Aren’t smartphones great? Many people seem to think so since more and more of them own one these days. You can make phone-calls, send text messages, process your email, read the news, look up information, play games that are much cooler than Snake or check out the latest YouTube videos. Not only are they a fancy accessory that let you show off how cool, trendy and rich you are but the best part is you never have to miss out on anything again; you’re always connected and up to date! Great right? Nope,.. WRONG!

In love with gadgets

I have always loved gadgets and innovative technology. I loved owning the newest phones, game-consoles and PC’s that I could afford. Of course I liked the fact that people thought it was cool that I had that stuff but mostly I loved trying out what it could all do to enhance my life. But, as most things go, the novelty wears off and what’s left is “just another thing”. But somehow it’s different now…

Me being a little bit of a geek, I loved the features that have been appearing on the new mobile phones over the past years. How amazing to be able to get in contact with people wherever you are and, even better, wherever they are; (nowhere to hide anymore!) How great was it to take pictures and videos of random things you ran into while on the road? I really enjoyed the increasing connectedness and the ability to get in touch with friends in so many new ways. Recently however, I’ve noticed that this increased connectedness seems to be turning on me.

Always connected

Not only are we connected by phone-call, text-message and email, all the social networks have also crept onto your smartphone. Great right, now you can tell (random) people all the random things you encounter throughout your day, without the need to go home and fire up your computer. To be honest, I still thought this was pretty cool. But to be able to be updated about current (random) events in the world, the amazing tech-people introduced to world to…. Push messages! No more need to even fetch and open your messages, they just download themselves and open themselves right away! Can you believe it? Someone sent you an email or posted on your Facebook wall and you knew within 5 seconds. (*Quick! Reply! He/She is probably still online anyway because you noticed so fast!)

No more!

And this is where it started turning on me. People were starting to expect me to read every message they had sent me and reply instantly. Sure I could understand that because, truth be told, I used to like being able to do that.
However, I was working on a project a while back and had my phone lying on my desk (in silent mode). It was then that I started to notice HOW MANY TIMES I was actually interrupted from the actual work at hand by that annoying buzzing of the phone. *Bzzz.. Email* … *Bzz… Email* … *Bzz WhatsApp-message*,.. *Bzz*..*BZZ*..BZZ..BZZ..BZZ..BZZ.. ARRGH!

Mutany!!

I’m not sure why I never noticed before but since then I started to pay more attention to it and it started to scare me. My best gadget-friend had turned from something that used to enhance my productivity into something that was actually sucking the productivity out of my day. The possibility to browse the internet, watch videos and get in touch with people are already enough to consider your smartphone an enemy of productivity; It’s pretty much Procrastination-heaven waiting in your pocket. But as long as it’s in your pocket and shuts up, I can deal with that temptation. However, thanks to the brilliant technicians our smartphones are now push-messaging their way out of our pockets.  (Next-stop, Procrastination-heaven!)

Fighting back

Thank goodness I still remember that I am supposed to be in charge of my life (and pants) and I decide what deserves my attention. So what I did was: I remembered what it was I thought was so great about my smartphone. It was the ability to access people and information anywhere, at will. And I guess the magic is in the “AT WILL” part. Everything was perfect until the phone started thinking it knew better than me, and this started me flooding me with things that were supposed to be interesting and required my immediate attention.

I guess my smartphone got a little bit too smart for my (and eventually its-) own good. I decided to remove all push-functionality from my phone. Whenever I want to read my email, I’ll just open the application and wheel it in. I did the same for my Facebook and twitter apps, although I’m even considering removing them completely. (It’s harder to procrastinate on social networks if they’re no longer installed) The only push-functionality I left in place is WhatsApp, since it works just like a normal text message.

Wrapping up

I’m really happy with the choices I made to take a technological step back and dumbed down my smartphone a bit. All the good stuff is still there but I decide when it gets my attention instead of it screaming for mine.
Having messages buzzing and beeping for your attention is a real killer for your concentration and thus your productivity. Take a moment to decide if you really need to get all that pushed information right now or if it can just wait until later. Some of it can wait until you get home, some of it can wait until you completed your to-do list or perhaps until you’re on the bus/train/metro.

