One Landmine to Personal Productivity

One Landmine to Personal Productivity

Posted on by Matthew Laker

Landmines have one objective they are laid out to injury, destroy and kill. They are hidden just under the ground, and quite. What if in our lives, let’s say in the area of personal productivity there are landmines in our life. These little, or perhaps not so little, destructive elements that are creating barriers to succeeding in our productivity.  

Many times when we look at personal productivity, we think about systems and tools. However, what if it is deeper than that. What if pride can destroy our productivity. 

Today I know we are encouraged to be proud, but let me explain what I mean by pride. I see three parts to it.  

  1. Thinking we are better than others
  2. A need to feel special.    
  3. A need to show others all you have done.   

We can negatively perceive our selves when we do not check off everything on the to-do list. We can get a false identity from how much we accomplish and we ride the emotional roller coaster of the ups and downs.    

Really who are we trying to impress may be a question to ask?

When others do not live up to our standard, we look down on them. There is an attitude that we know better than others. That, in turn, hurts teamwork or partnership, and it pushes others away. We need others to succeed. As we help them succeed, we succeed. 

What do we do?

A loss of humility causes pride. Humility is about remembering the facts and truths. Humility is about remembering to give dignity to others. Humility is remembering we are not a superhero. Humility is recognizing our needs and weakness and graciously expressing them. Humility is being ok with failing. Humility leads us to learn from a situation. Humility can help us in the area of personal productivity. 

What is one of your landmines to personal productivity? 

Time to Set Goals

Time to Set Goals

Posted on by Matthew Laker

How can you hit a target you do not even have?

Some times we can feel lost in direction and think life is just hard.  Everything that can go wrong will go wrong. We may wonder what is the point, or I can never get out of this?  

Even worst is that some never understand that life could be better, and it can be.  Life has beaten them down told them they are nothing. Yes, we can not do everything in the world.  However, within all of us is excellent potential.

Do you have your target?  Are they written down?  

Have you taken the time to ask yourself why?  Why do you want to reach them? How will your life change?

What is the reality of your circumstances?  What are the obstacles? Have you created steps to overcome those obstacles?

What limits must you accept?  What boundaries do you have that give you an advantage?

You need a plan of action to get there.  To hit the target, you got to pick up the bow and arrow. 

This week what is your top three?  

Gaining focus is going to take energy and time.  It is going to be hard. Life is going to be challenging.  If there are none, good chance, you are not living.

So the choice is yours, what is your next step?

 Get the commitment, get the foundation, reach your goals. 

A habit to master your to-do list

Posted on by Matthew Laker

A habit to master your to-do list 

The problem with our to-do list is they get disorganized. We can look at all that needs to be done and feel overwhelmed. We can lose focus. We can start our week running, but end up doing a task or focusing on a project in the wrong order.  

I was listening to a talk by Zig Ziglar who said 

Each Sunday night, I take time to do two things. 

 First, in 2019, my wife and I started to meet Sunday afternoon or night, and we would review the week coming up. We take a look at what appointments are happening and when one of us is in or out. It allows us to be on the same page and know what to expect. It does not mean things do not change, but it gets us a game plan and gets us on the same page. 

Second, I pull away again just by myself to review my work week. I consider my projects and people I need to meet with that week.  I ask what is leftover from the last week and reorganize the to-do list for the coming week. I even take the time to schedule some of those tasks. For example, I have an office day that some tasks are better to do then. So I schedule them as an appointment.  

The reorganizing allows me to say ok these are my first things to do this week. 

Do you want to master your to-do list?

Take the time to do a weekly review. It does not have to belong. Try it this week. 

1)Schedule a time 

2) At the time set a timer for 15 min.  

3) Review the week and organize the to-do list. 

I have found the weekly review to be of great value in helping master my to-do list. 

Children, our Business and our Bad Habits

Children, our Business and our Bad Habits

Posted on by Matthew Laker

I was reading the book “Boundaries with Kids” by Dr. Henry Cloud and Dr. John Townsend. 

The book is about parenting. Most of us parents pick up these type of books because we want to fix something or prevent something. 

For me, it was more the first and to be a better parent. As a Dad, I feel pulled in many directions and wonder each new season how to do it.  

The book talks about helping your child learn boundaries and how this, in turn, develops them.  

As I read the book, one theme keeps coming up amongst all the pages. This theme was parenting first has more to do with you the parent then the child.  

The catch is if you struggle with boundaries, guess what, so do your kids. 

You want your kids to develop healthy habits and boundaries. It starts with you, the parent. 

This is both encouraging and disappointing as a parent.  

It means you have options. Parenting starts by working on your own heart and habits and building boundaries. 

When we think about those, we are leading and influencing. If we want your children or business to improve, it starts with “I.” How we react, how we live and do. We lead by example. 

Where have your kids become a reflection of your bad habits?

Where has your business become a reflection of your bad habits?

Limits

Limits

Posted on by Matthew Laker

Over my summer vacation (2019) with my family, I read three books pictured below.  After finishing the books, I realized there were some similar themes found in each.  One such topic was around the idea of limits. In the book by Peter Scazzero chapter 8 is entitled “Receive the Gift of limits.”

“Understanding and respecting our boundaries and limits is one of the most important character qualities and skills leaders need in order to be long-term lovers of God and others.” (Scazzero, Peter “The Emotionally Healthy Church,” p. 141)

 Some often see limits as a negative thing, but what if they also can serve a positive role in our life.   Peter Scazzero see limits as a spiritual issue as well.  

I put a limit on my life so that my kids do not grow up without a dad around.

I put a limit on what I eat or where I spend my time so that I can receive other benefits. 

God puts limits around my life that serve as guard rails to lead me to wholeness.  

Ecclesiastes chapter 3 shares there is a season for everything, a time to plant, a time to grow.  Given the season of life, you are in what are reasonable limits you need to embrace, to not miss the beauty of life around you.  

Scazzero comments that “anger, depression, and rage, for example often function as oil lights in our lives, informing us that something is not right on the inside of the engine of our lives. (Scazzero, Peter “The Emotionally Healthy Church,” p. 148)

Where are you at?

Limits have this way of reminding of us of our need for others in our lives and that we are not God.   

In my life, I often expect too much from my self and admitting my limits is hard.  At times the needs or perceived needs of what needs to be done are higher than my supply.  In my life, this leads to anger and loss of focus. I have found my productivity system is essential here to help me know my limits and set them.  It helps me to celebrate what does get done and gain focus. 

Accepting and knowing our limits is a humbling experience and can lead to lower stress and anxiety.

At the same time, we should ask ourselves are there limits I need to break through because they are as Scazzero puts it “Character flaws?”(p.155)

Questions for reflection

To be a better father, I need to …?

What limit do I need to accept in my life?

What limit do I need to breakthrough?

How could the limits I have be good?

In my business, what limits are good, and what are bad?