David Stoddard | Writer, Typer and Unmotivated Motivational Writer

Make Room For Better Stuff

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 26 Dec 2014 20:06:00 +0000

Cleaning stuff out of the place, making room for the new. What the "new" will be I don't know until it comes along. Goodwill either loves me or loathes me, I'm not quite sure. I do my best not to give them junk or things they can't do anything with, or what I wouldn't want in another life perhaps.

It is still tough at times getting rid of things. Memories tied to them, money spent on them, the possible use for them down the road, size 36 pants may still happen some day.... right?????

Tough things to get rid of this year included the glass set mom and dad received for their wedding, the roulette set they received for an early anniversary, their wedding album (thought to myself what am I going to do with this). Dad's Coast Guard cap, the two Christmas stuffed bears on the window seat in the family room... That could be due to being lazy or just "how can I get rid of stuffed animals"?

Earlier in the year before things settled down enough, I bought stuff without much thinking beyond :Hmm, I could use that". These included a juicer, two filing organizer things, a hot air popcorn popper, rice cooker and a dry erase calendar board - despite knowing I can not read my own hand writing.

Rice cooker / steamer is still used (once I get past the Minute rice I still have, it will be used even more). Popcorn popper from time to time. Recently bought a coffee maker which is used probably too often.

But back to the making room for stuff.

This year has begun to teach me in a way that everything is just stuff. When mom passed, her stuff was still here.Which then became my stuff. A lot of his has been passed on to Goodwill, friends, other charities or for things no one in their right mind would need, the recycle bin.

The year has also shown me to simplify things (Sorry Terry Riffey, stole your "copyrighted" word). It's a constant process since I keep getting new plastic wear despite disposing of the stuff that just would not be necessary.

Anyway. Where was I and what was I thinking when I started this possibly never ending ramble.... I don't know. Must have something to do with the 50 degrees here in St. Louis in December or that the sun is out for one of the few times in the past 2 months. Or maybe it;s just something I had to get off my mind and out into space or something like that.

Whatever the case, thank you for reading this far (or just skipping to the end to see what the punchline would be). If I had to leave a lesson in this, it would be to clean out 1 thing a day to make room for whatever is to come.

To clean up 1 thing from every room you stop in before going to another. Do 1 simple thing at a time. Take a moment to fix that thing that has been bugging you for weeks. Move that tissue box with the tissue sticking out of it which casts a shadow of a killer dinosaur when you are trying to sleep.

And make 2015 a much better year than 2014 could have ever hoped to be. Sorry 2014. I know you are not over yet, but it is what it is.

Peace everyone!

I Think I've Been Here Before

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 24 Jul 2014 13:52:00 +0000

I can't help but think, and stop me if I'm wrong, that I spend way too much time reading and thinking about writing than doing the actual writing.

Ah, you've noticed too. Going by the fact that the departure of Google Reader must have had a much larger effect on me than I cared to admit. Now I am out there spending even more time going to actual sites to read then having them carefully sent to me.

None the less, I still manage to read my fair share about it which leads to my thinking about it. Blogs by Chuck Wendig, Carol Tice, The Renegade Writer and I don't know how many others I've come across the past several months have been in my head.

It's both a good thing and a bad thing. Good that it keeps my interest up there. Bad in that I don't quite get around to writing as much as I should be doing.

Don't get me wrong, the day job does include it's fair share of writing moments, so I am still putting words on a computer screen. (some of them even get to be seen by more than 2 people).

So the rest of this year will be about my getting more words on screens, in various formats, especially this blog. (I mean it this time. Pay no attention to those other times when I said I meant it and didn't quite make it happen. That was the old me- despite I'm older now than I was, go figure)

Anyway, I digress.

So tell me, what tricks do you have to keep yourself writing after a rather lengthy time away from the keyboard? Put them in the comments and I might just learn a few things.

Oh How I Miss You Google Reader

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 20 Aug 2013 18:30:00 +0000

It seems so long ago word got out that Google was dropping one of the few awesome things I actually used on a daily basis. (not counting Google Mail and Google Drive).

Since the day it went poof (things do that, don't ya know), I have had so much free time not reading postings folks have put out there. It has meant 1 less web thing-a-ma-jig I had to visit to get my fill of the wit, wisdom, wordyness and wry wramblings (yes, I know there is a W in front of ramblings, go with it), of those I was trying to keep up on.

