I’m constantly modifying, tweaking, testing different ways to being as efficient with my time as possible. I don’t have a perfect system (yet), but I try hard. Like everyone else in the millennial or digital native generation(s), I like to multi-task to save time. If what I’m working on requires light focus, then multi-tasking can be the way to go. However, some things require my undivided attention (or I just need to get #%$@ done, b/c of a deadline).

So here’s what I’ve been doing as of lately to stay focused…

I’ll set the timer on my iPhone to 20:00min. Then I won’t allow myself to do anything else, except for that 1 thing, for the next 20 minutes. I’ll turn my cell phone over, shut down email, turn-off Twitter and Facebook …and only focus on just 1 thing for 20 minutes.

And guess what? It’s working great! Even during the times when I want to multi-task, I’ll only let myself do it for 20-minutes. That way, my time doesn’t get away from me. Also, there are studies that have proven that most adults are unable to sustain attention on one thing for more than 20 minutes at a time. So science is on your side with this one

Try it out. It might be helpful for you too.
–

Look how awesome the view was out my window when I landed in Kansas City today! (taken with my point-n-shoot Canon S95, post edit in Photoshop). I was so happy to be home after quite the run-around trying to get back home. I was in Boston on Monday for meetings, I had no clue that #snowmageddon was going to take on the U.S. by storm (literally). My layover lasted overnight in Dallas. Even Texas was hit hard with ice! #gladtobehome #ilovekansascity

I noticed while flying on Frontier Airlines to Boston, every time our airline hostess spoke on the intercom, she would announce and preface everything with, “I’ve got great news” or she would say things like “Guess what, I have something fantastic to tell you”. What she was announcing was standard, the basic safety prompts that are required, like “We are about to take-off so turn off your cellphone” or things like “We are serving drinks now.” But it was amazing to me, just observing the power when she used a simple, positive phrase first …how much of a difference it made. It got my attention.

So it got me to thinking.

I sit in a lot of meetings and situations that required me to present ideas or plans. Within the past year, I made a deliberate effort to remove from my vocabulary and phrases of uncertainty like “I’m not sure if you’ll think this is a good idea…” or “you might not like this idea but…”

…there’s something to be said about giving yourself a chance, by first giving yourself a chance.

Take those same phrases and replace them with ones like, “I have this great idea to tell you” or “I have this great story to tell you.” Or more subtle, “I have something you should consider.”

…see the difference?

Give yourself a chance. Don’t sell yourself short. If you’re leading the conversation with uncertainty, you may think you’re coming across as being humble, but you’re more than likely doing yourself a disservice. Speak with confidence when you are telling a story or presenting an idea. If the way you present your thoughts are uncertain, why should anyone rally behind your idea? In short speak with conviction and enthusiasm, it makes all the difference.

(btw, i couldn’t stop laughing at the Jack Donaghy photo when I found it- i felt it was appropriate for the blog post)
–