Comments on: Big Rocks, Frogs and Productivity http://www.lifeaftercollege.org/blog/2009/04/19/big-rocks-frogs-and-productivity/ Wed, 08 Sep 2010 03:19:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: Jenny http://www.lifeaftercollege.org/blog/2009/04/19/big-rocks-frogs-and-productivity/comment-page-1/#comment-1481 Jenny Fri, 01 May 2009 04:30:35 +0000 http://www.lifeaftercollege.org/blog/?p=444#comment-1481 <strong>Kristi</strong> - thanks so much for the comment! YES - it would be great if there was a social media site for working on big rocks that was every bit as fun and engaging as twitter and facebook. If that site could also make healthy food taste as good as dessert and generate instant motivation for working out - well, that would be priceless! ;-) Kristi – thanks so much for the comment! YES – it would be great if there was a social media site for working on big rocks that was every bit as fun and engaging as twitter and facebook. If that site could also make healthy food taste as good as dessert and generate instant motivation for working out – well, that would be priceless! ;-)

]]> By: Kristi http://www.lifeaftercollege.org/blog/2009/04/19/big-rocks-frogs-and-productivity/comment-page-1/#comment-1463 Kristi Sun, 26 Apr 2009 22:43:52 +0000 http://www.lifeaftercollege.org/blog/?p=444#comment-1463 Jenny, thank you so much for posting this! It definitely falls in line with what I have been noticing about myself. I recently realized I spend so much time on that wonderful thing called facebook, and not really for any particular reason. (It almost feels like an addiction.) But the big projects in my life I am facing, the really important ones to my life and my goals, get very little attention. I am going to actively try to reduce my time on relative meaningless activities, and try to focus more time on the big things, my "big rocks". Wouldn't it be great if we had some sort of social media like web-page that was all about our goals and "big rocks" that was just as easy to spend hours on like we do with the popular social media sites? Jenny, thank you so much for posting this! It definitely falls in line with what I have been noticing about myself. I recently realized I spend so much time on that wonderful thing called facebook, and not really for any particular reason. (It almost feels like an addiction.) But the big projects in my life I am facing, the really important ones to my life and my goals, get very little attention. I am going to actively try to reduce my time on relative meaningless activities, and try to focus more time on the big things, my “big rocks”. Wouldn’t it be great if we had some sort of social media like web-page that was all about our goals and “big rocks” that was just as easy to spend hours on like we do with the popular social media sites?

]]> By: Matt Cheuvront http://www.lifeaftercollege.org/blog/2009/04/19/big-rocks-frogs-and-productivity/comment-page-1/#comment-1460 Matt Cheuvront Tue, 21 Apr 2009 23:53:28 +0000 http://www.lifeaftercollege.org/blog/?p=444#comment-1460 Jenny - we'll def. have to discuss book writing, ideas, etc. I would love to set up some sort of group for writers to bounce ideas/suggestions off one another. Maybe a forum or something similar - I need to look into that, because I think feedback is SO important, especially for newbies to the writing game (in my case, fiction is a whole new world to me - but I love the idea of being able to just write, let ideas flow, and see where it takes me, you know? But, to your point, prioritizing and setting aside specific time to tackle things is important, and something I really need to work on. Jenny – we’ll def. have to discuss book writing, ideas, etc. I would love to set up some sort of group for writers to bounce ideas/suggestions off one another. Maybe a forum or something similar – I need to look into that, because I think feedback is SO important, especially for newbies to the writing game (in my case, fiction is a whole new world to me – but I love the idea of being able to just write, let ideas flow, and see where it takes me, you know?

But, to your point, prioritizing and setting aside specific time to tackle things is important, and something I really need to work on.

]]> By: Jenny http://www.lifeaftercollege.org/blog/2009/04/19/big-rocks-frogs-and-productivity/comment-page-1/#comment-1459 Jenny Tue, 21 Apr 2009 21:52:08 +0000 http://www.lifeaftercollege.org/blog/?p=444#comment-1459 <strong>Sam</strong> - Thanks for the comment! It's really tough to draw the line with things like social media (and even emails and meetings) when it is part of your job. At Google, emails and meetings are our primary way of getting things done - but they can still completely take over if I'm not careful. I would be so tempted to work on my own pages if social media was part of my job too! Hey - it could be helpful "research." :D My dad sent me the following in an email response to this post: "All things are the same small size when examined closely so don't be intimidated - I try to break big rocks into the manageable grains of sand they are - don't let the big rocks bully." I thought that was a great perspective on the topic! Sam – Thanks for the comment! It’s really tough to draw the line with things like social media (and even emails and meetings) when it is part of your job. At Google, emails and meetings are our primary way of getting things done – but they can still completely take over if I’m not careful. I would be so tempted to work on my own pages if social media was part of my job too! Hey – it could be helpful “research.” :D

My dad sent me the following in an email response to this post: “All things are the same small size when examined closely so don’t be intimidated – I try to break big rocks into the manageable grains of sand they are – don’t let the big rocks bully.” I thought that was a great perspective on the topic!

