It would be foolish to think that you can add one more thing to your list of things to do without interfering with all the other things you have going on. So today, I want you to identify what you are willing to give up to get what you want.
Time. Writing your memoirs will take time, period. It’s not a matter of finding the time to do this, but rather scheduling the time to do it.
Treat this endeavor as a class, Memoir-Writing 101. Identify a time slot in your week that you can devote to attend…AND a place of peace and quiet where you can work...alone.
This may be hard. But trying to think and write with distractions all around will frustrate you…and frustration leads to more frustration…and more frustration leads to no fun. And this should be a fun experience. So do what you can to remove all distractions during your class.
Obviously, if you will be devoting time to this class you will be replacing time spent on something else. It may be a night of television or a mealtime with your family or a period of sleep… This step is about realizing the fact you will need to give something up to get what you want and making a conscious decision as to what that something will be.
As for the time slot, whether you decide to “meet” once a week for a few hours, twice a week for an hour or two, or once every other week for however long, do what works for you. The point is you need to set aside specific time that you can devote to this project.
Write these time slots into your calendar.
Commit to it. If there’s no commitment it won’t get done.
However, if all you want is to dabble in it, that’s fine. Dabbling can be quite fun. But understand dabbling will not bring forth a finished product. So if you’re serious about making progress on this project, set aside a time and write it in your calendar.
Schedule a minimum of 8 (1.5 to 2 hour) sessions today.
Day 4:
Schedule 8 Sessions on your Calendar for your
Memoirs 101 Self-Study Course.
Enroll Today.
Write for 15 Minutes About
What You're Willing to Give Up to Get What You Want.
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Today, I want you to commit to a schedule of 8 sessions where you would like to "attend" the Memoirs 101 Self-Study Online Course and enroll immediately.
For example, supposing starting next week you would like to commit to "meeting" every Thursday from 7-8:30 PM, except for the third Thursday...instead you'll do Tuesday of that week from 4-5:30PM. You would write these time slots on your calendar and mark it as "memoirs class". Then, when it comes time for the first class, log onto your computer and visit the "Memoirs 101 Syllabus" page (this link will be given to you after you are enrolled). Here you will gain access to the Syllabus for the first 8 sessions. Follow the instructions for the first session.
Then, get out your journal, set the timer for 15 minutes and write about What You're Willing to Give Up to Take this Course. If you have to, remind yourself why you wanted to start this life-story-telling venture in the first place.
SUGGESTED SACRIFICES: You can be sacrificing an hour or two of TV or a period of sleep (such as getting up extra early in the morning or staying up later at night). Or perhaps skip one night a week (or every other week) at the family dinner table to eat a quick bite at your computer while accessing your session's syllabus.
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