Thank You, Timothy Ferris

“The question you should be asking isn't, "What do I want?" or "What are my goals?" but "What would excite me?”

“Many a false step was made by standing still.”

“Focus on being productive instead of busy.”

            Timothy Ferris

I was looking at a book called The 4-Hour Work Week, by Timothy Ferris, and reading a chapter called The End of Time Management.  The premise is that we need to focus on a few things, not many things in order to be successful.    He discusses two principals, Pareto’s Distribution and Parkinson’s Law. 

Pareto’s Distribution says that 80% of our effectiveness comes from only 20% of what we do.  In other words, much of what we do give us few or no results.  So what can I focus on that will give me the best results? 

Parkinson’s Law says a task will be finished in the time allotted.  In other words, if I give myself until December 29, to reach 365 blogs, that’s when I will do it.  If I give myself until the 25^th, then I will have them done by the 25^th.  So what can I focus on that will give me be the best results?

The author said that if these two principles are combined, we would be far more effective.  This requires deciding what is really important.  If I could only do 20% of the things I do, what would they be?   If I only had two hours to get something done, or one day, what would I do?

So without a lot of thought, here are my priorities:

1.       I want to write.  This bears no explanation.  I think this is part of my calling in life and I think I’m good at it.   I’d like to make money at it, obviously, and if it can be a way for us to travel together, that would be even better.

2.     I want to do public speaking or have some kind of format, where I can encourage others, like a radio show.  In fact, I would love a radio show.  It could also be a classroom, but I would want to teach things that are motivational.

3.     I want to read.  I love reading and I love learning new things.

I want to make money.  I’ve said this before.  I want enough to put my kids and grandkids through school.  This means that I would be wealthy.  I don’t want or need to be ostentatious, but I do want a house on the beach. 

That’s it.  I need to do things well now, though, and I especially need to have more self-discipline.  I feel that I waste a lot of time.  I need to use it better.  So the next time I write my goals, I’m going to write things that are pertinent to these goals. 

I’m going to Get Started and Keep Going…on the things that will give me the best results.