#ELBlog #206: Airtight Compartments

#ELBlog #206:
Airtight Compartments
A lot of people ask me, how do you do it? How do you do it all? How do you get it all done? Your life must be crazy!

Well, I think I’m a little crazy, but in a good way, I enjoy the pressure. I enjoy the journey of creativity, inspiration, and motivation. In short, I am energized and enthused by trying to help others and creating interesting and motivating content.

The real secret though is airtight compartments. Think about a submarine or a ship. If the ship was taking on water, people could close the airtight compartments in different sections of the ship to keep it safe from completely sinking. Nothing gets in those airtight compartments, including the seeping water that’s all around it.

I do the same with my time. I’m very organized with my time, and very focused on what I want to accomplish. When I’m with my family, I try to put down the phone and be totally engaged with them. While I’m at school, I shut out other distractions, and become totally focused on my staff, students, and stakeholders. When I’m working on other projects I take my to-do list, and put them into those airtight compartments. For example, writing this blog right now. I had a 20-minute window in between evening meetings. I took the dog for a walk and did talk-to-text to get it done. I have a list of blogs I want to write, and I knew I had a small window to get one done, so I picked this concept.

I learned this term from my friend Frank Somma, who is a business coach from New Jersey. Frank shared this in one of our sessions together about maximizing your effectiveness in the times you have set for them. Distraction, specifically from the cell phone, is so prevalent and such a time sucker. I am also blessed with ADD (it’s a superpower not a disability) so I’m very cognizant of my blocks of time and what I want to accomplish during those times. I need quiet, my notebook, great internet, and uninterrupted time. Just like the airtight compartments, nothing is getting in, and nothing gets out, so I’m able to focus on the task at hand.

I also know myself and I know I work best in the morning, especially the early morning hours. I would rather go to bed at 8 or 9 o’clock, and get up at 5 or 6 AM and work hard until late morning. I’ve learned this about myself. I enjoy waking up, feeling energized, feeling inspired and wanting to put pen to paper in a creative mindset whether it is planning for school, creating a workshop, or writing a book. Morning’s work best for me.

So how do I get it all done you ask? #airtightcompartments. Make a list and put those lists into the airtight compartments with no distractions, and no interruptions. Lastly, I love the quote from my friend Dr. Rob Gilbert. “The important thing is to make the important thing the important thing!”

If I can help you in any way don’t hesitate to reach out at @andrewmarotta21 on Twitter.