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What Would Be an Extreme Scenario of Failure?

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By Katie Corbett

I found this question, “What would nbe an extreme scenario of failure?” in an app I use for inspiration. I’ve thought a bit about failure this week because I got a new puppy. Due to this additional responsibility, I’ve needed to let a lot of other things slide.

I think that rather than feeling like I’m failing just because I can’t keep up with all of my commitments, I’m going to choose to see the failure as not living my life to the fullest. I realize this seems cliche, but I found this comforting as I’m changing a huge part of my life.

For instance, if I didn’t get my puppy because I felt I needed to do many other things that others felt were important, that would be failing. I know that balance will come in time as I get used to this level of time commitment and responsibility.

What would be an extreme scenario of failure for you? Let me know in the comments.

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The Joys of Running

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By Katie Corbett

 

 

I have recently taken up running. I am in the midst of my fourth week of the Couch to 5K running plan. I have discovered throughout these weeks that running helps me in some amazing ways.

 

Running gives me something to strive for. Each day I run, I am getting closer to my goal. This keeps me motivated on days when I do not feel like running.

 

 

I am excited to think of myself as an athlete. I decided I wanted to be a runner long before I ran my first race. I trained for and ran a 5K back in 2016, and I am excited to be doing it again.

 

It is my hope that running will help me be more social. Many other people enjoy running, both casually and competitively, and I will need to run with someone in order to run races. (Blind runners hold onto a cord and a sighted person holds onto the other end and they are about 18 inches apart. That way the blind runner can be guided by the cited person without being too close.) I’m excited to meet new people, and run with others as part of my journey.

 

 

Have you recently taken up a new hobby? What benefits does it provide for you? I would love to know, so feel free to leave me a comment.

 

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Keeping The Silence: Leaving Email Notifications Turned Off

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By Katie Corbett

 

I am always looking for ways to maximize productivity and minimize stress. This past week, I tried something new that has helped a lot. When I got back to work after the holidays I left my email notifications turned off.

 

Doing this helped me realize that I am more productive when I can check my email at a time that is best for me. Rather than having a Pavlovian response every time my email pings, I can check the account when I have time and mental bandwidth to do any tasks necessary that might pop up.

I typically check my email mid-morning, again at around noon, and a final time later in the day at around 3:00 PM. This helps me stay on top of things, and make sure that I am not missing anything important without sacrificing focus time.

 

What new hacks are you trying to minimize stress, maximize productivity, and make your life better? Leave a comment and let me know.

 

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Remember in December: Lessons from the Final quarter of 2022

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By Katie Corbett

 

This month, I am reflecting on the lessons I learned during each quarter of 2022. During the fourth quarter of 2022, I quit a job, started a new one, made more edits to my novel, got Covid, and, for the first time since this blog’s inception, I failed to post on a Friday.

 

I think the main take away from this quarter has been for me to take care of myself and give myself grace. I hope that all of us can take that lesson into the new year.

What was the most important thing you’ve learned in 2022? Leave me a comment and let me know.

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Remember in December: Lessons from the First Quarter of 2022

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By Katie Corbett

 

As the year comes to a close, I will reflect on what I have learned in each quarter. During quarter one of 2022, I went on a work trip for two weeks with my coworkers, lead a focus group for the first time, Did a lot of reading and meditation, and landed some unexpected clients in my business.

 

I think the most valuable lesson I learned in that quarter was to keep discovering more about myself. I found it helpful to sit in the quiet and reflect on who I am as a person.

 

What did you do in the first quarter of 2022? I’d love to hear how it went and what you learned.

 

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Benefits of Review

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By Katie Corbett


There is value in going back and reviewing things you have made earlier in your life. I have had a novel in the works since 2009. Yesterday, I took some time between doing a load of dishes and preparing for Thanksgiving to read over that very first draft ever. Needless to say, my writing has improved a lot since then. But I did learn several valuable lessons from that experience.

 

I learned that reading my old writing could be enjoyable. I compared it to looking at baby pictures: sort of cute, slightly embarrassing, and I’m definitely grateful no one else will read that book.

 

It was fun to see how much my writing has improved since then. I have gotten much better at dialogue, more readily able to show instead of tell, and my plot points have gotten tighter.

 

Even though that first draft is basically garbage, I know that my novel wouldn’t be what it is today without that writing. I needed to write to figure out who my characters are, what kinds of things they would do, and how they would interact with each other. That first draft definitely helped me flesh out a lot of those points.

 

Have you taken the time to go back and look at previous work? What insights did you gain from the experience? Can you think of ways in which that previous work has impacted you now? I would love to know, so feel free to leave me a comment.

 

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The Joys of Asking for Help

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By Katie Corbett

 

Sometimes, it is important to ask for help. I am in a stage of my life where I am paring down and making my life less complicated. As a result, there are certain things I am no longer taking on, or certain projects I am passing along to other people.

 

I have found it helpful to think of who is in my corner, and ask those people for support when I need it. Whether I’m looking for some objective advice, seeking out someone to hire for a project I no longer have the time or energy to complete, or searching out a friend to have new experiences with, finding people for each of these things has been both fun and rewarding.

 

Have you outsourced anything in your life? If so, how did it work out? I’d love to hear about your experiences, so feel free to leave me a comment.

 

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The Power in Slowing Down

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By Katie Corbett

 

I received some sage advice from a good friend this week. She said that when you are facing difficult or unusual circumstances, it is a good idea to slow down. The advice comes from military pilots. Often, new pilots want to speed up when there is turbulence to get the experience over with as soon as possible. Experienced pilots know that they need to take it slow Through that situation.

 

This past week, I have been slowing down a bit. I am taking a break from reading through a novel I am writing, and also taking ample time to think about and prioritize relationships in my life.

 

As a result, I am gaining more clarity. I also think I will be more prepared for the work ahead.

 

Have you taken periods of time to slow down in your life? What have been the results? Feel free to leave me a comment with any thoughts.

 

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Getting Back to The Basics

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By Katie Corbett

 

During this time of transition between jobs for me, I have been getting back to the basics of what I enjoy. It has been very freeing, giving myself permission to let go of the things that no longer serve me, or that I no longer want to do.

 

I have found it helpful to think about what I have enjoyed doing during times of happiness and fulfillment. This has assisted me in figuring out what I want to keep, and what has to go. I have also thought a lot about what I turned to when things are stressful. Often times, it is the same as the thing I enjoy when I am most happy.

 

For me, that hobby is reading. I enjoy reading fiction books, as well as looking for new books to read. I also really like to talk about books with friends. As a result, I have continued to read throughout this time, and I have joined a book club.

 

What do you enjoy doing when you are at your happiest? What things keep you afloat when tough times arise? I would love to know, so feel free to leave a comment.

 

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Friday Ain’t Over Yet

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By Katie Corbett

As I continue to recover from being sick, I am rediscovering the idea of doing what I can, and not worrying about the rest. For example, this blog post is publishing six hours later than I would like. Will any of you notice? Probably not. So I’m just going to take this space to give you a friendly reminder to just do what you can, and not worry about the rest. I would like to say thanks to anyone who is reading this, because you have come along way on this journey with me. I have been publishing for a long time, and even though I didn’t get this post out as early in the day as I hoped I would, I am publishing anyway. I don’t want to break my Friday publishing streak just because I was sick. Have a great day and take care of yourselves, readers!