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Guy Kawasaki asks: If you could eliminate one activity from your day, what would it be?

Daily | September 24th, 2008

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74 Responses to “Guy Kawasaki asks: If you could eliminate one activity from your day, what would it be?”

  1. Traci Says:

    As much as I love the fact that I can bus it and not worry about driving, I would eliminate my hour-long commute to work. I would so rather work at home.

  2. Kristin Says:

    Cleaning, including all dishes, vacuuming and laundering.

    Fab new site, ladies! Nice design and layout. (Launched on my birthday, so thanks for the pressie! :)

  3. lifecoachsandy Says:

    Less time on the computer, especially playing computer games.

  4. Jess Says:

    Negative thinking.
    All of it haha If I could just STOP negative self-talk or what ifs – I'd get so much more done!

  5. textimage Says:

    any time frivolous spent on the computer that is not during working hours. hey, im all for frivolous, but why waste it on the computer, i can do so much more with my time, my mind, my spirt… and for those around me, OFF THE COMPUTER.

  6. textimage Says:

    i read the above “haha” as hatha. which makes sense since i credit my desire to look upon myself with the same generosity i offer my dearest friends. so thank you for taking ME back to my true daily practice, showering myself with love and appreciation.

  7. Marissa Says:

    I would eliminate the getting-ready routine–shower, makeup, hair, jewelry, etc. I don't want to eliminate the benefits of those things (being clean, smelling nice, looking my best)… I just want those benefits to magically imbue themselves upon me without having to spend any time on them. That's realistic, right?

  8. Alison Says:

    Traci, I've been able to leave my job after two months doing something part-time that speaks to the entire “baby boomer” market. I now work from home and LOVE it. I'd be happy to share with you how you can do that, replace your job income quickly, and have lots of fun doing it. My email address is lookincredible@gmail.com. Check out http://www.ns-spa.com for a 3 minute news clip about what I do.

    Alison

  9. Kristen Says:

    I agree Jess….imagine life without negative thinking!!

  10. Joannie Says:

    I'm with you Jess. The negative script from my past continues to haunt me. I'd like to be rid of it or at least not believe it.

  11. Carrie Says:

    Happy Birthday Kristen.

  12. Joannie Says:

    You beat me to the punch, Marissa. This was what I would eliminate, too, without smelling and feeling wonderful that all of the things you mentioned bring! :)

  13. Carrie Says:

    me too, I want to snap my fingers and be ready to go!

  14. Jennifer Says:

    Driving – to work, to errands, my daughter around – when are we going to get teletransporting perfected!

    I love that the majority of the comments so far reference less time on the computer – as we all sit at our computers and send our comments!

  15. emilycline Says:

    YES! Me too. Showering and doing my hair. Don't mind playing with makeup so much, but the whole shower, wash, dry thing is annoying!

  16. Traci Says:

    Remember how George would get ready in the intro to The Jetsons? Wouldn't that be nice!?

  17. Lilly Page Says:

    If I could eliminate one thing….great question it would be rushing around and learning to focus on one or two things not twenty!
    Lilly Page
    Flair Image Consulting
    Burnaby, B.C.

  18. Hilde Says:

    Driving. Driving. Driving. Driving. Could do without e-mail… but driving is the winner.

  19. JoeM Says:

    I'd cut 1/4 of my time spent in the office and spend it at home 60-80 hour weeks of self imposed labor is just getting to be too much.

  20. Amy Says:

    Yes! This is the bane of my existence. I'm such a clutterbug! I'm trying to change, but it's hard. Cleaning seems so overwhelming!

  21. Linda Borland-Fitzgerald Says:

    I agree with all 3 of you and especially Danielle. I've been planning, shopping, prepping and cooking for over 40 years and I'm done!! Not really but I wish and wish…

    Guy is an e-mail 'buddy' of my husbands. I bought him one of Guy's books which was one of those synchronistic things – I was walking by a book kiosk and did a double take and there it was. I rarely buy business books and was not intending to. When I gave it to him he lit up because Guy is one of those people he admires. He was in the process of developing some software and decided to get in touch with Guy. They've been corresponding ever since, and hope to hook up one day. I must make a point of getting Guy's new book for my husband (Terry)… just in case Guy reads this.

  22. Ellen Says:

    Dead-end, unproductive, repetitive paperwork.
    And…since tomorrow is my last day at this job before flying on my own, I can eliminate it quite handily!!

  23. Ginger Says:

    email…hands down. The tool that is supposed to make you more productive makes me less. Mis-use…for sure. As I sit back and really think of the time I spend hunched over my computer creating and responding to email my heart sinks a little.

