Comments on: Pick Your Preferences

By: Weekly Roundup: Pros and cons of setting goals

Weekly Roundup: Pros and cons of setting goals — Sun, 19 Apr 2009 07:02:28 +0000

[...] Styles Blog discussed “backwards planning,” one strategy for achieving goals. Nina Simosko discussed another strategy for achieving goals – “picking your preferences.” Reminding [...]

By: Nina

Nina — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 16:56:54 +0000

Hi Hayli,
Another thing that I do is to schedule “Nina time” on my calendar. I need to do this in order to block out specific windows of time during which I can have a sharp focus on my tasks. And, it avoids procrastination in the sense that this is the time I have set aside to tackle this objective. So, it’s now or never….or later I guess!

By: Hayli @ Rise Smart

Hayli @ Rise Smart — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 16:34:33 +0000

Procrastination is a key stumbling block for many (myself included). In order to avoid rushing the process, start early enough to allow yourself plenty of time. And yes, turning off e-mail/phone help immensely! Also try to pick the time of day when you’re most focused (e.g. I can get twice as much work done 6-10 a.m. as opposed to 2-6 p.m.)

By: Nina

Nina — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 14:02:58 +0000

Hey Wally,
Surely this topic is not new, but especially in these trying times, I hope it serves as a reminder of sorts to those having to contemplate difficult choices, be they about time or other topics.

I certainly appreciate the opportunity, albeit rare, to shut off the phone, Blackberry, email, etc. and just get some work done! Technology has made staying connected ever so easy, but has also left many of us without the chance [of course we always have the choice] to disconnect in order to accomplish our tasks at hand.

I guess disconnecting is one way we can “make it work” as you say!

By: Wally Bock

Wally Bock — Sun, 01 Mar 2009 22:42:29 +0000

Great post, Nina. Thanks to you and the professor for bringing this up.

Peter Drucker was writing about this forty years ago. “The effective executive therefore knows that he has to consolidate his discretionary time. He knows that he needs large chunks of time and that small driblets are no time at all.

Successful CEOs almost all will tell you that it takes a lot of time to make a good people decision.

Researchers like Ernest Rossi have laid out the amount of time necessary to do serious work on a project without a break. For most of us, it turns out to be 90 to 120 minutes.

Now all we need to do is make it work.

By: Nina

Nina — Sat, 28 Feb 2009 04:54:16 +0000

Hi Catherine,
Thanks for your comments and the heads up on your upcoming eBook. I too liked Freek Vermeulen’s music lesson analogy. As I stated, it resonates with me given my own experience studying violin. And as an avid exerciser, I surely know the value of slow & steady and multiple short sessions vs. the “blowout” session! I’ll look forward to your eBook and further exploration of this topic.

By: Catherine Cantieri, Sorted

Catherine Cantieri, Sorted — Sat, 28 Feb 2009 02:55:31 +0000

Great post! I’ve been thinking a lot lately about the power of slow-and-steady consistency (it’s the topic of my upcoming eBook, “How to Harness a Hobgoblin”). I really like the comparison of half an hour of music practice (or exercise) six times a week vs. a three-hour blowout. Slow and steady can definitely be applied to business development, athletic development and developing your creativity.