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One LESS Waffer Thin Mint

By
Real Estate Sales Representative with Immeubles Deakin Realty

You know the Monty Python skit where the very large man is eating buckets and buckets of food at the restaurant and, after all the gluttony, the waiter encourages him to have a mint?  The man doesn't want to, because he's full. But the waiter keeps encouraging him because, after all, it is wafer thin (pronounced "waffer thin" in the skit).  What harm could it do? 

Well, the guy eats it and then ... EXPLODES!  It's absolutely disgusting ... and hilarious in a strange kind of way.

Boy at table with huge stack of pancakesI feel like that guy at the restaurant sometimes ... and I'm not talking about my gluttonous consumption of Halloween candy this week.  I'm talking about a seemingly unstoppable urge to add to my to-do list what I convince myself is simply "one more waffer thin mint."

Well what if, instead of adding one MORE to my plate, I decided to have one LESS? 

Seth Godin spoke about this in one of his recent blog posts.  He called it N-1.  He asks us whether doing one less thing would allow us to do an even better job on all of the other things on our to-do list. 

It's a good question.  Maybe having one LESS would allow us to enjoy and relish all of the other things on our plate so much more. 

I know some things that appear to be "waffer thin" end up causing a great big mess.

Originally posted at www.readysetsold.ca

 

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Professional home staging and professional photography: two critical factors to making sure your home looks its best, both in person and on the Internet, and neither of them cost you a penny when you list with me.

 

Put your best house forward. TM

Tanya Nouwens

Tanya Nouwens Inc., Montreal Real Estate Broker and Canadian Staging Professional (TM)  www.readysetsold.ca 

RE/MAX ROYAL (JORDAN) INC., www.remax-quebec.om

C. 514-919-8468    tanya@readysetsold.ca


This blog is written with my opinions. My opinions are presented with accuracy but not guarantees. Copyright Tanya Nouwens - 2015. If you want to reprint parts of this, just email me for my permission at tanya@readysetsold.ca.

 

Show All Comments
Stephanie Reynolds
Integrity First Financial Group, Inc. - Santee, CA
East County San Diego Homes 619-838-4408

Great point Tanya. We try to stuff so much into our days, never enough time for anything...imagine how much better we could do if we remembered it will always be there tomorrow to complete! It is all about balance. A very difficult lesson to learn, one I attempt each and every day!

Oct 30, 2010 02:01 AM
Charles Buell
Charles Buell Inspections Inc. - Seattle, WA
Seattle Home Inspector

Tanya, I agree----the ability to say "no" is just as important as the ability to say "yes."  Knowing when to use which can take a life time.

Oct 30, 2010 02:03 AM
Bob "RealMan" Timm
Ward County Notary Services - Minot, ND
Owner of Ward Co Notary Services retired RE Broker

Tanya,

I always try to keep my schedule as clear as possible because I know I will still have a day so full I may drop of exhaustion. As it is I struggle to make sure I have time for my kids every day.

Bob

Oct 30, 2010 02:28 AM
Tanya Nouwens
Immeubles Deakin Realty - Montreal West Island, QC
Montreal Real Estate Broker & Stager

Stephanie, it's a daily challenge to find balance, and I think our sense of what is balanced changes day to day depending on what's going on both personally and professionally.

Charles, does it really take a lifetime...or does it just feel that way? ;)

Valerie, it's hard to say no to things that help others.

Bob, that's tops on my list too.

Oct 30, 2010 02:58 AM
Susan Mangigian
RE/MAX Preferred - West Chester, PA
Chester & Delaware County Homes, Delaware and Ches

I am very good at getting my work to do list done.  At home, not so much.  I love to reach, I love to walk the dog, I love to be outside.  Consequently, housework chores don't always even make the list.  They weigh heavily on my mind, but I say no, one more chapter.  One more cup of tea.  One more snuggle with JJ.  

