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KICKin’ IT IN a world that’s kickin’ your...

Getting more done in less time with more fun!
Getting more done in less time with more fun!

Fran Kick
by Fran Kick
I think the world may be spinning Starting early is better than Computers are designed to
faster! Think about it... Do you ever staying late multi-task, humans are not
I think the world may be spinning faster! Think about it... Do you ever wake up in the
wake up in the morning thinking Old sayings are often based in Although we’d like to think that
morning thinking “THAT couldn’t have been a full night’s sleep?” Or do you catch
“THAT couldn’t have been a full wisdom. The early bird gets the worm. we can do more than one thing at
yourself looking at the clock saying, “WOW! It’s already what time?” Have you ever
night’s sleep?” Or do you catch Early to bed, early to rise. To be early one time, research about the brain
asked, “Where does the time go?” Saying “time flies when you’re having fun” just seems
yourself looking at the clock saying, is to be on time. They all have a great confirms that we can only focus on
“WOW! It’s already what time?” Have lesson for getting things
one thing at a time.
to add to the perceived reality that we’re living in a faster world with more to do and less
you ever asked, “Where does the time done in today’s constant Fran Kick We may be able to
time to do it. spin many plates,
go?” Saying “time flies when you’re crescendo of things to
will present
having fun” just seems to add to the do: phone calls, classes, but the problem
“Balancing Your
perceived reality that we’re living in a errands, projects, etc. Get
Getting it all done creates an increasing sense of stress for many of us - from CEOs to
occurs when we’re
faster world with more to do and less a jump on the day so the Band WITH Your spinning too many
first graders and everyone in between. Everyone is trying to spin as many plates possible
time to do it.
day doesn’t jump you!
plates simultaneously.
Personal Life”
between school, work, practice, relationships, projects and all of the people, places and
Getting it all done creates an
That’s when we find
things that demand our time. The busiest people Friday, July 26 ourselves focusing
increasing sense of stress for many
of us—from CEOs to first graders seem to get the at 1 pm on the plates that are
and everyone in between. Everyone is most done falling, catching them
Here’s a thought! What if we just stop the world for a couple of weeks and let everyone
trying to spin as many plates possible
just in time, and then
Haven’t you noticed this yourself?
catch-up. You know, take a mandatory worldwide two-week break to finish what we’ve
between school, work, practice,
running to the next falling plate. Our
In fact, talk to students who are doing
relationships, projects and all of the
started, clean up, straighten up, organize, go through, throw out, ship up, shape up and
lives become reactionary in a “put out
“lots of stuff” and they’ll tell you
people, places and things that demand the fire” or “save the crashing plate”
that they always seem to get more
rest up. Okay, so this might be a bit unrealistic, but it’s a thought.
our time. accomplished and even get better kind-of-approach.
Here’s a thought—What if we just grades when they’re the busiest. Why
Since stopping the world isn’t an option, here are some strategies, approaches and even
Commit to completion and
stop the world for a couple of weeks
is this? Well perhaps it’s because they
and let everyone catch-up? You know,
know they don’t have a lot of time. A finish what you start
mind-sets that help people do what they need to do when they need to do it.
take a mandatory worldwide two-week sense of urgency keeps them on their Even the best “plate spinning
break to finish what we’ve started, toes when it comes to crunch-time people” who juggle multiple projects
Starting early is better than staying late
clean up, straighten up, organize, go
the night before a test, the practice enjoy completing a project. There’s
through, throw out, ship up, shape up before a big game or performance, something about “getting it done” that
and rest up. Okay, so this might be a
Old sayings are often based in wisdom. The early bird gets the worm. Early to bed, early
or the project deadline approaching. motivates people to get it done! Face
bit unrealistic, but it’s a thought.
When we do have extra time, the it; the best part about having a “To Do
to rise. To be early is to be on time. They all have a great lesson for getting things done in
Since stopping the world isn’t
attitude becomes “I’ve got lots of time. List” is crossing things off the list. Do
today’s constant crescendo of things to do: phone calls, classes, errands, projects, etc.
an option, here are some strategies,
I’ll do it later.” Ironically, we seem to you ever catch yourself starting your
approaches and even mind-sets that
Get a jump on the day so the day doesn’t jump you!
procrastinate when we have time yet “To Do List” with something you’ve
help people do what they need to do proactively complete projects when already done, just to feel good about
when they need to do it. we don’t. crossing something off?
The busiest people seem to get the most done
(continued)
Haven’t you noticed this yourself? In fact, talk to students who are doing “lots of stuff”
and they’ll tell you that they always seem to get more accomplished and even get better
Bandmasters Review • June 2019
Texas Bandmasters Association
19
grades when they’re the busiest. Why is this? Well perhaps it’s because they know they
don’t have a lot of time. A sense of urgency keeps them on their toes when it comes to
crunch-time the night before a test, the practice before a big game or performance, or the
project deadline approaching. When we do have extra time, the attitude becomes “I’ve got
lots of time. I’ll do it later.” Ironically, we seem to procrastinate when we have time yet
proactively complete projects when we don’t.