The 3 dreaded “P’s”

You may have never heard of the 3 P’s but you have probably met them. Much of our lives are spent managing a flow of responsibilities and commitments. Too often we are backlogged and overwhelmed.

We can find ourselves in situations where we are frustrated by our efforts and disappointed in the results. We often feel caught in a cyclical trap of: 1) procrastinate, 2) panic and 3) produce.

  • Procrastinate: First we receive a new responsibility. It may be assigned or the result of our own goal setting. It gets filed on our “To-do” list. Lists vary from mental reminders, to sticky notes to high powered web based systems. It likely goes to the back of some, already, overwhelming, overdue stack. So, we do what comes naturally. We ignore it. We let it sit and wait, wait until some unknown moment when we get a message.
  • Panic: The message is that something needs happen, happen now, or the consequences will be real and soon. We panic. Adrenaline spikes and we revert to the proverbial college student on an all-nighter.
  • Produce: We get it done. Maybe not our best effort and or the most satisfying results. But it is done and we can relax…until we notice the next thing moving toward deadline and renewed panic.

It’s habit, it normal, it’s what everybody does. We have plenty of excuses, but the question is, can there be a better way?

The answer is yes. But it is not a one size fits all, quick fix. Time and responsibility management needs to fit the person to be successful. You can buy programs, take classes and download apps, but if the system doesn’t match the person it will soon be abandoned.

Through coaching I can help you identify reasons for being trapped by the 3 P’s. Together we can develop your way of planning and managing life commitments and responsibilities. Contact me if you’d like to break the oppressive cycle and move forward toward better things.

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Change needs support

I love supporting others in life growth, change, goal clarification, decision-making and transitions. Here is a brief story from Breeze Potts related to our work together:

I am a counselor. I haven’t always been a counselor. At one point in my life, I was a college dropout with no clear direction or plan. This is when I met Jim.

I am a counselor in part because of Jim’s encouragement and investment in my life. He helped me uncover who I am and discover where I was headed. This included walking alongside me and helping me discover my gifts, passions and work style…Jim’s dedication to helping me become more “fully myself” nurtured me to be able to more honestly evaluate who I have been and who I am becoming…

Jim’s support, friendship and leadership have been a significant part of my self-discovery process.  I know I am not the only one who has been impacted by his leadership. I continue to discover new things about myself but it is no longer terrifying. I am grateful for new insight and for Jim’s encouragement to open myself up to exploration and possibility…

This is one of the things I love most about being a counselor. I get to invite others into a similar place and process. I am now a counselor and an advocate for self-discovery.

Breeze Potts, Bellingham, WA

If you are ready to take action and make changes, or to risk exploring the possibilities, I’m ready to help. The details: 1) We can arrange face to face meetings in the greater Puget Sound area (I live in Bellingham and meet monthly with people in the Seattle area), and 2) I can, and have, done Skype and/or phone meetings with people across the country and internationally. Let’s connect! https://jimschmotzer.com/contact

 

Summer calls

While it is easy and common to think of summer as time off it can be dangerous. We all need down time, a break and time to re-charge. But we need to be careful to not miss opportunities. Summer can be a great time for reflection and refocusing. Summer can be a great time for new starts and directional shifts. Let’s connect and explore the possibility of this summer is as a time of opportunity. Currently I am scheduling June and July meetings (primarily in the Seattle /Bellingham area of anywhere via phone/skype).

 

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Summmertime…

I am writing this the first day of summer. The calendar confirms it, the weather could leave me a bit confused. I have lived in the northwest long enough to have low weather expectations at any time, especially the beginning of the summer. Next week I will be taking a bit of a break with Connie and our three oldest grand-kids for our annual Cousin’s Camp.

In good contemporary American fashion I’ll still be doing some work. “What kind of work?” you may be wondering. Phone calls and a few meetings as well as scheduling meetings for July. Yep, it’s time to lock in those times so we can meet and make progress toward fulfilling your life goals.

Message me (360.224.4974), email me (jim@jimschmotzer.com) or call (same #) and we’ll make things happen in July.

Is it decision making time? I’d like to help.

When I began to consider pursuing professional ministry, seminary and potentially ordination, Jim was naturally the first person I turned to for guidance. After serving with and being taught by him for several years as a college student, I knew his wisdom and experience would be indispensable to me. He has not only helped me to determine the next steps in discerning my path and opened my eyes to new opportunities, but has encouraged me by pointing out strengths I didn’t know I had and reminding me that leadership comes in a variety of forms. He is unrivaled in his ability to guide and support individuals from all walks of life; I have hardly heard of anyone walking away from a chat with Jim over coffee without a renewed sense of their own worth and direction.

 

     Jenni Herold, Bellingham, WA

 

Helping with decision making, goal clarification and transitions are things I greatly enjoy. Please contact me if you are at a point of significant life choices. Making the best decision is always worth the extra time and effort.

 

 

Help for decision making

Decisions often have long range impact and/or implications. Making the best decision can be difficult. Making the wrong decision can be painful. Here are comments from Sarah Spitzer related to how I helped her with making a critical decision:

“Several months ago, I found myself at a crossroads with two paths that would take my life in very different directions. I only had a couple of days to decide and was feeling stressed and unsure of what I should do. Contacting Jim was one of the best things I could have done. His sincere heart for serving, thought provoking questions, keen ear, and wisdom helped give me clarity to make a confident decision. He assisted me in determining what was preventing me from making a decision. I was and continue to be grateful for Jim’s gift of counsel.”

      Sarah Spitzer, Brussels (Belgium) American School, ESL/French Teacher

Please contact me if you are facing a significant decision or transition. Thorough working together we can help you move forward toward a best hoped for future. 

support for the journey

It is a joy to support people through Life Coaching. Life Coaching can be focused in a variety of areas: translations, decision making, clarity and purpose, career focus, relationships, life stages and ages and more. Following are Julie Miller’s comments about how I have supported her in recent years. Let me know if you’d like to connect and explore helpful ways we can work together.

 

Practical help I first met Jim in 2006. Over the past few years, Jim has been a solid supporter and mentor to me through some very challenging personal events that have taken place in my life. I am so appreciative of his ability to truly listen, empathize, and ask questions in a way that is honest yet sensitive. Whether I talk to Jim about my faith, relationships, life goals or my current transition into being a young professional, he is consistently a positive source of encouragement and reason. I’m thankful to have a mentor like Jim in my life!

 

Julie Miller, Elementary Teacher, Burlington, WA

Now is always a good time…

A good time for decision making, life clarification and direction setting. My hope is to help individuals work a process that brings clarity and progress toward understanding and living their best life. Following is Caity Kepler’s story of how we have worked together over the years.

As my mentor, Jim has the inherent ability to ask the exact right questions I have needed to hear in the moment. He has the wisdom to see what should be dealt with immediately and what should be reflected on for longer periods of time. After having a mentoring conversation with Jim, I am always amazed at how he was able to bring clarity and thought to details I hadn’t even realized I needed to think through. Plus he always continues to show genuine encouragement and interest as I’ve taken steps to improve my life and work towards my goals. And somehow knowing Jim is in my corner always makes those steps just a little bit easier to attempt.

     Caity Kepler, Grad student, Bellingham, WA

Please contact me now and we can schedule a Life Coaching or Leadership Mentoring appointment for April.