Moleskine + muji = power

We all make the assumption that it is in our own best interest to set appropriate goals and then to work toward them. Dan Williams disagrees. While they can serve a purpose, goals can be toxic as they can blind you from other opportunities and make you forget about the importance of the process. In his own words, “the old adage ‘Never lose sight of your goals’ is completely backwards. *Always* lose sight of your goals, be on the lookout for branches that bear more fruit, and pray that you never reach the end.”

Of course, we all need to do something. If we’re going to be productive, we may as well be moving toward some destination rather than distracting ourselves with mindless busywork. There is a difference between working and simply being at work. Lisa Evans explores the exact amount of time you should work each day and it comes down to taking a break at regular intervals. This way, you can stay focused and really get something done.

As I am quickly learning from my own experience, being productive becomes even more difficult with kids around. To this end, Allison Martin offers a number of strategies to make working from home with children a little more manageable. Be realistic about what you can accomplish, have an established “home office” and be prepared to work increasingly odd hours of the day.

How can you achieve great things without getting overwhelmed by the massive scope of it all? Jonathan Curran shares some of his secrets for tackling the big changes in our lives. One of his best pieces of advice is to dream big, start small and act now. Giant goals can be paralyzing, rather than motivating, so it’s important to break them down into more manageable steps. And as important as planning may be, you need to get started today.

And finally, we take a break from our productivity goals to enjoy another great interview by The Commentary’s Joseph Planta. This time around, he chats with Paul Willcocks about some of BC’s best crime stories. It’s not surprising that the Robert Pickston saga made the cut in Willcock’s new book, Dead Ends, but he also discusses the kidnapping of Jim Pattison’s daughter and the Bob McClelland sex scandal.