unleashing one's potential, the thrust of the 2 weeks was about how to be a better leader of yourself.

Here are some of the major focal points:

* Observation - if we just have a result in mind and we don't regard the always-present and ongoing feedback, including the small details, we end up in disharmony, conflict, struggle, and lost opportunity. Potential-revealing angle: Closely observe your own mental and action patterns, and the choices you make based on those patterns.

* Positive Interpretation - it's useless to observe if you don't have a way to understand and interpret what you're seeing. Your horse is never wrong, it's just doing what it understands or feels safe enough to do (just like you!). Potential-revealing angle: stop making yourself wrong for your choices. You made them based on your best knowledge, experience, and energy. Bashing yourself doesn't put you in an inspirational mindset (just the opposite!)
- which leads us to...

* Experimentation - "You have a 50/50 chance" of accurately
interpreting, and then making a plan based on that interpretation
that will work just as you'd like it to. Participants in the
course must have heard this maxim 10 times each day. Every
moment provides a new opportunity to try again, and if the
previous choice didn't work very well, just try a new one this
time. Potential-revealing angle: this sustainable, forgiving
strategy keeps you moving forward over the long-term.

* Another Parelli maxim is "Take the time it takes, so it takes
less time." I found I really had to slow down to not only
observe, but also allow my horse to take in the communication.
While I went twice as slow in the actions, it led to understanding
and results that were more than twice as fast as I would have
gotten had I not taken the time. What I was doing in that time
was building my own and my horse's confidence.
Potential-revealing angle: Confidence is rocket fuel for
effectiveness.

* An effective Phase 4 - Phases refer to pressure. Phase 1 is
soft and subtle, the equivalent of a few ounces, Phase 2 is no
more than 8 ounces, Phase 3 is a couple of pounds, and Phase 4 is
as much pressure as it takes to make the horse move. I learned
not to nag in Phase 2 and 3, but to hold a long Phase 1, then
quickly proceed to an effective Phase 4 if I didn't get results.
It's similar to my "Hire a Hit Man" strategy - you're making it
uncomfortable for the horse to do something other than what you'd
like her to. Potential-revealing angle: assign only potent
consequences - and rewards - to help you (or others) follow
through.

I was told by more than one instructor that I was nagging my horse
(ouch!) when asking her to back up or go sideways because I wasn't
using phases as effectively as I could. I was doing a disservice
to both of us by not going to an effective Phase 4. Once Venus
understood that I was willing to use Phase 4, she soon decided to
cooperate at Phase 1.

This week, when you find yourself rushing, pause to observe your
patterns and then interpret them without judgment. Experiment with
new choices and actions, just for the sake of it. What would be an
effective Phase 4 for you to take sustainable action on your most
closely held objectives?

Tags: effectiveness, natural horsemanship

Learning

http://kerul.gaia.com — Thu, 14 Feb 2008 16:33:03 GMT

I'm into my second week on vacation in Ocala, learning all about
horse behavior, as well as pattern change and learning itself (hey,
I'm fascinated by it), and having a fabulous time (and eating too
much!). Here are some excellent quotes I found when I Googled
"quotes about learning".

INSPIRATIONAL PROCRASTIVITY QUOTES OF THE WEEK

"Every now and then go away, even briefly, have a little relaxation,
for when you come back to your work your judgment will be surer;
since to remain constantly at work will cause you to lose power."
~Leonardo Da Vinci

"We learn more by looking for the answer to a question and not
finding it than we do from learning the answer itself.." ~ Lloyd
Alexander ~

Love, success, and happiness,

Kerul

Tags:

Respect

http://kerul.gaia.com — Thu, 14 Feb 2008 15:59:31 GMT

As you read this, my husband and I and our two horses, are at the

Goldi

very beginning of our vacation, a 2-week natural horsemanship course (see www.Parelli.com). Natural Horsemanship puts the dignity of the
horse first, and is about developing a strong relationship of trust and partnership between you and your horse, so fear/intimidation
tactics are entirely left out. It requires that you respect your horse, and that your horse respects you. It takes a little longer
at first but you get much better results long term, and you have a horse that WANTS to be with you and is lively and fun rather than
fearful/angry/explosive/catatonic. It's a form of training in self-leadership that's really foundational, and is actually an excellent model or how to relate to people, too! I'll let you know what my top 3 lessons are when I get back!