]]> By: Sam http://www.lifeaftercollege.org/blog/2009/04/19/big-rocks-frogs-and-productivity/comment-page-1/#comment-1458 Sam Tue, 21 Apr 2009 16:26:05 +0000 http://www.lifeaftercollege.org/blog/?p=444#comment-1458 All of these concepts and ideas are very insightful. Sometimes it's hard for me to distinguish between my big rocks and small rocks, especially where social media is concerned. My company's Web 2.0 sites are part of my job, which is great, except when it makes me want to work on my own pages when I should be doing work. I try to either use my half asleep time in the morning for my personal pages, or tinker with them during lunch. As with most things, it's a matter of trial and error until we find a balance. Great post! All of these concepts and ideas are very insightful. Sometimes it’s hard for me to distinguish between my big rocks and small rocks, especially where social media is concerned. My company’s Web 2.0 sites are part of my job, which is great, except when it makes me want to work on my own pages when I should be doing work. I try to either use my half asleep time in the morning for my personal pages, or tinker with them during lunch. As with most things, it’s a matter of trial and error until we find a balance. Great post!

]]> By: Jenny http://www.lifeaftercollege.org/blog/2009/04/19/big-rocks-frogs-and-productivity/comment-page-1/#comment-1457 Jenny Tue, 21 Apr 2009 04:56:17 +0000 http://www.lifeaftercollege.org/blog/?p=444#comment-1457 <strong>Matt!</strong> - thanks for stopping by! Funny you should mention BHAG's - I wrote a post a while back about <a href="http://www.lifeaftercollege.org/blog/2008/07/01/big-hairy-scary-goals/" rel="nofollow">Big Scary Hairy Goals</a>; similar concept. I love that you are in the initial stages of a book - I want to hear all about it! That is definitely a big "rock" to tackle, and I've found that once the initial buzz/momentum wore off I've really had to make time for the finishing touches. And the longer I put them off, the more they snowball and grow in size (at least in terms of brain space and weight on my shoulders). Setting aside 30-60 minutes with the internet unplugged is key. I have yet to make that work on a regular basis, but it's time I try. I'll never have "enough time" magically open up if I don't. Matt! – thanks for stopping by! Funny you should mention BHAG’s – I wrote a post a while back about Big Scary Hairy Goals; similar concept.

I love that you are in the initial stages of a book – I want to hear all about it! That is definitely a big “rock” to tackle, and I’ve found that once the initial buzz/momentum wore off I’ve really had to make time for the finishing touches. And the longer I put them off, the more they snowball and grow in size (at least in terms of brain space and weight on my shoulders).

Setting aside 30-60 minutes with the internet unplugged is key. I have yet to make that work on a regular basis, but it’s time I try. I’ll never have “enough time” magically open up if I don’t.

]]> By: Matt Cheuvront http://www.lifeaftercollege.org/blog/2009/04/19/big-rocks-frogs-and-productivity/comment-page-1/#comment-1456 Matt Cheuvront Tue, 21 Apr 2009 04:14:16 +0000 http://www.lifeaftercollege.org/blog/?p=444#comment-1456 I've always considered them as BHAG's (Big Hairy Audacious Goals) - these are the big ones, the ones we write on our to do lists and then keep re-writing the next day, and the next day, and the next day, until we almost become content with it being on there and never planning to actually follow through. The small tasks are important, but you have to be able to proiritize and make time to tackle, or at least chip away at your smaller goals. For example, I am in initial stages of (attempting) to write a book - but budgeting time for it seems almost impossible with work, other 'real life' things, and general blogging. But I know that if I ever plan to get anywhere with it, I HAVE to unplug my internet, limit the distractions, and focus all of my attention to that task, even if it's only 30-60 minutes a day - I know that if I gradual chip away it it, I'll eventually get it done. I’ve always considered them as BHAG’s (Big Hairy Audacious Goals) – these are the big ones, the ones we write on our to do lists and then keep re-writing the next day, and the next day, and the next day, until we almost become content with it being on there and never planning to actually follow through. The small tasks are important, but you have to be able to proiritize and make time to tackle, or at least chip away at your smaller goals. For example, I am in initial stages of (attempting) to write a book – but budgeting time for it seems almost impossible with work, other ‘real life’ things, and general blogging. But I know that if I ever plan to get anywhere with it, I HAVE to unplug my internet, limit the distractions, and focus all of my attention to that task, even if it’s only 30-60 minutes a day – I know that if I gradual chip away it it, I’ll eventually get it done.

