Chopping Overwhelm Down to Size

Almost everyone I talk to is filled to overflow with "things"... things to do... places to go... people to see... And that doesn't even include the events for the kids. One friend had to purchase a Blackberry just to keep up with all the ball practices, ballet recitals, and swim meets her children are involved in.

Gone are the lazy summer days of my childhood where we played pick up baseball in the cornfields and laid in the grass watching the clouds go by. No, most kids don't even notice those white puffy things against the deep blue backdrop.

But it doesn't have to be that way. Makers of electronics would like to make us believe that's the case. Get this gizmo. Upgrade to this new netbook's notepad. Geez...

One of my mentors for decades is John Maxwell. He lives by the Rule of Fives. He decided what's most important to him and has five daily activies he completes before he does anything else. The truth is, if he keeps plucking away at his five activities each and every day, he will reach his goal.

As we work on our novels- or really anything else that is important to us- we should determine what things we could and should do every day and commit to accomplishing those five things... EVERY day. Holidays... birthdays... anniversaries... rainy Mondays... you get the point.

You owe it to yourself and to the literary public to commit to and follow the Rule of Fives.

What five things could you do that will get you where you want to be? Leave them in a comment. I'd love to see them.