Every one of our “yeses” and nos” has a cost. When I say yes to something I will do, buy, think, talk about, I am saying no to other options I have for how I am going to spend that portion of my time, money, energy and focus. We aren’t always conscious of all of that as we are making our choices and often end up surprised that our life, work or business does not look like we want it to.

As a management consultant and business coach, I am often called on to help executives and business professionals in their strategic planning process. A big part of strategic planning is deciding where an organization will focus its limited time and resources to best achieve its mission and vision. It’s deciding what to say no to and what to say yes to. The wrong yes can mean pouring valuable time and money into a certain direction that ends up draining resources with little return. On the other hand, saying yes to the right things, can mean increased revenues, lucrative new ventures, loyal customers, an energized workforce, and most importantly, positive progress toward achieving the vision.

This principle applies to our personal lives as well. Read the rest of this entry »

Just a quick post to let you know that both Barbara and I have been interviewed recently on Jonathan Blundell’s great blog, welivesimply.info. Check out the posts, let us know what you think, and subscribe while you’re there!

Barbara’s interview is here.

Luke’s interview is here.

“I don’t regret the way I did life. I like the stories I am able to tell.” - an eighty-three year old, terminally ill gentleman

The above quote is from a story I read last weekend in The Simple Life. The elderly man told the author stories about his life, from the Great Depression onward. And after all the stories about the struggles, joys, pains, and thrills, that was his proclaimation over it all.

When I’m 83 years old, I want to be satisfied with the way I lived my life, and enjoy telling my story to others. This started me thinking about something else, too… at the end of my life, the stories are really all that’s left.

When we gather with your family at holidays like the Fourth of July, Thanksgiving, or Christmas, do we reminisce about how much money you made way back when, how much time you volunteered, what your quarterly sales numbers were back in 1983? No, all that has faded into oblivion – it’s meaningless, irrelevant information. The conversation is about something hilarious that John said when he was three, or how you took your cousins “snipe hunting.”

All that’s left is story. Read the rest of this entry »

“When is good for you?”

“I’m busy every night except Thursday this week.”

“Oh, well my boy has a baseball game on Thursday night. What about Tuesday?”

“Sorry, Tuesday I have a PTA meeting, can we possible do it on Saturday morning?”

“No, my in-laws are coming to town and we’re going out on the boat on Saturday. What about…”

Ever had a conversation like this before? Planning a meeting time for a group of busy people is usually an exercise in frustration. Especially this time of year, everyone is so busy that it’s very hard to find a time when EVERYBODY can meet.

Barbara recently had to organize a meeting like this with six very busy people. Instead of calling everyone, or worst yet, emailing them, we looked up different web based scheduling software options. We decided on When Is Good, it worked out very well, so we thought we’d share it with you! Read the rest of this entry »

I like country music. I grew up listening to it – my mom was a huge Barbara Mandrell fan, and my dad always sang almost every word of A Country Boy Can Survive, every time it came on. So I guess maybe it’s hereditary.

So when I heard this song for the first time, I thought, “That would be a great post!” It’s Tim McGraw’s latest single, Still, which topped out at #19 on the Billboard Country Charts. I chose it for this Monday is because it speaks of a skill we all should develop more, one that is helpful in creating a more simple life – the skill of still.

Are things just way to complicated for you today? Does your motto seem to be more chaos, less life? All you have to do is just be… still.

Video after the jump. Read the rest of this entry »

If you’ve read books or gone to a seminar on time management, there is a good chance you’ve heard the story that the famous leadership guru Steven R. Covey tells in his book First Things First. It’s a great story about focusing on what matters the most in our lives and a great reminder for those wishing to simplify their lives. If you haven’t heard it or have forgotten it, here it is.

