An Occasional Newsletter
Greetings Joysetters,
Continuing my lifelong search for optimal time management, I reflected on Opportunity Costs this week. Every choice we make creates costs from the choice we didn’t make. These costs can be in the way of money and experiences, but mainly the cost of time. As I write this (and honestly struggle with what to write), I am experiencing opportunity costs. I could use this time for so many other things. There are stacks of things to do on the side of my desk. I have lists of things “to do” within my Trello board waiting their turn for my time. There are pages of notes in my ReMarkable needing to be reviewed for either filing or determination of the next steps.
So why am I spending precious time writing this newsletter? Because it is one of my JOYs. It is me thinking out loud and processing all those demands for my time. It helps me identify what to say YES to and what to leave on the list until it is a YES, if ever. It gets all of this out of my head, so I can focus on what is important. My definition of important can be very different from someone else’s. The key is to ensure that it is MY IMPORTANT and not someone else’s. I hope you are finding your JOYs and focusing on YOUR IMPORTANT. The worst Opportunity Costs are incurred because someone’s urgent took priority over your “Important.”
Leave who you were. Love who you are. Look Forward to who you will become
The past no longer exists. It is over. Enjoy the successes. Learn from mistakes. Plan the next steps of your journey. Here is mine. What is yours?
I am LEAVING the many to-dos on my list and my desk that has not received a “YES” yet. They are not going anywhere. They are not as important as other demands for my time. They are a “NO” for now, and I will LEAVE them. Specifically, I will leave them out of my head.
I LOVE my focus time. I have diligently worked on keeping the first four hours of the workday free of meetings. Sometimes I have to let one sneak in when I feel important, but otherwise, those first four hours contain my highest psychic energy and are reserved to focus on the Important. It is amazing what you can accomplish when you allocate time to focus.
I LOOK FORWARD to launching the 2023 Joysetting process and template via Trello. I use Trello religiously to plan and prioritize my to-do’s and projects. I am building a template and video tutorials to use Trello for Joysetting. Be sure to click the link above to get your free Trello account, and be on the lookout for more information in the coming weeks.
What’s your Leave, Love, Look Forward for the week? (share and ask your friends for theirs on Twitter)
This Week’s Quote
The Principle of Priority states (a) you must know the difference between what is urgent and what is important , and (b) you must do what’s important first.
Steven Pressfield, The War of Art: Break Through the Blocks & Win Your Inner Creative Battles
Read, Reading, Up Next
One of my greatest joys is reading and sharing great books. As a subscriber to this newsletter, you will always be entered in my drawings to win a copy of whatever I am currently reading, sometimes signed by the author when I can make that happen. A quick update on what I am currently reading can be found below. Click here to see the full list of Read, Reading, and Up Next.
Read
Discipline Is Destiny: The Power of Self-Control by Ryan Holiday
At the time this edition of The Journey Forward is published, I have 2 more signed copies of this book to giveaway. So far, Natalie from Kansas City, MO, and Delores from Chicago, IL, have won a copy. I highly recommend this book. It has made it into my Top 5 of all time. Granted, that top 5 bounces around as I read and reread various books, but for now, it is up there.
Reading
Building a Second Brain: A Proven Method to Organize Your Digital Life and Unlock Your Creative Potential by Tiago Forte
I am torn on whether I love this book or if it overwhelms me. Probably a bit of both. Managing all the inputs of information, knowledge, and wisdom at our fingertips is often daunting. I consider myself above average in time and information management, but this book makes me feel like a complete novice. The rigor behind the process shared in this book feels a bit like another demand on the most precious asset – time. I am about 60% complete with the book. There are certainly some great nuggets of wisdom I will leverage, but I will not know exactly how to rank this book until I finish reading it. Stay Tuned for more info.
Recent Blog Posts
Did you catch the recent posts on michaelwgusky.com? Here are a few of the most recent:
- How to Balance Financial Responsibility with Generosity & HumilityHabit 8: Frugal, Giving, & Humble from The “Habits for Well-Being” Series Money makes the world go round. So they say. There is certainly some truth to that. But don’t be fooled into thinking that it’s all about having more, spending more, and definitely not about flaunting what you have. Financial success is just as much about being …
How to Balance Financial Responsibility with Generosity & Humility Read More »
- Maintaining a Healthy Social Life: How to Strengthen Personal Relationships and Reap the BenefitsHabit 7: Connect from The “Habits for Well-Being” Series This is currently my most out-of-balance area in life. Being a self-confessed workaholic used to make “Body & Mind” in the most need of focus but I have since found a good routine and momentum to both exercise daily and take the needed breaks to refresh my mind. This …
- Embrace Uncertainty and Find Possibilities with a Positive Mindset and GratitudeHabit 6: Positive Attitude from The “Habits for Well-Being” Series Do you approach each day with positivity and gratitude? There is no doubt that many of us are bombarded with negativity every day. It is important to rise above that negativity and approach your day with a positive attitude. Having a positive mental attitude and embracing your current …
Embrace Uncertainty and Find Possibilities with a Positive Mindset and Gratitude Read More »
Until next time.
Wishing you health, happiness, prosperity, and JOY!