"I am Learning to Say NO"

I have been traveling on business. And I have been working with NGOs including Habitat for Humanity, Yele hayiti, Care USA, Red Cross, and the Clinton-Bush Haiti Fund work together to provide the widest range of resources to help families, children and help the people of Haiti. But all have been a very rewarding experience and very time consuming. In short, I am feeling swamped.
I have never been good at saying no to people. People call and want to meet with me, arrange for a call, get me to speak etc. People send me emails that need replies, and projects need review before submitting etc. I usually say yes.

Part of it is culture and my parents’ politeness. I have learned that it seems rude to turn people down. Part of it also is I am an optimist and see the good in everything and everyone.

In order to focus on my priorities (and focus is a major skill that can move a good leader forward), I realize I need to say no to people. As with many things, it is easier to go completely cold turkey. So I am now in a NO zone phase. I am turning down every activity, opportunity for this month and the next to focus and get busy.

This will allow me to stop partying, drinking, dancing, dating, eating out, facebooking or twittering but focus.

No can be a good leader time management device…!!

I Recently Read a Book Called "Invaluable" by Dave Crenshaw

I am just back from a long trip. Feeling I need to get more productive when I am on the road. There are always things I leave for when I am back home which I would prefer to just have dealt with.

I read a great little book by Dave Crenshaw- Invaluable: The Secret to Becoming Irreplaceable on my Kindle with Blackberry Bold 9000. You better love it. I had a negative reaction to the title because I believe everyone is replaceable and greatly dislike those that hoard information and knowledge which is how some choose to be more irreplaceable (and that method does not work).

But that is not what the book is about. It is about Time Management (so of course I love it). The gist of the message is -spend your time in your most valuable area (he calls them MVAs)". This has to do with knowing your unique strengths and understanding the value of them.

I have always worked on knowing my strengths and working in them. Part of it though is to also look at those things you do which are lower value add and figuring out how to reduce or eliminate them. Coming off a long trip from last week, I really see a lot of low value time (like spending time on Facebook, posting my pictures etc.).

So I heartily agree with the thesis. And it re-emphasizes all that I know.

It is written as a story or parable which I do not particularly like (although many people prefer that). I just like the facts.

I think this book will inspire leaders to spend their time better.

Thanks for reading my blog....

Rony Delgarde