Don’t let your phone outsmart you into broken concentration and procrastination, show it who’s boss!

This just came by on the radio and I felt compelled to share it with you:

————————————————–
Ladies and Gentlemen of the class of ’99
If I could offer you only one tip for the future, sunscreen would be
it. The long term benefits of sunscreen have been proved by
scientists whereas the rest of my advice has no basis more reliable
than my own meandering experience… I will dispense this advice now.

Enjoy the power and beauty of your youth; oh nevermind;
you will not understand the power and beauty of your youth until they have faded.
But trust me, in 20 years you’ll look back at photos of yourself and
recall in a way you can’t grasp now how much possibility lay before
you and how fabulous you really looked….You’re not as fat as you
imagine.

Don’t worry about the future; or worry, but know that worrying is as
effective as trying to solve an algebra equation by chewing bubblegum.
The real troubles in your life are apt to be things that never crossed your worried mind;
the kind that blindside you at 4pm on some idle Tuesday.
Do one thing everyday that scares you. Sing!
Don’t be reckless with other people’s hearts, don’t put up with people who are reckless with yours.
Floss Don’t waste your time on jealousy; sometimes you’re ahead, sometimes you’re behind…
the race is long, and in the end, it’s only with yourself.
Remember the compliments you receive, forget the insults;
if you succeed in doing this, tell me how.

Keep your old love letters, throw away your old bank statements.
Stretch Don’t feel guilty if you don’t know what you want to do with your life…
the most interesting people I know didn’t know at 22 what they wanted to do with their lives,
some of the most interesting 40 year olds I know still don’t.
Get plenty of calcium. Be kind to your knees, you’ll miss them when they’re gone.
Maybe you’ll marry, maybe you won’t, maybe you’ll have children,maybe you won’t,
maybe you’ll divorce at 40, maybe you’ll dance the funky chicken on your 75th wedding anniversary…
Whatever you do, don’t congratulate yourself too much or berate yourself either –
your choices are half chance, so are everybody else’s.

Enjoy your body, use it every way you can…don’t be afraid of it, or what other people think of it,
it’s the greatest instrument you’ll ever own..
Dance… even if you have nowhere to do it but in your own living room.
Read the directions, even if you don’t follow them.
Do NOT read beauty magazines, they will only make you feel ugly.
Get to know your parents, you never know when they’ll be gone for good.
Be nice to your siblings; they are the best link to your past and the people most likely to stick with you in the future.
Understand that friends come and go,but for the precious few you should hold on.
Work hard to bridge the gaps in geography and lifestyle because the older you get,
the more you need the people you
knew when you were young.

Live in New York City once, but leave before it makes you hard;
Live in Northern California once, but leave before it makes you soft.
Travel.
Accept certain inalienable truths, prices will rise, politicians will philander,
you too will get old, and when you do you’ll fantasize that when you were young prices were reasonable,
politicians were noble and children respected their elders.
Respect your elders. Don’t expect anyone else to support you.
Maybe you have a trust fund, maybe you have a wealthy spouse;
but you never know when either one might run out.
Don’t mess too much with your hair, or by the time you’re 40,
it will look 85. Be careful whose advice you buy, but, be patient with those who supply it.
Advice is a form of nostalgia, dispensing it is a way of fishing the past from the disposal,
wiping it off, painting over the ugly parts and recycling it for more than it’s worth.

…But trust me on the sunscreen…
————————————————

Taken from the following song: Baz Luhrmann – Everybody’s Free (To Wear Sunscreen)

I’ve heard it quite some times in the past but never truely paid attention to the message it held. I’m glad I did today!

Good morning everyone. Most of you will still be asleep at the moment I’m writing this. So why on earth am I awake then? Well, to be honest, my girlfriend had to catch a train at 5:45 so I can’t pretend I didn’t do this entirely on purpose. But I just felt compelled to share something with you that I’m experiencing at the moment.

