[CREATIVE CAREERS UNLEASHED] More Time http://ezezine.com In this issue, learn 3 strategies to help you find more time. CREATIVE CAREERS UNLEASHED! from Turning Point Strategies and Lyle T. Lachmuth Recently I had the privilege of doing a mini-workshop, on Barrier Busting, with a group of talented writers from the Romance Writers of America, Calgary Chapter. They were courageous and generous enough to share their struggles and barriers with me. In one short hour I didn't have time to answer all of their questions. So, for the rest of this month I'm going to focus on providing answers to those barriers. You say, "What's this got to do with me? I'm not a writer and I'm not trying to be a writer." True. But, here's a quote from one of the participants: "I'm working lots and lots of overtime and I'm busy, busy, busy. Writing has to fit into that, when I have the energy to do it." Sound familiar? If time isn't an issue for you, then stop reading this issue of CREATIVE CAREERS UNLEASHED and invest your time elsewhere. If it is, read on. ======================================================================= QUOTES "There is never enough time, unless you're serving it." -- Malcolm Forbes "Time rushes by and yet time is frozen. Funny how we get so exact about time at the end of life and at its beginning. She died at 6:08 or 3:46, we say, or the baby was born at 4:02. But in between we slosh through huge swatches of time — weeks, months, years, decades even." -- Helen Prejean,. US nun and activist against the death penalty. (Bartelby.com) ======================================================================= MORE TIME Can you find more time? Can you even find time? Yes and no. I became personally interested in making better use of my time way back in 1978. I had just received the biggest promotion in my career and soon found myself busy, busy, busy. What to do? I began to research techniques for Time Management. That initial effort lead to improvements in managing my time and spawned a mini-career as a time management expert that has spanned more than 2 decades. Here's the best of what I've learned over the last 27 years, about the secrets of finding and creating more time. TIME and ARTISTIC TYPES The big problem with most time management books, videos, and workshops is they are geared to professionals who work in Conventional, Realistic, and Enterprising careers like engineering, banking, trades, managing businesses, and the like. Artistic-types, who are the exact opposite on Holland's Theme Code model of occupations, can learn from these Conventional types, no question. But, if you're an Artistic-type you will NEVER be as good at employing these techniques as Conventional types will. So what CAN you do? Here are 3 time 'management' strategies for Artistic-types that I've developed through testing, tribulation, mistakes, and hard work. ======================================================================= Tell Me About Your Greatest Challenges... AND GET A GIFT! My giveaway is still in effect! Send me your answer to this question: "What are the 1 or 2 biggest barriers to your living the life of your dreams?" And, I'll send you a complimentary Special Report. CLICK HERE mailto:LyleTLachmuth@gmail.com?subject=BarriersToMyDreams ======================================================================= MORE TIME - continued #1 GIVE UP TRYING TO MANAGE TIME All the experts on time management will tell you, "You can't manage time." They're right. Time isn't a commodity. In fact I'm not sure anyone really knows what it is. I know I don't. I just know it seems to keep moving -- passing me by. And, the experts tell us, "you all have the same amount of time, every day, every week, every month, and every year." 168 hours a week. 8760 hours a year. You only have less time when you die. You can make work. You can make plans. But, you can't make time So, forget managing time. Instead... #2 CREATE AND MANAGE YOUR PRIORITIES If you can't create more time, how do you get more time? You create more time by focusing on what's important: on your priorities. How easy is this for you? Are you good at figuring out your priorities? How about sticking to them? It took me a long, long, long time to get clear about what's really important. But, then my chronic illness, my best friend and coach, helped me get clear and focus. Now I know. My #1 Priority is My Health & Wellness. Everything, and I mean everything, comes after that. So, how can you figure out what your priorities are? Here's a few exercises to get you started on getting clear about what's REALLY important to you. Try one or more of these. 1) Write your own obituary. If you had the opportunity to read your own obituary what would you want it to say about you, your values, your accomplishments, your relationships, and you as a citizen, family member, and person. 2) Imagine you were told you only had one year to live. Imagine also that you had no financial problems. How would you spend your time? What would be important to you? To do? To see? To experience? To be? 3) What do you want written on your tombstone? This little exercise forces you to get at the core essence of your vision and mission and purpose. Mine is: "Gifted teacher, loving husband, father, and friend." 4) Answer this question: "If there were no barriers what would I do with my life?" Invest your time. Do one or more of these exercises. Look for trends, commonalties. They'll give you clues to what's important to you -- your priorities. You know you're priorities but you have trouble sticking to them, what do you do? #3 PICTURE YOUR PRIORITIES Time management experts say, "Make a list". Yeah, sure. That works for my grocery shopping but not for my priorities. For years I went through all those annual goal setting exercises. For years I wrote my major goals and priorities down. And, for years I kept losing track of my priorities. As an Artistic-type, I found that lists hampered me, tied me up, and actually got in the way of working towards them. Too darn linear, stepwise, and limiting. Then a few years ago I began experimenting with graphic presentation of my goals. It worked like magic. I've tried it with my clients and many say it really helps them to see their goals in a picture instead of a list. I've tried several different forms and currently use a variation of a form created by a colleague, friend, and former client. If you'd like a sample send a blank e-mail to: mailto:LyleTLachmuth@gmail.com?subject=PictureYourPriorities Your assignment, should you choose to accept it: 1) Identify your priorities and 2) Find a way that works for you to keep them top of mind -- your way to Picture them. Now what? ======================================================================= HOT LINKS Real time career advice for Artistic-types: writers, artists, therapists, designers, and other creative, multitalented professionals --> Http://lyletlachmuth.typepad.com/turningpoints/ Find out if you're an Artistic type! The Strong Interest Inventory (SII) is the most widely used and most reliable indicator that shows how your interests influence your career. I just did mine and it was very illuminating. Take the SII at my colleague Patrick Kerwin's web site. Click here: http://kerwinandassociates.com/strong.htm ======================================================================= NEXT ISSUE: Focusing On Priorities See you May 15th, Lyle Lachmuth MSOD,CDP,CRT(Hons) The Unsticking Coach (TM) Helping Creative Professionals Live Their Dreams Turning Point Strategies Box 72140 RPO Glenmore Landing | Calgary, AB CANADA T2V 5H9 T: 403-390-4768 | E: :LyleTLachmuth [at] Gmail.com =================================================================== ABOUT THIS NEWSLETTER Join or leave this list here: http://home.ezezine.com/72/ Past issues here: http://home.ezezine.com/72 PRIVACY POLICY: I collect your name and contact information solely to enable me to send you this newsletter and other information on a periodic basis. I will not rent, trade, or sell your name and contact information to anyone, at any time, for any reason! CAVEAT: CREATIVE CAREERS UNLEASHED and its publisher, are not engaged in providing therapy. This newsletter is provided for informational purposes only. CREATIVE CAREERS UNLEASHED may be reproduced and distributed in its entirety only, including copyright, legal, and contact information. Copyright 2005 Turning Point Strategies and Lyle T. Lachmuth