The Arrangement: Recent Episodes
Joe
One way to figure out what you value most in life is to look closely and non-judgmentally at how you spend your time and your money.
Think of some big goal you’ve achieved, like moving into a house, getting a college degree, buying your dream car, or any other goal you felt so strongly about that you overcame all obstacles and accomplished what seemed to be impossible. Then, say this out loud: “I never miss a goal that I am passionate enough about to pursue relentlessly.”
Any meaningful personal accomplishment depends on five crucial mindsets:
- Forward-Facing
- Mission-Driven
- Goal-Focused
- Solutions-Oriented
- Allow-Accept-Appreciate
from https://www.joecookeauthor.com/short-stories/askme
My father simply spills out of my mouth from time to time, causing me great embarrassment.
I hadn’t seen Dan in twenty years, and he had barely changed in all that time, while I have gone from a robust forty-something to a bald old version of Joe Sr., who, in fact, died just a few years ago with a full head of wavy white hair.
I said to Dan, “You haven’t changed a bit!”
And then the ghost of my father piped in, “Because you were an old guy when I met you!”
I could have crawled under the table and died.
Ask Me
a Poem by William Stafford
https://shenandoahliterary.org/blog/2012/01/ask-me-by-william-stafford/
I saw an advertisement today, glossy and well-produced, about focus and getting things done. The man looked quite successful and showed his color-coded calendar, making the case that you should NEVER use a to-do list. Just calendar everything. His guest was also a young, well-dressed man, mid-to-early thirties.
I wonder how much of that is a “thing”, where the marketing guy asks, “What makes you different? What makes your approach to time management unique?” And the time management guru says, “I recommend that people get rid of the to-do list and use ONLY a calendar!”
Marketing guy rolls eyes and says, “Okay.”
Here’s why I think that approach, organizing everything in a pretty Google calendar, is not right for everyone.