INSPIRATIONAL PROCRASTIVITY QUOTES OF THE WEEK

"Dignity and Respect has to do with what you are ready, willing, and
able to accept within yourself and in accepting to be able to give
others. It is your personal power to make a difference by being true
to the best within you and letting that truth shine through your
words and actions." ~ Gail Purcell Elliot ~

"People who try to command respect are wasting their time. Respect
can't be commanded. It has to be earned.." ~ Unknown ~

Love, success, and happiness,

Kerul

Tags: respect, natural horsemanship

Planning, Made Easy, Quick, and Simple

http://kerul.gaia.com — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 17:35:19 GMT

I know I'm not the first one to suggest that success is made
much easier and quicker by planning your business and personal
goals and following the plan. Duh, right? It's a straighter line to get
to a destination you've thought about and decided on, one
that has a set of criteria and measurable results, as well as
some kind of process or method for taking action. You're more
likely to reach your destination, and you're more likely to get
there more directly, with less effort, time, or struggle.

Planning sounds like such a great idea, right? So why do so few
us do it? See if any of these reasons sound familiar:

We think that the planning process is complex, cumbersome, and
time-consuming, and we're too busy running our departments or
businesses to bother. We've planned before and found it painful
and depressing when we didn't accomplish the goal. We doubt our
abilities and worry we won't be able to achieve our goals, and
it's a lot more comfortable ; to avoid or ignore a plan than do
it and "fail". We get caught up in daily details and forget,
then get frustrated with ourselves and give up the idea of
planning on a regular, daily basis because we haven't yet gotten
into the habit. But there's a simple, low-effort fix for every
one of these reasons. Let me assure you than planning truly does
not have to be time-consuming or complex - those characteristics
are actually what make it hard to follow through with! With
minimal practice it can take as little as an average of 5 to 7
minutes a day - and garner you 50 to 300% higher productivity as
well as much more satisfactory results. Isn't 5 to 7 minutes a
day worth that kind of return?

While it's best to tailor a set of no-fuss planning strategies
to each person individually, based on their inclinations,
preferences, and strengths, here are some basic planning
suggestions:

put a daily planning reminder in your computer calendar or PDA;
choose only 1 task that will definitely put you closer to each
of 4-6 of your plan's longer-term objectives (so no more than
4-6 plan-oriented tasks per day);
schedule that task in your calendar for a specific date and time slot, no more than 90 minutes per task (preferably 30-60), and leave 5-10 minutes at
the end of each hour for recharging your physical and mental
energies so you stay in the flow.

Want more? I'm refining a simple set of planning ; tools and
strategies that will be part of the Procrastivity MasterMind
Resource Library. Stay tuned!

Tags: planning, reminder, task, objectives, calendar, recharging, energy

New Year's Wisdom

http://kerul.gaia.com — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 17:35:57 GMT

Here are a bevy of quotes for you about the new year, from a variety of sources, some inspiring, others facetious, yet others solemn or silly. Enjoy, and wishing you all the success you desire, on your own terms, for 2008 (and beyond).

Youth is when you're allowed to stay up late on New Year's Eve. Middle age is when you're forced to. ~Bill Vaughn

An optimist stays up until midnight to see the new year in. A pessimist stays up to make sure the old year leaves. ~Bill Vaughan

Many people look forward to the new year for a new start on old habits. ~Author Unknown

A New Year's resolution is something that goes in one year and out the other. ~Author Unknown

Be always at war with your vices, at peace with your neighbors, and let each new year find you a better man. ~Benjamin Franklin

No one ever regarded the First of January with indifference. It is that from which all date their time, and count upon what is left. It is the nativity of our common Adam. ~Charles Lamb

New Year's Day is every man's birthday. ~Charles Lamb

Never tell your resolution beforehand, or it's twice as onerous a duty. ~John Selden

Year's end is neither an end nor a beginning but a going on, with all the wisdom that experience can instill in us. ~Hal Borland

The merry year is born
Like the bright berry from the naked thorn.
~Hartley Coleridge

New Year's eve is like every other night; there is no pause in the march of the universe, no breathless moment of silence among created things that the passage of another twelve months may be noted; and yet no man has quite the same thoughts this evening that come with the coming of darkness on other nights. ~Hamilton Wright Mabie

The Old Year has gone. Let the dead past bury its own dead. The New Year has taken possession of the clock of time. All hail the duties and possibilities of the coming twelve months! ~Edward Payson Powell

Cheers to a new year and another chance for us to get it right. ~Oprah Winfrey

Ring out the old, ring in the new,
Ring, happy bells, across the snow:
The year is going, let him go;
Ring out the false, ring in the true.
~Alfred, Lord Tennyson, 1850

