Diets, exercise, schedule, business, family life, spirituality, etc.

And advertisers/marketers know this as well. It is during this time that you start hearing claims that x system versus y system is the greatest system for (fill in the blank).

Because I like to exercise and remain somewhat healthy, I am asked about “best exercise” all the time. My response is typically the same.. “What do you like to do?”

If they say, “walking.” – I tell them that “walking” is the best exercise you can do. If they say hiking or swimming or cycling.. then that is the best exercise they can do.

Our Problem is NOT “Optimal” it is “AT ALL.”

Most people don’t struggle with their weight or their schedule or life balance because they cannot find the optimal system. It is that they do not employ a system at all. It isn’t a challenge with “The System” but with “a system” and their actions – or lack thereof.

I use Google Calendar for maintaining my schedule. I LOVE IT! I think it is a great system because it integrates with my phone, is available all the time from any computer, and it sends me text message notifications.

My wife uses her Droid and even uses Google Calendar from time to time.. but she loves her written agenda and her list.

I might say that she is not using the “optimal” system.. but if you know here, she’s pretty freakin’ efficient when it comes to getting her stuff done. In fact, more efficient and diligent than I am.

Not because of her agenda and not because of a problem with Google Calendar. Nope.. very simple.. She works her system fanatically.. I don’t do that with mine.

But you should have A SYSTEM

I teach people systems. I coach them on content creation and a content calendar. I help them with productivity and scheduling. I help them put systems in place.

Systems are critical and it is good to evaluate your systems from time to time and make them better if you can. Having no system is efficiency suicide. It is foolish! In fact, it is irresponsible. Irresponsible to those who count on you and irresponsible to your dreams/goals (desired outcomes).

Make your systems intentional

If you believe you have “no system” for a given thing – ie: calendar and schedule – you are probably wrong. A system is just how we manage certain things. You have a way you keep your schedule – even if you do so less than effectively.

In order to make your system – whatever that system is – effective, you must add intention to it. This may require that you do a little research on what is available. But beware.. everyone is going to teach you that “their system” is the best. And while I may agree that certain systems have advantages over others, remember, if you LOVE walking, it is the BEST exercise you can do.

What systems do you want to make more intentional?

Let me know.

What are Google Collections?

Basic folders where you can organize your Google Documents. If your question is “What are Google Documents?” – they are… documents. It is like a Word Processor, Spreadsheet, Presentation, application that is online (in the cloud) and accessible by multiple people at one time.

While collections are like folders, they are not precisely physical folders. The are more like categories that can be nested. So a single document or file can be shared inside multiple collections.

The other power behind collections is that you can share a collection with one or more people and any document or file you put in that collection is now shared with whoever you shared the collection with.

Here – let’s make it simpler. Watch this video:

If you have any questions on “Collections” or Google Docs.. comment here or email me.

Discounting our own genius

I’ve talked about this topic a lot and next week, I’ll provide an update on how you overcome it. Hint: the word “NO!” takes a front seat.

The basic concept is this… your knowledge lives in your brain. You know what you know. Because of this, it is not extraordinary knowledge.. it is common… at least to you.

I have a conversation with a smart woman yesterday. But she allows her time and talent to be discounted – mostly by herself. She is asked for advice and gives it … freely – too freely – as in, she cannot afford to.

Think about it.. you probably have some extraordinary knowledge that you discount because it is common to you.

Around the web

My client and my coach Steven Memel pointed me at this service. I think it is pretty hip. ShoeBoxed.com allows you to both upload and send physical papers to them. They scan, OCR, and organize them for you. Very reasonable. You could do this on your own.. but why?

Marc Wolfsfeld pointed me a Trello.com for project management. The interface is very simple and I’ve started using it as a test. I may do a video overview of this in the near future.

Are you an author? Do you want to be? Read, “How to Write, Sell, and Publish Your Book” by Chris Guillebeau.

Have a great weekend!

A rational approach to online presence

The graphic above – shown again below – demonstrates a very basic overview of what I consider to be a rational and effective content strategy.

