Thoughts for October…
.
Balance
I just attended a seminar and one of the sessions was
an introduction to life planning and learning to live
a balanced life. This seems to be a discussion among
many these days. One thing I know balance takes is
purposing to live a balanced life. First you have to
determine what you want your life to look like. Take
time to evaluate all areas
of your life...your career, your
relationships, your health. I remember hearing once
that your life is on a see saw. If you see it teeter
tottering one way, look what’s on the other side and
put some effort in there to bring the see saw back in
the middle.
DECIDE on what your
priorities are. Use Deborah Minck’s 80/20 Rule
The 80/20 Rule means that in any set of things (workers,
customers, etc.) a few (20 percent) are vital and many
(80 percent) are considered trivial.
The value of this principle is in reminding us to stay
focused on the “20 percent that matters”.
Of all the tasks performed throughout the day, one could
say that only 20 percent really matter. Those tasks in
the 20 percent very likely will produce 80 percent of
our results. Thus, it’s critical that we identify and
focus on those things. When the fire drills surrounding
the “crisis of the day” begin to eat up precious time,
remind yourself of the critical 20 percent you need to
focus on. If anything in the list of activities and
action items has to fall by the wayside – left undone –
be sure it isn’t listed in that critical 20 percent.
It’s not only important to do things right, but
also to ensure you’re doing the right things.
It’s not just important to “work hard” and “work smart”,
but also to work smart on the right things.
PLAN: Make a plan on
Sunday for the week and prioritize what needs to be
done. Remember you don’t have to say yes to
everyone who asks you something. Once you know what
you want your life to look like, it will help you to
say no to things that don’t line up with your
priorities.
BE ACCOUNTIBLE: Ask
your spouse, child or a friend if they think your life
is in balance. Discuss ways to improve and get that
seesaw back in the middle.
WHAT ARE YOU WILLING TO GIVE UP:
Living a life in balance doesn’t come without a
price. Many of us try to put too much on our plate
and we wonder why we can’t do it all.
Maybe it’s because we bought the lie that we
can. You may have to give up something good in order
to get the best life has to offer. For example, I’ve
chosen to cut back in business October-December
because I feel it is necessary to focus on my family,
my home and invest some time in preparation for the
future. Without a vision, the people perish.
So what am I giving up, the potential
to make additional money on a short term basis
I certainly don’t have all the answers
on this one. Just like you, I’m a work in progress.
So let’s help each other. We now have
a message board on our WOI website. This month, let’s
discuss, Life Balance. Feel free to share what is
working for you.
WWW.womenofinfluence.info.
Next WOI meeting is
November 10th, Monday, UF Hilton, 11:30a-1p
Self-Defense for Women:
Professor Stephen Levi
Did you know that in today's
life and times, we face a higher risk of dealing with
a violent assault than being in a serious car
accident? Fortunately, learning to protect ourselves
is much less complicated than learning to drive a car.
After 9/11, the founder of
U.M.S. taught to more than 5,000 flight attendants and
pilots the same techniques that you will learn in our
six week program. These are proven techniques that are
based on realistic situations. Professor Levi will
give us an introduction on using self-defense to get
away from an assault. What he teaches works well for
different life situations and ages.
Please RSVP: Jill @advantageads.info
or call 332-2618 by November 6th.
WOI Needs:
Women of Influence is looking for someone with graphic
design experience who will donate their time and
expertise and help us create a logo and letterhead.
If you are willing to help, please email Jill Nash,
Jill@advantageads.info
or call 332-2618.
Door Prizes:
If you or your business would like to donate door
prizes, please contact Judi Donovan at Judi at
871-6239 or you can email her at
Judith.donovan@wachovia.com
Book Suggestions:
Visioneering
by Andy Stanley : $15
Visioneering
is the engineering of a vision. It’s the process one
follows to develop and maintain vision. “Vision,”
writes Andy Stanley, “is a clear mental picture of
what could be, fueled by the conviction that it
should be.”
In the bestselling Visioneering, Stanley builds
a compelling case for the necessity of a clear,
God-ordained vision for each of the roles of your
life. Whether you’re a parent with a vision for your
children or a CEO pursuing a corporate vision,
Visioneering is the perfect tool to help you
develop and maintain God’s unique purpose for your
life.
The 3 Big Questions for a Frantic Family,
by Patrick Lencioni
On sale for $19.95
A Leadership Fable about restoring
sanity to the most important organization of your
life.
This is a guidebook for frantic
families who want to reduce stress, tension & pressure
and make the adventure of family life more exuberant
according to Frances Hesselbein, chairman and founding
president of Leader to Leader Institute.
If you would like to order a copy and pick this up at
our next luncheon, please email
Jill@advantageads.info, by October 29th.
