Focus On What Matters: A Life Lesson From an English Busker

It was summer in London – warm, clear skies and we had just finished an amazing day of sightseeing.  I was on a once-in-a-lifetime trip with some of my best friends.  It stayed bright until late in the day so even though it was already evening, the sky was lit up with color.

As we entered the tube station surrounded by other tourists jabbering in different languages, I heard a busker strumming Oasis’ Wonderwall on his  guitar down the hall and singing the first verse –

Today is gonna be the day
That they’re gonna throw it back to you
By now you should’ve somehow
Realized what you gotta do
I don’t believe that anybody
Feels the way I do about you now
– Oasis – Wonderwall from (What’s the Story) Morning Glory

We tossed in a few coins and kept walking.

After we passed and he finished the verse, he went silent for a few seconds.

We were almost to our platform when I heard him start strumming again.

I assumed he was going to continue the song – but he didn’t.

Instead, he began singing the opening verse again –

Today is gonna be the day
That they’re gonna throw it back to you…

Are You Feeling Lucky? It May Just Make You Feel More Appreciative

I‘m flying down the freeway in my rental, the cool crisp Chicago breeze blowing in my window – and man am I in a foul mood.

I’m only 5 minutes away but I can’t wait to get home.

It’s cold, I’m hungry, I’m flipping through the stations and nothing I like is on the radio.

A long day of errands and rainy weather has left me soaking wet and beat.

All I want to do is get out of these clothes and into a hot shower.

I flip through the stations for what feels like the hundredth time when suddenly …..I hear a familiar guitar riff and my eyes lights up.

In an instant, my whole mood changes…

How to Stop Worrying About What You’re NOT Doing

“Worrying is like a rocking chair,
it gives you something to do,
but it gets you nowhere.”
– Glenn Turner

You have too much to do…
And you know it.  

You know you’re not going to be able to finish everything on your todo list today.

You know there will be some things you feel you really NEED to do – but won’t be able to get done.

And of course, because you don’t cross those things off your todo list – you worry about them.

How can you get out of this cycle?

How can you stop worrying about having so much to do – so you can actually get things done?

I’ll show you the solution I like – courtesy of David Allen.