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!

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

 

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

 

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. 

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 $89 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/

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

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.

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

Lessons from Natural Horsemanship

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?

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

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

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

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!