How are you?
Nowadays, most people answer that question with one word: busy. And yet it doesn’t have to be that way! If we can better plan our time, we won’t be constantly caught off guard, much like Jane Austen writes in in Emma (also available on Audible):
Surprises are foolish things. The pleasure is not enhanced, and the inconvenience is often considerable.
If you need more guidance, here are some of my favourite Seth Godin quotes from his 2023 blog posts, together with a recommended title from Blinkist.
Doing chores cheerfully and with skill is a fine hobby. But it might not be what you need to do right now. ~ Chores
Learn more: How to Stop Procrastinating
Heroism is more fun but less reliable than good planning. ~ Simple techniques for complex projects
Learn more: The Power of When
Hustle is rarely the most useful action. Systems are built to resist short-term hurried effort. But patient, persistent and focused effort can pay off. ~ The maverick and the status quo
Learn more: Slow Productivity
In any environment with constraints (which is, actually, any environment), the decisions about time and resources–about what to do next–change everything. ~ “What’s next?”
Learn more: Uptime
Sometimes, we establish false limits so we can leave room for when we need to hurry up. But hurry has a limit, and lowering our standards doesn’t stand the test of time. ~ Deadlines and tailgaters
Learn more: Create Space
The most exciting thing about professional project management is that it trades away excitement for systems thinking and intentional action. We make heroes out of people who show up with the last-minute save, but the real work is in not needing the last minute. ~ Project management
Learn more: Building a Second Brain
The urgent problem might actually benefit from a short cooling-off period. But important challenges can’t wait. ~ Can’t wait
Learn more: Life Leverage
The way we think about our priorities makes a huge difference. ~ “What’s next?”
Learn more: The 12 Week Year
We can’t waste time because it’s not ours to waste. It’s simply the way we keep track of everything else. ~ No time to waste
Learn more: The Science of Getting Started
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