Remember the 80/20 Rule
The 80/20 rule comes from Pareto, an Italian economist, who found that:
80% of the wealth is held by 20% of the people.
80% of the sales are made by 20% of the sales force.
80% of the purchases are made by 20% of the customers.
80% of books borrowed from libraries are borrowed by 20% of the people.
80% of the money made in seminars will be with 20% of the companies.
80% of the work completed will be done by 20% of the people.
Focus eighty percent of your energy on 20% of the people and activities that pay big dividends.
Saturday, May 10, 2008
Friday, May 9, 2008
First Things First
First Things First
A well-used time management .rule says, "Success depends on what you neglect." To get something impor¬tant accomplished, neglect the unimportant, devote time to the important.
Always follow the cardinal rule of time manage¬ment: First things first. Early each morning make a list of those things to be accomplished. Review your goals. Then number your activities in the order of their impor¬tance based on how those activities will help you accom¬plish your goals. Complete the first item first.
The second , second. The third, third. If you don't get to number four, no big deal. Avoid criticizing yourself if you fail to achieve everything on your list. Remember, you did the most important things first.
A well-used time management .rule says, "Success depends on what you neglect." To get something impor¬tant accomplished, neglect the unimportant, devote time to the important.
Always follow the cardinal rule of time manage¬ment: First things first. Early each morning make a list of those things to be accomplished. Review your goals. Then number your activities in the order of their impor¬tance based on how those activities will help you accom¬plish your goals. Complete the first item first.
The second , second. The third, third. If you don't get to number four, no big deal. Avoid criticizing yourself if you fail to achieve everything on your list. Remember, you did the most important things first.
Thursday, May 8, 2008
Time for Priorities
Neglecting the Unimportant
Those who apply themselves too closely to little things often become incapable of great things.
-- LaRochefoucauld
Huge dreams are worthless without the time to make them come true.
Many of us complain that we don't have enough time. False! All of us have the time. Instead, most of us waste the time we have. Or because we don't think that we can achieve our fabulous dreams, we won't set aside time to fulfill them. We spend all our time on insignifi¬cant things and have no time left for the activities that will achieve our dreams. We're too busy making a living to develop a lifestyle. That's what this chapter is about¬ efficiency and productivity-making dreams a reality.
Those who apply themselves too closely to little things often become incapable of great things.
-- LaRochefoucauld
Huge dreams are worthless without the time to make them come true.
Many of us complain that we don't have enough time. False! All of us have the time. Instead, most of us waste the time we have. Or because we don't think that we can achieve our fabulous dreams, we won't set aside time to fulfill them. We spend all our time on insignifi¬cant things and have no time left for the activities that will achieve our dreams. We're too busy making a living to develop a lifestyle. That's what this chapter is about¬ efficiency and productivity-making dreams a reality.
Wednesday, May 7, 2008
From Habits Come Character
Keeping your eyes on your dream will make your goals, activities, and habits enjoyable. Just as a champi¬on bull rider concentrates on completing an eight second ride, a football player focuses on each five second play, and an alcoholic remains sober one day at a time, you-the self-disciplined achiever - give your best effort to each activity. Failure to visualize a clear future objective - failure to keep your eyes focused on your dreams ¬makes meaningful routine dull and boring.
When you become frustrated by the routine, keep your eyes on the dream.
When you become disappointed by rejection, remember the dream.
When you fail to advance as quickly as you would like, visualize accomplishing your dream.
Hear what people will say when you attain your dream. See what people will do when your dreams come true. Feel - right now - the excitement of fulfilling your dream. Keep your dream - and the exhilaration of completing your dream - in your heart and mind all the time.
From dreams, come goals.
From goals, come activities.
From activities, come routines.
From routines, come habits.
From habits, come character.
Character is marked by the following virtues: integrity, persistence, courage, love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control, and wisdom.
When you become frustrated by the routine, keep your eyes on the dream.
When you become disappointed by rejection, remember the dream.
When you fail to advance as quickly as you would like, visualize accomplishing your dream.
Hear what people will say when you attain your dream. See what people will do when your dreams come true. Feel - right now - the excitement of fulfilling your dream. Keep your dream - and the exhilaration of completing your dream - in your heart and mind all the time.
From dreams, come goals.
From goals, come activities.
From activities, come routines.
From routines, come habits.
From habits, come character.
Character is marked by the following virtues: integrity, persistence, courage, love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control, and wisdom.
Tuesday, May 6, 2008
Act Now
Activity List
To achieve your goals, act. Act now! Without action, your dreams are worthless. Your goals are wishes. Your plans are ashes. Action alone gives worth to your dreams. Only action determines your value. You are what you do. Your actions describe you.
The lazy wait until tomorrow. The weak expect to be strong tomorrow. The failure anticipates success tomorrow. Success does not linger. Act now! Act now! Act now! Today is the perfect day to begin.
Plug away at the daily activities that fulfill your dreams. Through self-discipline - developing the habit of doing the best you can day after day-you gain the max¬imum benefits from your time. Cultivating a strong, healthy routine supports a successful, fulfilled life.
Your activities become habits. Habits become your character. Your character becomes your destiny. Become a slave to good habits. Doing the right things right, minute by minute, hour by hour, day by day develops strength of character that leads to success after success.
Routine activities develop habits that will help you achieve your goals and your dreams. If your goal is to write a book in one year, one of your daily activities would be to write a page a day.
If you wanted to make a million dollars in annual sales, one of your activities may consist of making ten sales calls daily.
Focus your activities on those things that will help you achieve your goals. Make a list of activities that you will do daily or weekly to accomplish your goals and do them-every day, every week, every year. Your daily activities can be divided into personal, family, and spiri¬tual activities; career activities; and self improvement activities.
My personal, family, and spiritual activities are:
My career activities are:
To achieve your goals, act. Act now! Without action, your dreams are worthless. Your goals are wishes. Your plans are ashes. Action alone gives worth to your dreams. Only action determines your value. You are what you do. Your actions describe you.
The lazy wait until tomorrow. The weak expect to be strong tomorrow. The failure anticipates success tomorrow. Success does not linger. Act now! Act now! Act now! Today is the perfect day to begin.
