Archive for Reflections
12 Rules to Increase Your Productivity
Posted by: | CommentsDoes your productivity ever get hampered by your desire to find the best possible solution? As you seek the easiest or fastest route to your goal, you may find yourself stopped entirely. Sometimes you may even do this on purpose, to keep from having to make a decision.
However, there’s a work-around. Maybe you’ve heard of the term, “heuristic.” Heuristics are rules that allow a solution to be found more quickly. With a heuristic, a resolution can be found even when the entire path isn’t clear from the onset.
For example, if there were no roads, but you lived in New York and wanted to make your way to California, a heuristic might be:
- Walk west as far as you can.
- Walk around any obstacle, if possible.
- If faced with a mountain range, walk toward the space between 2 small peaks.
- Repeat until reaching California.
Does this heuristic give you the most efficient solution? No; however, it will get you where you want to go, and you won’t waste a lot of time trying to make up your mind.
Try these behavioral heuristics to increase your productivity:
- Choose the right time. Nearly everyone has times of the day when they are most effective and times when they tend to drag. It’s smart to schedule the most critical tasks for your most effective time of the day.
- Toss it. If a task doesn’t really need to be done, just get rid of it altogether.
- Get the bad stuff out of the way. Do the unpleasant items quickly and as early in the day as possible.
- Set a goal each day (or night). In the morning, decide what you want to accomplish that day. This can be even more effective when planned the night before. Once you have a sense of direction, you can spend all your time getting things done!
- Eliminate all communication. While you’re working, turn off the phone / cell phone, and don’t check your email. Hang a sign that says, “Do not disturb,” if necessary. You don’t have to do this for all your tasks, but at least do it during the more difficult items.
- Batch similar tasks together. Do all your emailing at one time. Make all your phone calls at another. Open your snail mail during a set block of time. You’ll waste less time by doing your work in this fashion.
- Set a timer. Even if a task might take hours, starting will seem easier if you simply give yourself 30 minutes to get as much done as you can. A time limit seems to help many people concentrate and work better, too.
- Set targets. For example, if you have to make cold-calls for your sales job, tell yourself that you’re not getting up for any reason until you’ve made at least 100 calls. Regardless of what happens, refuse to stop until you hit your target.
- Use the Pareto Principle. This principle states that 20% of the actions you could take will provide you with 80% of the benefits. So focus on the tasks that will accomplish the most. Unfortunately, these are frequently the tasks that are not enjoyable. You might be surprised how little you really have to do if you focus on the critical 20%.
- Delegate some of your work. Is there anyone else who can help you? The people around you are resources. When appropriate, use their time and talents wisely to get things done more quickly.
- Set a deadline. Having a specific endpoint will really help to focus your time and energy. If a task doesn’t feel necessary, chances are that it won’t get done.
- Increase your speed. It sounds silly, but this can really help. Try doing everything a little faster. Walk faster, talk faster, type faster, and read faster.
Implement these heuristics into your life and you’ll find yourself getting more done in less time. The ultimate secret is to stay on task and not waste any time. These rules will help you do just that.
Think Successfully & Take Action
Tracy Brinkmann
5 Ways to become Action Oriented
Posted by: | CommentsOver the course of my time studying and teaching about personal development I have shared many tips on how to get what you want faster than you dreamed possible. In order to become a high performing person myself and teach others how to become the same I have taught everything from goals setting to brain storming to masterminding. However, while all these are true anchors in one’s travel to success, perhaps one of the most important traits of the high performing man or woman is “action orientation.” For if you do not take action all the brainstorming, masterminding and goal setting in the world will not help you. You have to become an action oriented person if you want to achieve your dream, goals and desires. So here are five ways to become an action oriented person.
