I have just learnt a method on how we can turn ourselves into a perpetual calendar. Just like to share it with readers who might not know how we can actually obtain the day for any date in the gregorian calendar by means of some simple calculations.
I have mindmapped the process below. Click on it to view a larger image. click "read more" for the details
There are times I would think to myself- "Am I really where I'm supposed to be right now?" I usually snap out of it and decide- "Yes, everyone is exactly where they're supposed to be right now no matter where they are".
When you think about "supposed to be", there is always a context or a point of reference we need to refer to. I like to refer to my goals instead of set rules. For instance, if given a choice between work and my family- I'd choose the later. You can always find another job- but your family is the only family you have. So I usually don't mind people or staff who leave work early because of responsibilities to their family- so long as they go about it the right way by communicating and making up for it later when they can. If somebody arranges for a meeting at 5pm(even my manager), I will readily ask for a reschedule to either an earlier or later time since usually meetings would drag to after 6 and that would be the time I need to go pick up baby Croven from the nursery. My priority would be my kid. No matter how high priority you give to your work- if the company runs into financial problems- you'd be secondary to their cashflow. Not saying that all companies are bad- but it's the nature of businesses. Priority will always be given to cashflow. not individuals. no matter how talented they might think you are. Something we asians need to realize when we bust our brains staying in the office until midnight and come back at 6-7am the next day. It would however be crucial to spend your 8-9 working hours being as productive as possible so that it would be easier on the conscience to leave earlier. We usually make the mistake of goofing off during work hours and trying to make up for it by staying in late. It's funny how this sort of culture seem to be encouraged in this part of the worldand people seem to be recognized for putting in more hours at work than those who produce more with less effort. I remember in my old job the CEO of the company used to say at the end of his e-mails- "Work Hard and Work Smart". The two simply don't coincide. People who work smart don't work hard. Because there's one variable he forgot when putting up that quote- something called burnout. If you work smart, you avoid burnout in order to give you better productivity when actually being at the job. You think better after breaks every 45 minutes because that's how the brain works. but that's for another entry. For "Where I'm supposed to be " in the context of "location", consider the following.
Say you're driving down to work, late for a meeting and your car breaks down, putting you in the middle of heavy traffic, sweating in a suit and tie. Some would think to themselves- "Darn it- why does this have to happen now?" And I have to admit- yes- i do that very often if this sort of thing were to happen to me. But when you really think about it- things could have been worse. You could have made it to your meeting and the car breaks down on your way home later at night when the mechanics are no longer in service since it's friday evening and the weekend is coming up. If all events were looked at this way- then yes- you are where you're supposed to be. The only real freedom in life is really your thoughts. You can be bombarded with all sorts of "negative" events but can choose to come out smilling, or choose to get upset and let it out on everyone around you. I've learnt that taking the first choice is how patient people gather thier strength. It can also be a lesson- next time check the car before you go on a long trip. Or next time if the radiator heats up, wait 30-40 minutes for the engine to cool down before you pour water into the coolant chamber. All experiences leave us with lessons. Sometimes we fail to realize that.
Anyway, it's time I stopped this entry, since in a few minutes- where I'm supposed to be is at the mosque- doing my friday prayers.
Change happens. I guess this has been talked about numerous times on this site. It's only a matter of whether we are acting or being acted upon. The only way we can stay unchanged is by changing. Such a paradox, isn't it? And I guess for the greater half of my life, I have taken a stand to constantly remain changing, whether I succeed or fail at it. Evolution does not favor the strong, but those who adapt. Change happens- and if we don't change accordingly, we'd be like seaweed drifting with the tides.
2009 will be very different for us as the Crovens- just as every year has been. Events are falling into place which marks small milestones to bigger life changing events. Events which have somewhat prevented me from putting in entries into this site since they might trigger some undesired chain reactions.
No- this has got nothing to do with new year resolutions. I never believed resolutions are ever neccesary if you are determined to change. A change can occur overnight if you allow it. Paradigm shifts are all we need for change to manifest itself in our actions and results. Covey calls it the See-Do-Get cycle. Results are based on Actions which are based on Thought. Simply put, a result will not occur if an appropriate action is not executed and that action will require the appropriate mindset for it to be carried out.
However, since we are nearing the end of 2008 anyway- this is just a good time as any to start planning for 2010 and the later. Setting up new goals as current goals are reached. Raising the bar. Putting yourself in tighter spots to learn better skills and ensuring a conscious effort to adhere to what Buzan coins the TEFCAS model. Try-Event-Feedback-Check-Adjust-Success. Which would be the Action-Result end of Covey's See-Do-Get cycle. Once you have your goals in mind and why you want to acheive them- you begin by TRYing. every TRY will result in an EVENT. it does not matter whether that EVENT is. it will always give you FEEDBACK. based on this FEEDBACK, you CHECK what you've done and ADJUST to have a small SUCCESS in improving.
That's all I have for today. For more details, we'll have to wait until I get my next EVENT to analyse the FEEDBACK. Stay tuned.
My journey into GTD, 7 Habits and Mind Mappings turned out to be quick and satisfactory. In just a matter of a few weeks I find myself having more time to do things than I would have ever have had. Although quite obvious, one thing I have realized is that one is working all the time. And it does not mean that one is a workaholic, but the definition of work is not merely bound to things you are paid for to do. David Allen defines work as "things that have been defined but have not yet been done" no matter what they are. In can be starting up your own company, going shopping, even going on vacation or playing video games. Yes. this defies standards. But let's think about it for a while. It's not the big things which pull you down- it's the small things. The straw which breaks the camel's back or so the saying goes.
The past few weeks have been life-changing for us(the crovens). Now mrs. croven and baby croven has joined me up here in penang and we just moved to a better apartment with a view of the sea and the penang bridge. Of course there were loads of things to do, but this time we were more than prepared. Actually, there's still a lot to do, but we have taken a brilliant approach to managing stress- keeping an empty mind. The fact is, we'll always have more todos than we can handle- why worry? So long as we know what those todos are and link them to our goals and prioritize, it's really no big deal. I've given up on complaining. Of course stephen covey and david allen hand some hand in my change of paradigm, but at the same time, they also strengthened my belief in the power of relaxation. being lazy, but getting things rolling.
For the past decade I have been analyzing people's responses when I ask them the simple question of "How's Life?". One common response I get is - "busy. there's loads to do. last night I slept at 3am preparing for my presentation and had to be in a meeting at 7am" or the likes. We've all been there. Pay attention to my question though. I did not ask "How's Work?". I asked them how life was and immediately they talk about work. Some are actually proud to say that their life is their work. Not that I have any qualms about though. to each their own. Everyone has a choice. And one of the things I learnt is that there is no such thing as "have to" or "must". There is only "choose to". Of course there will be consequences to the choice, but everything one does is based on choice. Nobody is forced to do anything. Even if one has a gun pointed at one's head- freedom of choice still exists. although it may seem like there's only two options- life or death... there is also the option of dying for something or living for nothing.
Of course, when I say "Keeping an empty mind" i mean it in the context of memory of things to come. We should all think before we do anything- but we need to think of how to do it rather than just think about doing it. We shouldn't worry too much about what has not happened yet or what we have not done yet- just keep note of it somewhere and do it when you can. I find that the best way to manage stress. We'll always have things to do. It does not help to fill them up in our heads. of course there are methods of keeping an empty mind- you don't just switch off. that can be hazardous as well. but the key here is the more relaxed you are- the more productive you become.
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