Plug away at the daily activities that fulfill your dreams. Through self-discipline - developing the habit of doing the best you can day after day-you gain the max¬imum benefits from your time. Cultivating a strong, healthy routine supports a successful, fulfilled life.
Your activities become habits. Habits become your character. Your character becomes your destiny. Become a slave to good habits. Doing the right things right, minute by minute, hour by hour, day by day develops strength of character that leads to success after success.
Routine activities develop habits that will help you achieve your goals and your dreams. If your goal is to write a book in one year, one of your daily activities would be to write a page a day.
If you wanted to make a million dollars in annual sales, one of your activities may consist of making ten sales calls daily.
Focus your activities on those things that will help you achieve your goals. Make a list of activities that you will do daily or weekly to accomplish your goals and do them-every day, every week, every year. Your daily activities can be divided into personal, family, and spiri¬tual activities; career activities; and self improvement activities.
My personal, family, and spiritual activities are:
My career activities are:
Monday, May 5, 2008
Build Your Own Dream
Build Your Own Dream
You can start to dream with a vision statement-a phrase or sentence that tells what you are about. Here's an example of a vision statement: "I live a life that will bring encouragement, optimism and hope to all I meet." Note that the statement is in the first person, present tense indicating that the future begins now.
As you consider your vision statement, be certain you're using your own measuring stick-not your mother's, or father's, or your wife's, or your husband's, or your friend's. What do you want out of life? What's important to you? What are you about?
Here are some questions to help define your vision statement. As you answer these questions you'll be able to understand what motivates you:
What three activities are most important to you?
What three activities give you the most enjoyment?
What three things do you want written on your tombstone?
What three things do you want to do for others?
What three things would you change about your life?
What three qualities would you most like to see associated with your reputation?
Expand Your Financial Dreams.
What ten things do you want in life? Would you like to get out of debt? What kind of house do you want? What kind of cars do you want to drive? If you had all the money you wanted, where would you go on a vaca¬tion? Where do you want your children to go to college? How much money would you like to give to your church or to charities? When do you want to retire? (Retirement depends on money, not age.) What net worth do you want to accumulate?
Make a dream list here:
Now study everything you have written so far. Sum up, in one or two sentences, a concise description of who you want to be. Write your vision statement in the first person, present tense.
I am a person who:
Formulating a vision statement and writing down those things you desire helps you focus on your plea¬sures, your talents, and your bliss. Once you've expand¬ed your vision, your expectations will direct you toward fulfilling your dreams.
It helps to put your dream statement on the refrig¬erator. Read it regularly. Cut out pictures of the things you want to enjoy. Look at the pictures several times a day. See yourself becoming your dream and living the life you want to live.
When you dream extraordinary dreams, some peo¬ple - perhaps a family member, friend, co-worker, or even your boss - may try to take your vision from you. When they see pictures of your dreams on the refrigerator or the bathroom mirror, they will think you have flipped. When they see a first person, present tense, vision statement they will know you have gone over the edge. When they see you joyful and smiling, positive and optimistic, they'll wonder what drug you are taking.
They will worry about you. They will try to steal your dream: "Don't get so excited, this might not work out." "You've got a good job; why do you want to change to something so uncertain?" "I know someone who tried that and they failed miserably."
Unfulfilled people are like crabs. Put crabs in a bucket and watch. If one crab attempts to crawl out of a bucket, the others pull the adventurer back down. People are like that. If you get a dream, they'll try to destroy it.
Go for excellence and you'll be laughed at, criti¬cized, and gossiped about. Who cares? It's your life. Trade acceptance for excellence.
When someone or some event in your life begins to steal your dream, don't despair. Stand tall and straight, face the cold and penetrating wind of dissension and press on toward your dream.
You can start to dream with a vision statement-a phrase or sentence that tells what you are about. Here's an example of a vision statement: "I live a life that will bring encouragement, optimism and hope to all I meet." Note that the statement is in the first person, present tense indicating that the future begins now.
As you consider your vision statement, be certain you're using your own measuring stick-not your mother's, or father's, or your wife's, or your husband's, or your friend's. What do you want out of life? What's important to you? What are you about?
Here are some questions to help define your vision statement. As you answer these questions you'll be able to understand what motivates you:
What three activities are most important to you?
What three activities give you the most enjoyment?
What three things do you want written on your tombstone?
What three things do you want to do for others?
What three things would you change about your life?
What three qualities would you most like to see associated with your reputation?
Expand Your Financial Dreams.
What ten things do you want in life? Would you like to get out of debt? What kind of house do you want? What kind of cars do you want to drive? If you had all the money you wanted, where would you go on a vaca¬tion? Where do you want your children to go to college? How much money would you like to give to your church or to charities? When do you want to retire? (Retirement depends on money, not age.) What net worth do you want to accumulate?
Make a dream list here:
Now study everything you have written so far. Sum up, in one or two sentences, a concise description of who you want to be. Write your vision statement in the first person, present tense.
I am a person who:
Formulating a vision statement and writing down those things you desire helps you focus on your plea¬sures, your talents, and your bliss. Once you've expand¬ed your vision, your expectations will direct you toward fulfilling your dreams.
It helps to put your dream statement on the refrig¬erator. Read it regularly. Cut out pictures of the things you want to enjoy. Look at the pictures several times a day. See yourself becoming your dream and living the life you want to live.
When you dream extraordinary dreams, some peo¬ple - perhaps a family member, friend, co-worker, or even your boss - may try to take your vision from you. When they see pictures of your dreams on the refrigerator or the bathroom mirror, they will think you have flipped. When they see a first person, present tense, vision statement they will know you have gone over the edge. When they see you joyful and smiling, positive and optimistic, they'll wonder what drug you are taking.
They will worry about you. They will try to steal your dream: "Don't get so excited, this might not work out." "You've got a good job; why do you want to change to something so uncertain?" "I know someone who tried that and they failed miserably."
Unfulfilled people are like crabs. Put crabs in a bucket and watch. If one crab attempts to crawl out of a bucket, the others pull the adventurer back down. People are like that. If you get a dream, they'll try to destroy it.
