Top Time Tip #110
Leave Gaps And You'll Achieve More in Less Time
18th September 2008
Hello from a relaxing timeshare resort in County Clare, in the South of Ireland. I'm practising what I preach - having a few days 'sanity gap' in the midst of the very busy schedule that's zipping me around much of England and Wales in this current three week UK jaunt.
In case you're thinking 'Well, why are you writing an ezine if you're relaxing?' today is the only day of these five that I've dedicated to work - and both play and work have been great. Today has been a delicious chance to catch up with a bunch of interesting things that haven't had air time in the hectic travel schedule. And this week's article, in the spirit of keeping things simple, is quite short - but a powerful lesson that's been reinforced for me on this trip.
Here's yesterday's proof that it hasn't been all work - the famous Cliff of Moher.
Leave Gaps and You'll Achieve More in Less Time
This trip to Ireland has really reinforced this week's topic. About a month ago, planning the final details of the trip, it appeared that there was a free week between two very busy weeks. So, not one to want to waste time (surprise, not!) I decided to book a week's holiday in Ireland. After all, a significant reason for deliberately seeking work in the UK is because I love the place. Having never travelled from the shores of New Zealand until I was almost 40 I'm a woman on a mission - to experience the beautiful and/or interesting places I've read about all my life, plus have adventures. And I guess it's something about my mix of Anglo-Saxon and Celtic origins but I feel very connected to much of the UK and Ireland and take every opportunity to explore.
As we were organising flights to and from Ireland I had a little niggle (yes, it was intuition and I didn't listen!) that perhaps I should delay on booking the flights. I ignored that wee nudge and flights were booked and paid for. You've guessed it - I was in England only a matter of two days and a range of really interesting and enjoyable opportunities showed up - at both ends of that week in Ireland.
The bottom line? I accepted the other opportunities. Last Friday was a chance to connect with my dear Kiwi mate Maggie Eyre who now lives in London; there was also a very generous invitation to stay over with Richard and Ann Palfreeman who own a very successful London realtor and letting agency. Both of those meant delaying the flights to Ireland by one day.
Then I was asked if I could fill in for a speaker who'd been unexpectedly called away. That event is at Peterborough, in the Midlands of England, on the day before I was due to leave Ireland.
Well, of course we always have choice when such opportunities show up. What do we do in such situations? One option is to say, 'Thank you but I'm already committed. I have other plans.' The other is to move things around and see what we can fit in.
Well, no surprise if you've known me for a while but I'm always up for adventures. This time I listened to my intuition and the answer was 'do it'. So I did, even though it cost extra to change the Aer Lingus flights.
The stories are still being written, but all manner of interesting and helpful conversations as well as fascinating and amazing opportunities are evolving out of being flexible enough to adjust. Just one event is a meeting with Christine Miller, editor and publisher of ReSource, a fabulous business magazine with a difference. (Check out www.resourcemagazine.co.uk )
So, What Learning Point Can We Take Out Of This?
Apart from not booking flights too soon!? (And another school of thought could just as easily say 'book early'!)
Two things I see. The first I've touched on - listen to your intuition.
Secondly, if we block our time too tightly we miss opportunities (as well as create potential stress.)
One outcome of tight scheduling is that we create an energy wave of tension. It's a heavy energy, one in which there is no room for variation, no space to go with the flow. Perhaps this sounds a bit airy-fairy ('has she been drinking leprechaun poteen, you might be wondering). But no, this is not new thinking.
Life is a constant juggling act; a see-saw between polarities. On one hand, if we're so relaxed that we never plan anything we become like a tumble-weed rolling randomly, achieving little. But if we are too tightly focused we become like an iron battleship, with no room to take quicker or better pathways as they show up. We become inflexible, and in that inflexibility we miss opportunities.
It seems to be a common theme these days to try and cram in more, more, more into every waking moment. Is it really good time management? You know I'm up for being efficient, but (and I know it seems a contradiction) over-booking or really tight scheduling isn't good time management at all. Cultivate an enquiring mind, be open to possibilities, keep space in your day and your life, and let your sub-conscious point you in the right direction. You might be surprised how effective it is - when you listen.
The big outcome of my being flexible will be a faster penetration into the UK market with my books, articles, training programmes and the various other features of our business.
When you're working on something new, which would you like - the heavy slow and steady way or the fast way?
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