Jean Chatzky Quotes

My routine is to create activities for myself unrelated to writing that allow little time for writing. This means that when I do get the chance to write, it is like a stolen luxury, something clandestine and almost forbidden.

I'm a full-time writer, which means I have the entire day to get my work done. But that can also be bad, because that means I have the entire day to get in my way.

People are remarkably bad at remembering long lists of goals. I learned this at a professional level when trying to get my high-performance coaching clients to stay on track; the longer their lists of to-dos and goals, the more overwhelmed and off-track they got. Clarity comes with simplicity.

I learned that focus is key. Not just in your running a company, but in your personal life as well.

On a regular basis if you're trying to produce something, I think you should work every day and set achievable goals.

I never talk about work in progress because once I talk about it I don't do it anymore.

I am one of the great wasters of time. I have made it an art form. I can get up at 8 o'clock in the morning, be out of the house by 8:30 and back by 5 P.M., and I'll be going all day long and accomplish absolutely nothing. It's an amazing talent.

Goals help you overcome short-term problems.

Self-discipline is an act of cultivation. It require you to connect today's actions to tomorrow's results. There's a season for sowing a season for reaping. Self-discipline helps you know which is which.

I never really do the New Year's Resolution thing. I kind of just try to stay focused, not get too distracted, and do the best I can. And that's something I like to tell myself every year around New Year's.

Here in Seattle, I'm the most productive I've ever been. I don't allow myself personal distractions. I'm extremely disciplined here.

I discovered that the best thing for me was to be very busy all the time. I can get a lot done, and I can do those tasks well.

Sometimes you've got to make your work and workouts co-exist.

I was a good student, but I was the biggest procrastinator.

I'm very ambitious, but I also love myself - which means I try to take care of myself.

I'm always busy, but I'm lazy as well.

I would step into a place of being lined up with a sense of purpose and my inner compass, and everything was going in the same direction. Then I'd get lazy and get off the track. And then things would start to fall apart, and I'd back up and get it together again.

I've learned over decades of building that a deadline is a potent tool for problem-solving.

My point is, if you want to achieve anything in life, it is not enough to merely wish for it. You must develop that kind of 4:30 AM discipline that distinguishes you from others.

I have to approach my life in this way so I can do what I need to do, and do it very well.

Working is the best thing for me because I'm borderline ADHD, so I need some kind of focus or I go a bit extreme. I need work to keep me sensible.

I know that each of us has much to do. Sometimes we feel overwhelmed by the tasks we face. But if we keep our priorities in order, we can accomplish all that we should. We can endure to the end regardless of temptations, problems, and challenges.

It makes you also realize, 'OK, I'm excited to play tennis, and I work really hard to be the best tennis player I think I can be,' but I don't waste my time on stupid stuff, you know what I mean.

I crave deadlines. If I don't have a deadline, I become a total slacker, which is why I always have so much on my plate.

Sometimes I decide I don't want to write because it isn't the thing for me to be doing right then, and I go do something else.