Book Title: The 4-Hour Work Week
Book chapter: A is for Automation
Author:Timothy Ferries Reviewed by: Jason Cheng Qi Quan
What is automation? Automation is the process that let the task run automatically without our intervention. If the automation system works, we can allocate our time to focus on bigger and better things. Time is fair. Everyone of us has 24 hours.We need to complete a lot of tasks everyday. Instead of think squeeze the time for yourself to do enjoyable things, you must learn how to spend your time according to your ideal lifestyle.
It is undeniable that we are accountable for our work because we get the salary. Sometimes we spend a lot of time to dealing with difficult people and issues. As a result, we are tired and the time is passed by to us quietly. If your life is occupied by work, you can take a baby step to start spending time for yourself. Allocate 30 minutes each day to focus your personal goal that can transform you intp a better person. The goal must be connected to yourself emotionally. When Mabe you burst into tears when you imagine the moment that you have achieved it!
Now, try to think about your big goal. For example, you are thinking to organize a speech contest. Why? Let people get the opportunity to unlock their hidden talents and learn public speaking from others.
Do you think you can do it all alone? Not really. But you want to do it because you are inspired to do so! It matches your values and dreams! How to make it successfully? Outsourcing your task to others! Connect to NGO like toastmaster club. Connect to the people that have the same goal as you. The next step is to propose your idea and purpose of organizing a speech contest with them.Next, brainstorm about speech contest details with your team member.
1. Finding judge.
2. Event promotion
3. Schedule planning
4. Agenda
After that, break the task and delegate it to others. How to delegate task to others confidently? Here are the three rules.
Firstly, the task must be well defined. First, create clear rules for the task. What is your expectation or results? Define it clearly. After things are ready, schedule a short meeting to explain the process to your outsourcing partner. Be open-minded and let others propose their idea for process optimization. When they are motivated ,delegate the task to them. It can let them leverage the process and multiply production. It automates some of your tasks and you have more time to focus on other meaningful things such as pursue your hobby or personal development.
The second rule is to have some fun during follow-up with others. Although the deadline and output create a stressful environment , we can add some humor to the conversation to calm down our emotions. It strengthens the relationship and builds trust with others. It makes us more relax and confident to focus on other task.
The Third rule is to stop overthinking others. When someone does not reply to you or criticizes you badly. Take a deep breath and have some talk or call with them to understand them more. Don't try to conceal from a difficult situation. Confront it because you are doing the right things. Don't treat other people's words too seriously, if you spend too much time to prejudging others and worry, you are wasting your time and energy. We must have the wisdom to filter the criticism. Retain the valuable feedback and forget that feedback that is meaningless to you.
Imagine today you are project lead and your team member does not perform well, are you going to escape it? No! The project performance depends on them. You must follow up with them because they have their responsibility too!
Delegate worry and fear to the universe. We must believe the universe will help us if we do the right and meaningful things. Be passionate about every task execution will create flow and high satisfaction. Don't look down on yourself. Enjoy the process and the universe will reward you in a certain way.
In conclusion, automation helps you to spend time and achieve greater things. Delegate a well-defined task to others, create a fun and relaxed environment and stop overthinking are the key steps to make your automation plan successful!
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