Don't let your worries get the best of you; remember, Moses started out as a basket case.
![Text Box: By Gina Burgess
Executive Director
Look at the date on this e-zine. I kept putting off writing this last week because I thought I had just too much on my plate to take time for it. I thought other things were more important.
I am quite sure there are things on your desk that you’ve pushed to the side because other things seem more important. Maybe that spreadsheet that you’ve got on your computer with all the presidential candidates needed filling in, or that cute cartoon about Maxine, you simply must read to the very end.
Take a look at my Desk Lasagna. Calendar on the left. Folder with bills to pay in the center. Stacks of phone messages center top. Inbox with stacks of things that I haven’t looked at in several days, top right. And top left… quadruple sigh. Somewhere over there is a box of Kleenex but I haven’t seen if for a couple of weeks. Then there’s the phone that keeps getting lost under papers. If I don’t remember to put my keys in my purse, they get lost under yesterday’s mail which has been opened, but not filed, yet.
Sound familiar?
I searched the world over and found some very interesting helpful hints… There is Nancy Schimelpfening—I dare you to say that three times fast out loud! Okay, back to the subject.
Nancy has done a lot of research and says that we procrastinate because we’re depressed. Well, I have to beg to differ. Who has time to be depressed? I’m just drowning in paper lasagna. However, she did divide up the types of procrastination that may make sense to you; such as too many tasks that one is overwhelmed. Yes. Absolutely. Difficulty in keeping on track (getting sidetracked with Maxine cartoons). Yes. Agree. Hostile feelings toward someone so you put off getting things done to punish them [insert shocked look here]. Maybe if I were a psychologist or counselor I’d understand this one. I cannot imagine anyone deliberately shooting themselves in the foot, or setting themselves up to get fired because of hostile feelings… but, it takes all kinds, I guess. Fearing disapproval, Nancy says is another reason. Then there is the rebellious feelings brought on by routine and hectic schedule. Hmmm, that could be a whole ‘nother discussion.
My particular problem is not adhering to the “Touch Paper Only One Time” rule. Open the letter, read it and then file it where it belongs. Finish reading a newsletter… industry magazine… update or whatever, then file it for future reference or file in the trash, just get it off the desk top.
Okay, that takes care of the first layer.
Grab that phone message and write down the name and number, or type it into your contacts list, or how ever you keep track of your contacts, then throw the message away. Your secretary has the carbon copy of it in her little book. If you lose it, you can always ask her for the number. How hard is that to do? Evidently, very had because I have, wait let me count them, forget it, I lost count. Let’s just say, I have every message that has been given to me except the exact one I need which includes every business card that has been put into my hand. Now, that is daunting. How will I ever find that phone number if I have to dig through 100 messages?
Don’t do as I do.
When you get a Round Tuit click on About.com and see if you agree or disagree with the woman whose name I cannot pronounce.](Chamberezin71108_files/image006.gif)