But I do miss those moments of reading whatever it was he somebody and she somebody put out there. It has meant my own searching for the sites all over again. Putting them in a list which I could click on and visit. It works, but it's just not the same.

Miss you much Google Reader.

--David

Nothin To Say, Don't Say Nothin

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 24 Apr 2013 20:17:00 +0000

Boy if that isn't the truth.

Well, actually, maybe not so much the truth as an excuse as how and/or why I haven't written anything here since Christmas.

Was I recovering from mass consumption of liquored eggnog?

Did all the gifts I receive weigh me down too much?

Was I bad during the year that Santa didn't bring me my wildly anticipated collection of Weird Al DVDs?

Now while I would love to say at least 1 of those were true, I don't believe any of them were. Though that first one would have been tempting... minus the egg and nog.

Actually I have been busy buying books. (and yes, for those who know me, I have actually read parts of them). And yes, I took my girlfriend and her daughter to the Weird Al concert last Friday at the Family Arena in St. Charles. (That's how I roll).

Books bought this year include: (no affiliate links included)

“A Brilliant Novel in the Works” by Yuvi Zalkow
“Whiskey-Pissing Unicorns: How to Lose or Quit Your Job and Become a Badass Writer” by Lisa Creech Bledsoe and Sonja Foust
“Bagels, Dirty Limericks, and Martinis: The Badass Guide to Writing Your First Book” by Lisa Creech Bledsoe and Sonja Foust
“How to Write aNonfiction eBook in 21 Days - That Readers LOVE!” by Steve Scott
“How I Wrote 2 eBooks in 21 Days; Damn Funny. Seriously” by Glen Stanford
“Miss Minimalist: Inspiration to Downsize, Declutter, and Simplify” by Francine Jay
“Burst Productivity: How You Can Get It Done Now” by Dennis Crosby
“Creative Writing Strategies: Writing Exercises Workbook” by Marjorie J. McDonald
“30 Days to Unlock Your Creative Writing Brilliance: Creative Writing Ideas, Exercises, and Tips to Ignite the Fire of Your Creative Genius” by Katie Cavanaugh
“Shut Up & Write!” by Judy Bridges

So yes, I have been stalling quiet well with the writing portion of being a writer, at least with how this blog gets along. And no, I haven't made it all the way through any of the above books (just bought Yuvi's today, so give me a break on that one).

With that in mind, I hope by reading some portions of these I am able to give that activity credit for this post being written.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to get back to the eggnog-less eggnog I just got last night.

I Missed Him as well Friend

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 25 Dec 2012 19:38:00 +0000

Merry Christmas Everyone!

One Fine Mess Continues To Grow

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 21 Aug 2012 19:33:00 +0000

What you see here is not necessarily my mess, though I suppose it does look a bit like this. My stuff is messily tucked away in drawers and cabinets and on tables and under tables and even in a drawer within the very table paper and stuff is on top of as well as under. (But I digress).

A few weeks back, (something like 17 weeks back), I started the process of maybe getting ready to get rid of some piles of papers. Many sheets (about 5 percent) made it all the way from their "home" no what was to be the lid where they would await my trip to the trashcan.

So, long story made longer, this lid has been their new current home for the past 17 said weeks. They will eventually find their way to the shredded (if needed) and the recycle bin.

I think they are still here just because I may need the information or random ramblings which may be found on them, in the near future. Actually, I have no real idea what is on them. That would involve re-reading it all again.

As I like to say (see title of this blog entry), ya gotta get rid of some stuff so you can make room for more (and better) stuff.

Well, during the past group of weeks, I have managed to squeeze in more stuff WITHOUT officially getting rid of previous stuff. So as viewers of hoarders can testify to, this stuff can really add up.(Just so you know, some of the new stuff has made it onto the seat of the rocking chair (well, a chair that rocks but not your typical rocking chair).

My suggestion, and trust me, I know what I am typing, is to get rid of some of your stuff. Get it out of the way. If you haven't looked at it for a few months and it isn't all that important for say taxes, business, birthday shopping lists or whatev, get rid of it. I can almost guaranteed there will be more to take it's place before you know it.

