As I type I am looking at the clock in the bottom right of my screen to make sure I don't forget to wake my son for his soccer academy. The end of the soccer season never actually means the end of soccer when you've got a boy who lives and breathes his sport.
At 6.30 I'll be out the door driving him to his morning session, where I'll head off for a brisk walk to fill in time before racing him back home for a cooked breakfast and to get him to school
Once my mum stuff is done, I'll hit the laptop to work on one of my many projects.
As I sit here darting my eyes back and forth from the clock, I recognise that I thrive on taking care of business***.
I love having time frames, working to deadlines and grabbing projects by the balls that have a beginning and an end. I enjoy the neatness of it all. Project management really floats my boat.
Of course my biggest project right now is getting my latest book released. Now that I have lost my distributor and the international possibilities look a little more difficult, I've gone from woe-is-me mode, to you-can-do-this mode, to let's-get-this-show-on-the-road mode!
Not sure what will happen with the book once it's published, but physically getting the book in my hand and organising the book release party is enough to keep me going for the time being. It's a project that has a beginning and an end.
In addition to the book I'm also working on getting the next issue of the magazine ready, releasing the magazine app in android format and re-releasing my Cheer Chick Charlie gaming app. All of which either have project management plans, to-do lists or mind maps to help me keep track of things.
What I love about most projects is the ability to control the outcomes and achieve results by a certain date and then being able to walk away and start fresh with something else once it's all over.
What I don't love is that stuff where you feel like there is no end in sight. Where the vision becomes cloudy and you're unsure of the path to get there. You know the result you'd like to achieve, but your mind maps get screwed up and thrown in the bin as you hit hurdles.
Anyway, it's clear to me that I'm a project management junky.
Which got me to wondering what sort of projects everyone else is managing right now. What mind maps, to-do lists or project management plans are you juggling?
In addition to those mentioned above, some of mine include:
- Organising for a shipping container full of pre-loved soccer gear to go to communities in Africa and remote indigenous areas of Australia.
- Creating a sponsorship pack for our soccer club
- Organising my daughter's birthday dinner
- Preparing to drive to Queensland to attend the Aussie Gold Cheer and Dance Championships at the Gold Coast Exhibition Centre where I'll have an author stall for 3 days and release my book
- Planning our annual Christmas party
There are others. But they belong in the "cloudy vision" basket. I don't love the cloudy vision basket. I love the clear and concise, neatly ordered filing system that allow for results!
I love project management.
What projects are you working on?
Any other project management junkies out there?
What are you lovin' about life this week?
Oops - it's 6.05 and I haven't woken my son. Gotta run ...
*** I should note that thriving only occurs in the spring, summer and autumn months. Winter puts me into survival only mode. Weird ... but that's a blog post for another day.
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It's Lovin' Life Linky time!
The Lovin' Life Linky is brought to you by Team Lovin' Life: Deep Fried Fruit, Debbish, Write of the Middle, And Anyways, 50 Shades of Age and Lifestyle Fifty
You seems so efficient and organsied. I don't seem to be working on anything at the moment!!!
ReplyDeleteI've got to have projects. I get bored otherwise.
DeleteI do love planning many things, as long as there aren't too many balls in the air. Heck, just putting together our blog photos can require a degree in planning. Have you ever tried to get 3 women together and smiling at a camera...LOL!!
ReplyDeleteXOXO
Jodie
www.jtouchofstyle.com
I can imagine! I often wonder how long it takes you to get a post together will all three of you. That's a full time job!
DeleteUmmm yep...my whiteboard looks much the same. I'm juggling the day job, copy edit & proof read of my next novel (cover reveal on my writer page today), a This Is Your Life album for my dad's 80th, the first draft of my next book, and creating content for Clancy's Campfire - my next project.
ReplyDeleteI love your new cover! So exciting.
DeleteLots of worthy projects in this list. Fun! :)
Yay for you 'springing back' and yay for Queensland road trip with a stopover for morning tea....You ask about project management....I was the ultimate project manager: a K-6 school principal. Part 3 of my 4 September stories tells more, sadly about my health breakdown all those years ago.
ReplyDeleteDenyse
Looking forward to seeing you in 10 days! Woot!
DeleteWait ... 10 days?!?! Holy Crap! That means I've only got 10 days to get everything sorted.
No time to sit around chatting on the blog. Back to my project management.
I enjoy planning projects when it's for fun. I'm planning another trip overseas.
ReplyDeleteOooh! That does sound like fun.
DeleteLeanne, so glad you've gotten back on that horse and rediscovered your get up and go. I'm always inspired by your zest for reaching new goals and planning new projects. I am a bit too in love with routine.
ReplyDeleteSSG xxx
Haha. I like routine too. I couldn't handle all the projects if there was chaos and uncertainty. Got to have the routine in my life to ensure the goal posts don't keep shifting. xoxo
DeleteLooks like you've got that mojo back Leanne! I knew it wouldn't be gone long! My next project mgt job is to plan my 8 night vacay to Melb and the Great Ocean Road road trip! :-) #TeamLovinLife
ReplyDeleteYep, full of mojo - and get-up-and-go-jo. I've got to be careful though. It only takes one spanner in the works to make me come unstuck at the moment. But yes, getting back to the action Leanne. Melbourne and Great Ocean Road sounds like fun. I need to do the Great Ocean road. On my list.
DeleteI am in serious planning mode for next year. I hate doing this work so I have avoiding it and trying to do anything else.
ReplyDeleteOh yes, I have projects like that which I avoid. One of mine is like that right now. But it's due in a few days, so .... better get crackin I guess.
DeleteOh my, Leanne, I'm exhausted just reading this post!!! I do love organising things, but these days I'm more of a "weed that little patch of garden today project" kind of girl, lol. I do love planning and organising a great holiday though. Does that count???
ReplyDeleteSurely does count! And so does weeding the patch of garden.
DeleteIf you have any spare time while on the GC, would love to catch up with you Leanne! But totally understand if you don't. Have to say I admire your determination and "can do" attitude even after losing your distributor. You go girl!
ReplyDeleteYes please! Let's catch up. I will be hanging out at the Convention Centre on the Friday, Saturday and Sunday all day. Will have my mum there helping or the hubster. So I will be able to get out from time to time for a cuppa and a walk. Shall we organise something?
DeleteWow you are so organised! I used to be a good planner, but lately life seems to have a way of throwing stuff at me that gets in the way. Having said that, I don't think I'd get anything without lists, diaries and reminders everywhere. I always feel good when I get to cross something off the list!
ReplyDeleteMe too! Crossing it off feels soooo good. Turning to-dos into ta-dahs is one of my fave things in life.
DeleteI'm a project management junkie too. I absolutely love it. But that is at work. At home, I am more spontaneous - life has derailed a lot of plans so now I just go with the flow. All the best with your book.
ReplyDeleteGoing with the flow is a good feeling too. I do that at certain times of the year. Usually during school holidays. Just go with the flow and drop all projects for a week or two.
DeleteI am not a good planner. I tend to go with the flow. Thanks for hosting and I hope that you have a wonderful weekend.
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by! Enjoy your weekend :)
DeleteYou are achieving so much! :) I really struggle with project management type tasks, I tend to get bogged down in the details of things. It's why I love the team I'm working with at the moment in my day job, we are a bunch of different people from various areas and we all complement each other so well, it's fun! :)
ReplyDelete