Efficient vs. Effective
For many people the only way to be efficient is to be dominated by the clock. The clock is the symbol of speed and efficiency. It monitors, it guides, it controls. If you look around, you will find that people who like to control their time, also try and control people which ends up being a very inefficient management technique. Executives find it easy to keep appointments with others but find it hard to keep appointments with themselves. That does not mean to take time for ourselves, it means to not overreact, or to apologize in the middle of a mistake, it means increasing your integrity. It means guiding yourself internally, to increase your conscience. It means setting up win-win situations and maintaining positive relationships with others. A clock can make you efficient but it cannot make you effective. You might be able to move your money, manage resources, and rearrange your furniture quickly before the clock strikes again, but you can’t deal with people like you do with things. It takes involvement and it takes communication to be effective with people. You will become more productive and creative as you develop “the appointment with yourself”. Your conscience will help you make wise decisions and strong commitments because it deals with all aspects of your life. Identify yourself as someone who is not controlled by the efficiency of the clock but as someone who is governed by their effectiveness of your own conscience. You will then never again be buried in urgency, crisis management, stress and/or burnout. You can then begin to enjoy the journey even on the busiest of days.

Time Out
Hey, how about that New Years Resolution, you know the one you made to be happier, healthier, more organized? Why was that resolution so well thought out and then so easy to break. For most of us those resolutions are tossed aside with the confetti and poinsettias as our motivation and energy drain away. Stop!! Each one of those resolutions represents a longing of your heart. Let’s revive them. Let’s go to the “lose weight” one. Instead of saying “I will lose 20 pounds this year”, say “I will eat five servings of fruit and vegetables a day”. As humans it is easier to add new behaviors instead of subtracting old habits. This way you don’t have to give up chocolate, you are just adding nutrition which will help your hunger, which will help your cravings. Maybe you can never slay the chocolate beast, but you will have had “good stuff” too, right!

Now go through this process with each of your resolutions. Identify it (write it down, it’s hard to ignore there in black and white), be accountable (when the inner voice says get on your walking shoes – do it), get yourself a support system (someone else who is a chocoholic – they will understand your pain) if you stumble (just figure out what went wrong and get back on the horse). Now breath in and out deeply and you are moving on to your goal!.

Tee Time
Did you know…………….you can save up to 70% for unsold tee times. When a course fails to sell their inventory of tee times, they sell those tee times at a discount. Look under “Arizona Next Day Golf” for your source of discounted tee times.

Seconds Count
We have all been thinking a lot about gift giving recently, but gifts are given all throughout the year. Gifts can be cards to parties, treats to checks, plain to fancy, service of no cost to elaborate, beautifully decorated packages. According to the Center of Philanthropy at Indiana University, Americans have become a more giving people. Charitable donations have more than doubled since 1994. But they site the main reason for the increase is a selfish one: new tax benefits for donors. I suppose there is a lot of evidence that there are still “Bah Humbugs” around. Charitable giving sometimes comes with a string, wanting to be assured that their particular agenda is being served or supported. And sometimes gifts are given to cause obligation, guilt or indebtedness. Then there are always some groups that say “here is a gift” and now “where is the donation”, we have all been confronted that this type of gift giving. There may be a barrel of mixed motives and corrupting temptations in giving a gift but I think you will find that most of gift giving is not for self-interest but to gladden the heart of another, to positively impact another life. Why do you give gifts? A very wise person told me recently “gift giving is about how it makes you feel inside – it starts a chain reaction of wanting to do more service for others”. Now is that not a worthy goal…………. to elevate the human spirit, to develop profound virtues of gratitude, generosity, kindness and service. Ah, yes, I believe gift giving is more on the side of the angels.

Wishes
What are your wishes:

Plan a reception…
Help me with this move…
Decorate for the party…
Shop for that perfect gift…
Wait for the telephone repairman…
Check to make sure Mom has had her breakfast…

Your wish has just been granted!

Stop the Clock
Curl up with a good book and a cup of steaming hot chocolate for just a few minutes today!!!

Hot Chocolate Mix

3 C powdered milk
1 C powdered creamer
1 23 oz. package chocolate chips

Put half of ingredients in blender; blend thoroughly; then do other half; store in tightly covered jar. Add ¼ cup mix to 1 cup hot water or to taste. Top with marshmallows or whipped cream. Stop the clock and enjoy your moment!