So tell me, how much of a mess are you living in? Oh wait. I mean are you living in a mess of papers, files, stuff you once thought was important and would read it for years to come only to realize you have not looked at it since you got it/printed it?

Let me know. Your secret is safe here.

Bullying Needs To Stop

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 23 May 2012 21:18:00 +0000

Jessica Barba is a high school student who put this video together for one of her classes. The school suspended her because it interrupted the school. Read the article here.

Help get the word out that it is time to end Bullying.

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David Stoddard The Unmotivated Motivational Writer
Twitter: twitter.com/ImDavidStoddard
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Make Good Art - Neil Gaiman

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 19 May 2012 16:30:00 +0000

Take 20 minutes and watch Neil Gaiman's graduation address to the 2012 class of the University of the Arts in Philadelphia. So many tips we all can work with.

So tell us, if you were to give a commencement address, what would you say?
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David Stoddard The Unmotivated Motivational Writer
Twitter: twitter.com/ImDavidStoddard
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Aww, You Shouldn't Have - The Liebster Blog Award

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 08 May 2012 20:24:00 +0000

I must, I must, I must improve my bust.

No, that isn't it.

I must take a moment to thank Paul for his "Out of his mind only for a moment" nomination of me, myself and I's blog. I take it he might have had better things to do, but I'll take it.

His blog It was a Dark And Stormy Night is not only named with the line which has never been overused in my own creative writing moments back in the day (Snoopy and I are like "that"), but it is humorous, educational and motivating. His post today (May 8th, 2012, in case years from now we are still reading blogs) also has me contemplating total home cleaning, which will obviously lead to the need to pitch a whole lot o stuff.

The Liebster is a pay-it-forward kind of award, meaning that once you receive the award, you pass it on to others. the rules are as follows:

1. Thank the person that gave you the award in a post on your site

2. Nominate up to five blogs with less than 200 followers

3. Let the nominees know they've won by leaving a comment on one of their posts

4. Add the Liebster image above so all your readers know that you are generally awesome.

I am guessing that 4th one is true as well, but I may never know since I creatively just copied those from Paul's blog.

In the process of coming up with those who fit the criteria, it dawned on me either I don't read much, or what I do read, seemingly everyone else is reading these folks as well. (So this too shall be something I must work on).

So anyhoo... without delaying the proceedings any longer (other than starting this off with "So anyhoo... without delaying the proceedings any longer"), the nominees are:

Sara Walpert Foster: Nobody Expects the Spanish Inquisition
Laird Sapir: Shabby Chic Sarcasm
Angie Buckner Lay: Motivational Musings

I know there are probably a few million blogs I left out. So if there are others you'd recommend, feel free to add them to the comments. Make it a great day. Now get to reading.

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David Stoddard "What I Don't Know"
Follow on Twitter: twitter.com/imdavidstoddard
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When Ya Started Writing - The Results

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 02 May 2012 15:58:00 +0000

In a totally unscientific survey of only the best minds on Twitter, Facebook and pretty much the whole world wide web thing (meaning anyone who either accidentally or on purpose chose to answer the question in the survey of April 19th), we have learned that a majority of said folks started writing as a child.

My favorite (and I guess that's why it was an option) was the 1 respondent who choose "None of your business :-) With the smiley face as part of the choice, I am guessing it was in jest or they are just being very very secretive about their pre-childhood beginnings.

The chart may be tough to read, so here are the results of the 17 votes:

Started writing as a child - 9
Started in my teens - 6
Started in my 50s - 1
None of your business :-) - 1

The survey is still open (and probably will be until the Mayan Calendar says enough is enough). For those who may not have taken it, visit the survey here.

Last question since I need ideas, what are you planning on having for dinner on Mother's Day? (May 13th for those who may have forgotten).

Thanks for your suggestions.

~David

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David Stoddard The Unmotivated Motivational Writer
Follow on Twitter: twitter.com/imdavidstoddard

Simple Survey For Writers

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 19:02:00 +0000

Call me nosey, or maybe just a tad lazy at the moment by putting a survey together (all 1 question of it). Part of this is just a test to see how it may work. The other part of this is because Blogger changed their look and I'm still getting used to it, so thought something simple would be nice to attempt before writing some long-winded post (which I've been known to do).

