As my days have got busier with marketing the site, social networking, writing photography courses, working on plans for photography holidays my days also seem to have got longer, and sometimes not always so productive. I have started to write to do lists, but between you and me; they’ve never really done it for me, I usually get to the end of the day with my list uncompleted.
Just this weekend, thanks to an article was reading by Daniel H Pink, in the Sunday Telegraph business section, I have found a much more interesting solution to the do list, a ‘stop doing list’. Bear with me on this; I think you might be as intrigued as I was. The article concentrated on two different business coaches, Jim Collins and Tom Peters.
Jim Collins idea is that a ‘stop doing list’ cuts down on the time you waste doing things that hold you back and litter your working life. I love Jim’s analogy of how a stop doing list can help, it appealed to the photographer part of me. “A great piece of art is composed not just of what is in the final piece, but equally important, what is not. It is the discipline to discard what does not fit — to cut out what might have already cost days or even years of effort — that distinguishes the truly exceptional artist and marks the ideal piece of work, be it a symphony, a novel, a painting, a company or, most important of all, a life.”
What would be on your stop doing list? For me I’m being more careful with my time. I don’t reply to emails first thing in the morning when I’m full of energy and probably give lengthier replies than necessary. I don’t start the working day or go to bed until I’ve meditated. I don’t have meetings unless they are truly going to take my business forward. And I don’t reply to Facebook & Twitter messages all day long, I schedule my time on the sites.
Business coach Tom Peters, on the other hand, talks about something I came across with another business coach Bobbi De Porter, and try to do every day; ‘a to be list’. On waking decide, who will you be today? As Tom explains on his website http://www.tompeters.com/ “If you went to a play, and someone appeared on stage and proceeded to read the play — with no acting — you’d say they missed the point of theater. Well, management of any sort is, pure and simple, theater with the acting. Who are you going to “be” this morning?How are you going to project yourself upon the scene? What is your tactical interpersonal approach to each and every one of those items on your “to do” list?
Following this philosophy, something that I always do in the morning is put on a bracelet, this always makes me feel even more feminine and helps me to bring my feminine qualities out in contact with people throughout the day, and usually, I dress a little for the office in skirts or dresses and make sure my hair is done nicely, even though it’s at home and I generally don’t meet people; It helps to get me into the moment. What helps you get in the right mood for work?
Finally one thing that helps me to be more organised is to work from a clear desk, I never thought this was me. I confess that I used to wonder at a former boss who always left her desk clear and tidy at the end of the day with just the computer on it, whereas mine would have piles of work strewn across it. A little part of me did think how beautiful her desk looked as I glanced in her office at the end of the day. Now however I can’t leave my desk, even for lunch, if isn’t tidy. It gives me a warm feeling that it looks so nice, and its far better when working at the desk to be able to feel like I have lots of space, it helps me to think more clearly and work more efficiently. So here is something else I don’t do. I don’t put clutter on my desk anymore!
Notes
- I found many interesting and useful articles on the two business coaches’ websites that I’ve quoted in this article and hopefully something might speak to you too; business doesn’t have to be about managing hundreds of people yet taking a look at tips from people who have can be a real eye opener.
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Living in the beautiful rural county of Yorkshire it was perhaps natural for Ruth to have an affinity with the countryside and its wildlife. Creativity is Ruth’s driving force finding an outlet in television & radio she worked for many years as producer for BBC & ITV.
However a love of photography and for being surrounded by nature called her to go back to her photography training and bring pleasure and joy to people through her connection with our planet.
Staying in the moment when taking her images allows her to experience the natural magnificence unfolding before her eyes. It is this moment of mediation, of gratitude, that she evocatively conveys through her images.