ow self-esteem is like driving through life with your hand-break on
(Maxwell Maltz)

Bear with me for a moment, for I have an itch to write about fleas.
Suppose you wanted to start your own flea circus, how would you go about
training them? There are several techniques, but I'll discuss one here:
Get about 100 fleas and place them in a jar. Cover the jar with a lid or
small sheet of glass. Leave them there for three days to two weeks
(depends on the fleas you're training). What about food? Not to worry,
adult fleas can live without food for as long as two years.

So, what happens to the fleas you've imprisoned in the jar? They will
all be wildly jumping, crashing into the lid, banging into the walls of
the jar, and bumping into one another. After a period, however, even
their tiny brains realize that it's not smart to keep smashing into the
lid and walls of the jar, so they adjust the height and direction of
their jumps. Before long, they will jump in an orderly fashion. No
longer will they bump into one another or the sides of the jar. Also,
the highest point of their jump will be a few millimeters below the lid.
No more bruised backs!

They are now "trained." For you can remove the lid and they will
continue to act as if it were still there. In other words, although they
are free, they will behave as if imprisoned. In fact, you can now
quickly rotate the jar and place it on a table upside-down. After giving
them a chance to settle down, you can then slowly raise the jar until
they are completely free. Your "trained" fleas will continue jumping
while remaining in place! Locked into their tiny bodies is vast
potential. They are incredible jumpers. Yet, where is their potential
now? Because they were trained, they can now jump only as high as their
former prison.

Does this story ring any bells? You see, the place where we were reared
between the ages of one and five, and beyond, was like a jar or prison.
Like the fleas, we were born perfect, with unlimited potential. But,
also like the fleas, we were "trained." As we tried to express our
enormous potential, we kept smashing into a wall of negativity. Over and
again we heard comments like, "You're so stupid. You're a bad child. Why
are you so naughty? What's wrong with you? You can't do anything right."

What happened to our potential? Can you see why we failed to develop
fully? Although we share much in common with the fleas, there is one
significant difference. Awareness. We can become aware of our problem,
and its source, and then take corrective action. As we change our
behavior, we can begin to leap higher and higher, until we reach our
full potential. We have the ability to free ourselves, for although
someone else may have placed us here, the key that unlocks our prison
door is in our pocket!

The key that unlocks the door of our cell is sometimes called
self-esteem. You could also call it self-confidence or belief in
ourselves. Each of us has in our mind an image of where we would like to
be in our life. If we are far from that destination, we have low
self-esteem or little self-confidence. If we are close to where we want
to be, we have high self-esteem or a great deal of confidence.

We learn from experience what needs to be done, and it is confidence
that allows us to do it. Reworded, our competence grows in direct
proportion to our self-esteem. On the other hand, without confidence, we
are twice defeated, for we experience the pain of low self-esteem and
the pain of failure. If we have lost confidence, we have lost
everything. For that reason, let's consider what we can do to rebuild
our self-esteem.

Rebuilding our self-esteem
Normally thought precedes action. This is fine when we have positive
thoughts. But after being trained like fleas, we need to reverse the
process. That is, we need to act despite our thoughts. And we need to
forcefully repeat new, positive actions until they become habitual.
Suppose we have low self-esteem and are afraid to do what we would like
to, such as be assertive or seek a new job. It's okay to be afraid;
accept it and understand you were trained to doubt yourself. But now it
is time to accept that some things are more important than fear. Your
happiness, for example. So, if you're unhappy with your job, start
taking action today to change the situation. Act despite your fear.
Begin with simple steps. Prepare your resume. Search the want ads. Fax
your resume to agencies and businesses. Each little step you take will
bring you closer to your dream and increase your confidence, which will
make further action easier, leading to still more confidence, and so on.
Although we can never entirely eliminate fear, we can reduce it by
preparation. If, for example, you prepared an attractive resume and are
neatly dressed, you will have lots less to be nervous about at a job
interview. Here's something else to consider: Anticipation is a
magnifying glass that enlarges expected pleasures or fears. The fear
that is anticipated is greater than the fear that is experienced. Moral?
Stop expecting problems and start anticipating solutions.

