Time management for misfits and dreamers for catalyst ranch

Copyright © 2011 | Dark Matter Consulting
TIME MANAGEMENT
FOR MISFITS AND DREAMERS
David Kaiser, PhD
Executive Coach and CEO
Dark Matter Consulting

Agenda
•Introduction
•Great Content on Productivity
•Gifts for You
•Good Bye!

Introduction
•Executive & Relationship Coach
•Help creative business people have
more fun, get more done, and get
paid lots more
•CEO, Dark Matter Consulting

The Time Management Problems
That Misfits and Dreamers Face
• You’ve tried various systems, apps, lists, etc
• It doesn’t work
• You give up and resign yourself to chaos

Why Does That Happen?
• Our work isn’t linear
• We get in our own way

Linear Work
Have you ever painted a room?
Or performed basic data-entry?
It’s pretty linear…and pretty boring

Linear Work
With linear work, the more you do (i.e., the
harder you work), the more you get done.
But it’s still boring.

Linear Work
As misfits and dreamers, we tend to be really
BAD at forcing ourselves to do boring work.
And linear time management systems don’t work
well for us.

Non-Linear Creative
& Knowledge Work
The most interesting work, though, is NOT linear
•Writing a book or creating a work of art
•Planning a roll-out of a completely new product
•Founding a company or non-profit

Non-Linear Creative
& Knowledge Work
Which means we need specific systems and
attitudes which support our work
So…. be sure to learn time management from other
Creatives, not from Linears!

Non-Linear Creative
& Knowledge Work
We also need time to rest, and time to let ideas
percolate
Constant hard work KILLS creativity, so you end up
working harder for less results.

Non-Linear Creative and Knowledge Work
• So, MAKE and DEFEND time to be playful and
follow your curiosity, you will be rewarded with
more and better output.
• Do NOT let the Linears tell you to stop wasting time
and get back to work, you are working!

We Get In Our Own Way
Self-Doubt
False Choices

Self-Doubt
As kids and young adults, when the tools we were
given didn’t work for us, we assumed the problem
was US, not the TOOLS….
WE WERE WRONG…IT WAS THE TOOLS!

Self-Doubt
Or maybe someone wanted us to be neat and
organized because it suited them…not us, so we
never learned to value organization our own way for
our own purposes

Self-Doubt
You may have a story you tell yourself, like
“I’m just not the organized type…”

False Choices
A false choice is when you think you have to choose
one thing or the other, when you really can have both.

False Choices
Success or Integrity
Smart or Pretty
Confidence or Humility
Creative or Organized

False Choices
Often they’re a way of feeling better about ourselves,
by putting someone else down:
“I don’t keep a to-do list, only pencil-necks do that”
“I’m a starving artist (I’m not a sell-out)”

False Choices
If you’re not sure what your story is, complete these
sentences:
I’m not organized, I’m __________
Organized people are so __________

Stories BE GONE!
The stories we tell ourselves have a way of becoming
true…so you have to STOP, and then replace them
with new stories.

New Stories
“I handle time and budgets well, for things that matter.”
“Being organized lets me do the creative work I love.”
“I’m responsible, and passionate.”
Find role models for perspectives and techniques!

Crucial Moment
Seriously, the stories are really important, if you don’t
replace the bad stories, no technique or tool will save
you.

Techniques / Tools
OK, you’re onboard, now what?

Techniques / Tools
A time and task management system is VERY PERSONAL
There is NO BEST PRACTICE or ONE BEST WAY
But you’ll get some basic ideas

Techniques / Tools
Take what you like, modify it to suit you, and if it doesn’t
work, then find a new tool (don’t blame yourself)
Commit to trying something for five days. If it works, you can
extend it for another five.

Lists
You probably need two main lists:
DO TODAY and
DO SOON*
*some of these items may have deadlines

Lists, part II
You may also want these lists:
DO SOMEDAY (DREAMS)
DO LONG-TERM
PROJECT-BASED LISTS

Lists, part III
On DO TODAY,
choose 4 – 5 high priority items that move your work
forward.
Make sure these get done, everything else is icing on the
cake

Protect Your Time with Boundaries
•Block it in your calendar
•Close your door (or face away from your cube entrance)
•If necessary, hide in a conference room or café
•Tell co-workers when you will be available again (so they
don’t freak out)

Routines
May sound boring, but can help you get things done
Can include “fun” things like creative work or bouncing ideas

Routines
Set certain times of day to answer email (not constantly)
Figure out which tasks yield big payoffs, do those first
Making and checking lists (so you get to the good stuff)
Great for making hard stuff go smoothly

Be Early, Bring Stuff to Do
Being late makes you look flaky
Being early is professional
Build in a buffer to account for the unforeseen
Have something to do when you’re early

Project Planning
Assume it’s going to take longer than you think
Start as early as you can
Chunk it down into smaller milestones
Envision success, and celebration!

Procrastination
Procrastination occurs when the task is unpleasant or scary
Name the unpleasant emotion, sit in it for a moment, then
get to work, it won’t kill you, I PROMISE!
Find a way to make the task more pleasant (music?)

Resources
• Evernote (“junk drawer for your brain!”)
• Remember The Milk
• Getting Things Done (David Allen)
• Seven Habits of Highly Effective People (Stephen Covey)
• Manila Folders
• Index Cards

Re-Cap
•Our work isn’t linear
•Change the stories that get in our way
•Use lists to track (if that helps)
•Rely on routines
•Get there early
•Project planning
•Face procrastination head on

Gift!
•Two articles: “Four Unusual Steps to Better Time Management” and
“Answers to the Question ‘Is This All There Is?’” at
www.DarkMatterConsulting.com, when you subscribe to my eZine
and get tips and inspiration
Facebook.com/darkmatterconsulting, @DarkMatterCon

Another Gift!
•Complimentary 30 minute “more fun, more done, more money”
session
Facebook.com/darkmatterconsulting, @DarkMatterCon

Time management for misfits and dreamers for catalyst ranch

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