I had gotten up, showered and eaten breakfast by the time it was 5:30, in order to get my girlfriend on her way on time. And then I started realizing that I was completely wide awake and feeling energetic over 1.5 hour before I normally set my own alarm.
This is great! While the world is still sleeping I’m already up and about, able to do things! Steve Pavlina has written some great stuff about how to become an early riser, but this must be what he was actually talking about. Not so much waking up and getting yourself in motion but the actual feeling of wanting to take on the world even before you’d have normally set your alarm.

What to do with this extra time?
Off course I can’t do everything before 7AM like vacuum-cleaning, play loud music (neighbors) or go shopping for that matter. Yet, I can still get started on things I would have normally done during daytime. Or, even better; Things that I would have wanted to do during the daytime but can’t, due to the fact that I’m at work then. (Like writing this blog for example)

What would you do if you had 1.5 of extra time each morning? Shower longer or get started on work early? Go outside and run for 30 minutes or catch up on a tv-show you’ve missed? Whatever you do, it’s just great to be able to do so, right?

Will Smith on Work-Ethic: “While the other guy’s sleeping,… I’m working”

As you may or may not be aware of, I started a new job at the beginning of February. It’s great to meet new people, face new challenges and have some more money to spend on nice things. Apart from that, one of the things that also comes with working in a large organization is email. And as it turns out, lots… and lots of email.

The Tom sawyer effect
I’m not sure you are familiar with the term but I do assume you’ve heard of Tom Sawyer before. The Tom Sawer principle originates from a scene where Tom is ordered to paint a fence white. Tom wasn’t particularly fond of doing work of any kind so he found a way to get out of it. He started projecting the idea onto passing people that painting that fence was actually a lot of fun. Yet, when they asked them if they could have a go at it, he promptly refused. Eventually people started paying him for the privilege of painting the fence.
Yes, Tom turned something that was boring work to him into something others would actually pay to be able to do. He essentially managed to turn a task into a privilege, work into play.

The Tom Sawyer principle can also be seen in many other situations in life but also in reverse. For example, extremely wealthy people that like to drive a horse and carriage for fun in their spare time. However, as soon as someone would offer them money to take them somewhere it completely took all the fun out of it and turned it into work. As soon as their fun turned into work, they lost all interest. (There is some fascinating research done on this, from kids to adults that is worth checking out)

Back to Email:
Do you remember when you first got to use email? I thought it was amazing! Even though I didn’t have that many people to send emails to in the beginning, simply because it wasn’t widely adopted, just the thought of communicating this fast across enormous distances felt awesome to me! The more people started using it, the higher its value of email became, as is with any network. Email was fun to use! Now queue the office…
In offices, email has started taking over people’s schedule. It’s often no longer a tool but an objective: “Get through all your email today”. There are now tons of freelance consultants making money on teaching people how to cope with this seemingly endless flow of incoming emails clogging up their day and annihilating their productivity.
Luckily I’m aware of this problem and intend not to become a victim of it.

But sadly, I am starting to become a victim of the Tom Sawyer effect. Email, once fun to use, is turning into work. I get dozens of emails to read. Ever since the CC-box was invented, so was the “FYI” (for your information) email. Since it’s so easy to send messages, documents etc around your colleagues automatically assume you can (and want to) read everything they send you.

Alarm bells ringing
Last week I found myself experiencing my inbox as a burden for the first and almost freaked out! Just one paragraph earlier I stated that I wasn’t going become a victim of letting my day be dictated by my inbox. From that moment on I took it upon myself to just clean my inbox as fast as I could, preferably using the “delete” button. (If you’re looking for a great time-saver, that key could become one of your best friends, I assure you.)
I’m glad I almost freaked out because it gave me a timely wakeup call. Stop sending useless emails, stop CC’ing people to make them think they are either important or to “prove” you are actually working during office hours. If you recognize yourself doing one of these things, you’re contributing to the flood of email. Just,… stop it!

Wrapping up
Realise when you’ve let yourself be tempted into turning something that used to be fun into work (or worse). Then take action to take back control of the situation. Take simple steps, start today! In the case of email, it’s simple: Just send less of it, to less people and only when it actually serves a purpose.

Life can be a drag sometimes. There are times when you wake up uninspired, feeling like you have to kick yourself in the ass get moving. Living an inspired life can slip through your fingers and usually you don’t even see it happening. You just suddenly realize that it has happened, and you’re really dissatisfied with it.

