50 Possibilities for an Easier Life

1. Using music to put yourself in the best possible mood at all times.
2. Realising that someone, somewhere wants to replace your skills with a silicon chip. Become so good that they can never, ever do it.
3. Doing five rounds of 2.5 minutes  on your boxing bag every morning.
4. Staying in touch: with your friends, with your accounts. 
5. Having a definite and distinct place that you place and keep your keys.
6. Prioritising what you do against your goals. And thus: having goals.
7. Getting the quantity and quality of sleep you need so that you are focused, creative and unstoppable in the face of challenging Covid-19 days.
8. Deciding to never rely on an employer. In reality they cannot guarantee anything apart from this month's salary. Things are tricky out there. Plan your own destiny; you don't need to go as far as T E Lawrence but he had some good ideas.
9. Clarifying your use of time. It is possible to work while in leisure time and dream of leisure while at work. Split the two. Word hard, play hard and don't allow technology to confuse the two.
10. Get really good at listening and understand the other point of view.
11. In the business meeting, ask deep probing questions. The latter is a question asked until a point of hesitation: at  that point you know the data is dubious.
12. Investing in yourself by reading.
13. Never ignoring symptoms whether they are headaches, poor sales figures or simply unease. Address them. Sooner than tomorrow.
14. Realising that the days of true leadership in Politics are over. Most Political activity is some point in a marketing campaign.
15. Doing a couple of rounds of Sun Salute yoga every morning.
16. Taking technology free days.
17. Getting out more.
18. Being courteous.
19. (Re-)realising that nobody thinks like you, works like you, is you. And that's OK.
20. Not caring if they are cynical. Just do an awesome job time after time after time. After time.
21. Not trying to predict too much in a Covid-19 world. Day by day.....
22. Sorting your finances even if that initial close observation will reveal how bad they really are. Knowledge is power.
23. Getting a French Press and making decent coffee.
24. If in doubt, write a list. 
25. Remembering that creating a team is hard work. But the return from a High Performance Team is staggering.
26. Returning to The Beatles. Any time, anyplace, anywhere.
27. Buying a decent brolly, then you can walk in the rain. 
28. When in NYC, never wait on the sidewalk: simply turn and walk on the nearest green. Momentum in that marvellous city is everything.
29. Use gentle humour to facilitate your point of view.
30. Learn De Bono's 6 Thinking Hats concept.
31. Not forgetting the power of love compared to the power of right.
32. Really realising that school and college are only very crude approximations of business and Life. That's the fun: there's so much nobody told you which you can still discover.
    
33. Re-reading Joseph Conrad. Anything.
34. Getting up early on a Saturday and making fresh bread for the whole family.
35. Reminding yourself that wealth is not money. Wealth is love. It is health, a stack of great books to read and the long drive to an appointment as the sun is coming up. You have all the wealth you need.
36. Writing stuff down. Every so often consolidating and tearing stuff out.
37. Using the camera on your phone to record things.
38. whatever your fitness routine, work on your squat.
39. Realising that you have doubt because too few people tell you enough that you are good at what you do. Never make that mistake with your children, your team nor your favourite barista.
40. Drinking sufficient water.
41. Reducing junk food intake.
42. Switching phones off in meetings.
43. Thinking about why Sherlock Holmes was so good at his job.
44. Learning about Dmitri Mendeleev, the guy who put a system to atoms: The Periodic Table, of course. That's the whole damn universe expressed in one sheet of shiny paper at the back of the science lab. That's cool.
45. Understanding compound interest.
46. Stopping saying 'I don't have (enough) time'.
47. Be with your children. Be interesting. Be interested. Be at the ball game. Be at prize giving. Be at their heartache. Be at their growth. But do not stop them being them.
48. Simplify everything you do. Add, sure. But then take something away.
49. Listening to opera. Or more opera.
50. Realising that you have an eternity to do what you want to do if you slow down and notice what is happening. Really notice what is happening. Listen. And act.

