What I learned from The Bachelorette, Deanna Pappas
Deanna Pappas
And no it wasn’t “How to pick the wrong guy” or pine after guys that are “Really not into you”.
It was something she said about half way through her Bachelorette season. I think it was during her picnic meltdown.
I don’t remember her exact words, but it was something like this:
“When I am with you… I am totally with YOU.. I put aside all the other guys and focus totally on you and me”
At the time, I thought…”Yeah right…you just forget about having the hots for Grant while you’re stuck on a date with math nerd, or psycho cook”.
That was then.. This is Now.
Now, I see Deanna was actually on to something.
The ability to focus on the task at hand and put out of mind all the other distractions is worth cultivating. Especially if you have multiple clients or multiple jobs or even when you need to separate work from family.
This month is exceptionally busy for me, with multiple client projects and multiple projects of my own.. I’ve been trying to combine the projects but find it difficult to shift back and forth. For Instance, I may be working on backlinking at the same time for several different niches and it seemed logical to just do them all at once. WRONG!
Deanna’s strategy actually works better. I set aside time to only work on one niche at a time. Let’s say 2 hours is all dogs all the time, then it’s all cars all the time or all parenting all the time. By doing this, I give each niche my full targeted attention and have the added bonus of feeling like I actually accomplished something at the end of the day.
And besides…. I have always sucked at multi-tasking.
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Sheryl Loch
February 13, 2009 at 2:00 pm (UTC -5) Link to this comment
Karen,
That is the best advice I have heard in a long time.
I know that I am used to doing 5 different things at once. That may come from being a mom?
Now, that I think about it – I do much better if I only think about 1 topic at a time. I can write the article, do backlinks, find targeted posting places…IF I am only focused on 1 thing.
Even though I should know this, I can always use a reminder to stick with the plan.
Ummm, what do I do about Brad, Cait, & the dogs interfering? I need duct tape!
onna
February 15, 2009 at 11:48 am (UTC -5) Link to this comment
Karen-This is such good advice- I feel like I am always trying to do 15 things at once and then I get nothing done!! I have tried to focus a little more lately on one project at a time. I think I am going to take your advice and set aside 2 hours for each project I am working on. I Need to remind myself sometimes to stop and just focus!! I know when I do I feel like I have accomplished something!!
CoronadoCookie
February 20, 2009 at 1:20 pm (UTC -5) Link to this comment
Too true Karen. I seem to be a product of a societal focus on multi-tasking. It is supposed to be a good thing, at least that is what I was led to believe.
But as you point out and I think most people find true, it is much more productive to focus on one task at a time.
When I find myself drifting all over the place, I tell myself to concentrate on concentrating. It’s a mantra I picked up somewhere and it always makes me focus on the task at hand.
karen
February 21, 2009 at 8:12 am (UTC -5) Link to this comment
“Concentrate on concentrating” Oooh I like that! I think that will be one of my new mantras too:-)
Charles McCorquodale
February 20, 2009 at 10:34 pm (UTC -5) Link to this comment
…I like to hear good thought from ladies, especially those who are good at multi-tasking. Beats me sometimes; I’m just a man. I always heard that men tend to like the hunter/gatherer focus & prioritize to complete the task at hand & are proud when they get it done. Women, especially mothers, almost have to be good multi-taskers or you better watch out, maybe.
Hah, others say women are good multi-taskers or have a better awareness of their entire surroundings or enviornment. A man might just do what he wants to do & focus on that one subject…at least these are ideas I heard, anyway.
Software News - 2009-03-13 | Software Download
March 15, 2009 at 8:06 am (UTC -5) Link to this comment
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