Peake Productivity

Beauty secrets from Dove

nospam@example.com (Lisa Peake) — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 09:08:00 -0600

A lot of my readers seem to be enjoying Beauty Secrets from Audrey Hepburn. Here's another piece of beauty education that I think every thirteen year-old girl should watch.

I have a dream that we will one day live in a world where we will not be judged.

Inner resources

nospam@example.com (Lisa Peake) — Tue, 04 Dec 2007 09:45:03 -0700

Loving Each Day
"You will be happy when you learn to center yourself in your own divine love, love that flows out to all God's creatures.

So stand up in the beingness of your own love, and let that love be your connection to all things. When you can enter your loving, your spiritual center, it doesn't much matter what the world presents to you. You have the inner resources to create your own happiness and fulfillment."

- John-Roger (From: Living Love from the Spiritual Heart, p. 25-26)
Watch today's Moment of Peace.

What if you already have all the inner resources necessary to effectively resolve the challenges in your life? Suspend your "yeah but"s for a moment. Imagine what your life would be like if you chose to create and promote all of the experiences you want, starting now? Begin it today with one small step.

The seduction of doing

nospam@example.com (Lisa Peake) — Sat, 01 Dec 2007 18:19:00 -0700

Ever heard the old adage "to kill two birds with one stone"? It's a common belief that the more we do and the faster we do it, the better. In work settings people often turn to multitasking in hopes that it will give them more time to do the things that are important to them. But despite good intentions, psychological studies reveal that attempting to switch between complex tasks actually slows us down. Clarifying next action steps accelerates the process by increasing focus. Multitasking can be a great distraction when you have resistance or unidentified fears about a goal. So much killing birds.

A different perspective is that we should manage our activities according to the limited time we have. There are only 24 hours in a day... what do you want to do with them? If this is true, then the only way to have more time for the things you love is to give up the things you don't. Enter the concept of identifying your Great Work versus Good Work. This simple can assist in aligning with your natural priorities, but it still puts "doing" in the center of the picture.

Despite countless attempts to attain relaxed focus, most people are walking around with a sense that they should be doing more. Ironically, holding onto "shoulds" and attempting to multitask are productivity killers. "Shoulds" don't work because our basic selves rebel against coercion. And trying to do more than one thing keeps us from being fully present and halts creativity. The best thing we can do is forgive our shoulds and come present. A wise and trusted friend offered me the following suggestion, especially for ambitious people: "Do less. Be more."

Some great reflections on doing and being from Blog of a Yogini:

And so the rub. I am a "doer". Organizing and coming together and seeing projects through is a skill of mine. And I enjoy the praise connected to getting things done. But when you are trying to "get stuff done," its easy to miss out on what is really happening.

A teacher of mine, Amit Goswami, refers to the "do-be-do-be-do-be" rhythm. As human beings, we are constantly in the tension between being and doing. And within that tension, our life happens.

This touches on another culturally accepted belief that doing is the best way to get what we want. (Wish we could ask the authors of Manifest Destiny if it worked out for them.) But what is it that we really want from the world? Success, money, recognition, happiness, peace... the list goes on. Ultimately all of these things can be reduced down to one thing: love.

A reminder that love is not something to seek out in the world. It exists inside of you right now. In this moment, whatever you think you should be doing, take a moment to be aware of what is present every day, all the time, in each moment. Pausing in this way can help us remember the simple truths in life. But doing more or less, slower or faster, is neither right nor wrong. It comes back to "Do less, Be more," which might be amended to say, "Be more, whatever you do."

Stay tuned for more on doing, resting, and la siesta.

Are you hanging out in unclarity?

nospam@example.com (Lisa Peake) — Thu, 29 Nov 2007 23:16:12 -0700

Every now and then I find it’s important to check my lists and systems for areas where I am stuck, sticky, or unclear. I was going through this process with a client today when I mentioned “that part of you that likes to hang out in unclarity.” She stopped me, struck by the concept, and we discussed how tempting it can be to avoid clarity. Why is it that even when we have excellent productivity systems and know the process of getting on track, we sometimes choose, almost consciously, to hang out in the muck?

