TED, Tucking Kids in, and Time Management

While I’m under no illusion that folks are paying close attention to this blog and my commitment to read or listen to content everyday, act on it, and write about it, I’m personally aware that I made the commitment.

I’ve found it more difficult than first imagined to make good on the writing portion of this commitment. Perhaps I should save the previous day’s activity for the next day’s writing so I can knock it out first thing in the morning.

Right now, I’m planning for a speaking engagement (the result of a commitment earlier in this Dan Miller Challenge process) and, quite frankly, it’s kicking my butt. I’ve had to prioritize that preparation because there will be very real, flesh and bone people for whom I hope to create true value. Prayers appreciated.

I don’t want to get too far afield from this challenge to keeping record on this site. This post is more self-serving than I’d like it to be, but maybe you can find a nugget or two.

TED Talks

In an effort to get a feel for well-done speeches, I power listened to and watched TED talks on YouTube all day on Saturday (two days ago). I was working on home projects, letting the YouTube channel go all day. Great stuff, although I think there’s an over-gravitas-ness of the talks at times. I’m not one to criticize, but a joke or a little levity here and there would be nice.

Tucking My Children In

Yesterday, I listened to a sermon about manhood – what it means to be a man, from a biblical worldview. Matt Chandler of Village Church in Dallas, TX encouraged men that regardless of how worn out, tired, or ‘over it’ we get, that comfort is always our enemy. Getting home from work and never moving butt from couch is a sure way to slowly bring a family into dysfunction.

Not only that, but a man is called to make sure he takes time with his children and wife, to tuck them in, to sit and ask them about their day and pray or sing with them. So… I made sure to take over tucking in duties. Even if we share it, I want to be there for my daughter and my boys, every night to give them hugs and sing them a song if they want it and to dig a bit into their little hearts.

Time Management

On the way to work, I caught a couple Ben Settle Antipreneur podcasts on time management. One of the key takeaways: pay yourself first as it relates to time. So today, I did. I worked on my upcoming talk for the first two hours before the day went haywire with other demands.  It helped set the day up to be much more productive.

In Conclusion…

Even if you’re super-busy, try to find crevices of time where you can feed your mind, heart, and spirit with quality content. Pull away early in the morning. Take a walk and listen to something. Stop for 15 minutes and read a book.

Just a suggestion.

Until tomorrow…