Do you have a computer? I love computers. I'm writing this article on
one. But getting back to you, do you realize that you have a computer
that is vastly superior to my Pentium? It is called your brain. Use it.
For instance, when those negative thoughts crop up, stop and analyze
them. Let's say you would like to ask the boss for a raise, but think,
"I can't do that." Whoa! Stop! Analyze that thought. Realize that it is
irrational to believe you can't do it. That negative thought you had was
the thought of a child, the thought of a flea. It's time to change now.
So, if you want that raise, begin by preparing for it. First of all,
wanting a raise is not enough. You need to deserve it. Do you? If so,
list all the reasons. If the boss gives you a raise, how will he
benefit? Will you be willing to tackle more responsibilities? Picture in
your mind speaking to your boss. What will he say to you and how will
you respond? By building your list of reasons you deserve a raise and
practicing the conversation in your mind, you are preparing. The result?
More confidence, less fear. The point of this paragraph is to encourage
you to analyze every negative thought and get into the habit of
replacing irrational thinking with clear, analytical thinking.

Be willing to make the effort. Develop self-discipline by doing
unpleasant, but necessary tasks. Carefully consider the words of Winston
Churchill, "The heights of great men reached and kept, were not attained
by sudden flight, but they, while their companions slept, were toiling
upwards in the night." Some people say, "I'd love to improve but I have
no self-control." That's not true, we all have self-control. If we are
wasting valuable time, who is forcing us to do so? Isn't it our choice?
We can start improving by practicing jumping higher and higher. True, we
may feel uncomfortable as we do so. After all, we still remember the
bruises we suffered by striking the lid over and over again. But look up
and around, we're not in the jar any longer! We may like to blame
circumstances instead of taking responsibility for our actions, but the
only way to succeed is to create the future by taking control of our
lives with self-discipline, integrity, and right action.

You are not alone in your dance of the flea. Look about you. Almost
everyone you meet is bruised. They can use a boost in self-esteem. You
can help. In fact, you could be the catalyst that gets them jumping
higher and higher. You can do so by offering words of encouragement,
recognition, and praise. You can accept them, embrace them, and elevate
them. You are an extremely important person; they need you. Let's help.


You can contact Chuck Gallozzi at mailto:gall-@interlog.com


---> 10 Things You Can Do To Produce A Quantum Leap In Your Life Fast

We often hear of small actions that can make a dramatic impact on our
lives. Here are ten such things which, if done with determination, will
produce a revolution for you physically, mentally, emotionally,
spiritually and financially!


1. Drink Pure Water

Our bodies are 70% water. Drinking impure water is responsible for many
illnesses commonly attributed to other causes. Therefore, you should
seriously consider installing a quality water filtration or distillation
system.

In addition, most people go through life dehydrated. Simply drinking
when you are thirsty is not enough. Moreover, tea and coffee actually
dehydrate the body even further thereby making the problem worse still.
Dehydration also leads to many serious illnesses. You need to drink at
least 8-12 glasses of clear water every day, and preferably more.


2. Regular Exercise

Exercise can slow down, and even partially reverse, the aging process.
You will suffer from fewer illnesses and have far more energy to enjoy
all day long. Best of all, exercise is something you can take up and
benefit from at any age. Yoga is excellent because it tones your inner
organs as well as gently stretching and strengthening your muscles. Even
simply walking for 15-20 minutes every day could be extremely
beneficial. Consult your doctor regarding your current state of health
and advice on suitable forms of exercise for you.


3. Meditation

Regular meditators often have a biological age 10-20 years younger than
their chronological age! You will also be far more centered all day,
more aware of your emotions, and far better able to cope with any
challenge life can throw at you.

