When You're Finished Eating, Clean Your Bowl

A Zen story goes something like this: A student was having a meal with his Master. When they were finished eating, the student asked his Master, "What should I do now?"

The Master replied, "Clean your bowl."

At that moment the student was enlightened.

This story illustrates one of the most important ideas that we all should take to heart: whatever we start, we must complete. Leaving a task undone, unfinished, or incomplete is the surest path to failure. Success in life can be summarized in a sentence:

Show up and complete the job.

It's amazing how few people fail to do those two seemingly simple things. That is what separates the winners from the losers.

In Week Four of The Master Key System, Charles F. Haanel held no punches when he wrote:

Unless you do this, you had better not start at all, because modern Psychology tells us that when we start something and do not complete it, or make a resolution and do not keep it, we are forming the habit of failure - absolute, ignominious failure. If you do not intend to do a thing, do not start. If you do start, see it through even if the heavens fall; if you make up your mind to do something, do it; let nothing, no one interfere; the "I" in you has determined, the thing is settled; the die is cast, there is no longer any argument.

As Haanel stated, not completing something forms within a person the habit of failure. Once a person begins to quit the things he endeavors to do, he finds that it becomes easier and easier to quit the task at hand rather than complete it. In the end, then, what does he have? Nothing.

If man had stopped at the launch pad rather than launching and landing on the Moon, would we have that amazing accomplishment to inspire us?

If Jonas Salk never completed his investigations into disease, we would still be suffering with polio (and probably other illnesses) to this day.

When the going gets tough, we are often told, then the tough get going. They don't "get going" the other way, though; they go toward the trouble and get the job done.

A good analogy to illustrate these points is to think of your life as having a checking account. Every time you set yourself to do something and you attain your goal, then you deposit money into your account. You become richer. You're life becomes fuller. You have bettered yourself. When you leave something incomplete, when you quit before you've attained your goal, then money is removed from your account. You are a little less than you were before you started. You've attained nothing, but lost the time you put into whatever little efforts you made.

A friend of mine made it his goal to become a master parachutist. (Please excuse me, but I do not know the proper term for someone who completes one hundred parachute jumps. "Master parachutist" will serve the purpose for this illustration, though.) He went through months of training and finally went on his first jump. After the jump, someone asked him how he liked it. My friend said that it was "the worst thing he ever did" and that he "couldn't wait until it was all over." He was then asked why he would keep on jumping if he hated it so much. He answered that he had to complete what he set his mind to.

Once he made his one hundredth jump, he quit jumping and has never done it since. He had attained his goal and in the process set himself up for future success. (He currently owns his own company and is very successful.)

Life, when all is said and done, is about the things we've done and the things we've accomplished and attained. Even something as little as buying something, if left incomplete, would leave us lacking in some way or other. Imagine needing a television, but never leaving the house to buy one or never committing to a particular model. You'd be inconvenienced for a very long while.

Complete your tasks; complete your goals; attain all that you can. Life might be a race, but it is a race of endurance, not speed. It matters not how we finish something nor how quickly. The fact that we finish is all that a person needs to be on the path to success.

Tony Michalski is the founder and owner of Kallisti Publishing, Inc. - "The Books You Need to Read to Succeed" - http://www.kallistipublishing.com. Kallisti Publishing, Inc. has been publishing books since 2000 and has successfully published the entire Charles F. Haanel library, Steven "Rusty" Johnson's book Walk, Don't Run, the US National Security Commission report Road Map For National Security, and others. Tony is also the author of the Master Key Workbook.

GTD - The Art of Stress Free Productivity

GTD® is the popular shorthand for "Getting Things Done®", the groundbreaking work-life management system and book by David Allen that transforms personal overwhelm and overload into an integrated system of stress-free productivity.