  24. Licarrit Says:

    I'd have to agree email is a huge time suck! A phone call or heaven forbid! face to face is just so much more productive.

  25. Alexis Says:

    getting ready in the morning. wake up, fresh and ready to go!

  26. Cindy - Classic Creative Says:

    I would eliminate my job with all of its rules, restrictions, e-mail, etc…. and write fulltime.

  27. Kelly Says:

    The daily commute to the office – not that I want to work from home – I'd just like to do an “I dream of Genie” nod and be there without a fuss or traffic or squishy subway.

  28. Rushmi Says:

    First Let me congratulate you on your Cool new website!
    I would eliminate COOKING dinner. I do love to cook but with two young kids – dinner time becomes frantic time. I only get 3 hours in the evenning to spend with the kids. I would much rather be playing and teaching the kids then cooking for 35 minutes – which eats in to my precious 3 hours of kid time.

  29. kim Says:

    I'm with Danielle! The planning, prep, and cleanup can go…

  30. Laurie Says:

    Trying to figure out what to wear! I love fashion, but my recent weight gain has made the process of getting dressed a struggle.

  31. MoJo Says:

    Yep – same here. Getting ready in the morning and cooking/any kind of food prep. I think Star Trek had the right idea with teleportation and that 'food replicator' thing-a-ma-jig. I can't wait for the day I can just walk up to a place in my kitchen and say “Tea, Earl Grey, hot…” like Captain Picard! Then again, I guess that ties into one of my ongoing themes – about enjoying the journey/process and not just the destination….

  32. Marissa Says:

    Exactly! And hey, while I'm at it, I'd love to have Rosie from The Jetsons to help me take care of the whole making-food thing :)

  33. Carrie Says:

    Thanks Rushmi1

  34. Marn Says:

    DISHES! A family of 4 (3 boys and me), NO dishwasher, and a kitchen the size of a hole! Uggggg!

  35. Keiko Says:

    hmmm, good point Jennifer…

  36. Keiko Says:

    Woo Woo! You spread those wings girl!

  37. Suzyn Says:

    I'm seriously considering replacing watching television with an hour of Rosetta Stone a night.

  38. Carrie Says:

    super idea, what language?

  39. Daniel Gibbons Says:

    OK, now that is a fantastic idea. Mindless TV watching is exactly what I need to give up, and I've been procrastinating for years about getting my French up to decent conversational standards.

  40. Shelly Says:

    I'm with Kristen on this one – it's definately cleaning that I would love to eliminate. Especially the bathrooms!

  41. Suzyn Says:

    I'll start with Spanish – it'd be nice to do more than smile and nod at my Venezuelan in-laws!

  42. lisaohhh Says:

    making dinner. its daunting sometimes to 'have to' decide what my family will eat pretty much 7 nights a week. sometimes i stand in front of the cupboard overwhelmed and dumbfounded, the words “i have to feed these people. every night. for the rest of my life.” play in my head. i do sometimes have the sense to know that it is a gift to have a family to feed, and a blessing to have the food to do so. but i wish someone else were planning the menu and making it happen.

  43. kerry Says:

    Dishes and laundry! I have no dishwasher and it seems I am never caught up on washing dishes and getting the laundry put away. Like Carrie I would also love to have a staffed (just pour moi) computer genious around to make all my ideas realities.
    http://www.snickerdoodles.typepad.com

  44. L'Tanya Says:

    Driving — that back-and-forth, to and from school, doctor's appointments, errands kind of driving. It takes up so much of my day.

  45. Carrie Says:

    I finally hired a cleaning person after years of thinking “I can do it and save money” changed my life! Less stress in my marriage, more time to do what I love and I love going home!

  46. mary Says:

    Ditto to Kristin, I would eliminate cleaning, full stop.

  47. Stacy J Says:

    Too funny…before even reading Guy's comment I immediately thought eliminating email. Although I'm clearly addicted and am really thinking therapy soon. haha But it's a blessing and a curse as I end up so unproductive. I launch onto unchartered territory and an innocent surt one click away from my topic of interest can mean 5 sites and hours later …..suddenly reading that Regis Philbin had a strong bond to his family cat Ashley…really!!!! WHAT? So there you have it…no email (at least limit to 2-3 times daily)

  48. Diane Says:

    hey Lisa- I know what ya mean…I've been doing it for over 30 years now. Love the fam. but my goodness-then they don't want it! oh well…

  49. rosey Says:

    Great new site, btw. I am excited to be part of this community!