Simply sitting in a quiet place alone, closing your eyes, and following
the passage of your breath as it moves in and out is a superb
meditation. However, you can easily find others that can benefit and
enrich your life deeply. Meditation will make you a kinder, gentler, and
more patient person. It will help you to appreciate life more.


4. Forgiveness

Grudges take up brain capacity and prevent us from performing at our
very best. What we focus our minds upon grows; this is true of hatred
too. Therefore, it is impossible to truly achieve great things for
ourselves when we have a lot of our energetic capacity tied up in
negativity.

Remember that forgiveness is primarily for YOU. It free up your energy
tremendously. So forgive all grudges, no matter how old they may be, and
seek reconciliation. If you find this hard, begin with the easiest ones
first. Then gradually work up to the harder ones.


5. Clutter Clearance

If you want to let new opportunities into your life, you have to make
room for them. Clear out the past - things you cling to that no longer
serve any purpose, but which hold you back. This can be cupboards, the
cellar, old clothes, old relationships, and outmoded ways of thinking.
By holding on tenaciously to the past, we fail to make room for the
future.

So look in your closets and get rid of things you have not used for over
a year or two. Review relationships in your life and see which ones are
taking you where you want to go and which ones are holding you down.
Clear your desk. Clear your computer. Then let fresh air flow into your
life!


6. Clear All Financial Debt & Invest

If owing nobody a cent is just a dream for you, start working today to
make that dream a reality. Save 10% of your income each month to be
applied towards reducing and clearing your debts.

Financial debt is one of the biggest causes of worry ever. Yet almost
anyone can save 10% of their income if they put their minds to it. Do it
consistently to learn the habit, and soon you'll be saving 20%. Once
you've applied this to your debts, and have NO debts at all, you can't
imagine how free you will feel!


7. Relationships

Almost everything we want in life will be obtained through other people.
Moreover, relationships skills are amongst the most important and most
desired in life. They easily more than make up for deficiencies in other
areas of expertise. People who get on well with others rise faster than
those who are merely good at their jobs. They are the last people to be
fired; if they are, they find it extremely easy to pick up a great job
elsewhere.


Hence, it is vital to learn to relate excellently to others. If you are
not good in this area, all your other efforts could go for nothing.
Therefore, study hard in his subject and apply the lessons you learn.
Become excellent at relating to people.


8. Goals

Have clear, specific, written goals with deadlines for their achievement
in every area of your life - physical, mental, emotional, physical,
career, etc. People who do are FAR more successful. People who don't are
like ships adrift on the seas. A person without clear specific goals is
like a ship cast adrift on the ocean without a captain or crew. The
chances of it arriving anywhere specific are minimal. Yet most people
live their lives
like that. Make it your goal to have specific written goals in every
area of your life and review them every day.


9. Daily Planning

For maximum productivity, plan each day in advance with a scheduler. Use
a "To Do" list to plan what you need to get done. Prioritize these tasks
in order of importance. You can rank urgent tasks as "A". Important, but
not urgent, tasks as "B". Nice to do but neither urgent nor important
activities as "C". Unimportant tasks as "D". Work on the category "A"
tasks first until you have them all done and then work on the category
"B" tasks. Delegate or throw out category "D" activities.

Develop the habit of accounting for every half hour of your time. This
is what many highly successful people do.


10. Journal

A life worth living is a life worth recording. Keep a private journal
where you can record events, your reactions to them, how you feel about
situations, what you are learning. Keeping a journal awakens your
intuition and deepens your contact with
Spirit.


Copyright © 2000, Asoka Selvarajah. All Rights Reserved.
_______________________________________________________________
Dr. Asoka Selvarajah is an active writer/researcher on personal
development and esoteric spirituality. Asoka's work helps
people achieve their full potential, deepen their understanding
of mystical truth, and find joy in their true soul's purpose.

