midterm report – week 3.
December 2, 2008
As my Grade 9 English teacher Mr. Norm Smith used to say, “Better late than never – but better never late!”
(He used to say other things I won’t print here, and swing at our heads with a yardstick… ah, the “good old days” when teachers could bend students to their will!)
Anyway, hello to you today! It is part way through Week 4 already, so I will start with a recap from last week:
“For the coming week:
- Lots of writing work on my own projects and for the online magazine – daily
- Reconnect with my employment consultant in NZ Monday night
- Send out job applications through the week
- Exercise! Exercise! Exercise! daily
- Learn how to set up second blog on hosting service and upload theme by the weekend
- Read to my kids every day (already did it Monday), and spend time with my lovely wife
- Send out my book proposal to more literary agents by Friday
- Thinkfest at Friar’s on Thursday
- And, if I can fit it in – a blog post here that isn’t Viking Fridays or a report card!
I think I can get it to a B+ this week.”
Did I get a B+ last week?
Well, in a word, I’m not sure. I worked every day at something, but I didn’t hit everything on the list. What I did do was take advantage of momentum for certain high value items, while letting other ones slide to this week.
So, how did I do then?
Well, looking at the list above:
- I wrote something Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Sunday for my own work and the online work
- I made contact with my employment consultant, and she answered several questions that will, I believe, accelerate the process – I also sent a revised resume to her
- No job applications sent out…
- Exercised every single day!!! Woo-hoo!!!
- Minor work on setting up blog
- Read to my kids Monday to Wednesday, Friday and Sunday (Thursday night my wife read to them, while I took one skating, and Saturday they went to a birthday party – too tired for stories!)
- Did not send book proposal to other literary agents yet
- Thinkfest at Friar’s was a success – this week will be better
- No extra blog post… *sigh*
So, a B+ or just a regular old B… okay, I’ll give myself a B+ for pushing the important stuff.
Now, on to this week – more of the same!
(“Please sir, may I have some more gruel?”)
I am now in the habit of writing posts for the online magazine every day, and exercising every day as well – so that is great! We also read to the kids again last night, so we’re tracking well with that.
Thursday night Thinkfest at Friar’s happens no matter what, it is like an autonomous response from my nervous system to make my way over there… so, that leaves a few loose ends.
I am in a holding pattern for the NZ immigration, but there is some paperwork I can update while I wait for a few things to come through.
I need, need, need to push to get some job applications sent out this week – even ONE – and I need to work on the niche blogging, and send out more book proposals (Steph, I’ll be in touch).
I can do it, and I will do it.
I haven’t forgotten about the cool suggestions everyone has given me over the past few weeks, so I’ll see if I can implement some of those in the not too distant future.
And with some luck, I’ll even write something *interesting* here that isn’t just about “what Brett’s been doing when he’s not here” – because, well, that’s how this blog started and I don’t want to leave it for too long.
Tyler’s been asking me when I’ll write something cool, and he’s growing impatient…
Heh heh.
Are those some of your old course notes?
Remember, we USED TO do stuff like that! We USED TO be smart!
Now, we’re reduced into filling out the forms to allow the Factory to put out a request for tenders, to hire a consultant to do those calculations for us!
Friar’s last blog post..World Class…or World ASS?
Yeah, it does look like something we used to do, doesn’t it!
(I actually borrowed it from somewhere else, but it seemed appropriate…)
We still are smart, just in different ways. I think it is a matter of finding what you love – then it is easy to be smart.
I just about wet myself when I saw those calculations. Took me right back to high school. *shutters*
@Friar: “Now, we’re reduced into filling out the forms to allow the Factory to put out a request for tenders, to hire a consultant to do those calculations for us!” Do you work for the government too?!!
Brett, sounds like you are doing good. Reading to the kiddos is a great thing. My wife and I really need to get back into that habit. That does it. Starting tonight we will read to the little ones before they go to sleep. Thanks and keep up the good work…I think you deserve at least an A- this week though, but that is just my humble yet accurate opinion.
Sal’s last blog post..Tongue Tied
I need, need, need to push to get some job applications sent out this week – even ONE -
Check! *pesty coach taking notes here on what to “gently” push you on this week!
Brett, the important thing as we go into week four is to take a step back and look at where you were less than a month ago. A little every day can add up to a LOT in a year and you already are at a healthy chunk in less than a month. You have gotten into a regular exercise program, you have gotten into a reg Writing pattern, and you are making your family a high priority. Each week, we add a little more and you handle it!
So this week, we will focus on job hunt as a high priority too. You will do great!
Yes, you get a B+ for sure ( I am VERY tempted to say A-) because you had to institute a new daily habit and you did great on that!
Remember-progress not perfection! Celebrate the victories!
Wendi Kelly’s last blog post..A Day of Gratitude, A Life Grateful
@Sal,
Thanks very much for your words – and you know, if what I wrote here today inspired you to read to your kids, then I can kick back for the rest of the day and smile, because that is awesome!!!
You too, keep up the great work.
@Wendi,
(Thanks for being pesty… it helps!) you are right – the best thing is to look back and say, “wow, look where we’ve been, and where we are now” – it really is making a huge difference.
Progress not perfection… progress not perfection… for victory!
I’ve got a couple of companies in mind this week, too.
Great work, Brett!