  50. DanielleLaPorte Says:

    Happy Birthday! Make some wishes. Get clear on how you want to FEEL this year. ANd whatever you do…do NOT do the dishes or laundry or vacuuming today!
    xo
    D

  51. MoJo Says:

    Me too! I put it off for so long, but just recently enlisted some help on the domestic front. Friends had told me it would make a big difference in so many ways – and it has – I have a whole weekend to spend with my husband and daughter now (whereas I used to spend Saturday resenting the fact that I had to spend Sunday cleaning and doing laundry!)

    It was the cost that held me back for so long, but now I just budget it in like any other bill every month and to be honest, I'm willing to give up a dinner out or another purchase to keep it – the rewards of time and less stress are a much bigger ROI!

  52. Techvibes|Blog|Calgary,Edmonton,Kitchener-Waterloo,Montréal,Ottawa,Portland,Seattle,Toronto,Vancouver,Victoria Says:

    [...] – Guy Kawasaki of The Art of the Start fame. Kawasaki’s version of C&D’s Daily Q&A asks If you could eliminate one activity from your day, what would it be? Check out Kawasaki’s answer – not a big surprise considering the number of people that try to pitch [...]

  53. Ellen Says:

    Thanks Keiko! I'm ready!

  54. lezin bogan Says:

    carpool lines!!!!!!!!!! i would like to drive right up to the door every morning and drop my son off without having to wait in line.

  55. candylee Says:

    Laundry!

  56. CarrieM Says:

    i would like less driving!

  57. Jennifer Sage Says:

    Today right now it would be my unfortunate tendency when I percieve threat to over react. The saying “Do unto others before they do unto you” could have been written for Bolds. It is not needed in my life this way of behaving.
    I did it to my boss and she did not deserve it. Fortunately for her (and me) the second half of my style statement will be my guide forward: Grace
    Thank God my employer pays for high quality pratice supervisors and I can set about building a bridge instead of blowing one up and retreating into my heavily fortified castle.

  58. Colleen Overman Says:

    I have to vote with Guy and eliminate email. Since I wouldn't want to stop all communication with people who love email I would transmit my answers telepathically to a genie of some sort who would type them off an send them. Is that still considered eliminating? Not sure, but it sounds great.

  59. CarrieM Says:

    ROI right on MoJo!

  60. rock girl Says:

    All things domestic, really, but cooking would be at the top of the list, because it messes up the kitchen I spend half an hour cleaning every day. I feel like Sisyphus, condemned for all eternity to roll a huge rock up a hill, only to have it roll back down on me… (”stainless” steel – as if!)

  61. rock girl Says:

    So go shopping! No excuses about how you want to wait until you diet your way back down to the size you were a few weeks or months ago – you deserve to look and feel great NOW!

  62. Katie Kay Says:

    Those little moments when the icky stressful thoughts creep in about money, UGH!

  63. Shelly Says:

    Carrie and MoJo – you two have inspired me to do the same. I keep thinking about getting a cleaning person but then I feel guilty that I should just do it myself. But MoJo you are exactly right – my husband and I eat out several times a month and giving up one or two would be so worth it. And I would actually enjoy cooking dinner too! Thanks for the responses!!

  64. Tara Says:

    Housework in any form.

  65. Lori Says:

    I am totally on board with Danielle. Cooking could leave my day and I not be sad. I think I should be looking for a husband #2 that likes to cook!!

  66. Brenda Says:

    I would eliminate using the computer.

  67. alligator kate Says:

    Worrying.

  68. Michelle Pante Says:

    Cleaning the porridge pot #1.
    Spending time at the computer #2.
    Both are connected to goodness and sometimes even greatness but ……..I could live happily without them.

    I LOVE your new site. When I clicked thru today I felt like I'd just cracked open a big juicey novel. But this is even better because it won't end!

  69. Alison Says:

    If it were me, I wouldn't eliminate any activities: Just the time I spent aimlessly. I know that there over 12 waking hours in the day, but I honestly don't know what I spend them on! I think wasted time can go. I can't believe how an hour can go by without my doing anything at all, not even relaxing!

  70. Julie Says:

    I also finally hired a cleaning service and absolutely cherish the time it's freed for me to do things I enjoy. I no longer feel guilty when I wake up on a weekend morning (I used to feel like I should clean before having fun, practicing yoga, etc). As a single woman I thought this was too much of an indulgence— boy am I glad I changed my perspective! :)

  71. Beth C. Says:

    I would eliminate having to get out of bed. Ours is the most comfortable place in the world.

  72. Alison Says:

    I'm with you. I'd love to be rid of mine, too.

  73. CherylAnne Says:

    CLEANING, in all forms. A stay-at-home mom I am, yes, but a housekeeper I am not.

  74. cecile Says:

    Without a doubt commuting to work. In this day and age of advanced Technology driving 20 miles each qway eats into my daily time… I would love to work from home.

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