April Boddie
In the last 5 years, what new belief, behavior or habit has improved your life?
Focusing on the answers to 'What do I really want?'
What purchase of $100 or less has most positively impacted your life in the last 6 months?
My Echo. Last year, Brian was talking about how much he loved the Echo and the pranks he plays with the kids on the Echo Dot. When he told me how much it was, I was like, "$250! No way." I like to keep my money for as long as possible.
I bought it when it went down to $100. It's convenient for setting alarms on the fly and listening to NPR and Amazon Music. There is nothing like playing my music in the morning.
My Echo. Last year, Brian was talking about how much he loved the Echo and the pranks he plays with the kids on the Echo Dot. When he told me how much it was, I was like, "$250! No way." I like to keep my money for as long as possible.
I bought it when it went down to $100. It's convenient for setting alarms on the fly and listening to NPR and Amazon Music. There is nothing like playing my music in the morning.
In the last 5 years, what have you become better at saying no to?
Giving into what people think that I should do or be. Society sends messages all the time stipulating what is acceptable and normal. I am a LOT happier being who I am to be regardless of the cost.
When you feel overwhelmed or unfocused, what do you do?
Hmm. I wonder why Tim Ferris chose to ask the question this way. When I am overwhelmed, I lose focus, but I will answer it the way it was asked.
When I am overwhelmed, my choices depend on where I am and what tools I have at my disposal. Is there time for me to get away and go for a walk? Is there a pool hall nearby?
What works best is doing a mind dump. I write down everything that is frustrating me for 3 minutes. Then I pick the one that is causing the most headache. If I can't solve the issue in 10 minutes, I pick an item from the list that gives me a two-fer, meaning the resolution of one issue will help with another issue on the list.
When I am unfocused, I don't try to fight it. I wasn't always like that. I would try to force myself back on track. Produce, produce.
Now, I give myself permission to be unfocused. Maybe I'm bored? Maybe I'm tired? Permission removes the guilt for not producing 24/7 and gives me a chance to come back energized. If I absolutely have to be productive, I switch gears to something that requires less energy or thinking.
What are the bad recommendations you hear in your profession or expertise?
Never give up. That recommendation needs some clarification. I see people doggedly working to make situations work because they have invested a lot of time, energy and money. I have done it myself. The hard part is discerning which situations are worth the effort.
My process is to give any situation my best with who I am and what I know at that given time. If I can see that I won't achieve my goal, but there's still an upside, I just change my goal. However, if I see that there is nothing to be gained even if I change my goal, then I know it's time to let it go.
What is one of the best or worthwhile investments you have ever made?
The money and time that I spent on my coaching education. It has made every part of my life better from parenting to working to partnering.