Blog and Mailing List is Key

Yeah yeah.. everyone is saying email is dead and the social stream is how people connect. Yes and no. The social stream is a reality but it is a noisy and often disengaged space. You need to be there for sure.. because “everyone” else is.

But, if you want to really get the best bang for your social media buck, your content should be driven from your blog and traffic back to your blog.

Social Engagement to True Engagement

Social media activities should engage people enough so that you are worth listening to. You must create high-value content that is ultimately housed and categorized on your blog. That is what gets people off the Facebook wall or twitter feed and to your site where you are no longer competing with cute kittens, political rants, and renewed high-school crushes.

The Ethical Bribe Still Lives

Just as with HubSpot’s EBooks, give-aways that provide a reason for site visitors to join your mailing list is the ultimate true engagement. You know have someone who has demonstrated their interest in your information.. enough that they will “put up with” you’re ongoing messages and perhaps even help advance your cause.

Increase the value and engagement

After that, make sure you do not forget about those who have engaged while pursuing new engagements. Continue creating high-value (educational) content. Provide better ways for them to connect and engage. Get your fans/list involved with who you are and what you do.

Tools I Use to Help Generate Content

Google Reader

I’ll be providing a tutorial on this soon. Google reader allows you to subscribe to blogs, news, twitter feeds, and other web information so that you are notified about when they are updated. It is great for consolidating information and is an excellent source for ideas.

Google Docs

Are you tired of hearing me extol the virtues of Google Docs? I have a content planning Workbook with a few sheets in it.  Ie: Google docs has an Excel style spreadsheet…

Content Ideas Sheet: I store things I can blog about and links to very interesting pieces of content.

Content Calendar Sheet: When I am ready to blog about something, I move it to this sheet and put a date on it.

Links to Check: This sheet is for links I want to check. They are not yet on the content ideas sheet but might be something I look at later. I track the date I put it in the sheet and where I saw it. I’ll also add a short note to the link.

Content Publishing Process

I’ll cover this in much greater detail later this week. But in short, it looks like this…

1. Publish on blog/website.
2. Publish link back to blog on social sites
3. Capture email addresses on blog/website.
4. Compile blog content for periodic (2-week) newsletter
5. Republish link on social sites (content reuse)

Simple.. right?

Note: This advice only matters if you want to be taken seriously.  If you are happy to be a caricature, don’t change anything.

Interesting is as interesting does

Facebook is very interesting. It’s interesting because there are people there.. and people are interesting.

Hint: Interesting is a great term. I use it all the time. Sometimes it means

Interesting: intellectually stimulating due to perspective and life experience or knowledge.

But other times it is a euphemism for “bizarre”, or “mean”, or “foolish”, any number of other less flattering ideas.

If I refer to you, something, or someone as “interesting”, you will have to decipher what I mean.

I don’t apologize

When I give my presentation, “Don’t Waste Your Time: The Ugly Truth About Social Media”, I cover this topic. I used to start the section with, “I apologize if I offend anyone with this.”

But that was a lie. I don’t apologize so I’ve removed that qualifier from this section.

4 People You Cannot Be Online

Facebook for me is a business/social medium. Really, in that order.  My advice is geared towards those in a similar position.

If you want to be taken seriously, there are 4 people you cannot be online. They are shown here:

The political ranter/conspiracist

The political ranter posts stories and opinions from any “alternative” news source to show that the “other side” is clearly racist, communist, evil, stupid, out to destroy the nation, hates the rich/poor, etc.

Or they post about Obama’s missing birth certificate, how George Bush and his administration are behind 9-11, etc.

I support your right to be as crazy as you want to be. My advice, however, is to keep it within the walls of your Tuesday night meeting of the “Crazy Conspiracy of the Month” club.

We are all a little crazy and you are allowed to be so. My advice is only for those of you who also wish to be taken seriously.

The angry individual/life ranter

“I’m so mad at my husband. He is such at $%^ and sometimes I wonder why I married him.” Or “My son/daughter did x, y, or z stupid thing today. What is wrong with kids?”