 

1. Using music to put yourself in the best possible mood at all times.
2. Realising that someone, somewhere wants to replace your skills with a silicon chip. Become so good that they can never, ever do it.
3. Doing five rounds of 2.5 minutes  on your boxing bag every morning.
4. Staying in touch: with your friends, with your accounts. 
5. Having a definite and distinct place that you place and keep your keys.
6. Prioritising what you do against your goals. And thus: having goals.
7. Getting the quantity and quality of sleep you need so that you are focused, creative and unstoppable in the face of challenging Covid-19 days.
8. Deciding to never rely on an employer. In reality they cannot guarantee anything apart from this month's salary. Things are tricky out there. Plan your own destiny; you don't need to go as far as T E Lawrence but he had some good ideas.
9. Clarifying your use of time. It is possible to work while in leisure time and dream of leisure while at work. Split the two. Word hard, play hard and don't allow technology to confuse the two.
10. Get really good at listening and understand the other point of view.
11. In the business meeting, ask deep probing questions. The latter is a question asked until a point of hesitation: at  that point you know the data is dubious.
12. Investing in yourself by reading.
13. Never ignoring symptoms whether they are headaches, poor sales figures or simply unease. Address them. Sooner than tomorrow.
14. Realising that the days of true leadership in Politics are over. Most Political activity is some point in a marketing campaign.
15. Doing a couple of rounds of Sun Salute yoga every morning.
16. Taking technology free days.
17. Getting out more.
18. Being courteous.
19. (Re-)realising that nobody thinks like you, works like you, is you. And that's OK.
20. Not caring if they are cynical. Just do an awesome job time after time after time. After time.
21. Not trying to predict too much in a Covid-19 world. Day by day.....
22. Sorting your finances even if that initial close observation will reveal how bad they really are. Knowledge is power.
23. Getting a French Press and making decent coffee.
24. If in doubt, write a list. 
25. Remembering that creating a team is hard work. But the return from a High Performance Team is staggering.
26. Returning to The Beatles. Any time, anyplace, anywhere.
27. Buying a decent brolly, then you can walk in the rain. 
28. When in NYC, never wait on the sidewalk: simply turn and walk on the nearest green. Momentum in that marvellous city is everything.
29. Use gentle humour to facilitate your point of view.
30. Learn De Bono's 6 Thinking Hats concept.
31. Not forgetting the power of love compared to the power of right.
32. Really realising that school and college are only very crude approximations of business and Life. That's the fun: there's so much nobody told you which you can still discover.
    
33. Re-reading Joseph Conrad. Anything.
34. Getting up early on a Saturday and making fresh bread for the whole family.
35. Reminding yourself that wealth is not money. Wealth is love. It is health, a stack of great books to read and the long drive to an appointment as the sun is coming up. You have all the wealth you need.
36. Writing stuff down. Every so often consolidating and tearing stuff out.
37. Using the camera on your phone to record things.
38. whatever your fitness routine, work on your squat.
39. Realising that you have doubt because too few people tell you enough that you are good at what you do. Never make that mistake with your children, your team nor your favourite barista.
40. Drinking sufficient water.
41. Reducing junk food intake.
42. Switching phones off in meetings.
43. Thinking about why Sherlock Holmes was so good at his job.
44. Learning about Dmitri Mendeleev, the guy who put a system to atoms: The Periodic Table, of course. That's the whole damn universe expressed in one sheet of shiny paper at the back of the science lab. That's cool.
45. Understanding compound interest.
46. Stopping saying 'I don't have (enough) time'.
47. Be with your children. Be interesting. Be interested. Be at the ball game. Be at prize giving. Be at their heartache. Be at their growth. But do not stop them being them.
48. Simplify everything you do. Add, sure. But then take something away.
49. Listening to opera. Or more opera.
50. Realising that you have an eternity to do what you want to do if you slow down and notice what is happening. Really notice what is happening. Listen. And act.