We can do things or ….

Here’s 25 Time Management Tips

Wikipedia’s definition of Desperado “(’desperate’ in Spanish — this is an old and now incorrect usage of the word, today desesperado is the right word) means a person who cannot wait for something to happen, and sometimes may recur to violent or reckless actions.”

1. Desperation leads to not listening to truth

2. Desperation leads to making moves that is detrimental

3. Desperation for something is a true sign of a need for something else

4. Desperation for the something else is the real cure for desperation

Whenever we are desperate, turn it into the desperation to find the real need for something else. For example if we are desperate for a cigarrette, be desperate to find a solution to healthy relief. Spend some money to enrol yourself in a sport or activities that you will really like that takes you away from smoke.

If we are desperate for a job, don’t try to grab a job, but turn it into the desperation of being a useful person. Learn how you can contribute and be interested in the company more than in yourself.

If we are desperate for a boyfriend or girlfriend, be desperate to find the true solution to loneliness. Be desperate to be a better person and secure person. Be an excellent friend to people who are already around you. Don’t go after a person thinking he/she will give you happiness.

If you need a sugary drink or a latest tech gadget or a great handbag, just go for something else.

Above all, the best desperation for ’something else’ is the desperation for the voice and touch of God. After all we go through in our journey, we know that it’s the voice and the healing touch of God that always trustworthy.

I hold it and my family knows it. My kids practice it and they know if they do their homework now, their play will be much better later.

It’s not the same the other way around.

It just doesn’t work and its not much fun either.

1. Make sure YOU initiate to start the day, not a phone call or an urgent meeting. Don’t rush through your day or let the day drag you around. Be determine to enjoy the day by rising a bit earlier just to work on yourself and let God work on you.

2. Love is made of faith and action. Perfect love cast out all fears so great faith and excellent deeds is what we are after to have courage for the day. Yes let love rule the day (with great faith and a bias towards action).

3. Define what success in your day is. Pray for what you should do and keep to a power “to do” list, that has only essential things you are meant to do. As work is always there and there will always be more, say no or postpone urgent things that are not important.

4. Think good thoughts so you will worry or fear less. Think about the verse of the day and know God is always with us. “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” - John 14:27

5. Don’t bash yourself silly. Don’t think lesser of ourselves than we are. Just think of ourselves less.

I am half a project manager (in IT) and half a minister (to children). So that means I do ‘work’ and I do cReaTiVe ‘work’! I have an Acer laptop running Windows XP (ok, you know how Vista is) and I have a Mac Mini running Mac OS X (my Leopard) at home. It’s a great combo, both my work and my tools. I love what I do very much.

I also love Starbucks. Last tuesday, I visited one of my favourite Starbucks outlets in Orchard. I ordered my latte and fired up my laptop. I worked through some stuff, rushed out some emails and confirmed some meetings. I did what I had to do but it didn’t feel right.

I can’t really put a finger on it but Windows XP just doesn’t go well with a cup of Starbucks coffee. I looked at someone next to me. He was working on a white Macbook and he looks good .. and happier

- - - - -

In the evening I went home to fixed myself another cuppa. I sat down in front of my Mac Mini. I wrote some articles, I listened to some video podcast and worked on some art work. It feels positively different. It worked just the same but I had fun doing it and got some really inspired work going.

OK, having been a user of both PC/Windows and Macs on and off for 20 over years, everyone knows I prefer a Mac. I like my present Mac Mini with OS X sitting on the desktop of my home studio to death.

OK, that’s fine, you say .. but its a desktop and not a laptop. You question… so how am I going to carry it around like that cool bloke at Starbucks? OK point taken.

This morning I did an experiment.

It may just work as a laptop. It really depends on what you use it for. I think I may just look good with it at a Starbucks outlet.

10 private reasons why i prefer a mac mini
1. My wife loves it because it won’t take up valuable spaces.
2. I love it because it boost my style and esteem.
3. I do more real work (and less unnecessary work like squating down to fix the soundcard) and I do it more creatively.
4. I listen to more music and watch more video
5. It’s intuitive and I learn new technology faster (I finally learn how to read RSS feeds with an aggregator, subscribe to podcast, organise my media files)
6. I can make video podcasts out of the box (which i started doing)
7. I can write and record my music out of the box (which I did in less time than I formerly did on Windows)
8. It inspires work (instead of work inspiring it)
9. It can also be a laptop (..err soft of)
10. And most importantly, it goes well with latte at Starbucks Coffee.

Look at all the riches and winnings in my junk mailbox.

I did my round of weeding them out before finishing the day. I don’t like spams not because spams are bad but because they exists together with legitimate emails. I don’t mind anything bad if I can recognise what they are. I just hate it when I can’t recognise them.

Weeds will live together with the wheat in all our days to come. Our ability to catch them and zap them out is crucial. That’s why I try to evaluate my day as often as I can. I use a journal and some music, plus prayer.

Steps toward fearless living:

1. Accept fearlessness is a much better place

2. Look within yourself not outside

3. Let go of having to be right

4. Let go of what should bring you joy

5. Make gaining wisdom a goal

6. Be a energizer, bring faith to those around you

7. Make it your life goal to care for others, not yourself

Yes, we are made not to care for ourselves. The root of fear is the excessive concern of ourselves. We fear when we have a vision of what our lives will be and then have things happen that threaten that path. We also fear when achieving our vision and then fear that it’ll be taken away.

If our goal in life is to love and advance others, then it is and will be guaranteed fearless living because…

1. When you care for others, you’ll always have a job

2. When you care for others, you’ll always lead a happier family

3. When you care for others, others will remember you and celebrate your birthday

4. When you care for others, you may fail but you bounce back up right away

5. When you care for others, you’ll always rock in the eyes of God

The best advice I’ve ever given to a child who comes to me and say “I don’t know how to do it” is “I want you to make mistakes, Go on make some mistakes for me”.

Then the child went on to do her best.

She made 5 out of 6 guesses correctly.  Yes the success rate for those who don’t try is 0%. For those who try, it’s definitely more.

How to remove guilt/fear from your life?

1. Kick it

2. Hit it

3. Rebuke it

4. Sit on it

5. Cook it

6. Walk all over it

7. Ignore it

8. Replace it

9. Forget it

10. Step on it

11. Boil it

12. Make faces at it

13. Chuck it

14. Walk away from it

15. Run directly towards it

16. Flip it

17. Incapacitate it

18. Shake it

19. Play stare with it  (but make sure you win)

20. Rock it

21. Soak it

22. Hit it again

23. Electrocute it

24. Slap it

25. Hammer it

26. Grill it

27. Bore it

28. Strangle it

29. Bring it to see Barney on Ice

30. Deep fry it

That’s 30 ways. See, told you God has given me great wisdom.