Subscribe to his free ezine, Aspire To Wisdom, and receive his
brand new E-Book "Inner Light Outer Wealth" for FREE at:
http://www.aksworld.com/AspireToWisdom.htm??PEDE
You can visit his website at http://www.aksworld.com?PEDE


<--------------> Putting Lipstick On A Pig <------------------>

Technology can help tremendously with time management. Many examples of
this are seen everyday: It can make changing calendar appointments
effortless. Also, with the click of a button, many people can be
emailed an announcement of a meeting change. Potential uses are
enormous. But, time and time again, in my personal coaching practice, I
frequently see folks simply using technology to automate a poor time
management system. They are in effect, paving the cow path, or putting
lipstick on a pig.

Putting lipstick on a pig makes the pig a little prettier, but
underneath it, the pig is still a pig. Cosmetic changes don’t result in
underlying structural change. Technology can be used like lipstick, or
to support a more fundamental realignment of a time management system.
Using a handheld computer to manage appointments is great, but if we
aren’t making the correct appointments it doesn’t help much.

Most of us are very busy. Automating the tracking of all the harried
appointments we keep during the day is nice. But, at the core, do the
appointments tie to achieving goals within the roles of our lives? Is
there some planning mechanism that results in using the time management
system to bring our lives more in line with a personal mission
statement?

Email results in quicker communication, but is the communication more
effective? Faster technology speed creates quick movement. But is the
movement in the right direction? An old saying applies well here: If
you are in a race, but are going down the wrong route, it doesn’t matter
how fast you are. Technology can help us go faster, but in the end, it
may not matter much, if we aren’t effectively accomplishing our personal
goals.

The next time you use technology, think about lipstick on a pig. Do you
really want to put lipstick on that big, old, ugly, smelly animal? Or
would you rather invest some additional time and get rid of the pig
completely, replacing it with something that will more effectively
assist you on your journey to peak performance?

------------------------------------------------------

This story was authored by Scott Fite, who specializes in Peak
Performance Coaching. Stop by his website at
http://www.lifedesigncenter.com for more peak performance information
and to sign up for a free newsletter.


<------------ Please help out? --------------->

How self-esteem is like driving through life with your hand-break on
(Maxwell Maltz)

Bear with me for a moment, for I have an itch to write about fleas.
Suppose you wanted to start your own flea circus, how would you go about
training them? There are several techniques, but I'll discuss one here:
Get about 100 fleas and place them in a jar. Cover the jar with a lid or
small sheet of glass. Leave them there for three days to two weeks
(depends on the fleas you're training). What about food? Not to worry,
adult fleas can live without food for as long as two years.

So, what happens to the fleas you've imprisoned in the jar? They will
all be wildly jumping, crashing into the lid, banging into the walls of
the jar, and bumping into one another. After a period, however, even
their tiny brains realize that it's not smart to keep smashing into the
lid and walls of the jar, so they adjust the height and direction of
their jumps. Before long, they will jump in an orderly fashion. No
longer will they bump into one another or the sides of the jar. Also,
the highest point of their jump will be a few millimeters below the lid.
No more bruised backs!

They are now "trained." For you can remove the lid and they will
continue to act as if it were still there. In other words, although they
are free, they will behave as if imprisoned. In fact, you can now
quickly rotate the jar and place it on a table upside-down. After giving
them a chance to settle down, you can then slowly raise the jar until
they are completely free. Your "trained" fleas will continue jumping
while remaining in place! Locked into their tiny bodies is vast
potential. They are incredible jumpers. Yet, where is their potential
now? Because they were trained, they can now jump only as high as their
former prison.

Does this story ring any bells? You see, the place where we were reared
between the ages of one and five, and beyond, was like a jar or prison.
Like the fleas, we were born perfect, with unlimited potential. But,
also like the fleas, we were "trained." As we tried to express our
enormous potential, we kept smashing into a wall of negativity. Over and
again we heard comments like, "You're so stupid. You're a bad child. Why
are you so naughty? What's wrong with you? You can't do anything right."