Go for excellence and you'll be laughed at, criti¬cized, and gossiped about. Who cares? It's your life. Trade acceptance for excellence.
When someone or some event in your life begins to steal your dream, don't despair. Stand tall and straight, face the cold and penetrating wind of dissension and press on toward your dream.
Sunday, May 4, 2008
A Brief Interpretation of MERE CHRISTIANITY
Book I = Our conscience is one proof that God exists
- Everyone knows the difference between right and wrong (Lewis calls this innate knowledge the Moral Law), but we don’t always do what is right
- The Moral Law overcomes selfishness or self-serving behavior
- The Moral Law is as “hard as nails” but God has given us a carpenter (Jesus) to help drive those nails
Book II = What Christians Believe
- God made the universe
- Evil is good gone wrong
- Free will gives the opportunity for evil to exist
- Jewish history is a series of stories that serve as examples and warnings
- Jesus, a Jew, is the ultimate proof that the Jews are God’s chosen people
- Christ’s death put us right with God
- Without the help of Jesus and the Holy Spirit we would never be able to surrender ourselves to God
Book III = A discussion of the spirit, the mind, and the will
(The soul is like a soup with ingredients of spirit, mind, and the will (our actions) all mixed together so that we cannot separate one from the other
- Morality consists of:
1) Relationship between man and man
2) Individual choices
3) Relationship with God (this relationship gives us a moral purpose)
- The Cardinal (pivotal) virtues
1) Prudence—the intelligence to make the correct choices
2) Temperance—the Golden Mean between too much and too little
3) Justice—the ability to determine the fair thing to do
4) Fortitude—Courage (grace under pressure)
- Emotional conflicts interfere with making the correct moral choices
- Love is an act of will not a feeling
1) Because fleshly sins are a distortion of love, sins of the flesh may be less bad than spiritual sins, but both separate us from God (A prig is worse than a prostitute but both peccadilloes will be penalized)
2) Unchastity is not improved by perjury—being unfaithful and lying about it is worse than being openly unfaithful
- Anger at evil is a Godly thing but the Christian goes beyond anger by asking Christ and the Holy Spirit for help in wishing the best for the evil one
- Good and evil increase at compound interest—little daily decisions are of infinite importance
- Christians are emboldened by the hope that God-given eternal desires will be fulfilled
- Faith enables us to have the patience to wait for the answer when we don’t understand a spiritual dilemma
- Bible reading, prayer, and worship are necessary to help maintain faith
Book IV = A discussion of theological concepts
- Theologians give us spiritual maps just as explorers give us geographical maps, but like explorers some theologians draw more accurate maps than others
- The three-person God makes God a personal God
1) Jesus related to us as a man
2) The Holy Spirit is inside us
3) God is omnipresent
- The resurrection of Lazarus in a example that with God time can go backward as well as forward
- Christianity spreads like an infection
- Christ can give us the abundant life when we turn our lives over to Him and stop acting like obstinate toy soldiers
- Christ is like Beauty in The Beauty and the Beast—His love can transform us into loveable beings
- Surrendering to Christ is the most difficult of things to do, but it gives us the easiest life
- Being a good citizen, a good mother, a good husband, a good doctor, a good scientist, a good banker, etc. can make us so smug that we never surrender our lives to Christ
- The more we let Christ into our lives the more courage we have to be honest with ourselves and with others—we become more transparent because we are not afraid to allow people to know what we are really like
Saturday, May 3, 2008
Time to Dream
Time to Dream
The Bigger the Dream, the More the Time
Whatever you can do or dream you can begin it. Boldness has genius, power and magic to it.
-- Goethe
Who stole the American dream?
Who snatched our aspiration to be in charge of our lives? Who hampered our desire to go as far and as high as our spirit and character could take us? The govern¬ment? Corporate America? Our boss? Our friends? Our family? Television? Laziness? Procrastination? Disorganization? Low self-esteem?
Some may have forgotten how to dream-or never learned. Others may just watch visionaries build their dreams - and think it's impossible to have what they have. A few people walk around saying, "What's happening? Who's dreaming?"
We surrender our dreams for many reasons. Whatever the cause - social or psychological - a meager number of people know how to dream big. That's sad, because we limit our potential when we won't allow our¬selves to dream. No matter who (or what) caused us to relinquish our dreams, we - each of us - have the ulti¬mate responsibility for deciding to dream again. Our desire determines our destiny.
All of us would do well to open our minds to our dreams-and to expand our dreams.
Why? Because the bountiful dreamers, and those who plan and organize their dreams, have a life of abun¬dance.
They are fulfilled. Productive. Enthusiastic. Energetic dreamers look forward to each new day. Dream builders have all the money they want to help others. They contribute to society and savor the fruits of their labor. They have time to enjoy life. Time and money give them lifestyle-the freedom to take vacations when¬ever they want, the opportunity to choose how to live their lives, the privilege to raise a family without restraint, and the capacity to develop their talents.
Prodigious dreamers have the greatest motivation to plan and organize their lives to fulfill their dreams. Message: Dream liberally! Dream lavishly! Dream luxu¬riantly!
If you've lost your dream, resolve to change now. Expand your vision. Open your mind to unlimited possi¬bilities. Learn to dream again. Success and fulfillment always begin with desire.
The Bigger the Dream, the More the Time
Whatever you can do or dream you can begin it. Boldness has genius, power and magic to it.
-- Goethe
Who stole the American dream?
Who snatched our aspiration to be in charge of our lives? Who hampered our desire to go as far and as high as our spirit and character could take us? The govern¬ment? Corporate America? Our boss? Our friends? Our family? Television? Laziness? Procrastination? Disorganization? Low self-esteem?
Some may have forgotten how to dream-or never learned. Others may just watch visionaries build their dreams - and think it's impossible to have what they have. A few people walk around saying, "What's happening? Who's dreaming?"
We surrender our dreams for many reasons. Whatever the cause - social or psychological - a meager number of people know how to dream big. That's sad, because we limit our potential when we won't allow our¬selves to dream. No matter who (or what) caused us to relinquish our dreams, we - each of us - have the ulti¬mate responsibility for deciding to dream again. Our desire determines our destiny.