Listen, I understand that we all have challenges. But is Facebook and your 500 “close friends” the right place to air this stuff? You have real friends. Call someone up.. rant, complain, etc. – maybe you’ll  feel better. But I promise you, I’m probably not the person to help you with this. Plus, most of us believe in the “there are 2 sides to every story” and you are probably just pandering to the worst side of your friends list.

Instead, having a challenging day with someone, if you must post something, post a “Challenging day. Working through some things. Time to call a friend.”

The used car salesman

I see this a lot. Someone post daily a link to their website and a “I do this.” Message. Guess what.. so do many others. Instead, add some value. For instance, write a blog entry or a note that gives me some suggestions on how I can do what you do for myself.

Some people struggle with this concept. Feel as though they are giving away the farm. And yes, you are and you should. Why? Because most people cannot or will not do it for themselves any way. But for those who will, you gain social standing and become a go-to source for that information.

It isn’t about you and your services – it is about adding value to the network.

The social media slut.. er.. loose individual

I wrote a blog entry, “Keep Your Tongue Out of my Mouth”. I’ll republish it soon but here is the gist.

Scenario: When I connect with someone I try to put the relationship in context. I write them a note – particularly if I do not know them. I introduce what I do and how I use social media. I ask them to write me back with the same information and then ask them how I can help them.

I had done this with an individual a few months ago. They had not accepted my friend request for a week or so but when they did, they suddenly “invited me” to like more than 15 pages in about 2 minutes. None of the pages were particularly interesting to me.

They never responded to my personal message. They skipped dinner and drinks and stuck their tongue right into my mouth. It was gross!

I don’t “Like” pages unless I “Like them”. I don’t trade likes – because those aren’t really “likes”.  Read, “I like you and other Facebook lies”.

It isn’t a matter of “Am I allowed?” but “Should I?”

Don’t get me wrong. You can be any of those individuals above. I know several of them. I like them. I interact with them occasionally.. but I don’t take them seriously.

Be interesting but don’t be “interesting.”

You can check the calendar here.

All time are Pacific Standard (California):
Wednesday, Jan. 4, 2PM – Content & Blogging for engagement and SEO

Wednesday, Jan. 4, 4PM – Solution Selling:A Case-study Approach

Friday, Jan. 6, 9AM – Consultant Kickstarter: 5 Keys to starting your consulting business

Friday, Jan. 6, 12noon – Google-ize Your Business: Beyond The Search Engine

Tuesday, Jan. 10, 9AM – Don’t Waste Your Time: The Ugly Truth About Social Media

Tuesday, Jan. 10, 11AM – Solution Selling:A Case-study Approach

It’s Hip To Be Square and profitable too.

The Square from Squareup.com is a free device that turns your Android, iPhone, or iPad into a credit card payment processing station. This is an excellent resource for musicians, consultants, and really anyone who wants a quick easy way to accept payments without lugging credit card processing equipment or worrying about connectivity.

How does it work?

Simple.. Sign up for a free account at squareup.com and they send you the card-reader for your device – FREE!. You link your Square account to your bank account and then download the free card reader software to your phone.

Start the software, plug-in your card reader, punch in a price to charge for your product or service, and then swipe the customer’s card through the card reader slot. Your customer signs for the purchase right on your mobile device and then you are prompted for their email address so Square can send them a receipt. Square also prompts for a short description of what was purchased.

You are charged a slightly higher credit card fee then you would if you signed up for a merchant account at your bank and purchased the equipment for processing credit cards. But it is mobile, it is free (no monthly or yearly fees), and don’t even need a business bank account.. your personal account works just fine.

I give it 2 thumbs up, a facebook like, and a strongly recommend.

I talk about it in this video:

Elsewhere Around the Web

She’s quiet about this but my daughter has started blogging. I won’t share much more except to say, she’s a great writer, a fun person, and so smart. Read her “There is a point here somewhere” intro and you should be hooked.

