I am Busy this week. Aren’t we all? Here’s a synopsis of some of what is on my to do list: Research, write and submit two proposals, meet with at least 3 advertisers, record, edit and publish a podcast for GeekGrls, post a bunch of ideas on my blog, come up with my lesson plans for school which starts in a little over 3 weeks, follow up with current clients. And oh, yah…crank out at least 2 scripts for a television show. And it’s only Tuesday. Of course, that doesn’t count the personal stuff I need to get done.

Busy is great – I wouldn’t have it any other way. But Busy can go two ways – you can either let it get the best of you (and end up curled up in the corner in the fetal position for the rest of the day), or you can embrace it.

Feeling overwhelmed? Here are a few tips for overcoming the Busy in your life:

1) Find a partner in crime. I have a business partner. Half of the stuff we get done on a weekly basis wouldn’t be possible if we didn’t have each other. We both have crazy lives outside of work and crazy deadlines inside of work. We rely on each other immensely during the Busy. Finding someone to split the workload will make you more productive, and ultimately more profitable. Just make sure it’s the right person. My partner and I have spent 13 years building a relationship of mutual understanding and respect. It’s like a marriage of sorts – we have to work at it. Good partnerships are hard to find – but when they work, they work really well. And it helps tremendously knowing there is someone there to share the load.

2) Make lots of lists. Don’t try to keep everything in your head – you will never sleep at night. I can’t stress enough how much lists can help you to over come that overwhelmed feeling. I have multiple lists. My calendar, my white board, my BlackBerry, and my notebook all have different lists for different reasons. There’s no tried and true way – find a system outside of your mental list that works for you.

3) Delegate delegate delegate. One of the main stresses of the Busy is trying to do too much yourself. If your to do list is getting you down, figure out which tasks you can delegate. The biggest task hubby and I outsourced this year was housecleaning. Sure, it costs a bit, but less than you think. And now, the last thing on my mind is having to clean the bathtub or mop the floor. And that makes it worth every penny. So, figure out where you can outsource. Hire an intern. Ask your spouse or kids to help you. Hire a virtual assistant. Still don’t think you can delegate? Read Tim Ferriss’ The Four Hour Workweek and your mind will be forever changed.

4) Stay in the Now. Perhaps the most important rule for overcoming Busy is to stay in the present moment. Really, the present moment is all we have. All the to do lists in the world cannot make up for the fact that everything on that list is in the future. And the future ain’t here yet. If you find yourself getting overwhelmed thinking of all those things on your list that haven’t happened yet, stop. Sit back. Take some deep breaths. Regain your presence in THIS moment. I promise you will not only feel less overwhelmed, you will enjoy the process of the Busy much more. And read Eckhart Tolle’s The Power of Now, it’s life-altering.

At the end of the day, the Busy is good. But managing the Busy is the way to truly get the most out of life and work. How do you manage your Busy?

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Timothy Ferriss, best-selling author of The Four Hour Work Week, has a great idea. He is engaging his readers as editors of the next edition of his book (due out in 2008 or 2009).

How is he doing it? He’s published a wiki where people can login and make suggestions for new content, updated information or new concepts. The incentive? He’ll pick the best contributor and acknowledge them in the book, AND give them a round trip plane ticket anywhere in the world, AND he’ll help you plan your getaway (Tim is the KING of the mini-retirement and how to make the most of adventure travel).

This strikes me as another way that a community can be powerful. Tim is working on the premise that “many heads are better than one.” It’s possible he’s suffering from the effects of having looked at his manuscript a few too many times, and can’t see the forest for the trees. I get that way with my video projects. It’s possible to be too close to a thing, and you need someone else’s perspective to make it better. Tim has taken this to the extreme, by enlisting his community of readers to help him edit his book via the web.

It’s easy enough to get involved. Just get yourself a copy of The Four Hour Work Week and read it. No, not just so you can show off your editing prowess and potentially get some free stuff, but because it’s actually a really great book! It totally changed my perspective on being a businessperson. It transformed me from being the “doer” to being the “creator” in my business and as a result I am much happier, content, and therefore successful in my business. And I take a lot more spa days, long lunches, and coming soon, mini-retirements than I used to!

Tim is not really looking for style suggestions (I’m sure he gets enough of those from his professional editors). He’s looking for the following, according to his wiki:

“I am particularly interested in additional resources, outdated or incorrect web addresses (URLs), and any errors or ways to clarify confusing parts. I’m not so much interested in stylistic changes, but all suggestions for improvement are valued. I want the book to be up-to-date and full of the latest resources and innovations. No spamming or affiliate URLs are permitted, and if you suggest a company you are involved with in any respect, please state so in brackets [ ] or it will be deleted. Be upfront.”

This form of community contribution is something I hope to see more of in the future. Maybe this concept can be expanded beyond the bestseller. Maybe my next TV script could be thrown up on a wiki for the masses to pick at? Or maybe just my next blog post? Or web design idea? I would be fascinated to see what people have to contribute to my creative processes.

What do you think? Would you consider making a contribution to someone else’s creative work? If so, how would you feel if your suggestions were used? Or not used?

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