“What a lovely way to start the New Year! You are such a good writer, Diane!”
Carter Anne Prescott
President & CEO
Carter Communications International, Inc.
It has been brought to my attention that many in our age group enjoy “best-of” lists—thinking in soundbites, knocking it out in a couple bullet points.
Is this really true? Let’s see. For fun, let’s go back to this week in the year 1975 and see what 10 pop songs were topping the charts:
We had funk, bubble-gum rock, more funk, the Carpenters AND Donnie and Marie? “Free Bird” by Lynyrd Skynyrd was No. 19! Honorable mentions go to “Your Bulldog Drinks Champagne” by Jim Stafford (No. 25) and “Kung Fu Fighting” by Carl Douglas (No. 43).
Best-of lists are great, because they stimulate memories, morphing us back to a place in time.
My best-of lists, on the other hand, typically aim to improve efficiencies. That’s because I’m a fixer, doling out advice when no one asks for it. I can be annoying that way.
For example, I began observing dry January six years ago, before it became a big to-do. This year, Rene joined me in my annual post-holiday detox. What helps get me through it? Drinking non-alcoholic beverages out of wine glasses.
On that note, here are some other productivity tips that help me maintain maximum efficiency and achieve my goals.
So, what was the last thing I typed in my phone notes? This tip from one of my astute mentors:
“Focus on things that provide you energy, not those that drain your energy.”
I’ll not drink to that!