I think it’s pretty cool that you can get all this stuff accomplished WHILE making time for loved ones. Your sense of balance is pretty amazing
Can we give you a A-/B+?
@RL,
Thank you! I could take an A-/B+, if everyone agrees
Maybe it is a sense of balance combined with lack of sleep! I suppose I just don’t watch a lot of TV and I’ve tried to stop surfing aimlessly (which I used to do a lot!)
Then, I also have to unplug on Thursdays and Fridays – that’s a key part of it.
You know, we can all do this kind of thing – heck, if I can do it, anyone can.
Brett, your list amazes and exhausts me. I’m not halfway as ambitious as you and I only get half of what I plan done! I’m far too easily distracted! I think I need to create a list like you and then work it, daily. What’s the worst that could happen? Fail, we already know that’s a good thing.
Neil’s last blog post..If It’s Not Scottish, It’s Crap!
Brett,
Definitely A- this week! (C’mon, Wendi….) I can hear a lot more energy here, too, than when you gave the first “report.” I think allowing yourself to unplug really is pushing you to gear up on the other days now. I wonder if those Thursday night conversations are changing? You seem so positive now. Exercise always does that for me, too. Hmm, why aren’t I exercising…
Naturally, I’m more ashamed than ever at my lazy self. I love it! Keep up the superhuman work!
Regards,
Kelly
Kelly’s last blog post..You Are the Canary in a Coalmine
Awesome, you’re getting into some really good habits, like exercising every day. That’s not an easy thing to do. I always look forward to your progress reports. They’re inspiring and they motivate me
Melissa Donovan’s last blog post..December News and Announcements
Brett doesnt mention, on top of all that, he finds time to listen to Viking Rock on YouTube, and play video games where he shoots and blows up shit.
Friar’s last blog post..World Class…or World ASS?
@Neil,
It really only started with a list, and someone (hi Wendi!) to keep me accountable – so yeah, give it a shot if you like, and if you only hit half of what is on the list, pat yourself on the back, and move what you missed to next week’s list.
Fail early, fail often, someone once said
fall down seven times, get up eight times…
@Kelly,
Thanks for the good grade, my friend. I think you’re right – I went back and read the first report, and this one sounds better – perhaps it is a combination of seeing things coming together, a conscious effort to really unplug, and daily exercise (which also unplugs me – there’s *no way* my kettle bells are going anywhere near my Mac… smash!)
Last week’s Thursday night conversation did change, and this week will be even better. Friar & I have been chatting since then at work, and rather than poking fun at the Factory, we’ve been plotting other things muahahahaha!!!
Oh, and you’re not lazy, not by a long shot.
@Melissa,
Hello my NaNo partner who actually *did* write something this year (from the guy who didn’t!) – your words have always encouraged me, so I’m happy that my little exercise here has given something back to you. Your blog was one of the first I read that made me wake up and say, “I can do that!”
@Friar,
Ah yes, the Viking videos and computer games
that’s my ‘dark side’ I suppose, eh? Darth Bretticus, perhaps.
Well done! I’m going for the A- because remember – you did all this while working a 9-5 job. You’re already committed to a full workday then you add things on top of it.
So definitely an A-
Alex Fayle | Someday Syndrome’s last blog post..Success Comes from Slow Change: Leo Babauta Interview
Thanks Alex! I’ll take the A- from you any time.
And hey, just chatting with you on Twitter – good for you with your running! Keep it up, you’ve got the habit going now and no one can stop you
Wow Brett – you’ve been bloody busy. I’m exhausted just looking at the things you’ve managed to achieve last week. Good for you. It seems like you’re really pushing ahead with your NZ application, which is brilliant.
Is your book proposal for a non-fiction book?
Hi Cath,
Thanks a lot for the encouragement! You know, I will admit I was pretty tired at the middle of the second week, but I think the exercise is really doing it for me.
I’m waking up naturally at 4 am every day now for a few days, even when going to bed around 10 or 11, so I seem to have a lot more energy.
I’ll be putting a schedule in place for myself soon that front loads the “creativity critical” stuff to the beginning of the day, and leaves the mundane stuff and physical stuff for the end of the day – I have a feeling that will really help as well.
I’m really excited about the NZ prospects and I wonder how much it will accelerate as we approach it. Oh, the book is non-fiction (Steph and a few other folks had said I might want to start sending out proposals without having finished it, as this was okay for non-fiction stuff).
Brett, I give you an A- / B+. You DID focus on what’s important. We cannot always get everything done and prioritizing is an essential ingredient to success. As I read it occurred to me that it might be helpful to outsource some of the “important but does not require your direct involvement” tasks to someone else. For example, I have several CEO clients who hire my career marketing services to manage their job search. We have VAs or others research companies that are a fit, and then identify and follow through with contacts. This week, review your list and see if there are things that can be outsourced and next week you might get an A+.
Thanks Karen!
You know, that’s a pretty good idea and especially with my career search. Can I email you about it?
Also, another interesting development today regarding the niche blogging, as a result of meeting all kinds of great people through this blog – stay tuned…
Brett, I’m here for you anytime! Your blog really does attract awesome people. I’m rather fond of your community.
Thanks Karen – and I for you. I agree, this blog does attract really awesome people (like you!) and I am blessed to have such a great bunch of friends here.
I’ll email you about this
@Karen–
Thanks! We think that you’re awesome, too