Our Action Plan for today is to put The Principle Of Excess Capacity into place, to practice saying “NO” and practice becoming more comfortable with space and emptiness.
The shift to make is to consider:
- FULL = no room to grow = forced to say NO to growth opportunities
- EMPTY = space to grow = freedom to say YES to growth opportunities
So, to succeed more and earn more…
Forget FULL, Focus On Empty
To begin experimenting with this new path (and it will most likely feel quite uncomfortable at first)…
Our Lifestyle Creation Experiment for today is to say “No” to something we usually would have said Yes to out of obligation and to be ok (at least this one time for our Experiment) with the empty space on our schedule (and perhaps temporary empty feeling inside of us), just allowing the emptiness to be, not rushing to fill it, knowing it is Excess Capacity we are building and that is one of our keys to long-term growth.
- What do you choose to consciously say “No” to today?
- What else can you consciously release to lighten your load? (Perhaps there is someone you can forgive? A past relationship you can release yourself from? Or something as simple as cleaning up the garage or cleaning out a closet to release the burden of clutter and give yourself the gift of Excess Capacity in your physical world?)
Our Business Creation Experiment for today is to begin playing with how to build Excess Capacity into our business.
- What is one idea that can create additional capacity in your business?
- What can you eliminate - and be ok with keeping that space empty- such that you have free space (or time or energy) available to say yes to something else better down the road?
(But the real key here- and what will really make today’s Insight most valuable to you- is to focus on giving yourself permission NOT to immediately say yes to anything else- to become more comfortable with the space, not rushing to fill it immediately.)
- Share your own insights, distinctions, what you’ve learned from this Insight today, and what you chose as your Lifestyle and Business Creation Experiments by posting a comment below.
After you have done that, I have a special additional Insight for you here that shows you how to immediately eliminate all that clutter in your email In Box that distracts most of us from ever getting anything really productive done.
Click here now as this one should free up huge amounts of your time for you this week.
September 30th, 2008 at 5:09 am
My “office” is actually housed in a garden shed, along with my educational material, art equipment, sewing things and household bills etc. So you can imagine how cramped and untidy it’s become.
So many times I’ve promised myself I’ll clear it all up and today, thanks to you Jeff, I’m going to make a start. I was supposed to be going to town with my daughter today, but a tanker accident has blocked the road. Instead of wondering what else I should do, I now realize I should be clearing my desk.
So here goes……………….
September 30th, 2008 at 6:32 am
CHRISTMAS DINNER IS A GOOD ANALYGY, CLEAN UP YOUR PLATE BEFORE YOU SAY YES TO MORE , THAT WAY YOU HAVE ROOM FOR CHRISTMAS PUDDING ! GERRY R. PS THE INBOX IS EMPTY ! CLICK!
September 30th, 2008 at 7:13 am
I need to say “NO!” to all the offers for overnight business success filling my inbox. I am always afraid I will miss something good. This has halted ANY progress on my business growth. I spend WAY too much time on my 4 email accounts! Just eliminating the junk (not even reading all them) takes so much time! I will start “unsubscibing” to many programs and newletters TODAY!
In life - I would love to say “NO” to my job. Today, however, I will have to see what comes along. My “Free” time is mine to spend without obligation to outside influences. Let’s see what happens….
September 30th, 2008 at 7:35 am
Since i am such a sucker for all opportunities, I have decided to use a section of my journal to write down about all those ‘extra’ offerings with details on access etc. - a bin of sort to tell myself this is something I can go back to later when I have the time or the real need for it!
This way I don’t worry about loosing the opportunity but have placed on the back burner - all the way in the back of the house!
Sunita
September 30th, 2008 at 8:07 am
Jeff, I have been trying to do too much and my capacity has been filled. I am getting coaching from a source I have been dismayed about-it is not helping me, but it is hurting my available time. I will contact the person who has yet to give me a single tip, and postpone today’s potential availability.
I have known that clutter is a sign of intellectual disorganization. Cleaning up and organizing (rid out excess) is good advice for taking the high road out of an overwhelming feeling of despair. It is indeed the simple things we can do do that make a big difference in our productivity. Thank you for your tips!