Sophisticated without being confining, the subtle effectiveness of GTD lies in its radically common sense notion that with a complete and current inventory of all your commitments, organized and reviewed in a systematic way, you can focus clearly, view your world from optimal angles and make trusted choices about what to do (and not do) at any moment. GTD embodies an easy, step-by-step and highly efficient method for achieving this relaxed, productive state. It includes:
Capturing anything and everything that has your attention
Defining actionable things discretely into outcomes and concrete next steps
Organizing reminders and information in the most streamlined way, in appropriate categories, based on how and when you need to access them

Keeping current and "on your game" with appropriately frequent reviews of the six horizons of
your commitments (purpose, vision, goals, areas of focus, projects, and actions)

Implementing GTD alleviates the feeling of overwhelm, instills confidence, and releases a flood of creative energy. It provides structure without constraint, managing details with maximum flexibility. The system rigorously adheres to the core principles of productivity, while allowing tremendous freedom in the "how." The only "right" way to do GTD is getting meaningful things done with truly the least amount of invested attention and energy. Coaching thousands of people, where they work, about their work, has informed the GTD method with the best practices of how to work (and live), in that most efficient and productive way.

GTD's simplicity, flexibility, and immediacy are its attraction. Its ability to enliven,
enlighten, and empower is its magic. What, indeed, is GTD? More than meets the eye...

http://www.davidco.com/what_is_gtd.php

The Magician

taking action
doing what needs to be done
realizing your potential
making what's possible real
practicing what you preach
carrying out plans
producing magical results
using your talents

acting consciously
knowing what you are doing and why
acknowledging your motivations
understanding your intentions
examining the known situation

concentrating
having singleness of purpose
being totally committed
applying the force of your will
feeling centered
setting aside distractions
focusing on a goal

experiencing power
making a strong impact
having vitality
creating miracles
becoming energized
feeling vigorous
being creative


OPPOSING CARDS: Some Possibilities

* High Priestess - nonaction, intuition, accessing the unconscious
* Hanged Man - suspending action, not doing
* Seven of Cups - lacking focus and commitment
* Four of Swords - resting quietly, storing energy
* Eight of Swords - confused and uncertain, powerless


REINFORCING CARDS: Some Possibilities

* Chariot - focusing, concentrating, being forceful
* Two of Wands - personal power, wielding a strong force
* Eight of Wands - quick action, making your move
* Eight of Pentacles - focus and concentration


DESCRIPTION

The Magician is the archetype of the active, masculine principle - the ultimate achiever. He symbolizes the power to tap universal forces and use them for creative purposes. Note his stance in the picture. He acts as a lightening rod - one arm extended up into the Divine for inspiration, the other pointing toward Earth to ground this potent energy. [note] His abilities appear magical at times because his will helps him achieve what seem to be miracles.

What makes the Magician so powerful? First, he is not afraid to act. He believes in himself and is willing to put that belief on the line. He also knows what he intends to do and why. He doesn't hesitate because he understands his situation exactly. The Magician can focus with single-minded determination. As long as he remembers the divine source of his power, the Magician remains the perfect conduit for miracles.

In a reading, the Magician implies that the primal forces of creativity are yours if you can claim your power and act with awareness and concentration. This card is a signal to act and act now, provided you understand exactly what you want and are committed to getting it.

http://www.learntarot.com/maj01.htm

Tamas, Rajas and Satva

Sanskrit yogic terms which I interpret to have the meaning of *negation, affirmation and illumination*. These are nature's ingredients to organic/spiritual life which more concretely refer to laziness/inertia (tamas), drive/passion (rajas) and purity/peace (satva) of mind. During my stay at the Sivananda Ashram, although we looked upon the trinity of male deities, Brahma-Vishnu-Shiva, as rajasic, satvic and tamasic respectively, there was nonetheless a kind of unspoken hierarchy expressed in less philosophically mindful moments, with tamas at the bottom, rajas just above it, and satva above all.

Really it is a progression in evolution, yet the tamasic has a role, related to Shiva the destroyer, which is as vital as the more affirmative and positive aspects of the Divine. The tamasic time of day is said to be 6pm to 2am, when we relax, enjoy ourselves, have dinner, wind down for the day and goto sleep. From a spiritual perspective there is an inert dark side of consciousness which must be honored and embraced such that one becomes intimate with all that exists within that darkness. In short, the primary process of letting go of everything that weighs upon my soul, the heaviness of life's attachment that is the cause of inertia, is a function of tamas... the capacity for dissolution, decay and death, of all that obscures the Satva, or luminous true nature.