]]> By: Jenny http://www.lifeaftercollege.org/blog/2009/04/19/big-rocks-frogs-and-productivity/comment-page-1/#comment-1455 Jenny Tue, 21 Apr 2009 03:46:59 +0000 http://www.lifeaftercollege.org/blog/?p=444#comment-1455 WOW - thank you so much for the comments everyone! Reading them made me smile. I have to confess, I feel like hiding under a rock right now. I wrote this post yesterday and by the time it hit my email inbox this evening I had gone the entire day without eating my BIG UGLY frog. Such hypocrisy! But alas, I've since conquered it so I could reply to these comments with some tiny vestige of blogger integrity. :D <strong>Megan</strong> - games are great distractions/re-energizers. Another tip that someone shared with me is setting a timer for 40 minutes to tackle a "big rock" then leaving yourself 10 minutes for email and another 10 for something fun. <strong>Jeff and David</strong> - check out the <a href="http://astore.amazon.com/lifaftcol-20/detail/1576754227" rel="nofollow">Eat that Frog</a> book - you both might really like it! David - the pebbles habit is so hard to break. The little pebbles serve the illusion of accomplishment (especially when you process half your email inbox), but I always feel better at the end of a day when I've proactively gotten something really big done. <strong>James</strong> - the turning off email notification tip is key. I also try to call people or talk in person whenever I can. Takes me longer but I hope it saves future email pain (both for me and the other person)! <strong>Benjamin</strong> - a comment with a compliment AND a great pun?! You really know the way to this blogger's heart. ;-) The point about feeling like a rockstar when you tackle the big tasks first is so true. Tracy actually says that the first few days of trying to do this can be excruciating - but that little by little you'll get better at it, until it becomes totally natural to tackle the big, ugly frogs first thing every day. <strong>Andrea</strong> - you are a living example of the Covey quote at the top which really struck me, about scheduling your priorities as actual events, not just squeezing them in among an already-packed day. Kudos! Thanks again for the great comments everyone, you have no idea how much I love them! WOW – thank you so much for the comments everyone! Reading them made me smile.

I have to confess, I feel like hiding under a rock right now. I wrote this post yesterday and by the time it hit my email inbox this evening I had gone the entire day without eating my BIG UGLY frog. Such hypocrisy! But alas, I’ve since conquered it so I could reply to these comments with some tiny vestige of blogger integrity. :D

Megan – games are great distractions/re-energizers. Another tip that someone shared with me is setting a timer for 40 minutes to tackle a “big rock” then leaving yourself 10 minutes for email and another 10 for something fun.

Jeff and David – check out the Eat that Frog book – you both might really like it! David – the pebbles habit is so hard to break. The little pebbles serve the illusion of accomplishment (especially when you process half your email inbox), but I always feel better at the end of a day when I’ve proactively gotten something really big done.

James – the turning off email notification tip is key. I also try to call people or talk in person whenever I can. Takes me longer but I hope it saves future email pain (both for me and the other person)!

Benjamin – a comment with a compliment AND a great pun?! You really know the way to this blogger’s heart. ;-) The point about feeling like a rockstar when you tackle the big tasks first is so true. Tracy actually says that the first few days of trying to do this can be excruciating – but that little by little you’ll get better at it, until it becomes totally natural to tackle the big, ugly frogs first thing every day.

Andrea – you are a living example of the Covey quote at the top which really struck me, about scheduling your priorities as actual events, not just squeezing them in among an already-packed day. Kudos!

Thanks again for the great comments everyone, you have no idea how much I love them!

]]> By: Andrea http://www.lifeaftercollege.org/blog/2009/04/19/big-rocks-frogs-and-productivity/comment-page-1/#comment-1454 Andrea Tue, 21 Apr 2009 03:19:47 +0000 http://www.lifeaftercollege.org/blog/?p=444#comment-1454 What a creative post, Jenny! Not sure how I handle my big rocks, I am old school and have a planner I actually write it. My life coach challenged me to write in my planner my top 5 commitments which I guess are my "biggest rocks". What a creative post, Jenny! Not sure how I handle my big rocks, I am old school and have a planner I actually write it.
My life coach challenged me to write in my planner my top 5 commitments which I guess are my “biggest rocks”.

]]> By: David Cain http://www.lifeaftercollege.org/blog/2009/04/19/big-rocks-frogs-and-productivity/comment-page-1/#comment-1453 David Cain Mon, 20 Apr 2009 23:25:29 +0000 http://www.lifeaftercollege.org/blog/?p=444#comment-1453 You're totally right, but I am indeed still in the habit of 'pebbles first.' I like the frog eating analogy, that might work better for me. I can look at my to-do list, and instantly know which one is the frog. You’re totally right, but I am indeed still in the habit of ‘pebbles first.’

I like the frog eating analogy, that might work better for me. I can look at my to-do list, and instantly know which one is the frog.

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