The proper behavior all through the holiday season is to be drunk. This drunkenness culminates on New Year's Eve, when you get so drunk you kiss the person you're married to. ~P.J. O'Rourke

Every man should be born again on the first day of January. Start with a fresh page. Take up one hole more in the buckle if necessary, or let down one, according to circumstances; but on the first of January let every man gird himself once more, with his face to the front, and take no interest in the things that were and are past. ~Henry Ward Beecher

New Year's Day: Now is the accepted time to make your regular annual good resolutions. Next week you can begin paving hell with them as usual. ~Mark Twain

The new year begins in a snow-storm of white vows. ~George William Curtis

For last year's words belong to last year's language
And next year's words await another voice.
And to make an end is to make a beginning.
~T.S. Eliot, "Little Gidding"

We will open the book. Its pages are blank. We are going to put words on them ourselves. The book is called Opportunity and its first chapter is New Year's Day. ~Edith Lovejoy Pierce

Yesterday, everybody smoked his last cigar, took his last drink and swore his last oath. Today, we are a pious and exemplary community. Thirty days from now, we shall have cast our reformation to the winds and gone to cutting our ancient shortcomings considerably shorter than ever. ~Mark Twain

And ye, who have met with Adversity's blast,
And been bow'd to the earth by its fury;
To whom the Twelve Months, that have recently pass'd
Were as harsh as a prejudiced jury -
Still, fill to the Future! and join in our chime,
The regrets of remembrance to cozen,
And having obtained a New Trial of Time,
Shout in hopes of a kindlier dozen.
~Thomas Hood

Drop the last year into the silent limbo of the past. Let it go, for it was imperfect, and thank God that it can go. ~Brooks Atkinson

Each age has deemed the new-born year
The fittest time for festal cheer.
~Walter Scott

Good resolutions are simply checks that men draw on a bank where they have no account. ~Oscar Wilde

Glory to God in highest heaven,
Who unto man His Son hath given;
While angels sing with tender mirth,
A glad new year to all the earth.
~Martin Luther

A new oath holds pretty well; but... when it is become old, and frayed out, and damaged by a dozen annual retryings of its remains, it ceases to be serviceable; any little strain will snap it. ~Mark Twain, speech in New York City, 31 March 1885

But can one still make resolutions when one is over forty? I live according to twenty-year-old habits. ~Andre Gide

I do think New Year's resolutions can't technically be expected to begin on New Year's Day, don't you? Since, because it's an extension of New Year's Eve, smokers are already on a smoking roll and cannot be expected to stop abruptly on the stroke of midnight with so much nicotine in the system. Also dieting on New Year's Day isn't a good idea as you can't eat rationally but really need to be free to consume whatever is necessary, moment by moment, in order to ease your hangover. I think it would be much more sensible if resolutions began generally on January the second. ~Helen Fielding, Bridget Jones's Diary

New Year's Eve, where auld acquaintance be forgot. Unless, of course, those tests come back positive. ~Jay Leno

We meet today
To thank Thee for the era done,
And Thee for the opening one.
~John Greenleaf Whittier

One resolution I have made, and try always to keep, is this: To rise above the little things. ~John Burroughs

Of all sound of all bells... most solemn and touching is the peal which rings out the Old Year. ~Charles Lamb

A happy New Year! Grant that I
May bring no tear to any eye
When this New Year in time shall end
Let it be said I've played the friend,
Have lived and loved and labored here,
And made of it a happy year.
~Edgar Guest

It wouldn't be New Year's if I didn't have regrets. ~William Thomas

We spend January 1 walking through our lives, room by room, drawing up a list of work to be done, cracks to be patched. Maybe this year, to balance the list, we ought to walk through the rooms of our lives... not looking for flaws, but for potential. ~Ellen Goodman

May all your troubles last as long as your New Year's resolutions. ~Joey Adams

He who breaks a resolution is a weakling;
He who makes one is a fool.
~F.M. Knowles

The object of a New Year is not that we should have a new year. It is that we should have a new soul and a new nose; new feet, a new backbone, new ears, and new eyes. Unless a particular man made New Year resolutions, he would make no resolutions. Unless a man starts afresh about things, he will certainly do nothing effective. ~G.K. Chesterton

I think in terms of the day's resolutions, not the year's. ~Henry Moore

Time has no divisions to mark its passage, there is never a thunder-storm or blare of trumpets to announce the beginning of a new month or year. Even when a new century begins it is only we mortals who ring bells and fire off pistols. ~Thomas Mann