So feel free to take the single question survey. If you don't see it, that means the survey has closed. (It's a technical thing I vaguely understand how that will work).

Enjoy yourself for the next 17 or so seconds it takes to read and choose. Results will be published at the end of the month.

Create your free online surveys with SurveyMonkey, the world's leading questionnaire tool.

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David Stoddard The Unmotivated Motivational Writer
Twitter: twitter.com/imdavidstoddard
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I Gave A Speech Today

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 14:17:00 +0000

It was a day like any other day. I woke up, headed to the basement, found clothes, got dressed and headed to where the speech was to be held.

Had my room temperature glass of water, my notes in my head, shoes on my feet as the audience arrived at the precise time I was there. They were pretty quiet as they came in and took their spots. Their eyes wandering around just wondering what the speech would be about.

Here's the kicker,

Neither Did I

I didn't have the heart to tell em that I really didn't know exactly what my own speech would be about, how long it would be or what good it would really do them.

But the speech went on. I talked about my own times of not knowing what I wanted to be when I grew up. I talked of what I remember thinking as a child growing up. I wanted the audience to know that they were not alone in what they were thinking.

In the end, the things I wanted to let them know were that they were better than they believed. That they already had an idea in their mind of what they wanted to be, do and have if they would just listen to themselves. That they should just get back to what they started years ago. And that they should start today, no matter how small of a step it may seem.

Damn I can be good

After the presentation, the audience stuck with me. They seemed to be thinking of what I had said. As they moved along to their normal routine of the day, I can only hope that they took what I had said to heart and will begin doing something to move in the direction of their dreams.

I gave a speech today.

The audience was I, and I alone.

I only hope I was listening.

Writing Time...

Write about a time you were by yourself
Write about what you learned during that time
Write about standing up and speaking out about something
Write about having to write at the end of all of these postings

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David Stoddard
The Unmotivated Motivational Writer
Twitter: twitter.com/imdavidstoddard
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Watch Out For That Train

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 17 Mar 2012 14:42:00 +0000

I can not begin to tell you how many times I have found myself heading in the right direction, coming up with the right idea, the right plan of action, the perfect fit for what it was I was going to be doing.

I even wrote down these ideas, came up with goals, had a rough idea of what the steps would be along the way, what it would mean once reaching a given step on the journey and had them taped to every surface I would come in contact with on a given day to be sure I would see them.

And yup, there they were. On the bathroom mirror, refrigerator door, front door, back door, pantry, computer monitor, desk drawers, underwear drawer, washing machine, hair dryer, television screen, pool table, radio, CD player, dog's water dish, oven door, coffee table, humming bird feeder, lawn mower, steering wheel, trunk, visor mirror, gas can and bird bath.

They were everywhere.

Problem came that not a lot got done other than having the idea, a goal of sorts and a whole list of things I was going to do to move things forward and a bunch of paper taped on every possible location as you just read. Yes, there was some space left for humans to exist. (just no where to set a drink).

You see, all of these ideas fit. They made sense. They were what I believed I wanted. But that's all there was, these ideas and sheets taking up space. For so long, not much else got done. Sure, I had to go to the office supply place and get more paper and ink, (so I sorta felt I was doing something). But in all actually, I wasn't doing anything about it.

Yes, I was on the right track.

But I was just sitting there.

As Will Rogers has been known to write:

"Even if you're on the right track, you'll get run over if you just sit there."

Now, to the best of my knowledge, I wasn't exactly run over by anything. But it did feel as if I wasn't getting anywhere despite having everything necessary to get moving.

Fact is, you need to do something with this information you have written down and act upon it.

YOUR ASSIGNMENT

Now don't just sit there, get up, go get that list of dreams, goals, ideas and whatnot you have in that bottom desk drawer you've been hiding from others (including yourself) and read it over. Feel free to add more things to your list(s).

Now look for something you want to begin this moment. What is the first step toward you doing that? Can you do it right now after reading this? Can you do it in less than 20 minutes? Is it within your control to do it or do others need to be involved?

Just do that first simple thing. It's a start. Momentum will begin to take you toward the next step. and the next and the next.

If you get stuck, start again with something simple and go from there.