Oct 30, 2010 03:17 AM
Mike Saunders
Retired - Athens, GA

Tanya - a variation on what I used to do when I had a boss and people that I could delegate things to. Keep my list manageable.

Oct 30, 2010 03:34 AM
Ellen Caruso
Daniel Gale Sotheby's International Realty - Glen Head, NY

Tanya, if you can, please blog this on the "Taking it off in the Rain" group, they will love it, and I'm not one to reblog, cause you deserve the credit!!!! 

Its a great principle "One Less"! if I comment one less on AR, I can do more of something I want/need to do. And as for "one Less" on my plate, than lots more new clothes to wear. LOL

Oct 30, 2010 04:56 AM
Tanya Nouwens
Immeubles Deakin Realty - Montreal West Island, QC
Montreal Real Estate Broker & Stager

Susan, sounds to me like you have your priorities straight.

Mike, it's great that you've been able to do that. I'm just now starting to be more realistic and have a manageable to-do list -- with this, there's a greater sense of accomplishment at the end of the day and less disappointment.

I'll do it, Ellen :)  Sounds like an interesting group. Thanks for the suggestion.

Oct 30, 2010 06:19 AM
Malcolm Johnston
Century 21 Lanthorn Real Estate LTD., Trenton, Ontario - Trenton, ON
Trenton Real Estate

The big fella's name was Mr. Creosote (it's quite often the small hard to notice things about Monty Python that are so funny). http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aczPDGC3f8U

You are right about the time issue though. All those small 5 minute jobs tacked on to the end of my day quite often addup and make me miss my supper Tanya,

Oct 30, 2010 06:32 AM
Tanya Nouwens
Immeubles Deakin Realty - Montreal West Island, QC
Montreal Real Estate Broker & Stager

Oh NO!  You didn't, Malcolm!  I purposely didn't link to it because it can be very hard on the stomach. WARNING WARNING WARNING -- If you're going to click on the link Malcolm provides, be prepared to be totally grossed out!!! And don't say I didn't warn you ;)

Oct 30, 2010 06:38 AM
Roger D. Mucci
Shaken...with a Twist 216.633.2092 - Euclid, OH
Lets shake things up at your home today!

Interesting post Tanya...............one less thing on our plates does sound rather appealing.

Oct 30, 2010 07:44 AM
Joel Gwillim
CIR Realty - Condo Specialist - Calgary, AB
Associate - REALTOR®

You're right Tanya, Sometimes one needs to stop and just smell the roses.

Oct 30, 2010 08:36 AM
Jane Peters
Home Jane Realty - Los Angeles, CA
Los Angeles real estate concierge services

Interesting.  I wouldn't know what to take off my plate.  That's the dilemma.

Oct 30, 2010 12:51 PM
Tammy Pearce
Haute Realty 214-994-6474 - Dallas, TX
Tammy Pearce

Great post!  I frequently manage to squeeze 1 more thing into my plans...and that doesn't always add up to a good thing!

Oct 30, 2010 01:28 PM
Cherise Selley
Selley Group Real Estate, LLC - Colorado Springs, CO
Colorado Springs Realtor

Minimizing seems to be catching on like crazy in all parts of life.  As for myself, I try to eat within the portions of the size of a tennis ball and no more.  Still trying to do as well with personal and professional business... g

Oct 30, 2010 02:31 PM
Susan Haughton
Long and Foster REALTORS (703) 470-4545 - Alexandria, VA
Susan & Mindy Team...Honesty. Integrity. Results.

I have been way too busy piling things on my plate recently...and some days I feel a bit overwhelmed by it all!  Great advice...we need to know when to stop and reassess.

Oct 31, 2010 09:20 AM
Dan Tobias
Rodeo Realty - Northridge, CA
Northridge Real Estate Expert

Tanya, thats a good idea do one less thing so that you can have more time for other stuff. the only thing is to make sure you spend that time on the other stuff, and not start something new

Nov 02, 2010 10:10 AM
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