Hanging out in unclarity is another way of describing the limiting games we play. When Insight Seminars first introduced me to the idea of limiting games, the simple awareness that some of my behaviors were games was liberating because it meant I had a choice. The more I examine myself and my life, the more I become aware of and free of the games. The games become increasingly subtle, and I become increasingly good at detecting them.

What are the games we tend to play? In the productivity profession, the most insidious game I see is overwhelm. “I’m too busy.” “I’m too stressed.” “It’s too much.” “I won’t be able to…” I don’t let my clients get away with buying into the busy game, the feeling of overwhelm, or not having enough time to live a fulfilling life. Those are all just stories we tell ourselves, and challenging them is the key to opening up to greater abundance, relaxation, and joy.

How do we get out of unclarity, get unstuck, and start moving? I like to work the problem from three angles.

1. We gather the best possible tools to stay productive and focused in our work and lives. We clarify all our commitments and objectives in a trusted system so we can see things for what they are, no more and no less.

2. Then we gather as many uplifting and supportive tools and friends as we can muster. Self-forgiveness. Free-form writing. Uplifting music. Positive self-talk. Self-nurturing. To name a very few. If you have other ideas about how to pull yourself up by the bootstraps, email me.

3. We keep reminding ourselves of the automatic benefits that come with being clear and courageous. Remind yourself, as often as needed, that you have a choice. Set yourself up for success.

I spend the better part of my life helping people take themselves from unclear to clear. But why do we do it to ourselves in the first place? The simple answer: because we’re human. We limit ourselves with behaviors and games that may have served us in some way in the past, but don’t anymore. We evolve much too quickly for old habits to keep up with us.

Master teachers

nospam@example.com (Lisa Peake) — Sun, 04 Nov 2007 23:48:00 -0700

There are master teachers all around you. Stop what you're doing and have a listen!

The more I listen deeply, the more I get to tune in to profound wisdom from everyday people in common situations. I take this in as feedback that I am in the right spot, a testament to the life I am creating.

My spiritual teacher tells me we are all multidimensional beings. Indeed. There is a constant dance between the inner master and disciple in each one of us. I saw it this weekend at my Master of Spiritual Science class. Teachers coming forward to offer a guiding hand or comforting word to the seeker within. I feel honored to witness the process as we unravel the lessons of the spiritual and physical worlds.

Encounters with the inner master happen in my professional life, too. In my coaching practice I call upon my client to invoke their inner coach and strengthen that voice over time. Call me crazy, but I love putting myself out of a job in this way. Teach a man to fish, as the saying goes. It is one of my favorite aspects of my work. I go into every session knowing that a person has all their own answers available within. My job is simply to facilitate them in getting the tools, trust and courage it takes to bring the answers out and into fruition.

As Jane Austen said, "We have all a better guide in ourselves, if we would attend to it, than any other person can be." It's that "if we would attend to it" part that gets sticky. It takes tremendous courage to follow our own inner guidance. We have a lot of habitual responses running contrary to the fearless voice within. The challenge then is to take these habits and behaviors as opportunities to grow, as stepping stones to our personal liberation.

Food for thought...

What would your inner master say?

Altitude from the jungle

nospam@example.com (Lisa Peake) — Sat, 29 Sep 2007 02:37:00 -0600

For anyone who may have been hoping for updates live from Costa Rica, my apologies. It was too lush, too beautiful, and too wild for me to dream of cooping myself up in an internet café to blog about it. Now that I am back in the urban jungle, here are some highlights from my journey (inner and outer).

My first impression of Costa Rica was "wow" about the friendliness of the people, and their laid back attitude. A taxi driver from the San José airport informed me that the country has no army, over 500 years of independence, which they celebrated the day I arrived, and more beauty than I could see in a week's time. I was pleased to brush up on my Spanish so early in the trip, and load up with political and historical facts as we passed by the Museo Nacional, which boasts crosshatches and bullet holes several hundred years old.

Costa Rica is quite the jungle. Wouldn't you know it, it's heavy rain that makes plants grown on plants. I laughed at my choice not to take an umbrella, and delighted in the many unexpected turns of this trip.
Continue reading "Altitude from the jungle"

On the road again...

nospam@example.com (Lisa Peake) — Thu, 13 Sep 2007 00:02:00 -0600

The past two weeks have been short work weeks for me, first with Labor Day spent with family up in Ojai, and now with my preparations to fly out to Costa Rica this Friday. I've discovered two things: preparing for something like a big trip is a great way to "force" myself to be pristine about my systems of productivity. When time is of the essence, there's no room for me to get lazy about the process. My inbox has been empty every day, and deleting items from my task list is a breeze because I'm plowing through them so quickly. Stay tuned for: my thoughts on using a daily to-do list, a subject of (unnecessary) taboo amongst Getting Things Done followers.