Madalyn Sklar is a social media consultant and founder of GoGirls – an advocacy/support organization for female musicians. She adds to the “End of Year/Looking Forward” posts.. and does a great job.

I don’t know if this is a retread.. but if you want to build a very quick, but useful, smart phone app, Magmito.com is probably a good place to start.

And Happy New Year

If we don’t cross paths before then, Happy New Year and let’s work on a proactive and positive 2012.

I’ve written before how I do not make New Year’s resolutions but am not against using the New Year as a reminder to assess our plans. In fact, a few weeks ago I started suggesting you assess your goals and plans and use the new year as a good enough demarcation point for putting some plans into place. However, I also suggested that, in order to achieve some of those plans, you will need to make daily resolutions that keep you on tasks.

I am resolving to do some things and resolved to do them!

Desire without a plan and action is folly

I also discount a LOT of the proponents of Positive Mental Attitude (PMA) and purely motivation focused events. Mostly because I’ve witnessed and had many people tell me after such events, they come back without a pragmatic plan of action and the motivation becomes frustration and even bitterness. Next year, they are back at some “motivation seminar” – spending money they have not earned on the business dream or “life plan” they have not put into place.

I’m an optimist -but optimism with no plan is the same as pessimism with no plan but you have a smile on your face. In time, that optimism looks like foolishness and in most cases causes the optimistic to optimistically simple stop dreaming their dreams.

FYI: That’s okay.. contentment is a good thing.. but in many cases that person simply becomes silent about what they really want and contentment is a masks for despair with a smile.

Planning for action is a good first action

This coming week I’m going to write a couple entries about some of my plans for the New Year. Not all my plans.. personally I don’t believe it is necessarily useful for people to share their plans publicly. It is more important that you share them with your team, your coach or mentor, and, if necessary, an inner-circle to keep you accountable.

I’ll share some of those plans to let you see a bit of my process and how those plans are there to keep me focused and keep me motivated by achievement… this is the best motivation you can have, the motivation that is a byproduct of completing key tasks.

Below is my New Year’s poem.. Probably not winning an award with this but for an early morning, on my second cup of coffee, I’m satisfied! Enjoy!

A Poem For The Dream Doer

It is the day after Christmas and all round the world
People’s plans for the next year are getting a little absurd.
I’m going lose weight, improve my financial position
Have better relationships or just make better decisions

And while those all sound great and desire to be better is noble
Such statements typically ring empty; New Year’s resolutions a foible
Point A to Point B is not achieved by our desire or dreams
But by the plan and the action and diligent follow thru it seems

I’m not saying do not dream. Dream big and aim high
but you must do quite a bit more or those dreams will shrivel and die
But some feet on your goals; take the time to plan and prep
Write down those dreams and some intermediate steps

Surround yourself with the “dreamers who do”
Perhaps a mentor who has done it and believes you can too
Someone who pushes you forward, they might be a bit of a pain
because they won’t stand for excuses or let your lose sight of your plan

Silence the critic, the skeptic, and those who foster despair
Those content to believe that opportunity is not there
And remember the wise words, paraphrased so they fit
Those who believe it can’t be done, stay out of the way of us doing it!
- Matthew Moran, December 26, 2011

Big Thought of the Week

“The excitement was in finding them, not keeping them.” – 232 Sand Dollars blog entry by Derek Sivers.

A couple take-aways here: Enjoy your world but let others enjoy it too. Furthermore, much of what we do is driven by the joy of discovery or the rush of experience… but if we lose sight of the joy in the journey, we can quickly try to find joy in the acquisition. This feeds an appetite that is NEVER sated.

Technologies, Tools, & Strategies

It’s the week prior to Christmas, I’m only sharing one.

• Treepad: http://www.treepad.com
  I started using Treepad 5 or 6 years ago. It is an amazingTREE outline information management tool. After migrating to a new computer and NOT writing for a few years, I stopped using it. Recently, I rediscovered it..It allows you to create an outline of information, with article/written content in each tree. It is searchable, fast, and can export all the content into a menu driven complete website.. Less for design, more for rapid deployment of information.Another key feature is the ability to take a Treepad database (file) and using one of their many free add-on utilities, turn it into an E-Book executable. You can distribute this file with or without a password. Depending on the version (everything from FREE personal/lite to Enterprise multi-user), you are looking at $0 to a couple hundred dollars. I use Treepad Business $44. It’s a bargain.

Around the Web

I’m not using “Buffer” yet – a twitter/facebook social media publishing tool, but I started checking out their blog and ran across this blog entry. Ideas to paying customers in 7 weeks: how we did it. Similar to what I’ve read in Rework, they talk about getting 1 or 2 working pieces out there.. don’t wait until you have it “all together”. They say, “Keep version 1 minimal. No, more minimal than that.” – Great advice!

Friend and mentor, Coach Bill Hart shares about Optimization. Are your systems in place.. are they optimized. Bill may not realize but his prompting is partially responsible for my new book project.. so thanks.

I met Pam Slim in Phoenix at one of the first Social Media Club meetings. She is the author of what I consider the best titled blog and book ever! Escape From Cubicle Nation! And her material is good too. I could randomly pick almost anything she’s posted to feature but this is a great reminder of simplifying your presentations or products. Interesting equation.. take what you want to cover and “whack it in half” and then “whack it in half” again.

What I Am Doing

• I’ve had more than 100 consultants or aspiring consultants download my consulting proposal this week. If that was you, thank you. I hope you find it helpful. I’ve corresponded with a couple of you and will be coaching at least one of you in the new year. Continue to spread the word and let me know what you need.
• My daughter is visiting from Phoenix before she starts a rather epic journey. As such, I am coaching her on her blog and content. It is interesting coaching your adult daughter who has proven herself to be a doer. She doesn’t view herself that way, because, as I’ll write about next week, when you live in your head almost everything you experience is “average” – ie: we discount our own genius.
• Preparing content for the webinars. Next week I deliver two webinars. I’ve had a tremendous response so far – particularly for the week between Christmas and New Years.

Are you ready for 2012? Seriously.. are you taking it seriously! If not, if you want to accomplish more.. if you want to become a rockstar.. if you would rather move from wishing to being.. let’s talk!

*Yes, someone can be both a client and a coach.

I coach him on online presence, content, and technology – he coaches me on vocals and performance. Truth is, many of our conversations are exploratory strategy or focus on life-lessons.

We met at the Indie Music Conference in Hollywood this past October. I had given a presentation titled, “Don’t Waste Your Time: The Ugly Truth About Social Media.” The next day, my band was performing at a showcase at Musicians Institute. But I showed up early because I knew Steven was giving a workshop towards the end of the day.

We were already “friends” on Facebook but really had not interacted.. but I had heard great things about him and his workshops.

Identifying & Breaking Patterns

He started his discussion covering a number of topics.. much of which has nothing to do with vocals per se – and more to do with muscle memory, patterns, things we tell ourselves, etc. At one point, as he spoke about what we do unconsciously from a physiology standpoint, Becky turned to me and said, “Like you and smiling.”

Note: I love being on stage. My banter between songs is fun and easy.. but when I start performing, I become immersed in the song and with my band.. or I used to.. One of the most common comments/questions I USED to get when performing is, “Why don’t you smile more?”

Steven heard her comment and asked me, “Is smiling something you struggle with?” I nodded and Becky nodded furiously!

“Okay, I’m going to work with you last.”

Steven proceeded to work with two other performers, each on a specific area of voice or performance. One, a singer with a beautiful voice. The other a hip-hop artist – Terrence Brown. I like Terrance. He had been in my workshop the day prior and was smart and engaged. Steven’s work with him was eye-opening to me.

Actually, his work with both of the artist before me was impressive. Much of what he does is break your own pre-conceived notions or patterns.

Then came my turn. He brought me on stage and had me perform the opening verse and chorus to one of my songs..

I did so. When I was done, he had me do an exercise…

He told me to think about and flex the muscles I use to smile.. but NOT to smile. The exercise was to feel how it felt to flex those muscles.

Steven then had me perform the same piece BUT I had to flex those muscles the entire time! It didn’t matter how weird it felt or whether it impacted my vocals – just that I flex them continuously.

I won’t lie.. I felt strange; like a buffoon! Really, it felt awkward… but I did it. He’s the expert!

After I was done, applause broke out from the audience.. then the interesting part of the exercise.

He asked me how it felt… “Weird.. contrived.”

“Now I want you to ask everyone else their thoughts but you cannot interject your opinion. You can only ask for feedback.”

So I did.. the responses..

“That was amazing! You looked like you were having the best time!”

“Electric!”

Becky actually had tears in her eyes.. so did I to be honest.

Similar to Terrence’s work prior, Steven explained a few things – and I am paraphrasing and butchering much of this, so check out his material for yourself.

• When we perform, we are thinking about the mechanical elements of the performance. Remembering lyrics, breathing, playing guitar, etc.
• We have patterns and those things we’ve trained ourselves to do – so we don’t think much about changing those.
• You need to make a conscious, intentional effort to change patterns – and this is key.

Assume the Role Before You Are Given The Role

One of the things he touched on several times is that performance is about performing. The truth is, if you want to step into superstar status, you’d better perform like a superstar even when you playing the dive bar with no one but 4 drunk people at the bar in attendance.

Later that night, at the showcase, I focused on engaging direct eye contact and SMILING a lot during my performance. Our third song was the one from the seminar. Of the 25 or so people in attendance, perhaps 8 of them had been at Steven’s workshop.

I asked who had attended the workshop and then said, “I’m doing the song from the workshop. Don’t let people know the secret but see how I do…” And then I performed it – as big as I could! I smiled!!! And at the start it felt a big contrived… but then something happened…

Before the song ended, I was not playing a rockstar on stage.. I was being a rockstar on stage.. The smile moved from being contrived to just being!!

When I completed the song, several people in the audience jumped up – an enthusiastic shout and response. Afterward, several of them approached me to tell me how amazing the performance was… And it felt like it!!

Someone who I’ve been fortunate to witness do this is Bobbo Byrnes of The Fallen Stars. He wants that stage and wants all of it!!!

The same idea, however, can translate to your business. You cannot run your business as though it is “when I get there” type of proposition. Your bring talent and energy to the equation.. don’t wait until you have or are recognized by the big client to play the part of someone with big clients.

And don’t wait for permission.. or if you are waiting for permission, here it is.. I give you permission to be a rockstar! In fact, the way you will be viewed as a superstar on the stage or in business is to embrace your inner rockstar now!

Thank you! And Good night Los Angeles!

It’s is Christmas time and a common phrase is, “I have too much to do.” As I speak with people and reflect on my own list of “to do’s” for the season, I’m struck with a few thoughts. The ideas translate pretty well to how we run our business and life in general. In fact, while it seems to be more prevalent during the holidays, the “I have too much to do” refrain is a year long, everyday phenomenon.

We have our TO DO list down.

The TO DO list is an important part of life and business management. I use a variation on David Allen’s Getting Things Done methodology – although I’ve also attended a Franklin-Covey time & tasks management workshop. I enjoyed learning those techniques and have adopted those as well. In fact, the idea of taking items off the top-of-mind until they need to be thought about and addressed is a critical skill.

I use Google Calendar, Google Tasks, my Droid (smart-phone), and some Google docs, for information management. I’ll discuss how in future posts.

The WANT TO DO List

If you are anything like me, you’ve got a “WANT TO DO” list. I’ve got an enormous “WANT TO DO” list. In fact, I’ve been formalizing this – creating a true bucket list of personal, family, professional, and creative things I want to accomplish. Want to see part of it..

• Living Aboard a Sailboat for a few weeks/months
• Sailing down to the islands (take your pick)
• Writing 8 new books, including 2 novels
• Learning to draw
• Owning a small family ranch with 1 bedroom cabins for my kids (“the compound” or “Casa de Moran”)
• Meeting the president (not in a line of people, I want coffee with him/her)… note, this would be any sitting president regardless of party.. I respect the office and the person.

There are more, but you get the picture.

The Art of Exclusion and what you are NOT going to do

Having grand and dramatic goals is awesome! You should. Funny thing is I don’t even view any of the items on my list (those above and those I have not shared) as a stretch. I believe I can and will accomplish them.

More important, I am working towards many of them at any given time.

However, no matter how productive you are, you have a limited capacity. Everyone does, and to deny that is silly. And this requires that you take some of your goals and the direct tasks to get there off your list.

Additionally, if you wish to make the best use of your time, you need to control your day and the time you lose in meaningless pursuits.

My Music Business Plan

I write and play music. In 2007 and 2008, I had been playing around Phoenix. I had been hired at some wine bars and other small venues; playing originals and enjoying it fairly well. But as 2009 started, I asked myself the question, “What are you planning on doing with your music?”

I thought about the past couple of years and realized that I was not doing any of the things I coach my clients on. I had no real direction. I was honing my craft and more or less being a semi-professional musician but that was not enough for me.

I sat down and I wrote a business plan for my music. It is something I recommend every musician and every person do – ie: whether you are an employee or an entrepreneur, write a business plan.

WARNING: DO NOT BUY A BOOK ON BUSINESS PLANS

My music business plan was 5 pages long. It included 9 “achievables” – things to accomplish that moved me forward. A simple list with some notes on how I would get there.

The book ReWork and others – Derek Sivers covers this as well – teaches you that most business plans are a waste of time. You cannot predict the future and too strict a plan, one you’ve invested hours and hours into, could cause you to be so focused on your plan that you miss or deny flexible opportunities.

As I looked at my plan, I realized, given my current schedule (I am a father, entrepreneur, husband, etc.) and immediate needs, I could not accomplish or even work on all the items on my list. I am confident they are all good things to work on – but to do so would have led to lackluster results.. at best.

The TO DON’T list

And so my “TO DON’T” list was born.  I excluded things – good things – from my active plan, from my list of achievables until some later date when key goals were met and I could revisit them.

But I took it even further. I’ve never been much of a TV watcher.. it is not my deal.. or as I often say, “My life is not yet boring enough for TV!”

And so I decided to add some lifestyle and attitude things to my TO DON’T list. Here is a part of it.

• I WILL NOT set my schedule around TV
  (I might watch a “significant” sporting event and I do like the show “Justified” but I won’t TIVO it and last season only saw one episode.. )
• I WILL NOT allow fast food and other junk to be part of my regular diet.
  (rather than stopping at McDonalds, for instance, I stop at a grocery store, buy 2-3 slices of turkey and a yogurt).
• I WILL NOT try to convince the unconvinceable.
• I WILL NOT vote for any candidate who runs a negative ad or campaign
  (the amount of time this saves me at the polls is incredible.)
• I WILL NOT replace my “NEED TO DO” list with someone else’s “YOU SHOULD DO” list.
• I WILL NOT criticize, condemn, or complain!
• I WILL NOT lose hope or release my dreams and goals.
• I WILL NOT spend time with or respond to negative people.
• I WILL NOT listen to or repeat what “THEY” say.
  (see below.. mythical people in an undisclosed location, making pronouncements)

But shouldn’t you only state things in the positive

There are some who believe that the human mind does not process the negative and believe I should only state things in the positive. Couple things about this: many people cite studies similar to the way they sight “they” – whoever they are. Ie: “They” say….

First, citing studies by saying, “there are studies” is not truly citing studies. It would seem those studies are stuck somewhere in a room with that same group of pundits called, “THEY”. And check my list, I don’t listen to what “THEY” say.

Exclusion is a positive

Also, I would suggest that an emphatic statement of exclusion is a positive. But I don’t mind if you change how you word things… Identifying things, even good things, that you exclude from your TO DO list is a critical factor in creating focus and momentum.

So my question is, what are you putting on your “TO DON’T” list today?