All of us would do well to open our minds to our dreams-and to expand our dreams.
Why? Because the bountiful dreamers, and those who plan and organize their dreams, have a life of abun¬dance.
They are fulfilled. Productive. Enthusiastic. Energetic dreamers look forward to each new day. Dream builders have all the money they want to help others. They contribute to society and savor the fruits of their labor. They have time to enjoy life. Time and money give them lifestyle-the freedom to take vacations when¬ever they want, the opportunity to choose how to live their lives, the privilege to raise a family without restraint, and the capacity to develop their talents.
Prodigious dreamers have the greatest motivation to plan and organize their lives to fulfill their dreams. Message: Dream liberally! Dream lavishly! Dream luxu¬riantly!
If you've lost your dream, resolve to change now. Expand your vision. Open your mind to unlimited possi¬bilities. Learn to dream again. Success and fulfillment always begin with desire.
Friday, May 2, 2008
Why I Wrote Leverage Your Time; Balance Your Life
I wrote this book because most of us, almost all the time, fight the battle for possession and power. We find ourselves trapped on the freeway of rush. We have a shopping-mall mentality, a lunch hour McDonald's appetite, a sales-meeting life's philosophy. Before we know it, perhaps even without wanting to, we find our¬selves leaping into the commotion without really consid¬ering whether we have an option. Our minds are made static by noise - radios bellowing, TVs babbling, pagers beeping, traffic buzzing. Everywhere, all the time, voices call our names. All of us are busy, perhaps productive...and very tired.
All of us sense that we were not made for the rush ¬hour, freeway kind of life we frenetically live. We seek calm, not chaos. We know, innately, that simpler times create better times. We desire peace, a life that focuses on beauty and truth, a life separate from the cluttered existence our culture promotes.
Yet, activity is necessary. We must produce-all of us-or we become drones of society, unweaned heifers sucking the public teat. Inactivity destroys the zest for life. There's no joy in constant watching, just numbed buttocks and deadened minds. We were not made to sit and isolate ourselves. We were created for motion and mastery.
Is there a halfway point between burn out and rust out? Yes. Balance is a choice.
Each day we can find a place to retreat. We can turn off our noise boxes and enjoy a refuge where we can rest and renew. We can eliminate non-productive activi¬ties. We can say "no." We can reserve a corner of peace, close our eyes and step through our mind's windows into a simpler world. We can enjoy a book. Stroll down a for¬est's path.
The sweet fundamental things of life make living worthwhile. Life is balanced by being alive to both side of our nature - duty and serenity, work and love, activity and rest.
Nearly all of us blame our unbalanced life on the lack of time. We can be heard complaining in the eleva¬tor, in the office, in the grocery store, at church, at home, at the gym. We proclaim our dear time's loss. We marvel at time's swift foot. We recognize ourselves in these cries:
"I'm in the car all day and night taking the kids from one event to another."
"Too many projects!"
"Family? I never have enough time for them."
"The little things consume the time I could dedicate to important activities."
"I get a headache every time the phone rings."
"All those business meetings do for me is put callouses on my rear end."
"These constant interruptions make me sick to the stomach."
"We didn't take a vacation last year because our business consumed us."
"Time for myself? You've got to be kidding!"
"Committee meeting!?! Oh no!!! Not another one!!!"
"Life style? What's that?"
"A nap? Considered it But no time for one."
"Spiritual life? Oh yes, I attend church for an hour just about every Sunday."
"I could have 48 hours a day and still couldn't catch up."
Poor time management, not lack of time, engenders these complaints. Poor planning steals hours each day at home, at work, from the mother, the student, the teacher, the doctor, the lawyer...even the candlestick maker. This book was written for all of us - to help us enjoy a productive life, a balanced life, a successful, meaningful life - and to find time for every activity worthwhile...time for every season under the sun.
Haven't many books been written on time manage¬ment? Yes...hundreds rest on dusty shelves. Either they haven't been read or they haven't been understood. They are too impractical or too long. The more books that have been churned out, the less time we have to study them and practice the techniques suggested in them.
That's what makes Leverage Your Time, Balance Your Life unique. It's brief. To the point. Gives clear sug¬gestions. Can be read in one night. Referred to during the day. It can be read again and again, until every page becomes implanted in the mind. Leverage Your Time, Balance Your Life is a handbook. A handbook for living.
I wrote this book in the second person because it's designed for you. You are busy. You don't have time - ¬yet - for theory or romantic prose or stories. You just want the facts. Cut to the heart of the thing. Get on with it.
Applying what's written in Leverage Your Time, Balance Your Life will give you a fulfilled life, a balanced life. Practicing what's written here will help you:
Have time for your dreams to come true
Find time you never knew you had
Learn to set priorities
Organize your life
Learn to refuse worthless projects
Defeat procrastination
Organize efficient time-saving meetings
Give up the quest for perfection
Overcome indecisiveness
Balance your work and leisure time
Find time for romance
Cultivate a spiritual life that gives life meaning
Have fun every day
Use rest power
Improve family communication
Find time for your children
Rid your life of time wasters
Write bold, brief, empowering letters and memos. Defeat negative emotions that mess up your life
Rid yourself of bad habits that steal your time
Add more life to your years
Live one day at a time
Reduce paperwork clutter
Translate your dreams into achievable goals
Know your core values for a successful life
I wrote this book because most of us, almost all the time, fight the battle for possession and power. We find ourselves trapped on the freeway of rush. We have a shopping-mall mentality, a lunch hour McDonald's appetite, a sales-meeting life's philosophy. Before we know it, perhaps even without wanting to, we find our¬selves leaping into the commotion without really consid¬ering whether we have an option. Our minds are made static by noise - radios bellowing, TVs babbling, pagers beeping, traffic buzzing. Everywhere, all the time, voices call our names. All of us are busy, perhaps productive...and very tired.
All of us sense that we were not made for the rush ¬hour, freeway kind of life we frenetically live. We seek calm, not chaos. We know, innately, that simpler times create better times. We desire peace, a life that focuses on beauty and truth, a life separate from the cluttered existence our culture promotes.