Second awareness: Checklists can be a Godsend. Tonight I sat down with my traveling companion at around 8:30 PM to finalize some details of the trip. I was fried from a busy/highly fulfilling day (my days are becoming increasingly both of those things). Acknowledging my low energy, I decided my brain was not going to be my strategic planner. I began making a list. I suppose that's a typical response, since human beings are natural organizers/sorters/association-makers. David Allen has spoken about "inveterate list makers" to acknowledge how common it is to make lists but not go back and use them (as effectively as we could). Tonight I will toss my list in my inbox, print out my personal travel checklist, and hit the hay. The message I'm sending to my subconscious/basic self: Not to worry, I'll take care of this later, when I can give it the attention it deserves.
Continue reading "On the road again..."

Love your life!

nospam@example.com (Lisa Peake) — Thu, 06 Sep 2007 18:04:13 -0600

"Love your life. Love your family. Love what you do as your work. Love your cars. Love your garage and your closets. Love the paint on the wall. Right there, I've just given you a challenge -- to love the things in your life. Clean them up. Clear them up." - John Morton

If you're not loving your life at this moment, maybe it's time for some fall cleaning and clearing of anything that no longer serves you. Bring joy and play back into your life. Checkout my coaching services, or other great tools for success available out there.

Beyond Words

nospam@example.com (Lisa Peake) — Mon, 03 Sep 2007 03:28:00 -0600

Summer is waning. I just came home from a gorgeous evening of playful and profound stories set to sweet melodies and heart-throbbing percussion. It was Beyond Words: An Evening of Divine Poetry by Tamsin Rothschild, with music by Milo Page and Ron Beimel.

The title of the show perfectly captures Tamsin’s ability to transcend language by unabashedly revealing her heart on stage. I’ve seen her in other appearances both poetic and theatrical, but in this show she has outdone herself. The title “Beyond Words” also reminded me that I have recently found myself speechless about my precious experiences at a 28-day Insight IV seminar, and the six-day culminating experience of the Master’s in spiritual psychology at USM. Since graduating from USM at Royce Hall last Sunday, I’ve been fielding innocent questions from friends who want to know what I gained from “The Summer of 2007”. While I hesitate to encapsulate it in words, I am prompted now to share a key that rang true once more tonight.

What goes beyond words? In yoga this weekend, Kira prompted me to reflect on the concept of prana, chi, and “this increasingly nebulous word, energy.” Energy speaks louder than the language of tongues, and that is why Tamsin’s poetry has mass appeal. She transcends demographics and transforms the listener. Her poetry is a tapestry of intimate human experiences finely woven with her natural knowing of the divine truth that resonates in every heart.

As I listened, I remembered a truth that I gleaned this summer: when one speaks from the heart, people listen. Any experienced presenter can advise that when you go up “in your head”, the audience tunes out and the performance looses momentum. Getting the information straight is but a tiny fraction of communication. Out beyond words is the place where we detect subtle shifts in the inner environment of the presenter. Being present is far more important than technical accuracy. Totally independent of the speaker’s skill level or whether or not they have something compelling to say, the one quality that reigns supreme is heart. Does the speaker have heart.

On Sunday, I received the treat of hearing world-renown author Jean Houston address my graduating class during the commencement exercises, and also in a private talk before the ceremony. She filled the great hall with a huge energy, one I can only compare to the statue of someone like Martin Luther King, Jr. She came armed with well-crafted words, a voice of silken strength and clockwork timing. She strode up on stage and showed us what major league looks like. But far beyond her skill as an orator (as Robert dubbed her), was her presence. Simply put, it all came together because she had heart.