--David

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David Stoddard
The Unmotivated Motivational Writer
Twitter: twitter.com/imdavidstoddard
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New Goals - Same As The Old Goals (Sing Along, Won't Ya)

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 14 Mar 2012 14:11:00 +0000

Last night, I came across my Sony micro cassette player (complete with tape inside). Wondering to myself just what in the world I was thinking at given moment in the past, I choose to play the tape. --- Well, what would you do?

Picking up speed

After about a minute or so once the player learned that it was supposed to play the tape when I press the play button (it's been a while since it was used), I could actually begin to understand the voice on the tape. (once it got up to speed).

And yes, it was me rambling on (hard to believe) about goals for July 2005.Actually, it was more about things to work on during the month ahead. (at least I am thinking it was the month ahead and not me thinking about it on say July 19th or something).

What did I say?

The David on the tape talked of getting into the habit of writing every night for say 30 minutes. Then he dropped back and adjusted it to maybe 3-4 nights a week.

He also mentioned the owl book which was started years before. He mentioned newsletters, articles for anthologies, rewrites of ebooks to make them more up to date. And he wondered just where in all of this his writing would fit in.

Is having the same goals a good thing?

As I played the tape a 2nd time, I wrote down the above mentioned things the David of 2005 mentioned. Looked at the paper and thought to myself it looks a lot like the things I write down still today. (and for those wanting to know, no, my handwriting has not improved by doing this).

After reviewing the vintage tape, I have come to the agreed understanding of sooooo many others in the past and present that it's important to write your goals down.

For those with crummy handwriting (or printing), feel free to type them into a computer and print them out where you will see them. Then after you see them over and over, act upon them.

It really does make sense.

Write your name on the top of a piece of paper
Write today's date 1 year from now.
Write what you want to accomplish by that date.
Create milestones which you will need to reach to get to that accomplishment
Get started on the trip.

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David Stoddard
The Unmotivated Motivational Writer
Twitter: twitter.com/imdavidstoddard
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A List To Live By

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 07 Mar 2012 21:00:00 +0000

When I was putting together my first ebook, ‘Que Sera Sera – The book,’ I wanted to put something in there that would pretty much sum things up. Its one thing to gather columns and put them in a collection, but it is another to have something concise that gives people short sayings to live by.

This list is what I wrote for the back of the ebook. Think of each of the 26 as a piece of advice or in a few of the cases, a MUST DO to live your life as it should be.

With all that is going on in the world as we speak, it’s necessary to understand that we most likely won’t be able to change that. But we can change ourselves. And this is how to begin.

I know it has probably been posted before in another blog I've had over time, but figured it is just as relevant now as before.

A = Abandon what you have thought in the past
B = Believe that life can and will be better
C = Create the world you always imagined
D = Decide today to do what you want to do
E = Eat your veggies
F = Find others who will support you and you them
G = Go out there and get it
H = Have a great day, week, month, year and life
I = I am only one, but I am all I need
J = Join a group that gets you involved in something
K = Keep your eyes on the prize
L = Learn to live like a kid again
M = Make the most of those must-dos
N = Never say never
O = Open your eyes to all that is possible
P = Plan, prepare, partake and prevail
Q = Quit waiting for that perfect moment, no such thing
R = Read David’s books and articles
S = Sing as if no one will hear
T = Today is all you are guaranteed
U = Unveil the you that you once outgrew
V = Visit a children’s hospital when the world’s not fair
W = Write down what you want to accomplish
X = X-amine your thoughts and dreams more often
Y = You are in control of more than you can imagine
Z = Zip up, and get ready for the time of your life

--David

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David Stoddard
The Unmotivated Motivational Writer
Twitter: twitter.com/imdavidstoddard
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Piggy-Backing Previous Procrastination Post

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 29 Feb 2012 20:10:00 +0000

Yes. to answer your question, I am lazy at times. But I just had to link back to a previous post (It doesn't happen often) to relate to this post.

A week or so ago, I linked to a video of Ellen talking about how well she procrastinates. You can see the post/video here.

At the time, I thought very little (let alone nearly nothing) about consequences procrastination could have on our day, our lives, our menu, or what have you.

And then friend and fellow Motivational Mama (umm, ok, I'm not a mama, but you know what I mean), Angie Buckner Lay wrote about something which she had in her mind and spirit for a fairly decent amount of time... but didn't quite get around to acting on it.