September 30th, 2008 at 9:47 am
I would have to say I’m still pretty empty at this point. But the interesting thing about your comments is the sheer number of people who are trying to fill that space up with their “proven success” models of one sort or another. Being new to this game, it is hard to be discerning. So your point is well taken. Often if I am really trying to make something work I will do EVERYTHING I can see to do rather than sit with and feel into the right set of component pieces.
On a personal note, are you a Buddhist? Who was your mentor/coach? Your coaching is very much like my own except articulated in a different and extremely well thought out way. I am very impressed with this process.
Thanks again.
September 30th, 2008 at 9:53 am
Jeff you really hit the nail on the head with this lesson..Thank you, I was just thinking about this same problem, I have so much on my plate that instead of doing something i did nothing. And if i started on one project I was always thinking about how to make the other work.. and it has left me broke and empty…now i have a better idea on what to do..
September 30th, 2008 at 10:10 am
I’ve got to stop buying and start finishing. I’ve got enough to keep me busy for a long time.
I’ve got to finish my personal projects and finish my educational material that I already have.
Believe me, it is more than a plate full.
September 30th, 2008 at 1:38 pm
Stop and take a breath, that is refreshing Jeff. I have to say I spend too much, of my
money, that I don’t have, on stuff that I don’t need or will never get to finish for it’s full benifit.
I Must Rember:
” All That Glitters…
is Not Gold…”
Thanks Jeff.
Now on a Lighter Note, Enjoy this one:
” There Was a Time When a Fool and
His Money Were Soon Parted…
Now it Happen to Everybody…”
Get a Free Quote a Day
http://www.gainuniquewisdom.com
September 30th, 2008 at 2:19 pm
Hi Jeff! Thanks again for sharing your knowledge with us. Now I know I’m not alone in being bewildered and overrun by trying to follow too many ideas and not have the time, willingness or know-how to finish them. Today is the first day of the rest of my life. Gradual change starts now! Heartfelt thanks. M.
September 30th, 2008 at 5:49 pm
Jeff - As usual, the concept is straightforward and to the point. and makes total sense. Throughout this 10 day turnaround, I have read and re-read your insights as well as taking very copious notes to ensure that I can re-review them on a daily basis (something akin to meditation). My objective is to learn through daily practice until they become second nature.
September 30th, 2008 at 6:35 pm
Since I am a minimalist at heart, I loved your idea of open spaces waiting for a better opportunity.
September 30th, 2008 at 7:42 pm
What I am going to do for starters is re-organize and de-clutter my desk and office. Put all these different programs on a shelf in order of priority. This has to be done anyway because my office will become a guest room next Wednesday. (Relatives visiting) Starting on Friday, that’s the day I’m officially downsized from my job, I will have a huge open space that I am not going to fill with new stuff, just get some of the current stuff taken care of, the business rolling along smoothly and have some time to spend with my visitors and enjoy life a bit. I think this insight and action plan will make a huge difference in my modus operendi. Now to the e-mail thing, cause I get tons of it.
October 1st, 2008 at 11:08 am
I’m a teacher, but I’m trying hard to give my students ideas not just pattern practice. For years they have written A4 pages during class to tell me what they learned, then I’ve been swamped. Now they keep them, to rewrite and condense later this term, and I receive three sentences and talk to them more during every class. I expect my paper load is getting smaller already. Next I’ll remove a lot of e-zines which I read anxiously seeking a key to my too busy life with no time for exercise nor dieting properly. They make me feel inadequate because my life situation does not allow for actually doing what they seem to advise for success. And since then I won’t have those tempting outside ideas coming in I’ll be able to focus on the house, my live in senile mother in law, clean out my closets, find my art supplies and do what really makes me joyful again. Maybe like before I got a computer, my art ideas will bring in a stream of pleasure for me and others, rather more reflections of missed chances in each e-mail and in complete craft project, that now keep me stuck working in minimum capacity circles.
I like your approach as it seems to be getting me out of a rut of overwhelm. Thanks so much!!!
October 1st, 2008 at 1:04 pm
Too funny! I just finished clearing out a bunch of old clothes from my children’s and my own wardrobe to free up some space before turning the computer on.
October 5th, 2008 at 2:22 pm
Hi Jeff,
I think I’ve mentioned to you before that I’m currently only on a 50% workload at the moment on my regular job.
Instead of being annoyed of this I’ll start taking advantage of it!
Best!
Lars