So it is a lovely thing this evening to reflect on how universal this principle of heart is. Tonight a much less daunting but equally magnificent poet moved me to tears in an intimate little theater. Tamsin offered a window into her very being. This confirms my suspicion that it takes great courage to be a poet, for poetry can only blossom under the light of authenticity. Alive and vulnerable, she held me captivated throughout. I delighted in her wit and childlike wonder, and felt my heart strewn across the black stage by words of longing, poignancy, and most of all, awakening.

If you have ever heard a speaker, a poet, or a performer who offered their heart through their words, you may know what it means to have someone speaking directly into your heart. Your mind flits about catching stray words while something much deeper inside of you soaks in affirmations of what you already know. In true communication, we are brought together as one. This is the greater purpose beyond words. As I continue along my path as a presenter of words, let me set my course here and now: May I always courageously call out the truth, and may I always speak with heart.

What are you going for?

nospam@example.com (Lisa Peake) — Wed, 08 Aug 2007 08:14:58 -0600

In awareness, figure out what is going on with you inside.
As you start to go toward "your future" in the form of
another person, another relationship, another financial
venture, another job, or another physical location, are you
going forward, as you are right now?

Or are you going forward into fantasyville in order to
escape from a feeling of loss, which may be based on past
experiences? Before you get with that reactive elevator or
yo-yo, it can help you to recognize that an external
situation will not solve an internal conflict.

- John-Roger

When should I do a weekly review?

nospam@example.com (Lisa Peake) — Sun, 05 Aug 2007 02:27:00 -0600

One of the questions I hear most often is about when to do the weekly review. A regular review of all your outstanding agreements is one of the most powerful activities you can do to maintain perspective and increase relaxation. When you should do it is a case-by-case answer, thus most productivity experts hesitate to dictate a rule about it. So let's talk about the different options you might consider, based on your specific job considerations. Then I leave it to you to use your natural knowing to decide.

I. What time of day should I do my review?

People have different preferences for various times of day. Many people have the most energy available first thing in the morning, in the evening, or late at night. I have never encountered anyone who has a peak in energy in the mid-afternoon (without the use of caffeine). I suspect this is because most people have just eaten lunch, have been working for a significant amount of time, and the warmth of the day invites sleep. Whatever the reason, my main suggestion here is to avoid the afternoon (despite how easy it can be to put the review off until later, later, later.)

Choose a time to do your strategic planning and reviewing that fits your energy level. Find out if you are a morning person or a night person, and do the review accordingly. If you are low on energy or feeling bored, do not do the review. Go for a walk, take a break, or water a plant. You will thank yourself for the gift of a focused review, which frees up new ideas and creative energy.

II. What day of the week should I do my review?

Friday - The most popular day of the week to do the review. Pros: you are relaxed and clear going in to your weekend, you get an opportunity to review nearly everything you completed during the previous work week, and it prepares you to start again on Monday with a clean working system. Cons: little opportunity to follow up on Waiting For items since the work week is almost over, and you may uncover items which would have been more strategically handled earlier in the week.

Thursday - Thursday has gained a loyal following amongst some GTD users because it answers the problem of the Friday review, giving you plenty of time to follow up with colleagues, Waiting For items, and to complete any essential projects you made need to do before the end of the work week. In addition, some people have discovered that by doing their review the day before their colleagues do theirs, they feel "ahead of the game." Be careful not to get too immersed in that game! The disadvantage of a Thursday would simply be not being as close to the weekend when you get that breath of fresh air.

Monday - I only recommend a Monday review in two cases: 1) you didn't get to the review on Friday or 2) The week ahead looks challenging and some brilliant stroke of prioritizing could be your life raft. If you see a week coming up that contains particularly critical work, you might use the weekly review to clear the decks, and your mind. The basic part of human consciousness likes seeing all of our agreements objectified, and once it has that it can then support and cooperate with your priorities.

Sunday - Many executives and CEOs prefer a Sunday review because it adds a quality of leisure to the process. There's nothing wrong with using little tricks to get yourself into the discipline of the review, or any habit for that matter. Some tricks I have seen work well for people: wear a special outfit, reward yourself with your favorite drink, play your favorite piece of music, plan a just-for-fun activity directly after the review, or incorporate self-appreciation and nurturing activities into the review itself. You can do a "Sunday Review" anytime during the week. But the culturally-approved structure of weekdays and weekends seems to make it easier to access relaxed focus after normal business hours.

