Leaving a Voice Mail Messages - Breathing Space Blog

Many times you'll need to leave a voice mail message for someone. During the boring "instructions on leaving a message," think about what you want to say. If it helps, write down three or four key words on a scrap of paper so that once you actually deliver your message, you can come right to the point.

Speak slowly but leave a succinct message of about 25 to 45 seconds. This might not seem like a lot of time, but actually allows for three to six sentences. There is no need to race, particularly when leaving your phone number. Say it slowly and carefully, as if you were writing it yourself. That's the Breathing Space way to leave a message.

Overcome Procrastination - Breathing Space Blog

Here are eight tips on overcoming procrastination in the new year, derived from my internationally acclaimed book, The 60 Second Self-Starter, published by Adams Media:

1. Realize that wanting to start on a task is different than deciding to.

2. Relate the underlying meaning of your task to something larger.

3. Don't wait until you're "in the mood." True professionals never do.

4. Recognize that unpleasant tasks are not likely to get more pleasant as time passes.

5. Expect some level of breakdown or backsliding. Progress is not always even; two steps forward and one step back is more often the rule than the exception.

6. Choose someone who can serve as a trailblazer and help you get started.

7. Have somebody waiting for your work.

8. Be forthright with yourself and acknowledge when you're procrastinating, and you'll be that much closer to taking action.

Farewell to Simplicity? - Breathing Space Blog

Too true:
In our complex modern world, nothing is simple anymore, not even dying.
Lori Watt

Mastery of Information Overload - Breathing Space Blog

What does "mastery" of information overload look and feel like for me? As author of Breathing Space, people ask me.

* Keeping my desk clear, because clear spaces are an invitation for me to create.

* Having my email inbox periodically at zero because I've allocated everything.

* Maintaining a few key subscriptions via mail and a few online services.

* Focusing on the handful of key indicators that tell me how I'm doing.

* Staying in touch with knowledgeable peers, people who can share with me

* Forsaking megalomania – developing the ability to let go, not be on so many lists, not receive so many subscriptions, not have handle to much information.

My Vision for Everyone - Breathing Space Blog

A vision for us all: we have a house on or near a lake or large body of water. We're in a low traffic area with lots of fields and trails. There are travel clubs and groups around that want to take trips, particularly theme trips such as couples, or parent-children. There is sunshine, water, fresh air, great scenery.

Whenever we leave home, we have an easy exit, light packing, low stress, easy travel, early rising, lots of naps, in a child-friendly environment. Our activities are free or low cost. We explore cities and densely packed areas with ease. Thrice annually we cruise to exotic places, have a great time, intimacy, and breathing space. We accomplish "nothing." We are rested, trim, relaxed and happy. This repeats over and over.

Key Reflection for All Time - Breathing Space Blog

A man is not old until regrets take the place of dreams. 
  -- John Barrymore

Book: Amusing Ourselves to Death - Breathing Space Blog

The late Neil Postman was a man ahead of his time. Here is an excerpt from the foreword to his 1985 landmark book Amusing Ourselves to Death

"We were keeping our eye on 1984. When the year came and the prophecy didn't, thoughtful Americans sang softly in praise of themselves. The roots of liberal democracy had held. Wherever else the terror had happened, we, at least, had not been visited by Orwellian nightmares."

"But we had forgotten that alongside Orwell's dark vision, there was another - slightly older, slightly less well known, equally chilling: Aldous Huxley's Brave New World. Contrary to common belief even among the educated, Huxley and Orwell did not prophesy the same thing. Orwell warns that we will be overcome by an externally imposed oppression. But in Huxley's vision, no Big Brother is required to deprive people of their autonomy, maturity and history. As he saw it, people will come to love their oppression, to adore the technologies that undo their capacities to think."

"What Orwell feared were those who would ban books. What Huxley feared was that there would be no reason to ban a book, for there would be no one who wanted to read one. Orwell feared those who would deprive us of information. Huxley feared those who would give us so much that we would be reduced to passivity and egoism. Orwell feared that the truth would be concealed from us. Huxley feared the truth would be drowned in a sea of irrelevance. Orwell feared we would become a captive culture."

"Huxley feared we would become a trivial culture, preoccupied with some equivalent of the feelies, the orgy porgy, and the centrifugal bumblepuppy. As Huxley remarked in Brave New World Revisited, the civil libertarians and rationalists who are ever on the alert to oppose tyranny "failed to take into account man's almost infinite appetite for distractions". In 1984, Huxley added, people are controlled by inflicting pain. In Brave New World, they are controlled by inflicting pleasure. In short, Orwell feared that what we hate will ruin us. Huxley feared that what we love will ruin us."

"This book is about the possibility that Huxley, not Orwell, was right."