And then there are those other days you wish would never end. You wake up before you set your alarm, your head is spinning with ideas and you have an uncontrollable urge to get up and move, create, inspire,.. just do things. And as has been written time and time again throughout the history of the world, this is a great feeling.
Now let me tell you how I actually went from A to B in under 7 days.

Situation A:

Let me just paint you a picture of my life until the starting point of the transformation:
I had been working on my thesis for about 9 months. It had turned into a routine that held no challenge for me anymore. I got up every day knowing what I “had to do” but my heart just wasn’t in it anymore. And as you can imagine, remaining in this routine takes more energy from you then it gives back. I slept 8-9 hours every night and still felt like I was tired every morning.

Even though I had not achieved my master degree I had decided to take a chance and apply for a job that had just “suddenly appeared” into my life. It felt right to do so and I just went with it; what the h*ck right!?
About 1.5 months ago I received the final word that after two interviews I had been selected as the best candidate and that I could start on February 1st of the New Year. So up till that day I remained in my thesis-routine.
I expected a normal transition from one activity to the other but as it turned out, the universe had something else planned.

So what happened?

Five days before I was going to start my new job, I received word through twitter that a friend of mine was going to give a presentation on entrepreneurship at the university. I thought it would be nice to go and see what he had to say, since he’s doing well for himself and it would be nice to see him again. And even though it wasn’t rocket science that he delivered that day, it did somehow light the fuse to some invisible rocket that apparently I had strapped to my back.

I have taught myself the habit of writing down every (business) idea I have in a small moleskine notebook to make sure I don’t lose that thought. And as it usually goes with ideas, most of them are great at the time but upon further examination turn out to be just “okay”. That night I got another idea and instead of just writing it down, I immediately went to work on it. The rocket had been lit and had now taken off!

Having a great business venture idea while being at the point of starting my new job was clearly “not the best timing” I could have asked for. But since I also loved the idea of going to work in this new position I had gotten.

Situation B:

So here I am now, a full-time job, a thesis to write and a business venture underway. I wake up every day before my alarm, after about 6-7 hours of sleep. My head is spinning and I just want to do nothing more then get on with the day! Even when I get home after my day-job I don’t feel like turning on the TV or play a video-game; I just want to do more things! I’m currently really in the state where I now have to kick my own ass in order to go to bed instead of getting out of it!

I’ve always been a rational guy, assessing my situation well and deciding what the best thing to do would be. This has always given me a great sense of comfort because I knew that this was “the right thing to do”.
But as it is now, I have three major projects on my hands plus numerous things on the side and I have absolutely no clue how I am going to pull it all off. But here’s the weird thing (to me); I feel great about it!! I don’t even care that I don’t have a full-proof plan this time, I just know that I’m going to make it work!

Wrapping up

I had heard the advice “do what feels right” many times before, and I thought I understood it. (And I guess my brain did indeed.) But I had never actually experienced it for myself. Without getting lost in “What if?!” scenario’s I took on the challenges because it just felt right! There is just no “left-brain explanation” for it.

You can read all you want about productivity, inspiration, motivation and everything you “think” is going to help you get you to the next level. But I guess it’s like putting on your swim shorts, even though you’re wearing them you still don’t know what it’s like to swim.
But in all fairness, it’s better to have your swim shorts on when you dive in than still being in your suit or jeans

So without being very original, I will tell you not to restrict yourself to just reading about personal development. Start doing it, start living it, start becoming it!

“Good morning garbage men!”

I was taking out my trash today (just in time) and as I opened the door I found the garbage truck right in front of me. So I asked one of the guys: “Could you still take this trash-bag off my hands”? And with a smile he answered: “Sure, take a swing and toss it in the bag of the truck. You came just in time”. I just smiled, thanked him and went on my way.

As I turned around I realized that those guys on the garbage truck were looking really happy. The radio turned up just a bit too loud, smiling, laughing and making jokes to each other. Apart from their good mood being contagious (I was still smiling) it reminded me of a conversation I had with my driving instructor years back. He told me the secret of why garbage men were so cheerful.