To see what happened and the feelings, thoughts and frustr...... Umm, I'll let her give you the story.

Read about it on her Motivational Musings blog.

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David Stoddard The Unmotivated Motivational Writer

Twitter:twitter.com/imdavidstoddard

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How Patient Do Ya Gotta Be?

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 14:55:00 +0000

Ever have one of those days where you put together a lunch or picnic outing for friends or even co-workers, and no one seems to remember when or where it is?

See, my buddy Teddy here (cute name I thought) is just waiting patiently for lunch.

You can see he hasn't eaten yet. No mess to speak of. (really, bears are not exactly known for cleaning up after themselves). So I am guessing he has not had a bite in a little while (though Teddy may think that person with the camera is beginning to look like a nice snack until his friends make there way to the campgrounds.

How long do you think he will sit and wait, before getting up, tossing the table over on end and searching for his own potato salad and hotdogs?

What can you say: Would you have eaten the photographer by now? Go off into the woods? Or just hang out with the ants at the table? Or something else.....

Photo creatively borrowed from Sarah Jackson's blog/site http://sarahcentric.com/

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David Stoddard
The Unmotivated Motivational Writer
Twitter: twitter.com/imdavidstoddard
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Giving In To Writing Related Distractions

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 25 Feb 2012 19:00:00 +0000

Ever have those moments when you just don't know what in the world you are doing? You're sitting there typing away, and a thought comes to your mind that you gives you this feeling that you have no idea what is happening?

Maybe it's a thought you should be doing something else, be it a different writing project such as working on an article instead of your current blog entry, or maybe you feel you'd be better off searching for new markets instead of writing the same ole piece on what to do with pumpkin insides once you carve it for Halloween.

For me, perhaps those thoughts are telling us something. Either that or they are just being a distraction, trying to take us away from what we are and should be doing at a give moment.

As an idea, take a moment, give in to the thought that there could be something else you should be doing (writing aspect that is), and take a short walk up the block and back.

See what the fresh air, the sights and sounds of the outdoors and the feeling of the approaching autumn tells you.

Then sit down, write out what you thought during your trip and see what new ideas are there for you to do right now.

Try it out. And let me know what you came up with, as well as other ideas you have had to fight the urge to do other things.

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David Stoddard
The Unmotivated Motivational Writer
Twitter: twitter.com/imdavidstoddard
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Creating Content When Ya Got Nuttin

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 12:31:00 +0000

The following infographic is from CopyBlogger

Folks ask writers all the time where they get their ideas. This helps anyone come up with ways to create ideas. Trust me, the graphic does a better job of showing than I am about telling.

Like this infographic? Get more content marketing tips from Copyblogger.

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David Stoddard
The Unmotivated Motivational Writer
Twitter: twitter.com/imdavidstoddard
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Ellen Shares My Procrastination Problem(s)

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 13:19:00 +0000

I know what you're thinking... But David, you are writing stuff from time to time. You are getting things done. Words are being put together into sentences and then small paragraphs. You can not possibly have a problem with procrastination... (and no, we, your adorable readers, will not mention the periods of time between your posts... It's our secret with ya dude).

Well, thank you. All of you who allowed me to type for you just then. But it is true. There are so many things I need to be doing. Want to be doing, but just don't get around to it.

As Ellen will explain to you, my steps may be different, but her skills of procrastination are on video to be shared with you now. Please enjoy and learn from our busy lives.

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David Stoddard
The Unmotivated Motivational Writer
Twitter:twitter.com/imdavidstoddard
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Totally Lacking Time Management Skillz

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 15:45:00 +0000

You know him, you love him.Cyril Northcote Parkinson. He is the very person named Parkinson who Parkinson's Law is named for.

In short, the Law states that Work expands so as to fill the time available for its completion.

In my case, non-work activities and actions are doing a super job of filling this huge time void between when I first signed on to do stuff for the event and the actual date of the event itself.

I highly recommend taking part in activities that have nothing to do with much of anything when it comes to things you need to be working on.

On second thought, perhaps my way of getting things done (or not done) may not work as well for you.

Maybe you like getting things done ahead of time because...

You like getting things done ahead of time.
You just know something else is bound to come up.
It gives you time for tweaking - you crazy tweaker, you.
You like sitting back while the rest of us are stressing out at deadline time..
You've always been the busy little bee, haven't you? Go ahead. Admit it.