- SET ASIDE TIME TO THINK AND PLAN
Action oriented and successful people set aside time to think about their goals and dreams, to plan their next steps and ways around potential obstacles and of course to set priorities in all these goals, dreams and next steps. All this thinking, planning and priority setting enables them to focus on taking action on the important tasks and execute large chucks of work far faster than the people that spend that same amount of thinking, planning and action time on activities that do not take them closer to their goals – assuming that those people even know what their goals are. - GET INTO THE ZONE
One of the benefits of that thinking, planning and priority setting is that you will be focused on high value tasks as your next steps. When you take action on your high value next steps continuously you will get into ‘the zone.’ All of us have experienced it at one time or another – that state when things just seem ‘to come to you’ with minimal effort. You feel clear of mind and almost euphoric as everything you do seems effortlessly accurate, and just want to keep going. - STAY ALERT AND AWARE
Keep a mindful eye out for some of the interconnected ways that people and circumstances can be leveraged to help you achieve your wants, dreams and desires even faster. Remember that one of the fastest ways to get what you want is to help others get what they want. So while you are in ‘the zone’ use that heightened state of creativity and mental precision to spot ways you can help others reach their dreams. I find that these unselfish acts always find their way back – with interest. - HONE YOUR SENSE OF URGENCY
I can hear the question now “How do I get into the zone Tracy?” Well one of the quickest ways is to hone your sense of urgency. Your sense of urgency needs to be impatient, for that is when it will motivate you and drive you to get things done. Your sense of urgency when impatient will stoke that inner drive or desire you have to reach your goals. When you have a sense of urgency and begin taking those next steps towards your goals, dreams and desires you will find yourself in ‘the zone’ far more often than you ever had before. - Be prejudice against procrastination
I do not like to lean to the negative but when it comes to procrastination, negative is what we need to be. When you hone your sense of urgency you will become very negative to procrastination and lean more towards being action oriented. You will find yourself talking less about when you want to do and actually doing it. You will find yourself coming up with ideas and next steps (probably back in step one) and immediately want to do something with that idea – so do it!
Okay now that you have the five ways to become action oriented what can you do now?
- Pick one goal, dream or desire that you have and jump into it right now. Yep right this very minute. Heck I don’t even mind if you stop reading this post to do that – your dreams are WAY more important than this post.
- Ok well your still here. Hopefully that is because you want more advice not because you don’t have dreams and goals. Anyway the next thing you can do is take these five steps EVERY single morning so that they become a habit. Then you will be realizing your dreams, desires and goals fasters then you ever imagined!
Think Successfully & Take Action
Tracy Brinkmann
One of Today’s TOP Motivated Coaches & Author of Success Atlas Programs
Four Steps for Wonderful Attitude
Posted by: | CommentsEveryday we have unexpected events happen to us. We plan down to the slightest detail and BAM something comes along and throws a major wrench into the machine. But it is not what happens to you at times like this – it is how you react to what happens to you. In this article I want to share a few ways to keep you acting and thinking both creatively and positively. Thus keeping your attitude at its very best under all those circumstances that will be thrust upon you time and time again.
- Concentrate on the good
- If there was a belief store, where you could go and purchase a belief – then the belief that I would have everyone purchase is the success belief; the belief that everything that happens to you will bring you closer to your desired success or goal. This belief would enable you to search for and find the good in every situation. As hard as it may be at times – there is always a good to be had in every single situation that you live through. Whether it be a lesson learned – experience gained or new contact made – somewhere in there is a good to be had. Find it and your attitude will take a positive direction.
- Seek out the valuable lesson
- Much like concentrating on the good – if you seek out the valuable lesson then alli best price the situation, circumstance or pitfall takes a whole new meaning. You will begin to realize that whatever situation you are facing right now needed to be faced in order to learn the lesson. Now take that lesson and integrate it into your goals and plans for the future. Take that lesson learned and use it to TAKE ACTION towards your success!
- Concentrate on the solution
- Whenever a difficulty rears its ugly head, quickly concentrate on the solution rather than focusing on the problem. Spending your time rehashing, reliving and reflecting on the problem will quickly eat away at your positive attitude. Instead concentrate on the solution to the obstacle, task or setback that lies in front of you. Break it down into manageable steps, plan and solve for each of the steps – then TAKE ACTION. The moment you begin thinking and planning in terms of solutions you become more positive and more constructive.