In summary:

Know that you are uniquely capable of managing your energy level based on the time of day, the day of the week, and your "hard landscape" (commitments on the calendar). Choose times that work for you to do strategic review and planning. Be willing to adjust according to the feedback your body gives you. Make it enjoyable. The review is your opportunity to close the loop on all of your agreements, and acknowledge yourself as you acknowledge your current reality.

Emergency GTD

nospam@example.com (Lisa Peake) — Mon, 30 Jul 2007 11:43:00 -0600

How to get back to black-belt productivity in less than one hour

The best way to defeat overwhelm is to do a Weekly Review. But what happens when you are over committed and don't have time for a review? What do you do then? Here is a process for getting back into relaxed control in less than one hour.

Step 1: Dump

Take a deep breath. If you don't have very much time to gather information and you feel overwhelmed, chances are you have been keeping vital information in your head (not your system.) That's okay, we all fall off the wagon from time to time. The key now is to get all those reminders out of your head. Do a mindsweep into a text document on your computer. A mindsweep means list every idea on a separate line without editing, processing, or organizing. There doesn't need to be a hierarchy, that step comes later. Spend about 10-15 minutes on this step, or do it until you feel a sense of relief.

Step 2: Discern

Take another deep breath. Using the GTD model, you would process these items into a trusted system that includes a calendar, tasks and project lists, and various reference systems. For now you are going to create a temporary system to ensure that all of your agreements are visible to you when you need them: right now. Take the list you just made and divide it into two sections:

Actionable

for now

Non-Actionable

keep your word

Step 3: Do

Take another deep breath. Now review your daily to-do list and/or calendar. Choose to start an action that will have the biggest payoff for you in this moment. Which item on your list will leave you feeling more energized? Which item on your list creates the biggest relief? Which item are you avoiding or resisting? Only you can know where the greatest value is for you. Trust your instincts.

Step 4: Acknowledge

Appreciate yourself for taking this time to gain perspective. You are doing the best you can with what you've got. Being willing to acknowledge when you are out of control is the key to being able to get back in control more quickly and gracefully each time it happens.

Getting edges around all your stuff is the critical factor for getting into control, and the Weekly Review, done consistently, provides that kind of needed fence. We have to be able to let things get out of control, in the short term. But that’s only possible with a broader parameter that we can trust. - David Allen

What's juicy?

nospam@example.com (Lisa Peake) — Thu, 26 Jul 2007 22:22:00 -0600

There's that moment when you first break the peel of an orange and a little explosion of orange oil squirts out and fills the space with that familiar smell. And of course, when you bite into a wonderful orange the flesh is full and juicy.

What's juicy in your life right now? How can you get some more of that? How can you really enjoy it when you are there?

-Michael Bungay-Stanier

This morsel of coaching reminds me of a project I recently encountered called H-Factor... Where is Your Heart?. Take a moment to check out this extremely cool short film that brought tears to my eyes. Soak in gratitude for your many blessings.

Much like my earlier post, I want to hear from YOU. Comment here and let me know: what is juicy in your life?

What excites you?

The Lessons of Harry Potter

nospam@example.com (Lisa Peake) — Wed, 25 Jul 2007 01:17:00 -0600

"The Lessons of Harry Potter"
As told by Lisa Peake

Laugh if you must, but the latest classic to be added to the bookshelf of history, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, held deeply meaningful lessons for me. At the time of this writing the book has only been published a grand total of four days, therefore I will refrain from giving away any of the essential plot details. What you read now is a glimpse of the proverbs and emotions still swimming in my heart after closing the flame colored hardcover.

Life is precious. I feel it keenly in this moment. Harry Potter is a mythology in which both old and young lives are exposed, risked, and ultimately taken. It is only through the experience of death that we discover how deeply we love life. While Rowling paints memories and precious moments with warm summer days and golden lighting, she captures much more than the picture perfect fantasies of a seventeen year-old. The ups and downs, the triumphs and failures are all there. We see these characters as we see ourselves, and through seeing them, we know our humanity more fully. In moments of extreme danger, courage and truth are revealed.