A time management seminar instructor is using a demonstration to make a very important point. He pulls out a large glass jar and places it on a table for all of the students to see. He then takes out some fist-sized rocks and plops them down into the jar. “Is the jar full?” he asks. Some of the class members yell “Yes!” He shakes his head and says “No, it’s not.” Then he takes a jar of pea-gravel and pours it in the jar until it reaches the top. The gravel has found a place in the spaces between the rocks. Again he asks “Now is the jar full?” Before getting an answer, he takes out some sand and pours that into the jar until it again reaches the top of the jar. This time when he asks “Now is the jar full?” the class shrugs their shoulders and some respond “probably not.” The instructor takes a pitcher of water and carefully pours it into the mixture of rock, gravel and sand until it filters through and rises to the top. This time when he asks “Is the jar full?” they answer “we think it is.” When he attempts to debrief the demonstration as to the lesson it teaches, one class member smiles and blurts out “it means that no matter how busy your life is, there is always room for more!” Although the comments was met with laughter from the class, they no doubt became more thoughtful as the facilitator points out the real lesson: “If you don’t put the big rocks in first, you’ll never get them in later.”

How many times do you or I go through our day putting in gravel, sand and water and then have no time or energy left to put in what really matters? How many times have the “urgent, but not important” details, tasks and requests for our time taken up space and crowded out what really feeds our spirit and soul? We are bombarded by more opportunities than ever to waste the limited time we are given each day. Emails, phone calls, internet browsing, social networking, TV, and hundreds of other pulls at our time tempt us to spend time with something “less” and give up something “more.” How many dreams do we have that are still unrealized because we are “too busy” to pursue them?

Re-reading this story was a good reminder to me to really stay focused on the things are that really matter, and make sure they get my top priority. As Steven Covey says “It’s easy to say no, when there is a bigger ‘Yes!’ burning inside.” What is that bigger “yes” for you? How much time are you spending living that? Today, make a list of what those “big rocks” are for you, and then do a quick review of how you have spent your time the last few weeks. If you’re like me, you realize that there is some gravel, sand and water you need to clear out.

Most of the time I try to fill Tech Tip Tuesdays with… tech tips (brilliant observation, I know). But I just didn’t have the motivation for another tech tip tonight. Since blogging is all about being real and authentic, this post will be just be my current musings on how simplicity and technology interact. So bear with me.

You constantly hear about simplicity giving you freedom, and rightfully so. But there’s a flip side that most people don’t like to talk about, because it’s not as trendy: it actually takes away some freedom.

A perfect example is the iPad. I told you all back in the post on scanning my books that I was going to buy an iPad. While I’m still waiting to buy it, I have taken some time at our local Mac store to test it. Every time I’m more convinced that it will revolutionize the mobile computing industry, mainly because it’s just preposterously simple to use. A toddler who can barely talk can turn it on, find her app, and do a puzzle, and a 99 year old lady can still write funny limericks on it. The simple design and interface gives you the freedom to read books, interact with the internet, and use apps in an entirely new, more intuitive and productive way.

But the simplicity which makes it an game-changing product also takes away some other freedom as well. For instance, you can’t replace the battery yourself, hook up your external hard drive, play Flash games, or manipulate the file structure of the iPad. So you gain a product that’s intuitive and simple, but you loose the ability to do certain (generally techy) things.

And that’s okay.

The principles of simplicity are the same no matter what the subject you apply them to. If you’re decluttering your closet, you gain simplicity but loose the freedom to wear certain clothes. If you rip all your CDs and sell them at a garage sale, you no longer have the option of popping your favorite in the CD player on a trip. Everything is a tradeoff – one kind of freedom for another.

The challenge for all of us is to know how to find the equilibrium of simplicity and options… and that will be different for every person. What we would argue for, especially related to technology, is to err on the side of simplicity. Most people will buy and use products that are much more complex than they need, simply because “they might need it some day.” (which, incidentally, is the same argument most people use for keeping piles of useless crap around the house)

If you can use a more simple solution, do so. You’ll thank yourself later. If you absolutely need more options, at least hide them so they’re not cluttering your screen. Just don’t let the paralysis of “I might need it someday” keep your physical or digital life cluttered anymore.

Not long ago, we posted an interview with Sam Spurlin from thesimplerlife.net about his new book, Living the Simpler Life: 8 Essentials to Practice Everyday. Since then he has had some other great interviews, as well, at Grokkery, and just last week at RowdyKittens. We promised you that we would review the book soon, and here it is! We’re each going to share our thoughts, in a simplifi.de Siskel &  Ebert sort of way!

