My Ode to AOL
It's official. I waved goodbye to AOL today. I still have my AOL email address. I just can't give it up because I was one of the first 500,000 subscribers. But I'm officially moving over to the Outlook platform. Our media department laughs as I cry. They dance as I mourn. They rejoice as I grieve. I'm a creature of habit like everybody else, and old habits die hard. Especially the AOL habit.
On a serious note. I have had this feeling like I'm falling farther and farther behind every day. Sort of like the Red Queen in Alice and Wonderland. I respond to every email that makes it through my spam filter. I have a hard time saying no to meetings. And between writing, parenting, and pastoring I feel like I'm stretched pretty thin. So I need to make some fundamental changes in the way I lead. I think what I'm trying to say is this: I need to let people help me! Changing over to Outlook is a step in the direction of letting someone else manage my life. I can't manage me anymore!
So goodbye AOL. Thanks for the memories. I'll miss you but I promise to visit once in a while!
On a serious note. I have had this feeling like I'm falling farther and farther behind every day. Sort of like the Red Queen in Alice and Wonderland. I respond to every email that makes it through my spam filter. I have a hard time saying no to meetings. And between writing, parenting, and pastoring I feel like I'm stretched pretty thin. So I need to make some fundamental changes in the way I lead. I think what I'm trying to say is this: I need to let people help me! Changing over to Outlook is a step in the direction of letting someone else manage my life. I can't manage me anymore!
So goodbye AOL. Thanks for the memories. I'll miss you but I promise to visit once in a while!
12 Comments:
Mark:
I think I know the exact feeling you are talking about. Its a terrible thing to feel. I really hate it because, at least for me, when I start feeling like I'm too busy and falling behind my natural response is to work longer and harder at things, which makes me feel more busy and more behind... its a vicious cycle.
A while ago I heard Bill Hybles (I think it was him) say that "you should only do the things that only you can do" and that if someone else can do it- let them.... I stink at this! But, I've been trying to do that more and more and its been helping me-out.
Anyway. For what its worth I guess I can relate is some way.
Next thing you know you are going to tell us you finally switched to WordPress!
Hold your horses, Carl. Now you crossed a line :)
Mark
Wow, people still use AOL? who knew?
Thanks for what you just said. Even though the AOL thing is hilarious...I still have mine. I have battled all week with the overwhelmed/stretched thin feeling. I don't write books, but 2 small kids, a growing ministry, working at a large church, and my inability to say no leave me tired and behind. I was encouraged reading your blog today.
Carl: One thing at a time bro... but you know I'm pushing that way. :)
i was sure hoping you were going to say you were switching over to "mail" or at least "entourage" but not outlook! that means you're using a dreaded PC! oh the thought!
@annoymous:
Like David said, one thing at a time...heh heh.
Your media department is on PCs? Ouch! I am surprised.
Michael,
In defense of our media department. No--they are not PC. They're Macs. I, however, do not work in our media department :) I'm just a PC pastor.
Mark
on the whole "managing your schedule" battle. since you linked to rick warren's podcast when you were on it ( at least intermitently !!) i've been following it. there's an interesting one with him discussing managing time with some other pastors.
Mark,
I know your life must be crazy with all the work that pastoring NCC involves, but something that coworkers at my company are raving about is a book called Take Back Your Life!. It's about how to use Outlook to maximize time management and efficiency. I haven't read it yet (strangely because "I haven't had the time"), but based on what my coworkers say, I bet it's a great book.
Just a thought,
Nate
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