What happened to our potential? Can you see why we failed to develop
fully? Although we share much in common with the fleas, there is one
significant difference. Awareness. We can become aware of our problem,
and its source, and then take corrective action. As we change our
behavior, we can begin to leap higher and higher, until we reach our
full potential. We have the ability to free ourselves, for although
someone else may have placed us here, the key that unlocks our prison
door is in our pocket!

The key that unlocks the door of our cell is sometimes called
self-esteem. You could also call it self-confidence or belief in
ourselves. Each of us has in our mind an image of where we would like to
be in our life. If we are far from that destination, we have low
self-esteem or little self-confidence. If we are close to where we want
to be, we have high self-esteem or a great deal of confidence.

We learn from experience what needs to be done, and it is confidence
that allows us to do it. Reworded, our competence grows in direct
proportion to our self-esteem. On the other hand, without confidence, we
are twice defeated, for we experience the pain of low self-esteem and
the pain of failure. If we have lost confidence, we have lost
everything. For that reason, let's consider what we can do to rebuild
our self-esteem.

Rebuilding our self-esteem
Normally thought precedes action. This is fine when we have positive
thoughts. But after being trained like fleas, we need to reverse the
process. That is, we need to act despite our thoughts. And we need to
forcefully repeat new, positive actions until they become habitual.
Suppose we have low self-esteem and are afraid to do what we would like
to, such as be assertive or seek a new job. It's okay to be afraid;
accept it and understand you were trained to doubt yourself. But now it
is time to accept that some things are more important than fear. Your
happiness, for example. So, if you're unhappy with your job, start
taking action today to change the situation. Act despite your fear.
Begin with simple steps. Prepare your resume. Search the want ads. Fax
your resume to agencies and businesses. Each little step you take will
bring you closer to your dream and increase your confidence, which will
make further action easier, leading to still more confidence, and so on.
Although we can never entirely eliminate fear, we can reduce it by
preparation. If, for example, you prepared an attractive resume and are
neatly dressed, you will have lots less to be nervous about at a job
interview. Here's something else to consider: Anticipation is a
magnifying glass that enlarges expected pleasures or fears. The fear
that is anticipated is greater than the fear that is experienced. Moral?
Stop expecting problems and start anticipating solutions.

Do you have a computer? I love computers. I'm writing this article on
one. But getting back to you, do you realize that you have a computer
that is vastly superior to my Pentium? It is called your brain. Use it.
For instance, when those negative thoughts crop up, stop and analyze
them. Let's say you would like to ask the boss for a raise, but think,
"I can't do that." Whoa! Stop! Analyze that thought. Realize that it is
irrational to believe you can't do it. That negative thought you had was
the thought of a child, the thought of a flea. It's time to change now.
So, if you want that raise, begin by preparing for it. First of all,
wanting a raise is not enough. You need to deserve it. Do you? If so,
list all the reasons. If the boss gives you a raise, how will he
benefit? Will you be willing to tackle more responsibilities? Picture in
your mind speaking to your boss. What will he say to you and how will
you respond? By building your list of reasons you deserve a raise and
practicing the conversation in your mind, you are preparing. The result?
More confidence, less fear. The point of this paragraph is to encourage
you to analyze every negative thought and get into the habit of
replacing irrational thinking with clear, analytical thinking.

Be willing to make the effort. Develop self-discipline by doing
unpleasant, but necessary tasks. Carefully consider the words of Winston
Churchill, "The heights of great men reached and kept, were not attained
by sudden flight, but they, while their companions slept, were toiling
upwards in the night." Some people say, "I'd love to improve but I have
no self-control." That's not true, we all have self-control. If we are
wasting valuable time, who is forcing us to do so? Isn't it our choice?
We can start improving by practicing jumping higher and higher. True, we
may feel uncomfortable as we do so. After all, we still remember the
bruises we suffered by striking the lid over and over again. But look up
and around, we're not in the jar any longer! We may like to blame
circumstances instead of taking responsibility for our actions, but the
only way to succeed is to create the future by taking control of our
lives with self-discipline, integrity, and right action.