Yet, activity is necessary. We must produce-all of us-or we become drones of society, unweaned heifers sucking the public teat. Inactivity destroys the zest for life. There's no joy in constant watching, just numbed buttocks and deadened minds. We were not made to sit and isolate ourselves. We were created for motion and mastery.
Is there a halfway point between burn out and rust out? Yes. Balance is a choice.
Each day we can find a place to retreat. We can turn off our noise boxes and enjoy a refuge where we can rest and renew. We can eliminate non-productive activi¬ties. We can say "no." We can reserve a corner of peace, close our eyes and step through our mind's windows into a simpler world. We can enjoy a book. Stroll down a for¬est's path.
The sweet fundamental things of life make living worthwhile. Life is balanced by being alive to both side of our nature - duty and serenity, work and love, activity and rest.
Nearly all of us blame our unbalanced life on the lack of time. We can be heard complaining in the eleva¬tor, in the office, in the grocery store, at church, at home, at the gym. We proclaim our dear time's loss. We marvel at time's swift foot. We recognize ourselves in these cries:
"I'm in the car all day and night taking the kids from one event to another."
"Too many projects!"
"Family? I never have enough time for them."
"The little things consume the time I could dedicate to important activities."
"I get a headache every time the phone rings."
"All those business meetings do for me is put callouses on my rear end."
"These constant interruptions make me sick to the stomach."
"We didn't take a vacation last year because our business consumed us."
"Time for myself? You've got to be kidding!"
"Committee meeting!?! Oh no!!! Not another one!!!"
"Life style? What's that?"
"A nap? Considered it But no time for one."
"Spiritual life? Oh yes, I attend church for an hour just about every Sunday."
"I could have 48 hours a day and still couldn't catch up."
Poor time management, not lack of time, engenders these complaints. Poor planning steals hours each day at home, at work, from the mother, the student, the teacher, the doctor, the lawyer...even the candlestick maker. This book was written for all of us - to help us enjoy a productive life, a balanced life, a successful, meaningful life - and to find time for every activity worthwhile...time for every season under the sun.
Haven't many books been written on time manage¬ment? Yes...hundreds rest on dusty shelves. Either they haven't been read or they haven't been understood. They are too impractical or too long. The more books that have been churned out, the less time we have to study them and practice the techniques suggested in them.
That's what makes Leverage Your Time, Balance Your Life unique. It's brief. To the point. Gives clear sug¬gestions. Can be read in one night. Referred to during the day. It can be read again and again, until every page becomes implanted in the mind. Leverage Your Time, Balance Your Life is a handbook. A handbook for living.
I wrote this book in the second person because it's designed for you. You are busy. You don't have time - ¬yet - for theory or romantic prose or stories. You just want the facts. Cut to the heart of the thing. Get on with it.
Applying what's written in Leverage Your Time, Balance Your Life will give you a fulfilled life, a balanced life. Practicing what's written here will help you:
Have time for your dreams to come true
Find time you never knew you had
Learn to set priorities
Organize your life
Learn to refuse worthless projects
Defeat procrastination
Organize efficient time-saving meetings
Give up the quest for perfection
Overcome indecisiveness
Balance your work and leisure time
Find time for romance
Cultivate a spiritual life that gives life meaning
Have fun every day
Use rest power
Improve family communication
Find time for your children
Rid your life of time wasters
Write bold, brief, empowering letters and memos. Defeat negative emotions that mess up your life
Rid yourself of bad habits that steal your time
Add more life to your years
Live one day at a time
Reduce paperwork clutter
Translate your dreams into achievable goals
Know your core values for a successful life
Thursday, May 1, 2008
May Day
According to Virgil, Roman youths used to go into the fields and spend the first of May in dancing and singing in honor of Flora, goddess of fruits and flowers. Robin Hood died on the first of May.
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
Percent Distribution of Active Physicians in Patient Care by Speciality, 2005
Internal Medicine = 15.0%
Selected surgical specialties = 10.8%
Family medicine = 12.3%
Pediatrics = 7.5%
Anesthesiology = 5.2%
Psychiatry = 5.1%
All other specialties = 38.5%
Selected surgical specialties = 10.8%
Family medicine = 12.3%
Pediatrics = 7.5%
Anesthesiology = 5.2%
Psychiatry = 5.1%
All other specialties = 38.5%
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
Median Compensation for Physicians, 2005
Anesthesiology = $320,000
General surgery $283,000
OB/Gyn = $247,000
Psychiatry = $180,000
Internal medicine (general) = $166,000
Pediatrics = $161,000
Family practice = $156,000
General surgery $283,000
OB/Gyn = $247,000
Psychiatry = $180,000
Internal medicine (general) = $166,000
Pediatrics = $161,000
Family practice = $156,000
Friday, April 25, 2008
New River Carilion Staff
Don Halliwill, Vice President/Administrator | contact through secretary: Monica Mines 731-2508 |
Dennis Means - Medical Director | 731-2250 or 731-2020 |
Sr. Director, Nursing | 731-2506 or 731-2020 |
| Kathy Kinder, Sr. Director, Clinical Support Services | 731-2005 or 731-2020 |
| Regina Pennington , Sr. Director Clinical Effectiveness | 731-2588 |
| Bill Copening - Sr. Director, Facility Support Services | 731-2869 |
| John Schneider, Manager, Human Resources | 731-2504 |
Sharon Honaker, Director, Strategic Development | 731-2185 or 731-2094 |
| Donna Downs, Manager, Finance | 731-2836 |
Shane Blanchard, Director, Cardiology/Vascular Services | 731-2980 |
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
| viders Matching Your Search Criteria (25 found): | |
 | Myers, Ronald L. Carilion Behavioral Health, Radford 2900 Lamb Circle Christiansburg, VA 24073 Type: PHYSICIAN Specialty: Psychiatry |
| Griffeth, Benjamin T. Carilion Behavioral Health, Roanoke 2017 South Jefferson Street Roanoke, VA 24014 Type: PHYSICIAN Specialty: Psychiatry |
