Portion Control (Keep a small plate & stay focused)

Most people, I would assume, associate this concept with dieting. Apparently it can be rather effective. For those that may be new to this concept, it goes like this: keep a small plate to help maintain your weight. The smaller the portion, the less you eat. The less you eat, the less weight you take on.

I've been slim my whole life and if you ask my older brother, I could use a few extra pounds. And although I don't heavily focus on the size of my plate or how much food I consume, ironically, I have noticed that this idea of "portion control" has suited me well in other areas of my life. But it hasn't always been this way.

I'll admit that I am a natural-born multi-tasker, but I still can't determine whether that's a good thing or a not-so-good thing. Focusing on one thing at a time is a constant struggle for me. To tell you the truth, I don't know if it's because I feel more accomplished when I multitask, or if I'm afraid of missing out on something. Maybe subconsciously I feel less than productive if I'm not doing four things at once. Whichever it is, I'm a "multi-tasker" in a major way. 

But it wasn't until recently I realized that giving my attention to one thing at a time not only resulted in the same amount of productivity as before, but more importantly, created a more sound mindset that multitasking hadn't given me. I felt more confident in what I was doing, I was thinking more clearly, and I was overall more pleased with my results.

My question to you is, what does the size of your "plate" look like? Could it use a little portion control, too? Are there areas of your life that could use more of your focus and attention? 

If so, maybe using this strategy will help. Or, perhaps you'll need to take a different approach to be more effective. 

Either way, I say it's worth a try. Test it out on a few tasks and see what happens to your productivity. Of course, there are exceptions to the rules as always. If your a parent, I'm sure multitasking is the only way things get done, and trying to find time to do one thing at a time is virtually impossible. But for those who are willing and able to take on a new challenge, here's your chance. So keep calm and portion on...

Begin With The End (how to finish before you start)

After posting my last entry, I had a few lingering thoughts that I felt I should've included, because I do realize that it's not enough to suggest to just get started without knowing what to do first. 

One of the philosophies that's been a staple in my life is to begin with the end in mind. I'm sure that may sound a little backwards. But, just like building a house, you have to first draft a blueprint before the foundation is set. Likewise, in order to create the blueprint, you have to have a vision of what you want the house to look like. The clearer the vision the more likely you are to obtain it. Vision, however, requires more than sight itself. It requires an imagination. Its similar to planning a road trip. First you need a destination. From there, you plan accordingly. You need vision, or an imagination to prepare yourself and anticipate things you will need along the way in order to get there.

I really find this idea helpful in all aspects of my life. It helps to start my day with a clear picture of what I want to accomplish by its end. If I reach my goal then I consider it a successful day. The idea is that doing this day after day will eventually lead to long term success. 

So once you get your dream established, begin with the end in mind. What do you want your finished product to look like? What do you want to accomplish by the end of the day? Don't forget to draw out your blueprint. With a little gumption and dedication, you'll be on your way to turning your vision into a reality in no time. 

U Down Wit O.P.P? (Learn from others)

What's the cheapest and most efficient way to learn about life? If you ask me, it would be learning from other people. You know, like OPP--other peoples problems, other peoples progress, other people, period. Whether it's directly from a mentor, a friend, a family member or coming indirectly from an autobiography, a documentary, or a movie, the source itself really doesn't matter. What's important is the lesson. 

Yeah you know me;)

Some might argue that personal experience is the best teacher, but I contend that it all depends on what it is you want to learn. For example, if you're going thorough a difficult phase in your life, it can be helpful to know the ways in which someone else overcame similar struggles.  If someone has accomplished something that you dream of doing, learning about their story may save you time, as well as expedite your learning curve. 

When I would share with investors the idea behind SPR, I would get pissed when they failed to share my vision, or tell me all the ways in which it wouldn't work. But once I learned about Thomas Edison and his invention of the light bulb, or the story of Pandora and the many roadblocks that were encountered prior to its huge success, I began to feel less discouraged, and more motivated. Believe it or not, both of these world-wide, life-altering inventions were once turned down by so-called "smart" investors.

With the world as big as it is, chances are there isn't one person who hasn't walked a mile in your shoes before. So, don't be afraid to find out their background and see how it can apply to your life. After all, you never know the affect your story can have on the next person.

My 3 Favorite 5 Letter Words

My Three Favorite 5 Letter Words on my iPad Screen

Today

Learn

Until

These are my 3 favorite 5 letter words. And they are my favorite because I've come to the conclusion that I can use any one of these words to get me through any situation. 

For example, to write this entry I used "today." It often comes in handy, because for me, it is a word that helps keep things in perspective. 

It's easy to get sidetracked by our past, or to dwell in reliving moments we either regret or would love to repeat. The same can be said with the future, I suppose. Life is filled with more options than we know what to do with, which requires us to make more decisions about the very things that will ultimately find their way into one of the two categories I just mentioned. But even as daunting (or exciting) as "future" planning can sometimes be, it can also overshadow the lessons, adventures & answers that the gift of "today" has to offer . 

It's been said that "the best way to predict the future is to create it"...

So, what better way to do that than by embracing TODAY???