December 28, 2009

Lady writers, do you have box envy? I do!

We laugh when we talk about men’s and women’s brains, how women have spaghetti brains where everything is interconnected, where the concern over her children is tangled up with her financial worries and affects her weight.

Men, on the other hand, have brains like waffles (according to a popular author). They have little square boxes, with nicely separated categories for each segment of their lives.

Strange, but True

We laugh at the anology because it’s true. Surely you recognize this scenario. You have a fight with your spouse at breakfast, and then you both leave for work. The wife ruminates all day about who said what, why it was said, what should have been said, how to make up that night, or IF she should make up.

The man, on the other hand, closed the lid on the “wife” box when he drove out the driveway. He thought about nothing on the drive downtown. He opened the “work” box at work. He didn’t open the “wife” box again until he got home at night-when he wondered what was for supper.

You know the rest! She is about to explode, wanting to share and talk and rehash and resolve the argument in order to restore harmony. He can’t even remember the argument.

Box vs. Spaghetti Writers

What does this have to do with writing? It makes the act of writing-concentrating despite circumstances-easier for men. It’s the only time in my life that I would gladly trade a sensitive feelings brain for a “box brain.” I had determined years ago to write a mega bestseller if I ever discovered the “secret” of sorting all that spaghetti into boxes so I could be a more focused writer.

Well, someone discovered it before me. Enter Simple·ology.

Rescue Me!

I had heard about this free course more than a year ago, but I hadn’t felt enough pressure to take it seriously. However, the last four months, due to my own poor scheduling, were busy beyond belief.

I had said “yes” to so many people that I was only home two evenings in November and one evening in December before Christmas. I worked during the days. It was crazy while it lasted-but it’s now thankfully over. During the worst two weeks, I scrambled to find ways to get my work done faster and find some more energy.

That’s when I remembered the free Simple·ology course that Randy Ingermanson (the “snowflake guy”) so highly recommended. I downloaded the free 30-day 101 course on finding time and achieving goals, loved it, and then bought the 103 course on increasing energy. (The 102 course is on money, but my immediate needs were for more time and energy.)

The Test

Last week, I had a period of two days where I was both sick and very upset with someone, but I had a lot of promised work to complete. I reviewed the “5 Laws of simple·ology,” fixed them in my tired mind, and got to work. As suggested, I kept the list of “memory joggers” nearby for review when my mind would wander.

You are making decisions every few minutes that either take you toward your goal or away from it-and Simple·ology helps you keep moving steadily in the right direction. The result? I got work done in two days that would normally take me 3.5 days! 

The Simple·ology Box

This weekend I took a long walk and two bike rides, despite the cold, and during one of the rides, it occurred to me that Mark Joyner’s Simple·ology laws were teaching my spaghetti brain to think inside a box! I had been able to focus well under very trying circumstances, and the work I did was good.

I’ll write more about this in coming weeks, I’m sure, but for now, I’d recommend checking it out. In addition to the course “rules” (which most of us would forget shortly after reading them), Simple·ology comes with a free “web cockpit” to download. It’s fun, keeps you on track, and includes a daily 15-minute exercise to make sure you are applying the principles and hitting your targets.

As you look to the new year and set goals, I’d highly recommend that you check out this free Simple·ology course. It might be just the ticket to move you from setting goals to achieving goals.

4 Comments »

1. 

   I used to have a box mentality but something about having children changed all that … I will look into this. This vacation, I am consciously taking the time to just enjoy one thing at a time and not worry about the myriad things that are not getting done …

   Comment by Vijaya — December 28, 2009 @ 5:35 pm

2. 

   Vijaya, I agree with you. Take the vacation! Focusing on one thing at a time–and not multi-tasking–actually is better. I don’t think I ever had a box mentality, although I could force it if a deadline or test date was coming up fast!

   Comment by Kristi Holl — December 28, 2009 @ 9:09 pm

3. 

   As crazy as my life has been over the last few years, I can certainly sympathize with being over-committed and under-energized. But, I’m not so sure about this course…it sounds so gimmicky, and the reviews of Mark Joyner’s book at Amazon have talk of it being a bait-and-switch thing. I also wonder about the “meditation” he is promoting. Curious to know your thoughts on this.

   Comment by Selena — December 29, 2009 @ 2:27 pm

4. 

   Selena, either I didn’t read the meditation part or I skipped over it. I read his free course for the practical time-saving ideas and on how to focus instead of getting so easily distracted. I never bought any books by Joyner, so I can’t say if they are bait-and-switch or not. I’m only suggesting that people try his main free course for the time/energy tips. I’m not suggesting they buy anything or become affiliates or anything. I didn’t. I’m not a “get rich quick” kind of person, for one thing, so I’m not tempted by that kind of offer. Being a Christian, I screen out the “meditation” stuff if it conflicts with scripture. I’d rather pray.

   Comment by Kristi Holl — December 30, 2009 @ 8:02 am

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