We get so caught up in working hard, we have no time to reflect on what we are doing. We’re trapped by the current. Battered and disorientated, we swirl around with no control. What we are missing is a space to play, for creative activity, reflection, and calm. The things that provide the balance to a frantic life.
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Efficiency is not about doing as much as possible as fast as possible, but finding ways to do the essentials more effectively.
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What I’ve learned about working smart as an author is how important it is to not just be involved in the cut and thrust of writing the story, creating the covers, marketing the book, and launching the final product. You need time to reflect and study. You need time to make sure your systems are efficient and effective. Small improvements in how you perform will have an exponential effect on your results. And that’s why taking the time to reflect on your work
and how to do it better pays big dividends. When we step back and reflect, we find a new approach to time, work, and money, allowing ourselves the freedom to master these forces rather than be mastered by them.
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I can see the benefits of working smart from the results of my books. They have more heart and impact when created from a position of ease and playfulness. I’m still working hard, that will always be the case, but I’m beginning to understand that it’s just as important to work smart.
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