Falling Backward: To Be Or Not To Be Productive?

Thank you for the support and kind comments on the DreamChamps launch!

We may be falling backward this weekend, but there are many things to look forward to with the extra hour. I’ve compiled a list of three that are especially appealing to me, and am curious to hear what your plans are, as well!

#1: An extra hour of celebration after my Northwestern Wildcats beat Nebraska.

Sure, the Huskers are 7-1, but that will only make the victory sweeter…right?

Right. 🙂

#2: An extra hour of cooking.

Last weekend, we brought back the homemade (sweet) potato fries, with much success. These were coated in a mixture of olive oil, garlic salt, pepper and taco seasoning (hey, I had to improvise), then baked at 450 degrees for 20 minutes. I flipped them a few times while they were in the oven for good measure. We will definitely be having these again very soon.

Additionally, there might be homemade pizza.

There are some pies that turn out inexplicably better than others. This was one of those pies.

Needless to say, leftovers were nonexistent.

#3: An extra hour of knocking on wood for the Packers…and also, fall beer.

My favorite NFL football team graced the cover of Sports Illustrated this past week. Apparently there is a jinx with being featured as a winning team, so I will be knocking on every wooden surface I can find, just in case. 😉

Nobody said the extra hour was going to be productive.

Then again, maybe it should be. Last night I attended an alumni event for my journalism school entitled, “How To Publish Your Book.” The panel was fantastic, an eclectic group of four authors and one publisher who were there to share personal anecdotes and answer questions related to finding an agent, going through the publishing process and that ever important question: How did you stay the course and write, even on the days where you felt you had nothing to say?

The obvious answer here is just to keep writing — even if it’s the worst thing you could possible put down on paper, it might trigger your next great idea. But one author brought up a quote that has always stuck with her that I found even more interesting:

Motivation does not produce productivity. Productivity produces motivation.

She explained this concept beautifully, and I will try to do it justice here. We could have left the event feeling inspired to start that proposal, write 2,000 more words or revise a book chapter we’d been working on, but that motivation alone does not guarantee we will actually follow through. Motivation does not produce productivity.

But what happens when we actually do sit down and start that proposal, write 2,000 more words or revise a book chapter we’ve been working on? Nine times out of ten, we will achieve that goal and then, amazingly, possess the motivation to finish that proposal, write 2,000 more words and revise an additional chapter. Productivity produces motivation.

There are some exceptions I can think of where motivation has inspire me to act, but overall, I think she has a fair point. Words of inspiration are only words of inspiration until we do something. Once we do something, we may then be inspired to continue, to work harder, to accomplish even more.

So while I may still celebrate the Northwestern win, make some amazing meals and hope that my Packers are not cursed this weekend, I think I will choose an alternative option for how to spend that extra hour. I will use the extra 60 minutes to make progress on my book.

You could argue that the woman motivated me to do so. But until I actually sit down and write this weekend, her quote is just a quote. I’ll let you know how this theory tests out.

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Quick note: As I’ve mentioned in the past on here, blog reader and friend Stephanie Rosenberg runs a fantastic program called Kicking The Spectrum, which aims to teach martial arts inspired moves to kids with autism and special needs, incorporating fitness and wellness into the fundamentals of Japanese Shotokan Karate.

Kicking The Spectrum has now been selected by Pepsi Co. to be in the running for a $25k grant. They are joining Super Soccer Stars (a soccer league for children with disabilities) to try to win this grant so they can provide a free winter camp for 10 deserving children with special needs. During the camp day, the children will be involved in martial arts, soccer, and yoga.

If you have a minute to vote, both she and I would be most appreciative! All you have to do is click here and vote, up to three times a day for the entire month of November. If you’d like more information, feel free to email me at eatingbender@gmail.com so I can connect you with her.

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Thank you in advance for supporting such a great cause!

How do you plan to spend your extra hour this weekend (or your weekend in general)?

Abrazos,