- Concentrate on the future
- Whatever challenges stand before you, focus on the future rather than the past. You can not change the past so instead of worrying about whom did what to whom and why he is to blame, focus on where you desire to be and how you can get there from here. Concentrate on the vision of your future. How you want it to be, how you want it to look. Lay it all out then take action towards making your future become a reality today. Keep you mind focused on your future vision and you’ll take more positive actions today.
- Think like successful people think
- Successful people know that a positive mental attitude is an indispensable tool. You too can be as positive as you want to be if you will concentrate on the good, seek out the valuable lesson, focus on the solution and think about the future. If you think like successful people think, using your mind to exert mental control over the situation, you will be positive and in good spirits a majority of the time. And you will receive the rewards that come with such a positive mental attitude, as all success people have learned.
Time to Take Action!
- Concentrate on the good and seek the valuable lesson in every snag. Start a journal or make a list of every idea and insight you can gain from your setbacks and difficulties.
- Become solution-oriented with every difficulty you encounter. Make it a habit to look for the answers to your questions as well as the solutions to your problems. Seek out the assistance of a mentor or coach along your road to success.
- Think on paper. Take the time to write out every detail of the situation, and then brainstorm solutions. Plan out the most logical next steps then TAKE ACTION to get through the obstacle.
Think Successfully and Take Action!
Tracy Brinkmann
One of Today’s TOP Motivated Coaches & Author of Success Atlas Programs
Happy Thanksgiving, Being Thankful… again
Posted by: | CommentsIt’s early in the morning the house is still asleep, except for one of my darling cat that has come in from the rain to warm himself in my lap. The smell of this years Turkey is already starting to fill the house. Except for Maylan (the cat) and our newest animal addition, Shotzi (our Schnauzer) – I am alone with my thoughts and now you as you read this blog post. While I always have a grateful attitude towards all I have been able to accomplish and all I know I am about to accomplish, recently however, my thanks has caused a swelling in my heart and my mind that I find a bit unbelievable – perhaps this has been spurred on by the recent birth of my grand daughter Kyli or the loss of a friend in a recent car accident or my daughters fellow cheerleaders who were in that same accident – some of which are still fighting for their lives…. or by the show of support at the recent All Star Challenge Cheer Competition where teams from around the country showed their support and gave $10,000 to the families in their time of need.
Whatever the motivation, It is the quiet serene moments like this that provide the opportune time look back at what has happened, look at today at what IS happening and out into tomorrow at what allegra\\\’s generic I want to happen. Some time ago, I was sitting in my office looking around being thankful for the opportunity to work with such great people and give back. I called my daughter up JUST to tell her how much I love her – another thing I am thankful for. When I got home that night I gave my wife extra hugs and kisses – yes another thing I am thankful for. Recently, I was online with a few of my favorite people – people like you that I have met and learned from via social media and other online interactions. All these things big and small are things that I give thanks for on a regular basis.
To this day I do not know what prompted that original swelling moment of deep gratitude – but I have remained just as grateful ever since. This extra level of thankfulness has further improved my attitude, and helped me keep things in perspective as those bumps in the road come along.
Through all of this reflecting back, and visualizing forward I am EVER grateful for all that I have, have had and will have. I would urge you to do the same. Pausing for a moment to reground yourself by truly acknowledging what you have, not matter how small, will do wonders for your attitude as well as your outlook.
I wrote the following article on a Thanksgiving Day back in 2005 in the hopes of sharing this attitude of gratitude with those that might find it interesting– it still holds true today. Whether you do or do not celebrate the holiday of Thanksgiving I would urge you to start making every day a day of giving thanks.
When I joined the US Army back in the early eighties they taught me a number of survival skills. I learned to live off the land, navigate that land with just a compass, where to find water, where to find food and more. I learned to jump from airplanes and traverse terrain like a Billie-goat. But even the US Army, with all their robust survival training did not teach me what I have come to realize is in fact a real survival skill – thankfulness.
In all the books I have read on personal development, as well as all the seminars, DVDs, studies, journals etc I have found a unifying thought on thankfulness: “Be thankful for everything you have, while you pursue everything you want.” A simple truth, as most profound truths are, is that we should be thankful everyday for everything we have, everything we have received and everything we have accomplished (no matter how small).
