Be Proactive

Blogging on my lunch hour at work. This morning I've been reviewing my 2008 datebook to make sure I transferred everything necessary. I tend to take a lot of notes in my Fr@nklin C0vey planner, and upgraded for 2009 from two-pages-per-week to one-page-per-day. Keeping track of information is a major part of my work day. I'm in the process of putting together an excel spreadsheet of information - leads, projects, contractors, in-office projects, in-office managers and their projects...blah blah blah. So far the spreadsheet has 11 tabs - and using it for the last 2 months has been SUCH a relief. When someone walks into my office to tell me the latest I open the right part and type it in. I'm tired of the paper trail and the constant search for where I wrote what. And yet I learn by taking notes - that is how I retain information.

I am very organized, by the way. And a perfectionist. So very organized is still not...perfectly organized.

ANYHOW, in last year's date book there is a "Be Proactive" section that I just tore out, and I think I'll play with. It's a couple pages dedicated to helping you identify what is important to you, and then break it down into steps which move you closer to your goal. It's succinct. It's journal -ly. I like it. (It's also blank...never really noticed it before. There's one in this year's datebook as well.) (But perfectionists don't just jump into THIS year's record when they can doodle on last year's...)

The last page is about renewal. "Balance your renewal in the four areas of your life: Physical, Social/Emotional, Mental and Spiritual." Each of the four areas has suggestions for renewal.

I'll post more on this later, but I'm quite pleased to assess that I have attained some balance. I do do the things that are important to me. And I'm learning to say no to what I *could* do but feel no passion about. (IE Just said no to a school committee to organize a golf outing. Could. Do I want to have those meetings on my schedule? Nope.) I was just asked to be on a professional board, and I did not blurt out SURE. I asked, instead, for the complete job description including estimated time commitment each week. I'm learning...slowly. You can't train a people-pleasing extrovert very quickly you know.

I'll write more on this as I putter with it. There's always room for improvement. But at age 45 it's sort of nice to take a moment to evaluate, and to actually see growth. And some semblance of balance. That's a gift I've given myself, and I'm so glad.