| Luder, Everett K. Carilion Behavioral Health, Roanoke 213 McClanahan Street, Suite 310 Roanoke, VA 24014 Type: PHYSICIAN Specialty: Psychiatry |
| Luder, Everett K. 120 West Nelson Street Lexington, VA 24450 Type: PHYSICIAN Specialty: Psychiatry |
| Downs, Jr., David A. Carilion Behavioral Health, Radford 2900 Lamb Circle Christiansburg, VA 24073 Type: PHYSICIAN Specialty: Psychiatry |
| Dalrymple, David J. Carilion Behavioral Health, Radford 2900 Lamb Circle Christiansburg, VA 24073 Type: PHYSICIAN Specialty: Psychiatry |
| Gillespie, Hal G. Virginia Highland Health Associates, PC 7457 Lee Highway Radford, VA 24141 Type: PHYSICIAN Specialty: Psychiatry |
| Hartman, David W. Carilion Behavioral Health, Roanoke 213 McClanahan Street, Suite 310 Roanoke, VA 24014 Type: PHYSICIAN Specialty: Psychiatry |
| Robinson, Melissa R. Carilion Behavorial Health, Radford 2900 Lamb Circle Christiansburg, VA 24073 Type: PHYSICIAN Specialty: Psychiatry |
| Reddy, Pavan P. Carilion Behavioral Health, Radford 2900 Lamb Circle Christiansburg, VA 24073 Type: PHYSICIAN Specialty: Psychiatry |
| Hedberg, Ann Carilion Behavioral Health, Roanoke 213 McClanahan Street, Suite 310 Roanoke, VA 24014 Type: PHYSICIAN Specialty: Psychiatry |
| Sharp, Brett Carilion Behavioral Health, Roanoke 213 McClanahan Street, Suite 206 Roanoke, VA 24014 Type: PHYSICIAN Specialty: Psychiatry |
| Khan, Amanullah Carilion Center for Healthy Aging 2118 Rosalind Avenue Roanoke, VA 24014 Type: PHYSICIAN Specialty: Psychiatry |
| Williams, Sarah Carilion Behavioral Health, Radford 2900 Lamb Circle Christiansburg, VA 24073 Type: PHYSICIAN Specialty: Psychiatry |
| Zebro, Gebrehane Carilion Behavioral Health, Roanoke 213 McClanahan Street, Suite 310 Roanoke, VA 24014 Type: PHYSICIAN Specialty: Psychiatry |
| Reddy, Anuradha Carilion Behavioral Health, Roanoke 213 McClanahan Street, Suite 206 Roanoke, VA 24014 Type: PHYSICIAN Specialty: Psychiatry |
| Adams-Vanke, Felicity Carilion Behavioral Health, Roanoke 213 McClanahan Street, Suite 206 Roanoke, VA 24014 Type: PHYSICIAN Specialty: Psychiatry |
| Kavuru, Bush Carilion Behavioral Health, Roanoke 213 McClanahan Street, Suite 310 Roanoke, VA 24014 Type: PHYSICIAN Specialty: Psychiatry |
| Ali, Mohammad Rizwan Veterans Affairs Medical Center 1970 Roanoke Blvd. Salem, VA 24153 Type: PHYSICIAN Specialty: Psychiatry |
| Fahim, Fahim Carilion Behavioral Health, Roanoke 213 McClanahan Street, Suite, 206 Roanoke, VA 24014 Type: PHYSICIAN Specialty: Psychiatry, Child/Adol. Psychiatry |
| Shreeve, Daniel F. Carilion Behavioral Health, Roanoke 213 McClanahan Street, Suite 310 Roanoke, VA 24014 Type: PHYSICIAN Specialty: Psychiatry |
| Harrington, Daniel P. Carilion Behavioral Health, Roanoke 2017 South Jefferson Street Roanoke, VA 24014 Type: PHYSICIAN Specialty: Administration - Medical Director, Medical Ed-Psychiatric Medicine, Psychiatry |
| Criss, Tracey W. Carilion Behavioral Health, Roanoke 213 McClanahan Street, Suite 310 Roanoke, VA 24014 Type: PHYSICIAN Specialty: Psychiatry |
| Rea, William S. Carilion Behavioral Health, Roanoke 213 McClanahan Street, Suite 310 Roanoke, VA 24014 Type: PHYSICIAN Specialty: Psychiatry |
| Trinkle, David B. Carilion Center for Healthy Aging 2118 Rosalind Avenue Roanoke, VA 24014 Type: PHYSICIAN Specialty: Medical Ed-Psychiatric Medicine, Psychiatry |
Sunday, April 20, 2008
Carilion Health System, now known as Carilion Clinic, is a large, Roanoke, Virginia-based not-for-profit health care organization. Carilion owns and operates eight hospitals in the western part of Virginia. The company also operates primary care clinics, residency and fellowship programs, laboratories, health clubs, an aeromedical program, and sub-specialty medical practices. Carilion originated with Roanoke Memorial Hospital, which is located at the base of Mill Mountain in southwest Roanoke. The hospital eventually expanded into related health care services and the acquisition of other hospitals. Most prominent was the acquisition of the competing Community Hospital of Roanoke Valley in downtown Roanoke. The deal took several years to complete because of anti-trust concerns by the United States Department of Justice that two of the three major hospitals in the Roanoke Valley would now be under the same ownership. In the early 1990s, Roanoke Memorial adopted the name Carilion for its consolidated health care business. Approximately 6,200 of Carilion's 9,600 employees are in the Roanoke Valley, making it the area's leading employer.In addition to traditional hospital-based services, Carilion has established the Carilion Biomedical Institute in Roanoke in association with Virginia Tech and the University of Virginia. The Institute is a business incubator designed to introduce advanced medical devices into the marketplace. A related goal is the development of a cluster of such firms in the Roanoke area. One such company is Luna Innovations, which is partially owned by Carilion and has oved its corporate headquarters to the Institute's business park. Carilion's management has warned that trends in the health care sector threaten to undermine the organization's financial position. Carilion has gross revenues of approximately $2 billion per year and ran a $93.6 million surplus in the last fiscal year. In response, Carilion has announced plans for a significant business reorganization which will change its emphasis from running hospitals to hiring more doctors in a larger number of medical specialties, with a primary goal of better coordination of patient care and an emphasis on medical education and research. There are currently no plans to sell its eight hospitals. The plan was developed after visits to the Mayo Clinic and other similar organizations. As part of the reorganization plan, Carilion has renamed itself Carilion Clinic. Some local doctors have expressed concern that their independence could be eliminated and that the scale of the reorganization, if it is not successful, could imperil the organization and the quality of health care in the Roanoke area and have formed the Coalition for Responsible Healthcare to express their concerns.As part of the Carilion Clinic's focus on education and research, Carilion and Virginia Tech recently announced plans to establish a small medical school in Roanoke. Carilion currently operates the Jefferson College of Health Sciences which offers a master of science in nursing and 13 associate and baccalaureate allied healthcare programs.
