Friday Challenge – People or Projects

A friend asked me to lunch the other day and I hesitated. I had some blogs to edit, some email to attend to and a couple of speeches that I wanted to develop. So I hesitated – then I said yes and I went to lunch.

And the reason I did is very simple; people are more important than projects.

Yes I’m developing an online presence via this blog, yes I have emails to send, yes the speeches are coming up but you know what – none of those activities had to happen that lunchtime and someone had been kind enough to want to spend time with me.

So I went to lunch, I had a great time, and the other matters got done later on.

We can get so wrapped up in our projects and our work that we forget that it’s the people in our lives that are important.

And we don’t have to wait for someone to ask us; we can do the asking.

Consider who you could take time out for, who you could take to lunch. Frankly it will probably mean more to them than your latest project and I guarantee you will get more from it.

This entry was going to finish with the above paragraph but as I edit it I think what a great Friday challenge – make time for someone; specifically take some one to lunch. Go on, see how much fun you can have!

Until next time;

Stephen

Stephen Hart

Friday Challenge Five – Notes

This Friday the challenge is short, simple and will make someone else smile. Now that’s got to be good hasn’t it!

This week I offer the challenge to write someone a note saying how you feel about them. However you feel about them – love, trust, etc. write them a short note and give it to them.

And if you would like to take this challenge to the next level then rather than handing it directly to them leave it where they will find it. From personal experience I can testify that it is a wonderful surprise to stumble over a note from someone you care about saying something positive about you.

Another variation you might consider, if you are artistically inclined, is to draw a picture of a child’s favourite cartoon character, or TV character, and leave that for them. I do this for my son periodically and I typically come home to find that he has put it up on his pin board or the fridge. He loves it and it takes very little effort from me – I’m suggesting a sketch here not a Rembrandt! Mine are often done over breakfast on a post it note.

This challenge, whether written or drawn, is about the thought and the intention and it can make a real difference whether the recipient is five or fifty five.

Happy note writing!

Until next time;

Stephen

Stephen Hart

Friday Challenge Four – Give me one hundred

Now I can’t take the credit for this Friday Challenge it was something that I came across whilst doing some online research.

In a nutshell the challenge is this – over the course of six weeks train up to be able to do one hundred push ups! (Or press ups as we would say in the UK)

Now it might seem insane but the progression is steady and even someone who can only do one push up now can successfully do the program…or so they say!

Personally I’m two weeks into it and I’ve gone from under twenty to fifty three last night. I feel better, my self esteem is stronger and I’m serious about finishing the program. When I do I know I will feel great and I’m really looking forward to that!

One of the best things about this challenge is that it is completely free – requiring only an investment of effort and determination!

The full details are outlined here

(Naturally this is an exercise program so be sensible and consult a doctor before you start if you feel you should do.)

One final thought I’ve found it great to be doing this with someone and the fact that a friend and colleague of mine has been doing it with me has really helped keep me on track!

Until next time;

Stephen

Stephen Hart

Picture by kind permission of justpeachygirl

Friday Challenge Three – Book Time

This Friday how about an educational challenge that might take you a little longer than a week to do!

The challenge this week is Book Time – and the specifics are that I offer the challenge of picking one of the books listed on my new Recommended Reading page of this blog and reading it! (The link is at the top of the page.)

You could either pick one deliberately through the catagory section or trust to luck, chance or maybe even fate by asking a friend to pick a random number between one and ninety three!

Once you have that number simply see which book is listed against that number in the Complete List section, obtain a copy and read it!

Well after all the nights have gotten darker and colder so how better to spend your time than developing your life with a good book!

Happy reading!

Until next time;

Stephen

Stephen Hart

Picture from Melissa Banks who’s other work can be found at http://tehlissness.deviantart.com/gallery/ with thanks

Friday Challenge Number Two – Pick one

A nice positive and happy Friday Challenge this week…

We all have things in our life that we hesitate to do; chores not done, calls not made, places not visited. When I mention topic people tend to pick the negatives, the difficult conversations not had or duties ignored but there is another side to procrastination…the positives choices not taken.

You see personal development isn’t all about sacrifice and hard choices!

So this Friday the challenge is to pick one of the positive things that you had thought about doing but not done. It could be that restaurant you were going to try, the DVD you were going to treat yourself to or a trip out that you keep putting off.

Well no longer!

Have the meal, buy the film or take the trip – indulge yourself with something positive that will make you feel good.

You will advance your life, practice overcoming procrastination and enjoy yourself at the same time!

Now that’s a Friday challenge I image you can really get into!

Again, email me or leave a comment to say how you got on and thank you for the number of emails I received after last week. Clearly it was a challenge that helped people move forward in their lives.

Until next time;

Stephen

Stephen Hart

Photograph from http://haisagandim.deviantart.com/gallery/ with thanks

Friday Challenge Number One – Make the call

The Friday Challenge is a new section on Edenchanges born out of the realisation that self development books and blogs are actually worthless unless the information is used!

It’s not that people aren’t willing to apply the knowledge they have gained it’s that they sometimes don’t know where to apply it.

So I would like to offer you a direction to start in and consequently I now offer the first in a regular series of Challenges for you.

They will, you’ve guessed it, come out every Friday which gives you the opportunity of having a whole week to do them once, several times or not at all as you chose!

So without further ado Friday Challenge Number One – Make the Call

The challenge for this week is to call someone you haven’t spoken to in quite a while and reconnect with that person.

Now we all have people in our lives whom we care about but with whom we have lost touch. People we do wish well and yet haven’t kept in touch with. That in itself is okay and it is quite natural.

Sometimes however we know we really should call them, we really should say ‘hi thinking about you’ or ‘hi I know it’s been a while and I wanted to hear you were okay’ or some such. We know that it would be the right thing to do.

Consider your friends and family for a minute…who is there that you know who would feel good if you made that call?

Now I don’t know who they are in your life; but you do. You know who you could make smile by the simple act of picking up the phone.

And consider this…as good as they will feel when you call them, you will feel even better for having made the call.

You might be able to think of lots of reasons (excuses really) not to make the call and possible the only reason to do it is that little voice inside you that says you should…and you know the voice is right…so listen to the voice…

Make the Call!

I’d love to hear how you’ve got on, so post a comment or send me an email. And yes I’ll be joining in to. After all you shouldn’t trust a person who won’t follow his own advice!

Until next time, happy dialing;

Stephen

Stephen Hart

The art work used came from the artist bad kitty who’s other work can be found at http://bad-kitty.deviantart.com/gallery/