I made no resolutions for the New Year. The habit of making plans, of criticizing, sanctioning and molding my life, is too much of a daily event for me. ~Anaïs Nin

Why won't they let a year die without bringing in a new one on the instant, can't they use birth control on time? I want an interregnum. The stupid years patter on with unrelenting feet, never stopping - rising to little monotonous peaks in our imaginations at festivals like New Year's and Easter and Christmas - But, goodness, why need they do it? ~John Dos Passos, 1917

New Year's is a harmless annual institution, of no particular use to anybody save as a scapegoat for promiscuous drunks, and friendly calls and humbug resolutions. ~Mark Twain

Every man regards his own life as the New Year's Eve of time. ~Jean Paul Richter

The only way to spend New Year's Eve is either quietly with friends or in a brothel. Otherwise when the evening ends and people pair off, someone is bound to be left in tears. ~W.H. Auden

Tags: success, desire, inspiration, silly

Author interview: Writing Habits & Other Structure - Wk 6

http://kerul.gaia.com — Wed, 05 Sep 2007 21:15:24 GMT

Overcoming Writers Block and Writing Habits - Wk 6 - Heather Ingemar

Category: Writing and Poetry

I'm excited to have Heather Ingemar, author of Darkness Cornered, as a guest on my blog this week. I asked her about her writing habits, something all writers and authors need to consider. She has some interesting thoughts to share. Enjoy!

Tell us about your writing habits. Do you know your story or concepts ahead of time, or do they just develop and evolve as you write? Do you wait for the muse to strike or do you set a regular appointment with your self to write? If the latter, how do you make sure you keep the appointment? Do you structure the book ahead of time and fill in the blanks, or free-write and put it together later, or use some othe method? Do you ever get writers block? If so, what do you do to get through it? How long does it take you to write a book, on average? What else what you like us to know about your writing habits?

Humans are creatures of habit, they say, and habit is exactly the question that is frequently asked of authors.

Let me tell you about mine.

Every person drafts or conceives a tale different ways. With me, my initial drafting really depends on the story. Sometimes, the entire story comes to me in a flash; I see all the characters, everything that happens to each of them, the scenery, how different things/events/details/stimuli come into play. Everything. That's really cool, but really rare. Usually, I see a character first, in a scene, and it won't leave me alone until I write it down. Then, the story develops around everything I've written, as I go along. It's pretty fun for me that way; I like being on the edge of my seat, right there with them, as they tackle the obstacles set for them to overcome and not knowing if they'll make it. A real rush.

As for my writing time, I don't do the whole appointment thing. My personality type forbids it. (laughs) I guess you could say I'm like that line from Tolkien: "A wizard is never late. Nor is he early. He arrives precisely when he means to." Not to mention my line of work. As a rancher's wife, I am at the mercy of nature. I don't have the luxury of being able to write "whenever the mood strikes." And nature also has a way of showing you exactly who is boss when you decide to compartmentalize. I learned this from a very early age; hence why I tend to write (or pursue my other hobbies) when I have the time. If an opportunity presents itself, I jump on it. This is made easier by the fact that I carry a notebook with me everywhere. If no opportunity shows, well, I wait. Simple. And TONS nicer than sitting around worrying about whether or not I'll get time to write or not.

On the craft of writing, let me say this: I do not believe in writer's block. To echo my creative writing professor, I do believe there are times when the water doesn't come easily from the well, however, that does not mean the well has run dry. There's always something to write. And some days, I don't feel like writing. I feel like ruminating. Some days, every word I put on that page is wrong. They're still words, and I can work on it later. Some days, I feel like writing ahead, other days, not. See what I mean? The well is never completely dry.

Amazingly, despite what I just said, my writing habit is fairly structured. I like to write my stories from beginning to end with little skipping around. It's easier that way for me to keep things straight in my head, although on the re-writes/edits, I have been known to jump if something grabs me. In the act of writing itself, the edits generally dictate how long I stay working on a piece. I can usually whip out a first draft in a fairly quick amount of time -- some of my short stories only took me three days, short novels a couple months -- but since I'm such a stickler for pretty, correct prose and perfect continuity, the edits take far longer.

The work-in-progress I'm doing now, I wrote the main plot in its entirety in about two and a half months. It's pushing five months (total) now, and I'm still working on edits. It may be longer by the time I'm satisfied.

In short, every writer is different, and as I am often in the habit of saying to my husband, "whatever works!"

Check this out!

