[Think As Inc.] May 2007 Newsletter http://ezezine.com Your life is a business. You have a: MISSION: the reasons you live your life; BRAND: the message you project to the world; PRODUCT LINE: the skills and qualities that are your unique assets; BOTTOM LINE: your financial picture; CLIENT BASE: professional, personal, and don’t forget, yourself. Your life is YOUR business, and you are its CEO. IN THIS ISSUE Something to Think About: START RIGHT NOW Something to Do: TAKE CARE OF UNFINISHED BUSINESS Inspirational Quotes: some funny ones, including Kafka News and Upcoming Events START RIGHT NOW Though no one can go back and make a brand new start, anyone can start from now and make a brand new ending. - Anonymous Have you missed the momentum of January for your New Year’s resolutions? Did Valentine’s Day pass with you again not sending cards to your loved ones? Did you not get your finances in order as you promised you would do after last April’s tax filing? In the short term, it may seem like you’ve missed the boat. In the short term, there are specific circumstances that make it seem like the opportune moment has passed. But in the long term, there are many short terms. There will be other circumstances that will make the opportune moment to fulfill our goals come around again. In this way, there is not only one opportune moment to start on our goals. We just need to start, and there is no better time than right now. We are not destined to just one ending for our story. We craft our own ending day in and day out by what we actively do. If we spend our days lamenting our past and what we did or didn’t do, then our end will be based on our past. But if we start on our goals right now, then we change the outcome for ourselves. This doesn’t ensure a happy ending or that we’ll meet our goals exactly as we planned. But at least we’ll be the hero of our own story. TAKE CARE OF UNFINISHED BUSINESS It takes a period of continuous exercise before you begin to pull from stored fat. Therefore, to achieve serious weight loss, you need an uninterrupted commitment. A time management technique encourages the grouping of like activities (e.g., returning phone calls at one time, reading email at one sitting) rather than stopping and starting work each time a call or email comes. In this way, you have uninterrupted focus on one activity at a time and get more done overall. Both the fitness and the time management techniques illustrate the importance of seeing something through to completion in an uninterrupted way. Yet, in our daily lives, it is difficult to practice this. We find ourselves rushing to work, to school, to a social commitment, to a family event, with interruptions in between (family calls at work, housework during family time, phone calls at dinner). We do so many things and not any of them to our satisfaction. Our to-do list gets longer and more remains unfinished. This overwhelming and hectic pace can easily lead to disappointment. You might think that doing more is the answer. However, the key is in the finishing, not the doing. When you play with the kids, don’t answer the phone, don’t fold the laundry, don’t do anything else. Even if this means that you get 15 instead of 30 minutes of uninterrupted play, the 15 minutes will likely be more satisfying. You will have finished a quality interaction, rather than started several activities simultaneously. Taking care of unfinished business means focusing your time and energy in a quality way. It is starting and stopping with purpose, rather than haphazardly combining activities. You will find that you are more efficient and probably get more done, although that is a secondary point. Primarily, you enjoy each activity more (whether work, play or laundry) because you are present and attentive and able to notice how even mundane activities can actually be fulfilling. INSPIRATIONAL QUOTE I was going to buy a copy of The Power of Positive Thinking, and then I thought: What the hell good would that do? – Ronnie Shakes I have seen the future, and it’s a lot like the present, but much longer. – Dan Quisenberry In a fight between you and the world, bet on the world. – Franz Kafka NEWS AND UPCOMING EVENTS I am speaking at an event sponsored by the Magazine Publishers of America on June 20. It is about internships so the subject matter will be geared to those just starting their career. Email me if you’d like to get the details when confirmed. If you wish to unsubscribe to this newsletter, please email cenizalevine@yahoo.com with the Subject: Unsubscribe TAI All information is copyright © Caroline Ceniza-Levine 2007 www.thinkasinc.com