As I look back over the course my life has taken, I realize that more than the years, and the experience they bring, resulted in where I am now. It was also my thankfulness that pushed open doors of opportunity, blessings and unique experiences. I am daily thankful for the lessons my parents taught me at an early age. Lessons that pulled me through some dark times in my life. I am thankful for close friends (thank you Robbie!) and a loving spouse (thank you Denise!) whose belief in me and my abilities NEVER faltered. I am thankful for the mentors that came into my life and impacted it even in the smallest way. I am thankful for the fortune 10 companies that I have worked with just as much as the companies with only 10 employees in their ranks. All of these brought me to where I am and to each and every one of those I am ever grateful.
I look around at the world today and see great things happening, about to happen or opportunities for them to happen. Of course I’m not so blind that I don’t see the concerns too, but to dwell only on that fact would narrow my mind on what the world has to offer. In my life time I have seen the downing of the Berlin wall, watched democracy win out over tyranny numerous times and seen New York City as well as the entire United States pull together in the worst of times to help their fellow man. No matter your country of origin, race, color, greed, background or culture all of you bring something unique to the table. You as a person, as a country and we all as a world should be thankful. Always come from a place of thanksgiving; look around and be truly thankful for what you already have and have done and you will see the wonders that come from one simple act.
Some tips on generating a thankful attitude:
• Sit down with a sheet of paper and a pen and write down how good you have it. Write down everything you are thankful for – no matter how small. Doing this will begin to develop healthy, positive thought patterns and mold your attitude into one that will be more thankful all of the time. If you have a spouse or children do this with them and you will be astounded by all the good things all of you can come up with.
• Look down instead of up. What I mean, is we spend so much time looking up the socio-economic chain to where we want to be, that we often loose sight of where we have been. Look down the chain, to past where you were to those less fortunate than yourself, and be thankful for what you have. Volunteer some of your time at a local shelter, home or food bank. You will feel better for having helped as well as be reminded first hand of all that you have to be thankful for.
• Give back monetarily. Pick a charity or organization that you believe in and give some of your hard earned money. In the book Money, Sex, and Power, Richard Foster says that “money desires to be loved, courted, desired and hoarded.” Giving back and giving away breaks the power that money can have over us. You will feel better for supporting an organization that you believe in and giving it away on a regular basis helps keep things in perspective.
Thankfulness is just that starting point, but it’s a great starting point. Being thankful will enable you to create more. Take the ability to create more and create more ideas for yourself than you need. If you have more than you need then you can share your ideas, even give them away. As the old saying goes, “Be fruitful and multiply.” That just doesn’t mean in the sense of population – it means in abundance as well. When you are thankful for what you have, and creating more ideas then you need that is one form of fruitful. With more ideas than you need you can share those ideas with others. You will be blessing your fellow man, your community and your world with your wealth of ideas. Once this starts you will be amazed at the results in abundance that will flow back to you. But it all begins with the simple act of being thankful. Be grateful for everything you already have, everything you have already accomplished and for everything you are about to accomplish.
Begin your act of thanksgiving this very day, then everyday afterwards – and watch the wonders begin to happen
Think Successfully (as well as thankfully) & Take Action!
Tracy Brinkmann
On This Veterans Day
Posted by: | CommentsTo all the soldiers who’ve served in the past, or are currently filling the ranks
To you my protectors of freedom, I send out my deepest thanks!
To those that want to serve at a future date
I wish to thank you in advance for doing your part to keep this country great
To those that have given their lives in the conflicts of today or yesteryear
It is to you that I stand tall, salute and shed a heartfelt tear
Finally;
To those that would say our soldiers need not be honored for service unseen
To you I would urge but one thing….
Go Live in a country not protected by the US Army , Navy, Air Force Or Marines!
Thank you to all our servicemen allegra sale & women (and their families!)
Sincerely,
Tracy Brinkmann
Former Soldier, Passionate Father & PROUD American!