We cannot have everything we wish for. I have often overheard parents telling their four year-olds, "Life isn’t fair," with great conviction in their tone. Indeed, it is hard to understand life as being "fair" when we have far too little information to comprehend what fair would even taste like. One thing we know: we do not get everything we demand, no matter how deeply we long for it. The stories of Harry and his faithful friends reveal the realities of disappointment. But more importantly, we discover through Harry’s personal journey that the only way out of despair is through.

The process of grief is miraculous and mysterious. Over the past decade of reading these stories I have watched Harry pass through an adolescence riddled with grief, and in that time there have been profound losses in my own life. From small disappointments to dreams wrenched away from my loved ones and myself, these losses have taught me to love my grief as natural and unstoppable. There is something pure and untainted about grief, a swirl of emotions that penetrates everything like the rise and fall of Fawkes’ voice over the lake. I am grateful for grief because it is largely irrepressible, and we would all do well to spend more time in our hearts than heads.

I would like to think that Jo Rowling knew all this and much more. Just as Harry spent much of his youth wishing he could decipher the mind of his great teacher, I too have wondered precisely what Rowling knew that enriched her stories with this unmistakably personal wisdom. In the final pages of the final book, she nourishes us with simple truths:

What is meant to be will be. Whether we like it or not, what is eternal cannot be damaged by any form of magic. Our lives, our stories, our friendships, and most of all, our love continues on beyond the bounds of worldly bodies. Things that we see in our minds, our dreams, and the eyes of our worst enemies, all of these things, live inside of us as real. Take in a breath of fresh air with gratitude. We may not have broomsticks or wands, but here on heavenly earth, we have every opportunity to come of age.

Name It - When piles become files!

nospam@example.com (Lisa Peake) — Tue, 24 Jul 2007 12:55:00 -0600

According to some very bright people out there, naming your "stuff" is a powerful exercise, with benefits to your productivity and psychologically. In this article, I'll introduce you to the benefits of naming your reference files, both digital or paper, more effectively.

The Backstory

I'm constantly working to refine my working process because deep down I believe work and play should be fun and low-stress. Or perhaps that statement is a bit out of chronological order. I originally got hooked on refining my working process through David Allen's GTD methodology. As soon as I experienced the immediate rewards of having a trusted system outside of my head, I slowly opened to and adopted the idea that work can be a relaxed process. Now I'll be the first to declare: no matter how overwhelmed, over-committed, or busy you think you are in this moment, you have the option to relax and enjoy your work. It requires getting real about all your agreements, organizing them into a trusted system, and putting in the time and energy to maintain a system that works naturally for you.

The Anecdote

Several months ago during my routine weekly review, I decided to spend some maintenance time with my email. A colleague gasped and brought to my attention that I had over 120 email folders in Lotus Notes, my software of choice at that time. That number did not include actionable folders or "Waiting For" items, only the simple A-Z list of emails I like to keep around as reference. I spent about 20 minutes cleaning up stale items on that list. Some I could consolidate, others I deleted altogether, and I created new folders I had no idea I needed. The big epiphany came when I gave myself the freedom to create a new folder, simply named after a key individual at work. That one folder became an essential reference area for emails I would not otherwise have been able to find. It was outside the norm for me to name a folder after a person because usually there are more logical ways of sorting (for me). But stretching beyond the usual made a big difference and opened my eyes. Flexibility is magic. If you want to be productive, be flexible.

Your Next Action: What small adjustment to your reference system would make a radical difference for you?

Two Secrets:

1. I'm a keeper. My natural impulse is to "keep" rather than delete information. I'd say David taught me well to discern the difference between keeping for no reason, and keeping key info in a systematic way. The system is so simple that many will mock it: a single list of folders organized from A-Z, ranging from client names to projects, to personal interests.

2. I'm not shy about creating new folders. It may sound unwieldy, but for me it's not. I've become very efficient at filing. I picked up a Lotus Notes trick, which can easily be translated into Outlook or Entourage. When I click "Send and File" I type the first few letters of the folder to automatically highlight and select the folder I want. In addition to having filing skills, you may also feel resistance to creating or deleting many folders. This is because you don't yet trust yourself to maintain the system over time. How many times have you set up a new methodology or committed to a plan and then abandoned it? The cure to this is slowly and steadily building trust in a single simple system.

Further reading from David Allen:
General Reference Filing - free article
The Freedom In Naming Your Stuff - article for members only

More information on productivity coaching with Lisa Peake