Rajas serves the purpose of lifting us up out of the shit... it says "yeah, life may be a big ball of horse manure and I am swimming in it, but I don't have to give in or resign to a life of meaningless dark inertia. I can take action, use my will, the inner general, yet knowing that this will only take me so far. It will get me out of the tamas and get my head above water so that I can bring myself to see what life is really about and what my potential and possibilities are. The tamas will balance out the rajas simply by following the natural laws of equilibrium and avoiding extremes. It is good to have the ability to "stop and go" alternatively, and to not become overly active and restless nor overly passive and stagnant.

Satva represents this balancing factor, the purity of illumination, which is the true nature behind the grosser natural elements of rajas and tamas. Although it is something we experience in our evolution as a late comer, a fruition of sorts, it is really (like freedom and self awareness) at the very beginning of the process we call life and living. Meditation, yoga, spiritual practices, purification rituals, selfless service (karma yoga) all serve this purpose of upliftment. The joy of being inwardly calm and present, outwardly focused, alive and well, embracing the moment fully in all its splendor, diversity and capacity for creation.

Inevitably the satvic is to be let go of, not by going back into a tamasic or rajasic state, but through the experience of non-grasping... even the higher mind state is seen ultimately as illusion, part of the passing show (albeit the best part), and only a reflection of the truth, joy and deep peace that is the very soul or essence of life and human experience itself. Non-grasping is recognizing the completeness from within, creating, expressing and experiencing in and through the phenomenal world of forms, clinging to none exclusively. The satva is our open gate, the pathway leading to the divine, and through which It is made manifest through me. This may be the most challenging part of all, to live fully and joyfully while anchored in deep peace which does not cling, want or need... the truest definition of FREEDOM and HAPPINESS..

JDZ

7 Habits to Ensure Efficiency

Efficiency is the new buzz word with increased concern about the environment being energy efficient. But what about our own ability to be efficient both at home and at work? What does being efficient mean to you?

A dictionary defines efficiency as 'the state or quality of being efficient; competency in performance or the accomplishment of or ability to accomplish a job with a minimum expenditure of time and effort.'

Make sure you own time and not the other way around. This article and the ensuing tips are not about striving for perfection, but instead about allowing yourself the opportunity to make better use of your time throughout the day.

Organizing and simplifying your life are important steps to be taken in order to be the most efficient you can be. A well organized office space or home will help you stay efficient.

Above all, when thinking about increasing your efficiency rate, remember to take care of yourself. Good food, plenty of rest, lots of water, and exercise will allow you to function at your best.

1. Schedule your day: Either at the beginning of each day or the night before, plan out each day. You are only one person and you probably won't be able to do everything. Use a schedule to organize your day into time blocks. Write out a daily to-do list (electronic or in a notebook) and prioritize items by importance.

Remember, only schedule around 70 percent of your day. The other 30 percent will be filled with interruptions, travel time between appointments and errands, and sometimes emergencies.

2. Prioritize-Prioritize-Prioritize: List to-do items by order of importance and label each item by importance and urgency. Make items that are extremely important stand out by marking them with red ink, a highlighter, or a star. Only focus on a limited number of actions per day.

3. Multi-task small projects and details: Although multi- tasking does not work for everyone or every project, tasks like cooking supper while talking on the phone or ironing while listening to a motivational CD can be effective. Try reading a book on the subway or bus, or a book on tape while driving to and from work. It's more efficient and a good use of time to do simple tasks simultaneously.

4. Say NO more often: Recognize what your priorities are. If someone requests something of you that you are unable to do comfortably or does not fit into your priorities, 'just say no.'

5. Delegate as much as possible: You can't do everything alone. Allow others around you to help out. Allow friends, family, co-workers, your partner or your children to assist around the house and/or office. Many people find this difficult because they feel they are the only one who can do it right. Start off with small steps. Don't hand over an entire project, but instead a step that will save you time and energy. Make sure you remember to thank these people appropriately.