Saturday, April 19, 2008
FORCES THAT IMPEDE CHANGE
| Psychological Forces | Thoughts and Habits that Limit Change |
| Pain versus Pleasure | The immediate pleasure of the habit (gambling) is more powerful than the delayed pain (financial ruin). |
| Fear of failure | “If I don’t change, I will feel even worse than I do now.” |
| All or nothing thinking | “I must lose 50 pounds; losing 10 pounds is unacceptable” |
| Unconscious conflicts—unaware of problems | We may repeat maladaptive behavior because we fail to recognize the destructiveness of our acts. |
| Change is unpredictable | The discomfort of the status quo may be preferred over the anxiety produced by change. |
| Resisting authority | “I don’t like anyone telling me what to do.” |
| An undesirable habit may provide unmet needs. | Drinking relieves stress. Physical abuse provides attention. Eating fills a psychological void. |
Friday, April 18, 2008
Psychopharmacology Update Cymbalta for Chronic Pain
October, 2004 PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY UPDATE Volume 4 Number 5
The Dual-Mechanism Antidepressant, Cymbalta, in the Treatment of Pain
Almost 45% of patients with major depression have at least one painful physical symptom including limb pain, backaches, joint pain, and headaches. Abnormalities of serotonin and norepinephrine in the somatosensory cortex and the spinal cord contribute to an increase of painful response in depressed patients. Painful stimuli are more actively conducted up the nociceptive neurons of the spinal cord in depressed patients. In addition, the descending neurons of the spinal cord responsible for diminishing pain reception fail to work efficiently in depressed patients.
Studies have shown that dual-mechanism antidepressants—medications that increase the neurotransmitters serotonin and norepinephrine—are effective in treating certain pain syndromes associated with major depression. The dual-mechanism antidepressant, Effexor, targets only serotonin at doses below 150 mg/day and begins to effect norepinephrine (and serotonin) at doses above 150 mg/day.
Cymbalta, (duloxetine), a recently approved dual-reuptake inhibitor, shows relatively equal affinity for binding to both serotonin and norepinephrine across the entire dosage range. This equal affinity for serotonin and norepinephrine seems to enable Cymbalta to be effective in treating a wider range of pain syndromes and have a more rapid onset of action than previous antidepressants.
In one study, Cymbalta proved effective in relief of diabetic neuropathic pain symptoms at a starting dose of 60 mg/day. Several studies of patients with major depression and chronic pain complaints exhibited significantly greater reductions in pain severity after only one week of treatment. Such a rapid improvement in pain severity suggests that Cymbalta has a direct effect on the nociceptive neurons and the somatosensory cortex. Other studies have shown that Cymbalta seems to have a more rapid antidepressant onset of action than other antidepressants making it unclear whether the relief of pain is related to the medication’s antidepressants effects or the pain relief comes from the medication’s direct effects on pain centers.
Regardless of the exact mechanism of action, Cymbalta appears to have several unique characteristics: 1) It is a rapid onset antidepressant; 2) It seems to be an energizing antidepressant; 3) It is more likely to induce full remission of symptoms rather than partial treatment response more commonly produced by other antidepressants; 4) It apparently treats pain syndromes unassociated with depression.
The usual starting and maintenance dose is 60 mg given in the morning. Taking Cymbalta after breakfast can reduce the risk of nausea, a mild side effect most commonly cited during the first week of treatment. Other side effects include insomnia, headaches, somnolence, dry mouth and sweating. Food does not alter Cymbalta’s absorption but delays maximum concentration by about 4 hours. Cymbalta is metabolized by the 2D6 and 1A2 isoenzymes of the cytochrome P-450 system so that co-administration of beta blockers, quinidine, cimetidine, other antidepressants and antipsychotics could elevate plasma levels of Cymbalta or the other agents. Some men taking Cymbalta have more difficulty reaching orgasm. The agent is contraindicated in those patients taking MAO inhibitors, those with narrow-angle glaucoma, hepatic insufficiency and end-stage renal disease. Gradual reduction in the dose is recommended rather than abrupt cessation in order to avoid the occurrence of discontinuation symptoms.
Thursday, April 17, 2008
MAKING CHANGE
There are two types of pain: 1) imposed suffering – acts of flood, fire, famine – that comes from outside our psyche; and 2) elected suffering – a sense of rejection, shame, guilt, loneliness – that we inflict upon ourselves. Imposed suffering protects from the elected kind. The despair of the concentration camp crowds out the loneliness of a dateless prom night.
The patient with cancer illustrates both kinds of suffering. First there is the imposed suffering cancer induces, the pain and sickness the illness renders. The second type of suffering – the elected kind—comes from our own feelings about the cancer.
Patient and surgeon read from a different book. The surgeon removes the tumor, but fails to relieve the sense of vulnerability the patient feels from the inflicted cancer.
WHY PEOPLE CHANGE
The Lower Ninth Ward in New Orleans experienced calamitous flooding from Hurricane Katrina in 2005. The storm surge came from the east via flooded Saint Bernard Parish and from the west through two large breaches in the Industrial Canal flood protection system, creating violent currents that smashed homes and tore them from their foundations. The storm became the costliest natural disaster in U.S. history. At least 1,836 people lost their lives in Hurricane Katrina and many more thousands were rendered homeless.
A College Station resident commiserated with one of the Hurricane evacuees temporarily housed in a local church:
“That must have been the most terrible thing that ever happened to you. You lost your home. You lost your clothes and all of possessions. You have no money. You can’t get in touch with your relatives. Your friends have been displaced. What a tragedy. How will you ever recover?”
