Have you ever found yourself reading something and thought – “I’ve read this before, maybe more than once?” It’s amazing how books or thoughts that have entered your life at one phase seem to reappear later on for one reason or another.
I’ve been re-reading David Allen’s Getting Things Done. Personally I love books that incorporate fabulous quotes, thoughts and inspirations from other great leaders and writers throughout each chapter.
Allen recommends a ‘system,’ largely around moving lists to actionable items and tasks as quickly as possible. His theory suggests that sustainable action is directly connected to our ability to let go and relax. Hello Central America. How long has it been since I’ve been back to first world realities?
He asserts that only when our minds are clear and our thoughts are organized can we achieve effective results and unleash our creative potential. Allen reminds us how often great leaders discover their best ideas away from their work environment. And truth be told, how often have you had an inspiring idea or thought in the shower, on a run, a ski slope or in the middle of the night?
Something an ex (my counter-balance….he was an accountant and management consultant) taught me years ago that continues to motivate me to this day, is the value of baby steps. Regardless how small they are, the key is to just take them, one baby step at a time. Your ability to generate power is directly proportional to your ability to relax.
A few thoughts and contributions Allen shares from other ‘greats’ worth repeating:
“It does not take much strength to do things, but it requires a great deal of strength to decide what to do.” — Elbert Hubbad
“You’ve got to think about the big things while you’re doing small things, so that all the small things go in the right direction.” — Alvin Toffler
And my favorite in the first half of the book, perhaps in the whole book: “If your mind is empty, it is always ready for anything; it is open to everything.” — Shunryu Suzuki
Renee Blodgett is the founder of We Blog the World. The site combines the magic of an online culture and travel magazine with a global blog network and has contributors from every continent in the world. Having lived in 10 countries and explored nearly 80, she is an avid traveler, and a lover, observer and participant in cultural diversity.
She is also the CEO and founder of Magic Sauce Media, a new media services consultancy focused on viral marketing, social media, branding, events and PR. For over 20 years, she has helped companies from 12 countries get traction in the market. Known for her global and organic approach to product and corporate launches, Renee practices what she pitches and as an active user of social media, she helps clients navigate digital waters from around the world. Renee has been blogging for over 16 years and regularly writes on her personal blog Down the Avenue, Huffington Post, BlogHer, We Blog the World and other sites. She was ranked #12 Social Media Influencer by Forbes Magazine and is listed as a new media influencer and game changer on various sites and books on the new media revolution. In 2013, she was listed as the 6th most influential woman in social media by Forbes Magazine on a Top 20 List.
Her passion for art, storytelling and photography led to the launch of Magic Sauce Photography, which is a visual extension of her writing, the result of which has led to producing six photo books: Galapagos Islands, London, South Africa, Rome, Urbanization and Ecuador.
Renee is also the co-founder of Traveling Geeks, an initiative that brings entrepreneurs, thought leaders, bloggers, creators, curators and influencers to other countries to share and learn from peers, governments, corporations, and the general public in order to educate, share, evaluate, and promote innovative technologies.
