Comments on: The Art of Letting Bad Things Happen (and Weapons of Mass Distraction) http://www.fourhourworkweek.com/blog/2007/10/25/weapons-of-mass-distractions-and-the-art-of-letting-bad-things-happen/ Tim Ferriss's 4-Hour Workweek and Lifestyle Design Blog Fri, 19 Mar 2010 05:27:49 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Ken Edwards http://www.fourhourworkweek.com/blog/2007/10/25/weapons-of-mass-distractions-and-the-art-of-letting-bad-things-happen/comment-page-1/#comment-63816 Ken Edwards Fri, 05 Mar 2010 06:46:07 +0000 http://www.fourhourworkweek.com/blog/2007/10/25/weapons-of-mass-distractions-and-the-art-of-letting-bad-things-happen/#comment-63816 I never imagined that I would leave a message here, but I am gratified to see that you are still answering posts to these older topics. This a great post about not letting others run your life with their "issues". I personally have always been a people pleaser... a hard habit to break. I let others push their priorities on me, and I do not want to disappoint, as I have always gotten my self worth satisfying others. I have strived to be true to "Know thyself", and this is one of the things I have learned about myself over the years. Like being stuck in mud. There is a "suction" effect. Hard to get out. Realizing large dreams means letting some be disappointed. I can't be there for everyone for everything. They have developed a comfort level in knowing I will be there, to save them from their problems, boredom, excesses, etc. I need to let them grow by letting them step out of their comfort zones, too. Don't worry. I will still serve people, as that is part of making the world a better place. But I will not let them push their priorities on me. I am working on that automation to free me for World Travel. BTW, if you get to Phoenix, I will take you to a great mexican eatery. Ken I never imagined that I would leave a message here, but I am gratified to see that you are still answering posts to these older topics.

This a great post about not letting others run your life with their “issues”.

I personally have always been a people pleaser… a hard habit to break. I let others push their priorities on me, and I do not want to disappoint, as I have always gotten my self worth satisfying others. I have strived to be true to “Know thyself”, and this is one of the things I have learned about myself over the years. Like being stuck in mud. There is a “suction” effect. Hard to get out.

Realizing large dreams means letting some be disappointed. I can’t be there for everyone for everything. They have developed a comfort level in knowing I will be there, to save them from their problems, boredom, excesses, etc. I need to let them grow by letting them step out of their comfort zones, too.

Don’t worry. I will still serve people, as that is part of making the world a better place. But I will not let them push their priorities on me.

I am working on that automation to free me for World Travel.

BTW, if you get to Phoenix, I will take you to a great mexican eatery.

Ken

]]> By: Tim Ferriss http://www.fourhourworkweek.com/blog/2007/10/25/weapons-of-mass-distractions-and-the-art-of-letting-bad-things-happen/comment-page-1/#comment-63147 Tim Ferriss Mon, 15 Feb 2010 03:06:27 +0000 http://www.fourhourworkweek.com/blog/2007/10/25/weapons-of-mass-distractions-and-the-art-of-letting-bad-things-happen/#comment-63147 Hi Melissa, Not to worry. I didn't have anything scheduled. I don't miss appointments. Just opportunities. Best, Tim Hi Melissa,

Not to worry. I didn’t have anything scheduled. I don’t miss appointments. Just opportunities.

Best,

Tim

]]> By: Melissa B http://www.fourhourworkweek.com/blog/2007/10/25/weapons-of-mass-distractions-and-the-art-of-letting-bad-things-happen/comment-page-1/#comment-62957 Melissa B Sun, 07 Feb 2010 07:46:27 +0000 http://www.fourhourworkweek.com/blog/2007/10/25/weapons-of-mass-distractions-and-the-art-of-letting-bad-things-happen/#comment-62957 I love the alternative points of views presented by Mr. Ferriss. And though I think it would be difficult for me to transition over to this way of thinking and doing, I find it intriguing, and closer to "right" than most of the "lessons" I've learned in life (that make so little sense). I did, however, have a problem with one of the "little problems" - specifically the mention of - missed radio and magazine appearances and upset would-be interviewers - Did I misinterpret? - did you have these meetings set up and then fail to show up as you went after your once in a lifetime dreams? Or did you only miss POTENTIAL PR opportunities? I interpreted it as meetings already set, then missed, in which case it doesn't seem appropriate to take their time and then waste it for them. In that case, there would be responsibility to not have made the appointments, cancel beforehand, or, if needbe (previously forgotten) on your mini retirement. Hopefully I misinterpreted, and you were expressing you had opportunities you COULD have accepted, that they wanted you to accept, had you been home. So much of what you say is inspiring. Thank you for your open posts, thoughts, and adventures that you share. I love the alternative points of views presented by Mr. Ferriss. And though I think it would be difficult for me to transition over to this way of thinking and doing, I find it intriguing, and closer to “right” than most of the “lessons” I’ve learned in life (that make so little sense).