The evacuee replied:
“Surely that storm was a terrible thing. I was scared and pretty well knew I was going to die. Then a boat came and they took us to the Superdome, and it was like the devil himself had come down and was torturing us. We were all crowded together and squashed-up. People were yelling and crying. It was hot and dirty. And we all got thirsty and hungry. It smelled bad and it seemed there was no hope for any of us. But somehow, we got rescued and took care of. And now here I am in this nice church. We have food. And water. And air conditioning. And good people are helping us and looking after us.
Yes, that Hurricane was a horrible thing and I never want to go through nothing like that again. But, you know, that Hurricane—no matter all the bad things that happened—was the best thing that ever happened to me and I am thankful for it.
I’m not discounting the bad things that happened to so many people and all the dead people and people who never will find their families, but for me that hurricane was good. If it hadn’t been for Katrina, I would have been trapped in the lower ninth ward for life. Before the hurricane, I had nowhere to go. I had no idea how to go. I had no money to go. I was just there and that was my life. But the big wind came and blew me to a better way of looking at things. And now I have a new life, a new start on life. I’ve got possibilities. Yes, thank God for Hurricane Katrina. I’ve got hope.”
THE TRAGIC FAILURE TO CHANGE
Some people have difficulty changing because they are caught in financial or geographical traps. Let us consider those people, however, who have every opportunity to change, but, nonetheless, continue to engage in self-defeating behavior despite ongoing negative consequences:
Ø Smoking, obesity, and alcohol abuse can lead to chronic illnesses and premature death. Despite ominous health warnings that are more certain than storm alerts from the National Hurricane Center, surveys by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention show that very few people are willing to stop their self-destructive unhealthy habits.
Ø 20% of American adults smoke
Ø More than 30% of Americans are overweight
Ø 15% of Americans are binge drinkers
Ø People are often noncompliant to medical treatments
Ø 50-65% of Americans fail to follow their doctors’ treatment recommendations
Ø 10% of hospital admissions among older adults result from failure to follow doctors’ directions
Ø Almost one-third of patients visiting a physician fail to get their prescriptions filled
Ø A Case Western Reserve University survey showed that 54% of glaucoma patients failed to use their eye drops as directed even though these patients knew they would go blind unless they complied with their doctors’ instructions.
Ø 70% of patients receiving treatment at a community mental health center dropped out of treatment before the third visit.
Ø Most serious attempts to maintain behavior change are unsuccessful. A University of Scranton study found that only 19% of those who had made a significant change in a problem behavior maintained the change when surveyed two years later.
Ø People continue to engage in patterns of behavior—anger, violence, nagging, dependency, and jealousy—that are destructive to their relationships and their well being.
REASONS FOR LACK OF CHANGE
EMOTIONAL AMBIVALENCE. A woman complained vociferously about her husband who controlled her. He wouldn’t let her out of the house alone. He wouldn’t let her drive a car. He wouldn’t let her visit friends. When asked why she didn’t leave her husband, the woman replied, “I love him so much.” When the woman was seen two years later. She had the same complaints about her husband. She remained married.
CIRCULAR EXCUSES. Common explanations for lack of change become circular arguments. People may blame their resistance to change on stubbornness, an addictive personality, or self-destructiveness. An explanation for refusing to improve a situation may go this way, “Because my situation is hopeless, I can’t change.” The behavior is then used to support the explanation, “I can’t change because my situation is hopeless.”
REBELLION. Telling someone to change often exacerbates the situation. A highly directive approach causes a person to adamantly resist change. One study showed that the more alcoholics were directed to change the more they drank.
INERTIA. Systems resist change. Physicists call this resistance to change “inertia.” The first law of motion indicates that people, like objects, tend to keep on moving if they are moving and remain standing still if they are still.
BLAMING. It is easier to make excuses for our problems than it is to assume responsibility for our own behavior. The statement “If she didn’t nag me so much, I wouldn’t drink,” is an example of blaming others.
LEARNED HELPLESSNESS. Put an animal in a cage. Apply a mild electrical shock all over the floor of the cage. When the animal discovers that escape is impossible, the animal lies down and passively in the corner of the cage and accepts the shock. Then the electrical shock is applied only to the corner where the animal is lying. The other areas of the cage are shock free. The animal continues to stay in the corner. Humans that are constantly exposed to conditions from which there appear to be no escape will eventually give-up and surrender to the situation.
TWO REASONS PEOPLE CHANGE
1. Pleasure—realizing that new behavior patterns will produce more pleasure than maladaptive behavior patterns brings change. Believing that we can have a better life engenders different approaches. The power to visualize a successful outcome gives the courage to try new ways of doing things.
2. Pain—understanding that maladaptive behavior causes intolerable distress stimulates an alternative lifestyle. Drastic environmental consequences may be required before inertia can be overcome. Imprisonment, financial ruin, homelessness, or the treat of death may be necessary before transformation occurs. Allowing a person to suffer may be the best way to generate change.
BENEFITS OF CHANGE
We, as individuals, feel helpless in a sea of social turmoil where a single life raft offers little expectation for smooth sailing. A harmonious bulwark of social, cultural and spiritual safeguards provide the safest harbor from violent storms. A safe culture would provide:
1. Children raised by two parents.
2. A society that discourages a sense of entitlement.
3. Recognition of individual uniqueness unassociated with power, beauty, and wealth.
4. A spiritual foundation that offers love, joy, peace, kindness, and generosity.
5. A culture that encourages and offers a work opportunity for each adult to provide sustenance for themselves and their families.
6. A society that expects everyone to assume responsibility for his or her own behavior.
7. More negotiation, less litigation.
8. A society that recognizes that some people are more talented than others and at the same time a society that appreciates the less talented as much as the gifted.
9. Respect, concern and the best of care for the mentally
10. Entertainment that lifts the spirit and lightens the heart, rather than entertainment that celebrates violence and social deviance.
11. Communities and small groups that regularly meet together to encourage one another and to stimulate loving friendship and good works.
12. Cultivation of empathy and respect for others.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
