Bonnie
September 26th, 2009, 02:37 PM
I thought you all might enjoy a new book called "Work the System." (You can get the free PDF here: WorkTheSystem (http://www.workthesystem.com) ).
I've only read the first 45 pages so far (it's 258 pages!), and scanned some of the rest of the content, but it looks really good. I've been having a problem lately (well, always... but more intense lately) of wanting to do too many things, not having the time to do them all, spending way too much time trying to decide which is most important, starting on several things at the same time and not doing any of them well enough! Ugh. I'm mainly talking about my online activities, but this is true of things I want to do around the house, at work, with my health, so on and so forth.
I intend to study this book and follow it's advice to "cure" myself. ;)
Don't worry, it's not a new-age "hocus pocus all you gotta do is focus" piece of crap like so many self-help books these days. It's based on systems... logical, step-by-step tasks to get things done. That appeals to me much more than touchy-feely stuff.
Here are some examples of what I liked as I was scanning it:
"Instead of putting out fires, you will spend your time creating a fireproof environment."
"First you work your systems. Then the systems do the work."
"To achieve your desired lifestyle, you must accomplish certain tasks whether you enjoy doing them or not. The ability to get the job done--no matter the current frame of mind--is necessary for success. No matter how onerous the job, or how little you want to do what is required, the payoff will arrive as long as you take the steps! You do not have to like the steps you must take. You just have to take them. Nine out of ten people don't understand this. They think, rather, 'If I don't enjoy what I'm doing, then what I'm doing is incorrect.' Bad presumption."
It reminds me quite a bit of "The 4-Hour Workweek," which I also liked. But it's got better and more concrete examples. As one reviewer says, "What The 4-Hour Workweek lacked in direction, Work the System clearly defines.”
Gee, this is starting to sound like a sales letter, huh? :eek: (Sorry 'bout that; I'm not selling anything, just enthusiastic about this tool that can help so many of us struggling with our online biz.)
Anyway, you can go to Amazon (http://www.amazon.com/Work-System-Simple-Mechanics-Working/dp/1929774877/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1253989194&sr=1-1) (not an affiliate link) and read sample pages (and buy the "real" book if you want)... or just go request the PDF (http://www.workthesystem.com); it's complete.
You'll have to provide your email address and be sent the book via email attachment versus downloading it... but it's worth it.
Or you can go to the author's website (http://www.workthesystem.com) and ask to get on the waiting list for the the MP3 audio of it as soon as it's ready (also free).
That's what I'm going to do. I like listening to audio books during my long commute. I don't have a Kindle or other cool ebook reader, and reading a lot on my computer screen isn't much fun. I certainly don't want to print so many pages.
If you do end up reading it, let me know what you think, ok?
I've only read the first 45 pages so far (it's 258 pages!), and scanned some of the rest of the content, but it looks really good. I've been having a problem lately (well, always... but more intense lately) of wanting to do too many things, not having the time to do them all, spending way too much time trying to decide which is most important, starting on several things at the same time and not doing any of them well enough! Ugh. I'm mainly talking about my online activities, but this is true of things I want to do around the house, at work, with my health, so on and so forth.
I intend to study this book and follow it's advice to "cure" myself. ;)
Don't worry, it's not a new-age "hocus pocus all you gotta do is focus" piece of crap like so many self-help books these days. It's based on systems... logical, step-by-step tasks to get things done. That appeals to me much more than touchy-feely stuff.
Here are some examples of what I liked as I was scanning it:
"Instead of putting out fires, you will spend your time creating a fireproof environment."
"First you work your systems. Then the systems do the work."
"To achieve your desired lifestyle, you must accomplish certain tasks whether you enjoy doing them or not. The ability to get the job done--no matter the current frame of mind--is necessary for success. No matter how onerous the job, or how little you want to do what is required, the payoff will arrive as long as you take the steps! You do not have to like the steps you must take. You just have to take them. Nine out of ten people don't understand this. They think, rather, 'If I don't enjoy what I'm doing, then what I'm doing is incorrect.' Bad presumption."
It reminds me quite a bit of "The 4-Hour Workweek," which I also liked. But it's got better and more concrete examples. As one reviewer says, "What The 4-Hour Workweek lacked in direction, Work the System clearly defines.”
Gee, this is starting to sound like a sales letter, huh? :eek: (Sorry 'bout that; I'm not selling anything, just enthusiastic about this tool that can help so many of us struggling with our online biz.)
Anyway, you can go to Amazon (http://www.amazon.com/Work-System-Simple-Mechanics-Working/dp/1929774877/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1253989194&sr=1-1) (not an affiliate link) and read sample pages (and buy the "real" book if you want)... or just go request the PDF (http://www.workthesystem.com); it's complete.
You'll have to provide your email address and be sent the book via email attachment versus downloading it... but it's worth it.
Or you can go to the author's website (http://www.workthesystem.com) and ask to get on the waiting list for the the MP3 audio of it as soon as it's ready (also free).
That's what I'm going to do. I like listening to audio books during my long commute. I don't have a Kindle or other cool ebook reader, and reading a lot on my computer screen isn't much fun. I certainly don't want to print so many pages.
If you do end up reading it, let me know what you think, ok?