You are not alone in your dance of the flea. Look about you. Almost
everyone you meet is bruised. They can use a boost in self-esteem. You
can help. In fact, you could be the catalyst that gets them jumping
higher and higher. You can do so by offering words of encouragement,
recognition, and praise. You can accept them, embrace them, and elevate
them. You are an extremely important person; they need you. Let's help.


You can contact Chuck Gallozzi at mailto:gall-@interlog.com


---> 10 Things You Can Do To Produce A Quantum Leap In Your Life Fast

We often hear of small actions that can make a dramatic impact on our
lives. Here are ten such things which, if done with determination, will
produce a revolution for you physically, mentally, emotionally,
spiritually and financially!


1. Drink Pure Water

Our bodies are 70% water. Drinking impure water is responsible for many
illnesses commonly attributed to other causes. Therefore, you should
seriously consider installing a quality water filtration or distillation
system.

In addition, most people go through life dehydrated. Simply drinking
when you are thirsty is not enough. Moreover, tea and coffee actually
dehydrate the body even further thereby making the problem worse still.
Dehydration also leads to many serious illnesses. You need to drink at
least 8-12 glasses of clear water every day, and preferably more.


2. Regular Exercise

Exercise can slow down, and even partially reverse, the aging process.
You will suffer from fewer illnesses and have far more energy to enjoy
all day long. Best of all, exercise is something you can take up and
benefit from at any age. Yoga is excellent because it tones your inner
organs as well as gently stretching and strengthening your muscles. Even
simply walking for 15-20 minutes every day could be extremely
beneficial. Consult your doctor regarding your current state of health
and advice on suitable forms of exercise for you.


3. Meditation

Regular meditators often have a biological age 10-20 years younger than
their chronological age! You will also be far more centered all day,
more aware of your emotions, and far better able to cope with any
challenge life can throw at you.

Simply sitting in a quiet place alone, closing your eyes, and following
the passage of your breath as it moves in and out is a superb
meditation. However, you can easily find others that can benefit and
enrich your life deeply. Meditation will make you a kinder, gentler, and
more patient person. It will help you to appreciate life more.


4. Forgiveness

Grudges take up brain capacity and prevent us from performing at our
very best. What we focus our minds upon grows; this is true of hatred
too. Therefore, it is impossible to truly achieve great things for
ourselves when we have a lot of our energetic capacity tied up in
negativity.

Remember that forgiveness is primarily for YOU. It free up your energy
tremendously. So forgive all grudges, no matter how old they may be, and
seek reconciliation. If you find this hard, begin with the easiest ones
first. Then gradually work up to the harder ones.


5. Clutter Clearance

If you want to let new opportunities into your life, you have to make
room for them. Clear out the past - things you cling to that no longer
serve any purpose, but which hold you back. This can be cupboards, the
cellar, old clothes, old relationships, and outmoded ways of thinking.
By holding on tenaciously to the past, we fail to make room for the
future.

So look in your closets and get rid of things you have not used for over
a year or two. Review relationships in your life and see which ones are
taking you where you want to go and which ones are holding you down.
Clear your desk. Clear your computer. Then let fresh air flow into your
life!


6. Clear All Financial Debt & Invest

If owing nobody a cent is just a dream for you, start working today to
make that dream a reality. Save 10% of your income each month to be
applied towards reducing and clearing your debts.

Financial debt is one of the biggest causes of worry ever. Yet almost
anyone can save 10% of their income if they put their minds to it. Do it
consistently to learn the habit, and soon you'll be saving 20%. Once
you've applied this to your debts, and have NO debts at all, you can't
imagine how free you will feel!


7. Relationships

Almost everything we want in life will be obtained through other people.
Moreover, relationships skills are amongst the most important and most
desired in life. They easily more than make up for deficiencies in other
areas of expertise. People who get on well with others rise faster than
those who are merely good at their jobs. They are the last people to be
fired; if they are, they find it extremely easy to pick up a great job
elsewhere.


