Comments on: how personal productivity ruins your life

By: Eaten by Tigers

Eaten by Tigers — Tue, 30 Mar 2010 01:06:15 +0000

totally, right? the best stories always start with a “yes”.

y’know… i wonder how much the tendency to knock people back down into conformity comes from our education system. where, when you raise your hand to answer, are told you’re wrong rather than encouraged if you’re incorrect. hmm… thanks for the catalyst.

By: hinky niteflix

hinky niteflix — Tue, 30 Mar 2010 00:47:59 +0000

In my experience, whenever I say ‘yes’ to something new, people not only tell me I’m crazy, they also get angry with me. They don’t like that I’ll jump out of the box at the drop of a hat – it reminds them that they won’t.

All of my best stories started with me saying ‘yes’ to something strange:)

By: Eaten by Tigers

Eaten by Tigers — Mon, 29 Mar 2010 15:46:05 +0000

we’re actually in agreement, stephan. we still need to say No so that we can say Yes to more important things. however, since most folks are really confused about their priorities they don’t know what to say Yes/No to. after working with hundreds (thousands?) of folks while with FranklinCovey that was pretty apparent. folks would write down lists of the things that matter most to them, but still hold other things (work) as the priority. crappy, i know, but we humans are an odd bunch.

so, my proposition is to start saying Yes more often… because chances are many of the things you are saying No to are really thing things you want to be saying Yes to.

By: Stephan H. Wissel

Stephan H. Wissel — Mon, 29 Mar 2010 04:26:04 +0000

Well said and I disagree. Saying NO is an important tool to keep the freedom to say YES to the important things. Important as in: crazy ideas, warm relationships, things that really matter. See the difference? Once you replace “further your work” with “things that matter” you get the formula how to unite efficiency with a fulfilled live. Of course the tricky part: know what’s really important for yourself and have the guts to stand for it. Once you narrow your view “only completing work tasks is important” you demote yourself to a rather small cog in the huge business gearbox (and a very replaceable too). Even the pathfinders know “One good deed a day” is top priority – not necessarily related to any work task.
stw

By: 7 ways to reclaim your inherent power and resist the status quo — Eaten by Tigers

Sun, 21 Mar 2010 17:08:21 +0000

[...] FranklicCovey and can appreciate the excitement and power of goal-setting. however, as i pointed in how productivity ruins your life folks tend to set goals for things other than their most important. add the stress, guilt, and [...]

By: Eaten by Tigers

Eaten by Tigers — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 19:02:19 +0000

ya caught the “even when i wanted to say no” bit, eh? mostly we say “no” because saying “yes” scares us but that fear is actually what seth godin calls the lizard brain. the part of ourself that wants to avoid risk and keep us safe. i don’t know about you but the thought of acting like a reptile doesn’t sit well with me

p.s. i still work on it, too

By: James

James — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 18:38:18 +0000

Well said Mark. I’ve been trying to live by that code since that movie Yes Man came out.

It’s ironic that the things you dread doing the most, or the things that are the easiest to say no to, end up being the some of the most fun and best experiences.

You’d think that people would learn eventually to start saying yes to those things more often. But, even in my case, I still find myself wanting to say no. It’s a habit I hope to break soon.