The secret of the garbage men

So, quite some years back I was driving around the city with my driving instructor and he pointed out a garbage truck to me. Apart from the fact that I was more occupied with driving correctly, I didn’t really see the reason for pointing such an everyday scene out. So I rolled my eyes and told him “So?! What’s up with that”?!
My driving instructor smiled at me and then told me “You know, those are probably some of the happiest people you’re going to see today”. Obviously I didn’t get it then so I just shrugged, I pointed out to my instructor that I didn’t see how a garbage man could possibly be happy, doing what he was doing for job. Apparently he started feeling more content with himself because he could now explain me something besides how to drive a car.
“Well” he said; “here’s the thing”. “You probably think of working on a garbage truck as a low-class, low paying job that couldn’t possibly have any advantages, right!?” I had no other choice but to nod and let him advance the story. So he continued: “But in reality that truck is providing those guys with something that’s very hard to find in any other job they could otherwise apply for. (Note: at that educational level) Do you know what it is?” I still had to give him a “No” since I still didn’t get it back then.

“It’s freedom! Freedom to be in charge of their own truck, driving- and sometimes even decorating it. Freedom to do their work without a boss breathing down their neck, checking on their every move.”

I was astounded. I had never looked at the job like that and I can imagine I’m not the only one. Most of the time te focus seems to be on it being dirty, low-class job because you’re handeling other people’s waste. But obviously I had been painfully wrong about all this. The guys riding on that garbage truck have actually got a pretty good reason to be happy, don’t you agree?

The garbage man in you

So (probably) taking this a bit closer to home, how does this relate to your occupation? Do you like what you do? And is so, why is that? I think chances are fair that most of you would say it’s indeed the freedom to be able to express yourself in one way or another without someone breathing down your neck.
Expressing yourself creatively really is one of the quickest ways to returning to your “so called”  true self. Stop being miserable while trying to fit into somebody elses view of what the world should work function. If you don’t feel it matches you, please consider to stop going along with it. Every time you follow a practice you don’t feel is close to your heart, you’re betraying yourself. Go and find that way in which you can creatively express who you really are, in whatever way you see fit. You’ll see that you’ll feel so much more content and in touch with yourself that you’ll probably wondering  ”why in the world did I put this off”?!

As it has been said time and time again, change does not come without courage. Breaking with things you’ve grown acustomed to is never easy, but nontheless it is an essential part of he growth process. It’s challenging, but take comfort in the idea that if it feels right, you are heading towards a happier, more fulfulling life. And if you need help and support, there will always be friends around to commend you, support you and help you succeed at reaching your goals!

Even if it’s looking like none of your “current” friends understand you, the personal growth community is an amazing one. I have been surprised time and time again about the amazing, inspiring people that are out there. They too are working on facing, confronting and overcoming their challenges in life and pretty much all of ‘m are willing to help you. Because this community is aware that some challenges can be tough and that we all face them, so it is only natural to help people. (And in that process, also grow yourself)
So don’t be affraid to reach out. Send an Email, pick up the phone if you’re really courageous!

Go out and find your inner garbage man!

Until next time; There’s more energy in moving things. So keep moving, never stop!

A close friend shared this story with me last week and I could not resist to turn it into a blog-post to share it with everyone else.
It’s simply incredible, and doesn’t need many words to move you deeply.

A Love story:

Here, a female swallow has gotten seriously injured.
(She got hit by a car while diving in too low over the road)

Her mate brings brings her food to help her, sharing his love and compassion.

Once again he brings her food but is shocked once he finds out that she has died.
He tries to move her, a rarely seen effort among swallows!

Realising his love has died and will never return, he cries out in agony over his lost love.

He stands by her,… mourning her death.

Finally realising she is gone, never to return, he stands next to her with intense sorrow.

A story worth so more then a thousand words, told by so few.
Some people are still under the impression that animals have no intelligence or feelings, or know love for that matter.
What would they say if they saw this?

These pictures were sold to the most famous newspaper in France for a nominal fee. Every single issue that was printed that day was sold out, touching many, many people. You, like them, have just witnessed a perfect eaxmple of love and devotion.

Think about that for a while, and take it with you as you continue along the path of life.