Heather S. Ingemar: Author of Speculative Fiction http://catharsys.wordpress.com/

"Darkness Cornered" available now from Echelon Press!

Echelon titles coming soon: "A Slip of Wormwood" and "Prophet's Choice"!

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Author interview: Writing What You Know & Other Stories Wk 5

http://kerul.gaia.com — Wed, 29 Aug 2007 20:22:56 GMT

Overcoming Writers Block - Author Interview - Week 5

This week I interview Mary Cunningham, author of the successful Cynthia's Attic series.

KK. What inspired you to write your first book?

MC: I'd just finished telling my best friend, Diana, about the recurring dream I'd had for almost 20 years, when I had a "light-bulb" moment. It occurred to me that the dream took place in the attic of my childhood friend, Cynthia. "Hmmm..." Diana remarked, "Cynthia's Attic. What a great title for a book!" The dreams stopped and the writing began.

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KK: How long did it take you to write it?

MC: It took about 3 years to complete the first two books in the series, The Missing Locket and The Magic Medallion.

KK: How did you accomplish the writing of the books? Did they just flow out of you without any effort, or did you have to work at it, or something else?

MC: The first two books came easily, especially the first one. I laugh thinking about my fingers flying on the keyboard and my husband standing over my shoulder reading as I typed! Curse of the Bayou, Book Three, has been a struggle. I've known the plot for some time (about 3 years!), and the first half the book came quickly, but I've changed directions several times with the 2nd half. I'm very pleased with the finished version, though.

KK: What kind of obstacles have you encountered in writing and publishing your book(s)?

MC: By far, the biggest obstacle is marketing. It's frustrating to see the big box stories dictating, more and more, what is being written and accepted. I've also been frustrated by the lack of reviews by major reviewers, such as, Publishers Weekly, Library Journal, Kirkus. But, I keep plugging away, one library at a time. It's exciting to get national exposure, such as, The Magic Medallion being a finalist in the USABookNews Children's Book of the Year.

KK: What one or two key pieces of advice do you have for people who want to write?

MC: I keep going back to some great advice I got early-on. "Write what you know." It's so much easier to write about familiar topics.

Since the original setting for the books is in my hometown, ..:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" />Corydon, Indiana, and takes in many childhood memories, much of the research was already in my head. All three books in the series are loosely based on stories I remembered hearing about my parents and grandparents, and great-grandparents. In fact, many of the characters in my book are based on Cynthia's and/or my family members.

For instance, Book Three, Cynthia's Attic: Curse of the Bayou, is about the disappearance of my great-great-grandfather, who vanished while taking a flatboat full of produce down the Mississippi River to New Orleans. In the book, Cynthia and Gus travel back in time in order to find him, encounter ghost pirates, shape-shifters, and even some old friends.

My second piece of advice is much less glamorous: Edit, edit, edit!!

KK: Tell us a little more about your books - genres, titles, storylines, interesting tidbits:

MC: Disappearing stairs and a spooky attic filled with dusty antiques-what more could two adventurous young girls ask for? Best friends, Cynthia and 'Gus' are as "different as bubble gum and broccoli." They discover a mystical trunk in Cynthia's attic, and are swept through the trunk back to 1914, into the lives of their twelve-year-old grandmothers.

The books are targeted toward young readers, but readers of all generations have come to know and love Cynthia and Gus and their adventures. Cynthia's Attic: The Missing Locket, is book one. Book two in the series is Cynthia's Attic: The Magic Medallion. Curse of the Bayou, Book Three, is scheduled for release by Quake, NOV 2007. Although I love all three stories, I believe this is my favorite. I think that's why it was such a struggle to finish. Maybe I didn't want to "let go!" (lol)

KK: Can you share with us what you are working on now, and when will it be published?

MC: I've been asked by my publisher to write Book Four! I'm working on the storyline, but it's too early in the process to reveal much. I don't even have a working title yet! I'm also working on an adult time-travel. It's less fantasy, though, and more real-live experience. Yikes! I'd better end this interview and get busy writing!

KK: Where can we learn more about you and buy your books?

MC: Cynthia's Attic series is available on Amazon, Fictionwise, all major online bookstores, and through my publisher, Quake.

Please check out my website: http://www.marycunninghambooks.com/, and also my blog http://www.cynthiasattic.blogspot.com/

Thanks, Kerul! It's been fun!

The adventure continues in Cynthia's Attic! Curse of the Bayou - Dec. 2007 Have you checked out Fictionwise? Mary Cunningham Books

Tags: Writing, writers block, author, book, books, write a book, publish, publishing