Preparing for Extensive Time Off

As 2017 is only a couple days old, I already believe it will be a great year, or at least, it will be a great one for me. Forgive my selfishness but I especially look forward to this brand new year as I will be able to enjoy my second 6-month leave of absence from work. 

So my big project this year: to have time and to enjoy the freedom it can give me!

All this began to truly take shape back in 2015 as I Signed Up on a 2-Year Program that will end with a 6-Month Leave. Despite the fact we are a couple months away from the actual time off, it’s just around the corner, I’m starting to feel it and can’t wait to taste it for real.

This is the second occasion I took advantage of that type of leave. In my 2012 leave, among many ventures, Our Exciting 24-Day Trip to Italy is surely what marked me the most!

Meanwhile, with still a lot of on-going and new projects boiling in my mind, I am ironically lacking what I will have plenty of by the middle of the year: precious time!

Luckily, I can rely on the 12-Minute Approach to help pace myself, effectively materializing many of those ideas while maintaining a relatively healthy balance in my life.

Plan Not to Over-Plan

Holiday Hope Wishes

On this beautiful yet cold winter day, I’m using a few words to wish all of you a happy holiday season. I hope everyone has the chance to enjoy good times and cherish quality moments with family and friends.

Have Faith and Maintain Hope

With all that’s happening in the world, I understand it could be natural to fall apart and give in to despair.

Even though I really like poutine (the French fries, cheese and gravy meal), it can be hazardous to your health if you eat it too often. And at this point in human history, the potentially explosive Poutine-Trump combination really gets me worried.

So this year, for all our sakes, I will hope for a kinder, gentler world.

12-Minute Meetings (Revisited)

The 12-Minute Series was originally posted in 2012.

We’ve decided to republish it integrally because we believe it can still help as everyone aspires to make things better.

Let’s hope it stirs up the discussion and stimulates you to change the world 12-Minute at a time!

This article was originally posted on June 12, 2012

Sometimes, meetings can be a drag, especially when your boss likes to listen to himself for endless and countless hours. Furthermore, he’ll probably be upset afterwards because you missed some of his points and you lacked time to complete all your work.

Maybe someone could introduce him to the 12-Minute Segment Rule.

Use The 12-Minute Segment Rule

During a meeting, each speech or presentation should be limited to 12-Minute segments because for most people, the optimum concentration period is only 12 minutes. Beyond that, the average person won’t be able to focus and follow explanations.  

Wacky Golf Fact – Getting Lost in a Bunker

Everyone has heard about getting lost in the desert. In some countries, it’s even considered a common occurrence, especially when a violent sand storm is raging.

But have your ever heard about getting lost in a bunker (or on the beach as some say)? Not in a military bunker but rather a golf bunker a.k.a. a good old sand trap!

Many clumsy or impatient golfers lose a lot of strokes in them...but actually losing your ball in a bunker is rare.

Beware these special bunkers that seem to act like quicksand and swallow your ball.

Multiple Attempts to Get Out of the Trap

It almost happened to a fellow competitor once. In a tournament, he had to hack out 3 different balls from the same bunker before finally getting his own out of the hazard.

Using Limited Time to Still Obtain Big Success

To achieve reasonable success, many would gain by reconsidering their usage of one of the scarcest resources of our modern era: their precious time.

A lot of people struggle with our hectic way of life and find it hard to keep up with all that is expected of them. That’s why we would like, in the 12-Minute Tradition, to provide suggestions to help balance your schedule and regain some control back over it.

You’ll see that sometimes, reallocating only small parcels of your time can greatly improve your results.

We also believe that, with experience, very successful people have become masters at maximizing their time. They seem to have the ability to detect most important matters and effectively mingle with ever changing elements of their busy agenda. We hope our humble propositions can get you a step closer to that ultimate state.

Invest Stress-Free Time in Planning

Most people consider planning as a waste of time. We prefer to view it as a great way to reduce stress and to accomplish more when time is limited.

Program Yourself into More Happiness

I recently recalled some simple yet powerful tips from a book I read a while back.

Among other things, it mentioned taking some time each night to remember good deeds of your day; to replay in your mind good feelings and happy moments. The main purpose of this habit is to feed your subconscious happy images and good sensations.

For instance, I like to think about great golf shots or simply, the genuine smile I got from a complete stranger after I opened the door to her.

Anyone can tap into the power of the subconscious. Without consciously thinking about it, you can breathe and heal your small wounds. These are examples of the incredible possibilities of the subconscious.

The subconscious can do much more as it can also bring you happiness. Contrary to its logical brother, the conscious, the subconscious is not analytic and rational at all. The subconscious is also pretty bad with words and instructions; he prefers images and feelings, they talk more to him. But be careful what you present him because he won’t think before realizing it.

Source : Le Pouvoir de la pensée, Milton Cameron (1999), Quebecor.

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