Hence, it is vital to learn to relate excellently to others. If you are
not good in this area, all your other efforts could go for nothing.
Therefore, study hard in his subject and apply the lessons you learn.
Become excellent at relating to people.


8. Goals

Have clear, specific, written goals with deadlines for their achievement
in every area of your life - physical, mental, emotional, physical,
career, etc. People who do are FAR more successful. People who don't are
like ships adrift on the seas. A person without clear specific goals is
like a ship cast adrift on the ocean without a captain or crew. The
chances of it arriving anywhere specific are minimal. Yet most people
live their lives
like that. Make it your goal to have specific written goals in every
area of your life and review them every day.


9. Daily Planning

For maximum productivity, plan each day in advance with a scheduler. Use
a "To Do" list to plan what you need to get done. Prioritize these tasks
in order of importance. You can rank urgent tasks as "A". Important, but
not urgent, tasks as "B". Nice to do but neither urgent nor important
activities as "C". Unimportant tasks as "D". Work on the category "A"
tasks first until you have them all done and then work on the category
"B" tasks. Delegate or throw out category "D" activities.

Develop the habit of accounting for every half hour of your time. This
is what many highly successful people do.


10. Journal

A life worth living is a life worth recording. Keep a private journal
where you can record events, your reactions to them, how you feel about
situations, what you are learning. Keeping a journal awakens your
intuition and deepens your contact with
Spirit.


Copyright © 2000, Asoka Selvarajah. All Rights Reserved.
_______________________________________________________________
Dr. Asoka Selvarajah is an active writer/researcher on personal
development and esoteric spirituality. Asoka's work helps
people achieve their full potential, deepen their understanding
of mystical truth, and find joy in their true soul's purpose.

Subscribe to his free ezine, Aspire To Wisdom, and receive his
brand new E-Book "Inner Light Outer Wealth" for FREE at:
http://www.aksworld.com/AspireToWisdom.htm??PEDE
You can visit his website at http://www.aksworld.com?PEDE


<--------------> Putting Lipstick On A Pig <------------------>

Technology can help tremendously with time management. Many examples of
this are seen everyday: It can make changing calendar appointments
effortless. Also, with the click of a button, many people can be
emailed an announcement of a meeting change. Potential uses are
enormous. But, time and time again, in my personal coaching practice, I
frequently see folks simply using technology to automate a poor time
management system. They are in effect, paving the cow path, or putting
lipstick on a pig.

Putting lipstick on a pig makes the pig a little prettier, but
underneath it, the pig is still a pig. Cosmetic changes don’t result in
underlying structural change. Technology can be used like lipstick, or
to support a more fundamental realignment of a time management system.
Using a handheld computer to manage appointments is great, but if we
aren’t making the correct appointments it doesn’t help much.

Most of us are very busy. Automating the tracking of all the harried
appointments we keep during the day is nice. But, at the core, do the
appointments tie to achieving goals within the roles of our lives? Is
there some planning mechanism that results in using the time management
system to bring our lives more in line with a personal mission
statement?

Email results in quicker communication, but is the communication more
effective? Faster technology speed creates quick movement. But is the
movement in the right direction? An old saying applies well here: If
you are in a race, but are going down the wrong route, it doesn’t matter
how fast you are. Technology can help us go faster, but in the end, it
may not matter much, if we aren’t effectively accomplishing our personal
goals.

The next time you use technology, think about lipstick on a pig. Do you
really want to put lipstick on that big, old, ugly, smelly animal? Or
would you rather invest some additional time and get rid of the pig
completely, replacing it with something that will more effectively
assist you on your journey to peak performance?

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This story was authored by Scott Fite, who specializes in Peak
Performance Coaching. Stop by his website at
http://www.lifedesigncenter.com for more peak performance information
and to sign up for a free newsletter.