I did, however, have a problem with one of the “little problems” – specifically the mention of –

missed radio and magazine appearances and upset would-be interviewers –

Did I misinterpret? – did you have these meetings set up and then fail to show up as you went after your once in a lifetime dreams? Or did you only miss POTENTIAL PR opportunities?

I interpreted it as meetings already set, then missed, in which case it doesn’t seem appropriate to take their time and then waste it for them. In that case, there would be responsibility to not have made the appointments, cancel beforehand, or, if needbe (previously forgotten) on your mini retirement.

Hopefully I misinterpreted, and you were expressing you had opportunities you COULD have accepted, that they wanted you to accept, had you been home.

So much of what you say is inspiring. Thank you for your open posts, thoughts, and adventures that you share.

]]> By: Three people who inspire me http://www.fourhourworkweek.com/blog/2007/10/25/weapons-of-mass-distractions-and-the-art-of-letting-bad-things-happen/comment-page-1/#comment-56995 Three people who inspire me Fri, 11 Dec 2009 03:13:07 +0000 http://www.fourhourworkweek.com/blog/2007/10/25/weapons-of-mass-distractions-and-the-art-of-letting-bad-things-happen/#comment-56995 [...] The Art of Letting Bad Things Happen [...] [...] The Art of Letting Bad Things Happen [...]

]]> By: Dr. Green http://www.fourhourworkweek.com/blog/2007/10/25/weapons-of-mass-distractions-and-the-art-of-letting-bad-things-happen/comment-page-1/#comment-56306 Dr. Green Sun, 29 Nov 2009 09:29:41 +0000 http://www.fourhourworkweek.com/blog/2007/10/25/weapons-of-mass-distractions-and-the-art-of-letting-bad-things-happen/#comment-56306 This is an amazing tip. It's so true, most things can wait till the next day and are not truly urgent. As a pediatrician, when I was on call, this was not always true, as there are some actual true emergencies, and yet even in this situation, many things which are considered urgent can actually wait till the next morning. Now, as I have moved away from taking call and now own a business with a few employees, I find myself still falling in the same mode of always being "on call," and attending to "emergencies." However, this last month, I was forced to go out of town, and what I found was... although there were many urgent issues, many of them were dealt with by my employees, which helped them become more prepared and independent for future crises, and this allowed me to trust and give them more responsibilities. And with the issues that still needed my help, being out of town forced me to set up systems (automated steps or policies) to deal with similar issues in the future. I guess it's a start on the road to the 4-hour workweek. If anyone is having a hard time letting the bad things happen or finding time for the big things, I would recommend a forced vacation for a few weeks where you have very little contact with your work. This is an amazing tip. It’s so true, most things can wait till the next day and are not truly urgent. As a pediatrician, when I was on call, this was not always true, as there are some actual true emergencies, and yet even in this situation, many things which are considered urgent can actually wait till the next morning.

Now, as I have moved away from taking call and now own a business with a few employees, I find myself still falling in the same mode of always being “on call,” and attending to “emergencies.” However, this last month, I was forced to go out of town, and what I found was… although there were many urgent issues, many of them were dealt with by my employees, which helped them become more prepared and independent for future crises, and this allowed me to trust and give them more responsibilities. And with the issues that still needed my help, being out of town forced me to set up systems (automated steps or policies) to deal with similar issues in the future. I guess it’s a start on the road to the 4-hour workweek.

If anyone is having a hard time letting the bad things happen or finding time for the big things, I would recommend a forced vacation for a few weeks where you have very little contact with your work.

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