UPDATE ON TIME MANAGEMENT

I have outlined previously a plan that would allow me to better manage my time. However at the moment it is of little use because the needs of my primary job have shifted. Right now I am more focused on community visits, so I am not spending as much time at the office. Which goes to show that adaptability is one of the most important component of any well laid plan.

I will not delude myself with any thoughts of how adjusting to the plan is going to be easy. But I will keep reminding myself -- which seems to work well with my weight training -- that this is a choice for life. It is a choice of either moving forward or getting left behind.

PLANNING A LIFE II

Today is the start of a new day. The adoption of a new mind set, the changing of an old paradigm.

The basis of this change is the recognition that my current approach to managing my time is ineffective and inefficient. Too much valuable time is being wasted and that better utilization could only benefit me.

I have broken my regular work hours down into different segments. A large portion of it is dedicated to my job but I have also allowed time for my personal projects. I plan to do most of the intense stuff during the morning hours – while my energy is high -- whilst maintenance and follow up will be relegated to the afternoons.

Periodically reviews against achievement of set goals should allow me to assess and adjust the schedule.

What I have to realize and re-enforce within myself all the time, is that this decision is for life. I must adhere to it if I am to achieve my goals. This is “I” acting on life and not vice versa. Carpe diem!

PLANNING A LIFE I

I've been thinking that I need to review where I am in life, decide where I want to go and figure out how I am going to get there. I know that where I am now, is not where I want to be in the next 5-10 years.

I am an unmarried professional with a reasonable paying job -- at least in local terms. Nevertheless it is not the type of job that I want to make my life career. There are also financial burdens that I want to do without.

Where I want to be is simple enough. I want to be financially independent, secure and able to work on things that I like doing, particularly my writing.

The getting there is the tricky part. At the minimum, I believe that I would have to double or triple my income within the next 2-3 years.

I plan to do that by creating and cultivating several microprojects that might in time grow into lucrative businesses. Not exactly the fastest way of getting rich. But maybe abit of faith and hard work will be all I'll need. It would be imperative that these projects be launched periodically -- at the moment I thinking 6-12 months between each venture. It will be important that I stay focused and flexible on each venture. I need to develop a start and exit strategy. My main rule in starting a business: Minimal startup cash, large growth and return potential.

But before I get too caught up with starting businesses, I need to come up with a plan to best manage my time.

What does one write when he feels nothing?

THE ILLOGIC OF IT ALL

I recently visited a bulletin board where this guy or girl was saying that Muslims were bad because they've murdered more people in the name of God then Christians.
That got my goat. I posted a reply which noted that writer was a hypocrite with a hidden agenda and demanded that he show proof of his statement. Failing to do would prove him or her a liar.
It struck me later that I could be fighting a lost cause. If people believe such outrageous logic then what I can I do? Should I even bother? I mean what is the point of arguing with a crazy man?

Perhaps the world is divide into two camps, rational v. Irrational. Therefore, given the above situation, the importance maybe in giving people choice of views rather then proving opposing view wrong.

YELLOW PERIL, GREEN ENVY

It is interesting to learn that China has amassed $403 billion in foreign reserves. That country is now in a spending mode. But spending with a purpose. Apparently China is buying companies that support its own economic agenda. Some of the companies being acquired by China bring needed technology and skills. The Chinese policy of "Peaceful Emergence" (which holds that its rise will lift other boats) is a flash of public relations ingenuity. It seeks to alleviate any fears that the developing world might have with regards to her increasing power. At the same time, the developed world is so enamored with China's potential as huge market, that perhaps they are not as wary. But then why should they? They might believe that once China has achieved "development"; she will become one of the gang and the rest of us can eat cake.

What are some of the things to learn from China? One shouldn't buy anything for vanity but instead on how it enhances the function of the whole. Learn, adapt and do better. Seek entry into your own market first.

MEDITATION ON MONEY

I recently read an article about "Foreign Exchange Market". This is where foreign exchange is bought and sold based on assumptions by "punters" (what else would you call them) that their relative value would either rise or fall within a given time period. Money is earned from the resulting difference. Apparently it is one of the most lucrative markets out there. It was also interesting to read that the foreign exchange market or forex is 30 times bigger than the stock market -- we're talking trillions of dollars. The return on your investment can be very high and the risk just as high. In the same article it noted U.S. Treasury Secretary, Al Greenspan as saying that the best way to make money off the forex, is still to flip a coin. I tend to agree with him. But still I wouldn't mind learning more about it. A managed approach would be appropriate. Site reference www.forex.com