Yesterday a client sent me a ‘manifesto’ on time management and asked me what I thought.

I took a 20-second look and KNEW my client was in deep doo doo if he were to follow this advice.

According to Clarence Thomson, Enneagram Coach, most Time Managment books are written by Enneagram 3s — often compulsive acheivers

And, what works for 3s doesn’t work for other types — e.g. my client who is a 5 and very eclectic.

Those of us who aren’t 3s can’t keep up.

We don’t need to achieve more — harder or faster!

We need to work WITH our own style.

So, next time one of those Time Management Gurus comes your way — run like hell!

I’m on a binge to simplify my life.

Dropping ezines I don’t read.

Leaving membership sites I don’t visit. This one is a genuine money saver. Why pay for a membership in some social networking site that has no one on it that you know — or care about!

Why pay for an expensive Blogging package that allows you unlimited blogs when you can’t even keep up with the one important one (HINT: This one!) So, coming soon less Typepad and more money in my jeans.

Perhaps, by next year I’ll be (slightly) less overwhelmed.

Oh, and the other thing I’m looking at is eliminating automatic renewals — no more charges without my intervention.

Years ago when I was hypomanic I wrote part of a poem (when you’re hypomanic you have a hard time finishing anything) likening the progression of my thoughts to billiard balls randomly flying here and there.

My brain was like that today.

I couldn’t focus worth shit.

I’d start writing only to notice a phone call I "had" to make. Then I’d think "Oh. I need to check the forum to see if someone’s responded to my question" and off I’d go. Then reading the forum I noticed a dear friend was back (had been in hospital) so I just had to phone her! 3 hours later and not a damn thing written.

I fought it. I did.

But, finally I said to heck with it. And, surrendered.

Ah, sweet chaos!

Sometimes it just makes sense to give in and go with it.

The other day when I walked into the Safeway where I shop I notice a new sign that said, "Safeway is now a Hot Spot. Enjoy wireless Internet access!"

My first thought was why in hell would I need to access the Internet while in Safeway? I pictured shoppers, laptops precariously perched on their shopping carts, crashing into other shoppers while trying to read their emails.

Then I remembered: my Safeway has a wee Starbucks outlet crammed in one corner of the store with a stand where you can order your choice of Starbucks poison and tables where you can sit and "relax" while drinking your brew. Perhaps Safeway was compelled by Starbucks to provide wireless access because of Starbucks promise to its customers.

Whatever!

Most people who come to Safeway come to shop for groceries. They might grab a Venti Mocha Latte to get them through the experience. And, a few might sit at the tables next to the Starbucks coffee stand with their not to be missed view of the checkouts, to munch an over priced biscotti.

But really, how many people are going to sit there with their laptop?

Damn few.

Which leads to the fundamental question: why the hell to we need such immediate access to the Internet? Methinks we have TOO DAMN MUCH!

One of the reasons I love to go camping in the Rockies is because I GET AWAY from the Internet. In my humble opinion, we all need to get away from Internet access!

Sometimes LESS is More…. More peaceful. More soul restoring. More sanity.

I read a fascinating newsletter on success that advocates
paying attention to 10 aspects of success plus 10 sub aspects of each. That’s
100 things to focus on!! Sheesh! Not me!

And, I don’t think I’m alone in finding that we’ve already got a lot on are
brains. Yet we do want to succeed and make progress.

Want to actually achieve your goals?

Cut ‘em back!

When I did my the thesis project work for my Masters degree I worked with a
board that had more than a dozen goals — and were having a hard time achieving
any of them. One of my suggestions to the board was that they focus on 2 or 3
goals max.

It’s what I work hard to do in my own life.

This morning, on my walk, I was thinking about where I needed to focus my
attention. Up popped the Big 3! The same 3 that were important 6 months ago.

So, when I made a list this morning of the steps I want to take to achieve
these goals, I listed 3 ‘objectives’.

Imagine if you focused on and did the 3 most personally important tasks on your
list. Where would you be a month from now?

Chris writes: "My Greatest Challenge is Just staying caught up with all I want to accomplish and making sure I don’t say "yes" to every request I get to use my valuable time."

Chris really has two challenges.

Let’s look at #1: Staying caught up

It’s tough. Especially, if like most Artistic-types you WANT to accomplish a lot!! Tons, even.

I don’t know about you but I hate having to prioritize. I WANT it all!

Yet, the sure way to success is to pick the top 2 or 3 things and GO FOR THEM!

What about #2 Saying No!

It’s hard for me. I remember Joanne Worley of Laugh In fame, "I’m just a girl who can’t say N..N.. N!

Here’s a tip from my buddy Diana Lindstrom.

Don’t say no right away. Say something like, "That sounds interesting. Give me a while to think it over and I’ll get back to you."

Believe it or not! You’ll actually get to do more of what you want… if you work at it in bits.