Barbara…

I always look forward to reading something that will help me on my journey to simplify. My hope is it will either give me a gentle nudge to do something I know I should be doing,(but haven’t) or give me a new idea I hadn’t thought of before. Sam Spurlin’s new eBook, Living the Simpler Life, gave me both.

I appreciated the reminder on how to cultivate “mindfulness.” In one of his tips, he challenges the reader of the value of focusing on one thing at a time rather than multi-tasking. Since I frequently switch between a management consulting and coaching business, a singer-songwriter career and posting on www.simplifi.de, I often feel “scattered.” I had realized I needed to chunk my time into single-focus blocks, and when I read Sam’s book, it just confirmed that this is something I needed to start today!

Sam has pulled together tons of tips and resource links so the book is filled with some very practical information that will benefit the reader. On the other hand, it contains so much information in so many areas that it can feel a little overwhelming to distill it down to manageable chunks that I could incorporate into my daily life. For me, this will be a book I will use as a reference guide and digest in bite-sized pieces as needed.

Luke…

Most of my growing up years, I had two siblings: my sister Andrea who is 5 years younger than I am, and KJ, who is 10 years younger than me. Now don’t misunderstand me, I love my brother dearly, but there were lots of times when we fought like cats and dogs (we’re better now). But while we had our moments, I always got along with Andrea well… there’s just something about being closer to the same age that makes things easier – we have more in common.

Interestingly enough, the same thing is true for blogging, as well. The time frames are a little different, and it’s certainly not that that I don’t get along with “older” blogs, it’s just a feeling of camaraderie with bloggers who started their website around the same time as you. And that’s the case with fellow simplicity blogger, Sam Spurlin. He started in October of last year and our first posts on simplifi.de were in December.

So it was with great anticipation that I read Sam’s new book, Living the Simpler Life: 8 Essentials to Practice Everyday. It’s a very practical book, filled with tips and thoughts for dealing mostly with the harder side of simplicity… the inside.

Like Sam said in his interview with us, he tried to go beyond the “low-hanging fruit” of decluttering in Living the Simpler Life. I appreciated that about the book; you could live in Thoreau’s cabin, but if you thoughts and inner person aren’t under control, then you are NOT living the simpler life.

The chapter that challenged me the most in Living the Simpler Life was Essential 3: The Willingness to Say No. It’s something that I know, but it’s easy to forget to put into practice on a regular basis. This sentence is the one that really caught my attention at the end of the chapter: “You owe it to yourself not to be swamped beneath a bevy of low-impact commitments when your big chance arrives.” I wonder how many times big chances have come and gone because I was toiling away on stuff that didn’t really matter. This chapter poked and prodded me in just the right places, so that I would be more aware before I accept new responsibilities.

So that’s how it helped me. No matter what stage of the simplicity journey you’re on, I’m sure there are things in it that will help you too. If you’re typically not a book reader, but you like to read blogs, then this is a good eBook for you to consider, because it reads more like an extra long series of blog posts.

So my final analysis: it’s a good overview of the critical components of simplicity, and a great first foray into the eBook world for Sam and thesimplerlife.net,

There is something special about being outside. It makes you feel alive. It’s the sunlight on the lake, sparkling like thousands of diamonds, or the sweet taste of a cold piece of watermelon on a hot summer night. It’s the overwhelming scent of honeysuckle growing in your backyard, the warm summer breeze on your face, and the sound of kids laughing and playing in the background.

When people use the phrase “simple pleasures”, this is what they’re talking about.

I could have written this post about all the reasons that being outdoors is good for humans. It’s good for us physically, providing fresh air, purified by the millions of living air filters we call plants. Exposure to sunlight regulates sleep, improves our mood, and lets our skin produce the Vitamin D that we need. Study after study has shown that being outdoors is great for our mental and emotional wellbeing. It’s also good for us spiritually, allowing us time to find peace and tranquility, to be still, to rest.

But, you’ve heard all that before, and even if you haven’t, we all know it intrinsically anyway. Like I said, there’s just something special about being outside. Our problem is not that we don’t know that we should go outside, it’s that we don’t do it! So here are four easy ways that you can spend more time outside, enjoying life.

• Exercise outside.

