Life - version 1.0

Motivation:

"There isn't a person anywhere that isn't capable of doing more than he thinks he can."

~Henry Ford

Diary:
I did pretty well over the last two weeks - I ate what was on my list (1 protien, 2 vegetable, 1 fruit and 1 starch for each meal) and I feel pretty good. I did workout once this last week, but that was pretty good, considering the other things that were interrrupting my week.

My current stats are on the right sidebar. I lost 6.96 pounds in the last 2 weeks, which is right on target (lose 3 pounds per week for my goal.)

You may have noticed that I have "overwhelmed" my blog with all of my RSS feeds that I like to read. I may prune this down over time, but for right now, I am using this for testing. Also, I have added a Podcast - see the link on the right sidebar - and I need to mention the music in the podcast is by Great Uncle Helmer, and you can find out more about this group at either: Kaptain Karl site or Memphis Evans site.

I am also working on a new picture for the Chazz Vader profile that is animated so you can better see the changes. a Before and After picture sort of thing - except I don't have an "after" picture yet.

Also, I am working on placing a Poll on my site. The items on the first few polls will be "Where should Chazz Vader walk?" I will offer a few choices of walking venues, and I will walk them (with mp3 player and comfy shoes) on the weekend. Those you are interested are invited to walk with Chazz, although this may be THE MOST BORING thing to do on the planet, as I do not like to talk or converse during my walks. I listen to my music and think about all my 'stuff' and 'things' while walking. That being said, you are still invited to walk.

Notes:

I have been thinking alot lately about how to live better, in general. I have been focusing on how to eat better and be healthier physically, but that is only part of the puzzle. While travelling to a family event in another state, I was listening to a set of podcasts that spoke to concepts of productivity and organization skills. This topic was interesting to me, as I can get very anal about lists and charts and keeping track of things, and organizing things in different ways and with different views. One of the podcasts offered the following advice: Put Post-It note blocks in every room of the house, in case you need to make notes (for example, a block in the bathroom to jot down "Buy Toilet Paper" and put it on the mirror where you will see it in the morning). I am not ready to get this extreme, but I do have my PDA, and use it often for little reminders like this. I do have a "Grocery List" item in my PDA and use this for things that I need to replenish often. I also put lists of new workout songs I would like to add to my mp3, new recipies that I would like to try, etc.

Recently, I heard a podcast talking about "Life - version 1.0". As a member of the software application development community, version 1.0 is usually (thanks Microsoft) a proof of concept that gets the job done in a crude way. It works, but doesn't have all of the bells and whistles and may not always do exactly what you thought it would. After feedback, tweaking, and rework, versions 1.1, 1.2, 2.0, 2.6, etc, etc.... these next versions have more features, work better in certain situations, and aren't as 'buggy'.

The podcast indicated that our efforts in improving our lives can be like this. New innovations in our skills and way of life can be difficult, but it may be easier if we think of it as a "version 1.0". What does this mean? Well, if you desire to be a great artist, you could try to make a great work of art. Chances are, it won't be the Mona Lisa, but I would have to ask "Why are you trying to make the Mona Lisa?" Why not start with "Mona Lisa version 1.0?" It doesn't matter how 'bad' you think the ending picture is, becuase the intent of 'version 1.0' is to have flaws, and is used to learn what not to do, or what to improve for the next version. If you see simple small things to add or change, you may make a new picture quickly that is a little better - this would be version 1.1 . You may find 5 other small things to change = version 1.6. After version 1.6 you may reallize an entirely new major concept or get some additional training that revolutionizes the way you paint. Try the Mona Lisa again - voila - Version 2.0.

So let's put this into practice. I am not happy with the way I organize my task list, and seem to procrastinate too much for the things that MUST get done.

I have been using a Weekly Planning List to help do this (a PARETO sheet) and this has helped, but at a version 1.0 level. I have been tweaking this list format and template, but still feel I am around version 1.9 of this particular method. I am going to add a new method to my madness, which is categorizing my 'to do tasks' in certain groupings. I got this idea from reading a website of my friend who is a father and musician.

I have a few categories of things that need to get done, for example:

#Diet#
Here are things that will help me lose weight, such as my Grocery List, Testing Spice Mixes, Finding "Bachelor" Recipies, Getting a Raquetball partner, etc

#Geek#
This category is currently the biggest list I have. This contains technology-related stuff that I want to do. Gadgets I want to try, tools I want to use (just to say I have used them), and reading things to keep me up to date with the computer electronic world. Examples on my list are everything from A+ certification, using some Dreamweaver & Flash sample on a website, researching Kodak EasyShare cameras and Olympus/Sony digital recorders, to catching up on RSS feeds and setting up a website on Apache on a Windows Vista machine...

I might need a version 1.0 project for many of these 'geek' category items.

#Money#
Anything Money related, such as working my debt reduction plan, keeping my budget together, spending some of my christmas gift credit cards

#Personal#
stuff that doesn't fit another category usually falls into personal. Everything from "camera and film developed". "review Gift list", "new smoke alarm, "spackle above stairway". Just my personal to-do list.

#Trips#
Technically the title is misleading. It should say "Important Dates", because some of the items on this task list are not actually involving going anywhere, but involve not being at home for some specific amount of time. However, currently the big items on this list are Summer Baseball Trip, Trip to see my Goddaughter, Trip to Las Vegas for a computer electronics show, but also items on here include my Volunteer Weekend for men's ministry and the 5K Walk/Run that I AM DOING this year. (There actually may be two or three of these before the year is over.)

#Work#
Work task items - stuff I need to do for my boss. Pretty explanitory.

So, with this primer, I may delve into subjects related to organizing life - version 1.0 in later blogs. I am planning on interviewing people about their 'life - version 1.0" personal projects
and how they are coming along.. that might be interesting for a series of podcasts.

COMMENT! Let me give you a subject, and leave a comment below to answer. Question: How do you fill the silverware compartment in the dishwasher. Do you intentially mix the forks, spoons, knives, or do you have one compartment with 'just forks', 'spoons only', etc.? Which way do you believe gets the dishes cleaner? Is there a 'right way' to do this? Please let me know your thoughts.

more later,

Chazz