6. Organize: The more things that are organized both within the home and work environment, the faster work will get finished and the higher quality your work will be. Make lists for yourself and others. Create inboxes and action files.

7. Control your procrastination: Many of us are procrastinators at heart, although for various reasons. One common phrase used to help combat procrastination is 'do the worst thing first.' At the beginning of each day, do the one item that stands out the most on your to-do list, or your most dreaded item. Set daily goals for yourself and plan lots of rewards.

Maria Gracia - Get Organized 10/31 - 11/6

Cheetah

CHEETAH teaches us about speed and focus. Unlike other felines
who stalk, then pounce on their prey for the kill, cheetahs, the
fastest four-footed animals alive, run down their prey. Their lesson
to us is that of accomplishing our goals with speed and focus. When
we feel stuck, cheetah medicine can launch us into motion. If we are
moving with great speed but little direction, cheetah energy helps us
to keep our eyes on our goals and to find the most direct way of
achieving them. Cheetah's are very fast, high speed animals. They are incredible sprinters but do not have the endurance for long distance running at speed. So their action is short and swift.

If you too are struggling with a situation, know that Cheetah comes
to tell you that the action is almost complete. The race is done and
the goal is in sight. Be patient for just a little while and the
outcome will be known. If you have been feeling the victim in your
situation, know that this is not the case and you are in charge even
if it may not feel like it at the present moment. Wenshun and Cheetah
at this time suggest you may wish to use your own past experiences as you resolve the issue at hand. Wisdom comes through the understanding of all life's experiences. Utilizing them with patience creates the energy of The Victor and not the victim. Cheetah shares today with you this energy.

If cheetah is your animal totem, it will teach you a lot about
moving out ahead of everyone else by doing what's in front of you.
Maybe you need to do your homework before the sun goes down. "Get it done", says Cheetah, so that you will have some daylight to play with your friends. Cheetah may mention that you waste too much energy thinking and wishing when you need to get up and go. Is it that you are lazy or are you just stubborn? Or is it you don't believe in yourself enough? Believe that you have the power of a Cheetah and you will surely attain your goals.

From e-newsletter Simply the Present Moment - Gaele Arnott

Mastering Work Flow

1-Collect open loops, Utilize In-Baskets and Folders, Email Folders, Voicemail, Notes,Task Lists

2-Process each item, Decide if Actionable: If yes determine intended/desired outcome and next action steps; if no then trash or incubate or file as reference.

3-Organize into workable system/structure, Do or Defer... List of *Next Actions* and Someday/Maybe List, Use Calendar and Master Task List for time and day specific activities/events, actions relating to projects are put on master list as sub-categories. Project Support material stored in folders (physical or computer) for ready access or reference.

4-Review a) all open loops (incomplete items/tasks) b) Projects (Master Projects list) c) Project Activities (Project-Actions List) d) Daily Agendas (regular routines, master task list, calendar of events and next actions) & e) Someday/maybe (Future Tasks w/out Start or Due Dates).

5-Choose next actions - Intuitive Decisions based upon the Context/Time/Place, amount of Time and Energy available to complete the job, and Priority level. Three types of work I am accountable for and must regularly review/evaluate are:

1) Predefined work (Schedule, Task List, Projects, Routines),

2) Work as it appears in the moment - Sometimes unexpected

3) Defining work of collecting-processing-organizing-reviewing-choosing, begin by checking mail, in-baskets, inbox/email, voice-mail, memos, receipts.

Altitude Analogy

1- Bottom Level - Current actions on the horizon of immediate awareness
2-Current Projects - including all actions needed for their completion
3-Areas of Responsibility - Family, Work and Social Commitments, Appointments
4-One to Two Year Goals - Short Term Plans for Progress - Productive Efficiency
5-Three to Five Year Vision - Long Term Aspirations - Abundance and Prosperity
6-The Bigger Picture- What is it all for? The cohesive factor of self-awareness and universal co-creation, an ever-changing process of growth and regeneration.

** Notes taken (by me) from David Allen's "Getting Things Done... the art of stress free productivity".

JDZ