We have a problem with pride in the modern world; we think we’re more highly developed and smarter than anyone who has lived before us. But can you imagine what people who lived even 150 years ago would think of our actions these days? On a beautiful day we’ll come outside, get in our cars, burn fuel and money driving miles to another stuffy building where we pay the owner for the privilege of running on a spinning belt like a hamster on a wheel. Then we move to another part of the room and pick up heavy things, but not for any purpose, just to set them back down again! Exhausted, we climb back into our cars, drive home, go inside and lay down on the couch.

Admit it, it’s just weird. And not simple. Go outside and get your exercise there – walk, run, bike, rollerblade, do pushups, crunches, pullups, whatever. Save money, save the environment, and train your muscle groups for real life situations, not just isolated exercises. Do your workout… out.

• Take a walk outside, with family or friends.

Great conversations can happen in the house, no doubt, but there is something about taking a walk together that makes talking easier and more enjoyable. Be sure to walk slow enough that you can still talk to each other; this is walking for community, not conditioning. Take notice of the little things as you walk together… the aroma of fresh cut grass, the towering of the trees, the simple elegance of the flowers.

Be aware of the other people around you, too – are your neighbors out in the yard? Stop and talk to them – if you don’t know them, introduce yourselves. People are forever moaning and groaning about the breakdown of small communities in the modern world, but they don’t stop and talk to their neighbors, either. We should put our money where our mouth is, and just do it. We’ll be glad we did.

• Live outside

Okay, I know that you can’t live outside all the time, at least not comfortably and safely, but there is a exciting movement towards creating outdoor living spaces. Grilling is more popular than ever, and some people are even building full blown outdoor kitchens. Living room style areas with campfire pits or even fireplaces are becoming more popular. Creative use of your outdoor space is a cheap way to extend your house without actually adding on, and creates a relaxed atmosphere that is perfect for having friends over for dinner or enjoying a romantic outdoor dinner with your spouse or significant other.

• Work outside.

This is one that doesn’t get a lot of attention, but it ought to. I love working outside, and I do it as much as I can. Inspiration comes easier when I’m outdoors – I’m relaxed and in a place where I can put my best creative thinking to work. Do I listen to music while I work? You bet: the symphony of the great outdoors. Birds singing, bugs flying around, woodpeckers pecking, squirrels scurrying around in the trees and bushes. When I talk outside, I’m just adding my voice to the eclectic ensemble gathered around me.

Unfortunately I’m not outside right now, but I positioned myself right next to some big bay windows looking over Boardman Lake, so as you can see in the picture on the left, I’m still benefiting from the nice view and the natural lighting.

•••

I like and respect the work of interior designers, especially those of the more minimalist persuasion. But have you ever noticed that as elaborate as houses are, no one is talking about “the great indoors”? There’s a reason for that. In the Biblical narrative, God placed our first parents in what, an airtight, enclosed space with central air-conditioning and heat, an iPad and a Wii? No… He put them in a garden. When we spend time outside, we’re connecting with the way it was, the way things were meant to be.

In 2004, June was named “Great Outdoors Month… so let’s celebrate it! We are blessed with the opportunity to experience so many amazing things, every single day. Next time you’re out, take a second and breathe as deeply as you can. Don’t be ashamed to dance in the rain. Build a campfire, invite some friends over, make some S’mores, and sit around telling stories. Just don’t waste the amazing, simple pleasures that we’ve been given. It will be GREAT, you just have to go OUT the DOOR.

So what do you do outside that’s not on the list? It’s that time of year when we all are looking for creative ways to spend time outdoors, so let’s learn from each other in the comments! And if you enjoyed the post, please  help us out and “Like “or retweet! Thanks!

Google gets simplicity. Hold your mouse still while on their homepage, and everything but the essentials fade away. Their simple mission statement: to organizing the world’s information and make it universally accessible and useful. It’s no wonder that in the 11 years since they started in a friends garage, Google has come to dominate the world in searching… so much so that “google” was added as a verb to the Oxford English Dictionary last year.

The main reason Google has done so well is they have made searching for information simple and easy for the average person. And yet, their search so powerful that with the right tools you can find exactly what you want . Here are some of the tools that you can use to find what you’re looking for….

Read the rest of this entry »