Oh, sorry. Got a bit carried away there.

As for me, I've almost always been a last minute doer kinda guy. No matter if I had to write a term paper, put together a video, or squeegee the countless things that needed squeegeeing, it would do them pretty close to when they were due. Hey, it's a living.

Why did/do I do that?

Assures there is less time to stress about if something was wrong.
Gets whatever it is done in a shorter amount of time.
I can get back to more exciting activities not related to anything. (see earlier in this post).

Despite this, I have on occasion been reminded the benefits of working on things early on and getting them done. Usually that happens after I realize that whatever it is I'm working on is going to take a lot longer than (not) planned.

Take this post for example. If I had gotten started on it earlier, planned it a bit better, maybe I would have been able to come up with a better ending to this post than this.

This is the end of this post.

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David Stoddard
The Unmotivated Motivational Writer
Twitter: twitter.com/imdavidstoddard
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I Double Dog Dare Ya

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 13:00:00 +0000

"Don’t ever tell me there is something I can’t do- I’ll spend years (4…) proving you wrong."

I came across that quote from someone I used to work with who found me on Facebook.

I don't know the story behind her quote, but I can imagine there are others in her life who either doubted what she was wanting to do, or maybe it was their own way of challenging her to do more, be more.

So without preaching or anything like that, my question is this (and I think it's for all of us), what in your past have you been dared to do which is still in the back of your mind to this day?

Or better yet, what have you wanted to do, which you still want to work toward, but for one reason or other, haven't made the effort to complete?

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David Stoddard
The Unmotivated Motivational Writer
Twitter: twitter.com/imdavidstoddard
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RIP Whitney - And THANK YOU

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 16:55:00 +0000

One Moment In Time

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David Stoddard
The Unmotivated Motivational Writer
Twitter: twitter.com/imdavidstoddard
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When The Road Ends, What Do Ya Do?

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 14:46:00 +0000

This reminds me of that Alaska "Bridge to Nowhere."

Here we are, driving along on a nice road with a lot of greenery to see and take in. We're groovin to Steeley Dan, sippin on green tea, our hair blowing in the wind (it's a convertible), and not a care in the world when all of a sudden.....

WHAT THE.......

What do you mean there's nothing left? What did they do with the road? Look, this is a 1974 pride and joy convertible (I don't know what kind it could be). I'm certainly not going to take this baby off road into who knows what.

So now we just have to turn back, or maybe just wait there for the road to be added onto. Since that could take a while. So we do the only logical thing. We FLOOR IT!!!! Get near the end and spin that unnamed convertible around. We do a few donuts just to leave our mark (like all of those Washington slept here etchings), we want folks to know we were there, and we quietly head back.

Of course, we have to go a bit fast to dry out our clothes since we spilled all of the green tea over ourselves and we didn't think of bringing any towels. But hey, we still have Steely Dan playin and Mr. Margarittaville himself Jimmy Buffett ready in our 6 CD car stereo. (who the rest are, we just don't know. We're in a bit of a pattern there.

So what do ya say...

Do you get upset, toss out all of your empty cola bottles out onto the road in disgust because where you were heading got interrupted? Or do you just turn back, look to your GPS for other ways to go from here to there?

Photo credit: http://www.sxc.hu/photo/1058418

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David Stoddard
The Unmotivated Motivational Writer
Twitter: twitter.com/imdavidstoddard
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Carpe Diem

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 13:30:00 +0000

You may remember it from "Dead Poet's Society." "Carpe diem! Seize the day, boys! Make your lives extraordinary!

It's about this day, this moment, this instant. Take this moment and make it yours. Live in the moment. Life begins here and now. (and not just because it's Monday)

How are you going to live in the moment? How are you going to make today better than yesterday and doubly as good as the day before? What are you going to do today that you may have been putting off for some time?

WRITING ASSIGNMENT

Write about those questions as well as these... What are you doing now to be better than you were? What will you do after you read this that you have been meaning to do for so long? What do you see down the road if you just get started doing something today? (more on that last one soon).

--David

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David Stoddard
The Unmotivated Motivational Writer
Twitter: twitter.com/imdavidstoddard
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