Out and About Yukon and OKC : January 2012

Again, like every year, the Holidays are sneaking up on me. I am not ready for a house full of guests. My turkey is still flying somewhere, cranberries are still growing, house needs some sprucing up, shopping is not done and I need a serious chunk of time for cooking!

My Mother asks me how come I get caught by a surprise. She says that Thanksgiving and Christmas come every year on the same day and year after year they don't change! She is so right!

I thought I need more time, if only I had more time... Excuses, apologies, explanations etc and you know I can hear my Mother again! She says that all of us have the same amount of time. That time doesn't change and you cannot make more of it. The only difference is how you plan to use it!

Wow, she is so right again!

I am tired of these surprises. Usually I am a very patient person but I have had it! I need a change and this time I am going to listen to my Mother! So today is the day that I declared war! There won't be any more surprises sneaking up on me. War on time and I am gonna win it!

 Here is my WAR STRATEGY:

• Plan
• Organize
• Prioritize                           

Plan - what do I need to do? What do I want to accomplish? My vision-get the firm grasp of the big picture. Decide what is important. How am I going to do it? Write time frame or deadline. Do it for every day in my weekly day planner. I love technology but pencil and two calendar pages still work best for me (and pencil is so forgiving). Add activities and note birthdays, holidays and romantic dates with my honey. Plan for my "sanity time" - things I want to do, books I want to read and get rid of cobwebs onmy mind by exercising  daily (walking and bike riding).  

Organize - schedule best possible ways to accomplish what I planned, get rid of destructions which take time and accomplish nothing, relentlessly stick to the plan by blocking time for each task, respect my time by letting others know that I am busy and need their support and understanding - learn to say NO, get rid of the clutter, delegate some responsibilities to others.

Prioritize - first things first. Focus on things benefiting me and my pocket in other words lead generate and walk my talk. What is important is getting done first (according to my plan).  Emails can wait.  Close the door and window blinds and JUST DO WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE.

Having a clear picture in mind will give me a map to where and how to get there. What a satisfaction to give myself the power to take control of my time. What about you? What would you add to your war strategy?

I am going to win this war!

"IT IS NOT THE WAY THE WIND BLOWS, IT IS HOW YOU SET YOUR SAILS"  Unknown

With my war declaration (I declared a war today!) which by the way is going just fine, meaning that I am still winning the battles...LOL I was thinking about the New Year's resolutions and read few posts about them here on Active Rain. There are a lot of questions about what to do, what to cut and how to "get leaner" with budgets etc...To expand or not to expand? Uncertainty...

The saying that only the strong survive is probably very accurat for the time. All of us need to adjust and adapt to the current economic mess. Regroup and focus on the future. This is a perfect time to get seriously into "the game" - investing in additional education, planning your tasks and putting all of it into action. And that is exactly what I inted to do. As a matter of fact my war started everything! :)

Gary Keller gave me an amazing tool to deal with the hard times - the book SHIFT. It is an absolute gold mine and a must read. A blue print on how to survive and thrive.

He says:

Success never comes to a chosen few, but the few who choose. These can be the worst of times; these can be the best of times. You get to choose! Isn't it wickedly simple?

Another thing most of us complained about is lack of time. Well, I was in the same camp for a while.

But lately I "discovered" (after my Mother told me this a thousand times) that all of us get the same amount of time every day. It cannot be bought or stretched ...but it definitely can be controlled.  

Michael Masterson says: If I want to be a captain of my soul and the master of my future, I have to be in charge of my time. And the best way to be in charge of my time is to structure my day around a task list that I, and only I , create.

So shift happens! Invest in yourself and buy the book.  Think of unnecessary expenses this way - "When you are in the hole stop digging" - and set your sails.  Move at the speed of your need!

What is your take on it?

Bo

OPEN HOUSE EVENT in River Mesa, YUKON OK 73099

JANUARY 15, SUNDAY FROM 2-4

800 LIBERTY MESA COURT IN YUKON OK 73099

804 LIBERTY MESA

4801 TILTED MESA

4805 TILTED MESA

Come and visit for a while. Check out these four beautiful new homes build by Oklahoma's oldest building firm, Leonhardt Enterprises celebrating 105th birthday this year.

REGISTER FOR A DRAWING TO WIN TWO TICKETS TO OKC Home and Garden Show (20-22 Jan)

For more information and to RSVP please visit:

http://www.facebook.com/events/100834770038377/

HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE!