I have not been keeping up with my Above Excuses platform and I can easily pass it off as “I have been to busy”. However the truth is that I have been lazy when it comes to planning and committing. Yes this year was a busy and amazing year with Madison & Caleb’s wedding followed by Logan & Alyssa’s wedding 8 months later. Also, this year was a great year with OxeFit and its growth however the reality is that I could have made the time to focus on AE and spend more time being there for others.
As I look back I can see that I was busy but I could have been more productive. The question is what can I do differently this year to accomplish things that are meaningful to my family, myself and others. In order to do this I need to fully understand the difference between being busy & being productive, I can give you the definitions but I will expand on my thoughts as it pertains to myself.
Being Busy
I work with many people that are “busy” all the time, in fact they are so busy being busy they are unable to to even accomplish the things they are meant to accomplish which creates log jams for everyone else they work with. I also have friends and family that are super amazing and I would love to plan more time with them but they too are extremely busy leaving no time for friends and family.
Being Productive
I think this is a simple one, write down your weekly, monthly & yearly goals. Make notes on what needs to be done in your work life and set the hours of each day that you will focus on work. Then write down what needs to be done in your personal life along with the hours dedicated to meeting those actions. It could be as simple as, call mom & make sure my sales team has all the quotes they need approved in a timely fashion. Then check that s**t off and move on!
The Plan
This year I will carefully plan out my days, weeks & the year as it pertains to things I would like to accomplish with work, play and family. I will take the time to create a wish list and make the time to plan it out one step at a time. I will not allow myself to feel bad if I cant make every event but I will make the effort and I will continue to communicate with all involved along the way so I don’t let anyone down.
My Point
Please don’t misunderstand, I do not have a crystal ball in order to see into others lives so I cannot say whether they are busy or productive. I am looking back on my life and I know that I worked hard to climb the ladder to what I thought was my destiny but after I lost my father I realized I could have planned better in order to have spent more time with family. Moving forward I will not make that same mistakes again.
Above Excuses 